Whiskey strength: alcohol content, alcohol strength, what degrees depend on and how to choose the right quality whiskey
Whiskey strength: alcohol content, alcohol strength, what degrees depend on and how to choose the right quality whiskey
Anonim

One of the most popular questions among alcohol lovers: "How strong is whiskey?" Unfortunately, it is often necessary to choose alcoholic beverages, trusting intuition, not knowledge. Few people know what important details to pay attention to when buying alcohol. Given that the range of spirits is increasing almost every day, it is not surprising that the average consumer finds it increasingly difficult to make a choice. By the way, alcohol is becoming more and more popular, the strength of which exceeds forty degrees.

Whiskey at a glance

There are a great many types of whiskey in the world. All of them have their own specific differences. They differ in taste, aroma and even production technology. They may also differ in composition. In some countries, certain cereals are used to make this strong drink.

The most common is whiskey with a strength of 40 to 50 degrees. However, the alcohol content can be much higher, for example, in single m alt whiskey withdouble distillation. This drink goes through a long exposure in oak barrels. Barrel strength whiskey can range from 50 to 70 degrees. This is because during exposure, a certain percentage of the liquid evaporates, respectively, the percentage of alcohol increases.

But it is worth noting that many admirers of the noble drink believe that the strength of whiskey in degrees should not exceed forty. Otherwise, alcohol loses its taste. There are even regions that produce this drink with a strength of thirty degrees.

whiskey glass
whiskey glass

Types of whiskey and the alcohol they contain

From how many degrees the fortress of whiskey, its taste qualities directly depend. The amount of alcohol depends not only on the production technology, but also on aging. Whiskey strength is always indicated on the label. This information must be mandatory. It is rare to find a whiskey with less than forty percent ABV alcohol. This abbreviation stands for Alkohol by volume. Its value can be translated as the amount of pure alcohol as a percentage of the total volume of the drink. Sometimes, instead of % ABV, you can see the marking % Vol, which, in fact, is the same thing.

The bulk of whiskey produced today contains between forty and fifty percent alcohol. Only in Japan and Scotland can you still find a drink whose strength will be seventy percent. And even higher in the oldest distilleries. But such items do not go on sale, but immediately replenish expensive collections.

whiskey barrels
whiskey barrels

How to drink strong whiskey?

Rarely do blends contain more than 40 percent alcohol. This is the perk of single m alts. Whiskey that has been aged for a long time is often 60-65% ABV. This amount of alcohol can easily provoke a loss of taste buds, so it is not recommended to drink it in its pure form.

By the way, whiskey is a drink that not only can, but also needs to be diluted with water. If it is diluted to the desired consistency, then the aroma will become as bright as possible. When whiskey is bottled, its strength is specially lowered by diluting it with pure water. The only exceptions are draft drinks.

Whiskey with ice
Whiskey with ice

Strong spirits

Now there are much more strong alcohol on the market than its lovers. Supply clearly exceeds demand. Almost every country has its own exclusive drink, the strength of which is higher than forty degrees. Below are the most common and popular ones.

  1. Jin was born in the Netherlands. Most often, its strength is from 45 to 50 degrees. It is rarely drunk in its pure form, more often used to make cocktails.
  2. Absinthe is probably the strongest alcohol. Sometimes it is 86o. Connoisseurs of this drink are very extravagant people, since wormwood is clearly audible in absinthe both in aroma and taste. The drink is the main ingredient in many cocktails, but it is not uncommon to drink it neat.
  3. Tequila hits the shelves of our stores from Mexico. Her maximumfortress - 43%. So, against the background of the previous drink, it generally seems to be low-alcohol. Tequila is served in small piles, fifty grams. To maximize the taste and aroma, it is best to eat this alcohol with s alt and lime.
  4. Vodka is considered a native Russian drink. Its strength can exceed fifty degrees, but most often it is forty percent.
  5. Whiskey strength is most often from forty to sixty degrees. The Scots and the Irish are still arguing over which of them invented this noble drink. Unlike all previous drinks, whiskey must be aged in oak barrels. It is thanks to this process that the liquor has its color and characteristic aroma.
  6. Two glasses of whiskey
    Two glasses of whiskey

How do people drink whiskey in different countries?

Not only do countries that produce whiskey do it differently, they also drink it differently.

  • Irish drink pure and drink it with water.
  • Scots don't drink water, they add it directly to their whiskey glass.
  • In America they drink with anything, but most often with cola. Although it can be any drink you like. An invariable attribute in a glass of whiskey here will be ice.
  • whiskey with cola
    whiskey with cola

Dishes for a noble drink

It is surprising that Scotland and Ireland will not decide which of them is the birthplace of whiskey, but the glass for this alcohol was invented in the USA. It is called tubler, its main feature is considered to be a thick bottom. Another distinctivefeatures is that it is low, but, at the same time, wide. It is better that its walls are round. Those who are used to swallowing heavy alcohol from a pile, in one second, in one gulp, will have to stop here. Whiskey is poured into a glass by about one third and drunk slowly, savoring, in small sips. Only then can you fully experience the incredible aroma and charmingly burning taste.

A real whiskey should have a long and very pleasant aftertaste. If you drink alcohol from a toubler, then even if it is already empty, it will keep the aroma of the drink, like an aftertaste. Any whiskey connoisseur will tell you that this alcohol must be drunk properly, otherwise you will not be able to enjoy it.

Bottle and glass of whiskey
Bottle and glass of whiskey

Basic drinking rules

  • Be sure to use special dishes, or rather a low wide glass with a thick bottom.
  • Before you drink, you need to enjoy the color and aroma. See how the rays of light pierce the amber liquid. Feel the beauty of the bouquet.
  • Now you can take the first small sip, but not swallow, but “roll” the drink across the tongue and palate. After the liquid has left the mouth, take a deep breath through the nose.

The whole procedure seems complicated only at first glance. In fact, everything lasts less than a minute, but only in this way you can really enjoy the drink, and not swallow it like cheap vodka, convulsively biting on lemon.

Types of whiskey

This alcohol can be conditionally divided into two types. There are, of course, manymore, but everything else is made by blending these two.

  1. M alt. It is made from m alted barley. It undergoes mandatory double distillation. In any case, this drink is aged for at least three years in oak barrels. Fully alcohol reveals taste and aroma after twelve years of aging. But this is far from the limit, it can withstand even longer.
  2. Grain. Such alcohol is not sold, but is used for blending, as it does not have any pronounced qualities.

The most commonly produced blended whisky. The most common type is blend. It is made by blending grains. But grain and m alt almost never mix.

original glass of whiskey
original glass of whiskey

Division into countries

Also, whiskey can be divided by country of origin.

  1. Irish is made in several stages. To begin with, cereals are germinated - mainly barley, and then they are dried. Thanks to this procedure, the drink becomes soft. Then comes distillation, and then exposure.
  2. Scottish alcohol is also made, but with one difference - barley grains are m alted with peat. The strength of Scotch whiskey can vary from 40 to 70%.
  3. Canadian drink, with rare exceptions, is no different. Pretty mediocre strong alcohol.
  4. Bourbon is a whiskey from America. A distinctive feature is that it is produced not from barley, but from corn. A prominent representative of this country is Jack Daniels whiskey. Its fortress is forty percent.

To decide which drink is better, it is not enough to rely on the opinion of experts, since each person has his own taste. Of course, it is impossible to try all alcohol, but the most popular representatives of different countries are quite capable. The only point is that the pleasure is not cheap. And if you take a swing at single m alt whiskey, then the prices are completely off scale. But on the other hand, high-quality alcohol simply cannot be cheap.

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