If you’ve ever said “smooth” to describe a whiskey... this is for you..

🥃 What’s Your Corner of the Flavor Wheel?

Last week, I mentioned the Whiskey Flavor Wheel and, whoa — y’all showed up.
Comments, messages, even one handwritten note (seriously).
Turns out, we’re all pretty opinionated about what our whiskey should taste like.

And rightly so.

🎡 So What Is the Flavor Wheel?

It’s a flavor compass.
A circular cheat sheet that breaks down whiskey’s notes — from fruity and floral to smoky, spicy, herbal, and beyond.

It gives your taste buds a voice.
Ever sipped a whiskey and thought:
"This reminds me of something..."
But couldn’t name it?

The Flavor Wheel is how you stop guessing… and start knowing.

🌟 Why This Matters for Your Next Pour

Most folks describe whiskey with five words:
Smooth. Strong. Burny. Oaky. Good.

And hey — I’ve been there too.

🍑 If you’ve ever said “smooth” to describe a whiskey… this is for you.

That was me, for years.
If a whiskey went down easy? “Smooth.”
If it lit up my throat? “Not smooth.”
Didn’t really matter what I was drinking — I just didn’t have better words.

Then one summer at a friend’s cabin, someone pulled out a dusty Old Forester 90.
Not rare. Not expensive. Not high proof.

I poured a glass, expecting nothing.

But what I got?
Peaches.
Vanilla.
Brown sugar.
Like warm cobbler in a glass — the kind my Aunt Loretta used to make from scratch with too much butter and zero apologies.

And in that moment, I realized something:
It wasn’t that I’d never tasted fruity whiskey before.
I just didn’t know how to describe it.

That dusty pour gave me language. And once I had the language, I started seeing flavor everywhere.

Now I go deep on:

• 🍒 Cherry in wheaters

• 🍏 Apple in Highland scotch

• 🍌 Banana funk in pot still rums

I don’t just drink anymore — I hunt.
And that all started with one pour that showed me flavor matters more than hype.

🧾 Want My Flavor Wheel?

You can’t buy it.
I don’t sell it.
But you can get it — free — when you join Art of The Pour’s Lounge (also free) and earn just 5 points.

🥃 What’s The Lounge?

It’s where whiskey stories are poured, not just told.
A digital front porch for:

• 🧠 Tasting notes, flavor debates & nerdy rabbit holes

• 🎯 Points and pour-worthy perks

• 🎁 Real rewards for real participation

• 🤝 Civilized conversation and pour-curious people

Thanks to your votes last week, the Whiskey Flavor Wheel PDF is now the first reward you unlock. 🎉

💸 How to Earn Points

• 💬 Comment in the Lounge

• 👍 Get a like or reply = +1 point

• 🤝 Refer a friend = +10 points (they just have to mention your name)

Use this link to join or refer a whiskey-loving buddy:
🔗 https://lounge.artofthepour.org/communities/

🎯 Levels & Rewards (full list revealed)

🥉 Level 1 – Barback (0 pts) – Start earning with your first post or comment
🥈 Level 2 – Neat Pourer (5 pts) – 🧾 Whiskey Flavor Wheel PDF
🥃 Level 3 – Rye Rookie (20 pts) – 📘 Whiskey Flavor Guide
🔍 Level 4 – Barrel Scout (65 pts) – 📲 Digital Mixology Guide
🔥 Level 5 – Cask Chaser (155 pts) – 🥃 Art of the Pour Logo Whiskey Glasses
🧢 Level 6 – Mashbill Pro (515 pts) – 🧢 Barrel Logo Hat
🌳 Level 7 – Oak Aficionado (2,015 pts) – 🥃 Second Set of Whiskey Glasses
📚 Level 8 – Top Shelf (8,015 pts) – 📚 Signed Book + 🗺️ Whiskey Map Poster
💳 Level 9 – Pour Master (33,015 pts) – 💳 $500 Gift Card to Craft Spirit Shop

🥃 Big Lesson:

If “smooth” is all you can say about a pour — that’s okay.
It means you’re paying attention.
But once you get the words, you start drinking on purpose.

And that’s when the fun really begins.

✨ Repeatable Proverb:

“Your palate is a map — you just need the right compass.”

What corner of the Flavor Wheel are you hunting down next?
Drop it in the comments, or bring it to The Lounge, and let’s sip and debate like civilized whiskey folk.

🥃 — Ethan “Neat” Whitmore

P.S. I know The Lounge has been front and center lately — but next week, we’re back to pure story.
Think: blind tasting, a $20 stunner, and a red-faced collector.
You won’t want to miss it.