The Best Luxury Whisky to Gift

Words by Colin Hampden-White 

There are many things I love about Christmas, but the one thing I love the most is the number of new releases and extensions to core ranges that are released in the world of whisky. Especially that nowadays, the world of whisky really does mean the world over. Even through lockdown I have managed to metaphorically travel the globe within the world of whisky. This Christmas I’d like to share with you my favourite luxury whiskies, after all it’s a time of year we like treat those, we love. I’ll begin with my first love, Scotch, and then take you on a little journey to all four corners of the globe in a veritable concoction of exotic flavours.

Scotch

The Glenturret Manager Dram  

Created by distillery manager Ian Renwick, who is known to like peated whisky, he took three American and European oak casks of peated whisky and married them together to create this beautifully sweet peated whisky. With only 500 bottles produced, this is very limited, but there is still some left in the distillery shop.

ABV: 53%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £145

Glen Moray 1998 Barolo Finish Warehouse 1

This is Glen Moray, but not quite as we know it. It has the typical honey and orchard fruits we love in Glen Moray, but it also has a whole lot more. The finishing in Barolo gives the whisky a greater richness. Red fruits are plentiful and arrive on the palate as fresh and confected fruits. Red wine gums are the predominant fruit flavour with lots of sweetness and toasted oak.  A morish whisky which expands the already eclectic wine finished whiskies created by Glen Moray. With only 863 bottles released, I’d make a b-line for one sooner rather than later.

ABV: 52.9%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £143.16

Glenmorangie Signet

I know I extol the virtues of Glenmorangie Signet a lot, but that’s because it is so good. Made by using a small percentage of Chocolate Malt, which is heavily roasted malted barely, this whisky epitomises luxury in a glass with lots of coffee and chocolate flavours alongside manuka honey, toasted oak and soft gentle spices. One of my favourite whiskies of all time and if I’m asked for any recommendations for a special present for someone, this is always on my list. The bottle looks and feels special too with great design, more akin to a premium Cognac to Scotch, it feels special from start to finish.

ABV: 46%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £143.48

Jura 18

This is one of my favourite whiskies from Jura and I think it represents the best value on the planet for an 18 year old whisky. It will not stay at this price for long so stock up whilst you can, I have! Created from a mixture of American and European oak it is rich and smooth with plenty of complexity in the form of fresh and dried fruits. With a subtle touch of spice and fine toasted oak, this whisky punches well above its weight and is certainly a luxury dram.

ABV: 44%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £59.14

Talisker 18  

This is another whisky which is great value at the moment but will be increasing in price very soon. The current stock of this whisky is selling quickly and is already hard to find. Whisky Online still has some at a little more than the original price. When the restock comes next year expect Talisker 18 to be at least 25% more expensive.

ABV: 45.8%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £87

Raasay Single Malt

A new whisky to come to market this year, Raasay has been making waves. Distilled in the western isles of Scotland Raasay is a complex whisky especially considering it isn’t very old. It is also brilliant value for a luxury whisky. I’ve had this whisky in plenty of blind tastings and it is always mistaken for a much more expensive whisky. With lots of red fruits, vanilla fudge and touches of pepper and chocolate, all wrapped up in a sweet cloak of peat and smoke, this is a smooth whisky which is definitely worth trying.

ABV: 46.4%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £48

The Dalmore Port Wood Reserve  

The Dalmore must be one of the few whiskies which everyone associates with luxury. Known for creating whiskies with lots of sherry influence this expression is no different, with lots of Christmas cake aromas and flavours and plenty of spice. What makes this one a little different is the port wood which adds a layer of complexity and deep red fruit flavour, think plumbs and dark cherries. Bottled at an above average strength this whisky is still very smooth. So rather than pass the port this Christmas, try passing the port wood reserve.

ABV: 46.5%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £74.95

World Whisky

Oxford Artisan Distillery The Graduate

The Oxford Artisan Distillery makes their whiskies with ancient grains, and they have so little that they must batch their whiskies. This one is the 6th of their releases and is made with Rye. The colour of the whisky is deep amber, and the flavours are not only typical of rye with oily peppery notes, but also have plenty of underlying fruit and rich toasted oak. A new distillery which is going from strength to strength with every release. And they make a great gin too!

