First Phil Whisky

First Phil Whisky Filling you in about Whisky. Join the banter on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/firstphilwhisky

03/08/2026

How to pronounce with

31/07/2026

How do you actually pronounce Islay?

I’ve been talking about Scotch whisky from the other side of the world for years. Then a Glaswegian sat me down and fixed one of the basics.

Roy Duff from teaches this Kiwi how to say the island behind Ardbeg, Laphroaig, Lagavulin, Kilchoman and a heap of other favourites.

Send this to the mate who still says “Izz-Lee’”!

Be honest, were you saying it properly, or confidently wrong like me?

The full interview with Roy is on YouTube.

29/07/2026

Three of our five World Whisky tasting cruises with East By West Ferries have already sold out, so we’ve added one final late session, and that’s the last one.

Summary: 90 minutes out on Wellington Harbour, five of my fav whiskies from around the world, nibbles, and I’ll walk you through every dram. You don’t need to know a thing about whisky. You turn up curious, try five completely different styles, and leave actually knowing what you like.

And no, it’s not the cold, rough, seasick ride you might be picturing. You’re inside, warm, at a table, tucked into the sheltered harbour the whole time. If the weather’s no good, East By West refund you in full.

Only two sessions left:
Fri 7 Aug, 8.15pm
Sun 9 Aug, 3pm
$99 per person

29/07/2026

Why so many distilleries are called ‘Glen’

05/07/2026

Whisky tasting. On a ferry. In Wellington. Yep, it’s actually happening.

This August I’m teaming up with East By West for a series of World Whisky tasting cruises on Wellington Harbour, and I honestly can’t wait.

We’ll taste five whiskies from around the world, Ireland, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and of course Scotland, and talk through the flavours, the stories, and how they all stack up against each other. Some of my favourite drams of all time.

Perfect if you’re just getting into whisky, with plenty there for the geeks too.

And if you’re picturing a rough Cook Strait crossing, don’t. We stick to the calm, sheltered bays of the inner harbour, so it’s smooth sailing the whole way.

Your ticket gets you five world whiskies, nibbles, a guided tasting, and a 90 minute harbour cruise for $99.

7 to 9 August 2026
Fri 5:30pm · Sat 5:30pm + 8:15pm · Sun 3:00pm

Only a limited number of seats across four sailings. Grab a ticket, tag your mates, and I’ll see you on the harbour.

Tickets in bio. Slàinte.

25/06/2026

I’m taking the month of July off drinking, and I’d love for as many of the First Phil Fam to join me.

Here’s the thing: alcohol has been part of the human story for a very long time. It brings people together, it’s something to explore, share, and enjoy. But it has a dark side too, and I think it’s important we all keep ourselves in check now and then.

So I’m taking July off. Not because whisky is the enemy, but because I’m a big believer in quality over quantity, in savouring something properly rather than just drinking to drink. And honestly, I reckon a month away makes you appreciate the good stuff even more when you come back to it.

Don’t worry though, you can still be geeky about what’s in your glass. I’m going to be exploring teas, smoothies, and all sorts of alternatives, and I want your recommendations. What do you love outside of whisky? What tea should I start with?

I’m setting up a group on the Discord where we can all share what we’re drinking through the month. If you fancy giving yourself a little challenge, now’s the time. It’ll be good to do it together.

Drop your suggestions in the comments. Explore, share, enjoy ☕️🧋🍵

29/04/2026

Beginner and starter whisky I think works well as an introduction to drinking whisky neat 🥃

21/04/2026

3 whisky mistakes I made starting out 👇

1. I focused on age… not flavour
Cask type + peat level matters way more when choosing a bottle

2. I drank it wrong
Whisky isn’t a shot. Sip it like hot coffee to help with the burn

3. I thought whisky was only for old rich people
It’s not. There are plenty of affordable whiskies that taste incredible

If you’re getting into whisky, hopefully this will save you time (and money)

17/04/2026

Tumbler or nosing glass? Short answer: it depends what you’re doing.

Tumbler (the rocks glass) — built for ice, built for cocktails, built for sipping without thinking too hard. Wide mouth lets the alcohol breathe off so nothing feels sharp.

A glass like the Glencairn (the tulip) — built for nosing. That narrow rim funnels the aroma straight up your nose, which is where most of the flavour actually lives.

Rule of thumb: ice or cocktail → tumbler. Neat, nosing, figuring out what you’re tasting → Glencairn.

Which one’s your go-to?

Address

200 Barnard Street
Wellington
6011

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when First Phil Whisky posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category