What "Full-Bodied" And 7 Other Drink Jargons Actually Mean

It's either they're a walking whisky dictionary, or they just have this magic ability to identify the type of whisky served just from one sip.

Oh, and they always look so classy when they drink.

And most of the time we just nod along with them and drink our whiskies quietly because we only know one English word to describe our drink - "nice". Or "good". 

These are pretty straightforward. We all know how something "sweet" tastes like, and how certain drinks make your mouth feel "dry". And being Malaysians, we're pretty familiar with the "spicy" flavour. There aren't any other fancy words to describe these!

But if you're still unsure if you can use "spicy" to describe your glass of whisky, see if it makes you wince like this guy:

If it does, your whisky most probably tastes spicy. 

Smoky
When someone describes a whisky as "smoky", they most probably mean that it tastes a little 'burned'. Whisky gets its smokiness from peat, which is what the distilleries use to heat the barley at the final stage of the malting process. Naturally, the smoke will rise and cover the barley, giving it a nice smoky flavour. 

Whiskies distilled in the Highlands, Islands, and Islay regions are known for its peaty and smoky flavours. Peat is the main fuel source in these regions, especially in Islay, as it can be found almost everywhere.  

Fruitiness 
This is a very delicate flavour and is usually more noticeable in lighter whiskies. Take a sip of it and roll the whisky around your mouth. Try to connect what you're tasting to some flavours you're familiar with. If you can taste flavours that remind you of berries, oranges, or even apples, you could describe the whisky as "fruity".

If fruity whiskies are your thing, then you should look out for single malt Scotch produced in the Speyside and Highland regions.

Floral
You usually detect this smell before tasting the whisky. Does it smell like a bouquet of flowers, a garden, or even grass? That's what your drinks expert friend refers to as the "floral notes". 

Light and delicate whiskies have a more prominent floral note, which is common in whiskies produced in the Lowlands region. 

A whisky is described as "full-bodied" when it has a complex flavour profile. Depending on the types of casks and the duration they are aged, whiskies produced can end up having more than one dominant flavour. That is what whisky lovers mean by their drink being full-bodied.

For example, a rich and rounded whisky like the Singleton of Glen Ord 15 Years Old reveals hints of melons at its own very elegant pace. 

Whiskies that are described as "light" or "light-bodied" tend to have a clearer and fresher taste. Some of these whiskies remind you of dried fruits, while others have a really clean floral smell.

To get a light bodyweight, the whisky will need to be distilled many times. This will also give the whisky its fruity note. 

Remember: there's no right or wrong when it comes to identifying whisky flavours. Everyone has a set of flavours they're familiar with, which is largely dependent on the type of food they're exposed to on a regular basis. So just tell it as it is :) 

If you find that a whisky is sweet and spicy, then feel free to describe it as such! Similarly, if you find the taste familiar - like honey, vanilla, or even cherries - go ahead and say so.

Cheers to that!

According to the International Wine and Spirit Research, The Singleton is also the highest-selling single malt whisky of 2016.

For those who enjoy rich, full-bodied whiskies with a hint of fruit, you can learn more about The Singleton's whiskies here.