Learning to appreciate and understand the "waters of vitality": How to appreciate And to drink a proper glass of whiskey.

Hello again, dear reader. Now I know, normally we pontificate on interesting things that will help improve everyone's quality of life such as how to politely end a conversation or ways to make remembering important detail easier. Or the best things to carry as part of your everyday or (EDC) carry system. But today, however, I thought we would discuss something entirely different from our normal pontifications, simply because it's summertime, and I'm about to go on vacation for two weeks, not to mention having a very interesting conversation with a very dear friend of mine about the proper way to drink whiskey as he was making fun of me for drinking over ice (or on the rocks as they say). And I was making fun of him for drinking it with soda water. This of course inherently led to a discussion as to the proper way. A "gentleman" (his words, and I'm assuming he was using the term very loosely). Now I know that drinking whiskey were drinking in general is not to everyone's taste, and that's perfectly acceptable. I am however, aware that there are a fair number of individuals on this great blue marble of ours that occasionally enjoy a glass of whiskey. And I am one of those people that believe, wholeheartedly that if you're going to do something. It should be done correctly, so here is my two cents added to the great "whiskey debate."

It should also be noted, dear reader. I am in no way condoning drinking to excess or the consumption of whiskey by underage individuals alcohol in beverages should always be enjoyed responsibly, according to a country's federal state or provincial laws.




While whiskey was first billed as a medicinal substance — aquavitae or “water of vitality” — it soon gained popularity and became one of the most popular drinks in the world. Whiskey as we know it was probably first distilled in the 1400s, and probably in Scotland, according to the best hard evidence we have. Especially in England and Ireland, it became the drink of choice, and through taxation, came to contribute 30%-50% of the nation’s revenue.
With the colonization of the states, the popular beverage crossed the Atlantic, and Mr. George Washington himself counted whiskey as his favorite vice. He even opened a distillery at Mount Vernon which ended up being one of the largest in the young nation. They continue to make whiskey today.
In spite of its sometimes tumultuous history (see the Whiskey Rebellion), whiskey is a drink that men have enjoyed for centuries. Men like Mark Twain, Winston Churchill (often accompanied with a fine cigar), and Clark Gable imbibed regularly. When one thinks of masculine images, you often conjure up a picture of a man in a tweed coat with a glass of whiskey in his hand by the fire. If you’ve ever wanted to be that man and explore this manly tradition, you’re in luck. While we’ve given you a primer on Scotch whisky, today we’re going to broaden that and talk about whiskey as a whole — especially how to enjoy it!

How to Find Your Favorite Whiskey

To fully enjoy drinking whiskey, you first need to know some of the basics about the spirit itself — the various styles, the alcohol levels, how to pick yourself a bottle, etc. Whiskey is defined as an alcoholic beverage that is distilled from fermented grains and aged in wooden casks (most commonly oak). The video below provides a much better description of how whiskey is made than I ever could in writing. While it’s particular to Scotch whisky, the overall process is the same.

Luckily for us, there has never been such a large selection of high-quality whiskies to consume and enjoy (responsibly, of course).

Unfortunately, going to a liquor store or a bar and surveying all the whiskies available can be intimidating. There are plenty of terms (single malt, rye whiskey, blended whiskey, etc.) that don’t mean much unless you’ve done a little bit of homework.
The easiest way to distinguish whiskies is by nationality, and then broken down into subcategories from there that give a little further detail. While these are certainly generic terms, and you’ll find a few other varieties out there, these will cover most of what you encounter:

• American whiskey — tends to be sweeter than other whiskies. American whiskies must be distilled in America and aged in barrels in order to be labeled as whiskey (usually for two years, but not always). Breaks down into the further subcategories:
• Bourbon — distilled from at least 51% corn.
• Rye — distilled from at least 51% rye.
• Tennessee — bourbon that is distilled in Tennessee and filtered through charcoal.
• Scotch whisky — tends to have smoky and earthy flavors. Distilled in Scotland, from mostly barley, and aged at least 3 years. Breaks down into further subcategories:
• Blended Scotch — literally just a blend of one or more Scotch whiskies.
• Single malt Scotch — distilled at a single distillery from malted barley.
• Irish whiskey — tends to be light-bodied, but more robust than Canadian whiskey. Distilled in Ireland, aged at least 3 years.
• Canadian whiskey — tends to be light-bodied and fruity. Distilled in Canada and aged at least 3 years. They are typically blends.

