Guides
Knowledge base
Guides, release notes, and tasting primers.
166 guides
Start here(139)
Absinthe, Pastis, and Anise-Forward Spirits: Louche and Aroma
What changes when you add water—and how these differ from gin.
ABV and Proof: How Alcohol Strength Is Measured
Compare bottle labels across the US, UK, and EU without doing mental gymnastics.
Agave Spirits Beyond Tequila and Mezcal (Big Picture)
Sotol, bacanora, raicilla, and other DO categories—what connects them.
American Whiskey Types: Bourbon, Rye, Corn, Wheat, and Malt
Grain percentages and oak rules that shape flavor before marketing does.
Cachaça: Brazil’s Sugar Spirit—and How It Differs from Rum
Fresh cane juice, regional styles, and why comparing fairly matters.
Canadian Whisky and the “Rye” Nickname
Why “rye” on a Canadian label doesn’t always mean 51% rye grain.
Cocktail Families by Balance: Highball, Sour, and Spirit-Forward
Understand templates across gin, whiskey, rum, tequila, and brandy—not recipe memorization.
Congeners: The “Extra” Molecules Beyond Ethanol
Why two clear spirits—or two whiskies at the same ABV—can feel totally different.
Flavor Wheels: How to Use Them for Whiskey, Rum, Gin, and Brandy
Borrow a structured vocabulary without treating the wheel as law.
From Wash to Spirit: Fermentation and Distillation in Plain Language
Shared vocabulary for whiskey, rum, gin, tequila, brandy, and vodka.
Genever and Old Tom: Gin’s Ancestors on the Shelf
Maltier, sweeter, or richer than London Dry—worth a separate tasting lane.
Geographic Names and Protected Styles: A Quick World Map
Why some words are legal definitions—not just marketing geography.
Glassware for Tasting Spirits
Match glass shape to the spirit and the serve—neat flights, cocktails, and agave.
How to Read a Spirits Label
Decode ABV, age, additives, origin claims, and category-specific words—before you buy.
Irish Whiskey: Styles and What They Often Taste Like
Triple distillation myths, single pot still, and blends—decoded calmly.
Japanese Whisky and World Whisky: Context for Curious Tasters
Scotch-inspired methods, house blending culture, and global craft scenes.
Liqueurs, Amaro, and Bitter Aperitivo Categories
Sugar, ABV, bitterness, and how they behave in mixed drinks.
Nosing Spirits: A Cross-Category Primer
Gentle technique for whiskey, rum, gin, tequila, brandy, and high-proof pours.
Palate Care for Tasting Flights: Order, Fatigue, Water, and Snacks
Borrow pro habits from whiskey events—applied to rum, gin, tequila, and more.
Reading US Whiskey Labels: Straight, Bottled-in-Bond, and Sourced Spirit
Legal words that change what is inside the bottle—not decoration.
Rum Geography: English, Spanish, and French Traditions (Loosely)
Colonial history shaped still choices and flavor goals—use the map lightly.
Scotch Regions: Flavor Tendencies, Not Guarantees
Islay smoke, Speyside fruit, Highlands breadth—how to use regional maps wisely.
Scotch Whisky Styles: Single Malt, Blend, and Grain in Plain English
The same vocabulary professionals use—without the exam pressure.
Secondary Maturation and Finishing Across Spirit Categories
Sherry casks, wine barrels, and “double wood” ideas—not just for Scotch.
Soju and Shochu: Rice, Barley, Sweet Potato, and Other Bases
Lower-ABV traditions that sit beside vodka and white rum in the cooler.
Storing Open Bottles: Light, Heat, Oxidation, and Upright Habits
Keep spirits stable after the seal breaks—rum, whiskey, gin, and more.
Swirling Neat Spirits: When It Helps—and When It Doesn’t
Volatiles, ethanol lift, and fair comparisons across categories.
Tasting Brandy and Grape Spirits
Cognac, Armagnac, pisco, and grappa—grape variety and region in the glass.
Tasting Gin: Juniper, Botanicals, and Classic Styles
London Dry, compound gin, and New Western styles—plus how tonic changes the picture.
