The best way to enjoy whisky this summer

The world of whisky can be a little bit intimidating. If you do a quick search, there seems to be all kinds of contradicting advice on everything from what to serve it in to if it’s a sin to mix it with anything.

Luckily, I had the chance to chat with Chris Thompson, who is the North American Brand Ambassador for Forty Creek Whisky.

In terms of the “right way” to drink your whisky, it really comes down to how you personally prefer it. “Enjoy your whiskey the way you like it. Life’s way too short to drink whisky you don’t like,” says Thompson.

To find out how you do like it, Thompson recommends experimenting. “Try it neat, then try it with a bit of water, then on the ice and then with mixes. There’s no wrong way to drink it and it really depends largely on individual preferences.”

As to picking what you’re going to drink out of, the right glass can make a world of difference. For true enthusiasts, the Glencairn nosing glass is the gold standard and really brings out more flavour.

But if that’s not a priority for you, good news from Thompson: “Really, anything other than a Styrofoam cup will work!”

And if you’re looking for something to sip on this summer, Thompson recommends giving The Engineer a try.

The ingredients:

- 2 oz Forty Creek Spike Honey Spiced Whisky

- 0.75 oz lime juice

- 2 dashes of bitters

- Top with ginger beer

To make:

Build cocktail in Collins glass. Add ice and quick stir to mix ingredients. Garnish with lime zest. Enjoy!