Okay, so you’ve had a long weekend in the Highlands booked for ages and have decided to attend one of the many distilleries in the region and take part in your very own whisky blending masterclass. So, what next? 

Well, first of all, I’m very jealous, and take it from someone who knows, you’re going to absolutely love it. Secondly, don’t worry, because even though it can seem intimidating, blending your own whisky is not as difficult as you might believe. 

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying you’re suddenly going to be on the level of some of the world’s greatest Master Blenders because you most certainly won’t. Becoming a Master Blender takes years, decades even, of practice and it is something that only a very select few people will ever achieve. 

While I can’t really help you reach the level of Stephanie Macleod or Richard Paterson, I can certainly help you blend a dram that will impress on your whisky blending masterclass. 

What is a Whisky Blending Masterclass?

One of the many fine things about whisky is the fact that it’s so much more than a drink. Whisky is a journey, an experience, and for some, a lifestyle. There’s so much history behind every dram of whisky that even the world’s finest historians wouldn’t be able to do it justice. 

It isn’t just the whisky that’s steeped in history, though. Were it not for the distilleries, we simply wouldn’t have been blessed with this golden amber nectar at all. What I really love about many of the distilleries up in Scotland, is the fact that they’re becoming more interactive than ever. They aren’t just responsible for producing whisky, they’re also tourist attractions, educational resources, gift shops, and a whole lot more besides. 

Not only can you now visit a distillery and take a tour to see how your favourite whisky is made, many of them also let you get involved and take part in various activities. Activities including whisky blending masterclasses. 

A whisky blending masterclass is an activity, often held in a distillery in a specially designed blending room, where paying customers get to try their hand at becoming Master Blenders themselves, as they blend their very own whiskies. 

These classes are overseen by professional blenders and let you mix and match different whiskies and create your very own dram. Typically, you’ll also get to take your dram home with you when you’re finished. 

Whisky Blending Masterclass Tips

Even though the blender responsible for holding the masterclass will offer you useful help and advice, ultimately, it’s down to you to create your own dram your own way. 

Whether you’re blending it for yourself, or as a gift for somebody else, the main thing is that you, or the recipient, actually enjoys the whisky. 

Here are a few tips to help you out. 

Taste and Nose 

Before you begin blending your spirits, you’ll likely get the chance to nose and taste a selection of different whiskies at your disposal. 

Take the time to really get a good smell and taste of each whisky. Make note of the different flavours, aromas, and finishes of each whisky. Try to identify different flavours that work well together. If you’re a fan of toffee apple for example, if one whisky is heavy on the toffee notes, and another gives strong apple flavours, you could have a match right there. 

Begin with a Base 

To begin blending, you’re going to have to start with a base. This is going to be where the majority of your whisky’s taste, aroma, mouthfeel, and finish comes from, so you should obviously find one that really appeals to you. 

If you enjoy a fruity flavoured whisky, heavy on the citrus notes, try to select a whisky which meets this criteria and use it as your base. 

Use Strong and Powerful Tasting Whiskies as a Mixer 

Once you’ve selected your base, you next need to find your “mixer”. This is the whisky that you add to the base to help achieve the flavour that you want. 

When selecting a mixer, go ahead and use strong and powerful tasting whiskies. Whiskies which are heavily peated for example, work well as a mixer for people who like their whiskies to be lightly peated. If you used this as your base, the peat smoke flavour would be overpowering, and you wouldn’t be able to taste anything else. 

Begin Small 

When blending whisky, always remember that less is more. You can always add, but you can never take away, so don’t add too much in one go. 

If you are looking to replicate a lightly peated whisky, such as the Balvenie 14 for example, add very small amounts of your peated mixer. If you want a smokier, more intense peat flavour, more akin to something like the Lagavulin 16 for example, you can gradually add more of your peated mixer until you get the profile you’re looking for. 

Regardless of what kind of profile you’re after, always add very small amounts when blending. 

Don’t Be Afraid to Add a Third Dram

When blending whisky, most people like to play it safe and simply blend a couple of different drams together to achieve their perfect drop. If that works for you that’s absolutely fine, but don’t be afraid to add a third whisky to the party. 

The more whiskies you add, the more complicated it gets because you’re introducing new flavours and notes. It’s very much a balancing act and getting the right balance can be tricky. Get it right however, and you’ll be the talk of the class. 

Again, find flavours that work with what you already have, and try to choose a milder, more subdued whisky this time, just to help tie everything together. A young whisky could work great here. 

Let it Breathe 

Before bottling your dram, labelling it up and taking it home, once you think you’ve finished, make sure you let your whisky breathe before you have a wee taste. 

Letting the whisky breathe and rest will allow the whiskies in the bottle to marry together. Ideally, you should let your whisky breathe and rest overnight as this will let everything mature and combine. 

Enjoy the Fruits of Your Labour

Finally, once you’ve finished your class, received your bottle, and have it back home, or your hotel, once you’ve let it rest, go ahead and enjoy it. 

Whisky is amazing as it is, but this dram, this is something you’ve made yourself, and you should be very proud. Don’t expect a whisky capable of winning gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (though who knows) but do expect a whisky that goes down very well indeed. Slainte. 

If you’d like to learn more about your favourite whiskies, or simply treat yourself to a dram or two in the process, head on over to GreatDrams.com and take a look at what we have to offer. 

With an impressive selection of limited-edition, rare, and award-winning whisky, as well as heaps of whisky info on our blog, it’s the perfect spot for any whisky lovers out there.