I remember my eighteenth birthday well. Sandwiched between Christmas and New Year it was spent with family on Royal Deeside. However, I remember my first Burns Night as an eighteen year old with even more fondness. It involved a bottle of Glenlivet 18-year-old and a haggis that by diligently turning a kettle I had commandeered on and off, I managed to (eventually!) cook - the result was surprisingly good but I wouldn’t recommend you try it at home. Although I don’t remember the whisky from my eighteenth birthday, that Burns Night was one to remember, and it made me think about which 18 year old whiskies I’d suggest to anyone for an 18th birthday so here are my suggestions for a memorable day.
Glen Moray 18 Year Old
As the Glen Moray Classic is the best value single malt on the market, the 18 year old has to be one of the best value 18 year olds on the market. Finding an 18 year old these days for under £80 is near impossible, but Glen Moray have managed it. With a beautifully balanced mixture of ex-sherry casks and ex-bourbon casks, there is plenty of complexity, and it is very smooth. So smooth, you’ll need to be careful you don’t finish the bottle too quickly.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 47.2%
Find it here: £73
Bunnahabhain 18 Year Old
Bottled without chill filtering and any colouring, this is a very welcome bottle from a great Islay distillery. With a mixture of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks used there is plenty of rich dried fruit alongside nutty flavours, spice and a touch of salinity. If you’d like a whisky from Islay, but aren’t a fan of smoky whisky, then this is for you.
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 46.3%
Find it here: UK £128 // US $299.99
Glenlivet 18 Year Old
One of the most popular distilleries in the world also makes a great 18 year old, however, there isn’t much of it around as they use so much for their 12 and 15 year old whiskies! The 18 year old is created in batches using both ex-bourbon and ex-sherry there is a great deal of complexity and at 40% it is very smooth. The current batch is nearly sold out, so if you find some I’d buy some as the price is likely to go up! There will be another batch along this year.
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find it here: UK £115 // US $150.99
Highland Park 18 Year Old
Possibly my favourite 18 year old whisky of all time. Supremely complex with a typical salinity unique to highland park, but with sweetness from honey flavours and white fleshy stone fruits. The design changed in 2017 to a design inspired by wood carvings from Urnes Stave church creating a very pretty bottle. This is a rich whisky, and although the deisgn might be new the liquid, thankfully has remained the same and is as good as it always was.
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 43%
Find it here: UK £110.53 // US $139.99
Fettercairn 18 Year Old
If Highland Park is an old favourite of mine, Fettercairn 18 is my new favourite. Created recently with a unique finish in Scottish oak, this 18 year old typifies highland whisky. It’s fruity with lots of orchard fruits and vanilla, but also has a spicy, peppery note on the back palate which continues into the finish, which is particular to Scottish oak, and if not handled carefully can be overdone, however, Fettercairn have got it just right and this whisky is full of both nostalgia and innovation. A welcome expression in an already brilliant Fettercairn line-up.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 46.8%
Find it here: £174.95
Glengoyne 18 Year Old
This highland whisky has been made with both ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, but where it differs from others is the ratio of one to the other. Glengoyne have used a larger proportion of ex-sherry casks than most other 18 year olds giving lots of fruit cake flavours and spice. There’s plenty of depth and breadth and very long finish. The 18 year old takes over from the 17 year old, which was very good, but this is better and perfect for any sherried whisky fan.
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 43%
Find it here: UK £114.95 // US $189.99
Glendronach 18 Year Old
Moving on from an 18 year old with lots of ex-sherry casks used, to one that uses only ex-sherry casks. This is the epitome of a sherry cask whisky, and for me as great if not greater than the great Macallan 18 year old. The batches sell out quickly, and there is precious little left of this batch, so catch it when you can. Expect big spicy flavours and dark chocolate, coffee, rich fruit cake and sweet dried apricots and raisins. A big whisky which stands up to all the hype.
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 43%
Find it here: UK £145 // US $201.99
Johnnie Walker 18 Year Old
18 Year old Scotch whisky isn’t all about single malt. Created by former Johniie Walker Master Blender Jim Beverage, this whisky is considered as one of the best blended 18 year old whiskies ever made. It is rich and very well balanced with spicy flavours and sweet orchard fruits, and honey with a creamy mouth feel and a very long finish. Considering its age, this is very good value and stands up in quality to any single malt.
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find it here: UK £60.99 // US $79.99
There are many 18 year old whiskies around, and most of them are very good, and the above are whiskies I would be proud to open if I were having my 18th birthday again. Sadly, that’s a long time ago now! However, if you are about to pass the legal drinking age, may I suggest splurging out on a great bottle, as It’s a day you’ll never forget, so why not have a whisky to remember too?