Hosting a Whiskey Tasting Party for friends

April 21, 2025

How to Host a Whiskey Tasting Party Your Mates Will Talk About for Years

Let’s be real—who doesn’t love the smooth burn of a good whiskey at the end of the week? Add DIY into the mix, and suddenly you’re not just sipping, you’re celebrating something you crafted yourself. That’s where hosting your own whiskey tasting party comes in. A few mates, some snacks, the perfect playlist, and a line-up of rich homemade spirits—crafted from flavour essences you’ve chosen yourself? It doesn’t get much better.

Start with the Spirit of It All

I had a mate once who tried to host a whiskey tasting, and bless him, he brought four bottles and a bowl of peanuts. The rest of us politely sipped and faked nose flair until someone suggested moving to beer. Don’t be that host.

The secret? Curating your whiskey flight wisely. Using premium essence allows you to take neutral spirits and give them rich complexity without having to wait months—or invest thousands.

Case in point—meet this beauty:

Still Spirits Top Shelf Whiskey Essence (50ml) brings a rich, full-bodied finish that hits deep oak and caramel notes. It’s ideal for those smooth spirit foundations—sip-worthy on its own or dressed up in an Old Fashioned.

Your guests won’t believe it came from a home setup.

Add Some Smoke and Mystery

If you’ve got anyone in the group who orders their whiskey like they order their steak—smoky and bold—then this one is going to steal the spotlight. The Still Spirits Smokey Whiskey 50ml essence brings those deep peaty barrel tones right to your glass. You don’t even need to age it. Just blend it into your base spirit and swirl that tumbler like a connoisseur.

This one’s perfect as your mystery round, the one with a story to tell. Let your guests pick out the subtle layers, and don’t tell them it came from a flavour essence until they beg you for the recipe.

Now You’re Speaking Irish

Not every whiskey needs to bark. Some whisper with that cheeky charm like a proper Irish session ballad playing low in the background. The Still Spirits Top Shelf Shamrock Whiskey Flavoring does exactly that—caramel and vanilla overtones with the smooth finish of triple-distilled tradition.

Serve this one last. It’s mellow enough to sip slowly, talk deeper, and wind down the party on a high note. Many blokes wind up naming it their favourite of the night.

Party Setup Tips for Maximum Enjoyment (and Just the Right Kind of Chaos)

Keep your numbers small—6–8 people max. That way, nobody gets left out of the tasting notes banter, and no one tricks themselves into doubling the whiskey pour “just to compare.”
Use tasting glasses—short tumblers or Glencairn glasses if you’ve got them.
Print out tasting cards and encourage your mates to write their thoughts. Apples? Smoke? Vanilla? It’ll kickstart conversation and help them connect with the flavours.
Don’t forget the palate cleansers—water, crackers, maybe slices of apple. Help reset those taste buds between pours.
Add a food board with sharp cheddar, smoked meats, and bitter dark chocolate. It'll complement the spirits and build layers into the whole experience.

The Best Part? You Made It Yourself

Look, anyone can go out and buy some fancy bottle from the bottle-o on a Friday night. But when your guests say, "This is amazing—where'd you get it?”, you can lean in, smile, and say, “I made it.” Now that’s a moment worth bottling.

All of this starts with a few good bottles of neutral spirit and your pick of rich whiskey essence. Each of the following brings something unique to your lineup:

Still Spirits Classic Whiskey – Full-bodied, oak and caramel.
Still Spirits Smokey Whiskey – Peaty and bold with that true bushfire edge.
Still Spirits Shamrock Whiskey – Mellow with warm caramel and triple-distilled goodness.

If you don’t have one yet, a quick trip or call to Strathalbyn H Hardware and you'll be set up in no time. Whether you're making it your signature or just trying something new, you’ll never look at whiskey the same way again.

Cheers to good mates, great spirits, and nights by the fire with something worth sharing. 🍂

Candeece