The six-person plan at a glance
The free planner adds a 10% setup buffer and rounds each whiskey to whole bottles. One 750 mL bottle of each whiskey easily supplies this particular flight; the point of the calculator is to show the math rather than encourage extra pours.
- Six guests and four distinct whiskeys
- A half-ounce of each whiskey per guest
- Twelve ounces of whiskey before the setup buffer
- Six glasses minimum, twelve for direct comparisons, or twenty-four for the full flight side by side
- Still water, one scorecard and one pencil at every seat
- Sixty to ninety minutes for the structured tasting
Choose four bottles that tell one story
Do not assemble four random expensive bottles. Hold several things reasonably steady and change one: four bourbons at different proofs, four rye-forward whiskeys, one style from four regions, or four expressions that use a different finish. Guests learn more when the flight has a question to answer.
Use consistent measures and matching glassware
A tulip-shaped glass can concentrate aromas toward the nose, while an ordinary wine glass can work in a pinch. For a group comparison, consistency matters more than prestige: give everyone the same shape and the same measured pour. Rinse one glass between rounds on a budget, use two per person for direct comparisons, or set out four per person when seeing the entire flight matters.
Tasting Night Kit
Fourteen printable pages for building the flight, setting the table, guiding the room, scoring blind pours, and managing the reveal.
- Best for
- A host who wants one repeatable plan instead of assembling templates from several places.
- Think twice if
- It is a printable PDF for private events, not physical glassware or a commercial-event license.
$9 · instant PDF delivery
See the complete kit Details checked September 9, 2026. Prices, availability, delivery, and policies can change.14-Piece Bartender Kit
A commercial-grade stainless tool set with a Boston shaker, Japanese jigger, bar spoon, three strainers, muddler, and picks.
- Best for
- A first serious home bar or a gift-ready upgrade for someone who makes cocktails often.
- Think twice if
- It does not include a mixing glass, recipe book, travel bag, or permanent storage case—and it is more than a tasting-only host needs.
Norlan Whisky Glass
A double-walled borosilicate glass that places a nosing-glass interior inside a modern tumbler silhouette.
- Best for
- A design-conscious neat-whiskey drinker or a small, premium tasting setup.
- Think twice if
- The maker does not recommend it for ice, and buying several for a large side-by-side flight becomes expensive.
Set the table before opening a bottle
Put a water glass, still water for optional dilution, a scorecard, and a pencil at every seat. Add plain crackers, clearly marked dump or spit cups, and alcohol-free choices. Save strongly scented food, candles, and richer snacks until the formal comparison ends.
- Number or letter each blind sample before guests arrive.
- Keep the answer key away from the table.
- Pour immediately before the flight instead of leaving open glasses standing.
- Ask guests to write a private note before discussion begins.
Pour from gentle to bold
Unless the comparison requires another sequence, begin with the lighter or lower-proof whiskey and place the higher-proof, heavily finished, or smoky bottle later. Look briefly, nose with short gentle passes, take a small first sip, add a few drops of water if wanted, and discuss only after everyone has written something.
Keep the tasting genuinely small
Four half-ounce pours equal two ounces of whiskey per guest. At 40% alcohol by volume, that is about 1.3 U.S. standard drinks; higher-proof whiskey counts for more. NIAAA defines a standard drink as 1.5 fluid ounces of 40% spirits. Put water and food in plain sight, make every pour optional, and settle sober transportation before the first glass.