The Best Whisky From Around the World Under £40

I am frequently asked ‘What is the best whisky to buy?’, and the honest answer is it depends on what you like, and how much you are willing to spend. However, if a tight budget is set there is still a lot of choice out there. I have compiled a list of the 10 best whiskies to have in a home bar from all over the world, and all at under £40. This list will include the best American, Irish, New World whisky, and of course, more than a few from Scotland. There should be something for everyone on this list, and If you drink whisky a fair amount, more than one of these should certainly grace your home bar this year.

Glen Moray Classic

Probably my most written about single malt whisky. It’s a flavour bargain in a bottle. Lots of Speyside sweet orchard fruit, honey and vanilla and for well under the set price. If you’d like to know more, there is plenty of information on our site.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find it here: UK £23.24 // US $29.99

Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Year Old

My well documented all-time favourite whisky. It has a good amount of fruit, sweetness, caramel and a soft whiff of smoke running through it. It can be mixed well in a multitude of cocktails, as well as being sipped over ice, drunk with a little water or even sipped neat. The most versatile whisky in the world. To find out more about the Johnnie Walker range, click here.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find it here: UK £21.99 // US $39.99

Glenfiddich 12 Year Old

This list is turning out to be the GOAT list for whisky! All classic whiskies are sold all over the world, and here we have the world’s most sold single malt Scotch. It’s so fruity with apples and pears with a little honey and fine oak. Hard to beat, and along with the following whisky, the best starter whisky for anyone’s palate.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find it here: UK £33.95 // US $44.99

Glenlivet 12 Year Old

Glenfiddich and Glenlivet 12 year old vie for the top position of best sold single malt in the world all the time. Like Glenfiddich, this whisky has lots of complexity and lots of fruit. The Glenlivet has a slightly richer profile with some dried fruits from more ex-sherry influence, but this is a point of difference rather than extra complexity. Both are brilliant.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find it here: UK £29 // US $47.99

Jura 10 Year Old

 A lesser known distillery, and one of the best introductions to island whisky. Both ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks are used in the production giving lots of complexity with both dried raisins, honey, vanilla and white stone fruits, and a long finish. It is very smooth and easy to drink and makes a great Old Fashioned. There is a subtle layer of smoke underlying all the other flavours showing the east coast influence.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find it here: UK £32.49 // US $38.99

Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon

One of the greatest value Bourbon whiskies in the world. Four Roses is made up from 10 mash bills and four recipes which are blended to create a complex, sweet very easy going and versatile bourbon. The complexity and intensity of flavour lift this bourbon beyond most of its competitors at this price range.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 45%
Find it here: UK £30.95 // US $33.99

Woodford Reserve Kentucky Bourbon

If I had to choose one bourbon to have at home, this would be it. With a mash bill that is corn dominant, but includes rye and malt, it is also triple distilled and placed in the barrels at a lower than usual abv. All this gives smoothness without the loss of flavour and complexity. Great in cocktails and just as good sipped slowly with or without ice.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 43.2%
Find it here: UK £39.49 // US $36.99

Stork Club Straight Rye Whiskey 

Stork Club hails from Germany and is distilled just south of Berlin. Using a mixture of ex-bourbon barrels and German Napoleon oak, this is a bold whisky with a spicy back palate that is perfect for making cocktails, especially a highball. There are flavours of butterscotch and pepper with some citrus, especially on the finish. I’d have this rye whisky on my bar all the time.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 45%
Find it here: £34.78

Nikka Days

A modern Japanese whisky for the modern whisky era. Nikka days is a blended Japanese whisky using all Japanese spirits. There are single malts from Miyagikyo and Yoichi distilleries and there is a delicate smoky influence that balances the malt and fruity flavours. With the rise in popularity and cost of Japanese whisky, this is great value.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find it here: UK £37.95 // US $49.99

Mars Kasei

This is a whisky I know little about except that it is blended using a variety of barrels using Japanese whiskies. However, I do know it tastes brilliant. It has aromas of wildflowers and a touch of smoke leading to a palate full of apples and honey and a little caramel. The finish brings in citrus and vanilla. This is a very good Japanese whisky and would deserve to grace any home.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find it here: £38.60 

Choosing the best whiskies to have at home for under £40 has been a challenge. There are still so many great whiskies to buy coming from all categories of whisky, including whiskies that would normally be thought of as expensive, like single malt Scotch and Japanese whisky. And what is exciting is that there are even more out there to explore in this price range. And if you can occasionally stretch to a little more the choice becomes even harder!

