Spend some time browsing the best wine decanters online and you’ll probably fall in love with one. Some look like swans or ducks, and others like raindrops or French horns. Pick one up and see for yourself how it elevates every aspect of your wine experience. And even if you don’t use it, it’s a great display piece.
Wine terms are used interchangeably, there are some notable differences between them. For one, decanters are typically made from crystal or glass and come in a variety of shapes and designs that can instantly glam up your home barware situation. Second, they tend to have a wide base and narrow mouth to allow optimum oxygenation.
For example, sulfuric compounds give Sauvignon Blanc its citrusy, tropical aromas, and are easily lost to oxidative reactions. Thankfully, this isn’t as much of a concern with red wines, as many of their compounds are not as sensitive to air. Next, after cleaning the bottle’s neck with a cloth, begin rotating the cradle slowly to pour the wine into the decanter. Keep the light shining on the neck, and watch for sediment.
A shorter neck of the bottle and a large bowl also help the decanter to achieve its purpose in a shorter time. It’s worth noting that the key to a decanter’s designation is its included stopper and wide, stable base. While carafes are a similar piece of glassware that is also used for the storage of alcohol, they differ in that they typically forgo these features.
Chalk it up to overprotectiveness if you’d like, but if you’re sharing scotch that’s old enough to vote, it’s best not to take any chances. Besides, if it gives you even a bit of extra peace of mind, your investment was well worth it. Some people swear by decanters for their ability to make cheaper wines taste better. Others consider them an important part of the process of drinking and enjoying an expensive, aged bottle. Basically, no matter the wine you’re drinking, there’s a good chance that pouring it in a decanter before you drink it can improve the flavor. It is good to note that the type of red wine might also influence the shape of the decanter that you need.
Beyond that, whiskey is much more stable in a decanter than wine. Look for a decanter with a solid stopper and stable bottom to ensure your liquid will stay safe wherever you set it. Of course, always make sure that the bottle is “lead-free” as many lead crystal decanters still remain on the whisky decanter crystal market. Whiskey in a bottle that’s mostly air (since you’ve been enjoying it, you scoundrel) will oxidize, though much slower than wine. And the best way to do that is using only one hand to pour the wine into the decanter and applying a light source to the neck of the bottle as you pour.