ABV: 51.3%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £89.95

Bushmills 2000  

This expression is a part of the causeway collection from Bushmills. It takes the usual flavours one expects from Bushmills and Irish whisky and turns the volume up. It is rich and complex, and left to build on the palate a huge wave of exotic tropical fruit comes through. A truly luxury Irish whisky and with old Irish malt whisky continuing to rise in price, these will never by found for these prices again. A real treat for this holiday season.

ABV: 54.1%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £259.95

Stauning Rye

Last year I was loving Rye whisky from Stork. This year I’ve been enjoying another European rye whisky but this time from Denmark rather than Germany. With big oily peppery flavours mixed with cooked fruits and sweet oak from fresh barrels, this Rye has a luxury feel and flavour. I would say savour it, but it is so moreish I suspect it won’t last that long on anyone’s shelf.

ABV: 48%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £56.95

Cotswolds Sherry Cask

This is one of the best sherry cask whiskies I tasted in 2021. Not just one of the best from the new world of whisky, but one of the best from everywhere, including Scotland. It delivers the spicy, Christmas cask flavours with such beautiful balance one doesn’t notice it is over 57% ABV. Rich with lots of dried and fresh fruit from both the oak and spirit, it is no doubt a luxury whisky and is an ongoing expression in the Cotswolds core range. So once you’ve tried it this Christmas, it will be there next year for you to enjoy even more.

ABV: 57.4%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £62.95

Kavalan solist Amontillado Sherry Cask

Kavalan produce quite a few single cask ex sherry whiskies, and this is one of my favourites. Not as heavy as an Oloroso sherry cask and not as light as a ex Fino cask, this whisky has a flavour profile which runs right down the middle. There are Christmas cake flavours and spice, but also zesty lemon and a very slight salinity to it. Extremely complex and the epitome of luxury coming from Taiwan.   

ABV: 55.6%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £360

Johnnie Walker Masters of Flavour

Jim Beverage, the Master Blender at Diageo, the creator of Johnnie Walker is about to retire at the end of this year. His last creation, made with the assistance of the whole blending team at Diageo is a 48 year old blended whisky. Masters of Flavour is quite a whisky and tops my luxury whisky for Christmas 2021. Out of most of our reach, but for those who can, should. Only 283 bottles were created, and it is one of the greatest blended whiskies I have tried. Sweet at first, with a complex mix of honey, but clear and crystalline, leading to fresh fruits, then dried with a touch of smoke then building up on the palate. The finish is extraordinarily long, but not drying. Using seven whiskies from Port Dundas, Brora, Glen Albyn, Glenury Royal, Blair Athol, Dalwhinnie and Camronbridge, it is a remarkable whisky to end a difficult year.

ABV: 41.8%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £20,000

Looking for more? We also have Christmas gin, rum, white wine, red wine and gift sets guides available!

12 Whiskies you NEED to Explore from Scotland's Distiller of the Year 2021!

As Scotch whisky lovers and great friends of Whyte and Mackay and their superstar master blender Richard Paterson, we were over the moon to hear that they had been chosen as Distiller of the Year 2021 in the Icons of Whisky Awards this month.

Who are Whyte and Mackay?

Whyte and Mackay are distillers who saw their launch in Glasgow in 1844 when James Whyte and Charles Mackay decided to provide the hard working residents of Glasgow with an alternative to Cognac. Priding themselves in being a strong community of people that work hard together, it is this entrepreneurial spirit that sits at the heart of all the excellent whiskies they produce today.

Which whiskies are in the Whyte and Mackay Portfolio?

Whyte and Mackay own four internationally recognised single malt Scotch whiskies; Jura, Fettercairn, The Dalmore and Tamnavulin. We were lucky enough to visit three out of the four of these in our TV series Three Drinkers do Scotch Whisky and so we have popped together a list of twelve of our favourite drams, although we have to tell you, it was mighty hard to choose!

