Having a go-to bourbon up your sleeve means you’ll always have a bottle to rely on when the craving for a dram strikes. If you don’t already have a favorite, you might wonder: How do I find a bourbon I’ll like?
We’re here to help! All you need is a few tips and the willingness to do some taste testing. Read on to learn everything you need to know about finding your ideal bottle.
Consider General Flavors
Even if you’re a regular bourbon drinker with a basic grasp on the standard tasting notes in whiskey, going back to square one and intentionally thinking about your flavor preferences can help you build a solid foundation upon which to build your whiskey repertoire.
Some general flavor profiles to consider include:
- Sweet
- Spicy
- Smoky
- Earthy
While thinking about which of these flavors you enjoy is helpful, you should also consider whether or not there are any you dislike. For example, if you’re not a fan of spicy, then you should probably stay away from bourbon with a high percentage of rye in the mashbill. Daviess County Bourbons are all made from a blend of wheated and ryed bourbons. The results are balanced and don’t skew too heavily towards one particular flavor, making them real crowd-pleasers.
Focus on Specific Tasting Notes
Now that we’ve covered the basics, it’s time to dive into the nuances that make different bourbon variations unique. The subtle flavors in bourbon are often attributed to the aging process (time and barrel) and whether it was finished in another type of barrel (like a Cabernet or French oak barrel).
Identifying subtle notes can be difficult if you’re a beginner, so take a look at these examples to get started:
- Notes of Graham Cracker — Daviess County Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Hints of Chocolate — Daviess County French Oak Barrel Finished Bourbon
- An Oaky finish — Daviess County Cabernet Sauvignon Finished Bourbon
- Notes of Toasted Marshmallow — Daviess County Lightly Toasted Barrel Finish
Specific tasting notes like the ones listed above can make you fall in love with a particular bottle. After all, it isn’t difficult to find bourbon that tastes like caramel or vanilla, so paying attention to unique flavors makes all the difference.
Think About Food Pairings
The only thing better than enjoying whiskey on its own is enjoying it alongside a delicious meal — and the flavors in food can impact how you perceive the flavors in your bourbon. You can think about whiskey pairings as you’d think about wine pairings. If you’re about to indulge in a heavy meal, opt for a more full-bodied whiskey so your meal won’t overwhelm your beverage. Alternatively, if you’re enjoying a light bite, choose a whiskey that’s a little more delicate to ensure you can taste all the flavors in your food.
For example, Daviess County Lightly Toasted Barrel Finish is perfect for a light summer dinner, while our Cabernet Finished Bourbon is ideal for serving with a hearty steak.
Whiskey and food should complement each other. The vanilla, caramel, and oak notes are precisely why BBQ is perfect for most bourbon whiskey.
How You Drink Whiskey Matters
What’s in the bottle matters—but so does how you choose to drink your whiskey. One of the most significant factors determining how your whiskey tastes is whether you have it straight, on the rocks, or with water. Adding water or ice lightens and brightens things up, so if you think whiskey tastes too “hot” on its own, try adding a little H2O. If you like adding ice, just remember, it will dilute the whiskey more as it melts, changing the taste.
Daviess County Will Help You Find a Bourbon You’ll Love
Here at Daviess County Bourbon, we offer a range of bourbons that appeal to different palates. Our three signature variants all feature their own unique profiles, and we release another variant each year to keep things interesting. We love introducing new drinkers to the exciting world of whiskey just as much as we love helping seasoned drinkers experience new bottles. The only way to discover your favorite is to start drinking, so pick up a few bottles or book a tour at Lux Row Distillers for a more in-depth lesson on what makes all our bourbons unique.