Home

How to Train Your Palate to Review Bourbons and Write Tasting Notes

 
Written by Mark Pringle |
Published on:

When I began this journey into the bourbon and whiskey world, I marveled at how bourbon enthusiasts could pick out sophisticated notes in bourbon and other American whiskeys. In fact, I still marvel at the palate of certain experts. 

I wondered, “How did these people train their palates to pick out these notes?” I understood that if you are a sommelier, trained Epicurean, or a culinary artist, you have educated your palate through years of experience in your career. However, I was none of these. In fact, I rarely cooked during my lifetime. I was completely unfamiliar with many of the ingredients, spices, and flavors in the baking and cooking world. How would I train my taste buds so that I could become even a fraction of these seasoned whiskey tasters?

Learn Your Smells and Flavors

Baking Spices

As I read bourbon reviews, I began to accumulate a list of tastes that I was unfamiliar with. Of course, there were certain flavors associated with bourbon and other American whiskeys that I could pick out: caramel, cinnamon, honey, vanilla, cherry, chocolate, sugar, and other flavors that I had been exposed to over the years. So, that’s what I used to describe what I was tasting; things I was familiar with. Describing the texture of the whiskey, was not a problem either. However, I wanted to take my descriptions a step further.

As I continued to read these reviews by professionals, I began to pick out certain common words and phrases that were used to describe notes during their bourbon tasting. These were usually unfamiliar words that fell under the classification of baking spices, spices like cardamom, nutmeg, allspice, turmeric, and cloves, etc. I had heard of these spices but had no idea what they smelled or tasted like. To learn, I went to the store and purchased all of these spices and other flavors. When I brought them into my house, my wife just looked at me and laughed (She knows that I tend to go overboard with my hobbies). Anyway, I began to train my nose to differentiate between these things. This training continues to be a work in progress.

As I read more bourbon reviews, I begin to hear phrases like “dark fruit.” “What fruits are considered dark fruit?” I thought to myself. To find out, I looked them up to attempt to use the fruit instead of this generic phrase. My exposure to many fruits was much greater than my exposure to things like baking spices, so that was an easier transition.

Take Your Time During Your Tasting

Bourbon Tasting Wheels

With this growing foundation of different smells and flavors, I began to use these descriptions in my reviews. However, there was another thing that really helped. I began using a tasting wheel as I experienced the whiskeys. I will look at a tasting wheel and taste at the same time to try to identify specific notes. This is a very good practice as you try to be more descriptive in your bourbon notes.

Smell is Taste

Scientists will tell you that smell is taste. There are only a few flavors we actually taste with our tongues: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and savory. All of the other flavors are things that we experience through smell which then works in conjunction with our taste buds. 

Unfortunately, smell has been a bit problematic because my sense of smell has been damaged by years of reflux. There are certain things that I can’t smell or have to work very hard to detect. That is why writing a review takes a long time for me. My tasting takes a long time. You may also notice that most of my reviews do not get into the higher levels of description. That is currently a product of the limitations of my nose.

Conclusion

The fact remains that if you are not a chef, sommelier, or culinarian, you have to work exceptionally hard to train your palate and nose to describe the notes of a whiskey tasting. Still, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Also, go to the store and buy flavors, spices, and foods that you are unfamiliar with that you frequently see used in bourbon reviews. Become familiar with these things and begin to use them in your reviews.

Most of all, have fun!

See also: The Best Words to Use When Describing Bourbon and How to Host a Bourbon Tasting for Friends

Author: Mark Pringle
Smell IS taste. I am just a guy who has been hit with the bourbon bug and who has come to the conclusion that life is too short to drink average tasting bourbons. Go Gators!
My External Website (External Website Opens in New Window)

Comments

Please Login to Comment
No comments have been posted. Be the first.

Card image cap
Provide Feedback

Would you mind giving us feedback? What do you like or dislike about the website? How can we make it better? What features would you like to see added?

Is Selling Bourbon Illegal? No, But...

Deep within the catacombs of social network bourbon groups and the recesses of secondary bourbon markets, you will find individuals who are attempting to sell individual bottles of hard-to-find bourbo...Read More

Five Things All Bourbon Enthusiasts Should Do to Stay Healthy

Are you an avid bourbon enthusiast who frequently drinks? If so, there are a few things you should routinely do to stay healthy while enjoying your bourbon lifestyle. I love to drink moderatel...Read More

Union Horse Rolling Standard Midwestern Four-Grain Whiskey Review (First Pour)

Nose The first thing I sense on the nose of Union Horse Distilling Co. Rolling Standard Midwestern Four-Grain Whiskey is an initial burst of caramel and then mint, with a mild cinnamon aroma an...Read More