The Most Luxurious Whisky in the World

Words by Colin Hampden-White

There are a lot of very expensive bottles of whisky on the market these days. Although nearly all of it is good, as one would expect, there are some that are extraordinary. Over the last few months, I have come across a few of those bottles and wanted to share them with you here. A lot of them may not be on the market, so will have to be found at auction, but they are all worth hunting down if you have quite a lot more to spend on a bottle or have a special occasion when splashing out is appropriate. I’ll start off in the hundreds to give a couple of more affordable bottles but will end up in the thousands. At whatever price point you’re looking at they are all incredible whiskies.

Bushmills 2000 The Causeway Collection

This comes from a collection of vintage Bushmills and is my favourite dram outside of Scotland this year so far. This one was completely matured in first fill ruby Port casks and bottled in 2021. It was also bottled at cask strength with no colouring or chill filtering allowing the whisky to express itself without any hindrance. This is a decadent whiskey with lots of jam on the nose with some dry tobacco and rich manuka honey. The palate has lots of confected red fruits and the jam then turns to marmalade. There are hints of tropical fruit in the background too. The finish is very long, and the red fruits continue with a little cigar and spice in the background.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 54.1%
Find here: £239.95

Whistlepig 13 The Boss Hog edition 2018

My favourite whiskey I’ve tasted in the North Americas this year has been This Boss Hog. It is an annual release from Whistlepig and is very sought after by those who like rye whiskey. This expression has been finished in Calvados casks making the 2018 edition stand out. The core flavour of the whiskey is apples, and the Calvados casks bring out the cooked apple flavours balancing the fresh red apple. Other flavours include Maple syrup, bitter chocolate, and spice. The typical rye peppery and oily aromas and flavours are still there so the rye fans aren’t going to be disappointed, but the fruit is rich and complex making this one of the best Whistlepig whiskies I’ve tried.

Size: UK 750ml // US 700ml  
ABV: 57.9%
Find here: UK £574.95 // US $1,199.99

Caperdonich 30 Secret Speyside Collection

We now come into the world of Scotch, and this is a rare whisky which I think is undervalued considering the distillery no longer exists, so as time goes on there is less and less Caperdonich in the world. This 30 year old is an unpeated Caperdonich and was matured in first fill bourbon casks which I think allow the whisky to show itself at its best. The nose gives of dark stone fruit aromas as well as dark honey and some confected orchard fruits leading to rich apricots and tropical fruits on the palate and some spice. The finish is very smooth and goes on for a long while.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 51.1%
Find here: £820

Balvenie 30

The Balvenie 30 is released in batches. Once one batch has run out, they find some more exceptional casks to blend another batch. The one I tasted recently and is in the link below is from 2014. All the releases are very consistent, and I’ve never tasted one that hasn’t been brilliant. This won best Speyside Single Malt at the World Whisky Awards, and Gold Outstanding at the IWSC in 2013, both of which I am a judge on. It is a rich and very well-balanced whisky with lots of heather honey and nuttiness. There is plenty of spice, which is a Balvenie trait, and the palate shows a hint of smoke as well as vanilla, honey and damp tobacco leaves.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 44.2%
Find here: UK £1800 // US $1999.99

Mosstowie 45 Year Old 1973 Cask 7622

Mosstowie was a whisky produced for a short time at the Miltonduff distillery when it had a Lomond still, so effectively is a ghost whisky never to return. Bottled by Signatory this is a great expression. It has lots of sweet honey and some gorse flower aromas leading to a grassy style of whisky on the palate but still retaining soft stone fruits at its core. The finish is fine with woody notes and a little citrus. A refined whisky which has held its abv well over the 45 years it has spent in a cask. Only 410 bottles of this were produced and when it’s gone it’s gone.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 51.6%
Find here: £1494.99 

Dallas Dhu 50 Year old 1969 (Gordon and MacPhail)

