Bourbon Tasting on the Disney Wish: What to Expect From This Adult-Exclusive Experience

I was lucky enough to successfully book a Bourbon Tasting aboard the Disney Wish on our Very Merrytime Cruise. Cruises offer various tasting experiences such as Bourbon, Bourbon Reserve, Whiskey, Beer, Rum, Wine, Mixology, and others. This was my first time experiencing a tasting of any kind - on land or sea, so I had no clue what to expect.

Booking & Price

The booking window for experiences and excursions opened 90 days before our sail date. Depending on what reservation or experience you are trying to book, it may book to capacity on the day reservations become available. This is because of their exclusivity and popularity.

Photo: Disney Cruise Line

This is especially true for “Sea Days” because of the limited amount of activities and the beautiful views of the sea while dining or tasting. I paid $55 for this tasting, but prices may vary depending on your sailing and date. 

Location

For my Bourbon Tasting, I ventured to Marceline Market on the third day, at 10:00 PM.  At this time, the buffet of Marceline Market was closed, and there was a small sectioned off room reserved for the tasting.

Two tables were set with six places: each having four, one-ounce pours of bourbon in a Glencairn glass.  Understand, I will not pretend to know anything about this experience, and I had to look up the name of the glass used for the tasting, as I was sure they had a proper name and significance.

These glasses are the short, “tulip-style” glasses that have a bulb shape with a wider base for swirling and allowing the bourbon to mix with air. The rim is also narrower, allowing the aroma to be “trapped” inside the glass.

The Tasting

Our server was Dwayne, and he was from Trinidad. He shared his experiences with us and said he had been with DCL for three months. He is in charge of selecting the pours for four separate tastings: Bourbon, Reserve Bourbon, Whiskey, and Rum.

For my night’s Bourbon Tasting, Dwayne selected bourbons with proofs of 92-95.

92- Larceny, Small Batch

93-  Blantons Single Barrel

94- Woodford Reserve

95- Blue Rum, Reflection I

Dwayne did an excellent job at taking his time through each bourbon, advising to swirl the bourbon, smell it, and savor the flavors. The tasting took approximately 45 minutes to an hour. We were not rushed at all, and after the tasting and other guests left, Dwayne visited with remaining guests and shared more stories and experiences. This personal touch truly made the “Disney Difference”.

I cannot wait until this spring when I will be on the Disney Destiny and experience another tasting. I’d love to get some recommendations and hear about others’ experiences.