The Best Whisky Resolutions for 2026: Make the Most of Your Passion

Every new year starts with big plans for many people. Less stress, more exercise, healthier eating, you know the drill. But let’s be honest: for whisky lovers, there are resolutions that are much more fun to stick to. And that’s exactly what we’re going to lay out for you here, crystal clear.

The start of the new year is the perfect moment to reflect and maybe even set some whisky resolutions for the coming months. The beauty of it is that good whisky intentions don’t just help you engage more thoughtfully with your collection, they also deepen your knowledge and enjoyment. So here are five concrete, achievable, and, most importantly, fun resolutions to make 2026 a standout whisky year.

Let’s kick off with the first resolution: buy only one bottle of whisky per month. It sounds strict, but there’s a logic to it.

What happens with any hobby? You buy too much, too fast. Which whisky lover doesn’t get tempted by a limited edition, letting the collection grow far quicker than intended? Everything seems special, everything sounds delicious. And what if you miss out? Then what?

By limiting yourself to just one bottle a month, you force yourself to choose with intention.

That brings two big benefits. First, your collection still grows, just without the impulse buys. Second, you’ll feel more peace in your hobby.

Because you’re choosing one bottle each month, that bottle actually gets the attention it deserves. And let’s be honest, there’s a bit of fun in the anticipation too: what will be the next bottle you’re allowed to buy?

The next tip is another fun one, because it helps you squeeze more joy out of your existing collection.

We often buy new bottles, but forget how good our current collection already is. By picking three bottles you already own and tasting them blind side by side, you’ll get so much more out of what’s already on your shelf. Maybe you and your partner both enjoy a wee dram now and then, then this is an especially great idea.

Blind tasting strips away all your preconceptions. Suddenly you’re not focusing on price, labels, or reputation, just aroma and flavor. A bottle you’ve overlooked for months can shoot straight to the top of your favorites. It’s a playful way to rediscover your palate.

Now for the third idea, less about buying, more about learning. As a whisky lover, you know a lot about aromas, cask maturation, and flavor profiles, but do you really know how whisky is made?

Maybe you’ve visited a distillery and heard the process explained on a tour. But did you really dig in the material? Why not become a whisky expert and take an official whisky course. There are a lot of places around the world where this is possible, like the Spirit of Speyside whisky school.

Our fourth tip is all about exploring close to home. The world of whisky is full of surprises. The number of distilleries grows every year, and every distillery makes whisky on their own way, although the basics are the same. Still it's a good idea to visit distilleries in your area or, when you go on a holiday, look at distilleries abroad.

Finally, let’s talk about something different: something creative.

Whisky is more than a drink; it’s an experience. And you can capture that beautifully. Learning to photograph whisky bottles is not only fun, it’s surprisingly educational. You’ll start paying more attention to color, shape, lighting, and details you might otherwise miss.

With some basics in light, composition, and focus, you can create striking images in no time. So take a course somewhere and upgrade your Instagram. You’ll also build a vibrant personal archive, because keeping only tasting notes might feel a bit old-school by now. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but this might make it even more fun.

Those were our whisky resolutions for 2026. What did you think? Got any good tips of your own? Share them with us.