{"id":187559,"date":"2023-12-21T15:54:19","date_gmt":"2023-12-21T20:54:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gardenandgun.com\/?p=187559"},"modified":"2025-10-13T11:27:53","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T15:27:53","slug":"demystifying-the-art-of-bourbon-tasting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gardenandgun.com\/articles\/demystifying-the-art-of-bourbon-tasting","title":{"rendered":"Demystifying the Art of Bourbon Tasting"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Bourbon tasting is not a test. Aside from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whiskeymasters.org\/master-of-bourbon\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">certain certification programs<\/a>, there are no wrong answers. And yet, especially in a group setting, it can be intimidating to put words to what you\u2019re smelling and tasting in a snifter of bourbon. Professionally written tasting notes may distinguish one bourbon from another, but they do little to demystify the experience. Who would want to taste old leather and pencil shavings, anyway? What <em>does <\/em>a cherry pit smell like?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n<!-- Promo shortcode start --><div id=\"nlf-1c\" class=\"gg-promo topic-skillet\"><div class=\"grid\"><div class=\"left\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/gardenandgun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/promos\/skillet-tall.jpg\" class=\"tall\" alt=\"biscuits\"><\/div><div class=\"right\"><form id=\"nlf-1\" method=\"post\" class=\"form\" action=\"https:\/\/gardenandgun.com\/newsletters\/\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"gg_form_submit\" value=\"nlf-1\"><div class=\"hed\">Get the Skillet<\/div><div class=\"dek\">Our newsletter with the best of Southern food and drink<\/div><div class=\"action two-items\"><div class=\"input-left\"><input type=\"text\" name=\"email\" class=\"email-input\" value=\"\" placeholder=\"you@example.com\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"group_id\" value=\"95855092\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"shortcode_form\" value=\"nlf-1\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"subscription_385\" value=\"on\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"prev_page_id\" value=\"187559\"><\/div><div class=\"gform_footer\"><div style=\"display:none;\"><input type=\"text\" name=\"nl-nov-st\" id=\"nl-nov-st1\" value=\"\" autocomplete=\"off\" tabindex=\"-1\"><input type=\"text\" name=\"nl-nov-b\" value=\"\" autocomplete=\"off\" tabindex=\"-1\"><input type=\"text\" name=\"nl-nov-r\" id=\"nl-nov-r1\" value=\"2025-11-14\" autocomplete=\"off\" tabindex=\"-1\"><input type=\"text\" name=\"nl-nov-et\" id=\"nl-nov-et1\" value=\"\" autocomplete=\"off\" tabindex=\"-1\"><\/div><button data-sitekey=\"6Lc-hRkaAAAAAI84hbB81Jl48pGievR_C_UgHdnY\" data-callback=\"on_submit_nlf_1\" data-action=\"submit\" class=\"g-recaptcha button button-primary after-email\">Sign Up<\/button><\/div><\/div><div class=\"captcha-terms\"><p>This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google <a href=\"https:\/\/policies.google.com\/privacy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Privacy Policy<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/policies.google.com\/terms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Terms of Service<\/a> apply.<\/p><\/div><\/form><script>document.getElementById('nl-nov-st1').value=Date.now();document.getElementById('nl-nov-r1').value='';function on_submit_nlf_1(token) {document.getElementById('nl-nov-et1').value = Date.now();document.getElementById('nlf-1').submit();}<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><!-- Promo shortcode end -->\n\n\n\n<p>Melissa Rift, master taster with Old Forester, has a word of advice: <em>Relax.<\/em> \u201cPeople can get so stressed about sensory analysis\u2026and I\u2019m like, \u2018First of all, don\u2019t be so hard on yourself,\u2019\u201d she says. \u201cSensory analysis is one part skill and two parts competence and language. You just have to build up your repertoire.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/gardenandgun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Melissa-Rift-official-headshot.jpg\" alt=\"A portrait of a woman wearing a grey sweater and glasses between wooden casks\" class=\"wp-image-187588\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gardenandgun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Melissa-Rift-official-headshot.