This is possibly the most astonishing whisky I have tasted over the last year. It is incredibly rich and complex, yet the tannin is so well balanced the whisky remains smooth with a great mouth feel and weight to it. The distillery closed in 1983 so Dallas Dhu is becoming rarer and rarer. This expression was matured in a refill sherry hogshead and only yielded 176 bottles when Gordon and MacPhail bottled it in 2019. My tasting notes for this were very long and as I left the whisky in the glass more and more aromas and flavours developed. The main ones being fruit cake with all the complexity that cake as, zesty orange and ginger spice, marzipan and toffee apples mix with a tiny bit of smoke. The tannins slowly build up bringing in wood flavours, and by the finish coffee, chocolate and heather flowers can be found.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43.1%
Find here: £6,913.72

Strathisla 65 Year Old 1953 (Gordon and MacPhail)

Another release from the oldest independent bottler in the world, Gordon and MacPhail. Gordon and MacPhail are well known for releasing very well aged whisky, and with this release they have excelled themselves. Matured in a first fill sherry butt and bottled in 2019 there were only 143 bottled produced. There are lots of dried fruits and sherry aromas and flavours all the way through this whisky with older flavours like antique furniture polish and cloves and pencil box aromas. The palate opens with berry flavours and complex spices and dark chocolate. Fruity coffee, dark berries and oak make up the finish with a little cigar box in the background.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43.5%
Find here: £12,500

Glenfarclas Family Cask Trunk

For any Glenfarclas fan, this is the ultimate collection and at the time of writing of the 60 made I found one left. I wish I could say I have tasted the entire collection from 1954 to 2003, but I haven’t, I have however tasted enough of them to experience the huge range of flavours, from delicate, fruity drams matured in a refill bourbon cask, like 1979 to massive sherry bombs with lots of tannin that are almost black in colour like 1971. Within the collection, there is just about every flavour imaginable, and even touches of smoke in some of the older expressions. The trunk comes with other accoutrements, such as a replica of the oldest painting of the distillery, the original, from 1791 hangs at the distillery, four coasters and three hand-painted leather-bound books which give tasting notes and distillery history. There are also four tumblers and four nosing glasses, and a water jug made by Glencairn Crystal. All in all, a marvellous collection which can be enjoyed over many World Whisky Days to come.

Size: 10000ml
ABV: 50.5%
Find here: £105,000

If you enjoyed this but are looking for an exceptional dram at a lower price point, have a read of The World’s Best Whisky or New and Exciting Whiskies to Try.

The World's Best Value Whisky

Words by Colin Hampden-White

With so many whiskies being released each year it is hard to tell which are the ones that really punch above their price point. With the explosion of non-age statement expressions over the last ten years, the value proposition of whisky has never been better. Whisky fans the world over have come to realise that quality and flavour aren’t always about age.

There are of course countries where the whisky matures so quickly, that to have one which is older than the statutory three years is quite an accomplishment. I am thinking in particular about Paul John in India and Rochfort in Australia. Both are fabulous whiskies and I will write more on them later. This article is all about finding that incredible quality at a great price point. I’ve chosen six of my favourites, other people I am sure could add to this list, but I don’t think you’d go wrong if you picked up one of these in the shops.

Glen Moray Classic

Now, I accept this 1.75l bottle is not easy to find as you have to go to the distillery in Elgin to buy it, although some shops have stocked the odd one having first bought it at the distillery.

