The Diblin Liberties

The Diblin Liberties is a whiskey from Esplanda. The listing doesn't give a style, age, proof or origin, so what follows is general guidance for sipping whiskeys rather than a measured profile of this bottle. Check the label for the style and ABV, because they change how you should use it. A bourbon-style whiskey usually brings vanilla, caramel and toasted oak. A rye leans toward pepper and baking spice. An Irish-style bottling is typically lighter, with soft grain and orchard fruit. For a first pour, try it neat in a Glencairn glass. The tulip shape concentrates the aroma, so you can judge the grain, oak and sweetness before you taste. Then add a few drops of room-temperature water. Water often loosens the nose and softens the alcohol's edge, especially at higher proof. If it feels hot or tight, one large ice cube in a rocks glass slows dilution and chills the whiskey without flattening it. Use a rocks glass for relaxed sipping or for building drinks. How it behaves in a cocktail depends on its style. Bourbon-style whiskeys usually suit an Old Fashioned, made with a sugar cube, two or three dashes of Angostura bitters and an orange peel. Spicier, rye-leaning bottles tend to work well in a Manhattan, stirred with sweet vermouth and bitters and served up with a cherry. For a Whiskey Sour, shake 2 oz whiskey with 3/4 oz lemon juice and 3/4 oz simple syrup, and add egg white if you like a silkier texture. For a highball, pour 2 oz over ice in a tall glass and top with 4 to 5 oz of cold soda water. A lemon twist keeps it dry and shows off the grain character of the whiskey.