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/gardenandgun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Melissa-Rift-official-headshot-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/gardenandgun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Melissa-Rift-official-headshot-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gardenandgun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Melissa-Rift-official-headshot-150x100.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><div class=\"wp-caption\"><div class=\"image-credit\">Photo: Courtesy of Old Forester<\/div><div class=\"caption\">Melissa Rift.<\/div><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether she\u2019s evaluating samples of an established bourbon for quality control, helping to develop a new product, writing tasting notes, or leading a group tasting, Rift\u2019s approach is essentially the same: Nose, sip, taste.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>The Nose<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Sampling the bourbon neat in a tulip-shaped glass to best detect nuances, she\u2019ll first nose the glass for several minutes and jot down her initial impressions. \u201cPersonally, I trust my nose more than my palate,\u201d she says. Keeping your lips slightly parted and inhaling gently as you slowly bring the glass closer to your nose helps to reveal delicate aromas, as does lightly swirling the bourbon to release volatile molecules.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"733\" height=\"1100\" src=\"https:\/\/gardenandgun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Copy-of-BFmastertaster-62-1-733x1100.jpg\" alt=\"A woman sniffs a glass of bourbon\" class=\"wp-image-187591\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gardenandgun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Copy-of-BFmastertaster-62-1-733x1100.jpg 733w, https:\/\/gardenandgun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Copy-of-BFmastertaster-62-1-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/gardenandgun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Copy-of-BFmastertaster-62-1-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/gardenandgun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Copy-of-BFmastertaster-62-1-800x1200.jpg 800w, https:\/\/gardenandgun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Copy-of-BFmastertaster-62-1-150x225.jpg 150w, https:\/\/gardenandgun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Copy-of-BFmastertaster-62-1.jpg 1333w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 733px) 100vw, 733px\" \/><div class=\"wp-caption\"><div class=\"image-credit\">Photo: Courtesy of Old Forester<\/div><div class=\"caption\">Nosing the glass.<\/div><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Sniffing the back of your hand is a good way to reset aromatic sensitivity, and some subscribe to the notion of people having a dominant nostril, which is why you\u2019ll sometimes see tasters move the glass from side to side as they inhale. \u201cSome people are not going to get a lot of difference from one nostril to the other, and for some, it might open their world up,\u201d Rift says. \u201cIt\u2019s all very personal and, again, there\u2019s no right or wrong way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>The Sip<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Many experts suggest taking several small sips, letting the bourbon coat your palate, and waiting a few beats while your senses adjust to the sudden presence of high-proof alcohol. As the initial shock subsides, subtle flavors make their presence known. \u201cI visualize a lot when I\u2019m doing sensory analysis,\u201d Rift says. \u201cIf I\u2019ve gotten cherry and vanilla on the nose, I\u2019ll think about those flavors during my first couple of sips and see if they show up. Then I\u2019ll broaden my mindset\u2026to see what is consistent and where it starts to feel more dynamic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She initially tastes all bourbons neat to see how they\u2019re intended to taste from the bottle. But for higher-proof bourbons\u2014anything 110 proof and above\u2014she\u2019ll then add a few drops of water to open up the whiskey and its full depth of flavors. And though Rift spits out most of her samples to keep both her palate and mind fresh when professionally tasting, she\u2019ll swallow at least twice to evaluate a bourbon\u2019s finish and to see what flavors linger as the sip dissipates. \u201cThen I go back to the nose, because sometimes you notice new notes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><strong>The Taste<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>As for describing those impressions, it comes down to the ability to access and name specific sense memories roused by the multitude of chemical compounds created during fermentation, distillation, and maturation. Some of those memories may be indistinct and abstract, which is where visualization and free association can be helpful. \u201cIf someone is having a hard time putting their finger on a flavor, I\u2019ll ask, \u2018Is it making you think of a place or a color?