How to Hold a Whiskey Tasting
Entertaining guests with a whiskey tasting party is a unique alternative to wine tastings, wine and cheese tastings, and regular dinner parties. If you do not know much about whiskey, this is no problem as the point is to learn the different types and tastes of whiskey. If you enjoy wine tastings, you will definitely enjoy whiskey tastings since you and your guests will experience and discuss the smell, flavors and textures of whiskey from multiple regions and aging processes. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Decide which whiskeys you would like to serve to your guests, with a good amount of samples being around five to nine. Choose a whiskey from different regions of Ireland, North America, Indian, Japan, Canada and Scotland, and also blended whiskey. Then choose variations that were aged in oak or other wooden casks. Have variations of whiskey that are made from barley, wheat, rye and maize (corn). Chosen whiskeys to use include Canadian Club, Chivas, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Glenlivet and Jack Daniel's Single Barrel, to name a few. Provide information pages about each whiskey (such as where, when and how it was made or aged, what flavors and scents should be evident and alcohol content).
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Set up the different bottles of whiskey with snifter glasses and the pot in case people do not want to swallow the whiskey. Provide glasses of water for cleansing the palate after each tasting. Use snifter glasses with wide bases and smaller openings. Pour a small measure of whiskey into each glass.
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Examine the color of the whiskey first, which is an indication of how it is matured and in what type of wood casks. Check the legs of the whiskey by holding the glass by the stem, tilting it at an angle, then rotating it to see the drips of whiskey coating the sides of the glass. If the legs drip down slowly, the thicker the whiskey which means it is an older whiskey.
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Tasting the whiskey, only let a small amount dribble onto your tongue and try to understand the complex flavors and aromas. Discuss to identify different apparent flavors, then check out the informational sheets to see if you and your guests guessed correctly. Tastes can include anything from grass to the ocean, to chocolate, oranges or vanilla.
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Finish by either swallowing the whiskey sample or spitting it out into the bucket provided. Swirl a little room temperature water around your mouth to calm the flavors, then prepare for your next sample.
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Tips & Warnings
Always do your own research to discover what types of whiskey appeal to you and your guests. It is very useful to have informational sheets for you and your guests about different whiskey as to understand what you are experiencing.
Always drink responsibly Only experience liquor tastings if you are of at least 21 years of age. Do not allow your guests to drive immediately after such entertaining parties for their own safety.
