How can you smell the flavor of a whiskey without the alcohol?

KnotRight

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Learned this at a scotch tasting.

How can you smell the flavor in a whiskey and not the alcohol? Put a couple drops on the whiskey on the palms of your hand and rub your palms together until you feel the heat. Then smell your palms and you can smell the flavor without the alcohol.
 
That's the way I was taught to test moonshine..... rub a little between your fingers and if it smells sweet you're good to go. If it smells like rubbing alcohol, leave it alone. What you're smelling is methanol.

Methanol and ethanol cook off at different temps, the methanol slightly lower. If the person distilling your likker brings the mash up to temp too fast they cook off together and can't be separated.

The methanol is poisonous and is what gives people the killer headaches and can cause blindness. Be careful who you get shine from.
 
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That's the way I was taught to test moonshine..... rub a little between your fingers and if it smells sweet you're good to go. If it smells like rubbing alcohol, leave it alone.
Going to try that next time I run across some! Thanks! lol.
 
That's the way I was taught to test moonshine..... rub a little between your fingers and if it smells sweet you're good to go. If it smells like rubbing alcohol, leave it alone. What you're smelling is methanol.

Methanol and ethanol cook off at different temps, the methanol slightly lower. If the person distilling your likker brings the mash up to temp too fast they cook off together and can't be separated.

The methanol is poisonous and is what gives people the killer headaches and can cause blindness. Be careful who you get shine from.
In the liquor the methanol will have a slightly oily feel as opposed to ethanol
 
Thanks guys!

I have approached whiskey tastings in the same way as wine tastings. Should have realized distilling process might change alchohal properties.
 
I can’t try it tonight. I only have tax paid scotch in the house. I drank a short glass of it after 5pm, after eating a piece of cinnamon coffee cake (because it was just sitting there on the counter)

I think I should barf now, because I feel gross.
 
I just tried this. I smelled mushrooms, shame, tuna and a hint of landfill cured cinnamon.

Was I supposed to wash my hands before trying this?
No, once a month is plenty. ;)
 
I just tried this. I smelled mushrooms, shame, tuna and a hint of landfill cured cinnamon.
Was I supposed to wash my hands before trying this?

I once smelled that same combination while eating some BBQ at a friend's annual event several years ago.
That odor appeared to be emanating from a Five Ton...….
I simply didn't know what to think of it back then...…...I think I just connected the dots.
 
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