Why does alcohol taste smoother when chilled?
It goes without saying that a cold drink tastes a million times better than a warm one. The thing I’m not quite understanding is why am I able to drink my rum straight when it’s nice and cold but not warm? I mean warm or cold there is still 45% alcohol in this beverage, shouldn’t it have the same overbearing alcohol taste regardless of the temperature of the drink?
Observing members:
0
Composing members:
0
5 Answers
Cold is an anesthetic in itself, so it goes down smoother. I love straight vodka at 32F/0C or colder. It has the viscosity of cooking oil and very little bite—all flavor. Can’t drink it otherwise. But I disagree with you about rum. There is nothing better than a steaming hot, spicey rum toddy on a freezing night by the hearth. Haven’t seen a freezing night in 15 years, but that is one of my finest memories.
@Espiritus_Corvus hmmm I’ve never tried hot rum. Warm yes and meh but hot never. As someone who absolutely loves rum I’ll have to give it a “shot” warm. I’m accustomed to drinking it on the rocks or with a little bit of ice cold coke. A rum toddy does sound quite delicious though…. almost makes me want it to be winter again….
Warmth will partially evaporate the liquor so you get more vapour as you drink it. And as our sense of taste is very closely tied with the sense of smell, the more you can smell a drink the stronger it tastes. If the drink is chilled theres less evaporation going on, so you don’t get so much flavour.
Thats why you serve a decent single malt scotch slightly warmed, but a cheap blended whiskey on the rocks.
The cold numbs your tongue and softens the tingling in the alcohol.
That = smo-o-o-o-th.
All alcohol tastes good all the time…hot or cold. Sheesh! :)
Answer this question 
Composing members:
0