You’ll also find alcohol content on whiskey labels. It may either be labeled directly as a percentage or as a “proof.” To find the percentage from a proof, simply divide the number in half. So a 100-proof whiskey is 50% alcohol by volume. You’ll find a range of 40% to 60% ABV in whiskies, with the lower end being more common.
The best way to go about choosing a whiskey, in my own experience, is to pick a style, and try a few different whiskies from that style. Try a cheap bottle ($10-$15), a middle-of-the-road bottle ($20-$35), and a spendier bottle ($35-$100), and compare them. (You don’t have to do this all at once! Take a couple months with each bottle you buy and get to know the flavors.) You probably won’t be able to tell too much of a difference in actual flavor at first, other than spendier versions being smoother and having a little less burn (this is because the longer it’s aged, the more the wood lessens the harshness). When you try a bourbon with 45% alcohol, and then one with 50% alcohol, you’ll definitely notice the difference in that 5%.
Over time, your taste buds will mature, and you’ll be able to at least partially distinguish different flavors and different styles of whiskey. A good starting style is Canadian or Irish, as they’re a little lighter and fruitier. From there, you can move on to American whiskies, which have a little more flavor and variety. And finally, you should probably try Scotch last, because it’s the most distinct flavor and the “harshest” for someone who’s not had much whiskey.

How to Drink Whiskey

Choosing Your Drinking Vessel

The Old Fashioned — or “rocks” — glass.

Now, when it comes to drinking vessels, you can get as snooty as you want for really any alcoholic beverage. Before I get too much into this section, let me say right off that bat that it’s perfectly fine to have whiskey out of a plastic or Styrofoam cup if that’s what you have. As I said, to each their own, and do what you will to enjoy what you’re drinking.
Having said that, there are some vessels that are better than others to really maximize the flavor. And let’s be honest, some glasses just look better than others. Presentation can make a difference. Is it mental? Maybe. But I think one’s chosen drinking vessel adds to the experience and the feeling of ritual.
If possible, always serve whiskey in a glass; other materials can taint the flavor. I serve my whiskey in a “rocks” glass – otherwise known as an Old Fashioned or lowball glass. It’s really just a short tumbler that will hold about 6-10oz of liquid.

To really step it up a notch, you could get yourself some specialty whiskey glasses. These are tulip-shaped (above), and will concentrate the vapors and flavors and allow you to really “nose” the whiskey (more on that a little later). It may seem snooty, but it really does make a difference. I don’t have any of these…yet.

A tin cup from TIN CUP. How fitting.

Feel like drinking it old school? Have your whiskey in a tin cup.  In the 1800s miners would drink their whiskey out of a tin cup because glass was far more fragile, and shipping it over the mountains via carriage (railways didn’t have access to every part of the country) would make glassware liable to break. The tin was cheaper, and that’s what men in the mountains used back in the day. Admittedly, it changes the flavor some and naturally makes it a little “tinny,” but the experience of drinking out of a tin cup like the great men of over a century ago makes it worth it every once in a while. The durability of a tin cup also makes it ideal for when you’re consuming your whiskey in the great outdoors.

Neat? Water? Ice?

If using ice, use a large cube or sphere vs. smaller ice cubes.

