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Reference Guide

Sensory Profiles

A sensory profile describes a drink across 7 measurable dimensions — from Body and Acidity to Beginner-Friendliness. Use these scales to understand what you're tasting and discover drinks you'll love.

Reviewed by , Drinks Editor

1. Body

LightFull

Body describes how light or full a drink feels in the mouth. It is influenced by alcohol content, residual sugars, dissolved solids and carbonation.

Light body
Delicate, easy-drinking, crisp. e.g. Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Pilsner, Mojito, Daiquiri
Medium body
Balanced and well-structured. e.g. Chardonnay, IPA, Bourbon, Margarita
Full body
Rich, bold, heavy on the palate. e.g. Cabernet Sauvignon, Stout, Cognac, Negroni, Espresso Martini

How to use it: Prefer light, easy-drinking drinks? Filter for Light body. Enjoy bolder, richer flavours? Choose Full body.

2. Dryness / Sweetness

SweetBone Dry

Dryness describes the residual sugar content after fermentation. Dry means minimal sweetness; sweet means more sugar remains.

Sweet
Fruity, dessert-like. e.g. Riesling (sweet), Dessert wines, Piña Colada, coffee liqueurs
Off-Dry
Slightly sweet, balanced. e.g. Some Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, Aperol Spritz
Dry
No perceptible sweetness. e.g. Most red wines, dry whites, lagers, Daiquiri, classic Margarita
Bone Dry
Maximum dryness, high acidity. e.g. Champagne Brut, dry Fino Sherry, dry Martini, Negroni

How to use it: Prefer sweet drinks? Filter for Sweet or Off-Dry. Like dry, crisp drinks? Choose Dry or Bone Dry.

3. Acidity

FlatCrisp

Acidity describes the tartness or brightness of a drink. High acidity feels lively and refreshing; low acidity feels soft and round.

Flat
Low acidity, soft and smooth. e.g. Full-bodied reds, barrel-aged beers, aged spirits
Balanced
Medium acidity, crisp-soft balance. e.g. Chardonnay, Pale Ale, Gin & Tonic
Crisp
High acidity, bright, zippy. e.g. Sauvignon Blanc, Champagne, IPA, citrus cocktails, Daiquiri

How to use it: Like bright, lively drinks? Choose Crisp. Prefer soft, smooth drinks? Select Flat.

4. Tannin (Wine) / Bitterness (Beer)

Soft / LowGrippy / High

In wines, tannin comes from grape skins and creates a drying, grippy sensation. In beers, bitterness comes from hops and describes hoppy intensity.

Soft / Low
Smooth, easy-drinking. e.g. Pinot Noir, Merlot, Pilsner, Light Lager
Medium
Balanced and structured. e.g. Syrah, Sangiovese, Pale Ale, Amber Ale
Grippy / High
Astringent, bold, drying finish. e.g. Cabernet Sauvignon, Tannat, IPA, Double IPA

How to use it: Like smooth, easy-drinking drinks? Choose Soft/Low. Enjoy bold, structured drinks? Select Grippy/High.

5. Fruitiness

SubtleProminent

Fruitiness describes the intensity of fruit flavours — cherry, berry, citrus, stone fruit, tropical fruit and more. High fruitiness means bold fruit-forward character.

Subtle
Understated fruit; other flavours dominate. e.g. Oak-aged reds, dry beers, Negroni, dry Martini
Balanced
Fruit is present but not overwhelming. e.g. Chardonnay, Pale Ale, classic Daiquiri, Gin & Tonic
Prominent
Bold, fruit-forward character. e.g. Beaujolais, Gewürztraminer, Piña Colada, Mai Tai, Aperol Spritz

How to use it: Like fruit-forward drinks? Choose Prominent. Prefer subtle, earthy drinks? Select Subtle.

6. Boldness / Strength

DelicateBold

Boldness describes overall intensity and alcohol strength. Higher-boldness drinks are more warming and spirit-forward.

Delicate
Low alcohol, gentle, sipping-friendly. e.g. Light wines, low-ABV beers, Spritz, Mojito
Balanced
Medium alcohol, approachable. e.g. Table wines, standard beers, Daiquiri, Margarita
Bold
High alcohol, strong warming sensation. e.g. Port, aged spirits, barrel-aged beers, Negroni, Espresso Martini, Long Island Iced Tea

How to use it: Prefer gentle drinks? Choose Delicate. Like bold, warming drinks? Select Bold.

7. Beginner-Friendly

Acquired TasteEasy Intro

Beginner-Friendly describes how accessible a drink is for newcomers. Easy Intro drinks are approachable and crowd-pleasing; Acquired Taste drinks suit experienced palates.

Easy Intro
Accessible, approachable, crowd-pleasing. e.g. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Lager, Mojito, Daiquiri, Spritz
Intermediate
More character; requires some experience. e.g. Burgundy, Craft IPA, Negroni, Sazerac, Sauvignon Blanc
Acquired Taste
Complex, challenging, for experienced palates. e.g. Aged spirits, extreme IPAs, natural wines, Campari-based cocktails

How to use it: New to the drinks world? Choose Easy Intro. Want to challenge your palate? Select Acquired Taste.

How to use sensory profiles to find drinks you'll love

  1. Rate your preferences — For each dimension, decide where you sit. Light or Full body? Sweet or Dry? Crisp or Flat?
  2. Find similar drinks — Browse wines, beers, spirits and cocktails with matching sensory profiles.
  3. Discover new favourites — Adjust one dimension at a time to explore new flavour territory while staying in your comfort zone.
  4. Learn the language — Understanding sensory profiles helps you read labels, ask better questions in bottle shops and bars, and describe what you enjoy.

Explore drinks by type

Wine styles →Beer styles →Spirits →Liqueurs →Cocktails →Mocktails →

Common questions

What are sensory profiles?

Sensory profiles describe drinks using 7 key dimensions: Body, Dryness/Sweetness, Acidity, Tannin/Bitterness, Fruitiness, Boldness and Beginner-Friendly. Each dimension is a scale from one extreme to another, helping you understand flavour characteristics and find drinks you'll enjoy.

How do sensory profiles work?

Each dimension is a scale (e.g. Light → Full Body). A drink's position on each scale describes its flavour character. By comparing profiles, you can find drinks with similar characteristics to your current favourites or explore new styles with confidence.

Are sensory profiles the same for wines, beers and spirits?

Mostly yes. Body, Acidity, Fruitiness and Boldness apply to all drink types. Some dimensions vary by type: wines use Tannin, beers use Bitterness, spirits emphasise Proof/Boldness. Beginner-Friendly is universal across all drink categories.

How do I use sensory profiles to find drinks I'll like?

Identify where your favourite drinks sit on each dimension, then filter for similar profiles. For example, if you enjoy light-bodied, crisp wines, look for other Light Body + Crisp Acidity styles. Adjust one dimension at a time to explore new territories while staying in your comfort zone.