Once you take into consideration the size of the bottle, this works out at just £20 per standard 700ml, and it is amazing value. Full of orchard fruits, vanilla and honey, this is a classic Speyside. They say that with the microclimate at the distillery where the warehouses are, the whisky matures that little bit quicker than the rest of Speyside, which means this non-age statement whisky certainly tastes mature. This is a great gateway whisky into all things Glen Moray, and if you liked this I’d try the 12 and 18 year olds which are great value for their age.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £21.85 // $34.99
Large sized bottle: 1750ml // £50

Filey Bay

This is the flagship expression from Filey Bay. Distilled in Yorkshire, this whisky is made using only homegrown barely at the Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery. The whisky has intense apricot and peach flavours mixed with lots of ex bourbon-cask characteristics of vanilla and honey. This is very easy going for 46% and is one of the new breeds of English whiskies which are full of flavour.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £48.95 

Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon

This is a big step up from the standard Four Roses, and is well worth spending the extra on. It has a mixture of mashbills and is made in Lawrenceburg Tennessee. The skill is bringing all the different mashbills together and creating a whiskey with huge amounts of well balanced flavour. There are ten mashbill recipes at Four roses, and they use four of them to make this whiskey. It’s fabulous value for money with flavours of dark honey, spices, toasted oak and a little vanilla.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 45%
Find here: UK £29.90 // US $47.99

Wild Turkey 101

The 101 in Wild Turkey pertains to its alcohol strength. In the USA they have Proof rather than abv which is double whatever the European abv is. Hence 55.% abv and 101 proof. With the higher proof, this whiskey packs a punch, yet manages to remain smooth and balanced. The whiskey is at least six years old before it comes out of the barrel for bottling, adding to the extra punch of flavour. A great value bourbon with good age.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 55.5%
Find here: UK £29.95 // US £32.99

Nikka Coffey Malt Whisky

Over the last decade, we have seen the rise and rise of Japanese whisky, and we have also seen the prices rise at an astonishing rate. A less expensive way of making whisky which is usually reserved for making grain whisky is to use a Coffey still which has a continuous distillation. Here Nikka use a Coffey for their malted barley and the result is a rich, fruity and typically Japanese whisky and is a great place to start a journey into Japanese whisky. It’s still not the cheapest malt whisky in the world, but it isn’t expensive for Japanese whisky and is certainly worth it.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 45%
Find here: UK £54.90 // US $99.99

J.P Wiser 18 year old

I tried this whisky a few weeks ago whilst in Ontario Canada where the whisky has been made since 1857 and started selling bottles in 1893. They sold only casks before that! It is a super smooth blended whisky with plenty of orchard fruits and a little cracked black pepper. A little fine oak comes through in the background and finish. If this were an 18 year old Scotch it would be at least 50% more expensive and therefore I think it is a great bang for your buck!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £40.95

If you enjoyed this, then why not have a read of The Best Whisky for Beginners or The Most Luxurious Whisky in the World

The Best Whiskies For Beginners

Words by Colin Hampden-White

To begin to suggest great whiskies for beginners, I have presumed that the drinker has already determined that they like whisky. I believe that for those who don’t already know they do, or don’t yet like whisky, that there is a whisky out there for them- maybe they will find it by enjoying it neat, maybe they will discover their love for the spirit through a cocktail but that’s for another article. In this piece I am going to suggest a whisky which I think is good value in its category versus the quality it gives and will suggest whiskies in flavour types rather than regions or countries as In these modern whisky times, nearly all regions are creating whiskies of all flavour types.

Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky  

My first offering in the sweet flavour camp. Made from grain whisky, which although is less complex than malt, has great depth of flavour and this whisky certainly displays this. By using 1st fill bourbon casks, and then after a few years placing the whisky into another set of 1st fill bourbon casks, the spirit gets a double hit of rich crème brûlée sweetness.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £21.95

Glenfiddich and Glenlivet

Moving on from sweet to fruity I have two typical Scotch whiskies. They both compete for the world’s most sold single malt and with good reason. These are fabulous whiskies. Great value for money and often seen on special offer, especially around Christmas. They both come from Speyside and use a mixture of ex-sherry and ex-bourbon casks. They are both 12 years old but have different fruits to offer. Glenfiddich is orchard fruit led and Glenlivet is more stone fruit led. Both are delicious.