Must-Try Jura Whiskies

Jura 10 Year Old

The Jura 10 year old is now part of Jura’s core range and it’s a very popular whisky thanks to its subtle, fragrant smokiness combined with smooth, sweet fruit notes and hints of cocoa and vanilla. It’s matured in American white oak ex-bourbon barrels for 10 years and finished in rich, oloroso sherry casks from Spain.

Size: 70cl
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £28.95 // US $39.99

Jura 18 Year Old

Wine meets whisky with the Jura 18. This rich and fruity whisky was aged for 18 years in ex-bourbon casks before being finished in red wine casks; Premier Grand Cru Classé Bordeaux barrels, no less! With a gentle smokiness on the nose, red cherry and berry fruit come through on the palate with a touch of orange peel citrus, dried fruit and warm cooking spice on the finish. Indulgent and delicious. 

Size: 70cl
ABV: 44%
Find here: UK £62.94 // US $119.99

Jura 21 Year old Tide

Released as part of the special ‘Aged Vintage’ series, Tide is a 21 year old single malt that has been double matured; first, in American white oak ex-bourbon barrels and then in hand-selected, virgin American white oak casks. Spicy and complex, Tide is all about gingerbread, pepper and warm spice, all brought into balance with notes of banana, biscuits and white chocolate. A higher ABV gives a greater whack of flavour on the palate and the finish.

Size: 70cl
ABV: 46.7%
Find here: £126.95

Jura Red Wine Cask Finish

This expression has been matured in ex-bourbon casks before being finished for 18 to 24 months in red wine barriques. It is incredibly well-balanced and rich with berry flavours and dried raisins. There are also creamy caramel and vanilla flavours and a touch of cinnamon spice. These sound like bold flavours, yet the whisky remains delicate. A great expression to try for those wanting to experiment a little with new whiskies. For the moment, this can be found in the UK in Sainsbury’s in a one litre bottle and is brilliant value.

ABV: 40%
Size: 1000ml
Find here: Currently on offer at £34 (normally £40)

Must-Try The Dalmore Whiskies

The Dalmore 12 Year Old Sherry Cask Select

The Dalmore is well known for having a close relationship with Spain as the whisky is often matured in ex-sherry casks. This expression celebrates this relationship and as Richard Paterson says “between the union of the Scottish highlands with the warmth of the Andalusian sun”. Firstly the whisky is matured for ten years in ex-bourbon casks and then two years in ex-sherry casks from bodegas. These casks are made from both American and European oak and are then seasoned with a unique blend of aged Oloroso and sweet Pedro Ximénez casks. The result is fabulous; unctuous and complex with distinct flavours of sundried fruits and fresh Scottish orchard fruits. Plenty of fudge and caramel back up the fruit and with a spicy finish, this is a brilliantly concocted 12 year old dram. 

ABV: 43%
Size: 700ml
Find here: UK £69

The Dalmore 18 Year Old

This whisky is a perfect example of The Dalmore’s trademark, bold house style, with bombastic notes of chocolate orange, vanilla and fruitcake thanks to its maturation time in both bourbon and aged, Matusalem oloroso sherry casks.

Size: 70cl
ABV: 43%
Find here: UK £119.99 // US $199.99

The Dalmore King Alexander III

This ultra premium whisky is named in homage to the king who was saved from a stag by former owners of The Dalmore. It’s a very special whisky blend created by Master Distiller Richard Paterson using a selection of differently aged malts, which between them have been matured in six types of wood including French wine casks, madeira drums, sherry butts, marsala barrels, port pipes and bourbon barrels from Kentucky. As you would expect, this is an incredibly complex, textured whisky packed full of dried fruit and nut flavours, cocoa powder, vanilla pod and spicy oak, all with undertones of red fruit from the wine casks. Let it sit in your glass and experience different flavours in every sip. Delicious!