This is perhaps the most hotly debated questions among whiskey drinkers.
This is what I have learned, “The first time you drink any whiskey, it should be tasted neat. That’s what the guy who made it wants it to taste like. When it gets really high [in terms of alcohol percentage], it numbs most people’s taste buds. You want to taste what the guy made.”
When you add water or ice, what you’re doing is lowering the ABV of the beverage in your hand. For one serving (1.5oz), a teaspoon of water will lower a 40% ABV beverage to 30%.
Especially for high-proof whiskies, many experts will add just a little bit of tap water. This is to dilute the beverage a little bit, but also to soften the punch of the alcohol and let the whiskey flavor really come through. If you try this route, add just a tiny bit of water, see how it tastes, and add a splash more if desired. If you end up with too much water, your only remedy is to add more whiskey.
While many whiskey experts will decry the use of ice, it’s personally my favorite way to drink whiskey. Unless it’s a very smooth, high-end whiskey, you’ll likely need just a little something to take the punch off. The experts say that making the whiskey cold numbs the flavors a little bit, but I like my whiskey chilled, and I’ve tried all options enough to know what I like.
Instead of adding normal-sized ice cubes, I prefer using big cubes or spheres. With less surface area, they melt slower. So your whiskey gets chilled, but less watered down than if using regular ice cubes. There are also whiskey stones, but in my experience, they don’t actually work all that well at chilling the whiskey to the temperature I like. We’ll actually be doing an article this summer on various ice and cooling options for beverages, so I won’t get into it too much here.

Sipping and Savoring the Spirit

Nosing the whiskey.

As with any alcoholic beverage, there are certain flavors to look for while drinking, and certain methods to the drinking that will help release and identify those flavors. For instance, with wine, you want to smell it, let it settle for a few minutes, then let the liquid linger in your mouth so you can get all the flavors.
When it comes to drinking or eating just about anything, you want to let your nose inform your mouth. Believe it or not, the sensation of flavor is a combination of smell and taste. For complex flavors, like those found in many alcoholic beverages, the sense of smell is even more important.
So before you take any sip of whiskey, you want to really get your nose in the glass and take a hearty whiff. As Mr. Graber says, “The first thing is your nose. Your nose will educate your palette. We like sweet things, so you’re going to focus on that at first.”
That first sniff will largely be just alcoholic, and might clear your nostrils a little bit. So give it a second and third sniff and you’ll get some of the true whiskey flavors.

Next, take just a small sip, and sort of roll the liquid around in your mouth. Instead of just swallowing right away, try to pick out different flavors. Since whiskey is always aged in wooden barrels, you’ll almost always get the classic flavors of vanilla, toffee, or caramel. From there, enjoy your drink over the course of 30-60 minutes, with good company of course, and you’ll be a happy whiskey drinker.

What About Cocktails?

Ah, the controversy of cocktails. As I’m sure you’re seeing a trend, many whiskey drinkers will be snooty and say that adding anything other than whiskey to your whiskey is heresy. You’ll even find this sentiment on certain whiskey labels – “Best enjoyed neat or with a dash of water.”

It all comes down to your own opinion, and what you like. That’s it. Mr. Graber – founder of two whiskey companies – notes that while your first try of any whiskey should be neat, after you’ve gotten to know the beverage, you can play around a little and find out what you like. While I tend to enjoy whiskey as its own beverage, every once in a while it’s certainly fun to add additional flavors to the mix.

My favorite cocktail, without a doubt, is the Manhattan. (When I drink a cocktail at all, which is very, very, very, rarely; it only because it is one of the classic drinks it all really great writers used to drink) My own personal recipe that I use at home:

• 2oz whiskey (either rye or bourbon – TINCUP is a great option here since it’s a high rye bourbon)
• 1oz sweet vermouth
• 3-4 dashes of bitters
• Maraschino cherries

1. Fill a pint glass up with ice cubes.
2. Put whiskey, vermouth, and bitters into that glass. Stir for 30 seconds or so.
3. In an Old Fashioned glass, place a cherry, and also pour in a small amount of the juice from the cherry jar.
4. Strain mixed contents from pint glass into the Old Fashioned glass, and you’re all set.
5. Every once in a while, I’ll make a flavored Manhattan (tis my wife’s favorite). For this, I’ll buy some peach or apple whiskey, and use 1oz of that with 1oz of regular whiskey. All the other ingredients remain the same.

You’ll certainly hear a lot of things from a lot of people (“experts” or otherwise) about how to properly drink whiskey, which whiskies to drink, and how much you need to spend. Don’t listen to any of those people. Ultimately, drink what you’d like and how you’d like to drink it. These are guidelines, not rules. So grab a glass, pour yourself some whiskey, kick back in your leather man chair, and do some taste testing.

