By Ty Kelly
If there’s one thing that can make a man fall in love, it’s best served in the best rye whiskey. This whiskey is made from rye grain, and it is fermented at very high temperatures. The resulting whiskey has a very rich taste, which is why many people will often purchase this type of whiskey over other kinds. Whether you enjoy drinking a glass of this whiskey each day or a couple of bottles of it on special occasions, there are ways to serve it so that it will impress your guests.
To serve rye whiskey in the best way possible, it needs to be served neat. Unlike most drinks where it’s best served in the bottle with ice, whiskey is best consumed just after it’s been mixed with ice. Straight whiskey (also known as American whiskey) is usually mixed with water, but it’s better to still have the ice on hand because it makes the drink colder. Some distillers also add sugar or honey, which help sweeten the drink, but it’s not necessary if you’re going to sip it straight from the bottle.
When you’re ready to take a sip of your favorite straight rye whiskey, you should always hold the container securely and tilt it down. You shouldn’t allow it to spill onto the table or the floor, since the alcohol vapors are going to evaporate quickly. Once you’ve taken a sip, you should swirl the glass to disperse the whiskey flavor throughout the drink. The best way to do this is to use your fingers and press down on the bottom and sides of the glass, which forces the liquids to flow around in different patterns. This is called “tasting”.
When you’re done steeping your best rye whiskey, you should pour it into a container that has a tight-fitting lid. Then you’re ready for the next step, which is rinsing the glass with cold water. Since this kind of whiskey tends to have an oily flavor, you’ll probably want to skip the soap and just wash the glass down with water. However, if you’re looking for a truly fantastic aftertaste, you should consider applying a sweetener to the drink, such as honey or agave nectar, which will enhance the rye’s complexity and aroma.
The final step in preparing your best rye whiskey cocktails is putting the “shaken” bottle in a stainless-steel pot that’s either over a flame or set at a low simmer. Bring the pot to a gentle boil. Stir in the sugar or honey. Once you’ve done this, your bartender-instructor should tell you to stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. Once this is done, you can pour the contents of the bottle into the pot and then place the lid and turn the stove off. Let the bottle cool and the steam valve go up so that the steam can come through the top of the bottle and into the drink.
