Putting together a whisk(e)y flight/tasting is like putting together a compilation/mixtape. Some guidelines I like to follow for both:
1. You gotta come out of the gates with something good, but be able to not only flow into rest easily, but have the option to go back to the first part as a benchmark. Not that people do this, they finish the first one and don’t really look back.
2. You don’t want to overwhelm your audience with too much of one thing right off the bat, but keep them engaged. Remember: too much of a good thing is not good for anyone.
3. Intermingle subtlety. The music isn’t in the notes being played, but the pauses between the notes. Same goes for whisk(e)y: they’ll hit you differently—it’s not always the taste, but maybe the nose or the finish that is what makes the liquid special.
4. Finish strong. There’s a good chance people will only really recall the first and last of a comp or flight, so those bookends better be able to stand on their own.
Here’s my first Scotch tasting:
Aberfeldy 12yr—80proof—Highland Single Malt
Balvenie PortWood 21yr—86proof—Speyside Single Malt
Glenfiddich Gran Reserva 21yr—80proof—a Speyside Single Malt
Glenmorangie Lasanta—86proof—Highland Single Malt
Ardbeg Uigeadal—108.4proof—Islay Single Malt
I didn’t incorporate any blended whiskies into this as I don’t have any, but I do wish I’d maybe had Johnnie Walker Green Label for a Blended Malt option and Compass Box “Hedonism” for Blended Grain....maybe next time.