As always, dear reader thanks for listening, and there will be more to come soon (as soon as I get back from a two-week vacation is, there probably won't be another entry until at least August 10)

Managing your time and staying calm under pressure: learning the difference between "urgent" and "important."

Hello again, dear reader. Now I know in previous conversations. We have discussed in pontificating on the art of time management as a necessary part of daily life. So that you dear reader, cannot converse as many of your daily goals and/or job or school requirements as possible without running yourself ragged. So for today's discussion dear reader, I thought we would discuss a different aspect of time management, and then smelling. The difference between something that is urgent and something that is just simply important. All too often, people are consumed and confused by the difference between urgent and important things that are "urgent" are things that have to be done as soon as possible (otherwise known ASAP) and things that are simply "important" are things that need to be done well. And you would have a significant impact on your daily life dear reader. However, this impact is not going to be as sudden as something that is "urgent" for example. If you have a 15 page paper for your science class, that is worth 50% of your grade and is due tomorrow and you haven't even started yet. That would be considered "urgent" whereas a 15 page paper for history. That is worth 50% of your grade but is due a month from now would be considered "important" because while it does have a significant impact on your educational career dear reader. You have more time to prepare for the history paper, than you do, the science paper, which is "urgent" as it is due tomorrow. So hopefully by the end of today's discussion, dear reader, you will have a better understanding of the difference between things that are "urgent" and things that are just simply "important" knowing the difference between the two will significantly help you to improve your time management skills as well as lower your stress...


Do you sometimes feel like you spend all your time managing crises? That your life is basically spent putting out one proverbial fire after another?
At the end of the day do you feel completely sapped and drained of energy, and yet can’t point to anything you accomplished of real significance?
Yes?
Then you, my friend, are probably confusing the urgent with the important.
We’ve talked before about the many leadership lessons that can be gleaned from the life of Dwight D. Eisenhower. Today we’re going to talk about another – a principle that guided him through his entire, hugely successful career as general and president:
“What is important is seldom urgent and what is urgent is seldom important.”
Below we look into the distinction ol’ Ike made between those two very different things, and explore how understanding the “Eisenhower Decision Principle” can help you become the man you want to be.

The Difference Between Urgent and Important

Urgent means that a task requires immediate attention. These are the to-do’s that shout “Now!” Urgent tasks put us in a reactive mode, one marked by a defensive, negative, hurried, and narrowly-focused mindset.
Important tasks are things that contribute to our long-term mission, values, and goals. Sometimes important tasks are also urgent, but typically they’re not. When we focus on important activities we operate in a responsive mode, which helps us remain calm, rational, and open to new opportunities.
It’s a pretty intuitive distinction, yet most of us frequently fall into the trap of believing that all urgent activities are also important. This propensity likely has roots in our evolutionary history; our ancestors concentrated more on short-term concerns than long-term strategy, as tending to immediate stimuli (like a charging saber-toothed cat) could mean the difference between life and death.
Modern technologies (24-hour news, Twitter, Facebook, text messaging) that constantly bombard us with information have only heightened this deeply engrained mindset. Our stimulus-producing tech treats all information as equally urgent and pressing. Miley Cyrus’ Twerk-gate is given the same weight as important D.C. policy discussions.
We are, as author Douglas Rushkoff claims, experiencing “present shock” – a condition in which “we live in a continuous, always-on ‘now’” and lose our sense of long-term narrative and direction. In such a state, it is easy to lose sight of the distinction between the truly important and the merely urgent.
The consequences of this priority-blindness are both personal and societal. In our own lives, we suffer from burnout and stagnation, and on a broader level our culture is unable to solve the truly important problems of our time.

The Eisenhower Decision Matrix

Business thinker Stephen Covey popularized the Eisenhower’s Decision Principle in his book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. In that book, Covey created a decision matrix to help individuals make the distinction between what’s important and not important and what’s urgent and not urgent. The matrix consists of a square divided into four boxes, or quadrants, labeled thusly: 1) Urgent/Important, 2) Not Urgent/Important, 3) Urgent/Not Important, and 4) Not Urgent/Not Important:

Below we go into detail about each quadrant and explain which one we should spend most of our time in if we wish to be our best and make the most of our lives.

