Fall into the Charm of Whiskey This Christmas!

Until My Nose Becomes a Rudolph Nose

Shimmering lights brightly illuminate the streets, and hearing the ringing of the charity bell by my ear, I feel that Christmas has come again without fail this year. A special day that comes only once a year, but rather than Christmas Day itself, the time spent planning and preparing for that day excites our hearts even more.

The editor, who was wondering what special days to record this Christmas, decided to indulge in a slightly tipsy mood from the evening of the 24th until Christmas Day. For that long night, a drink that could be enjoyed cleanly for a long time was needed, and it was important to find a drink that was reasonably priced yet did not compromise on quality. After much consideration, the chosen whiskey is Evan Williams Black.

“Evan Williams Black”

If you know the charm of bourbon whiskey, this is a name you’ve probably heard at least once. It ranks second in global bourbon whiskey sales, but it was not officially launched in Korea, so it could only be obtained through word of mouth at Namdaemun liquor stores. This made many enthusiasts feel even more regretful. However, since last month, it has been stably imported into Korea, making it easily accessible. At the same time, it has come to us at a reasonable price in the 30,000 KRW range. The price is cheaper than before, but the taste is by no means cheap.

Alcohol content: 43%

Neat

First, I want to enjoy the flavor and aroma of bourbon straight. Pour bourbon into a glass up to about three finger-widths high, then admire it with your eyes. The bourbon reflected in the clear glass shows an amber color with a slight reddish tint and is clear without any residue.

The color of whiskey is determined in proportion to the time it contacts the cask during the aging process. Naturally, the longer the period, the darker the color becomes. Evan Williams Black shows a deep color for a product aged about 5 to 7 years.

After admiring it visually, smell the bourbon. It is important to inhale the subtle lingering scent through your nose. If you put your nose too close, you may smell the strong alcohol scent rather than the whiskey aroma. Slowly swirling the glass in a circular motion, vanilla, oak, and honey scents rise to the tip of the nose. Feeling these lingering aromas allows you to imagine the bourbon’s aging process in the cask.

Now, let’s check the taste seriously. Drawn by the heavy yet smooth throat feel, you slowly empty the glass one sip at a time. The bourbon tastes stronger and more fragrant going down the throat than when held in the mouth, and the sensation lasts for a long time. Even though it was stored at room temperature, the moment the bourbon goes down the throat, the throat feels warm, and it warms deep inside the body. Isn’t whiskey that soothes the cold of winter the perfect drink for the season?

On the Rocks

Whiskey’s original taste dulls as the temperature drops, so whiskey enthusiasts don’t recommend too much ice. However, for those who find drinking bourbon straight burdensome, ice is the best savior. Add ice and slowly swirl the glass, diluting the rich bourbon as you drink.

Whiskey tastes completely different depending on the temperature. Take a sip right after adding ice when it feels cold, then another sip as the ice slowly melts into the whiskey. Experience the changes step by step.

Highball

Enjoying the unique flavor of bourbon as is is great, but here is a recipe for those who find drinking it straight burdensome. Good whiskey tastes great whether drunk alone or with accompaniments. Still, to retain some of bourbon’s sweetness, I will make a highball with only the ‘necessary’ ingredients rather than adding many extras.

① First, lightly squeeze one lemon wedge into a glass chilled in the refrigerator. Be careful not to press the lemon too hard, as the juice may become bitter.

② Fill the glass containing lemon juice with ice, then squeeze another wedge into it. Put the squeezed lemon into the glass as well. The order of lemon-ice-lemon is to evenly spread the lemon juice.

③ Pour bourbon whiskey to fill about one-quarter of the glass.

④ Fill the remaining space with tonic water and stir well to mix the contents. The editor used tonic water, but ginger ale or sparkling water can also be used.

⑤ Finish by rubbing lemon juice around the rim of the glass. This enhances the refreshing lemon flavor when drinking.

For pairing, steak or sweet cream cheese is recommended. The editor often enjoys dried snacks like jerky when drinking whiskey, but this is an unexpectedly recommended pairing.

Ready to stay up all night with whiskey this Christmas ♥

Photo by Seo Jeongjun, guest photographer

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.