How we taste bourbons

Generally speaking the lighter the color the lighter the bourbon.  The Darker the bourbon can a suggest a higher proof or a bourbon that was aged longer.

Pick up your glass, tilt it slightly, and place your nose barely inside and breathe through your nose with your lips slightly apart. Do this so you don’t only pick up the scent of alcohol.

Do This a few times before you take your first sip. It’ll help you uncover several subtle notes..

Take a small sip of the 1st pour and hold in your mouth.  Swish around like mouth wash (this may be hot on different parts of your mouth).  When you swallow breathe out through your mouth.  This will allow the alcohol vapors to escape.

The second and successive sips you should start to taste the notes of Oak, Vanilla, Carmel, and maybe spices.

The heat and lingering taste is the finish.

Enjoy the notes you taste and the length of the finish.  You might taste more oak, pepper, or spices here. Some finishes are short, some are longer. Take your time to appreciate the finish before taking your next sip.

Enjoy your last sip before you move on the the next Bourbon.  The third or last sip you will pick of some of the more subtle nuances of the bourbon.  More flavors begin to appear.

ENJOY!