Non-drinker curiousity--What's bourbon taste like? Whiskey?

Question

I'm not a drinker so I haven't ever had whiskey or bourbon and really don't have any clue what they taste like. I'm curious for a description from people who have--particularly if anyone could give me suggestions on what non-alchololic stuff one could mix together to get a good approximation of what it'd taste like. Just curious.

Answer 1

If you dipped some burnt toast in water with some liquid smoke and a tiny bit of molasses

Added alcohol

that would be the flavor

It is an acquired taste

Answer 2

Bourbon Vs Whiskey Taste

Answer 3

First off I just want to say the Jack Daniels is not a Bourbon, all Bourbons are made in Kentucky and Jack is made in Tennessee, also it wouldn't qualify as bourbon even if it were made in Kentucky because of the ingredients and process. As a side note Southern Comfort isn't a bourbon either.

"Southern Comfort is available as 100 proof, 70 proof, or 76 proof. It is often erroneously thought to be bourbon whiskey based—it is actually neutral grain spirits based [1]. Southern Comfort Reserve, however, is a blend of Southern Comfort and 6 year old Bourbon and is 40 percent alcohol."
- Wikipedia

Anyway the taste is hard to describe to a non drinker and varies between bourbons but I'll try. A lot of bourbons are described as "oaky" in taste, usually because of being kept in oak barrels, smoky seems to be common as well. I can't think of any non-alcoholic drink that tastes similar to Bourbon whiskey. You pretty much are going to just have to try some if you want to know what it tastes like. Just remember that it is strong stuff so don't take a huge swig for your first drink or anything like that. Some Bourbons are sweet and some aren't so sweet. Since all Bourbons are by law at least 51% corn. you are going to taste it too, but it isn't exactly like cooked corn since it has been distilled and all.

Answer 4

Bourbon Taste

Answer 5

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Non-drinker curiousity--What's bourbon taste like? Whiskey?
I'm not a drinker so I haven't ever had whiskey or bourbon and really don't have any clue what they taste like. I'm curious for a description from people who have--particularly if anyone could give me suggestions on what non-alchololic stuff one could mix together to get a good...

Answer 6

It's hard to try to compare the flavor of alcohol to someone who's never tasted it, much less the flavors of specific types of alcohol.

If you want to try some without having to go out and buy a whole bottle, you can get the little single serving mini bottles for a sample.

Whiskey in general tastes mostly of alcohol but has a strong flavor of the toasted and charred oak barrels that they're aged in. Fnd a lumberyard that carries white oak. Take a deep sniff of a freshly cut white oak board, imagine it a little toastier and add a hint of vanilla or caramel. The white oak is important...red oak, which you'll find far more easily (home depot, etc) is more harsh smelling and not as sweet (relatively). Beyond the wood flavors and aromas are hints of the grains used (corn, malt, rye, etc) and other nuances like oh so subtle hints of leather, tobacco, earth, apricot.
For someone who's never tasted it before, the first taste will be an overwhelming burn from the alcohol, but eventually, as that fades away, the other flavors will linger...the "finish" as it's called.

Answer 7

Bourbon taste like a dry oak blend. It depends on what type of bourbon or whiskey you try. For example, Jack Daniels or Jim Beam are cheaper and aren't aged to give it that smooth liquor flavor. If you want a smooth bourbon, wild turkey, maker's mark, or Gentlemen Jack are going to have that smooth oak taste. Imagine that you broke a branch off an oak tree so you can smell the fresh oak from the end of the branch, that's what it's going to smell, and taste like.

Answer 8

Most European whiskeys are made of roasted grains (some combination of wheat, rye, and/or barley) and malted barley. Bourbon, on the other hand, is made mostly of corn (true bourbon is made of at least 51% corn).

In both cases, the grains are mashed, roasted, fermented, distilled, and finally aged in oak barrels. Many are also "leached" - filtered through charcoal before they are aged to remove impurities.

Ultimately, a good European whiskey is a smooth drink that tastes like roasted grains, with a heavy overtaste of oak. Imagine roasting nuts over an oak fire; that is a rough approximation of the taste of whiskey. Bourbon is similar, although the high concentration of corn makes it smoother and a lot sweeter.

Answer 9

ALL DEPENDS ON THE AGE OF THE WHISKEY. YOU GET A CREAMY SMOOTH TASTE FROM A 12 YEAR OLD JOHNNY WALKER OR OLDER. YOUNG WHISKEYS WOULD TAKE YOUR BREATH AWAY.
TASTES ARE LIKE CREAMY MOLASSES SMOKE WITH A KICK ALCOHOL TASTE.
JUST DRINK SOME AND SEE

Answer 10

Try half a shot of Southern Comfort with Cherry Coke.
Its strong stuff if your a newbie. You can taste the charcoal in Jack Daniels (from the barrel), Southern Comfort is little mellower and doesnt have the charcoal taste.