This masterclass means you can try new whisky from the comfort of your home

It is fair to say that there are a fair few whisky brands out there, and let’s be honest, it can be a bit overwhelming when you don’t know where to start. That’s where Waitrose’s ‘Discover Whisky’ classes come in (or at least, they hope).

The idea is that - for £400 for a party of 6-10 people - you can try a range of whiskies from the comfort of your home. It works like this: five whiskies - Makers Mark, The Chita, Highland Park 12, Jim Beam Double Oak and Laphroaig - are delivered to your home by a whisky specialist, who then proceeds to tell you about the drinks’ histories and how to prepare them. The experience is two-hours long and you get to try three whisky cocktails, and two neat whiskies with cheese and chocolate pairings (yum). Delivered with the whisky, you also get a complimentary highball glass and a rock glass. If whisky isn’t your thing, they also offer other masterclasses where you can try various gins or wine instead. They seem to be fairly successful, too. According to The Grocer, in the 14 months following the launch in January 2018, the service was booked by 500 customers.

Andrew Riding, Drinks Experience Manager at Waitrose & Partners said the experience had been started "because there is so much to learn about whisky".

"Whisky isn't just a winter drink to be sipped neat and our experts will show guests just how flexible the spirit can be," he said.

"It's a really fun experience for a group of friends or family to get together and enjoy and would make a really thoughtful gift for someone who loves whisky."

So, while the price is a little eye-watering, split between friends maybe it’s not so bad (I mean, still not cheap - but better). And, it would make a pretty decent birthday present for the whisky-drinker in the family.

• Fancy a getting a head start? Check out our list of 2019’s best whiskey