Tasting Rum: Molasses, Cane Juice, and Aging
From grassy rhum agricole to high-ester Jamaican styles—what to listen for.
Tasting Tequila and Mezcal
Agave species, maturation labels, smoke, and why blanco vs. añejo is a different tasting job.
Tasting Vodka and Other Neutral Spirits
Beyond “flavorless”: texture, sweetness, heat, and grain vs. potato vs. grape bases.
Tasting Whiskey and Other Grain Spirits
Nose, palate, finish, and how mash bills and wood show up in the glass.
Temperature, Ice, and Dilution: Same Physics, Different Categories
Why a G&T wants cold ice but some brandies open with warmth.
Whiskey or Whisky? Spelling Without the Stress
Rules of thumb, fun exceptions, and what actually matters on the label.
Wood, Barrels, and Age Statements Across Categories
Char levels, refill casks, solera, and why “older” is not automatically “better.”
Adding a Bottle When the Barcode Is Unknown (Android 1.1.5+)
A guided walk-through of the new unknown-barcode enrichment flow
Advanced Catalog Filtering and Sorting in iOS 1.34
Hunt down the right bottle faster with multi-facet filters
Beautifully Designed for Every Device
Experience WhiskeyMate’s mobile-first design, tailored for iOS and Android
Bring Your Spirits to Life
Showcase every bottle with high-quality images that make your collection stand out
Can I Edit My Collection on Apple TV? (tvOS Version 1)
Apple TV is a display-first companion experience in Version 1
Celebrate Your Journey
Earn badges and climb contributor levels through community engagement
Collection Reliability Fixes in Android 1.1.4
Phantom bottles, disappearing collections, and how to make sure you’re on the fix
Connect with a Global Community in WhiskeyMate
Share your bottles, discover trending spirits, and interact with whiskey enthusiasts worldwide
Continue with Google + Redesigned Sign-In (iOS 1.36)
Faster sign-in, clearer recovery
Detailed Bottle Documentation in WhiskeyMate
Track and manage every aspect of your spirits in one place
Dynamic Flavor Profile Visualization
Visually capture the essence of each bottle with interactive flavor charts
Easy Access to Social Platforms
Quickly navigate to your favorite whiskey communities via new social link buttons
Expand Your Collection Without Limits
Document every bottle you own—or plan to own—without worrying about space
Explore a World of Spirits with WhiskeyMate
Find your next favorite bottle using our extensive database and intuitive search tools
Explore WhiskeyMate Anywhere
Access your collection and discover new features on whiskeymate.net or whiskeymate.com
Exploring Advanced Whiskey Stats in the Detailed Stats View
Dig deeper into bottle comparisons, trends, and more
Exporting a Whiskey Collection to PDF
Generate and customize PDF documents of your WhiskeyMate collections
Fitz, the WhiskeyMate AppTender (Generative AI Chat)
Managing trial limits, premium gating, and AI chat with Fitz
How Badges Work in WhiskeyMate
Earn rewards as you explore, share, and level up your whiskey journey
How to Access the WhiskeyMate Swag Shop and Track Your Orders
Shop official WhiskeyMate merch and view order history directly from the app
How to Add a Bottle on Android (1.1.4+)
Single-button submit and how to use the search-driven add flow
How to Add a New Bottle in WhiskeyMate (iOS & Android)
Track your collection with ease on any device
How to Create a New Collection in WhiskeyMate (iOS & Android)
Organize your bottles from any device
How to Filter & Sort Your Whiskey Collection in Version 1.20
Master the art of organizing your whiskey collection with advanced filtering and sorting options.
