What Does Whiskey Taste Like?

by Dane Wilson | Last Updated: October 6, 2022

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One of the most popular alcoholic drinks that you can get in this world is whiskey. Whether it’s a Scotch whisky, Irish, American, or even Japanese whiskey, there are a wide variety of potential possibilities within just this one specific part of the liquor landscape.

That said though, if you are unfamiliar with whiskey drinking, then you may find yourself slightly overwhelmed. Especially since even something which seems simple, like “what does whiskey taste like” can actually be quite a complex question to answer. Don’t worry though, as everything you need to know can be found below.

Table of Contents

• What Is Whiskey?
• What Does Whiskey Taste Like?
  • Whiskey Compared to Other Alcohols
  • The Different Types of Whiskey
    • Scotch Whiskey
    • Malt Whiskey
    • Irish Whiskey
    • Bourbon Whiskey
    • Wheat Whiskey
    • Rye Whiskey
    • Japanese Whiskey
    • American Whiskey 
    • Canadian Whiskey
    • Tennessee Whiskey
• Answered – What Does Whiskey Taste Like?
• FAQ – What Does Whiskey Taste Like?

What Is Whiskey?

If completely unfamiliar with drinking alcohol, on the whole, you may have absolutely no idea what whiskey really is. As such, it can be easy to assume that one whiskey is the same as any other.

However, different types of whiskey are actually incredibly different from one another. This being to the point where the term whiskey itself can be argued to be something of an umbrella term for multiple similar yet distinct drinks.

Simply put though, the main thing that defines a drink within the whiskey category is the methodology used to make the drink itself. These steps are to use grains as the primary ingredients to first create a decoction mash and then ferment, distill, and finally barrel age the whiskey. As such, there are variations in how certain parts of the process may be conducted, especially so with aging, which lead to different final products. 

What Does Whiskey Taste Like?

With the above in mind, inevitably, whiskey can have a wide variety of different flavors and aromas. Additionally, the mouthfeel of different whiskies can also vary quite significantly. This depends on the type of whiskey and the variations in the technique used for its creation. That said though, some of the more common characteristics used to describe whiskey tastes are as follows:

• Full Bodied: Also referred to as having a complex flavor profile. Regarding whiskey, and indeed other types of alcohol, this means that there is a myriad of dominant flavors present.
• Light-Bodied: As you may guess, the term light bodied is near enough the opposite to that of full-bodied. As such, a whiskey described in such a manner will only have one or two dominant flavors, which provide a clear and simple flavor.
• Delicate / Light: This will be used to describe a whiskey that is quite mild in its flavoring. This doesn’t mean that it will have a low alcohol content as repeated distilling will remove the flavor provided by the initial grains.
• Bold: Again, this is the opposite of light. Meaning that the flavors present will be significantly more prominent. Sometimes people will also describe this characteristic as being rich.
• Smooth: This is quite a multifaceted term that may mean one or many things to different people. However, most commonly, when a whiskey’s flavor is described as smooth, this means that it doesn’t have a harsh alcoholic taste or burn (although many drinkers love whiskey burn). Additionally, it can also be used to describe a whiskey that has a softer flavor profile or, in the case of blended whisky, one that harmonizes and balances the flavors well.
• Sweet: As opposed to some of the prior characteristics, this is quite self-explanatory really. This can manifest in a variety of ways. For example, a sweet whiskey may have a vanilla or caramel flavor.
• Spicy: Again, as you can probably imagine, these are whiskies that have a bit of a kick to them. These can come from the choice of grain or from added ingredients later on.
• Floral: This may sound slightly pretentious, but truly all this means is that the whiskey with a taste and aroma reminiscent of that of flowers.
• Fruity: As you can likely guess, these whiskies will have a fruity taste to them. In particular, some common examples include apples, cherries, or oranges.
• Briny: More commonly encountered with whiskies by the sea, this is simply a savory and slightly salty aroma that is typically associated with open water.
• Smoky / Peaty Flavor: Often, this is a trait that arises when burning peat is used to dry out the mash during the malting process. The result of which being that the mash and, thereby, the subsequent whiskey will inherit this distinct smokey aroma and flavor.

Whiskey Compared to Other Alcohols

If you’ve had some other alcoholic drinks before but never whiskey, you may be curious about which are similar and which are significantly different. With that in mind, below are a few comparisons between whiskey and some of the most popular alcoholic drinks out there:

• Vodka: In terms of classification, vodka and whiskey may seem somewhat similar. Additionally, they are both common alcoholic drink mixers. However, this is truly where the similarities end as vodka is less flavor intense than whiskey, is completely clear, and typically not the primary focus of cocktails that incorporate it. Truly though, when comparing vodka and whiskey, these traits are just the tip of the iceberg.
• Rum: Again, as both these drinks are spirits, they may seem quite similar. Especially since many rums are a similar color to whiskey. Additionally, many rums will have similar tastes to whiskeys, such as that or vanilla cream or spicy flavors. However, rums will lack the grainy flavor of whiskey due to being derived from sugar cane. As such, only very sweet whiskey will be truly comparable to rum.
• Beer: As surprising as it may be, there are some notable commonalities between beer and whiskey. In particular, both drinks are derived from grains and have somewhat similar flavor traits as a result. That said, from there, the differences become more pronounced as beer tends to be thicker and has a more hoppy and bitter taste. Although, some more bitter whiskies are more reminiscent of beer than you may expect. Additionally, whiskey is always more potent than beer averaging around forty to fifty percent ABV. Meanwhile, beer will typically be closer to around five percent ABV.