Words by Colin Hampden-White

From Budget to Blow Out: The Best Scotch of 2022

Words by Colin Hampden-White

I know we are only really halfway through the year, however, I have come across some blindingly good whiskies and wanted to share them with you. As with most great things, they are not all easy to find. However, this little selection covers some which are, some which you will have to find at auction or somewhere on the secondary market, and some I am afraid you will never find, but do show how private bottlers of whisky someone owns in cask can be absolutely brilliant. The one thing they all have in common is that they are uncommonly good whiskies! I am starting off with one that can be found fairly easily, and if the second half of this year is as good as the first, my Christmas round-up of 2022 is going to be a belter.

Thompson Bros SRV5 8-year-old Blended Malt

The Thompson Bros are both independent bottlers and distillers. The independent bottling side of their business has been lauded with praise. They manage to find extraordinary expressions of whiskies and sell them for a reasonable price. They had maintained the idea that they would in time have a regular expression they would be able to create with consistency, and this is that expression. The balance of the malts is superb and the resulting whisky is very moreish and easy to drink. The SRV5 stands for Station Road VAT 5, as the whisky is created in a solera vat which is never emptied more than 2/3 for any bottling run. The flavours are complex with green apples and lemon. A little char and grassiness. There is gentle smoke in the background and lots of citrus on the finish. An incredibly affordable blended malt, and if you haven’t got into smoky whisky yet and want a good opener, then this is a good bet.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 48.5%
Find here: £34.95

Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 year old

From the stable of the biggest brand in Scotch Whisky, Johnnie Walker sells more whisky than any other brand globally, which is a testament to the consistency of the whisky they produce. This 15 year old blended malt is one of the greatest value whiskies of all time. It is rich and incredibly well balanced with orchard fruit flavours and a deep maltiness and honey sweetness. With vanilla and toffee ice cream and a touch of spice, this is a great dram.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: UK £37.95 // US $58.99

Glen Moray 18 year old

This has to be the best value 18 year old whisky on the market. It is from their heritage range that gives approachable and easy to drink whiskies. This was matured in first-fill American oak barrels giving lots of vanilla with apricot and honey. There are some dried fruits on the palate and a touch of florality and the finish includes a little spicy ginger and dark honey. It’s an impressive dram for the money.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 47.2%
Find here: UK £62.90 // US $121.19

Fettercairn 16 2nd release

This is the second release of the Fettercairn 16 year old, and it is quite different from the first but is certainly not a lesser whisky. This is very sherried in style, using three different sherry cask types in the maturation: first fill Oloroso, refill Oloroso and first fill Palo Cortada butts. This is a complex whisky which is very impressive. The bottling strength might put off purists, but I think they have got it just right. Smooth, yet spicy and brilliantly balanced, with lots of dried fruits and toasty oak too. This won’t be around for long, so grab it whilst you can.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46.4%
Find here: £64.95

Lagavulin 12 year old Fèis ìle 2022

This is the first bottling under the new distillery manager Jordan Paisley and is very rich for a Lagavulin. It is sweet and spicy with a full body and lots of spice as well as well integrated smoke and oak. It was matured in ex-bourbon casks and finished in virgin American oak casks. One of the other things I liked about this year’s Fèis ìle release is that it came with no outer packaging. Diageo is reducing the number of products that have packaging and that makes environmental sense to me.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 57.7%
Find here: £165

GlenAllachie 2006 Single Cask 3292 Oloroso Sherry Butt

Exclusively bottled for The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival 2022, this is a 15-year-old single cask expression. It has a great colour and the flavours are intense and rich. It was initially matured in an ex-bourbon cask, and then re-racked into a first fill Oloroso puncheon, and left to rest in a very old Sherry butt which had been part of a solera system for 55 years. It’s got lots of spice and Christmas cake characteristics, as well as fine oak, chocolate, and damp tobacco and on the finish, there are fine tannins and touches of sweetness.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 59.4%
Find here: At auction for around £200 - £250

Benromach 40 2022

This 2022 40 year old recently won best in show at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and it was well deserved. Having spent a full maturation in sherry casks the result is complex and elegant. With nutty flavours and cooked orchard fruits, mixed with ginger and chocolate, cedar wood and dark honey with touches of orange zest in the background it’s an absolute delight. There are only 1132 bottles, so be quick when it is released!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 57.6%
Find here: Coming soon 

