My taste buds out of whack

[TXNewDude]

Another rookie question probably.

You guys ever have a day where everything you taste doesn't taste right? Last night I sipped on my regulars and all I could taste was the alcohol astringent taste. Maybe I'm not describing it correctly, but I couldn't get any of the normal oak, sweetness, or anything to hardly come out.

Maybe it's something I ate or coated my tongue with? Anyway, thought I'd ask!

[garbanzobean]

Happens to me occasionally. Just take a break. Drink some beer or milk or something.

[Mr. Bourbon]

This happens to me quite often. I remember chewing some gum before I drank some KCSB and I couldn't really taste the liquor.

When my tastes buds act up like that, I loose my interest in Whisky really fast.

[MTNBourbon]

Yeah, Mix it up!

[fishnbowljoe]

It's not all that unusual Tex. It happens to the best of us from time to time. Call it palate burnout or whatever. Take a break from bourbon. Maybe have something else, or nothing at all for a day or two. This kinda happened to me just last week. I had a pour Friday night, and it was okay, but….. I decided not to have anything over the weekend. Tonight I had a pour, and everything was okay.

[R-Savage]

WHat I usually do is have a 20 oz glass of water or two before I do a pour. I find when the palate is cleansed the whisky tastes the way it should. I avoid spicy foods before I do a pour. try it out. It works for me.

[B.B. Babington]

things taste different on different days. if it doesn't sit well, try a rye or something else. and this is reason I try not to make snap judgements on first sip but drink a second glass and then again on another day.

[Richnimrod]

My taste buddies are somewhat variable day to day... even from afternoon to evening. I rarely see 'em drop all semblance of the expected enjoyment; but, that has occurred. Rarely; thank goodness.

I can usually tell when I have a cold coming on by those instances. ...Sometimes even before any viral symptoms are noticed.

Strangely, on a few occasions I've experienced 'hyper' tasting with a cold, or at least right when I'm coming down with a particularly humid cold.

The other times when tasting is expected to be off, is during or after strong-flavored or very aromatic dishes being eaten; but I assume everybody has those times.

I probably should also mention that I have a notoriously 'iron palate'. Many Boubonitos are able to tease out subtle flavor or aroma nuances that I just can't detect. ...Doesn't affect my enjoyment, however!

[GrPeMi]

I've discovered that Claritin (the allergy pill) really kills my taste. And it's not just a matter of stuffy nose / not stuffy nose. I did an experiment, on a day when I was feeling stuffy, but didn't take any Claritin for the past day or 2 and everything tasted fine. Taking Claritin with my head clear, can't really taste much of anything in terms of wine, beer, spirits.

And like Richnimrod above, I kind of have a blunt palate on a good day, so it's pretty bad when it's off...

So, for example, since I know I'm going to be doing a bunch of tasting this Saturday, I'm going to avoid the allergy drugs and just live with a stuffy head on Friday.

Oh...and un-related to the above, I find that the acid and whatever else in tomato- and pepper-based dishes makes bourbon taste gross.

[393foureyedfox]

days like that are great for getting rid of the stuff you just want to get rid of!

[Xevious]

I probably should also mention that I have a notoriously 'iron palate'. Many Boubonitos are able to tease out subtle flavor or aroma nuances that I just can't detect. ...Doesn't affect my enjoyment, however!

This is me. I guess it shouldn't surprise me since I'm the same way with wines. I lump wine/bourbon into two categories: good and not so good. While a few might be exceptional, I rarely can pick up the stuff that I read others can. In fact I often have no idea what the flavors/aromas are that people are describing by themselves. It doesn't keep me from tasting/enjoying new labels though.

[GaryT]

My taste buddies are somewhat variable day to day... even from afternoon to evening. I rarely see 'em drop all semblance of the expected enjoyment; but, that has occurred. Rarely; thank goodness.

I can usually tell when I have a cold coming on by those instances. ...Sometimes even before any viral symptoms are noticed.

Strangely, on a few occasions I've experienced 'hyper' tasting with a cold, or at least right when I'm coming down with a particularly humid cold.

The other times when tasting is expected to be off, is during or after strong-flavored or very aromatic dishes being eaten; but I assume everybody has those times.

I probably should also mention that I have a notoriously 'iron palate'. Many Boubonitos are able to tease out subtle flavor or aroma nuances that I just can't detect. ...Doesn't affect my enjoyment, however!

Ditto this for the most part. Your description squares up with my experience either immediately before a cold, or during/after. Unfortunately I've found no quick fix to address, and just have to ride it out. I usually try to drink more water than usual, and save my whiskey until I can taste it (or smell it - I'll just remove the cap and if I only get alcohol, I know I'm still out of whack).

[ramblinman]

yep, it sucks, I had a headcold that lingered for several weeks. Not much as far as side effects except that I didn't have much taste distinction, which meant I pretty much quit drinking whiskey for about a month.

It was a boring month.

[ebo]

Everyone has those days. I just move to another spirit for a day or two...usually Tequila. It's good to take a break now and then anyway, and go to something else for a while.

[TXNewDude]

frustrating.......:smiley_acbt:lol

[garbanzobean]

Today scotch smelled like hot garbage. So I had bourbon instead. And then I had a pour of scotch anyway, just to show it who was boss.

[Richnimrod]

Today scotch smelled like hot garbage. So I had bourbon instead. And then I had a pour of scotch anyway, just to show it who was boss.

You tell 'em garbo! Don't ever let 'em see you sweat.

[Renegator]

Today scotch smelled like hot garbage. So I had bourbon instead. And then I had a pour of scotch anyway, just to show it who was boss.

This made me laugh out loud...

[kcgumbohead]

WHat I usually do is have a 20 oz glass of water or two before I do a pour. I find when the palate is cleansed the whisky tastes the way it should. I avoid spicy foods before I do a pour. try it out. It works for me.

I started doing the same thing after discovering and appreciating the many differences between different bourbons. I would look forward to brand x's profile and with the wrong foods/beverages prior, I would get a masked or indistinct version of what I had been looking forward to.

The water and avoiding spicy foods (which I LOVE) prevents the veiling of flavors and I get very good and consistent results. I want to savor my bourbon flavors dammit!!

[black mamba]

If the bourbon doesn't taste right, I usually have a hoppy beer to clean the palate and "prime the pump."

That usually does the trick for me, but if it does not, then I switch to scotch or tequila.