The story behind WhiskyChilled

Where mates come to connect, share life, and taste good whisky.

It started at the Bull & Tiger

In 2012, in a mancave in Durban, South Africa — adorned with buffalo horns and a tiger fish trophy on the wall — the original Chairman convinced his mates to start drinking whisky together. They opened an Aberlour 12 Year Old, watched some YouTube videos from The Nose and Ralfy for inspiration, and agreed to make it a monthly thing. Not just for the whisky, but to make sure they all stayed in touch.

They established some rules, gave themselves nicknames, and WhiskyChilled was born.

Paper scorecards and lost pens

For years, the club scored their tastings on paper. Which was fine, until it wasn’t. The host would forget to print the scorecards. When they were printed, there were never enough working pens. The sheets got lost after the tastings. Someone started a file to keep them in, but that became a massive pile of paper that was never looked at again.

Not to mention the environmental guilt.

One of the members — the one who kept getting fined for losing the file — probably felt the pain most of all. But they all knew there had to be a better way.

The founding members

Eight mates, three waves of recruitment, and one club that refused to take itself too seriously.

Mouse Chairman

Dictatorial leadership style. Has survived several attempted coups. Constantly disappointed at the lack of social media commitment.

Rid Co-Founder & Vice Chair

Every whisky is the best whisky he has ever tasted.

Jom Original member

The file owner. Has been fined multiple times for losing it.

Cookie Original member

Hated whisky when he started, but didn't want to miss out. Now drinks it almost daily.

Corpse Original member

Was meant to set up the investment fund for a Scotland tour. We're still waiting. It's been 14 years.

Gamm 2nd wave recruit

Was appalled at being asked for a formal application. Nearly got ousted before he even arrived.

Dyl 2nd wave recruit

Wasn't interested — he makes his money selling beer. But chronic FOMO eventually won.

Dale 3rd wave recruit

Returned from the UK. Made everyone feel awkward about his exclusion until they made it official. Repaid the faith with the world's most deadly burger recipe.

The moment it clicked

When the club used the app for the first time, the fascination and awe on the team’s faces was immense. The massive relief for the host — never again having to slurp a plate of gin with his hands behind his back at the end of a bottle, simply because he forgot to print tasting sheets — significantly contributed to the collective applause and gratitude.

That was the moment we knew this wasn’t just for us.

What WhiskyChilled is really about

WhiskyChilled is where mates come to connect and share life. Often around a fire, with a good meal, a tasty dram, and palpable anticipation for the stories to be shared and remembered.

While we appreciate the whisky, it’s chilled. We aren’t stuffy about the process. The culture is a relaxed atmosphere where gents feel welcomed and they bring their true selves to the evening.

The whisky is our vessel for men to be boys.

The journey

2012First tasting at the Bull & Tiger. Aberlour 12. Buffalo horns on the wall.
2013The first of the collective 16 children arrive. Lots of whisky to celebrate each of the subsequent future drammers.
2012–2024200+ whiskies scored. Paper scorecards, lost files, and a fine system that funded more whisky.
2018Turned the next mancave into the official HQ. The team spent a weekend hanging buffalo horns, shelves, blinds that open onto facebrick, sporting paraphernalia and notable achievement awards from all families — as well as photos of each whisky and each host to date.
2020Online whisky clubs hosted via Zoom. Whisky samples delivered via mysterious people wearing hazmat suits and Jackson gloves.
2025WhiskyChilled app built. Paper scorecards retired permanently.
2026WhiskyChilled opens to whisky clubs everywhere. Free forever to start.

Start your own story

Every club has its own Bull & Tiger. WhiskyChilled is just the scoreboard.