Stones for whiskey: customer reviews. Why do we need stones for whiskey and how effective are they?

Among our fellow citizens more and more fans of whiskey. They believe that this drink, similar in strength to vodka, is much richer in taste and aroma - even if compared with the variants of the primordial drink, which added honey, pepper, birch buds or something else. At the same time, the supporters of Irish-Scottish alcohol claim that it is softer to drink, hangover from it does not exist, and in general, drinking whiskey is more a ritual and an occasion to communicate than an aspiration to "throw around".

The most common mistakes in making

Hardly having got access to earlier familiar only on films a drink, people made mistakes in its use. And they drank it in a salvo, like a bad moonshine, and they ate a melted cheese, and poured them into piles, or even glasses. The most common "outrages" over whiskey was dilution with water, cooling in the freezer and mixing with Coca-Cola.

In this case, the drink - naturally, qualitative - is among the noble ones along with cognac (again, real) or expensive right wines. Therefore, in order to get full pleasure from it, it should be drunk as it should be.

Culture of use

Now, whiskey lovers have already purchased thick-bottomed, glass-free glasses and do not seek to lower its temperature below room temperature. Real connoisseurs now consider it beneath their personal dignity to bite their favorite drink or build suspicious "cocktails" from it. Some even understand the differences in traditional drinking whiskey of different origins: single-malt Scottish - with a few drops of water; Blended - with ice, water, and even with cola; Irish - with coffee or again with ice cubes; Jack Daniels - washing down with apple juice or adding a little lemon juice to the drink ...

More and more the universal tradition of drinking whiskey is expanding, cooling it with ice cubes. And in general, this is correct, but ...

Disadvantages of ice cooling

Of course, frozen water cubes very quickly lower the temperature of the whiskey. But, unfortunately, not for long. In a drink, ice melts quickly, and after five minutes the cubes dissolve, and after ten your glass is as warm as it was before.

Let's not forget that the ice is water. And as soon as it melted, it diluted your drink exactly to its volume. So his fortress is not the same, and the taste has changed, and the fragrance for which whiskey love especially, is greatly weakened.

In addition, drink this drink at a temperature of 16 to 18 Celsius, and its undesirable sharp drops are highly undesirable. Cooling should be gradual and unhurried. Ice also very quickly chills whiskey, and then as quickly it heats up. So catch the moment when the taste and smell will be exactly those!

At the same time, true connoisseurs of this alcohol firmly know that it is impossible to dilute it with water categorically. The exception is only undiluted whiskey produced in Scotland, which is drunk completely according to a special pattern: glasses need a certain shape, whiskey is poured a little, the glass turns (at this moment it is supposed to enjoy the smell), and only after that a few drops of water drip into the glass for full disclosure Taste. But a few drops, not 50 grams! And the current whiskey of this type is already sold in bottles with the right amount of water.

Dilution of American bourbon water is justified. He seems to be whiskey, but half corn. Taste it, to put it mildly, not for gourmets, so it requires disguise. For her in the course go and cola, and juices - that there is ordinary ice! However, the quality Irish or Scottish product is superfluous water to nothing.

Gift to the Viskari lovers

Overcome the shortcomings of ice cooling helped by someone named Hellman named Andrew. He found a unique solution - stones for whiskey (whiskey stones in English). They are made of a special rock called steatite. For the townsfolk, the name does not say anything, but the stone-cutters know that from ancient times steatite was used to make dishes. The stones made for him are very strong for whiskey. Probably, with the years they will still collapse, but for your age the set will just be enough. Steatite does not react with whiskey, so it does not affect either flavoring or aromatic qualities. And, since in the liquid, of course, does not melt, it does not lower the degree of the favorite drink. Those who have not yet encountered whiskey stones may be afraid that they will damage the glass of their favorite glass, because they have sharp edges. However, such fears are groundless: the steatite stone is not only strong, but also soft, so scratches do not threaten the dishes.

