Are you going to aerate your wines? Yes? Good for you. You’ve made the right choice. However, you’ve got one more choice. How do you do it? Well, decanters are your answer. If you’re just starting off your journey with the wines, then probably you’re wondering what purpose decanter serves. Besides, we bet you also want to know their benefits and see if they’re more than just an addition to your aesthetics. Continue reading to know and understand these humble wine accessories.
The first known glass decanters appeared in Syria around 5000 BC. But, the widespread use of these jugs became common only in the era of the Roman Empire. During these days, people used the decanters to store wine. Besides, the very first models came in clay materials. However, people soon realised that the clay versions do not bring any good to the wines. So then they opted for glass decanters. However, after the fall of the Roman Empire, people stopped using glass and instead used bronze and silver ones. The glass wine jugs that we see today made a major come back during the European Renaissance. Today, you can find several types of decanters. Let’s have a look at a few popular ones in our next section.
Remember, you cannot decant all the spirits in one single decanter. You need different wine jugs for different liquors. However, quite often, you can interchangeably decant in the various wine jugs. These kinds of pitchers are relatively simple in appearance. You need to decant several wines for them to breathe and soften the tannins and remove the sediments. Among those that you could use in any decanter include young red wines, red wines with visible residues, some white wines and vintage ports. Also, the wine jugs do not need stoppers, since its only purpose is to aerate the wine. Also, most wine jugs come in oddly shaped but fashionable designs.
Indeed, you’ll see a lot of decanters that come in simple shapes and designs. And there’s a good reason for it – it works! The Le Chateau is one such wine jug. Their shape is perfect for moving the wine insides. Besides, the design ensures to provide a large breathable surface in the container. This particular model comes in lead-free crystal. Therefore, you never have to worry about impurities getting into your wine. Apart from that, this is a hand-blown version, which gives it an artisan feel. Apart from that, the decanter holds 32 ounces. But, the point isn’t to fill it, but to pour the wine so that it stays at the broader end of the jug.
Manny scotch experts say that, unlike decanting wine, you can easily store your scotch in a decanter. That’s because it doesn’t have any effect on the liquor whatsoever. But, even if it isn’t doing much for the taste of your scotch, it’s a great addition to your bar cart’s aesthetics. With the perfect scotch jugs, you can confidently say goodbye to your clunky bottles and opt for these sleek and sophisticated alternatives. Some of the popular models of scotch decanters include Rosanna, Cathy’s concept, Bormioli Rocco, Kathy Kuo Home, Ralph Lauren, and many more as such. Each of these scotch jugs has different designs and features.
We’ve seen earlier that the most common reason to use a wine jug is to remove sediments. However, this isn’t true in the case of whiskey. The main reason to use the whiskey jug is for style and appearance. Usually, a whiskey can hold up to 750 mL of whiskey. Today you can find several types of best whiskey decanters. For example, the James Scott Whiskey Decanter and Set are one of the most affordable options. They come with four old-fashioned double glasses and a mirrored serving tray. Similarly, Iceberg Scotch Decanter Set by Ashcroft is the most user-friendly jug for decanting whiskey. Not only are they lead-free, but also safe in dishwasher, freezer and microwave.
Do you still think that decanters are relatively simple wine accessories ? Well, if you do, then you’re at the worn end, my friend. You’d be surprised how much there is to take into account when you have to buy the best decanters online. Here are a few quick tips that’ll help you get through the search and secure yourself the best wine jug out there.