A symbiosis of the senses!
For many connoisseurs, whisky and music belong together. Of course, both are there to be enjoyed, both are forms of art and, of course, both are often found together. Think of a cosy evening in the pub or a get-together with friends while enjoying a good drop of single malt or bourbon and listening to atmospheric music. In a way, music and whisky also influence each other. You know how it is: music can trigger all kinds of emotions in us humans - from joy to sentimentality to sadness. Mood is also a decisive factor when it comes to enjoyment. Whisky tastes better or less good depending on the situation and mood.
The connection between Whisky and music
Music really does influence the taste experience!
There have been several studies in the past that have investigated the connection between music and food. For example, fast food restaurants such as McDonald's play upbeat music in their restaurants, as this has been proven to speed up the eating experience so that guests leave the restaurant more quickly and tables are vacated more quickly. Clever, isn't it? But it's not just fast-food restaurants that use this trick. In an experiment in the 1990s, guests in a fish restaurant rated oysters as more intense and savoury if they were played the sound of the sea while eating them. The relationship between wine and music has also been investigated. But what about whisky?
How does music influence the flavour of Whisky?
Another study experimented with whether the music played influenced the enjoyment and flavour of whisky. In a London jazz bar there were experiments with Glenrothes whisky and music. The event was intended to be a "sensory experience" ('sense' in the sense of 'perception') of whisky and music, in which flavours and sounds were combined. The hypothesis: the two receptors together attract greater attention from the brain and influence the flavour of the whiskies. The reasoning: The melody, tempo and pitch of the music played could change how you perceive the whisky. The whisky and music fans tasted Glenrothes 1988 accompanied by three jazz songs: Mood Indigo, a very slow and melancholy song by Andy and the Bey Sisters, Tiger Rag, a lively guitar track by Django Reinhardt, and finally Blue Pepper, a trumpet-heavy piece by jazz legend Duke Ellington. Although the results of the study were never published, it remains an exciting experiment. Participants reported that they also perceived different flavours in the different songs.
Even without music, whisky tastes different depending on the occasion!
Of course, a whisky can reveal new facets with each tasting, even without musical accompaniment - each nosing reveals different flavours and nuances. But like a song that puts us in a certain mood - be it joy, melancholy or nostalgia - the atmosphere also influences our taste experience. Who doesn't know the feeling that the pizza on holiday tastes unforgettably good simply because the ambience is right? It is precisely this connection between mood and perception that plays a decisive role in both whisky and music.
Musicians make Whisky
Many musicians and bands are such big whisky fans that they bring their own bottlings onto the market.
The musical and flavour spectrum among these whiskies is wide. It ranges from hard rock to hip hop and from single malt to rye. Many well-known musicians and bands have developed their own whisky in collaboration with distilleries.
Co-operations with musicians
Bob Dylan
One of them is none other than Bob Dylan. The whiskeys are named after his big hit 'Knocking on Heaven's Door' from 1973. The bottle design of the Heaven's Door whiskeys shows the welded iron gate that Bob Dylan made in his studio Black Buffalo Ironworks. The range includes a Straight Bourbon, a Straight Rye and the Double Barrel bottling, which is matured in heavily toasted oak barrels before and after blending. After a long period in which no specific statement was made about the production location of Heaven's Door whiskeys, the company built its own distillery in the historic centre of Nashville in 2020.
Slipknot
Fans of the nu metal band Slipknot are used to heavier sounds. Together with the Iowa-based distillery Cedar Ridge, the band's founder Shawn 'Clown' Crahan, who is also from Iowa, developed Whiskey No. 9. With its high corn content, the whiskey is softer than the band's hard sounds.
Motörhead
The London band Motörhead moved in a similarly rocky genre. The "legend" singer and bassist Lemmy Kilmister passed away in December 2015, and the Swedish distillery Mackmyra developed the single malt Motörhead as a tribute to Lemmy and the band. With its finish in sherry casks, the whisky is fruity, nutty and spicy. This is not the only band whisky from Mackmyra.
Scorpions
The Swedish distillery Mackmyra developed the Rock'n'Roll Star malt in collaboration with the German 80s hard rock band Scorpions. The barrels for its finish were previously filled with German cherry wine, giving it its berry flavour of dried fruit and roasted nuts.
Another collaboration with the Lower Franconian distillery St. Kilian led to the creation of the single malt whisky ‘Scorpions – Rock Believer by St. Kilian’. What makes this whisky special is that it has been matured in various German white wine casks. This gives it its mild and fruity aroma profile.
Drake
It's not just rockers who like whisky, rappers do too: Canadian hip hop mogul Drake fulfilled his dream of creating his own Virginia Blackwhisky in collaboration with spirits producer Brent Hocking. The makers wanted to do away with the old cliché of the 'whiskey-drinking cowboy' and emphasise the interplay between whiskey and black music. Virginia Black Whiskey tastes as rich as its golden bling-bling bottle design suggests.
