YOU'VE GOT THE WHEEL

Welcome to the Dummies' table. Here's how we run every blind tasting on the show, and how you can do the same at home.

HOW TO RUN A CHALLENGE

Six steps, the Dummies way.

Choose four whiskies for the challenge. Mix it up, different regions, ages, or price points. The more variety, the more interesting the challenge.

Pour each whisky into a Glencairn. Write the bottle name on a label, slide it into the holder behind the glass, and drop the holder onto the wheel.

Place the cover on. Grab the knob and give it a real spin. No peeking.

Lift the cover. Pull each holder out in order — 1, 2, 3, 4, and load them into the Dram Rack (or just line 'em up). Set the spinner aside.

Nose all four. Then taste one by one. Rank them favorite to least, then guess which is which based on your challenge.

Pull the labels. See if your palate matched the price tag.

Stuck on what bottles to pour? Try one of these formats we run on the show.

Four Scotches from four different regions. Highland, Speyside, Islay, Lowland. Can you tell the smoke from the sweetness?

Four bottles at four price points, $30, $60, $100, $200. Rank them favorite to least. Did the most expensive win?

Same distillery (or similar style), four different ages. 10, 12, 15, 18. Can you order them youngest to oldest?

Four whiskies finished in different casks. Bourbon, sherry, port, virgin oak. Match each glass to its cask.

Four peated whiskies, lightest to heaviest. Or four "smoky" bottles, where some aren't actually peated at all. Trust your nose.

Four bottles, ABV unknown. 40%, 46%, 55%, cask strength. Rank by perceived strength — then check the labels.