Why does a bourbon taste good one night and not the next?

[Birdie1212]

I started my bourbon journey about a year ago and have been lucky enough to drink both high end and low end during that time, but i seem to find that bottles taste different on different nights. I understand that as oxidization starts it can change the taste, but for me its sometimes night to night. For example on Monday night I had a couple of pours of the latest Michters 10 yr, and it was very nice, last night I went back for more and it did not taste as good.

Funny thing is for Rye it seems, to me, to stay consistent on my palate, same for single malt scotch.

Anyone else have the same experience?

[tanstaafl2]

59 minutes ago, Birdie1212 said:

I started my bourbon journey about a year ago and have been lucky enough to drink both high end and low end during that time, but i seem to find that bottles taste different on different nights. I understand that as oxidization starts it can change the taste, but for me its sometimes night to night. For example on Monday night I had a couple of pours of the latest Michters 10 yr, and it was very nice, last night I went back for more and it did not taste as good.

Funny thing is for Rye it seems, to me, to stay consistent on my palate, same for single malt scotch.

Anyone else have the same experience?

I think you have answered your own questions!

Yes, I think most of us have noticed differences in the same whiskey from one time to the next.

Some people may noticed the same thing as you with regard to rye and scotch, but perhaps not many as that is pretty specific. I find most styles of whiskey and for that matter most spirits in general can taste different from one time to the next, to include rye and malt. Every palate is different!

[Birdie1212]

Thanks, I see that my palate may differ to yours and we may both taste the same bourbon and get different results  but you would have though an individual palate would remain somewhat the same.

[flahute]

Happens to me all the time. Lots of things can affect your palate. What you ate or drank is a big factor. A bit of allergy affecting your sinuses can do it. Palate burnout can be a factor if you had barrel proofers a few days in a row. 

It's normal for most of us. 

[Special Reserve]

I like starting with a fresh palate, namely in the early morning just after waking up and finishing the dental care.

[cazolman]

It happens a lot. It seems the worst for me when I have had foods that are full of flavor. Heavy spices, salt, sweet, sour, etc. That is why I like to try a new whiskey several times before trying to really analyze it. location, mood and who you are with can also really change the way you taste. 

[b1gcountry]

This describes me almost exactly. Even to the point where bourbon varies more than rye or scotch. I don't know why. I have some theories, but don't really know how to test them.

basically, I theorize we have different kinds of taste receptors in our mouths. We taste food by the combination of the different taste receptors that get simulated. If one type of taste receptor gets overly stimulated, it loses sensitivity. So if the fatty receptors are desensitized, the whiskey will taste a lot different than if the bitter receptors were desensitized. Again , this is my wild conjecture, and not backed by any science.

 

 do believe things taste the best on a relatively empty stomach, but some of my favorite press have been right after a nice dinner

[bdrinker]

4 hours ago, b1gcountry said:

This describes me almost exactly. Even to the point where bourbon varies more than rye or scotch. I don't know why. I have some theories, but don't really know how to test them.

basically, I theorize we have different kinds of taste receptors in our mouths. We taste food by the combination of the different taste receptors that get simulated. If one type of taste receptor gets overly stimulated, it loses sensitivity. So if the fatty receptors are desensitized, the whiskey will taste a lot different than if the bitter receptors were desensitized. Again , this is my wild conjecture, and not backed by any science.

 

 do believe things taste the best on a relatively empty stomach, but some of my favorite press have been right after a nice dinner

There is some truth to what you say. If you drink the same bourbon night after night, your palate gets de-sensitized. That's why I may have a bourbon one night, then a scotch the next night, or even rum or tequila, to keep my palate rotating so to speak.

Also, If I don't have a drink for a week and then have a pour, it tastes great. Palates need a break sometimes.

[Special Reserve]

8 hours ago, cazolman said:

It happens a lot. It seems the worst for me when I have had foods that are full of flavor. Heavy spices, salt, sweet, sour, etc. That is why I like to try a new whiskey several times before trying to really analyze it. location, mood and who you are with can also really change the way you taste. 

This is the main cause of variation in taste.

[Richnimrod]

I'm fairly sure this occurs with some regularity to everybody (with the possible exception of trained professionals like Master Distillers).    I know it happens to me quite a bit.    Previously consumed foods and beverages can certainly change one's perceptions.    Aromas in the tasting room do for sure.    Having a cold, or worst of all a sinus issue will definitely do it.    Even the pollen in the air for many can cause the changes.    It's not a big issue for me, as I expect it.    Whenever I pour something I expect to really enjoy, and don't find it satisfying; I have often just poured it back and decided whether or not to bother with any other drams.

[mhatzung]

I have found that a heavy garlic meal or peppers such as jalapeno poppers that leave that capsaicin oil on my tongue, etc. will cause my bourbon to taste awful. I hate those nights. To help clean my palate I have found peanuts seem to help. I'm sure there are other palate cleansers that are even more effective.

[Paddy]

I find that raw nuts (I especially enjoy almonds or pecans), without any added salt, are great for a palate recalibrate. 

Chocolate works pretty well also!