How Many Whiskies Should You Include in a Tasting?

If you're planning your first whisky tasting, one question usually comes up pretty quickly: how many whiskies should I serve? Too few and the tasting might feel over before it's really begun. Too many and guests can find it difficult to notice the differences between each dram, or they simply start to lose concentration.

So, we asked some of our teachers and contributing experts for their advice. Interestingly (perhaps unhelpfully), no one gave exactly the same answer!

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Four is a great starting point

For EWA Approved Course Provider Joe Cabassa, four whiskies is the sweet spot.

"The perfect amount of whisky for me is four whiskies. Three might be too little, five might be too much, so four is perfect. It gives you the opportunity to have a different range of whiskies, enough to enjoy but not too much to overindulge."

Four drams allow you to introduce contrast without overwhelming your guests. You might compare different cask types, regions, production styles or flavour profiles while keeping the tasting relaxed and enjoyable.

There isn't a magic number…

Gordon Steele takes a slightly different view.

"Three or four probably isn't enough... eight or nine probably too many!"

His answer highlights something important: a) every tasting is different and b) Gordon is hardcore!

A short introductory tasting might work perfectly with three or four whiskies, while a more in-depth masterclass could stretch a little further. The key is knowing your audience and pacing the experience well.

Less can be more

Tamdhu Distillery Manager Sandy MacIntyre keeps his advice short and sweet:

"Not any more than five."

It's a reminder that a whisky tasting isn't about seeing how many bottles you can squeeze onto the table. Giving people time to nose, taste and discuss each whisky creates a much richer experience than racing through a larger line-up.

Quality conversations beat quantity

Vic Cameron agrees that once you move beyond four or five whiskies, it all goes downhill.

"I think you should probably only have four or five because after that stage you're not going to taste much difference. And if you're leading a tasting, you always lose the crowd after four or five anyway."

That's an insight every tasting host can relate to.

As palates become fatigued and attention begins to drift, even exceptional whiskies can become harder to appreciate. Keeping the line-up focused means every dram has a chance to shine.

So... what's the ideal number? You should probably aim for four or five whiskies. It's enough to showcase variety, encourage discussion and explore different styles without overwhelming your guests. 

Most importantly, remember that a whisky tasting isn't a test of endurance. It's about discovering new flavours, sharing stories and enjoying great conversation over a few well-chosen drams. Sometimes, less really is more.