Tastebuds - An Off Night Wastes A Good Pour

[JamesW]

Hi Folks, This has happened to me on more than one occasion and I was just wondering if anyone else has had the unfortunate experience of pouring a top shelf gem only to find that your tastebuds are completely shot. This happened to me the other night when I reached for my PVW20. I was blown away when the usual buttery toffee I so love had been replaced by a bitter off-taste.:smiley_acbt: After forcing myself to finish that pour (never thought I'd have to do that!), my next pour of Lot B was the same! I went to bed miserable that I had wasted such good bourbon.

I realize food and drink consumed earlier in the day can play a major part in this but I haven't been able to nail down the culprit yet. If this has happened to you, how would you go about cleaning your palate so that you can go back to enjoying your evening.

btw- To be on the safe side now I pour just a few drops in my glass to test my tastebuds before committing to a full pour of the good stuff. Cheers!

[ILLfarmboy]

I've been on a grapefruit kick lately and I have found that it ruins any whisk(e)y for the rest of the night.

[ggilbertva]

I would venture to say that its happened to all of us. At times a particular whiskey will be really over the top good to me....I go back to it later and it's lost some of its luster. You are correct that certain foods can affect the taste buds which can affect the taste results when drinking. Health plays a role and your mood can also affect it.

[spun_cookie]

Try a cup of English Breakfast tea (decaf or not) to clean the pallet... it is also a very good pairing.... as odd as it sounds...

I have found it will remove the citrus and garlic that drastically change the taste of the bourbon....

[JamesW]

I've been on a grapefruit kick lately and I have found that it ruins any whisk(e)y for the rest of the night.

Funny you should mention grapefruit because I may have had some of that earlier in the day. It's odd that tastebuds would be shot so many hours later though.... oh well, maybe no more grapefruit for me :grin:

[JamesW]

Try a cup of English Breakfast tea (decaf or not) to clean the pallet... it is also a very good pairing.... as odd as it sounds...

I have found it will remove the citrus and garlic that drastically change the taste of the bourbon....

Thanks Spun, I will definitely try some of the decaf. Can't have meals and such interfering with my bourbon drinking.:cool:

[Slowpoke]

Spicy foods seem to do a number on my tastebuds as well as anything citrus.

The "safety pour" is an excellent idea and a method I now use whenever I reach for the PVW 20 or any other higher price bourbon.

[havok66]

Try a cup of English Breakfast tea (decaf or not) to clean the pallet... it is also a very good pairing.... as odd as it sounds...

I have found it will remove the citrus and garlic that drastically change the taste of the bourbon....

Spun,

Did'nt you tell me something about metal deficiencies in the body that could effect taste?

[JamesW]

Try a cup of English Breakfast tea (decaf or not) to clean the pallet... it is also a very good pairing.... as odd as it sounds...

I have found it will remove the citrus and garlic that drastically change the taste of the bourbon....

I just asked my wife what we had for dinner a few nights ago to see if I could pinpoint the culprit and she remembered it was linguine with garlic and olive oil! So it must be the darn garlic that cost me a decent pour!!!

--- guess I'll just have to ward off the vampires with my bourbon breath instead

[JamesW]

Spicy foods seem to do a number on my tastebuds as well as anything citrus.

The "safety pour" is an excellent idea and a method I now use whenever I reach for the PVW 20 or any other higher price bourbon.

I like that label Slowpoke - "Safety Pour", I'm feeling safer already :cool:

[JamesW]

Well last night I forgot about safety pours and all that and laid out a nice pour of PVW 15 only to be unhappily reminded of this sage advice. I'd had a big plate of pasta with garlic and oil for dinner and can now finally pinpoint garlic as the culprit for wasting a good pour. I literally had to force myself to finish it (being Pappy and all) and then went for a more modest pour of Antique. STAY AWAY FROM THE GARLIC!!!!

[Stu]

Interesting! I love garlic and my wife cooks about everything with garlic and onions. I drink my whisk(e)y neat because I enjoy the flavor best that way. Are there any others out there who are garlic eaters and whiskey lovers and find no problem with taste buds when drink?

[Sijan]

I haven't noticed any problems associated with garlic, as I use it a lot in my cooking, but I haven't been paying close attention to the issue either.

Before I drink whiskey, I generally pour myself a small cup of water and swish the contents around in my mouth pretty vigorously a few times to help clear off the palate. Probably won't get rid of really strong lingering flavors, but it seems to work pretty well for me.

That said, I do occasionally experience off nights with even my favorite whiskeys and wines.

[ILLfarmboy]

I can't remember garlic, consumed earlier in the day, ever messing up the taste of bourbon.

I like dishes like shrimp scampi with a scotch as an accompaniment. Garlic may however mess up the taste of an Irish, Irish whiskeys being fruity and floral.

[Stu]

I haven't noticed any problems associated with garlic, as I use it a lot in my cooking, but I haven't been paying close attention to the issue either.

Before I drink whiskey, I generally pour myself a small cup of water and swish the contents around in my mouth pretty vigorously a few times to help clear off the palate. Probably won't get rid of really strong lingering flavors, but it seems to work pretty well for me.

That said, I do occasionally experience off nights with even my favorite whiskeys and wines.

__________________

-Dan

Dan,

I think you hit the nail on the head, I, too, always cleanse my palette before a pour. The only thing I like to mix on my palette with a good drink is a good cigar (or Dane's jerky and sausage).

Stu

[Tennessee Dave]

I often find that my favorites seem "off" with certain pipe tobaccos. Unfortunately since I enjoy many different ones in different pipes I don't know what collides with what until I try it. Oh well...