I host tastings in person around New Zealand, but a lot of the people who watch the channel are nowhere near me. So this is the next best thing, a tasting you can do at home with two or three whiskies and a couple of my videos. It's free and it's set up for beginners. Works fine on your own, or with a few mates around the table.
What you need
Two or three whiskies in different styles. If you're buying, one fruity (Glencadam 10 or Arran 10), one rich and sherried (Tamdhu 12 or GlenAllachie 12) and one smoky (Laphroaig 10 or Ardbeg 10). Miniatures or samples are perfect for this.
A glass for each whisky if you can. Glencairns are ideal, a small wine glass works fine.
Water, and a teaspoon or a dropper.
Something to write on. My Flavour Tree tasting cards were made for this, or just grab a notebook.
Some crackers or bread. Food isn't really the point, it's just there to line your stomach.
The tasting
Give yourself about an hour.
Pour small. 15 to 20ml of each is plenty.
Put on How to Taste Whisky Like a Master - Charlie MacLean. It's 37 minutes of Charlie showing how he noses and tastes a whisky, so pour along and copy what he does. If you're short on time there's a six minute version.
Go from lightest to smokiest. Fruity first, then the sherried one, smoky last, because the peat hangs around.
For each one, have a look at the colour, then nose it with your mouth slightly open. Take a small sip, then a second one. The second sip is usually where you start to actually taste it.
Add a few drops of water and try it again.
Write down what it reminds you of. Start broad, fruity or rich or smoky, and then narrow it down with the Flavour Tree.
Pick a favourite and say why. When I hosted the World Whisky cruises in Wellington everyone's favourite was different, so there's no wrong answer.
Keep going
Pour One with Me: 48 Minutes of Drams, if you want to pour a dram and hang out.
Running one for a group? Here's how to host a whisky tasting.
Picking your next bottle afterwards? Try my flavour guide, and if the words on the label are doing your head in, here's the plain-English version.
Doing one with me
I don't run live online tastings at the moment. In New Zealand I host public tastings, and private ones for groups, work functions and venues, which are all on my tastings page. If I start doing online ones, Neat Notes subscribers will hear about it.
Quick answers
Can you do a whisky tasting online?
Yes. Pour two or three different whiskies, play a guided tasting video and taste along. This page is set up to do exactly that with my videos.
How many whiskies should a beginner tasting have?
Two or three is plenty for a first go. Pick different styles so the differences are easy to spot.
How much whisky do you pour for a tasting?
About 15 to 20ml per whisky. That's enough to nose it, taste it, add water and taste it again.
Slàinte,
Phil