Quadrant 1: Urgent and Important Tasks

Quadrant 1 tasks are both urgent and important. They’re tasks that require our immediate attention and also work towards fulfilling our long-term goals and missions in life.
Quadrant 1 tasks typically consist of crises, problems, or deadlines.
Here are a few specific examples of Urgent and Important tasks:

• Certain emails (could be a job offer, an email for a new business opportunity that requires immediate action, etc.)
• Term paper deadline
• Tax deadline
• Wife in emergency room
• Car engine goes out
• Household chores
• You have a heart attack and end up in the hospital
• You get a call from your kid’s principal saying you need to come in for a meeting about his behavior

With a bit of planning and organization, many Q1 tasks can be made more efficient or even eliminated outright. For example, instead of waiting until the last minute to work on a term paper (thus turning it into an urgent task), you could schedule your time so that you’re done with your paper a week in advance. Or instead of waiting for something in your house to fall apart and need fixing, you can follow a schedule of regular maintenance.
While we’ll never be able to completely eliminate urgent and important tasks, we can significantly reduce them with a bit of proactivity and by spending more time in Quadrant 2.
Which of course brings us to…

Quadrant 2: Not Urgent but Important Tasks

Quadrant 2 tasks are the activities that don’t have a pressing deadline, but nonetheless help you achieve your important personal, school, and work goals as well as help you fulfill your overall mission as a man.
Q2 tasks are typically centered around strengthening relationships, planning for the future, and improving yourself.
Here are some specific examples of Not Urgent but Important Tasks:

• Weekly planning
• Long-term planning
• Exercising
• Family time
• Reading life-enriching books
• Journaling
• Taking a class to improve a skill
• Spending time with a rewarding hobby
• Studying
• Meditating
• Service
• Car and home maintenance
• Date night with wife
• Creating a budget and savings plan

According to Covey, we should seek to spend most of our time on Q2 activities, as they’re the ones that provide us lasting happiness, fulfillment, and success. Unfortunately, there are a couple key challenges that keep us from investing enough time and energy into Q2 tasks:

• You don’t know what’s truly important to you. If you don’t have any idea what values and goals matter most to you, you obviously won’t know what things you should be spending your time on to reach those aims! Instead, you’ll latch on to whatever stimuli and to-dos are most urgent. If you feel like you’re lacking a life’s mission or aren’t sure what your core values are, I highly recommend reading our articles on developing a life plan as well as defining your core values.
• Present bias. As just discussed, we all have an inclination to focus on whatever is most pressing at the moment. Doing so is our default mode. It’s hard to get motivated to do something when there isn’t a deadline looming over our head. Departing from this fallback position takes willpower and self-discipline – qualities that don’t come naturally and must be actively cultivated and expressed.

Because Q2 activities aren’t pressing for our attention, we typically keep them forever on the backburner of our lives and tell ourselves, “I’ll get to those things ‘someday’ after I’ve taken care of this urgent stuff.” We even put off figuring out what’s most important in life, which of course only perpetuates a cycle where all we ever take care of are the most urgent to-dos on our list.
But “someday” will never come; if you’re waiting to do the important stuff until your schedule clears up a little, trust me when I say that it won’t. You’ll always feel about as busy as you are now, and if anything, life just gets busier as you get older (at least until you retire).
To overcome our inherent present-bias that prevents us from focusing on Quadrant 2 activities, we must live our lives intentionally and proactively. You can’t run your life in default mode. You have to consciously decide, “I’m going to make time for these things come hell or high water.”

