It’s a truth universally acknowledged that every first-time drinker has spat out a mouthful of whisky upon the first sip. Truth: it stings. However, why is whisky bitter? What makes it be deemed as an “acquired taste”? Or a spirit reserved for a refined palette?
In contrast, the first sample of wine, vodka and even rum goes down much smoother. However, if you want to start on your whisky journey, then it’s better to understand the spirit beforehand. Starting with the pressing question — what gives it such a strong bite? Here’s everything you need to know.
Why is whisky bitter? Here’s all you need to know
Why is whisky bitter?
Many types of whiskies are aged in wooden oak barrels, which releases a compound called coumarins, which, according to the researchers at ACS’ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, is responsible for producing a bitter taste. Coumarins are phenolic substances produced by plants as a defence against predators. These are particularly noticeable in whisky that’s produced from barley that was dried using peat fires (which is still the practice in most Scottish distilleries). When the barley is burnt, it produces the coumarin compounds in the smoke which is then absorbed by the barley. Alternatively, the charring of the barrels in which the whisky is matured can also cause the coumarin to be present in the spirit.
The researchers had found that whisky and other spirits possess a higher level of coumarin since it has a greater alcohol content and is aged for longer in the oak barrels. To prove their theory that whisky in oak barrels tastes more bitter, they added six coumarins to whisky that hadn’t been aged in oak barrels and found a significant increase in the bitterness levels of the latter.
Which whisky has the most amount of bitterness?
Since it’s necessary for rye whisky to be aged in newly charred oak barrels, it is the type of usquebaugh that is more bitter and peppery than its counterparts.
How to make whisky less bitter?
The best way to make your whisky less bitter is by adding a dash of sweeter substance to take out the sting. This could be a splash of soda, coca-cola, tonic or even a simple syrup.
