Creative ideas for your whisky tasting night
Are you planning a whisky tasting night with your friends or family soon? Organising a fun tasting session can prove to be tedious, but we’re here to get the creative juices flowing.
You don’t want it to just be like any old gathering— you want it to be a night to remember. This means you’ll have to put in a little more effort than laying out some bottles of whisky and glasses and calling it a day.
Whisky tasting sessions are a great way to expand your tastes and knowledge of different whiskies while enjoying the company of your loved ones. Before we get started, take a look at our top tips for whisky tasting at home.
Psst, do you want to add some luxury to your night with delicious whiskies? Our whisky tasting sets are perfect for elevating your tasting experience, with five delightful bottles to taste in every box.
Why host a whisky tasting night at home?
Are you tired of the same old pub trips, spending money you don’t have? It turns out that you can have just as much fun at home and still get to enjoy your favourite beverages.
Hosting a tasting night with fellow whisky aficionados is the perfect way to swap expert tips and knowledge, try out new bottles together, and bond over something you all enjoy.
Plus, we all know by now that trying to talk in a crowded bar can prove to be challenging. You’ll be shouting ‘sorry, what was that?’ back and forth for the majority of the night. Tasting whisky in a relaxed environment makes it easier to savour each dram and enjoy open conversation.
You have full creative control of the whiskies you taste test, and it’s the perfect way to celebrate birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries, and more!
6 ideas for your whisky tasting session
So, if you’re looking to wow your guests and make this a monthly thing, you’re going to have to pull something great out of your sleeve.
Luckily, we know just the thing to make your night memorable. But, first things first, you’ll have to arrange the following before you plan out the activities:
- Choose a date and time.
- Plan a guest list and send out invites.
- Select your whiskies.
- Gather or purchase any tasting glasses, decanters, and other necessary items.
- Choose your palate cleansers.
We’ll wait until you’ve checked everything off the list…
Are you good to go now? If so, let’s move on to the creative aspects of the night.
1. Create a whisky passport
Yes, you heard us right. While whisky cards are great, and you get a beautiful selection with each one of our whisky tasting sets, why not take it to the next level?
A whisky passport will turn every part of the night into an adventure. You could craft your own from card or purchase fake passport props to add to the realism. Inside this booklet, you can include the following sections:
- Name of the whiskies
- Distillery and region
- ABV
- Aroma notes
- Palate impressions and finish
- Personal ratings
Once you’ve tasted each whisky, add a stamp or sticker to the page to commemorate your tasting experience. This is a great idea if you’re planning to make this occasion a regular event; your guests can bring their passports along each time they visit.
2. Blind whisky tasting
Do you remember that game you used to play when you were younger, where you had to pin the tail to the donkey while blindfolded?
This is kind of similar, except you’re guessing what the whisky is and not where the donkey's tail is. Blind whisky tasting is a great way to remove any bias toward a whisky and heighten your senses during the experience.
You could either blindfold yourself (and have someone chaperone the glass to prevent accidental knocks) or cover up the labels of the bottles so your guests can’t see what's inside— just number them so you know which is which.
Create scoring cards and have everyone reveal their guesses at the end of the game. You could even create a prize for the winner.
3. Delicious food pairings
When whisky tasting, you need something to wash every sip down. What better way to do that than with some delicious snacks?
Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Cheese: Pair soft cheeses like Brie or Camembert with sweet Speyside drams and mature cheddar with rich Highland malts. While controversial, blue cheese is great with smoky Islay whiskies.
- Charcuterie: Assemble a sophisticated board of cured meats, such as chorizo, prosciutto, and smoked venison, and add some complementary extras, like grapes, nuts and dried apricots.
- Chocolate: Everyone loves some chocolate, so pair dark chocolate (70%) with sherry-cask-matured whiskies. Milk chocolate complements creamy lowland whiskies.
4. Whisky trivia or quiz round
Do you want to put your friends' or family's whisky knowledge to the test? If so, why not create your own quiz or find one online to print off and host?
If you want to prepare your own, come up with around 10-15 questions focused on whisky facts, history, production methods, and quirky world records.
You could write them all down on a piece of paper and resist searching for the answers so you can participate too, or read them out and have guests jot down their answers. Either way, it’s bound to bring out everyone's competitive side and end up in a barrel of laughs (no pun intended).
5. Themed tasting session
If you love the theatrics of a party or get-together, then hosting a themed whisky night is probably right up your alley.
Why not step back in time with an old saloon vibe, fitted with fake barrels, vintage outfits, and classy top hats? Or, you could all dress up as pirates, enjoying a drink together while out at sea, with nautical-themed props.
If you’re focusing on one type of whisky, such as Scottish or Irish whisky, you could let that set the tone for the night. Just place some flags around your home, eat popular Irish or Scottish food, and purchase a kilt. It’s really that simple!
6. Nosing Challenge
One aspect of whisky tasting that many people overlook is the aromas of each dram.
The sense of smell accounts for a significant part of the overall experience, with some experts suggesting that up to 80% of flavour is detected through smell.
By getting your guests to take part in the nosing challenge, you will all be able to sharpen your senses, discuss the scents that stick out to you the most, and build confidence in your whisky knowledge. Here’s how to do it:
- Prepare aroma samples: In separate jars, add food of the same category, e.g., a fruity jar with raisins, fresh apple slices, and bananas, and a spicy jar with cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, and nutmeg. Label each one with a number.
- Explain the activity: Invite your guests to smell each jar while blindfolded and jot down their impressions of what they think is inside.
- Reveal and discuss: Once everyone has sampled each jar, have them reveal their answers and discuss how these aromas relate to common whisky notes. For example, dried fruit often links to sherry cask maturation, and peat smoke is distinctive to Islay drams.
Ready to host the perfect whisky tasting night?
If you’re looking for a fun way to bring everyone together and connect over your favourite hobby, then these creative whisky tasting ideas will bring a fun atmosphere to the night.
To make things even better, our whisky tasting sets provide you with five miniature bottles of delicious whisky, alongside beautiful tasting cards, a tasting guide, and a mat. Each one is curated by the experts, providing you with the perfect line-up for your session.
You bring the friends, the food, and the conversation — we’ll supply the whisky.
Say goodbye to hours of researching for the right whiskies or investing in a large bottle of something you may never finish. Plus, if you like what you see, you can turn your one-time purchase into a regular event with our subscription boxes.
What sounds better than new drams to sample every 3 months?