People do n’t often cite the recent , cracking Aaliyah when talking about whiskey , but her song " Age Ai n’t Nothing but a Number " extend a lesson for lover of the brown hooey : older whiskeys are n’t necessarily well - try than younger ones . It does n’t intend the age of a whiskey is n’t important , it just means old is n’t synonymous with good . We spoke to expert in the whiskey manufacture to get their takes on the eld issue regarding Kentucky and Scotland ’s favorite spirit . After read this , you might think twice about furcate over more money for an senior whiskey .
Super-old whiskeys aren’t a thing for a reason
" Excessive senescence " is something usually impute to that piteous Benjamin Button kid , but it ’s also a bad thing for Scotch and bourbon . " you’re able to find many wondrous [ malt whisky ] whiskey aged six , eight , or 10 years that have very specific gustatory perception and flavors that are lost with excessive aging when the wood character begin to dominate , " says Dr. Nick Morgan , the head of whisky outreach at British booze - maker Diageo .
And while Scotch can get ahead added character from being age up to 40 years , bourbon is n’t so favorable . Jamie Boudreau of Seattle whiskey palaceCanonsays that " given [ the USA ’s ] affectionate mood and fresh , newly charred barrels , an American whiskey would be completely undrinkable when approach [ that old age ] . " That explains why you do n’t see too much whisky out there slapped with a " 100 old age old " label on the nursing bottle – besides , who the hell could wait that long for a drink ?
Whiskey is better judged by the quality of what’s in the bottle
If you thought that age was the definitive way to adjudicate a whiskey , it ’s not your fault . It ’s not your fault . We ’re going to tell you that until you call for us , Matt Damon .
" For ten the whisky diligence had marketed age statements as a sign of quality , so it ’s no marvel that new whiskey drinker stay on to guess a bottleful ’s content on the act printed on the recording label , " says Becky Paskin , editor program ofScotchWhisky.com . But they should n’t !
" Age will give you some item of reference in terms of social system of the whiskey , but is older always effective ? perfectly not , " mention Bill Thomas from standout DC whisky barJack Rose . " Some whiskeys will show good at eight , and some will show honorable at 10 . And some will show near at 30 . It depends . "
Roman Sigaev/Shutterstock (edited)
Thomas even refer that he ’s go steady five - yr single - malt whiskey ( by law , Scotch must be matured for three years ) auctioned off at two to three times more than the original retail price , simply because reviewer and whisky lovers have recognized it as being something special .
The best whiskey is a matter of taste, not age
Let ’s use a bottle of Pappy Van Winkle as an object lesson for this example in buying bourbon . Pappygoes for up to $ 3,000 a bottleful . Say you have the option to buy a 23 - year or a 15 - class bottle . While you might imagine the older one would be the more coveted one , that ’s not what Thomas would select . He says the 23 - year is too oaky for his tastes , and prefers the 15 - year , which has a mellow proof . It does n’t signify that all 15 - yr whiskeys are better than all 23 - days , but it is for him within that peculiar brand .
So next time you head to the liquor memory , there ’s no need to drop extra dough on a bottle just because it has an impressive - sound long time financial statement on the label . Age ai n’t nothing but a number , after all .
Sign up herefor our daily Thrillist e-mail , and get your fix of the best in food / potable / playfulness .
Lee Breslouer/Thrillist
Flickr/Alex Brown
Flickr/Edsel Little