Try Before Your Buy: Whiskey Samples, Miniatures & Tasting Sets

If you are anything like us, you probably like to do a little research to make an informed decision before shelling out your hard earned money on an expensive new bottle of whiskey. Maybe you’ll find your new favorite whiskey, but maybe you’ll end up with something so bad you’ll have no choice to dump it. Helping inform this decision is a big part of why we have spent so much time developing the Abov App, so you can quickly scan through ratings and reviews before committing to a new bottle.

Another great way to help make this decision is to try before you buy, by tasting a sample prior to going all in on a full bottle. Sharing bottles “potluck” style with friends where everyone brings a new bottle to pass around and try is a fun and social way to taste different things. Or you can scale this idea up, by tasting as many samples as your liver can handle by attending a full scale whiskey festival! Another obvious way to taste some new whiskeys is visiting your local whiskey bar, if you are lucky enough to live close to one with a decent selection.

But some of us don’t have friends or well stocked bars nearby, so how are we supposed to try before buying while stuck at home alone? Well, purchasing whiskey samples, miniatures or tasting sets online can be an excellent solution. And where can you order those minis or sets to be delivered straight to your doorstep? Let us help!

Below is a roundup of some of our favorite shops with an impressive stock of whiskey samples.

The Whisky Exchange

The Whisky Exchange doesn’t just offer samples of recent whiskey releases, but you can also order samples of – for example – forty year old single malts, or blends from the 1930s.

Website: Click here
Available products: 300+
Bottle size: 30 ml
Price indication: $$$
International shipping: Yes

Master of Malt / Drinks by the Dram

Master of Malt offers an unrivaled selection of 30 ml. whiskey samples. Whereas Drinks by the Dram usually combines them into sample packs or their famous advent calendars, Master of Malt offers the option to order whiskey samples separately.

Website: Click here
Available products: 2.500+
Bottle size: 30 ml
Price indication: $$$
International shipping: Limited (see here)

WhiskySite

Dutch whiskey specialty store WhiskySite boasts over 300 miniature whiskey sample bottles for sale. Most of these samples are available in 60 ml. bottles, while the more exclusive whiskeys are shipped in smaller 30 ml. bottles.

Website: Click here
Available products: 300+
Bottle size: 30 or 60 ml
Price indication: $
International shipping: Yes

Tiny Tipple

If Irish Whiskey is more your style, then head on over to Tiny Tipple. This online shop specializes in tasting sized samples of premium Irish Whiskey, with a broad range of distillery-specific flights as well as individually sold, hard-to-find drams.

Website: Click here
Available products: 100+
Bottle size: 50 ml
Price indication: $$
International shipping: Yes

Whisky.dk

Denmark based Whisky.dk is another great source for to try before you buy, with over 200 different samples to choose from, ranging in price from 2 to 55 euro.

Website: Click here
Available products: 200+
Bottle size: 30 ml
Price indication: $$
International shipping: Yes

Cheaper by the Dram

Specializing mainly in generally inaccessible and rare Scotches, Cheaper by the Dram’s mission is to get bottles off of collector’s shelves and into the hands of those actually wanting to taste these unique whiskeys. There slogan says it all: Sip don’t flip.

Website: Click here
Available products: 25+
Bottle size: 30 ml
Price indication: $$$
International shipping: UK/EU/US

Die Whiskybotschaft

Die Whiskybotschaft only ships to Germany and Austria. Whiskey connoisseurs from those countries should consider themselves lucky, since they have yet another whiskey sample provider to choose from.

Website: Click here
Available products: 250+
Bottle size: 50 ml
Price indication: $$
International shipping: Germany / Austria only

Shots Box

If going through the hassle of picking individual samples is too much, or you are just getting started on your whiskey journey and don’t even know where to begin, Shots Box may be right for you. They offer a curated whiskey tasting membership box with 5 50ml samples, and the option to buy a full bottle if you find one you love.

Website: Click here
Available products: 25+
Bottle size: 50 ml
Price indication: $$$
International shipping: US Only

ABOV Whiskey Essentials Box

Abov recently launched its own whiskey tasting box to help you find your next favorite whiskey. The Whiskey Essentials Box includes 6 samples of various different styles of whiskey from around the world, with tasting information about every bottle. The perfect compliment to the Abov App!

Website: Whiskey Essentials Box
Available products: 6
Bottle size: 50 ml
Price indication: $
International shipping: Free US shipping, international shipping extra

Miniature sample bottles are no longer just for airplanes anymore! With plenty of options to try before you buy, and more distilleries producing and packaging tasting size bottles, there is no reason not to try something new!

Do you have another shop that you’ve purchased samples from before that isn’t on this list? Please leave a comment below, or send an email to feedback@abovapp.com