Ah, fancy something nice, aren’t we? A whiskey tasting event is the pinnacle of masculine finesse. Grab a few bottles of scotch, single malt, or blended mixtures and your guests will be in for a night of fine drinking.
However, there are a few things you should consider before diving headfirst into this endeavor. Whiskey isn’t considered fancy just because. It really is fancy. It’s art, exactly like wine. And for any artistic event, you’ll first and foremost need to…
Know Your Whiskeys
You need to learn your whiskeys as if they were your own creation. As mentioned above, there are many types of whiskeys, from bourbon to scotch to rye. And from those stem even more sub-categories, such as single-malt, blended, and so forth. You need to learn what whiskey tastes in a certain way, how it smells, and what food or secondary beverage you should pair it with.
Not only that, but you’ll also need to learn a thing or two about whiskey glasses. As stated earlier, whiskey tasting is similar to wine tasting in many aspects. And the shape of the glass heavily influences how the aroma spreads out to your nostrils and how fast the taste and the aftertaste are distributed.
Bring Appropriate Snacks
You’re not going to eat hot dogs or deep-fried bacon, are you? No, hell no! Whiskey requires something much more elegant. Light snacks will cleanse the palate and ease the stomach so that no one will get overly drunk. Unsalted crackers and corn chips work well to cleanse the palate. You should also sip some water to cleanse the palate and avoid getting too drunk.
However, to enhance the taste of certain whiskeys, you’ll want foods whose flavors go well with a particular type of whiskey. For example, fruits like cherries and cranberries go well with fruity whiskeys, while nuts and pecans go well with stronger ones.
And don’t forget the cheese! Cheese is a must in any whiskey-tasting event. Definitely take your time to learn how to pair cheeses with whiskey. And, finally, before the tasting can start, you should also consider thinly sliced meats, like salami, ham, or pepperoni. Plus some light desserts like dark chocolate should also add flavor.
Event Preparation
Don’t forget to book a fine-looking restaurant or venue for your tasting event. You want the place to look just as fancy as the drinks and dishes that you’re serving. And speaking of renting out a restaurant, you might want to look into reliable event insurance.
Supply your guests with pen and paper so they can take notes of which whiskey and what food combinations they loved the most during the event. It’s also important to have some booklets or leaflets handy with small details that you might overlook during your presentation. And speaking of presentations, you should exercise your speech beforehand.
At The Event
Be fancy! But don’t overdo it. Balance is key, just like when it comes to drinking a certain amount of whiskey when tasting it. It’s just as important to know the amount of water and snacks that go well with single malts, blended scotches, and bourbons. Balance, balance, balance. Ideally, if you really love whiskey, you’ll have already read a specialized book on the matter.
If not, you can also go with your gut, especially if you have been at a whiskey-tasting event in the past. Use your nose, eyes, and mouth at the same time, just as you would at a wine tasting!
The Bottom Line
Whiskey is art. And art should be cherished with friends who have similar tastes as you do. Pair your whiskey with the right amount of water and with the right snacks and you’ll be on your way to taste bud heaven.
Have you been to a whiskey tasting event before? What were your impressions? Make sure to leave us a comment down below with your thoughts and opinions on this subject matter.
