Choose a theme for the tasting
Decide which type of spirit you want to focus on, for example whisky, rum, gin, or tequila. A clear theme makes it easier to compare different brands or styles within the same category.
Necessary accessories
Glasses: Use identical glasses to ensure a fair assessment of each spirit. The shape of the glass can affect the tasting experience, so choose glasses suited to the specific type of spirit.
Measuring tools: To serve exact amounts, use measuring glasses or jiggers. A standard pour for tastings is about 15–30 ml per spirit.
Water and neutral snacks: Provide water and neutral snacks, like unsalted crackers or bread, to cleanse the palate between tastings.
Tasting sheets: Use tasting sheets to document your aroma and flavor experiences.
Prepare the tasting
Blind tasting: To avoid preconceived notions, you can conduct a blind tasting. Pour the spirits into numbered decanters or cover the bottles so the labels aren’t visible.
Order: Start with the lighter and younger spirits and move on to the more complex and older ones. This helps your taste buds adjust gradually.
Carry out the tasting
Visual assessment: Observe the color and clarity of the spirit. The color can give clues about the aging time and type of cask.
Nose: Gently swirl the glass and smell the spirit. Try to identify different aromas like fruit, spices, or woody notes.
Taste: Take a small sip and let the spirit roll around your mouth. Note the flavor nuances and texture.
Finish: Pay attention to how long the flavor lingers and which tones come through in the aftertaste.
Discuss and document
After each tasting, discuss your impressions and compare notes. This deepens your understanding of the different spirits and helps identify personal preferences.
By following this guide, you can create an informative and enjoyable spirit tasting that both educates and entertains. Remember to drink responsibly and enjoy the experience together.
Which tasting will you choose?
There are endless ways to create an exciting tasting experience with different themes. We’ve put together some of our favourites to inspire you. Below you’ll find examples of tastings we highly recommend!
If you’d like a tasting led by us, just send an email to office@boisson.se — we’ll check availability and help put together something fun!
Speyside is the heart of Scotch whisky production and home to some of the world’s most renowned distilleries. The region is known for its elegance and finesse, where rich notes of fruit, honey, vanilla, and sherry cask maturation create a whisky experience that is both approachable and layered.
A Journey Through Speyside
Two of Scotland’s most iconic whisky regions meet in a tasting that explores their distinct characters. Islay, known for its bold peat smoke and coastal salinity, is set against the Highlands, where fruity, spicy, and oak-driven flavours take the lead.
Peat & Peaks
This tasting takes you to sun-drenched shores and lush sugarcane fields where some of the world’s most complex and flavourful rums are crafted. We explore a selection of exclusive, barrel-aged rums that capture the tropical character through deep notes of vanilla, dried fruit, cocoa, and exotic spices.
Rum & the Tropics
Gin is one of the most versatile spirits, offering a fascinating world of flavours. This tasting takes you through a selection of carefully chosen gins as we explore how different botanicals, distillation techniques, and places of origin shape the final character.
The World of Gin / Gin Uncovered
This tasting takes you beyond Scotland’s borders and into the exciting world of international whisky. We explore how climate, traditions, and local ingredients shape the unique flavour profiles of whiskies from around the globe.
Whisky Without Borders
This tasting takes you on a journey through a range of spirits, exploring the differences and similarities between whisky, gin, brandy, aquavit, and other carefully selected distillates. Each spirit has its own unique character, shaped by ingredients, distillation methods, and cask maturation.
Spirit Spectrum