Size: 70cl
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £159.80 // US $279.99

The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve

Deemed the ideal accompaniment to the finest cigars but equally delicious without, this is a single malt matured in American, white oak ex-bourbon casks, Matusalem oloroso sherry casks and wine barriques that previously held Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s a rich, figgy and creamy malt that’s round and sweet with a hint of mint for freshness from the Cabernet and subtle notes of exotic spice from the sherry cask. The finish is exceptionally long. The current available release is the second iteration of the famed Cigar Malt that was brought back by popular demand!

Size: 70cl
ABV: 44%
Find here: UK £76.85 // US $169.99

Must-Try Fettercairn Whiskies

Fettercairn 12 Year Old

The youngest in the newly revitalised core range from Fettercairn, the 12 Year Old whisky aims to show off the tropical fruit notes and floral character that the distillery is famous for. It was matured in American oak ex-bourbon casks for 12 years which gives it a gentle, ginger spice note and some savoury weight and toffee flavours on the finish. It’s a great place to start your exploration of Fettercairn whisky.

Size: 70cl
ABV: 40%
Find here: £37.94

Fettercairn 16 year old

This is a very interesting expression from Fettercairn released at the beginning of summer 2020. Not many whiskies are distilled using chocolate malt (heavily kilned barley, more commonly seen in craft brewing)! The Fettercarin is initially matured in first-fill American oak bourbon casks, before being put in sherry and Port casks, and is bottled at 16 years of age. There's plenty going on here, and it's all impressive stuff. One wonders why more brands aren’t using chocolate malt. This is a very different whisky from Signet although the chocolate malt lends some familiarity. If you like Signet, then you will love this.

ABV: 46.4%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £73.26

Fettercairn 22 Year Old

This a is fantastic, mid-age statement whisky for Fettercairn, showcasing the distillery’s tropical fruit characteristics. Matured for 22 years in ex-bourbon casks, you can expect heaps of spiced orange peel, mango and dark cherry jam up front, with dried fruit flavours and savoury kick of liquorice and coffee bean on the finish. Smooth and lingering. 

Size: 70cl
ABV: 47%
Find here: £169.95

Fettercairn 28 Year Old

A stunning, splash-out whisky with serious age on it from Fettercairn’s ‘waterfall’ cooling ring still and matured in ex-bourbon casks. This whisky is a complex blend of the distillery’s characteristic bright tropical fruit character with more savoury notes of toffee, espresso, fruit and nut chocolate. On the finish, a slick of liquorice and ginger spices things up a bit. Exceptional whisky!

Size: 70cl
ABV: 47%
Find here: £500

A Trilogy of Fine, Scotch Whisky Distilleries to Discover

This month, we celebrate the limited season launch of The Three Drinkers do Scotch Whisky on YouTube, brought to you in partnership with Whyte & Mackay. During the course of this series, we travelled all over Scotland, visiting friends at various distilleries from Jura and Islay to Inverness and Edinburgh. Three of these distilleries were the jewels in Whyte & Mackay’s portfolio, each offering fabulously delicious, unique styles of whisky that are sought-after all the world over. They are Jura Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Fettercairn Single Malt Scotch Whisky and, of course, The Dalmore. Here’s an introduction to each of these need-to-know houses with a selection of whiskies hand-picked by us that you simply must try.

Jura Single Malt Scotch Whisky

The Unique Island of Jura

Sixty miles away from the mainland of Scotland’s western coast, lies a remote island of rugged landscapes and wild waters. Just thirty miles long and seven miles wide, with the tempestuous Atlantic on one side and calmer bays full of seals and birds of prey on the other, it’s a harsh, cool climate, but one that breeds exceptional warmth within its own human community of approximately 212 people.

The Most Un-gettatable Place

The island of Jura has just one road, one pub and one whisky distillery. With the population of wild deer outnumbering humans twenty to one, it is also a particularly remote place; one that was once described by writer George Orwell as ‘the most un-gettatable place on earth’ - and where he chose to write his final book, 1984. As far as distillation goes, Jura is perhaps quite an unusual place to create whisky, but the locals believe the climate is ideal - and the distillery itself is at the very heart of this small island community. Founded originally in 1810, the distillery fell into ruin at the end of the 19th century but was entirely rebuilt and reopened in 1963 in order to boost the local economy and rebuild the community.

