Whiskey (or whisky) is different depending on where it’s from, and people like different things, so there’s no one whisky to suit all tastes – Talisker fans might not like the Singleton, though both are delicious.
There has been a trend in recent years to move away from age statements: in some regard, this is healthy (older doesn’t always mean better), but as a gift buyer, it can be frustrating when trying to pin point what you’re getting. The below offer something for everyone, and something interesting, too.
1. Ardbeg Uigeadail, 54.2%: £47 for 70cl, Waitrose
Pronounced “oog-a-dal”, this smells like a bonfire washing in over a lake, all peat and smoke and seawater freshness. It hits hard – as you’d expect from a non chill-filtered Islay, bottled at 54.2 per cent – but behind the smoke is toffee, sherry sweetness, which comes out more with water, and a lovely woodiness.
2. Glen Elgin 12-Year-Old, 43%: £39 for 70cl, The Whisky Exchange
There is beautifully understated packaging on this Speyside – it seems practically a byword for good taste. Bottled at 43 per cent, the malty richness is kept interesting with a little spice that almost tastes like sultanas and gingerbread. It’s very well balanced between the fruit notes and its sweetness.
3. Strathisla 12-Year-Old, 40%: £35 for 70cl, Waitrose Cellar
This well-priced dram might not please purists and Scotch snobs but it is remarkably drinkable: pour two large ones and catch up with a good friend. It’s a sweet, malty, fruity Speyside that’s easy to enjoy, extremely smooth and soft. All apples and pears, with a little spiciness.
4. GlenDronach 12-year-old, 43%: £35 for 70cl, The Whisky Exchange
It’s hard to beat this smooth offering for price, and is best once you’ve let it sit in the glass for a while. Forget about smoke here: it’s all toffee raisins and, matured in Spanish Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso casks sherry. In short, it's the kind of thing to pull out after a heavy meal. Who needs pudding, anyway?
5. Aberlour 10-year-old, 40%: £32 for 70cl, Waitrose Cellar
An inexpensive single malt is a rare thing, so praises to Aberlour for this offering. Settle its bite with a couple of drops of water, then sit back and enjoy its fruitcake sweetness. Not the biggest character here, but perfect for newcomers.
6. Bruichladdich Port Charlotte Scottish Barley, 50%: £50 for 70cl, amazon
Don’t like peat? Run a mile. But if you do: come in, sit by the fire, light a cigar and enjoy – it’s dry, intense, coats the mouth entirely and is full of pepper. It may be all flowers and antiseptic on the nose, but it has a hoppy, bitter, burnt vanilla character. It has bags of character, and encourages you to take it on.
7. Glenfarclas 15-Year-Old, 46%: £48 for 70cl, amazon
While the youngest whisky in it is 15 years old, this old-fashioned producer (hurrah) has quite obviously included a lot of much older whiskies in this sherried dram. It's one for the true whisky lovers and has lots going on: sherry on the nose and the palate, a beautifully long finish, flavours of dark chocolate, brown sugar, orange peel, raisins and a little bourbon character too.
8. Tamdhu 10-Year-Old, 40%: £35 for 70cl, Waitrose Cellar
This bottle and its packaging will stand out on any shelf. Another cracking Speyside, fully matured in sherry casks, it’s almost absurdly easy to drink. It’s sweet, a little oily in a good way, and there’s some wood and chocolate in there too, no smoke. Open it with friends or family on Christmas Day and it might be gone by Boxing Day.
9. Glenmorangie Signet, 46%: £118 for 70cl, amazon
Make a statement with this one. The recipe contains high-roast chocolate malt, sherry-aged Glenmorangies paired with new-aged offerings, and others as mature as 40-years-old. It’s very rich, tasting of tiramisu, Christmas pudding, chocolate, raisins and rich heavy sugar. Drinking it calls to mind private members' clubs: leather armchairs, luxury. Better on repeat tastings, it benefits from being sat in the glass.
10. Old Pulteney 21-year-old, 46%: £97, amazon
This Highland dram, once rated as the best whisky in the world by Jim Murray's Whisky Bible, has a beautiful amber colour (the way you want Scotch to look) and tastes creamy, with vanilla and a little smoke. It's an impressive gift, but you might not want to give this one away.
0 Komentar