The Different Types of Whiskey

As mentioned above, there are a wide variety of different types of whisky available on the market. Each of these provides there own unique flavor profiles. As such, due to the diverse array of possibilities, it can be argued that whiskey is really an umbrella term for a variety of drinks. A fact that is complicated further by the existence of multiple whiskey varieties. With that in mind then, the different types of whiskey you’re likely to encounter include the following varieties:

• Scotch Whiskey
• Malt Whiskey
• Irish Whiskey
• Bourbon Whiskey
• Wheat Whiskey
• Rye Whiskey
• Japanese Whiskey
• American Whiskey 
• Canadian Whiskey
• Tennessee Whiskey

Scotch Whiskey

The origins of whiskey can be traced back to the Scottish. As such, Scotch whiskey is very much a very popular variety. Albeit one that some may find to be something of an acquired taste. Although, the smoothness that Scotch is known for is something that no one can really deny.

Flavour-wise, scotch whiskey is typically characterized by a distinct smokiness from burning peat moss to drying the barley mash before it is fermented. Additionally, Scotch whiskey is known to frequently incorporate malted rye, spicy and buttery flavors along with a variety of other tastes.

Malt Whiskey

A variation of Scotch that uses a malted barley mash as its foundation. The result of which being a more prominent barley flavor which makes malts have a woody oaky feel.

Of course, the smokiness that another scotch whisky is known for is also still there. However, with malt whiskeys, this is often more understated. Additionally, when blended, the earthy and smokey notes of malt whiskey make for a great contrast to other present flavors.

Irish Whiskey

Often compared to Scotch, in particular, blended Scotch whisky, the Irish variety does share some similarities. Some of these include the potential smokiness or barley notes.

However, Irish whiskey is distinctly sweeter for the most part and often emphasizes flavors such as caramel. Additionally, Irish whiskey is often incredibly smooth, even when compared to scotch. This being due to the common practice of double or triple-distilling Irish whiskey.

Bourbon Whiskey

The most iconic variation of all American whiskey is, of course, bourbon. This is a variation of whiskey produced in the United States that will be derived from a corn-based mash. As such, this type of whiskey will often be noticeably sweeter than Irish, Malt, or Scotch whiskey varieties.

Additionally, the sweetness of bourbon is often emphasized with flavor notes such as caramel, fruits, and cinnamon. The latter of which combines with the burn of these whiskies to give many bourbons a bit of extra kick.

Wheat Whiskey

Named for primarily using wheat in the primary grain for their initial mash. These types of whiskey have something of a bread-like flavor to them as a result of wheat being the primary grain.

However, that doesn’t mean that wheat whiskies taste like a liquid loaf. No, instead, they are known for their layered added flavors, including toffee, honey, spice, vanilla, and many more. Additionally, these types of whiskey will also be a wonderful choice for those looking for a smooth whiskey that practically glides down your throat.

Rye Whiskey

Like with wheat whiskey, rye whiskey gets its name from the fact that it incorporates predominantly rye grains in the initial mash. Typically these will also be mixed with malted barley and some other grains.

The result of this is that the rye whiskey taste is notably fiery and aggressive. However, it is also distinctively refreshing. That said, they will often have incredibly nuanced flavor profiles, including pepper, spice, oak, caramel, vanilla, and some subtle smoke.

Japanese Whiskey

Heavily influenced by the flavors and techniques used for making Scotch whiskey, Japanese whiskey is, as a result, strikingly similar to its forebear. However, the Japanese have tweaked the methodology somewhat by being double distilled.

The result of this is a whiskey that is smoother and finer whilst also being dryer. The latter of which is balanced out somewhat by the inclusion of citrus or honey. Additionally, the use of Mizunara or Japanese oak during the aging process is responsible for creating extra smokey and oaky flavors.

American Whiskey

American whiskey is something of an umbrella term for different whiskey types made within the United States. They include rye malt whiskey, malt whiskey, wheat whiskey, bourbon whiskey, and corn whiskey.

Now, these are quite diverse. However, in general, American whiskey tends to be sweeter than something like scotch whiskey and has more of an emphasis on added flavors. Some of these include cinnamon, maple syrup, and brown sugar notes.

Canadian Whiskey

Canadian whiskey is quite reminiscent of bourbon. However, it will typically use wheat for the grain mash instead of corn. The result of which being a noticeably smoother and lighter whiskey-drinking experience.

Additionally, it is not uncommon for Canadian whiskey to be blended during the aging process. The reason for this is so that the flavors pop properly.

Tennessee Whiskey

Again the process for making Tennessee whiskey is remarkably similar to that of creating bourbon. However, the unique Lincoln county process employed when making this whiskey causes it to have a superior smoothness.

This process is to charcoal mellow the corn mash slowly and precisely. Following this, when ready for aging the Tennessee whiskey will be aged slowly in European oak barrels.

Answered – What Does Whiskey Taste Like?

As established above, when it comes to identifying what whiskey tastes like, the answer is more complicated than you’d initially think. That said, it will typically have a base flavor of subtle maltiness and alcohol, and is commonly smoked. Atop of which flavors notes such as fruits, vanilla, spice, salt, and floral traits along with many more will also be detectable. As such, if you don’t like your first whiskey, it’s highly recommended to try something different. After all, if you don’t, then you could be missing out on your new favorite liquor. 

FAQ – What Does Whiskey Taste Like?