Glenfiddich 12 year old
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £32.99 // US $64.99 

The Glenlivet 12 year old
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £33.49 // US $56.99

GlenDronach 12 year old

Now we move to some of the bigger bolder flavours. Firstly, spicy and I wanted to suggest a sherry bomb. This is a whisky which has been matured in mainly 1st fill ex-sherry casks giving huge depth and breadth of flavour with lots of Christmas cake flavours and typical spicy flavours like cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. Balanced with sweetness, this whisky is big and bold. Whiskies matured in ex-sherry casks tend to be a little more expensive as the casks can be up to ten times more expensive than ex-bourbon casks, but they are certainly worth it if sherry spice is your thing.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £44.95 // US $63.99

Ardbeg An Oa

One of the biggest flavours of them all is peat. Smokey whiskies can split a room, but for those that like them there is nothing like a big smoky, peaty whisky. For those who know they like smoke in their whisky but are just starting out. Or for those who are just starting to experiment with smoky whisky, I’d suggest one which has a lot of other flavour to temper the smoke. This whisky has a high level of peat, but the fruity flavours created by the many different types of casks used brings everything into balance. There are flavours of golden syrup and cigars with hints of chocolate as well as a good dollop of sweet bbq smoke.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 46.6%
Find here: UK £41.90 // US $76.99 

Strathmill 12 year old – Flora and Fauna

The lightest of the flavour profiles is floral. This profile can often be subtle as other bigger bolder flavours mask the floral notes. Sometimes a little water in a dram can bring out the florality in a whisky. This whisky comes from a range called Flora and Fauna, which gives you an idea of where it is heading. This Flora and Fauna range is discontinued but can still be found online at the moment quite easily. With notes of grass, citrus blossom, dry hay and cut herbs alongside vanilla and orchard fruits, the floral notes can easily be tasted.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: £44.95

Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 year old

I wanted to suggest a whisky which has all of the above in one bottle. It is of course a blend. I like to describe blends as an orchestra, with all the instruments playing at once giving balance and harmony. This whisky has a little sweetness and spice, some smoke, plenty of fruit, and a touch of florality. Being 12 years old means that the youngest whisky in the bottle is 12 years old but there are older whiskies in the blend. A great all-rounder and superb value for money.

Size: 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £26.89 // US $51.99

Jameson

Lastly, I am going to suggest a whisky which I think is the ultimate beginners whisky. It is very smooth being triple distilled, it is sweet and fruity and has none of the challenging flavours such as spice or smoke. It is the biggest selling Irish brand in the world and with good reason. With honey, apples, a touch of tropical fruit and a touch of florality, this is my best value versus flavour offering for any beginner.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £21.95 // US $37.99

 For more whisky suggestions, why not have a read of The Best Irish Whiskey or 5 Epic Whisky and Chocolate Pairings?

New and Exciting Whiskies to Try

Words by Colin Hampden-White

There seems to be a new whisky release every few weeks these days. This can largely be attributed to the myriad of distilleries that started to distill a few years ago that now have spirit they can call whisk(e)y due to it having spent at least three years maturing in a barrel. I have tasted a great deal of them, and there are certainly whiskies which stand out in the crowd. Unsurprisingly, some of these come from outside of Scotland, but not all, and there is a particular whisky from the other side of the world which is already good and will get better and better with age. I’ll start off my recommendations in my home country and then range further afield giving my picks of whisky that is well worth discovering.

Nc’nean Organic Single Malt Whisky Batch 14

I have written about Nc’nean before with previous batches, and the consistency keeps on going. The batches are all very consistent and very good. The whisky is rich and fruity by using both wine and ex bourbon STR casks (shaved, toasted, re-chared). Added to that they are using 100% recycled bottles. A great start from one of Scotland’s newest distilleries.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £46.45

Isle of Raasay Batch R-02 Hebridean Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Continuing from the first whiskies produced by the Isle of Raasay distillery is a brilliant second batch. In the same tradition as the first, using peated and non-peated whisky, in various types of oak including American Oak Chinkapin and ex port pipes, this gives lots of red fruit flavours and rich honey with a soft bbq smoke running through the background. Even having been bottled at a slightly higher strength than most whiskies, it is still extremely smooth.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46.4%
Find here: £48

