By
|Whiskey Education
If you’re like us, you turn to whiskey when you want to raise a little hell. However, if you secretly think whiskey burns like hell as it’s going down, you’re not alone. Luckily, you don’t have to turn to your drinking partners to get the answers to your burning (pun intended) questions about whiskey.
Here at Rebel, we know that even the most hardcore Rebel fans can be shy, which is why we’re here to give you all the answers you need about our all-time favorite spirit. From why it burns to what those numbers on the bottle mean. So keep reading for the answers to those whiskey-related questions you don’t want to ask your friends.
Why does whiskey burn?
We’ll get straight to it: straight whiskey burns because it contains alcohol. Booze can warm you up, calm you down, and help you unleash your inner Rebel — and that signature kick is there to remind you that you aren’t drinking water. It’s a small price to pay when you’re ready to let your spirit be heard.
Whiskey, like other alcoholic drinks, contains ethanol. When ingested and processed by our bodies, ethanol causes an inflammatory response that produces the ‘burning’ sensation. The burn can vary depending on the type and proof of whiskey—the higher the alcohol content, the more intense the burning feeling. Additionally, some people are more sensitive to alcohol than others, which may account for different experiences when drinking whiskey.
Now, although all whiskey will come with a kick, some go down much more smoothly than others. The entire range of Rebel whiskies, for example, are defiantly smooth (yet never soft-spoken). Our wheated mash bill makes it one of the smoothest sips out there.
What does ABV mean?
One of the ABCs of whiskey (or any type of booze, for that matter) is ABV, which stands for alcohol by volume. Essentially, this number lets you know the strength of your spirit. ABV can vary between different types of whiskey, but most ring in somewhere between 40%-50%. It’s important to remember that ABV is not the same thing as proof. A whiskey’s proof can be determined by simply doubling the ABV. For example, Rebel 100 sports an ABV of 50% and a proof of 100.
Is higher-proof whiskey better?
Although opting for a higher-proof bottle might make you feel like more of a Rebel, higher-proof whiskey isn’t always the better option. The quality and taste of a whiskey is determined by things like its age, mash bill, and the expertise of the distiller — not necessarily by its alcohol content.
Higher-proof bourbon tends to have a stronger, more concentrated flavor (as well as more of that signature burn), but this can be a good thing or a bad thing, depending on your preferences. However, one important thing to remember is that if you opt for whiskey that’s a little stronger, don’t be surprised when the burn is more potent, too.
Do I have to drink whiskey neat?
We want to clarify one thing: Rebels don’t follow rules, especially regarding drinking. There’s no wrong way to drink bourbon or whiskey. Whether you like it neat, on the rocks, in a cocktail, or mixed with soda. Will your friends look at you funny if you choose to put your Rebel in a martini glass filled with ice and an umbrella? Probably. But so what? You paid for it.
How you drink whiskey will impact how it tastes. Adding ice not only keeps your whiskey cold but also softens up the flavor–and lessens the burn. A few drops of water can open up notes you might not be able to pick up on otherwise. Pairing it with complementary ingredients can result in a cocktail you’ll love to keep sipping.
If all your drinking partners love drinking whiskey neat, and you like it on the rocks, then show them what a Rebel you are and drink it how you like it. They’ll probably be inspired by your defiant spirit. From our perspective, the only thing that matters is that you love your whiskey, so you should raise a glass to your unapologetic attitude!
Become a more Rebellious drinker with Rebel
If the real question you’ve been dying to ask is how to become a more Rebellious drinker, the answer is shockingly simple — drink Rebel when you want and how you like it. Between our Rebel 100, Rebel 10-Year Single Barrel, and Rebel 100 Straight Rye, we have something for every defiant spirit. Don’t be shy; pick up a bottle and start raising some hell!