When you think of whiskey, you think of it as Marmite; you either love it or you loathe it but what if you have never been given the chance to truly learn about this timeless drink?
People can step into the whiskey world and see the variation of flavours, distilleries, ages and countries
Well now you can with Whiskey Jar's informal Flight School. Choose from two journeys that take you through whiskeys from around the world, letting you explore the flavors and history of the potent spirit.
The Whiskey Jar in the Northern Quarter has over 300 whiskeys. With so much whiskey on offer, sampling it all is the work of a lifetime which is where the Flight School comes in. It allows people to be introduced to whiskey and try a variety without having to do a full tasting experience. People can step into the whiskey world and see the variation of flavours, distilleries, ages and countries.
We entered the venue and made ourselves comfortable on one of The Whiskey Jar's leather sofas. On the table was a map, which allowed us to pick which journey we wanted to take. You don’t have to be big whiskey drinker to appreciate this experience; it's certainly something different for a Monday evening.
In the end, we chose to try both journeys which are both the same price. We also had a member of staff with us to explain and share the stories behind the drink's deep history.
We had a map each, with glasses placed on each point and the bottles of whiskey we were going to try set out in front of us. Each journey starts with a traditional Irish whiskey: journey one began with a Jameson, which is the leading Irish whiskey; journey two kicked off with a Green Spot, which had a spicy, dry, fruity flavour.
Next we moved on to American Whiskeys, or bourbons as they are better known. It is called a bourbon because it is a barrel-aged distilled spirit made primarily from corn which makes it sweeter. We tried Elijah Craig - a smooth, spiced apple and aniseed flavour on the palate and Bulleit Bourbon which had flavours of dried orange and lemon, as well as robust tobacco notes.
It was time to try some whiskies from disparate ends of the globe as our two journeys diverged. Journey Two took us to Yamazaki Distillers in Japan, where whiskies have been growing in both popularity and critical acclaim. Journey One sent us to Scotland for an Aberlour A’Bundah whisky.
Journey one finished off in Scotland with a Caol Ila which had a flavour of citrus fruits, a subtle medicinal tang and grassy background giving it a distinct aftertaste. Journey two also returned to Scotland for the finale with a whisky that really stood out for flavour and aroma which was the Lagavulin, with its hit of medicinal smoke, dried fruit, festive spice and leaves.
As someone who is not a huge whiskey drinker, I could still taste the difference between each and every whiskey we tried. We were recommended to smell the back of our hand and have a sip of water between drinks to reset our receptors.
Hearing the back-story to the whiskies, how they were made, how each one got its flavour and how much time goes into creating the perfect whiskey made it a really interesting event.
Whether you love whiskey or you think you hate it, this is well worth trying. There is no need to book - you can go in on any day, any time. Not only is it something a bit out of the ordinary, it allows you to try such a variety, you might even become a whiskey aficionado.
The Whiskey Jar always has something going on such as their regular Open Mic night on a Tuesday which allows local musicians a platform to showcase their talents and draws queues around the corner to get in. They also have events going on all the time: from house music to venue hire which is available for every occasion. To slow things down you, can also have a relaxing Sunday with their Whiskey Jam.
Also, this summer they are holding their first ever Whiskey Festival. It promises to be a jam-packed day with over 300 whiskies available to buy and try on site as well as talks and seminars from a whole host of professionals within the industry.
