To use this website you must be of legal drinking age
Please select your date of birth and location
8 August, 2025
A Guide to the Ritual of Whisky Tasting
The Dalmore Global Specialist, Craig Swindell, guides us through the whisky tasting ritual, exploring the rich aromas and complex taste profiles across The Dalmore’s Principal, Rare & Prestige and Limited Edition collections.
There’s an art to tasting whisky. A ritual in fact – one that will help you determine and appreciate the exquisite sensory aroma and flavour elements at play within your whisky.
In this article we’ll guide you through the tasting ritual and explore some of the aroma and flavour notes of The Dalmore’s collection of Single Malt whiskies - each a masterpiece made using rare and exquisite casks from the world’s finest wineries and bodegas.
The Whisky Tasting Ritual
For the best tasting experience, preferably select a tulip-shaped glass, featuring a wide bowl that tapers to a narrow rim. At The Dalmore, we particularly like the Copita glass, as the design concentrates the aromas, directing them toward your nose, working to enhance the sensory experience.
However, part of the enjoyment of whisky tasting is drinking from whichever glass you prefer - be it a Copita, rocks tumbler or a Glencairn glass.
Aroma - An Evocative Sense
Aroma is our most evolved, evocative and emotional sense, often unlocking distant memories - many of which are formed during early childhood. The distinct scent of pine needles, Christmas cake or baking spices, for example, may instantly transport us back to the memory of a childhood Christmas.
To appreciate the essence, pick up the glass and give it a swirl – this will enliven the whisky, waking it up. Bring the glass right up to your nose and gently breathe in.
Next, roll the glass slightly so it’s under one nostril and then the other, and as you breathe in notice the individual scents you detect. Lower the glass, then bring it back up to your nose again.
Don’t hurry this process. Take your time. Are the notes fruity, spicy or perhaps sweet?
Taste – Firing Sensory Neurons
The sensation of taste is detected across the tongue - sweetness at the front, saltiness along the sides and bitterness towards the back. The tongue’s receptors send signals to the brain, activating sensory neurons that stir feelings of pleasure, comfort and curiosity.
To taste, take a small sip of the neat whisky and hold it on your tongue and the top of the palate for ten to fifteen seconds. The longer you keep it in your mouth, the more the flavour notes will reveal themselves.
Now, think about what you can taste. Which of The Dalmore’s exceptional flavour notes have been sparked? Maybe it’s the tropical fruit top notes of The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve? Sweet notes such as Madagascan vanilla and thick treacle toffee of The Dalmore Aged 25 Years? Or even the nutmeg and cinnamon spice notes of The Dalmore Aged 18 Years?
Can you detect other elements? Perhaps rich honey, chocolate or even a hint of oak?
The Perfect Serve?
To fully appreciate The Dalmore’s complex flavours, you may consider adding a few drops of cool, still water. However, you can enjoy your whisky in whichever way you prefer – neat, over ice, with soda to make a highball, or in a cocktail.
Tasting The Dalmore is a deeply personal experience, interacting uniquely with one’s own palate and often revealing unexpected notes beyond those listed on the packaging. This personal discovery is a part of the joy of whisky appreciation.
Each serve reveals different aspects to our exceptional whisky, making every whisky tasting experience uniquely rewarding.
Join The Dalmore Guild to hear more about our prestigious whisky releases and upcoming events.