How to Manage Your Profile & Preferences in WhiskeyMate (iOS & Android)
Customize account settings, notification preferences, default fields, and more
How to Pair WhiskeyMate on Apple TV
Link your Apple TV to your Premium account in seconds
How to Set or Update a Whiskey’s Flavor Profile with the Radar Chart
Visually capture the essence of each whiskey’s aromas and tastes
How to Share or Request Access to a WhiskeyMate Collection
Invite others privately — or share a public shelf link (new)
How to Use the WhiskeyMate Knowledge Base
Browse helpful guides and tips to get the most out of WhiskeyMate
How to Use the WhiskeyMate News Feed (iOS & Android)
Stay up-to-date with the latest whiskey news and articles
How to Use the WhiskeyMate Search (iOS & Android)
Find bottles in your personal collections or explore the global whiskey database
How to View & Edit a Whiskey’s Details in WhiskeyMate (iOS & Android)
Access bottle photos, flavor profiles, ratings, and more
How WhiskeyMate Stores Currency and Shows Totals in USD
Per-entry currency snapshots, displayed in USD
Know Your Collection with WhiskeyMate Insights
Unlock data-driven views of your bottles, from average proof to price distributions
Manage Collections in WhiskeyMate
Organize, enhance, and analyze your whiskey collections with ease
Managing Large Collections in WhiskeyMate
Performance, Practical Tips, and Device Memory Considerations
Managing Non-Whiskey Spirits in WhiskeyMate
Support for gin, vodka, rum, tequila, and more in one unified app
Managing Your Notification Preferences in WhiskeyMate
Stay informed without getting overwhelmed
Managing, Editing, and Sharing WhiskeyMate Recipes
How to organize, customize, and share your favorite drink recipes
Navigating & Interacting with the Collections View
Layouts, grid vs. list, and bottle actions for your whiskey collections
One-Tap Fill-Level Adjust on Your Collection (iOS 1.36)
Update open bottles right from the collection view
Organize Your Passion Your Way
Leverage multiple collections for better categorization and control
Organizing Collections by Brand vs. a Single All-in-One Collection
Choosing the right method to handle multiple bottles from specific brands
Palate Passport: Your Collection as a Taste Fingerprint (iOS 1.36)
A glanceable summary of what you actually sip
Personalized Fitz on Android (1.1.8)
Personalized welcome, unified contract, knowledge-lane feedback parity
Personalized for Your Preferences
Customize default settings to streamline your WhiskeyMate experience
Rate Every Sip in WhiskeyMate
Evaluate nose, taste, finish, and body—then compare your impressions with the community
Recovering Drafts in the Unknown-Barcode Flow (Android 1.1.8)
Don’t lose work when you’re interrupted mid-add
Restore Purchases and Apple Premium Linkage in iOS 1.34
Cleaner reinstall and device-switch behavior for Premium
Restoring Premium on WhiskeyMate for Android (1.1.3+)
What changed in 1.1.3 and how to recover Premium if it’s missing
Scan and Add Bottles Instantly
Quickly grow your collection by using WhiskeyMate’s barcode scanning feature
Share the Magic
Share collections privately or publish a public shelf page
Shared Collections View: Browsing & Interacting with Shared Collections
View, navigate, and manage whiskey collections shared by other users
Stay Informed, Your Way
Control notifications for collection updates, shared bottles, and announcements
Stay Up-to-Date with the Latest in Spirits
Receive news, follow trends, and discover exclusive bottle releases
The Ultimate AI Experience
Unlock Fitz’s advanced capabilities with a Premium subscription
Track and Manage Your Dream Bottles
Create a Wish List to keep tabs on must-have spirits
Troubleshooting Apple TV Pairing and Connection Issues
Fix common pairing, sign-in, and waiting screen problems
Understanding the WhiskeyMate Price Stats View
Compare your bottle’s price with community highs, lows, and averages
Understanding Your Collection’s Overview with Collection Stats
At-a-glance insights into your whiskey collection
What’s New in Fitz for iOS 1.36
Time-of-day welcome, native chat pills, smarter feedback
WhiskeyMate 1.0 - Official Launch
We've launched, Cheers! - March 19, 2023
WhiskeyMate 1.01 - Performance Enhancements & New Features
Major Performance Improvements and Features - Released March 28, 2023
WhiskeyMate 1.02 - Enhanced Usability and Fixes
New Features and Performance Enhancements - Released May 8, 2023
WhiskeyMate 1.03 - The Highest Proof Release Yet
New Features, Enhancements, and Critical Fixes - Released July 10, 2023
WhiskeyMate 1.04 - Growing Wiser and More Respectful
New Features, Offline Functionality, and UI Enhancements - Released October 10, 2023
WhiskeyMate 1.05 - Taking Shots!
