When it comes to matters whiskey, the country that people think about first is Scotland. Synonymous with lush green scenery, it also happens to be among the most fantastic places on earth to get top quality Scotch Whisky from various makers. Nowadays however, lots of other countries worldwide manufacture their own kinds of whiskey. Most distilleries allow people to take tours however, before you visit any of them, should be conversant with some basic etiquette for your Whisky tour. Below are some tips on how you can make your Whisky tour experience memorable.
Regardless of your relation to the owners of a distillery, never namedrop expecting to receive special treatment. The easiest way to irritate employees at distilleries, particularly ones with smaller staff is showing up unannounced during peak hours without an appointment, simply because you know the owners. To avoid this, call the distillery ahead of time and book an appointment. You Should also be considerate enough to not show up with large groups of people unannounced, which tends to be very distracting for the people at the tasting bar.
The shiny copper stills at the distillery may be good to look at, but always keep your hands off them. The majority of whiskey manufacturers offer tastings and tours revolving around their working stills which needless to say, are run very hot. It therefore makes sense that no matter how tempting, you should never touch the equipment. Additionally, unless otherwise instructed never dip your hands into the fermenting tanks either.
Never rehash bad experiences that led you to swearing off certain spirits for life. If in the past you have ever gotten sick off of drinking a particular spirit, it is best to stay open-minded and avoid reminding everyone of your bad experience. All our palates are different and evolve over time, meaning that there is a likelihood spirits which brought unpleasant experiences in the past could be surprisingly good later on. Also, remember that plenty of time, effort and love go into manufacturing spirits, which is why you should be open-minded to the staff’s suggestions and speak your mind politely.
During your Whisky tour, always remain under control by practising self control. Considering that your average whiskey has an alcohol content ranging between 40{e9f10206dfa39f8295bff5ca0cfc80f5a721a7c2277ac86611b458c47f9bf44e}-60{e9f10206dfa39f8295bff5ca0cfc80f5a721a7c2277ac86611b458c47f9bf44e}, it pays to have self-control. Even for veteran drinkers, this is a very strong drink, hence the more reason to pace yourself and take everything easy. If you intend to go on a Whisky tour, ensure you avoid overindulging and keep your wits about you.