White Peak 2 year old (That Boutiqu-ey Malt Company)

I visited White Peak for the first time for the launch of their new whisky called Wire Works. The whisky is seriously impressive with big bold flavours using STR casks. The balance and depth of the whisky is akin to drams a great deal older, and had I tasted this whisky blind I would never have guessed it was little over three years old. There were only tiny amounts of the first release, so look out for further releases, but for now to get an idea of how good this whisky is, the chaps at That Boutiqu-ey Malt Company have bottled an excellent spirit from White Peak. It’s called spirit as it’s only two years old, but excellent all the same!

Size: 500ml
ABV: 50%
Find here: £49.95

Masthouse Single Malt

Masthouse Malt comes from one of the most southerly distilleries in England. Down in Kent, right on the coast, the Copper Rivet distillery is specialising in local barley malted in Kent from the Isle of Sheppey. The result is a fruity and complex whisky which has great balance. It manages to be mature and ready to drink whilst retaining its distillery and spirit character. It’s no mean feat, and a whisky I would certainly try if you’re after something new and exciting.

Size: 500ml
ABV: 45%
Find here: £39.95

Aber Falls Autumn 2021 release

Moving away from England we have only the second distillery to be built in Wales. At the foot of Snowdonia, Aber Falls is on the coast in a beautiful area that is well worth a trek to. They work with local farmers for their barley, so the whisky truly is from Wales. Using ex Pedro Ximénez, oloroso, bourbon casks and virgin oak casks, there are bountiful fruit flavours and a subtle underlying spice in this whisky. The whisky has lots of complexity with nuts and dark chocolate with coffee, zesty orange peel and vanilla toffee.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £26

The Cardrona Growing Wings Solera – Sherry and Bourbon Cask

Hailing from the other side of the world in New Zealand is Cardrona. Their first batch “Just Hatched” was a huge success, and this next one is even more complex and fruity. Bottled at a huge 64.9%, it certainly packs a punch, but not so much as to blow your head off. It is surprisingly gentle on the nose and full of flavour. The wood and climate have certainly worked their magic. It’s an exotic whisky, and although quite pricy in comparison to other young whiskies, it is made in tiny amounts and is a real treat.

Size: 350ml
ABV: 64.9%
Find here: £73.99

Do you like Irish whiskey? If so, why not have a read of The Best Irish Whiskeys, or if you are a fan of an Old Fashioned Cocktail, how about checking out The Best Whiskies for an Old Fashioned?!

5 Epic Whisky and Chocolate Pairings

By Helena Nicklin

Whisky and chocolate is a match you might not immediately think of but once you try it, you will never go back! The warming alcohol cleanses the palate perfectly while the individual notes of each whisky, be it dried fruit, tar, seaweed or citrus, perfectly complement many types of chocolate, especially the really good, hand-made stuff. Here are some basic whisky and chocolate pairings that have been tried and tested, then tried and tested all over again - just for you, of course.

How to taste whisky with chocolate

The best way to get the most out of your whisky and chocolate pairing is to take a sip of whisky first and let the flavour expand in your mouth. Swallow and then take a small bit of chocolate, allowing it to melt slowly on your tongue, its flavours gradually mingling with those of the whisky. Follow up with another small sip and enjoy. Tip: Use high-quality chocolate where you can to make the most of the flavour matches. 

Five Epic Whisky and Chocolate Pairings 

MILK CHOCOLATE WITH FRUIT & NUT

Whisky style: Light, floral and fruity.

Fruity whiskies, especially lighter, aromatic ones with notes of orchard fruit, love nuts, be they hazelnut, almond or pecan. Neither the milk chocolate nor the whisky will overpower each other and the fruit and nut flavours combine to make an irresistible, elegant pairing. 

