1. Decide What to Serve
Start by choosing a few of your favorite types of whiskey. You can stick with just one theme — bourbon or scotch, for example — or you can offer a wide range of whiskeys to appeal to a broader audience. Make sure you have a few top-shelf options available for sipping neat or on the rocks, as well as a few mid-shelf classics for mixing in cocktails. Use the Total Wine cocktail party planning guide to determine how many bottles you need. There are quite a few whiskey and scotch brands out there, so do some research if you're not already well-versed in whiskey. Ask friends and family members for their favorite picks to get an idea of what types of whiskey best fit your needs.
2. Select Accessories
A proper whiskey tasting station should include quality whiskey glassware and accouterments for cocktails. At the very least, you should provide old-fashioned (rocks) glasses, and you may also want to include highball glasses and snifter whiskey tasting glasses. If you plan on serving a specific cocktail, be sure to provide the corresponding glassware. For example, if you're offering mint juleps, serve them in mint julep glasses.
In addition to proper glassware, you should offer a variety of mixers and accouterments so people can mix their favorite cocktails. Of course, plenty of guests are only going to require ice, so make sure you have plenty on hand. Offer one or two specialty cocktails — old fashioned, Manhattans, boulevardiers and mint juleps are all great choices — and then provide standbys such as ginger ale and cola for those who prefer something more familiar. Other accessories to provide include lemon wedges, bitters and whiskey stones for guests who want a cold drink without adding ice. A box of cigars is the perfect accompaniment to a whisky bar and a fun way to add some sophistication to your reception.
3. Decorate Your Station
A whiskey station is far more than just a place to mix a drink. Get creative and design a spread that begs to be photographed. A rustic, woodsy aesthetic works great with whiskey. Instead of a traditional tablecloth, you could use a moss runner for a bucolic touch. Wooden lamps, statues and other decor also make a fantastic addition.
Instead of serving the whiskey in their original bottles, consider using whiskey decanters for a more thematic, classy look. Write the name of each whiskey on tags, and tie them around the neck of the decanters with twine. You can also include a brief description of each whiskey on the opposite side of the tag.
Weddings are once-in-a-lifetime events that live on in memory forever, so go the extra mile to make your whiskey tasting station one for the books. Splurge a little on top-quality whiskeys and accessories — your guests are sure to appreciate it. When in doubt, keep it simple. You really can't go wrong with a few nice bottles, quality glassware and plenty of ice. On the big day, assign whiskey bar duties to a member of the wedding party so you can focus on celebrating the first chapter of your new life with your sweetheart. After all, that's what the day is all about.
