Hosting a whiskey tasting party?

Coming out of the lockdown and planning your first social gathering at home? With all the restrictions, not ready to go to your favourite whiskey bar? Why not host your own whiskey night at home!

To help you get started, below is a suggested whiskey tasting menu. We did a Saint Patrick’s Day themed party, so you will note all Whiskey are from Ireland. We have tested this on our social group and it was a hit!

Handy extras: we have included some taste notes to really bring that authentic tasting experience to the night. Have fun!

Order	Whiskey	Food Pairing	Tasting notes
1	Redbreast 12 Year Old	Goat cheese with olives	On the nose: nutty, with heather honey, golden syrup and baked apples. In the mouth: velvety, nutty, with toffee a lovely, flavoursome balance between classic dried fruits and barley sugar, this trade-off between the sour woody (and slightly solvent) notes with the sultanas and dried apricots. Ginger and cloves linger on the impressively long and warming finish. Lots of immediate taste considering the ABV.
2	Teeling Small Batch	Aged gouda with pickled pears	On the nose: An inviting nose where vanilla and spice dance with bright sweet notes of Rum. In the mouth: The palate has a solid Rum influence that creates a unique smooth, sweet and slightly woody marriage that sparkles on the tongue. Exotic fruit notes push through as well, with a sweet spicy finish complimented by lingering woody undertones.
3	Caol Ila 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch	Truffle triple cream brie	On the nose: Subdued, citric fruitiness; a whiff of bath oil and a fresh and appetising nose, with little or no trace of smoke. In the mouth: Drinks well at natural strength; sweet start; pleasant, light fragrant smokiness and a lengthy finish. A complex balance of primary tastes.
4	Connemara Peated Single Malt	Machego with figs (fresh or in syrup)	On the nose: combines heather and meadow wildflower scents with a honeyed sweetness, tinged with a dash of cinnamon, with a current of smoke running straight through it. In the mouth: Mild, smooth, and silky vein so common to Hibernian whiskeys. It’s malty and honeyed, but with a full note of peat. The finish is just as mild, and very low key on the warmth.
5	Writers Tears Redhead Single Malt	Gorgonzola dolce with muscatels	On the nose: Fine oak spice and raisins, with a light cherry-like impression gathering steam. The fruity notes of the sherry barrel (raisins, cherries and hints of plum) seem nicely melded into the nutty barley notes. In the mouth: Oak spice and alcohol heat are the first to appear. At 46 % alcohol the whiskey packs a punch. With taste of nutty Olorosso, spicy raisin and creamy oak. In the background, you can taste malted barley grain bringing flavours of almond, hazelnut and graham wafer shining through. The different components work together bringing a yummy heated menagerie of whiskey flavour across the palate.
6	Bushmills 10 Year Old Single Malt	Dark chocolate (min 50%)	On the nose: A sweet spicy aroma, reminiscent of apple pie, with overtones of oloroso sherry, vanilla, honey and perfumy oily notes. Very characterful and complex. In the mouth: The rich malty flavour is clearly discerned, a smoothness due to triple distillation and the traditional absence of smokey character. It has a long, slightly dry finish with toffee and a hint of chocolate-vanilla. Enjoy neat or with just a drop of water.

Tasting notes:
The Whiskey Bible is a great source for tasting notes and you can even get different people around the table to read them out. You might find the writer doesn’t always have the same favourable view of the whiskey you might like, just remember it’s all subjective!