The Jura Whisky Style

The Jura style is smooth, bright and lively. Start with their signature series, which boasts nine super smooth malts finished in casks that are hand-selected from Europe and America. Trade up after that to their Rare and Limited series of aged whiskies and rare older vintages. There’s also an exciting selection of Travel Retail Exclusives, where the whiskies are finished with Pedro Ximénez Sherry casks. 

Watch us at Jura here

Three Jura Whiskies to Try

Jura 10 Year Old

The Jura 10 year old is now part of Jura’s core range and it’s a very popular whisky thanks to its subtle, fragrant smokiness combined with smooth, sweet fruit notes and hints of cocoa and vanilla. It’s matured in American white oak ex-bourbon barrels for 10 years and finished in rich, oloroso sherry casks from Spain.

Size: 70cl
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £28.95 // US $39.99

Jura 18 Year Old

Wine meets whisky with the Jura 18. This rich and fruity whisky was aged for 18 years in ex-bourbon casks before being finished in red wine casks; Premier Grand Cru Classé Bordeaux barrels, no less! With a gentle smokiness on the nose, red cherry and berry fruit come through on the palate with a touch of orange peel citrus, dried fruit and warm cooking spice on the finish. Indulgent and delicious. 

Size: 70cl
ABV: 44%
Find here: UK £62.94 // US $119.99

Jura 21 Year old Tide

Released as part of the special ‘Aged Vintage’ series, Tide is a 21 year old single malt that has been double matured; first, in American white oak ex-bourbon barrels and then in hand-selected, virgin American white oak casks. Spicy and complex, Tide is all about gingerbread, pepper and warm spice, all brought into balance with notes of banana, biscuits and white chocolate. A higher ABV gives a greater whack of flavour on the palate and the finish.

Size: 70cl
ABV: 46.7%
Find here: £126.95

The Dalmore

Not far from Inverness, on the banks of the Cromarty Firth and overlooking the famous ‘Black Isle’, sits The Dalmore distillery. When descendants of the Clan Mackenzie became owners of The Dalmore distillery in 1867, they brought with them the right to use the two pointed Royal stag emblem, which the family had earned back in 1263 by saving the life of King Alexander the III when he was attacked by a stag! Since then, under the watchful eye of Whyte & Mackay, The Dalmore has become one of the most lauded and sought-after Scotch whisky brands globally.

Where Wood is King

The Dalmore style is founded on the perfection of cask maturation, where each expression sees this ageing in both American white oak ex-bourbon casks and their own, exclusive, aged Sherry casks, each hand-selected by The Dalmore’s Master Distiller, Richard Paterson.  Their core range consists of whiskies aged for 12, 15, 18 and 25 years and then, there is a growing number of luxury expressions with no age-statement, such as the King Alexander III and their Cigar Malt. We are also now seeing an impressive range of ultra luxury whiskies come from The Dalmore, such as the 1951 vintage ‘Sirius’ and other vintage whiskies aged in fine wine barrels.

The Dalmore Style

The Dalmore is famous for dark coppery, rich and chocolatey whiskies with notes of dried, tropical fruit, spice and vanilla thanks to its exceptional wood programme. A close, long term relationship with sherry house González Byass that began over 100 years ago has meant that The Dalmore has exclusive access to rare casks, which have previously held exceptional, old sherries such as a 30 year old Matusalem oloroso sherry. It is these sherry casks that add to the quintessential Dalmore style.

Watch us at The Dalmore here

Three Dalmore Whiskies to Try

The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve

Deemed the ideal accompaniment to the finest cigars but equally delicious without, this is a single malt matured in American, white oak ex-bourbon casks, Matusalem oloroso sherry casks and wine barriques that previously held Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s a rich, figgy and creamy malt that’s round and sweet with a hint of mint for freshness from the Cabernet and subtle notes of exotic spice from the sherry cask. The finish is exceptionally long. The current available release is the second iteration of the famed Cigar Malt that was brought back by popular demand!