Rod Stewart
Sir Rod Stewart and the team at the Loch Lomond distillery combined rock'n roll and Scottish whisky tradition. The song "Rythm of my heart" takes up the melody of the Scottish folk song "Loch Lomond". The result is a smooth, slightly smoky and pleasantly sweet blended whisky - Wolfie's.
The Pogues
The distillery West Cork Distillers was inspired by the Irish folk-punk band The Pogues and created The Pogues series, which includes an Irish whiskey liqueur as well as a single malt and blended whiskeys.
Judas Priest
In honour of British heavy metal band Judas Priest, the St. Kilian distillery has now bottled two single malts that are characterised by special cask ageing. ‘Judas Priest – British Steel’ matured in bourbon and fresh American white oak casks, while ‘Judas Priest – Invincible Shield’ underwent a highly experimental maturation process in ex-bourbon, ex-rye, ex-brandy, ex-tawny port and Bulgarian virgin oak casks. Both bottles are adorned with the band's album cover.
An experiment: music makes Whisky
So musicians can shape whisky, but can music also shape whisky? Over the years, there have been several experiments to get to the bottom of this question. In the case of American BlackenedWhiskey, the casks are blasted with music by the metal band Metallica during the maturation process. Each batch is given its own playlist, selected and arranged by the band members themselves. The music played causes the whiskey to move inside the barrel and interact with the oak. The movement and level of interaction depends on the songs selected, so the variation in the music creates nuances from one batch to the next. That sounds exciting!
Whiskies are named after song titles
Turntable
The brothers Alasdair and Gordon Stevenson, who are behind Tuntable Spirits, have composed various blended whiskies and named them after well-known song titles. To date, they have developed an impressive range of whiskies. The independent bottler, which has been active since 2023, has released a range of music-inspired blends, often named after iconic songs. The range currently comprises nine regular blends, including Tracks 1 to 6 and some special editions such as a collaboration with Starward Whisky. The latest release, Track 6: All My Life, adds a unique combination of casks and flavours to the collection. In addition, Turntable has a core series of award-winning blends including Bittersweet Symphony, Paradise Funk, and Smokin' Riff.
Songs about Whisky
A multitude of songs have been composed about whisky. These songs show that whisky is more than just a drink - it is a cultural symbol that inspires artists and people all over the world. Whether in blues, country or rock, hip hop or metal - whisky and music together tell stories that will be remembered.
Here are just a handful of the most famous whisky songs:
"Whiskey in the Jar" - Traditional / Thin Lizzy / Metallica
An Irish folk song that tells of robbers, betrayal and love. It became known worldwide through bands like Thin Lizzy and later Metallica. The song symbolises the connection between whiskey and Irish history and culture.
"Whisky Bar (Alabama Song)" - The Doors
Originally written by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill for a theatre play, it was reinterpreted by The Doors. The song describes a feverish search for whisky in a surreal world, making it a cult classic.
"One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer" - John Lee Hooker / George Thorogood
A blues classic that thematises the longing for a drink and overcoming hard times. Whisky becomes a companion in a night full of stories and self-reflection.
"Whiskey River" - Willie Nelson
A country hit that describes whisky as a refuge in times of heartbreak. Willie Nelson's version made the song a staple of his concerts and a classic of the genre.
"Tennessee Whiskey" - David Allan Coe / Chris Stapleton
A soulful song that compares the depth of love and the warmth of Tennessee Whiskey. Chris Stapleton's soulful interpretation made the song a worldwide success and brought the drink additional attention.
Music at Whisky events and tastings
Create the perfect atmosphere with music!
The right music can turn a whisky tasting from a mere tasting into an unforgettable experience. Background music creates a relaxed atmosphere, stimulates the senses and emphasises the characteristics of the whiskies. But what music is suitable for such an event? The music should never dominate, but rather act as a subtle complement. A playlist that is too loud or intrusive distracts from the enjoyment. It is advisable to match the music to the whiskies - for example, more lively pieces for smoky Islay whiskies or calmer tones for mild Speyside drams.
Our musical suggestions for a lovely Whisky evening
Create a pleasant atmosphere with lounge music. Subtle electronic sounds create a modern yet calm atmosphere. Acoustic sounds with light guitar or piano pieces, e.g. in singer-songwriter style, create a warm and approachable atmosphere, ideal for social tastings. Traditionally, a whisky evening is accompanied by Celtic music. Especially with Scottish or Irish whiskies, traditional Celtic music with harp, violin or bagpipes authentically complements the origin and character of the whisky. Jazz and blues with gentle piano sounds or saxophone solos are ideal for an elegant and timeless backdrop.
And don't miss our whisky playlist on Spotify!
Our whisky playlist
Whisky and music are mutually dependent. So it's no wonder that there are so many songs about whisky. It seems that enjoying whisky also encourages musical creativity. Click in the player at the top right and enjoy our whisky playlist
Conclusion
Whisky and music are more than just stimulants - they are art forms that can create moods, awaken memories and intensify emotions. The connection between the two is created in many different ways: Music can intensify the flavour experience of a whisky, while whisky can influence creativity and passion in music. Whether at a tasting, in a song or through musicians creating their own whiskies - the symbiosis of these two worlds is unique.
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