Write down the impressions of what you just examined. As we’ve seen, there are a lot of impressions you are gathering while performing the first four steps. Do not rely upon memory to keep things straight, especially in the learning phase. There will come a point where your taste memory can quickly remind you of a specific liquid and how it will mix with something but in your early efforts it is recommended to have a notebook.

In fact, the Notate phase should be performed in tandem with all phases of tasting. It is better to jot down your sensations and observations as they occur rather than try to remember the exact sensations several minutes later after you have been bombarded with flavor, scent and feel.

Buy a bound notebook, not something from which you’ll easily lose the pages. Write down everything you taste that could possibly help you in your endeavors. Note the name of the item, the sensations you receive while tasting, comments about its smell and appearance. Did you try it warm or cold or possibly at varied temperatures.

Make an effort to write down at least the two most outstanding characteristics of Look, Smell, Taste and Aftertaste of the liquid. The more detail you can notate the better but two will at least give you a starting place to begin comparisons to other liquids.

At a minimum, notate which of the basic tastes the item triggers. There may be multiple tastes in more complex liquids; you should pay attention to all of the tastes but especially the dominant one.

It also is useful to write down the strengths of flavors and alcohols so you can know if you will want to use it to bump up your drink or help tone it down.

Until next time, may all your drinks be tasty. Cheers.