If you're a drinks enthusiast looking to elevate your bar cart, a smoked glass decanter is a must-have accessory. These decorative vessels not only add a touch of elegance to your home bar but also serve a practical purpose. In this article, we'll explore what a decanter is, what you can put in it, and the benefits of decanting your favorite spirits.
What Is a Decanter?
A decanter is a vessel, typically made from glass or crystal, that is used to hold a liquid, typically liquor or wine. It features a wide base and a tall, narrow neck with an airtight stopper to seal it. While similar to a carafe, a decanter is designed for both serving and storing liquids longer term.
What to Put in a Decanter
When it comes to decanting, almost any spirit is fair game. You can fill a decanter with brown or clear spirits, anything you'd likely sip straight up, on the rocks, or mix into cocktails. Common spirits used in a decanter include whisky, bourbon, rum, tequila, brandy, cognac, and vodka.
The Benefits of Decanting
Decanting your spirits allows them to mingle with oxygen, encouraging nuanced aromas to open up and bloom. While decanting won't necessarily improve the taste of the spirit, it won't do any harm as long as the closure is airtight. Unlike wine, spirits are less reactive to oxygen, so their flavor profiles won't differ much whether stored in a decanter or the original bottle.
One of the main benefits of decanting spirits, such as whisky, is the aesthetic appeal. By pouring your favorite spirits into beautiful decanters, you can create a cohesive look on your bar cart and remove the mismatched, branded packaging of the original bottles.
A Word About Wine
While decanting is commonly associated with wine, it's important to note that wine should not be stored in a decanter for an extended period. Unlike spirits, wine can become over-aerated and lose its flavor and aroma if left in a decanter for too long. If you do decant wine, it's best to serve it immediately after opening.
How Long to Store Spirits in a Decanter
Unlike wine, spirits can last years in a decanter as long as the stopper is airtight. However, it's generally best to consume your decanted spirit sooner rather than later. Prolonged storage in a decanter can lead to discoloration and a loss of flavor intensity. If your spirit is still in its unopened packaging, it can last for decades.
Avoid Lead Crystal
When choosing a decanter, it's important to look beyond its design and ensure that it is safe for use. Many beautiful spirits decanters are made of lead crystal, which can leach small amounts of lead into the spirits over time. If you're in the market for a decanter, opt for lead-free options. If you already own a lead crystal decanter, it's best to use it to hold liquor for no longer than a few days at a time.
The Effect of Decanting
When a wine or spirit is decanted, it allows the liquid to interact with oxygen, leading to chemical reactions that can affect its aroma and mouthfeel. In the case of wine, decanting helps the wine express itself and show its full range of aromatics. As the wine flows inside the decanter, air interacts with it, dissipating certain odors and bringing others to the forefront. The wine becomes more expressive, and the mouthfeel may soften as tannins lose their hard edges.
On a chemical level, decanting involves evaporation and oxidation. Evaporation rapidly releases alcohol and other aromatic compounds from the wine, making them more perceptible. Oxidation, on the other hand, involves the breakdown or recomposition of compounds through their interaction with oxygen. However, the impact of oxidation in decanting is limited, as most decanting takes place over a short period of time.
Understanding Evaporation
Evaporation is the primary mechanism at work during decanting. It involves the rapid release of alcohol and other chemical elements, particularly aromatic ones, present in the wine. Evaporation occurs instantly, impacting the wine on a sensory level.
During evaporation, low-boiling sulfur compounds associated with reductive characteristics, such as hydrogen sulfide and free sulfur dioxide, tend to evaporate quickly. These compounds can give off unpleasant aromas, such as rotten-egg or matchstick smells. Some types of mercaptans, which result in notes of canned vegetables, onion, and garlic, can also evaporate easily. However, the volatility of mercaptans can vary, with some notes persisting even with prolonged oxygen exposure.
Decanting is particularly beneficial for older wines, as it helps remove unwanted elements and solids that may affect the texture and astringency of the wine. It also allows fruity esters and other aromatic elements to be carried by oxygen, making them easier to perceive.
The Limits of Oxidation
Oxidation, which involves the interaction of wine compounds with oxygen, is another mechanism at work during decanting, but its impact is limited. Oxygen reacts with wine slowly, taking hours or even days to produce noticeable changes. Oxidation can break down certain aromatic compounds, leading to the loss of fruity aromas. However, the presence of antioxidant substances in some wines, such as glutathione and phenolic compounds like tannins and anthocyanins, can intercept oxygen and prevent changes in aroma.
While the chemical changes that occur during oxidation are important, the act of decanting also has psychological effects. By treating a wine with respect and going through the ritual of decanting, our expectations are heightened, and we may perceive the wine differently. The context surrounding the act of decanting, such as the cuisine and the company we're with, also plays a role in our perception of the wine.
A smoked glass decanter is not only a stylish addition to your bar cart, but it also serves a practical purpose. You can decant almost any spirit, allowing it to mingle with oxygen and enhance its aromas. While the chemical changes that occur during decanting are important, the act itself has a psychological impact, creating expectations and enhancing the overall experience of enjoying a fine spirit or wine. So go ahead, invest in a smoked glass decanter, and elevate your home bar to new heights of sophistication.
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