The Octave Cask Glenglassaugh Whisky for Everyone  

A bit of a leftfield whisky here as it isn’t for sale. It was bottled by my friends Matt and Karen from Whisky for everyone from a quarter cask. Normally I am not too keen on quarter casks as the wood quite often overtakes the spirit and distillery character, giving a rich whisky, but taking away its essence. This whisky has been bottled with near perfect balance. The distillery character is still there, even though the flavours are rich and warming. Expect cooked and dried fruits and manuka honey with soft spices and a touch of umami. If you ever come across a bottle. Enjoy. It was one of my favourites this year.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 56.7%

Royal Lochnagar 1994 26year old Casks of Distinction

This was bottled within Diageo’s Casks of Distinction range and was sold at auction with the proceeds going to the Scottish Ballet Endowment Fund to support the future of scotland’s national dance company. There were only 470 bottles, and occasionally they come up again at auction. Expect to pay upward of £600. The whisky was incredibly elegant and refined with dried apricots and touches of fresh red apple. The spices were soft and there was a layer of honey running throughout the dram. With a little water, floral notes come through and the finish is not dry at all. A satisfying whisky.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 56.3%
Find here: At auction upward of £600

Brora Tryptic

To mark the reopening of the Brora distillery 36 years after it closed, this set of very special bottles is incredibly rare. Selling originally for £30,000 these can usually only be found at auction. The expressions show off three eras of Brora flavour each giving waxy, peated and earthy flavour. The 1972 Elusive Legacy at 42.8% gives an earthy background, the 1977 Age of Peat gives a peaty flavour and the 1982 Timeless Original shows off the typical Brora waxy flavour. In their own ways, each of these whiskies is incredible to taste and is worth savouring. At the time of writing, I could find one of the 300 sets available at retail in the Netherlands.

Size: 1500ml
ABV: 42.8%, 46.8%, 47.5%
Find here: €53,500

Are you interested in investing in whisky? Then why not have a read of How to Invest in Whisky? If you’re looking for more whisky recommendations, this is a great place to start: The World’s Best Value Whisky.

The Power Behind the Crown: The Distilleries Behind Chivas Regal.

Words by Colin Hampden-White

Covid 19 has created some real problems for the world of wines and spirits. With hospitality having been shut down, and with fewer people shopping on the high street, businesses are under a lot of pressure. With the travel ban in the UK only allowing us to travel if we have to, many tourist sites are closed.

The distilleries keep on distilling; however, the distillery shops and visitor centres have been closed. There are some advantages for the whisky lover that this is the case. Distilleries often sell whisky in their distillery shops which cannot be bought anywhere else. This is a sort of reward for those venturing to visit the distillery. These bottles can be very special, ranging from bottles you can fill yourself (hand-fill bottles as they are known) as at Aberfeldy or Glenfiddich, to limited editions such as those created by Lagavulin and Oban. There are also occasionally single cask, cask strength bottles created, and it is a set of those I am particularly excited about.

Every now and again there are single cask, cask strength bottles created by Chivas to show off their single malt distilleries and these are sold in their shop at the Strathilsa distillery. Recently eight bottles have been created and, as we can’t visit the distillery shop to buy them, Chivas have opened their shop to everyone and are selling these unique expressions online.

There are four very different expressions from the Strathisla distillery itself, and four rare expressions from Strathclyde, Braeval, Glenkeith and Longmorn.

Strathisla 13 Year Old 1st Fill Barrel

This is a perfect place to start. Strathisla is at the heart of the Chivas blend, and this cask gives sweet aromas and flavours of honey and vanilla. There are also sweet meadow floral notes and a core of fresh orchard fruits like apple and pear. For a whisky at a high ABV, it is smooth and satisfying and opens up a little with a drop of water. Being non-chill filtered and un-coloured, at £65 this single cask bottle is great value and if you are venturing out into the world of single cask bottles, a great place to start.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 57.1%
Find here: £65

Strathisla 13 Year Old 1st Fill Butt

We then come to another 13 year old Strathisla. This has been matured in a first fill sherry butt which shows perfectly the different flavour a sherry cask gives to spirit in comparison to the ex-bourbon cask and it is only a little higher in ABV at 59%. One can see from the colour alone that this is a very different whisky from the first. This whisky gives up aromas and flavours that are rich and robust with lots of dried fruits like raisins and figs with spices of cinnamon, nutmeg and a touch of cardamom giving balance and interest. The spices continue well into the finish which is very long and dry. At £75 this is a great introduction to sherry cask maturation and when tried with the previous whisky, it is a great education into the differences between ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 59%
Find here: £75 