Quadrant 3: Urgent and Not Important Tasks

Quadrant 3 tasks are activities that require our attention now (urgent), but don’t help us achieve our goals or fulfill our mission (not important). Most Q3 tasks are interruptions from other people and often involve helping them meet their own goals and fulfill their own priorities.
Here are some specific examples of Quadrant 3 activities:

• Phone calls
• Text messages
• Most emails (some emails could be urgent and important)
• Co-worker who comes by your desk during your prime working time to ask a favor
• Request from a former employee to write a letter of recommendation on his behalf (it’s probably important to him, but let’s face it, it’s probably not that important to you)
• Mom drops in unannounced and wants your help with a chore

According to Covey, many people spend most of their time on Q3 tasks, all the while thinking they’re working in Q1. Because Q3 tasks do help others out, they definitely feel important. Plus they’re also usually tangible tasks, the completion of which gives you that sense of satisfaction that comes from checking something off your list.
But while Q3 tasks may be important to others, they’re not important to you. They’re not necessarily bad, but they need to be balanced with your Q2 activities. Otherwise, you’ll end up feeling like you’re getting a lot done from day-to-day, while eventually realizing that you’re not actually making any progress in your own long-term goals. That’s a recipe for personal frustration and resentment towards other people.
Men who spend most of their time working on Urgent but Not Important Tasks often suffer from “Nice Guy Syndrome,” and want to constantly please others at the expense of their own happiness.
If that’s you, the solution is simple: Become more assertive and start to firmly (but politely) say no to most requests.

Quadrant 4: Not Urgent and Not Important Tasks

Quadrant 4 activities aren’t urgent and aren’t important. They’re what I like to call “dicking around” activities. Q4 activities aren’t pressing nor do they help you achieve long-term goals or fulfill your mission as a man. They’re primarily distractions.
Specific examples of Not Urgent and Not Important Tasks include:

• Watching TV
• Mindlessly surfing the web
• Playing video games
• Scrolling through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
• Gambling
• Shopping sprees

I think if most of us did a time audit on ourselves, we’d find that we spend an inordinate amount of time on Q4 activities. I’m sure most of us have those “I’m wasting my life” moments after we’ve spent hours surfing the web and realize we could have used that time to pursue our more ennobling life goals. No? That’s just me? Dang.
As a pragmatist, I don’t think you need to eliminate Q4 activities altogether from your life. After a particularly hectic and busy day, randomly browsing the internet or watching a favorite TV show for a half hour is exactly what my brain needs to decompress.
Instead of aiming to completely rid yourself of Not Urgent and Not Important tasks, try to only spend a very limited amount of time on them. 5% or less of your waking hours is a good goal.

Be Like Ike; Spend More Time on Important Tasks

In our present shock world, the ability to filter the signal from the noise, or distinguish between what’s urgent and what’s truly important, is an essential skill to have.
My challenge to you this week is to apply the Eisenhower Decision Matrix to as many aspects of your life as you can. When faced with a decision, stop and ask yourself, “Am I doing this because it’s important or am I doing it because it’s merely urgent?”
I promise as you spend most of your time working on Not Urgent but Important tasks, you’ll feel a renewed sense of calm, control, and composure in your life. You’ll feel like you’re making real progress. By investing your time in Q2’s planning/organizing activities, you can prevent and eliminate many of the crises and problems of Q1, balance the requests of Q3 with your own needs, and truly enjoy the veg-outs of Q4, knowing that you’ve earned the rest. By making Q2 tasks your top priority, no matter the emergency, annoyance, or deadline you’re hit with, you’ll have the mental, emotional, and physical wherewithal to respond positively, rather than react defensively.

Tools to Help You

To help you apply the Eisenhower Decision Matrix, we suggest checking out the following tools.
Eisenhower App. This is an iPhone app that allows you to easily organize your task according to the Eisenhower Decision Matrix. I had a chance to play around with it a bit and liked what I saw. Haven’t been able to find anything similar for Android.
Download the Eisenhower Decision Matrix Worksheet. I created a snazzy little PDF of the Eisenhower Decision Matrix available to download for free. Print one out tonight and set aside 30 minutes for personal reflection. Make a list of the tasks you spend most of your time on and assign them to an appropriate quadrant in the matrix. Doing so will give you a rough idea of whether you’re spending time on activities that are actually important.
After you do that, think of ways you can reduce the amount of time you spend on Q1, Q3, and Q4 tasks and increase the amount of time you spend on Q2 activities.

As always, dear reader, thanks for listening, and there will be more to come soon.