Picture this – it’s a summer evening, and you’re settling down after a long day with a homemade drink. Everything feels close to perfect, except something is off. The flavors in your favorite homemade concoction are not quite right. While ratios and the quality of your adult beverage ingredients play a major role, it’s essential to consider the quality of your home’s tap water when you mix up your favorite adult beverage.
Let’s dive into how your home’s water may be sabotaging your favorite homespun alcoholic drinks.
When Hard Water Helps
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, nearly 85% of homes in the United States have hard water – or water that contains excess calcium, magnesium, and other minerals. Though subtle, hard water has a different taste and texture, or mouth feel, from softened water, and some drinks are enhanced by the extra minerals.
According to Brau Supply, which supplies electric beer brewing equipment, “Hard water, which contains high levels of minerals such as calcium and magnesium, can enhance hop bitterness and contribute to a crisp, dry finish. On the other hand, soft water, low in mineral content, can result in a more delicate and rounded flavor profile.”
The same holds true for whiskey. A blog from the Whiskey Reserve, a distillery in Dublin, Ireland, notes that “water with high levels of calcium and magnesium, known as hard water, can enhance fermentation and contribute to a richer flavor. On the other hand, soft water, which has fewer minerals, might lead to a smoother, more delicate whiskey.”
However, it’s also important to know that professional distilleries and breweries go to great lengths to get the right combination of minerals inside their water. So while calcium, magnesium, and limestone may add a depth of flavor, other contaminants like iron, manganese, and chlorine are typically not welcome. In many cases, professional breweries, distilleries, or bars soften and purify their water and then add their desired combination of minerals back in to achieve their end results.
In short, it’s unlikely that the average home’s tap water contains the right ratio of the right minerals to unlock professional-level flavor.
Soft Water Cracks the Code
According to an article from PunchDrink.com, professional bars and restaurants in major metropolitan cities use water softeners and purifiers to treat all of the water flowing into the restaurant. This clean, pure water gives them a fresh template to build the flavors in their craft cocktails. Softened water, sometimes known for having a smooth or slippery texture, can also provide a “silky or velvety” texture that enhances the flavors of many beloved drinks.
Removing excess minerals means nothing is competing with or diminishing the unique flavors in the liquor and other ingredients you’re using. Plus, softened water makes cleanup a breeze. Whether you hand-wash your glass and mixology kit or toss it in the dishwasher, you can be sure that there will be no hard water spots on your favorite drink glass.
Don’t Forget the Ice
Most summertime drinks are best served on the rocks. As those ice cubes melt in the summer heat, dilution from your ice cubes will mean more water ends up in your glass.
If you have hard water, your ice cubes likely appear cloudy. While the water is cooling down and freezing, those excess minerals consolidate in the middle of the ice cube with air bubbles. While harmless to your health, cloudy ice cubes can diminish the appearance, and when they melt, the excess minerals will interfere with the intended flavors of the drink.
Make your ice cubes with softened, purified water to keep your beverage tasting better throughout the entire experience. For additional ideas on getting that crystal clear ice cube look for your Instagram feed, check out this helpful guide.
Get Started With a Whole Home System
Sometimes, we forget just how important our home’s water is to our everyday lives. From enjoying your favorite nightcap, to cooking, bathing, cleaning – you name it. Water powers our lives. If you want help perfecting your homemade drinks, or you’re just looking to avoid other irksome water issues, give our team a call. We can help you test your home’s water to identify exactly what’s going on and recommend a solution that will get your home’s water tasting clean, fresh, and pure.