Strathisla 16 Year Old 1st Fill Barrel

With the third offering, we have a little more age added to maturation in a first fill ex-bourbon barrel at 53.5%. This whisky shows the advantages of age, and has even more vanilla smoothness that the 13 year old. There is extra fruitiness too, with not only orchard fruits but tropical fruits coming into the mix. The honey flavours are a little more complex and the vanilla flavours develop into a creamy vanilla toffee fudge which persists right through to the finish. With extra age there are a few more pounds, but still great value at £85.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 53.5%
Find here: £85

Strathisla 16 Year Old 2nd Fill Butt 

The last of the Strathisla whiskies is another 16 year old expression at 62.6%. Using sherry butts which have been used once before, this high strength dram has lots of power but also has great complexity from the sherry cask. The balance created by using a second fill cask is clearly evident and the wood notes don’t overpower the spirit. There are lots of toasted oak flavours and nuts like hazelnut and oily walnuts. The spices are root spices like ginger and there is a touch of pepper in the background too. These strong flavours are all in harmony and although the ABV is very high, the whisky has a gentle laid-back character. With sherry butts costing nearly ten times the price of an ex-bourbon barrel, this is a steal at £90.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 62.6%
Find here: £90

Strathclyde 12 Year Old 1st Fill Barrel

Blends are of course made up from both malt whisky and grain whisky, and it is a grain whisky Chivas have released in their fifth bottle of the collection. It is from the Strathclyde distillery. It is a 12 year old matured in a first fill ex-bourbon barrel and bottled at 62.2%. This whisky has a delicate body and is very smooth for a youngish grain whisky. For such a high ABV this is quite soft and has a creamy mouthfeel. There are floral and citrus aromas and flavours and touches of clear runny honey which persist all the way to the finish. This whisky gives an idea of the character needed to be the backbone of a great blended whisky. It is delicate enough not to overpower the malts and bold enough to allow the malt whisky flavours to shine. This whisky is only £45 and is a great way to experience grain whisky by itself.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 62.2%
Find here: £45

Braeval 17 Year Old 1st Fill Barrel 

We now move onto more unusual whiskies little seen as single malt. To make up a good blend many single malts are used to give great complexity and harmony. This single malt is Braeval (also known as Braes of Glenlivet). It is a seventeen year old whisky matured in a first fill ex-bourbon barrel and bottled at 56.4%. This whisky has the typical Speyside flavours of apples and pears which are joined by toffee and tropical fruits. These flavours are sweet and the dram has a very moreish quality. A great way to explore the single malts of Speyside further and taste a whisky with a slightly different character. With this whisky rarely seen as a single malt, like the whiskies before it represents good value for a rarity at £95.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 56.4%
Find here: £95

Longmourn 20 Year Old 2nd Fill Butt 

The penultimate whisky is one of my favourite distilleries in Speyside. It is a 20 year old Longmorn matured in a second fill sherry cask and bottled at 55.2%. With such a long time in cask, this whisky is complex and luxurious. The spices are subdued with sweeter flavours persisting. Almonds and toffee mix with sweet pear juice and dark chocolate, and there is a little manuka honey in the background. There is also a touch of ginger in the finish which becomes drier and spicier after a while. This is not a cheap whisky, but then it shouldn’t be, at 20 years old it is £175 and worth every penny.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 55.2%
Find here: £175

Glen Keith 22 Year Old First Fill Barrel

Lastly, we come to a distillery that had a change in its history. Glen Keith closed down in 1999 very soon after this whisky was distilled and was not re-opened until 2013 after a huge refurbishment programme. That makes this 22 year old whisky rather rare, and as the old distillery processes no longer exist we will not see the likes of it again. It was matured in a first fill ex-bourbon barrel and bottled at 49.5%. It is a sweet whisky with a zesty side to it. Honey and vanilla creams mix well with fresh orchard fruits and a little tinned peach and dried apricots. It is very smooth and satisfying and one of the best examples of Glen Keith at around this age I have tasted. It is £165 which I think is very good for a single cask, cask strength rare whisky at 22 years old and bottled by the proprietor.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 49.5%
Find here: £165

Although all these whiskies are great to try by themselves, as a collective they show the breadth of flavours that make up the Chivas blend, and the costs have been kept down by creating 50cl bottles rather than 70cl. And if you can’t buy all eight of them, I’d certainly get one ex-bourbon and one ex-sherry to try side by side, especially if you want to understand the role of a blender in Scotch whisky.

For more whisky goodness check out 5 Epic Chocolate and Whisky Pairings or Around the World in Six Whiskies.

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