'Virtual whisky masterclasses' with Forbes spirits writer and The Dram Team

Missing whisky tasting events and the chance to discover new drams during the coronavirus lockdown? Never fear: a renowned spirits writer and a whisky club are partnering up to plug the gap.

World Whiskies Awards judge and Forbes spirits writer Felipe Schrieberg has joined forces with whisky subscription club The Dram Team to deliver whisky tasting kits and host a series of online tasting 'masterclasses' for people looking to broaden their palates from the comfort of their own homes.

Seven tastings will be running each week, from Tuesday to Sunday with two sessions on Saturdays, with space for up to 15 guests on each. Felipe will lead participants through a selection of six whiskies curated and delivered by The Dram Team. The two-hour sessions will be hosted on video conferencing app Zoom and are available to anyone on the UK mainland.

Felipe said: "Since whisky is all about enjoying a unique moment, it makes sense to provide special events for whisky beginners and connoisseurs alike that work despite the limitations self-isolation is placing on us during the current pandemic. We're aiming to entertain and educate with these tastings, but most importantly the whisky we're delivering is going to be delicious."

Chris Borrow, founder of The Dram Team, said: "I started the business so people could explore whisky and enjoy a high-end tasting experience in the comfort of their own home. When Felipe approached me about taking our whisky-tasting-by-post concept to the next level with his virtual whisky masterclass idea, I leapt at the chance - and I'm really excited to get started and see how it goes."

Tickets and vouchers for the virtual whisky masterclasses (£35 each or £65 for two) are available to purchase at designmynight.com - which will donate £2 from each ticket or voucher to food bank network the Trussell Trust - and timeout.com. The first tasting will take place on Wednesday, 8 April.

1 April 2020 - Bethany Whymark