Build your own
Build your own
For her
For celebrations
Liquor Library
Whisky Tasting at Home: A Beginner's Whisky Flight
How to run a whisky tasting at home: pour a bourbon, a blended Scotch and a smoky Islay malt side by side and find the style you like.
To run a whisky tasting at home, pour 15ml each of a bourbon, a blended Scotch and a smoky Islay malt, and taste them from lightest to boldest. Side by side, the differences jump out, and the one you go back to is your style.
Keep the pours small, taste slowly and have water and food on the table.
How do you run a whisky flight?
Small pours, in order, with water.
- Pour 15ml of each into its own glass, in order from light to smoky.
- Smell each one before you taste it.
- Take a small sip, then add a few drops of water and taste again.
- Note the one you go back to. That is your style.
What are the three styles?
 Buffalo Trace Bourbon 700ml |  Johnnie Walker Black 700ml |  Laphroaig 10YO 40% 700ml | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Style | Bourbon | Blended Scotch | Islay single malt |
| Tastes like | Vanilla, caramel | Fruit, honey, light smoke | Peat smoke, iodine, salt |
| If you like it, try | Four Roses | Monkey Shoulder | Talisker 10YO |
| Per nip | $2.39 | $2.61 | $3.26 |
| Price | $54.99 | $59.99 | $74.99 |
Glass one: bourbon
Sweet and easy, the gentle start.
Rich caramel, vanilla and oak, smooth and balanced. Corn and new oak give it its sweetness.
- Style
- Bourbon
- Look for
- Caramel, vanilla and oak
- Per nip
- About $2.39
Glass two: Scotch
The middle ground.
A 12 year old blend with sweet vanilla, ripe fruit and soft smoke on the finish.
- Style
- Blended Scotch
- Look for
- Dried fruit and a hint of smoke
- Per nip
- About $2.61
Glass three: Islay
Love it or leave it.
Intense peat smoke, iodine and sea salt, balanced by sweetness and oak. You will know straight away if you like it.
- Style
- Islay single malt
- Look for
- Peat smoke and sea salt
- Per nip
- About $3.26
The Whisky Den
Snacks for a whisky drinker, with the bottle you choose.
Once you know your style, this box is a ready-made present for the whisky drinker in your life.
- What is in it
- Salty, smoky and sweet snacks
- Bottle
- The one you choose
Quick answers
What kind of whisky do I like?
Taste a bourbon, a blended Scotch and a smoky malt side by side. The one you go back to is your style.
Should I add water to whisky?
A few drops opens up the taste. Try it both ways.
How much to pour for a tasting?
About 15ml of each is plenty. Small pours let you compare without over-doing it.
Up next
All guidesHow to Choose Wine for a Dinner Party: A Simple Guide
How to choose wine for a dinner party: match the wine to the main dish, add a white for the start and something sweet for after, and how much to buy.
Read next
