Bourbon production is concentrated in Kentucky, which produces about 95% of the world's bourbon. Strong alcohol can produce a harsh, hot sensation because oral pain receptors interpret high-proof spirits as very hot liquids. Cooling bourbon with ice reduces burn by diluting alcohol and lowering temperature. Whiskey stones and chilled glass offer cooling without melting and dilution, keeping flavor intact. Some drinkers oppose adding ice because dilution can mask flavors, and many consider serving expensive bourbon on the rocks inappropriate despite the smoother mouthfeel that chilling provides. Choosing a chilling method depends on preference for flavor intensity versus reduced burn.
Bourbon is a beloved alcoholic drink and a must-try for anyone visiting Kentucky, where 95% of the world's bourbon is made. However, the drink can be quite strong. While some people love the signature burn, for others, it puts them off a drink they might otherwise enjoy. Luckily, there's a simple way to take a bit of the edge off a strong bourbon: serve it chilled or on the rocks.
Whiskey burn is characterized by a harsh tingle in your mouth. The reason for this is that the pain receptors in your mouth perceive strong alcohol as a very hot liquid, therefore sending an unpleasant sensation through your body so you remove the hot object and don't get burned. As such, cooling down the bourbon with ice cubes reduces this sensation in two ways: by diluting the alcohol and lowering its temperature so that your pain receptors don't perceive it as "hot."
If you don't want the flavors of your drink diluted by melting ice, however, you can also lower the burn by adding whiskey stones or simply chilling the glass. Whiskey stones are small stones you can cool and put into your bourbon to lower the temperature, preventing any melted ice from watering down the flavor. Best of all, there are lots of great whiskey stone brands to choose from.
While chilling bourbon with ice or whiskey stones has its advantages, some drinkers are highly against the practice. For starters, adding ice is contentious for the same reason that watering bourbon is - it dilutes the drink, which can mask the flavors. While this can be a worthy trade-off if a bourbon is simply too hot to handle, it's also why so many people scoff at the idea of serving an expensive bourbon on the rocks.
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