Cambridge Whisky Club

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Double Blind Smokey Whisky Flight Tasting

Date:Thu 19th Feb 2026
Time:7:30 pm
Venue:HQ @
Tickets:£17
Discount for members:Yes
Host:Elliott_Drinks_Whisky
Buy tickets from Thirsty

Can we glimpse the whiskies through the smoke?

Pretty easy to introduce this one: just before Christmas, we did a double blind flight tasting with full measures of 3 non-smokey whiskies side by side, and it was a hit – this time it’s the same again but with smokey whiskies. I’ll submit 3 shortlists to the team at Thirsty (one per flight slot), and they’ll pick which 3 whiskies we get. In the room, on the night, I’ll make sure we have access to that shortlist, but otherwise we’ll only have the whiskies in the glass and our own formative experiences to go on, until the grand reveal at the end.

If it works without smoke, it’ll work with it!

As before, the ‘can you guess’ element of this blind tasting is definitely optional; it’s entirely possible to sit and enjoy the 3 whiskies for what they are, and take note of the reveal at the end without engaging with the guessing game. Valuable feedback last time pointed out I could have explained a bit more after the reveal – I’ve taken that on board, and once we know what we’ve been drinking, I do plan on a little reflection of why we might have found the notes or made the guesses we did, considering what that whisky is. I’ll also shorten the shortlists from 7 to 5 per slot, though I’m really not going to guarantee that’ll make things much easier 😅.

Limited ticket event to ensure a flight-friendly atmosphere.

What is a guided whisky tasting?

All are welcome to attend the event, whether you consider yourself a whisky expert or haven’t explored it at all. The evening will start with an introduction to the event and the first whisky, explaining a bit about why I’ve chosen it. We’ll share some nosing and tasting notes and then I’ll let you enjoy the whisky with your friends and fellow guests. After a short while this process will repeat for each of the remaining whiskies.

I’ll be happy to try and answer any questions about the whiskies, the process of making them and the industry at any point. These events are a great opportunity to try some whisky you probably can’t try in a bar, without buying a whole bottle!

A bit about your host:

My philosophy with whisky is that there’s no wrong way to enjoy it. Neat, with water, with ice, blended, smokey, sweet, from Scotland or Japan or Mexico! Everyone should be able to enjoy tasting and smelling what they taste and smell however they choose.

I’ve been hosting whisky tastings in Cambridge for 5 years. Initially, as a part of the Cambridge University Whisky Appreciation Society where I held a 2 year presidency. Since then, I have branched out to reach a wider audience in the city and the surrounding area as an independent host. After studying in Scotland and continuing to explore the world of whisky in the years since, from Cambridge, I really enjoy sharing what I’ve learned with others and find that there’s always more whisky to try.