Swirling Your Bourbon Isn't Just For Show – Here's Why It Helps

To some, seeing an individual whirl bourbon around in their glass can come off as snooty. Yet that person might just be showing that they know how to taste whiskey like a pro. Perhaps it is an act, but even if that were the case, they are still deploying a method used during tastings that truly helps to elevate the bourbon drinking experience. While there are a number of whiskey tasting etiquette mistakes that will make a bartender cringe, swirling your bourbon around the glass isn't one of them.

Chris Blatner, founder of Urban Bourbonist, LLC, had some things to say about swirling the amber liquor before tasting it. As an Executive Bourbon Stewart and Executive Director of Bourbon Charity, he harbors extensive knowledge about Kentucky's finest. When asked if creating a miniature whirlpool in your glass has any true objective, he said it has a legitimate aim. "Yes, just like adding water to whiskey, swirling it in the glass can help to open up additional aromas and flavors as oxygen interacts with the whiskey," Blatner noted. Ultimately, the intricate and often complex flavors in the spirit sometimes need to be teased out, and briefly twirling the liquid around is one way to accomplish this.

Bourbon frequently has an oaky, caramel-like profile that comes with subtle hints of vanilla, smoke, and spice. Sometimes, welcome aromas of citrus and tobacco work their way into the mix, too, depending on the particular bourbon you're enjoying. With numerous varieties of this spirit, certain flavors can dominate the rest, making it difficult to fully appreciate the essence of other complimentary notes.

Adding a few drops of water to bourbon is one way to engage with these more subtle flavors, but that only works once per glass. What's more, according to Blatner, "Swirling is certainly a good way to see if your whiskey changes while drinking." Over a short period of time, your palate will adjust to the forceful alcohol bite of the bourbon, meaning some of the faint aromas that linger in the background become more easily recognizable as you go. Giving the liquid a quick tour around the glass can accelerate this process, as the surrounding oxygen agitates the chemical compounds responsible for the delicate flavors and aromas, granting them an opportunity to make themselves known.