The Ultimate Spirits Glass
New Concept: Diffusing Ethanol to Improve Test Results Engineers at Arsilica Inc. have discovered a new concept in spirits evaluation. Diffusing ethanol releases more intense aromas and flavors from any spirit. Furthermore, this discovery will change spirit evaluations drastically. As a result, evaluations will be more accurate, repeatable, and complete, factors which improve test results.…
Using a Functional Glass is the Key to Understanding Spirits Forever, truth and science have withstood the test of time. The path to better understanding is based on those two. However, in the spirits industry, science has only recently stepped in with sensory science. We knew that the common tulip glass is the culprit which…
Sources of Poor Quality are More Important than the Flaws They are Quality Flaws, but What is Their Source? Discovering flaws and faults of poor quality spirits is important; however, their source is even more important. We can prevent flaws and faults by addressing their source. We may ask, “What’s that horrible smell? Flaws in…
Which Spirits Evaluation and Rating System is Better? Which spirit evaluation and rating system is better is controversial to say the least. There are literally hundreds of rating systems. Which one to use is largely a matter of utility, personal preference, and accuracy. The earlier commercial business cycle of wine was the birthplace of the…
A Practical Evaluation Method for Every Spirit Lover Over the past decades, The Aroma Academy, UK has pursued a better evaluation method. We aim to establish a diagnostics discipline. It will create a universal language with clear, uniform views of spirits’ character for all tasters. Worldwide, others acknowledge and echo The Aroma Academy’s efforts. One…
Gender Equity is Important to Accurate Spirit Evaluation This may be the most controversial presentation from the NEAT Spirit Academy. Why? Many people confuse gender equity with gender equality, and few understand gender equity well. Discussion always raises the ire of a few of those who belong to the “fraternal order of macho whisky drinkers.”…
Why did Whiskey Invite its Enemy to the Tasting? “We have met the enemy and they are us – and all our friends.” The whisky industry extended an unwitting “invitation” to the whisky Trojan Horse in the 1960’s, sealing its fate. It will remain until industry leaders wake up to smell the smoke. How do…
Truth May Actually be Myth and Misinformation Identifying the myth and misinformation that pervade evaluation is key to changing the gross misinformation accepted as truth. Gaining useful knowledge involves looking past superficial “quickie” explanations to find true reasons certain things happen. Sources of Misinformation Industry Fails as an Educator by not Actively Combatting Misinformation The…
Descriptive Vocabulary is the Hallmark of Better Evaluation Effective nosing, tasting, and evaluation is dependent on the accuracy of descriptors in written and oral communication. Better evaluation is the result of using careful, descriptive words to uniquely identify flavors. Evaluators’ comments and tasting notes become much more useful to those who read them. The reader…
New Sensory Glass Results in a Better Spirit Test Outcome NEAT is the new sensory designed glass for sensory spirit test evaluation. Using a glass specifically designed for laboratory testing yields better spirit test outcome. By outcome, we mean that the aromas are much easier to detect and identify. The distiller’s efforts to create complex…
New Concept: Diffusing Ethanol to Improve Test Results Engineers at Arsilica Inc. have discovered how diffusing ethanol releases more intense aromas and flavors from any spirit. Furthermore, this discovery will change spirit evaluations and test results drastically. As a result. evaluations will be more accurate, repeatable, and complete. Those subtle aromas previously hidden by nose-numbing…
Choosing the Best Glass – History & Myths of Popular Glassware Choosing the Best Glass: How did the three most common glasses ever become popular? The story illustrates what happens when craft meets science. Industries unfamiliar with scientific methods struggle. They are not ready for a major, yet necessary, change. Within the spirits industry, known…
Swirling Your Spirit Exposes its Quality Myth: Swirling is an essential part of the spirits nosing and evaluating process. However, tulip nose-cannon glass users will tell you not to swirl because it releases the ethanol alcohol. For decades, that bit of advice has kept millions of spirits drinkers in the dark about what is really…
Popular Olfactory Theory and its Relationship to Accurate Test Results We seldom consider popular olfactory theory and its relationship to accurate evaluation and accurate test results. Our human sensory biology converts the data from molecular contact with a cilium into descriptive words. The process is both incredible and amazing. The process reveals the frailty and…
Developing Powerful Techniques for Best Spirit Evaluation Few ever discuss techniques when it comes to spirit evaluation. Here, we will touch on the powerful effect of developing a sound, methodical approach to accurate and repeatable evaluations. Smell is the most underappreciated and neglected sense we have. As we humans evolve, we become less dependent on…
Sense of Smell – Discovering the Best Spirits Evaluation Perspective We generally take our sense of smell for granted. We have no idea or concern about how weak or powerful it is. The best spirits evaluation is performed in a logical manner with repeatable methodology. By categorizing and organizing a workable system to describe smells…
Practical Science Education to Inform the Spirit Lover Between 2002 and 2012, our work developing the NEAT glass immersed us in practical science sensory education and revealed how little the spirit lover understands regarding practical science and its influence on tasting and evaluation. Later on, in 2012, we at Arsilica, Inc. began posting a series…
