Enjoy whisky the right way

TRULY ENJOY – WITH A COMPETITION

Not all whiskies are created equal: at two exclusive whisky tastings in Hamburg, around 40 customers of Eric:Barbier experienced just how diverse the range from the traditional producer Glenfiddich is. But how do you pick out the different nuances, and what should you look out for when tasting? Here you’ll find tips from Malt Ambassador Joachim Teschke and a competition for whisky fans and newcomers alike!

Are we really still in cold, wet Hamburg? Or are we in the (weather-wise, less fortunate) Scottish Highlands? Where men throw tree trunks, and where James Bond and Glenfiddich are at home? Anyone who closed their eyes during the whisky tasting and concentrated entirely on the selected single malt creations was whisked away on a journey to the north of Britain, before expert Joachim Teschke used his specialist knowledge to bring those present back to the here and now in the Salons and offered plenty of advice on how to enjoy whisky to the full. The expert on…

… the perfect glass and the role of the nose

If you want to go in search of clues and try to taste out even the last note, there’s no getting around the nosing glass. The bulbous vessel tapers to a point, allowing the whisky to unfold its full range of flavours. To avoid immediately numbing the sense of smell – which plays a key role in identifying the various influences – the nose should not disappear completely into the glass, especially when sampling undiluted cask strength whisky. But even professionals like Joachim don’t examine this stylish drink down to the smallest detail on every occasion: “People always want to know how to drink whisky properly. I’d always drink it exactly as I feel like it at the time. When I come home from work and want to relax, I’ll drink from a normal tumbler too.”

… Taste, colour and the ‘window’

To allow the flavour to unfold perfectly, the Malt Ambassador advises holding the whisky in your mouth for one second for every year it has spent in the cask before swallowing. Once the initial impressions have been taken in, one should focus closely on the external appearance of this craftsmanship: The colour provides an indication of the quality of the contents, as whisky becomes increasingly dark and mellow with age in the cask, gaining in quality. Yet no matter how long the spirit has been aged – the first glass of the evening burns, as this numbs the taste buds on the tongue. In addition to aroma and appearance, ‘windows’ also play a role in the assessment: if the whisky leaves the shape of Gothic windows when swirled in the glass, it has a heavy, oily consistency, whereas curtain-like windows appear in milder varieties.

… the perfect temperature and ice in the glass

If the whisky is too warm or too cold, the flavours cannot develop as intended. “The best temperature is the same as at the place of production,” explains Joachim. Which also means that Glenfiddich tastes best at around seven degrees Celsius. Moreover, the weather plays an important role in choosing the perfect whisky, as he says: “In summer, the heavy, peaty ones aren’t so en vogue, and in winter I don’t necessarily drink the smoothest whisky I can find. Then it’s fine to have a proper peaty bomb.” And what about ice in the glass, which is frowned upon by connoisseurs? “Actually, you only do that if the whisky doesn’t taste right. But if you like it that way, that’s fine too,” says the expert.

And so Joachim’s mantra runs through both events at Eric:Barbier: “The best whisky is the one that tastes best to me,” laughs the native of Lower Saxony, who offers a wide variety of whisky tastings in the north of Hamburg. And so, in the salons, every participant finds their favourite among the six Glenfiddich variants being tasted: whilst the 12-year-old scores points with pear notes, the 15-year-old has developed a honey aroma in the oak casks. The 18-year-old, on the other hand, has an aftertaste reminiscent of dried fruit during its warm finish. In addition, an insight into Glenfiddich’s ‘Experimental Series’ – featuring the ‘IPA Experiment’, ‘Project XX’ and ‘Fire & Cane’ – the only peated whisky from Glenfiddich – provided variety in the glass.

Win a tasting experience for at home!

Are you in the mood for a tasting and want to discover the diverse flavours for yourself? We’re giving away two bottles of “Glenfiddich 12 Year Old”, which gets its characteristic sweetness and fruity notes from American bourbon and Spanish sherry casks. Simply tell us in a comment how you like to enjoy your whisky. The competition closes on 1 March 2020 at 11.59 pm. Good luck!

Terms and conditions

The competition is open to natural persons of legal age who are permanently resident in Germany at the time of entry. Only comments submitted before the closing date will be considered. Eric:Barbier accepts no responsibility for missing, late or incorrectly submitted comments. The winner will be selected at random and notified via the email address provided. The decision is final. Prizes cannot be exchanged for cash.

Update: The competition has ended

The whisky competition has ended – we will contact the winners personally. We would like to thank all participants and congratulate the winners!