Ask Away: How long does an average glass of whisky last?

It's Friday again, which means it's time for a new Question of the Week. This week we pose the following question to our editorial team: How long can you typically make a glass of whisky last?

When I've poured a nice glass of whisky, I cherish it for a long time. It could easily last the whole evening. Even with a 'regular' whisky, I never rush it. In that respect, I've always been one to savour, as I remember once making a Mars bar last for three months when I was a kid.

I can sometimes nurse a glass of whisky for hours. Of course, this depends on the quality of the whisky in the glass. I often finish the easy-drinking whiskies rather quickly, while glasses with a complex flavor profile frequently last longer because I simply take longer with each sip.

I should also mention that I never pour myself full glasses, but typically drink half drams. After all, it's really about the experience of the aroma and the taste, not the quantity.

It depends on what I have in my glass. Is it a cocktail? Then it can go quickly, although not necessarily. I'm a bit older now, so I tend to take it a bit slower. But I remember once at a concert in Las Vegas seeing DJ Tiësto and getting through a number of whisky sours quite quickly.

If I'm in a bar somewhere, I naturally enjoy it much more. And if I'm drinking whisky neat, which is usually the case, I can make a glass last a long time. An hour? Sometimes even longer, when I initially just take a couple of sips and then much later finish the rest. This occurs, for instance, when I'm at home watching a movie while enjoying a dram.

You can take your time with a good glass of whisky. It all starts with letting it breathe. The older the whisky, the longer it needs to breathe. Some people say one minute per year of the whisky's age. So with a good whisky, you could easily spend a quarter of an hour. Afterwards, the speed at which the glass empties often varies with the potency. A good glass can easily engage you for half an hour.

I would never gulp down a glass of whisky in one go, but I have no idea how long I would usually take over a glass. I haven't really ever given this much thought. And it doesn't really matter to me whether it's an ordinary or a very nice whisky. I sip on my dram to enjoy it for as long as possible.

Generally, it can last an entire evening. My good friend and former roommate Jack taught me that you don't knock back whisky all in one go.