Size: 70cl
ABV: 44%
Find here: UK £76.85 // US $169.99

The Dalmore 18 Year Old

This whisky is a perfect example of The Dalmore’s trademark, bold house style, with bombastic notes of chocolate orange, vanilla and fruitcake thanks to its maturation time in both bourbon and aged, Matusalem oloroso sherry casks.

Size: 70cl
ABV: 43%
Find here: UK £119.99 // US $199.99

The Dalmore King Alexander III

This ultra premium whisky is named in homage to the king who was saved from a stag by former owners of The Dalmore. It’s a very special whisky blend created by Master Distiller Richard Paterson using a selection of differently aged malts, which between them have been matured in six types of wood including French wine casks, madeira drums, sherry butts, marsala barrels, port pipes and bourbon barrels from Kentucky. As you would expect, this is an incredibly complex, textured whisky packed full of dried fruit and nut flavours, cocoa powder, vanilla pod and spicy oak, all with undertones of red fruit from the wine casks. Let it sit in your glass and experience different flavours in every sip. Delicious!

Size: 70cl
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £159.80 // US $279.99

 Fettercairn

The founder of Fettercairn, Sir Alexander Ramsay, was one of the first Scottish landowners to campaign and apply for an official licence for distillation amidst a sea of illicit distilling. He received the licence in 1824 and opened the Fettercairn distillery. Being no fool, Sir Ramsay employed some of the best illegal distillers in the land to ensure that his legal whiskies were the best around!

The Fettercairn distillery was opened in the small town of the same name that sits under the Grampian foothills in the Howe of Mearns in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It’s a quiet, rural place, where once there was a very special visit from Queen Victoria and her husband Albert, who had a secret stay at the Ramsay Arms just down the road from the distillery.

A Whisky Waterfall

At Fettercairn, there has always been a tradition for doing things a little differently and in the mid-1950s, the distillers here found an innovative way to create a purer expression of their delicious spirit. It was the invention of a cooling ring. They found that if they poured cold water down the side of the copper still, it increased condensation inside, allowing only the lightest vapours to rise and be collected. The result was that even today, they still have a copper tube wrapped around the top of the still to continually pour water down it, thus enhancing the unique, tropical character of the new make and giving Fettercairn its signature, tropical fruitiness.

Watch us at Fettercairn here

Three Fettercairn Whiskies to Try

Fettercairn 12 Year Old

The youngest in the newly revitalised core range from Fettercairn, the 12 Year Old whisky aims to show off the tropical fruit notes and floral character that the distillery is famous for. It was matured in American oak ex-bourbon casks for 12 years which gives it a gentle, ginger spice note and some savoury weight and toffee flavours on the finish. It’s a great place to start your exploration of Fettercairn whisky.

Size: 70cl
ABV: 40%
Find here: £37.94

Fettercairn 22 Year Old

This a is fantastic, mid-age statement whisky for Fettercairn, showcasing the distillery’s tropical fruit characteristics. Matured for 22 years in ex-bourbon casks, you can expect heaps of spiced orange peel, mango and dark cherry jam up front, with dried fruit flavours and savoury kick of liquorice and coffee bean on the finish. Smooth and lingering. 

Size: 70cl
ABV: 47%
Find here: £169.95

Fettercairn 28 Year Old

A stunning, splash-out whisky with serious age on it from Fettercairn’s ‘waterfall’ cooling ring still and matured in ex-bourbon casks. This whisky is a complex blend of the distillery’s characteristic bright tropical fruit character with more savoury notes of toffee, espresso, fruit and nut chocolate. On the finish, a slick of liquorice and ginger spices things up a bit. Exceptional whisky!

Size: 70cl
ABV: 47%
Find here: £500

You can watch us visit all these distilleries in The Three Drinkers do Scotch whisky live on Amazon Prime.

Want some more specific recommendations from these distilleries? Here are Colin’s picks for The Best of Whyte & Mackay: The Dalmore, Jura and Fettercairn.