Japanese Whisky 101
Stop stressing. Start sipping.
A complete guided Japanese whisky tasting: what really makes it Japanese whisky, the great distillers, a Label Check game, 12 real bottles in three tiers, a blind game and 20 highballs and cocktails.
1 / 14 · The kit
Japanese Whisky 101 teaches what really makes it Japanese whisky under the 2021 labeling rules, how to read a label and who the great distillers are, then walks your table through a four-bottle flight. Twelve real, easy-to-find bottles are sorted Newbie to Aficionado, each with its own card, and the night ends with the Label Check game, a blind Style Detective challenge and a highball round.
- 12bottle cards
- 20highballs & cocktails
- 3tiers, Newbie to Aficionado
What you get
The 33-page PDF, page by page, plus an editable Canva invite with a QR code you point at your own private RSVP form. Every shopping pick is sorted into Newbie, Casual and Aficionado budgets, so you buy exactly what's listed and skip the research.
- 01-02Start Here & Japanese Whisky 101 PrimerThe plan for the night, plus the four styles and the trip from grain to glass.
- 03-07Rules, Labels, Label Check & DistillersWhat makes it Japanese whisky, a label decoder, the Label Check game, the distillers, mizunara and the ways to drink.
- 08-09Whiskybase & How to Taste12 real bottles in three tiers with ABV and price, and the five-step tasting method.
- 10-13Party, Food & ShoppingRun of show, Kanpai etiquette, izakaya pairings, the Big Shopping List and a buying guide.
- 14-20Wheel, Mat, Cards & Style DetectiveFlavor wheel, tasting mat, three tier tasting sheets, a blind game and Japanese whisky trivia.
- 21-3320 Highballs & Cocktails & 12 Bottle CardsRecipe cards, a syrups page, a card for every bottle and the scorecard.
How it works
- 01Buy & downloadInstant access to the PDF and your editable Canva invite. Nothing ships.
- 02Print at homeStandard US Letter on a normal printer. Cardstock is nice for the cards, never required.
- 03Pick your tierChoose Newbie, Casual or Aficionado and buy all four bottles.
- 04Pour, play, highballTaste the flight, play Label Check and Style Detective, then a highball round.
This is an all-digital product. No physical items are shipped.
Shop the setup
The glassware, tools and games that make the night run smoother. None of it is required.
As an Amazon Associate, KingBKits earns from qualifying purchases. It doesn't change the price you pay.
- Glencairn whisky glasses, set of 6The tasting glass the pros use. Six covers a full table.See it on Amazon →
- Glencairn water pipetteA few drops of water opens a dram up. This adds them one at a time.See it on Amazon →
- OXO angled measuring jiggerRead half-ounce pours from above. No squinting, no free pours.See it on Amazon →
- Numbered bottle bags for blind tasting, 10 packCovers the label and numbers the pour, so the guess stays honest.See it on Amazon →
- Carr's Table Water crackers, 24 snack packsThe plain palate reset. Single packs, so nobody shares a sleeve.See it on Amazon →
- Metallic glass markers, 8 packWrite names or pour numbers right on the glass. Washes off.See it on Amazon →
- Glass carafes with lids, set of 2Water on the table, always. One carafe per end of the table.See it on Amazon →
- Sunstar Kadomaru corner rounderRound the corners and the cards look like a real deck.See it on Amazon →
- Pilot G2 pens, 12 packA pen at every seat. Notes in the moment beat notes from memory.See it on Amazon →
- Neenah 65 lb white cardstock, 75 sheetsPrint the tasting cards and invites on this and they feel store-bought.See it on Amazon →
- Firbon 12-inch paper trimmerCuts a sheet of cards in four clean strokes instead of a wobbly scissor job.See it on Amazon →
Frequently asked
What's included in the Japanese Whisky 101 kit?
A 33-page PDF you print at home: Start Here & Japanese Whisky 101 Primer, Rules, Labels, Label Check & Distillers, Whiskybase & How to Taste, Party, Food & Shopping, Wheel, Mat, Cards & Style Detective and 20 Highballs & Cocktails & 12 Bottle Cards. It downloads instantly from Etsy after purchase.
How do you host with the Japanese Whisky 101 kit?
1. Buy & download: Instant access to the PDF and your editable Canva invite. Nothing ships. 2. Print at home: Standard US Letter on a normal printer. Cardstock is nice for the cards, never required. 3. Pick your tier: Choose Newbie, Casual or Aficionado and buy all four bottles. 4. Pour, play, highball: Taste the flight, play Label Check and Style Detective, then a highball round.
What occasions is the Japanese Whisky 101 kit good for?
Birthday, Groomsmen, Retirement, Father's Day and Holiday party. It's rated 21+ (it includes alcohol).
Is the Japanese Whisky 101 kit a physical product?
No. It's an instant digital download (33-page PDF, US Letter) that you print at home as many times as you need for your own party. Nothing ships.
How much does the Japanese Whisky 101 kit cost?
$5.50 on Etsy, a one-time purchase with an instant download.
Ready to host Japanese Whisky 101?
Instant download on Etsy. Print it tonight and you're ready.
Buy on Etsy