Try: Aberfeldy 12 year old
ABV: 46%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £42.50 // US $44.99

SALTED CARAMEL

Whisky style: Saline, maritime and complex.

Salted caramel everything has taken the world by storm these past few years and a complex, saline whisky with a subtle umami note will send your tastebuds bonkers with the juxtaposition of sweet caramel and salty flavours.

Try: Ardbeg Corryvreckan
ABV: 57.1%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £74.75 // US $139.99

DARK CHOCOLATE WITH DRIED FRUIT

Whisky style: Dark, rich and fruit-cakey.

If you’re into darker versions of fruit and nut, maybe even with the odd dried cherry, try an age statement whisky that’s seen a few different barrels including sherry casks. These whiskies are often described as tasting of ‘Christmas cake’. They’re a match made in heaven with so many flavours to play with. 

Try: The Dalmore 12 Year Old
ABV: 40%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £60.50 // US $76.99

ORANGE CHOCOLATE

Whisky style: Smooth, toffee and orange citrusy.

High quality orange chocolate begs for an equally smooth partner with bold notes of orange citrus fruit, honey and vanilla spice to elevate its flavours. Find a Bourbon with a splash of rye in the mash bill for pure indulgence and a spicy kick that will have you coming back for more.

Try: Woodford Reserve, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
ABV: 43.2%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £27 // US $31.98

DARK MINT CHOCOLATE

Whisky style: Peated, medicinal and smoky.

Medicinal, peaty whiskies, such as those found on Islay can knock you for six with their power. Pairing them with a peppermint flavoured dark chocolate, however, creates a refreshing kind of menthol alchemy. It’s the perfect way to end a meal and will leave a memorable impression.

Try: Lagavulin 16 Year Old
ABV: 43%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £79.50 // US $119.99

Still looking for some chocolate-y goodness? Why not check out these Delicious Chocolate-themed Alcoholic Drinks?

*Prices last updated in March 2024.

J.G. Thomson, the new team in town

Words by Colin Hampden-White

There are plenty of spirits companies out there not only producing whisky but gins and vodkas as well. They usually make these white spirits to keep the company afloat until the whisky is ready. There are also very large companies that produce both white and dark spirits by the nature of the size of their business, and they are very good. However, it is not often a company comes along whose business model is to make a range of spirits by blending and creating rather than purely distilling.

The spirits I am talking about are created in Edinburgh by J.G Thomson, they are made in batches and include gin, rum, and whisky. As a whisky lover, naturally, I wanted to try the whiskies and was delighted to find that they have made whiskies that are easy to understand. Before regionality is talked about at all, it is the flavour that headlines the label.

I had bottles of Sweet, Rich, and Smoky. They were all blended malts with the smoky all coming from Islay. They all tasted as the label described, but there was more to them than that simple label. One could tell these had been created with care and attention. The flavours were complex and incredibly well balanced, which has already borne them fruit with several accolades, including a Masters Medal at the spirits awards for Rich, and several gold medals.

To gain medals these days, whiskies need to stand out from the crowd, as well as being balanced and complex, they need something extra, and these whiskies have that extra pizzazz. My favourite was the Rich, which when visiting good friend Charles McLean recently, I got to try again at leisure with more than a small sample, and it reaffirmed my first thoughts, and Charles too was suitably impressed. But don’t just take our word for it. Try them for yourselves and find out which flavour you enjoy most.

