Have you ever thought about hosting a whiskey tasting for family and friends? Amongst whiskey novices and connoisseurs, whiskey tastings can be a great way to explore your palate, build on your knowledge, and share a dram with some special people. As somebody who gradually developed their palate for whiskey, I understand the value of a good whiskey tasting experience and how it can affect your whiskey journey.
So, today I have put together some of my top tips for hosting a memorable whiskey tasting event that will cater to everyone’s tastes and leave them with a desire for more.
1. Cater To Different Palates
Whatever whiskey you are sampling (scotch, Irish, Indian, Japanese, bourbon, etc.) there is an extremely diverse range of profiles and styles within and across each category. In the scotch category, for example, peated whiskies from Islay offer an entirely different tasting experience to Highland whiskies, usually renowned for their fruity character.
Whiskey drinkers, experienced or not, will probably have some idea of what kind of profile they prefer. If you plan on inviting guests with diversifying palates, then make sure you are catering to said tastes. This way, everyone can feel included. The easiest way of doing this is to make sure you have the basics down. Pick a peaty scotch and a sherried scotch, a flagship bourbon, a rye, and a bottle of Irish pot still whiskey. Then, if you can, expand outwards. How about some Japanese or Indian whisky?
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The inclusion of different whiskey types can add opportunities for exploration. Perhaps someone will try their very first dram of Laphroaig scotch whisky in your company. Who knows?
2. Explore Food Pairings
Food pairings can be a fantastic way of exploring your palate and encouraging your friends to do so as well. The right pairing can bring out notes in the whiskey that a drinker may otherwise overlook. It can also create truly delicious flavor combinations that will leave you wanting more.
For example, on a recent trip to Angel’s Envy Distillery in Louisville, KY, I sampled the brand’s flagship bourbon finished in port barrels along with a specially selected Orange Chimère – a smooth orange-flavored chocolate from Art Eatables. Needless to say, it was incredible. The orange flavors beautifully accented the rich fruit and Madeira notes in the bourbon.
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With that being said, you don’t have to stick to sweet! Kaveh Zamanian, the founder of Rabbit Hole Distillery, is a huge proponent of whiskey paired with charcuterie boards.
Your palate is your oyster, and you can mix and max with whatever whiskey and food pairing you like until you find one that hits the spot.
So, if you are looking to host a whiskey tasting event, perhaps head down to your local deli to put together a board, or order some amazing chocolates from Art Eatables.
3. Offer Additional Refreshments At The Whiskey Tasting
Whilst everyone gathered will (hopefully) love to partake in some whiskey tasting, it might be nice to break the evening up with some additional refreshments. Think beer, wine, other spirits, and (of course) water.
These refreshments can not only allow guests to take a break from the whiskey tasting, but will also allow them to reset their palates and get ready for the next round of tasting.
Additionally, it is a great way to include friends who are not necessarily the biggest whiskey fans but would like to partake in an evening of drinks and conversation.
4. Provide Flavor Wheels
In an article for The Whiskey Wash Kirsty McKerrow, founder of The Edinburgh Whisky Academy, sang the praises of flavor wheels as a useful tool in whisky tasting.
A flavor wheel is a tool that organizes flavors into broad categories at the center, such as “Fruity” or “Peaty,” which then branch out into increasingly specific descriptors like “Citrus” and “Medicinal” towards the outer edges. Whiskey drinkers can start by recognizing the overarching profile, and then dig a little deeper into specific flavors.
This can be a great way for whiskey drinkers, novices or otherwise, to recognize flavors inside the dram and, by extension, figure out which flavors and profiles they prefer.
Providing these for your guests, especially for whiskey beginners, can make the whiskey tasting feel a little less daunting.
5. Go Into The Whiskey Tasting With An Open Mind
One of the wonderful things about whiskey is that, when it comes to flavor, it is completely subjective. The likelihood that everyone at your whiskey tasting event will experience every dram the same way is very low. And that is okay!
Someone venturing into whiskey tasting for the first time may feel a little nervous – what if they don’t enjoy the whiskey? What if they taste something different from everyone else? These feelings are completely valid, especially if you are surrounded by whiskey connoisseurs.
However, at my first ‘series’ whiskey tasting event, I learned very quickly that there are no wrong answers. Hearing diverse perspectives on a singular dram of whiskey is one of the joys of whiskey tastings.
So, encourage an open and non-judgemental atmosphere at your whiskey tasting event. That way, everyone will feel comfortable sharing and partaking in some fun and interesting discussions.
6. Have Fun!
Whiskey tasting events can be a fantastic way to spend an evening with friends and family. With good company, good conversation, and good whiskey, you cannot go wrong!
Remember, everyone is there to have fun and perhaps learn something about themselves (or about whiskey) along the way.
So, with the tips in mind above, you are set to host a dazzling whiskey tasting event. Happy hosting!
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