A whiskey decanter, port decanter, or wine decanter set immediately conjures up images of class and sophistication. Scenes of city slickers toasting deals with a whiskey decanter set, vintage Hollywood stars using a crystal decanter, or waiters serving Merlot from a red wine decanter instantly spring to mind. Here’s the guide on NUDE decanters with suggestions on how to use them and display them to add a touch of class and elegance to your home.
What Is the Point of a Decanter?
A crystal decanter, with its elegant, clear glass silhouette, is the epitome of sophisticated drinkware. However, aside from its good looks, a decanter is also highly functional. Decanters and wine carafes have been used for centuries to aerate wine and liquor and encourage the release of the subtle taste and aromas of a beverage.
Since the Roman Empire, wine and beverages have been decanted to remove sediment that settles over time and prevent the drinker from experiencing the gritty dregs of a bottle. The wide bowl and narrow neck of a wine or whiskey decanter help regulate the temperature and ensure each sip is perfectly aerated and consistent, so you get to appreciate the beverage at its very best.
What Is the Best Way to Use a Decanter?
There are many types of decanters, and the way you use them may differ slightly according to the wine, liquor, or beverage you wish to serve. This said, decanting is a simple process. Follow these steps:
- Establish if the Beverage Needs Decanting: Decanting is typically associated with red wine, although many other beverages, such as some white wine, port, whiskey, sherry, and even water, can benefit from decanting to reduce sediment and encourage the flavor to release.
- Prepare the Bottle: If the bottle has been stored horizontally, stand it upright for at least an hour to let any sediment and grit sink to the bottom. When ready, gently open the cork (if wine) and clean the neck of the bottle in readiness for transfer to the decanter.
- Decant the Beverage: Gently pour the wine or liquor into the decanter along its neck, making sure any sediment remains in the bottle.
- Aerate: The time you leave the wine in the decanter to aerate depends on its age. Typically, allow at least 30 minutes or longer for young wines to develop and no more than 10 minutes for older wines.
- Serve: Hold the base or bottom of the decanter neck and pour gently into the appropriate wine glass, whiskey glass, or water glass. Enjoy!
Which Decanter for Which Drink?
Not all wines and liquors need to be decanted, although some do choose to serve spirits and beverages in decanters or carafes for aesthetic appeal. The main beverages that do benefit from decanting include:
- Wine: Young Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah red wines benefit from decanting to help soften the tannins and bring out their characteristics. A clear, crystal decanter with a wide bowl and narrow neck, like the NUDE Vintage Wine Decanter with Cork Stopper, is ideal for encouraging the best out of red wine.
- Vintage Port: Port is a complex beverage often aged for many years, so it tends to develop a lot of sediment. This is why using a crystal port decanter such as the NUDE Oxygen Decanter with Cork Stopper is suggested.
- Aged Sherry: Aged, fortified wines like Madeira and Sherry are renowned for their complex flavor. Aerating Sherry in a decanter like the elegant French-inspired NUDE Jour Wine Decanter helps to enhance the characteristics to improve the overall drinking experience.
- Whiskey & Spirits: The use of a glass decanter encourages the flavor of cognac, whiskey, or other aged spirits and greatly enhances its presentation. NUDE crafts many beautiful lead-free crystal whiskey bottles and decanters. We also produce whiskey decanter sets that are perfect as a gift or for placing in a display cabinet or liquor cabinet.
Do You Pour Wine Straight from the Decanter?
Yes, you can pour wine straight from a decanter, provided the wine has rested and the sediment has settled first. The wine must be poured carefully. It is also a good idea to slow the pouring as you reach the bottom of the decanter to ensure no grit or sediment is transferred.
How Long Do You Leave Alcohol in a Decanter?
The length of time you can leave alcohol in a decanter depends on the wine or liquor and the type of decanter used. For example, whiskey, spirits, and liquor can last just as long in the decanter as they would in the bottle, provided the decanter has an airtight seal. Wine depends on the color and type of wine, but it is typically between 24 hours and four days.
How to Display a Whiskey Decanter?
Whiskey, Bourbon, cognac, and wine - all look great in a crystal decanter! The elegant shape, brilliance, and clarity of a lead-free crystal decanter demand recognition, so they can be displayed to enhance many areas in your home. Consider the following:
- Table Centerpieces: Store your favorite single malt in a glass decanter set like the NUDE Malt Gift Set with a Wooden Tray and display it on the center table for everyone to admire. This set comes with a lead-free crystal carafe, a serving bowl, a wooden tray, and two matching glasses.
- Liquor Cabinet Showpiece: Gather a collection of decanters in different sizes and shapes, fill them with your favorite beverages, and show them off as the star of your liquor cabinet.
- Living Room Accent Piece: The presence of a beautiful whiskey or wine decanter draws attention to the accents such as coffee tables, side tables, hearths, mantle pieces, or windowsills. Pair it with matching glasses or a contrasting glass decorative object.
As we have seen, glass decanters and carafes are far from simply attractive glassware; they also have a highly practical purpose and can be used in many ways to add style to your home.