UI Improvements, Price Stats, and GDPR Compliance - Released November 20, 2023
WhiskeyMate 1.06 - Triple Distilled
Enhanced Price Stats, Improved UI, and Stability Fixes - Released December 18, 2023
WhiskeyMate 1.07 - Further Refined
Improved Search, Enhanced Entry View, and Critical Fixes - Released February 9, 2024
WhiskeyMate 1.08 - Elevate Your Whiskey Experience
Refined Collection Management, Enriched News Feed, and Critical Fixes - Released March 1, 2024
WhiskeyMate 1.09 - Transcend Whiskey
Enhanced Collection Insights, Feed Updates, and Critical Fixes - Released April 1, 2024
WhiskeyMate 1.10 - Further Refined
PDF Export, Collection View Enhancements, and Stability Fixes - Released April 4, 2024
WhiskeyMate 1.11 - Now Distilling
Introducing Fitz, the AI Bartender, and Major Enhancements - Released May 5, 2024
WhiskeyMate 1.12 - Finishing Touches
Enhanced Fitz AI, Stability Upgrades, and Security Improvements - Released July 18, 2024
WhiskeyMate 1.15 - Skip Ahead
Enhanced Whiskey Price Trends and Detailed Stats View - Released September 1, 2024
WhiskeyMate 1.16 - Mixing Up Something Tasty!
Enhanced Fitz AI, Recipe Sharing, and Improved Stats - Released November 1, 2024
WhiskeyMate 1.17 - Supercharged Search
Improved Search Results, Stability Fixes, and Collection Enhancements - Released December 2, 2024
WhiskeyMate 1.18 - Streamlined Functionality and Enhancements
Enhanced Inventory Management, AI Recommendations, and Performance Updates - Released January 23, 2025
WhiskeyMate 1.19 - Refinements and Social Connect
Shared Collections, Social Media Integration, and iOS 18.3 Compatibility - Released February 13, 2025
WhiskeyMate Premium on Apple TV (tvOS Version 1)
Showcase your collection on the big screen
WhiskeyMate vs. Spreadsheets: Key Advantages of a Dedicated Spirit Management App
Enhanced media sharing, device syncing, and a more intuitive interface for your whiskey collections
WhiskeyMate, Uninterrupted (Archived — Ads Retired)
Archived: ads are retired for everyone; see the Ad-Free for Everyone article
Why Update Notifications Were Missing (and How They’re Fixed in 1.1.8)
Push delivery for app updates has been restored
Your Collection, Professionally Documented
Export your WhiskeyMate collection to PDF for sharing or personal archiving
Your Personal AI Spirit Expert: Fitz
Enhance your whiskey (and spirits) experience with an AI-powered assistant
Catalog Filtering, Persistent Currency, and Swipe Paging Come to Android (1.1.4)
iOS 1.34 parity features land on Android
Fitz on Android: What Changed in 1.1.5
Platform-tagged interactions and cleaner streaming
How to Check the Status of Your WhiskeyMate Swag Shop Order
Track fulfillment, shipment, and view email history with your Payment ID
How to View or Track an Order in the WhiskeyMate Swag Shop
See order details, delivery estimates, and payment status
Hunt Maps & Routes
Plan, preview, share, and discover routes
Improved Profile Avatars in Conversations
Now see who’s talking — with profile images or fallback initials
Introducing the New Profile Dashboard
Overview of redesigned profile view, stats, and badges
Regions and Collection Photo Reliability in iOS 1.31
Region-aware metadata and self-healing collection images
Scanner Overhaul in iOS 1.30
AVFoundation scanner, torch, and supported symbologies
Smarter Nearby Recommendations with Fitz
How Fitz now ranks bars and stores based on reviews
Stability and Search Fixes in iOS 1.34
Pinned search crash, spirit/whiskey type filters, barcode overlay polish
Submitting Unknown Barcodes
Unified fallback sheet, photos, and OCR prefill
