How to Order Whiskey Without Pretending You Know What You’re Doing

Whiskey has a funny way of making people nervous.

Maybe it’s the guy swirling his glass like he’s judging a wine competition. Maybe it’s the menu with words like single barrel and bottled-in-bond. Or maybe you just don’t want to order something that sounds like you picked it because it looked cool on Mad Men. Here’s the secret: Nobody starts out knowing this stuff.

Whiskey. Bourbon. Rye. What’s the Difference?

Let’s clear this up first.

Whiskey is the category.

Bourbon is American whiskey made from at least 51% corn and aged in brand-new charred oak barrels. That’s where the caramel, vanilla, and toasted oak flavors come from.

Rye whiskey uses at least 51% rye grain, giving it a drier, peppery spice that makes an incredible Old Fashioned or Manhattan.

Every bourbon is whiskey, not every whiskey is bourbon. Now you can casually correct your friends, or start a heated argument. Chose your path wiseley.

Glasses Actually Matter

Unlike those tiny forks nobody uses at fancy restaurants, different whiskey glasses actually have a purpose.

A Glencairn glass is designed for tasting. The bowl gives the whiskey room to breathe while the narrow opening concentrates the aromas toward your nose. If you’re trying to pick out vanilla, baking spice, smoke, or fruit, this is the glass you want.

A rocks glass is exactly what it sounds like: a short, sturdy glass designed for whiskey over ice. It leaves plenty of room for a large cube that melts slowly and keeps your drink cold without watering it down too quickly.

A double Old Fashioned glass looks almost identical but is a little larger. It’s the workhorse of cocktail bars because it has room for a big ice cube, whiskey, and whatever else belongs in the drink. Around here, you’ll see a lot of Old Fashioneds served in one.

The important thing isn’t memorizing the names, it’s understanding that the glass is chosen to make the drink better, not to make the bartender look fancy.

Why Do Bartenders Stir Whiskey Cocktails?

Because we want them to taste like whiskey!

Drinks like an Old Fashioned, Manhattan, or Negroni are made entirely with spirits. Shaking them would add tiny air bubbles and cloud the drink. Stirring chills the cocktail while adding just enough dilution from the melting ice to smooth out the alcohol and tie everything together. The result is cold, clear, silky, and exactly what the drink was meant to be.

If there’s citrus juice, egg white, cream, or another ingredient that needs to be mixed aggressively, we’ll shake it instead. It’s not tradition for tradition’s sake - it’s using the right technique for the drink.

How Should You Order Whiskey?

Neat if you want it by itself.

On the rocks if you like it chilled.

With a splash of water if you want to open up the aromas.

In an Old Fashioned if that’s your thing.

The only wrong way to drink whiskey is the way you don’t enjoy.

One Last Thing

Don’t be intimidated by whiskey culture. Ask questions and try something new. Your bartender would much rather spend two minutes helping you find a bourbon you’ll love than watch you order the most expensive pour because you thought that’s what experienced whiskey drinkers do.

Good bars aren’t about making people feel like outsiders, they’re about making regulars.