Where and how to make treasured pebbles

It is noteworthy that steatite can be obtained only in two places - in Vermont, in the homeland of a man who invented elite stones for whiskey, and in Scandinavia. The second name is the miracle material "soapstone", although nothing they can not wash. Most likely, this name was tried to describe its smooth and soft features.

Stones and polishes stones only by hand, and to obtain a qualitative result, experienced specialists are needed who undergo special training. That's why in an ordinary store and cheaply you can not buy stones for whiskey - the reviews of those who have "pierced" so are very sad. What the people expected from their purchase, no one received. And often, elite alcohol was ruined.

Terms of use

In use, the stones for cooling whiskey are extremely simple. Having bought (or received as a gift) this miracle, it must be carefully washed in warm water - it travels from afar and probably covered with dust. Wipe the pebbles do not need to dry and themselves, and towels or napkins on the sides can remain villi.

When the planned use of whiskey is approaching, pebbles are placed in the freezer for at least two hours. Further - as with ice: we lower into the glass cooling stones for whiskey (three or four pieces, depending on the portion), wait a bit and enjoy the process.

When the pleasant evening is over, the cubes are rinsed with water, this time cold, and cleaned into a packing bag so as not to get dirty.

So it's very convenient - stones for whiskey. Reviews, however, there are a few whimsical: say, the ice cools faster. It's true, but it also keeps the right temperature much less!

Useful and coffeemakers

In principle, the action of pebbles is analogous to that of a thermos - both seemingly "preserve" the desired temperature. So, to maintain the "fervor" is quite suitable stones for whiskey - the reviews are the most positive. Just to ensure that your coffee does not cool down, as long as you knock on the keyboard or ponder over a work problem, you do not have to put the cubes in a freezer, but in a microwave oven. To prevent the cooling of the drink, it is enough to hold the stones in this unit for only half a minute.

Remembering that whiskey stones are chemically inert, it's easy to conclude that the smell of coffee will not get in them, and therefore, will not spoil the taste of alcohol at the nearest party. And rinsing will take away the smallest drops of tea or coffee, which could stay on the dice.

Choose correctly

Like any thing that has suddenly become popular, cooling whiskey stones quickly became the subject of copying and forging. The most common imitations, of course, are Chinese. Since there is no correct material in this country, it produces granite stones for whiskey. Reviews about them are extremely negative, since granite is a porous stone, adsorbs all smells and stores any bacteria. No one conducts a check of Chinese counterfeits, so that even the quality of the granite is not controlled, and where it came from is impossible to say. Which, of course, threatens with serious health disorders.

A real, correct set of stones for whiskey consists of nine cubes and an obligatory packing bag. The form is exclusively cubic. You see a polyhedron - a fake; Parallelepiped - it's the same. And the faces of these cubes should not exceed two centimeters. Bricks in whiskey do not put!

The lowest price is 600 rubles (this is not a gift set). See for 300 - go to the quarry and free of charge dial granite debris. And remember: you can order coveted stones while only through the Internet. The bag lying on the counter immediately starts to cause doubts and suspicions. At a minimum, someone already used it, that is, you buy a second hand. And let the traces of use they do not save, not everyone likes second-hand, even if it's a "hors.".

Variety of opinions

Those who have already tried the stones for whiskey, the reviews leave a wide variety. Most agree that know-how is worthy of respect and attention and is worth the money that they ask for. A special delight is the time, which keeps cooling. Still half an hour is enough to enjoy and drink, and to participate in the conversation, not hurrying to catch the right temperature.

However, there are supporters of the old way of cooling. They say: "Why are stones for whiskey?" It's just fashion and show off. " Honestly, among people with this opinion there are a lot of those who prefer to dilute whiskey with water or nostalgically - Coca-Cola. However, everyone's personal matter is how to use the drink you like.

Although with respect to fashion and "dressing" the truth is still contained. It can not be said that the stones for whiskey are a thing of prime necessity. Of course, this is an accessory, and very expensive. Of course, it is not needed every day. Among all the pleasant "unnecessary" stones for whiskey can be called an elite. So after all, the drink itself is noble, and from drinking glasses it began to drink and is almost indecent. So why not add elite support to an elite drink?