Winter’s the season of excuses. Too fresh to go out. Too dark by 5 pm. With your favourite pub now charging close to $70 for a few pints of Guinness, it’s definitely the season for staying in – but only if you do it properly.
When gathering the crew for a cold-weather session that’s equal parts easy, elevated, and worth everyone’s time, a well-hosted whisky night hits different. It’s intimate without being effortful, sophisticated without veering into snobbery, and delivers on the kind of comfort that can’t be replicated under pub fluorescents. No gimmicks, no bartending theatrics – just good bites, a great bottle, and a few thoughtful ways to elevate your space to show your mates you care.
With a bottle of Starward’s New Old Fashioned as your centrepiece, here’s how to host a whisky evening that’s equal parts refined and relaxed.
Music Is The Answer
Achieving the right vibe relies on nailing the music the moment your guests walk through the door. Your goal should be to both elevate the room and impress your guests – if they’re not asking what the music is, you’ve chosen poorly.
If you’re yet to dip your toe into jazz and the likes of Ryo Fukui or Art Farmer (check out Crawl Space if you know what’s good for you), then kick things off with a touch of meditative electronica – Utopia by Danish duo Bremer/McCoy is unbeatable. Of course, if you’ve got a record player at your disposal, now is the time to unsheath Chaos In The CBD’s debut album, A Deeper Life.
Once the evening starts to hum, you’ve got two choices – a similarly themed mix that increases the tempo as your guests get more jolly – think Jacques Green, Mark Farina or Move D. Alternatively, revert to a curated playlist that you’ve already put together. It’s a no-fuss hosting trick while you’re busy on the tools. You want the kind of background rhythm that lets the conversation breathe but evolves throughout the evening, blending jazz, soul, electronica and house to lift the mood. Let the playlist do the lifting while you do the hosting.
Dress Your Space
In the same way music sets the tone, so too does a well-dressed space. If there were ever a reason to go rifling through the linen cupboard, this is it. If you have one at your disposal (or you think your space needs it), a textured linen tablecloth will charm, and don’t shy away from wrinkles or frayed edges – it’s just meant to be a table built for good conversation and shared pours.
Overhead lighting is a surefire way to kill the mood, while candles create it. If you want the space to feel a little speakeasy, go for lamps and scatter a handful of unscented candles inside shapely vases or recycled glass jars around the room – unscented so you still nose your whisky! A quality hand soap, incense, and a tealight or scented candle for the bathroom will have your friends wondering how a nitwit like you got tasteful.
For an extra level of intention, add some curated objects that speak to your personality or the event itself – Hermes playing cards, a leather valet tray, marble catchall, vintage ashtray (even if no one smokes), a stack of matchbooks from old hotels, a decanter… you know the drill.
The Bottled Hero: Starward’s New Old Fashioned
Forget muddling, mixing, and messing around – Starward’s New Old Fashioned is your MVP. It’s bold, balanced, and built for nights like this. Made with their award-winning whisky, house-made bitters, and orange-infused syrup, it’s the cocktail equivalent of a firm handshake and a warm coat.
Have the bottle chilled, garnishes pre-cut (ruby grapefruit wedges or a good cherry will do), and rocks glasses lined up with ice ready to go. Not just any ice either, if you don’t want to spend weeks doing your own ice balls, grab a handful of Bare Bones ice bags from your local or online. This gets a drink in everyone’s hand within minutes of coming through the door. No stress. No mixing glass. All class.
Glassware Speaks Volumes
There’s something very considered about the feel of a weighty tumbler in hand. But depending on your lineup after your pre-batched arrival cocktail, don’t be afraid to reach for the Glencairns or even cop a few Copitas. Match the vessel to the pour, or how someone might like to enjoy their drams. Tumblers for ice fiends, Glencairns for neat freaks.
If you want to show you know how to dram – a pipette to let guests add a few drops of water to open things up. Ultimately, you and your guests can drink whisky however the hell you want, so do what you can to encourage that.
Feed The People (Without Breaking A Sweat)
Think less like René Redzepi and more Jamie Oliver’s The Naked Chef: low fuss, maximum impact, with a handful of supermarket staples. Start by gently warming a drained, pit-in medley of olives in a saucepan with a sprinkle of chilli flakes or fennel seeds and a few strips of orange zest – the perfect way to tickle the tastebuds. Want to fill a space on the table and get them salivating? Lightly salted and slightly sweet popcorn will get the job done.
If you own a Nutribullet or similar, you’re a whizz away from excellent and incredibly affordable homemade hummus. The recipe goes: one tin of chickpeas (with half of their liquid), half a clove of garlic, a good glug of olive oil, plus lemon juice and salt to taste. Plate alongside some Lavosh crackers and wait for the compliments to flow in.
As the evening unfolds, fire up the pizza oven and embrace the theatre that accompanies it. Be sure to prep the dough at least 48 hours before your shindig, then ball and let rest a good hour or so before the crew arrives. Remember, it’s winter, so the ambient temp will affect resting times. You want to account for one pizza per person plus a few extras for impending disasters – if you have some eager noobs hoping to get involved.
Toppings should be prepped in advance: rich Mutti sauce, cubed mozzarella, deli-quality pepperoni, and thinly sliced potatoes for that potato, rosemary, and olive oil classic. You want to pull them straight from the fridge and have your workstation ready to rock and roll the moment the oven hits 410 degrees.
Hydrate In Style
As with any event hosted at home, an abundance of chilled sparkling (and still water) is absolutely mandatory. Your guests might not appreciate it until the following morning, but free-flow sparkling goes a long way on a whisky night. It’s also another opportunity to introduce your friends to something they may not have tried. San Pelligrino will get the job done, but a case of Little Hampton or Mt Ossa will really impress. If you’ve shopped right, you may even have a bottle or two left to settle the dust the next day.
End On Something Special
Round out the night with a whisky worth talking about. Maybe it’s the new Co-Ferment limited release from Starward (if you were lucky enough to nab a bottle), a single cask show stopper, or even Starward’s Panettone favourite from Christmas you’ve been looking for an excuse to revisit. The latter has a delectable, lengthy finish that’s just a little bit rum & raisin ice cream in character, nixing any necessity to serve up a dessert.
Whatever it is, it should feel like a moment. Gather the group, pour a round, and raise a glass.
This article is presented in partnership with Starward. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Boss Hunting.
