TASTING NOTES
Did you know?
"Palate" simply refers to the group of sensory tissues in our mouth and nostrils that are largely responsible for how we perceive smell and taste. Women - it turns out - have significantly more taste buds and a keener sense of smell than men. When tasting things like spirits and wine, this has shown to translate into different flavor experiences. So, we are excited to share the tasting notes below from both a male and female sommelier to provide you with their diverse perspectives.
legado whiskey
STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY
APPEARANCE: GOLDEN AMBER
AGED: NEW OAK BARRELS
INGREDIENTS: 95% RYE AND 5% BARLEY
40% ALC / 80 PROOF ABV
Vicki Tomiser
CS, CSS, CSW, CPW
Vicki Tomiser, Vice President of Customer Experience for Teneral Cellars, a woman owned and run wine company that believes wine can be a conduit for change. Vicki grew up in Frankfort, Kentucky, the heart of bourbon country. She is a Certified Sommelier from the Court of Master Sommeliers; a Certified Specialist of Wine and Certified Specialist of Spirits from the Society of Wine Educators; and a Certified Wine Professional from the Culinary Institute of America, but her favorite title is “Mom” to her 11 year old daughter, Willow.
SHE SAYS…
Legado Whiskey starts with caramelized brown sugar and crème brulee melding into grilled peaches, poached pear with nutmeg and vanilla wrapped in a tasty pie crust. Includes hints of acacia flower and honeycomb as well.
The finish is long and satisfying with a pleasing integration of alcohol and flavor.
david metcalf
David Metcalf is a certified sommelier and spirits specialist. Originally from New Orleans and now a decade into a Sacramento love affair, he is always excited by the connection of people, place and taste.
HE SAYS…
Legado Straight Rye greets your palate with butterscotch and tamarind up front, but the lovely spices grab control afterwards. Aromatic white pepper, coriander and cinnamon lead to toasted sesame and oak.
This is a bright, fresh style that is great on its own, but it also shines in spirit-forward drinks like the Sazerac or the Brooklyn.
TASTING TIPS
GLASSWARE
Aim for a glass with a wide base that allows you to swirl the whiskey around and a narrow opening that concentrates the delicious aromas for your sniffing pleasure. Enjoy observing the viscosity and color of the liquid in your glass
NOSE
Swirl and Sniff - don’t inhale. Take your time and sniff more than once as whiskey’s aroma unfolds over time. And, as we talked about above, each taster is going to have slightly different experiences so try to tune out the opinions of those around you while you cultivate your own notes.
TASTE
Sniffed enough, get ready to taste your whiskey. Take a very small sip and roll the whiskey around in your mouth. Try to extract the flavors you’re picking up on. When you feel like you’ve gotten a good taste, swallow it. That burning feeling is called the finish. Is it long, short, pleasant, not?