As a whiskey critic, one of the most common questions I hear is, “ ” Yes, it’s an impossible question, and yes, I preface my answer with all sorts of caveats, hemming and hawing. That’s part of the game! Your favorite bourbon can change based on mood, time of day, what you ate beforehand, or simply due to tasting new bourbons that recalibrate your palate. To that end, one of the best ways to level the playing field, cut through the fluff, and truly crown a “favorite” is through .
Even with a palate honed to identify flavors, it’s astonishing how often your preference in a moment can be swayed by the factors above. For instance, I’ve observed that warmer days tend to enhance my palate’s inclination towards citrus and fruit-forward notes, a revelation that took me by surprise. It’s a subtle shift, but after numerous tastings, I’ve realized this, and perhaps only subconsciously, I find myself reaching for bourbons that cater to this preference when the mercury rises.
One also can’t ignore the implicit biases we develop just from seeing the label on a bottle before tasting. You’ll hear chefs often hammer home the idea that “we eat with our eyes first,” and that same sentiment rings true regarding bourbon tasting. If you have positive memories associated with a certain label or brand, then you’re more likely to enter the tasting with a positive disposition.
Basically, your brain feeds you positive reinforcement and trains your conscious mind to asso.