The Australian Malt Whisky Tasting Championships are back for 2025 — and in Melbourne for the first time ever! One huge fun night of nosing and tasting whisky, where someone will be crowned the whisky champion of Australia! It’s on Saturday 19th July, at the Grand Hyatt in Melbourne, and it’s not to be missed…
That being said, while some competitors like to just have a big fun night out, some might like some tips on how to make the most of the competition portion and have their best chance of winning. We put 8x whiskies in front of you, give you the answer sheet plus one red herring, and the competitor who picks the most correctly wins! Simple. Whilst our Branch Director Matt Bailey won’t be present for the evening this year, he has offered his top 5 tips on how to win the Whisky Champs this year.
Tip 1: Review the ‘pre-list’ of malt whiskies for the night.
Exactly one week before Champs (12th of July) we release a pre-list of 50 ‘possible’ whiskies that could be there on the night. Some attendees like to double down in the final week and try as many as they can to increase their chances…look out for the list this Saturday!
Tip 2: Avoid garlic and chilli a good day before the Champs…
… or a couple of days before just to be safe! Your nose and palate are your guide here and you’ll want to make sure you’re ready to rumble on the night without still tasting the massive clashing flavours from last night. And whilst we’re on strong flavours…try not to apply any heavy fragrances on the evening…
Tip 3: Focus on Flavour!
I know I’ve said numerous times in the past that flavour is king and trust your palate, but this has never been more important than during Champs. We only feature MALT whiskies in the champs, no blended whiskies that use a grain component, and it’s ONLY commercially available bottlings, no limited releases, no Society casks, nothing that is too obscure!
Tip 4: Relax and don’t second guess.
This doesn’t work for everyone, but I find when tasting whiskies blind I sometimes take a stab at what is in the glass, then I second-guess myself, then I third-guess myself, and in the end, my first guess was correct all along. Trust your instincts and you may end up the Champion.
Tip 5: Have fun!
Really, the Champs is a big night combining big prizes with a fun evening or a casual night of just enjoying the whisky community and club that the Society brings together. The after-party is as big a deal as the main competition, and we have some tremendous entertainment on offer. Come along, bring some friends, and be a part of it all.
If you’re looking to grab some last-minute tickets to The 2025 Australian Malt Whisky Tasting Championship, you can grab them via Humanitix until July 10!
