The Don'ts: 5 Things You Should Avoid When Drinking Whisky

Welcome to Whisky Monkeys. Perhaps you're a loyal visitor (for which we’re grateful), but there's a chance you may be new here. New to the wonderful world of whisky. This article is intended for those people. Here are 5 things you'd better not do with whisky.

Whisky is a fine drink, and you'll notice that as a whisky ages, its flavor profile often becomes more complex. What does that mean? It means that whisky is a spirit to savor, with a capital S. The first don't we share with you is: don't shoot it.

Sometimes, in popular culture such as films and series, incorrect examples are set. As a novice in the whisky world, you may think this is normal. For instance, the TV series Beef includes a distasteful scene where whisky is used for shots (and even spit out). No, dear people, enjoy, but in moderation.

You'll see that some people use whisky (being a strong spirit) as a party drink. It's 'convenient' for getting drunk quickly. Of course, you can get drunk quickly if you drink whisky, especially if you're young and practically haven't accustomed yourself yet.

But alcohol is definitely not good for you, especially if you're underage. You're still growing and your sense of responsibility isn't fully developed. So wait until you’re 18 if you want to enjoy a glass of whisky, and when you do, remember that it's a beverage to savor slowly.

When you're old enough and want to explore whisky, it's clever to consider the right glass. When you're young, you might quickly think of a tumbler glass, mainly because this kind of glass is often used in films and series. Such a thick glass fits comfortably in the hand and might look cool.

There's nothing wrong with drinking your whisky that way if you prefer, but NOT if you want to deeply explore the aromas and flavors of a whisky. A tumbler glass won't fully reveal these, but a Glencairn or tulip glass will.

If you're making a mixed drink or a cocktail, then it's perfectly fine to use something different. But think before you just grab a glass out of the cabinet. The right glass is half the preparation for the joy of drinking a dram.

The next piece of advice is to keep whisky at room temperature. When the weather is warm, you might think: I could fancy a refreshing alcoholic beverage later on and you go ahead and pop a bottle of whisky in the freezer. However, it's smarter not to do that.

What you could do instead is buy an ice ball to keep your drink cool. So, there's a bottle of Johnnie Walker that's marketed for storing in the freezer. Call it good marketing, but it's not exactly a sound plan.

When you first start drinking whisky, it's obvious that whisky is a strong spirit, but you might not be so familiar with the fact that there are whiskies with different alcohol percentages.

Yes, that's true. Several distilleries have released cask strength whiskies, that is, whiskies that are bottled at the same strength as they were in the cask.

These whiskies have a high alcohol content. Officially, whisky is defined as whisky if the alcohol percentage is 40%, but there may also be times when it's 50 or more. Of course, you CAN drink this cautiously if you enjoy doing so (some people wouldn't have it any other way), but remember that forewarned is forearmed.

It can burn your throat quite badly and your esophagus may not find such a potent whisky all too pleasant. It's wise to have a pipette on hand to dilute the whisky a bit. This makes the whisky slightly more accessible. Plus, adding a few drops of water also has the added advantage that a dram opens up more, revealing even more flavors to explore.

Now, off to your next dram. Enjoy, but do so in moderation and take these tips to heart. Cheers!