Hosting a Group Tasting

[TheGentleman]

I'm planning on hosting a group tasting for about 10 people on New Years Eve and I'm looking for some advice on how to go about it. I was thinking of treating it like a wine tasting whereas everyone would bring one bottle of their choice and we taste blind, take notes, then reveal and discuss. My big hesitation is that some of these individuals are whiskey novices and may not prefer their whiskey neat or w/ a splash of water. Also, is it too much to ask for each person to bring one bottle?

Do you guys have any recommendations or advice? Thanks in advance!

[barturtle]

It's New Year's Eve! Your friends will want to just have fun, not do any serious studying. Buy yourself 3-4 bottles, be prepared to make some bourbon cocktails, make some bourbon food (but not all of it should be bourbon food, gotta give the novices palates a break), offer some beer and bubby for midnight.

[jburlowski]

Ten whiskies would be too many for a tasting... stick to 4 or 5. And you should pick em.

[Josh]

It's New Year's Eve! Your friends will want to just have fun, not do any serious studying. Buy yourself 3-4 bottles, be prepared to make some bourbon cocktails, make some bourbon food (but not all of it should be bourbon food, gotta give the novices palates a break), offer some beer and bubby for midnight.

I tried to do a TN whiskey tasting last new years (or was it Super Bowl Sunday?) and nobody paid any attention at all. It was kinda sad.

Ten whiskies would be too many for a tasting... stick to 4 or 5. And you should pick em.

I agree with John. In my experience, organized tastings work best if there's a unifying theme.

Here are some suggestions with suggestions for the suggestions:

Wheaters- Maker's Mark, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond, Old Weller Antique, Old Rip Van Winkle 10/107

All BT mashbill #1- Benchmark, Buffalo Trace, Old Charter 10 y/o, Eagle Rare SB, and George T. Stagg or ER 17

All Ryes- Beam Rye, Rittenhouse BiB, Sazerac, Wild Turkey Rye and something pricier (Saz 18, VWFRR, Whistlepig, Rendezvous, etc)

High Rye- Old Grandad BiB, WT 101, Four Roses Single Barrel, Buffalo Trace (for comparison)

All Heaven Hill- Evan Williams, EW Single Barrel, Elijah Craig 12, EC 18

All Wild Turkey- WT 101, Russell's Reserve, Rare Breed, Kentucky Spirit

<$25- Very Old Barton, WT 101, Four Roses, Old Forester Signature, Evan Williams

Four Grain- Mellow Corn, Rittenhouse Rye, Bernheim Original Wheat, Stranahan's (American Malt Whiskey). You could also throw a bourbon in there too, for contrast.

That's way too many suggestions.

[TheGentleman]

Thanks for the great and well thought out advice guys. You all are right...I don't know what I was thinking w/ 10 different pours...we'd never make it to New Years! It's not really my party, but the host asked that I put something on. I think I'm going to go w/ a wheat tasting and use Weller 12, RVW 10/107, and Maker's 46. I'll report back on how it goes! Thanks again.

[TheGentleman]

Those are great flights you put together by the way...I'm gonna use those just for personal tasting comparisons.