Even those who don't drink much whisky know a very ceremonial glassware called the whisky decanter.
In fact, the use of this instrument to create film and television characters in film and television dramas is not new, such as Don Draper ·in Mad Men, especially Don Draper.
So, what is a whiskey decanter, and how did it become what it is today?
The whisky decanter, which can also be translated as a whisky decanter, is usually made of glass or crystal and is characterized by a wide and stable base for short-term storage of whisky. Its emergence originated from the concept of the field of wine.
At the end of the 17th century, whisky became popular across United Kingdom, and impermeable glass bottles came into the eyes of distillers. However, at this time, the glass bottle blowing process was not long in coming, the production cost was high, and there were very few people who could afford to use glass bottles.
At this time, most people bring their own bowls, cups and other containers to break up the wine.
Moreover, most of the early whiskey glass bottles were very plain and devoid of any ornamentation. Among them, the more popular one is a pot-bellied glass bottle with a relatively large bottle.
However, those who are wealthy are not satisfied with the unsightly pot-bellied glass bottle, and the expensive and luxurious crystal glass wine bottle, the decanter, is their choice.
Over time, whisky decanter designs have become more and more aesthetically pleasing, and there are many types of decanters that can be found on the market today, in all shapes, sizes, and prices.
The use of whiskey decanters is now also more common in dining establishments and social gatherings.
However, compared to wine, the impact of decanters on whisky is not so important.
As we all know, decanting is actually to make the wine come into contact with the air, and make the wine more delicious through oxidation.
For wine, decanting is necessary because the sediment formed by the wine during long-term storage can be separated from the wine body by the decanter, and during the decanting process, the wine comes into contact with the air over a large area, which accelerates the softening of the tannins, making it more delicate and complex.
As a result, many wine decanters are open.
However, as a highly strong spirit, whisky is distilled and filtered, so there is not much sediment to remove and it does not need to be oxidized too much to achieve a better taste.
As a result, today's whisky decanters are more form-oriented, playing a role in storage and aesthetics.
Incidentally, some people also use the whisky decanter as a mixing vessel to blend various whiskies to create a more unique flavor.
One may wonder: why does whisky become supple when it is poured into a decanter for a few days or even weeks?
In fact, there is not much difference between pouring the whisky into the decanter and decanting it in the original bottle for a while after opening the bottle, and the taste change of the whisky is not much.
The softening of the taste of whisky is more due to the effect of the volatilization of the alcohol.
For some barrel strong whiskies, it has a higher alcohol content, evaporates faster, and its palate softening is more obvious.
Generally speaking, the delicate aromas of ultra-high alcohol whisky such as floral and fruity aromas are usually masked, but after the bottle is opened, this subtle aroma gradually reveals itself, making the taste more supple.
However, if the low-alcohol whisky is opened for too long, the floral and fruity aromas may also dissipate together, making the taste too bland.
To put it simply, the higher the concentration of the flavor of whisky, the more resistant it is to decanting, and as mentioned above, strong cask whisky can be decanted to obtain a better taste. However, this step can be done in a wine glass (such as a Glen Kane glass) and it is not necessary to pour it into a decanter.
Of course, whether or not to decant whisky, how long to decanter it, and where to decant it are all up to personal preference, and there is no universal answer.
All in all, these various whisky decanters do not have a significant effect on the taste of whisky, and most people use them because they look good.