\u2019\u201d Rift says. Occasionally, a flavor note reminds her of when she lived in Texas as a teen, and she\u2019ll zero in on what in the environment or time period stirred the memory. \u201cThat can help lead you down the path.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rift outlines three tiers of specificity, moving from broad categories to precise descriptors like those included on a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.americanbourbonassociation.com\/sites\/default\/files\/2021-07\/Bourbon%20Tasting%20Wheel_2.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">bourbon flavor wheel<\/a>. Begin by thinking about general components like grains, wood, spice, sweet, and fruity and floral flavors, then home in on specifics. \u201cIf we\u2019re talking fruit, is it a citrus fruit, orchard fruit, red fruit, or a dried fruit?\u201d Rift says. \u201cWe\u2019re not yet drilling down super far, but if you say, \u2018I get red fruit and baking spice,\u2019 then that\u2019s a nice tier-two sensory analysis.\u201d Then it\u2019s time to get granular. \u201cIs it black pepper, white pepper, or peppercorns? Are we talking candied citrus, fresh citrus, or citrus peel?\u201d<\/p><div id=\"div-gpt-ad-6413653\" class=\"ad-container in-line-ad mobile inContent\" data-ad-size-mapping=\"inContent\" data-ad-path=\"\/68000349\/in-between-modules\" data-ad-sizes=\"[ [336, 280], [300, 250], [300, 50] ]\" data-ad-channel=\"\" data-ad-type=\"In-between Modules\" data-page-terms=\"\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-8264855\" class=\"ad-container in-line-ad tablet inContent\" data-ad-size-mapping=\"inContent\" data-ad-path=\"\/68000349\/in-between-modules\" data-ad-sizes=\"[ [336, 280], [300, 250], [300, 50] ]\" data-ad-channel=\"\" data-ad-type=\"In-between Modules\" data-page-terms=\"\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-9336177\" class=\"ad-container in-line-ad desktop inContent\" data-ad-size-mapping=\"inContent\" data-ad-path=\"\/68000349\/in-between-modules\" data-ad-sizes=\"[ [336, 280], [300, 250], [300, 50] ]\" data-ad-channel=\"\" data-ad-type=\"In-between Modules\" data-page-terms=\"\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p>It may seem tedious, but taking the time to be mindful of the experience and develop a bourbon vocabulary can help guide you to other bourbons you\u2019re likely to enjoy. Nosing through a spice cabinet or a <a href=\"https:\/\/staveandthief.com\/product\/bourbon-sensory-training-kit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sensory training kit<\/a> can help hone your ability to distinguish aromas. Tasting a new-to-you bourbon neat, on the rocks, and in a cocktail also reveals how its character can change. It\u2019s all about personal preference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cDeep sensory analysis can be a cool activity, but if you\u2019re sipping on your whiskey and you\u2019re happy with a \u2018yay\u2019 or a \u2018nay,\u2019 that\u2019s a perfectly valid response,\u201d Rift says. \u201cMeet yourself where you are and have fun with it. It\u2019s just whiskey.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Master taster Melissa Rift on getting to know a new bourbon: \u201cMeet yourself where you are\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":93,"featured_media":187587,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"2025-10-13T15:27:51Z","apple_news_api_id":"e159c736-d549-4d71-95c5-d63b2199b9b9","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2025-10-13T15:27:51Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAD\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/w==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/A4VnHNtVJTXGVxdY7IZm5uQ","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2392,1780],"tags":[51,48,30280],"authors":[17974],"issue":[],"recipe-type":[],"class_list":["post-187559","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drinks","category-food-and-drink","tag-bourbon","tag-drinks","tag-whats-new","authors-tom-wilmes"],"acf":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.3 (Yoast SEO v26.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Demystifying the Art of Bourbon Tasting &#8211; 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