Swipe Paging in Whiskey Detail (iOS 1.34)
Browse a flight without leaving the detail view
Using the New Collapsible Taste Profile (iOS 1.36)
Cleaner bottle detail with one-tap deep dive
WhiskeyMate Swag Shop
Shop official WhiskeyMate merch online
Wishlist, Export, and Search Polish in Android 1.1.8
Smoother day-to-day flows for power users
Troubleshooting Empty Results
What to try when scan results don’t appear
Using Siri to Search WhiskeyMate
Activate shortcuts to access your collection with your voice
Using the app(12)
How to Share a Collection Publicly (Share Loop)
Turn a collection into a no-login public page and share it with a link
All-New Brand Profiles in WhiskeyMate
Explore brand news, locations, contact, expressions, awards, and tour info
Redesigned Collection View
Adaptive analytics, cleaner create flow, and smarter list controls
Sharing Recipes in WhiskeyMate
Private authenticated sharing, batch controls, and deep links
WhiskeyMate 1.38 - Home, Brand Profiles, Public Sharing & Ad-Free
Flagship iOS release notes (July 2026)
WhiskeyMate Android 1.2.4 - Hunt Maps, Public Sharing & Ad-Free
Consolidated Android release notes for 1.1.9–1.2.4
Fill Gaps with Fitz: Auto-Complete a Bottle Entry
Let Fitz research a bottle and fill in only the missing details (Premium)
How to Find and Contribute Place Menus
Browse pour lists near you and submit a community menu from a printed board
How to Publish a Bar or Restaurant Menu
Turn a WhiskeyMate collection into a guest pour menu with prices, QR, App Clip, and an Official place listing
How to Capture a Menu with Fitz
Photograph a printed pour list and review Fitz’s suggestions before adding bottles (Premium)
How to Log a Tasting in WhiskeyMate
Known pour or Blind — score nose, taste, finish, and body, then attach the tasting to a bottle
Local Connect: Find Collectors and Venues Nearby
Opt in by city, share the contact channels you choose — WhiskeyMate is not a marketplace
Spirits & tasting(1)
More guides(14)
Using the New Home Tab in WhiskeyMate
Your collector command center for Fitz, insights, badges, and next actions
Redesigned & Faster Bottle Entry
Card layout, catalog speed layer, and on-device suggestion chips
Half-Star Ratings in WhiskeyMate
Rate Nose, Taste, Finish, and Body with half-star precision
WhiskeyMate Is Now Ad-Free for Everyone
Ads have been retired on iOS and Android — Premium no longer sells 'ad-free'
Canonical Brand & Expression Data
How WhiskeyMate keeps brands and expressions accurate across the app
WhiskeyMate 1.37 - Home Foundations
Archived release notes (historical)
WhiskeyMate tvOS 1.04 - Companion Updates
Consolidated Apple TV release notes for 1.03–1.04
Random Bottle Picker: Let WhiskeyMate Choose
Pick a random bottle from your collection when you can't decide what to pour
Recover a Deleted Bottle (Recently Deleted)
Removed bottles stay recoverable for 7 days
WhiskeyMate 1.39 Release Notes (iOS 1.39 / Android 1.2.5)
Fill Gaps with Fitz, Random Bottle Picker, Smarter Search, and Recently Deleted
Understanding Place Menus on WhiskeyMate
Community vs Official pour lists at real bars — what guests and venues should know
How Bars Claim an Official Place Menu
Verify your Google Place so your published WhiskeyMate menu becomes Official for guests
WhiskeyMate 1.40 Release Notes (iOS 1.40 / Android 1.2.7)
Public menus, Menu Capture, Place Menus, Tastings, Infinity Bottles, Local Connect, tvOS 1.4.1, and the August web companion
WhiskeyMate tvOS 1.4.1 - Companion Updates
Apple TV stays a Premium browse companion, aligned with iOS 1.40 / build 610