J.G. Thomson Sweet  

Using whiskies matured in new toasted and heavily toasted casks, and a mix of medium and heavy chars, with even more toasting on the cask heads, gives lots of sweet flavours of toffee and custard and maple syrup balanced with orchard fruits and a little spice. There is a little marzipan and spice on the finish too. If it’s a sweet whisky you are after, then this should hit the mark.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £42.50

J.G. Thomson Rich

This expression used ex bourbon casks as well as Oloroso sherry and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks all in varying sizes from quarter casks up to sherry butts. The flavours are certainly rich with lots of dried fruits including figs and apricot with a little citrus zest and spice. The spices are complex with ginger and nutmeg and a little chilli heat on the finish. A touch of honey comes through right at the end. A real fireside sipper.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £42.50

J.G. Thomson Smoky

This final whisky of the trilogy I tried was made with casks all from Islay and matured in ex-bourbon casks as well as Pedro Ximénez casks. There is certainly a good amount of smoke in the flavour of this whisky, but it isn’t a smoke bomb. There are lots of sweet flavours from the PX casks giving balance making this very approachable. It has a little bit of everything with sweet, rich smoky flavours and some spice too. If you like a decent dollop of smoke, then this will set you alight.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £42.50

talk RADIO: Irish Drinks for St Patrick's Day!

Happy St Patrick’s Day! And what an important one it is for us at 3DHQ as we launch our second global TV series on Amazon Prime: The Three Drinkers in Ireland! Whoop Whoop!

To celebrate the launch, Aidy and I are raising a few glasses with Mike Graham at talkRADIO taking in some fabulous Irish tipples:

The Irish Mule

This super simple highball cocktail is a take on the famous version made with vodka and features just three ingredients. Simply fill a highball glass with ice, pour over the whisky and lime, then stir. Top up with ginger beer and garnish with mint.

50ml Irish Whiskey (We’re tasting Slane triple Casked Irish Whiskey)
25ml Fresh lime juice
Ginger beer to taste
A sprig of mint to garnish.

Find Slane Irish Whiskey at Master of Malt for £20.95 in a flash sale, or Waitrose, Amazon, Ocado and more for circa £30

Irish Gin & Tonic

Where there is whiskey produced, you will often also find gin or vodka and there are some stunning gins coming out of Ireland these days. Try this unique Donegal gin, aged in Spanish red wine cakes, which give it a red berry burst of flavour and a pink tint.

25ml Irish Gin (We’re tasting An Dúlamán, Santa Ana, Navy strength gin from Slaibh League Distillers)
Indian Tonic to taste.
Garnish with freeze dried red berries.

Find Santa Ana Gin at Amazon, Master of Malt for circa £45

Chocolate Baileys

This Irish Cream needs no introduction and their chocolate version is even more indulgent than the original! If you’re a fan of double chocolate magnums, think of that melted in a glass - with booze. 

Find it at Tesco for £18

Poìtin

This is literally ’the mother of all whiskeys’ a spirit that used to be distilled from just about anything - sugar beet, potato.. Made illicitly all over Ireland and akin to an Irish Moonshine. It was lethal! Since 1997, production has been regulated and here’s one that is actually rather lovely. It’s made by Killowen Distillery in Northern Ireland and is peachy and aromatic with spicy notes.

Find it at Killowendistillery.com for £34.50

To watch The Three Drinkers in Ireland head over to Amazon Prime Video in your country now!

The Best Irish Whiskey

Words by Colin Hampden-White

Not only did Ireland beat the English at the weekend, but my Celtic cousins have one of their most important national days this week. St Patrick’s Day is not only important in Ireland, but also celebrated across the globe, and not only by the Irish. It gives us all a great excuse (not that we really need one), to find our favourite bottles of Irish whiskey, pop those corks, twist those caps and pour some of the delicious whiskey and celebrate with them.

Irish whiskey is now certainly out of the doldrums. It wasn’t very long ago that there were only two distilleries in Ireland, Bushmills and Midleton, until in 1987 when Cooley come along, and now the storey is entirely different. There are now over 35 distilleries up and running with more in the pipeline. When in the past, I wouldn’t have had to look long at my bottle shelf to find that favourite bottle of Irish whiskey, this St Patrick’s Day, it’s going to take a lot longer. And there’s likely to be more than one or two bottles sampled!

I’ve put together my most enjoyable bottles. Some are old favourites, some are very new, all I know is that they are all delicious, and would make St Patrick proud.

