Blending In at The Whisky Lounge

My palate is not a cultured one: sweet, salty, spicy, “tastes a bit like tea” – but that’s about the sum of it. So, it was high time for an upgrade to include words like: clean, smoky, peaty and floral. What better way to do this than by tasting and blending that oh-so sacred thing, whisky.

Experts in all things distilled and cask-aged, the good people at The Whisky Lounge were our hosts for an evening of getting up close and personal to the processes that go into blending (and tasting) great whiskies. Our experience was tucked away above a London boozer, with test tubes, tumblers and pipettes laid out to give the feel of a secret society crossed with a chemistry lesson – the perfect atmosphere for some alcohol-infused creativity.

Matt, our host, kicked off with an introduction to whisky, talking us through a little history, provenance, about flavour profiles, casks (it’s all about the cask) and more. Ready in waiting were five carefully chosen varieties for tasting, each with distinctive flavour notes. We sniffed, we swirled and finally, we tasted. As somebody with only limited whisky-drinking experience, there’s a lot going on. The flavours are incredible and unique, and even with a small amount of education, you can get a good understanding of exactly what and why the whisky tastes the way it does.

Whisky Experiences

Whisky Blending Experience for Two with The Whisky Lounge

Sometimes two things are so great that you’re left with no option but to put them together. Whisky blending is the art of doing exactly that, so that each one makes its contribution to the finished blend without outweighing the other.

£79.00

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Having tasted all five, it was time for the main event – blending. My favourite had been the fruity and spicy, Strathisla, so I went big on this, laying down a 30ml base. To add some subtlety, in with 5ml of floral, Glendronach. On a roll now, in went 12ml of clean and neutral, Hague Club. A little fire to finish? Sure. 3ml of intense and peaty, Bowmore – in you go. There is absolutely no way this won’t taste amazing. Absolutely no way…

The proof, unfortunately, was in the pudding, here. And my masterpiece delivered poorly in market testing. It did not taste good. Matt reckoned it needed a couple of weeks to be properly settled and tasting its best, so it’s shelved for now, in a state of constant improvement to which we can all aspire. All things considered however, ‘Tastes Good on Paper’ probably won’t be available in supermarkets any time soon.

A great way to learn about the one and only water of life, whiskey blending is perfect for beginners and for seasoned drammers alike. It’s even inspired the purchase of a couple of bottles of the stuff!

Whisky Experiences

Beginner’s Guide to Whisky for Two with The Whisky Lounge

The Whisky Lounge is a place to nurture and encourage passion for the ‘Water of Life’, from the most fledgling of interests to the cultured palate. The Beginner’s Guide to Whisky for Two is the perfect way to get talking about whisky. From breaking down barriers, myths and legends to understanding the drink’s history and alchemic origins. Fun and thought provoking, no whisky education would be complete without tasting a ‘dram’ or two. You’ll get to try a variety of whiskies of differing styles and tastes from across Scotland.

£49.00

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