Redbreast 12

I have no idea how many times I’ve written about this whiskey. It is an all-time great and having just spoken to Billy Leighton, their master blender, it’s not going anywhere soon. With a perfect balance of ex Bourbon and ex Sherry cask matured whiskey, this is my ultimate pot still Irish whiskey.

ABV: 40%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £43.50 // US $68.99

Midleton very rare 2021

I have tried many of the Very Rare series from Midleton and haven’t had a weak vintage release yet. First started in 1984, as the years roll on the whiskey placed in the bottle gets older and older and this 21 year old release has whiskies well over 30 years old inside. I tried this last year and was blown away. A real treat.

ABV: 40%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £338.99 // US $349.99

Bushmills 10 year old

Another classic on the Irish whiskey scene. Bushmills 10 is a fruit forward, vanilla hugging, spicey dram of loveliness. Easy to drink and can be paired with so many different foods, this is a whiskey I shall always have on my shelf. If you want a typical Irish triple distilled whiskey, then this is one for you.

ABV: 40%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £31.80 // US $85.99

Waterford The Cuvée

Waterford are known for having terroir driven whiskies. Using old grain varieties distilled from single farms giving unique flavours from each farm. However, they also created a blend of single malt whisky. I know that is a bit of an oxymoron, but they took the whisky distilled from different farms and blended them together. Of course, each whisky in the blend was distilled at Waterford, and therefore still a single malt. The result is a beautifully balanced Irish whisky at a powerful 50% abv which is now a firm favourite of mine.

ABV: 50%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £69.95

Jameson

The all time best selling Irish whiskey in the world. And for a very good reason. It is simply brilliant. Smooth and fruity with a price tag that won’t break the bank. It is as happy in a glass with ice, mixed with coke or in a cocktail as well as simply by itself enjoyed by a warming fire. This is not just a safe bet if you can’t think of anything else this St. Patrick’s day. It’s a sure bet.

ABV: 40%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £21.95 // US $32.99

Roe & Co

I have to admit to being bias about Roe and Coe. It’s distilled by one of my best friends, which gives me all the more reason to love it. Lora Hemy has done a magnificent job creating one of Ireland’s newest whiskies, and this isn’t going to be a flash in the pan. With innovation at the fore, Roe & Coe is going to be an exciting dram to have now and on future St Patrick days.

ABV: 45%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £29.83 // US $32.99

Kilbeggan

One of the oldest sites of known distillation in Ireland, this reborn distillery is lovely and honied and malty. However unusually for an Irish whiskey, it has a little smoke in the background, which is well balanced and gives depth. Something a little different, but one I like very much and I’m sure you will too especially if you don’t like it too smoky.

ABV: 40%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £21.64 // US $36.99

Slane Special Edition

In homage to the music festival at Slane Castle, Slane Whiskey has created this special edition. The festival was started in 1981 with the first headline band being Thin Lizzie, an Irish band known for their song “Whiskey in the jar”. This whiskey has been created with increased use of virgin oak and a mix of both ex bourbon and ex sherry casks. With a higher-than-normal abv of 45%, this turns the flavour volume up to 11!

ABV: 45%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £35.95

Muff Liquor Company Irish Potato Vodka

I know this isn’t a whiskey, but I do know there is the odd person out there who doesn’t enjoy whiskey but would nevertheless want to enjoy a spirit on St Patrick’s day and this vodka is a cracker. Flavoursome by itself and brilliant in a cocktail, and no self respecting whiskey drinker would shy away from having a crack and chinking a glass with you on Thursday and exclaiming, “Slainte”!

ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £35.95

I hope that whets your appetites for Thursday, which for this year will definitely be the new Friday for me, and I hope to be raising a glass to you all this St Patrick’s Day.

Did you know the new The Three Drinkers in Ireland series will be live on Amazon Prime from 17th March? You can find the trailer and more information here.