The Only Drop: A One-of-a-Kind Whisky Sculpture

A whisky ‘one of one’ always gets our attention, and when it’s part of a sculpture, well, it’s definitely worth a look. Combining the rich flavours of Scotch whisky with the artistry of sustainable design, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) is about to unveil their masterpiece, "The Only Drop," at the Distillers One of One auction at Sotheby's on October 5, 2023, a full event dedicated to whiskies that will never be repeated.

Teaming up with a team of artists and craftspeople led by STCKMN, James Cropper and Matter Agency, The Only Drop stars the 33-year-old dram as part of a meticulously designed paper pulp sculpture, embedded with shavings from the original casks, reuniting the whisky with the cask it was once within. The lovingly crafted ripple formation is not only beautiful but relates to the unrepeatable pattern of water in nature, with the droplet hinting at the precious whisky within. It's a marriage of craftsmanship, sustainability, and artistry that brings the whisky full circle, reuniting it with its origins.

It's not just the presentation that makes this a special offering either. Born in 1989 at the mysterious Distillery No. 24,, it matured for 30 years in an Oloroso sherry butt, but in 2019, the experts decided to split it into two hogsheads – one Oloroso and one Pedro Ximénez. Three years later, they were reunited to create a one-of-a-kind bottle that will never be replicated.

This decadent and elegant dram combines the dry, nutty flavours of the Oloroso with the dark, treacly notes of the Pedro Ximénez for a Scotch rich in complexity and flavour. ‘But how will the lucky owner taste it?’ you might be thinking. Well, to leave the 700ml bottle as part of the art, a 100ml miniature will be included for sampling, sharing the same charming design with wax neck, foil embellishments and hand-bound stitched copper-foiled paper book documenting the entire journey. What a treasure trove.

And here’s the best part, the proceeds from this great project will support The Youth Action Fund, transforming the lives of disadvantaged young people, helping them develop confidence, resilience, and skills for a brighter future.

The Only Drop also ties into the 40th anniversary of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society so we can expect more exciting ventures on the way, but for now, if you’re lucky enough to be considering a bid at the auction, then make a note of October 5th in Edinburgh to get your hands on a collector’s dream dram.

Exploring The Cocktails and Drinks of James Bond

Despite a pretty hectic lifestyle, James Bond finds the time to enjoy a drink every 11 minutes throughout the films so it’s no secret how fond he is of a tipple. In Casino Royale alone, he consumes 12 different drinks, but it was in the books that 007 focuses even more so on the details of these drinks, saying, “I take a ridiculous pleasure in what I eat and drink. It comes partly from being a bachelor but mostly from a habit of taking a lot of trouble over detail.”

So, if you’re planning a Bond themed party, love the films or you’re just curious, we’ve broken down all of the cocktails and drinks featured throughout the glamourous world of Bond! Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll definitely know some, but others might surprise you so let’s begin with the most iconic cocktail in cinema history…

Vodka Martini

Where else could we start? The first ‘shaken not stirred’ martini is ordered on board Goldfinger’s private jet in 1964’s Goldfinger, where the splash of vermouth and twist of lemon is joined by Smirnoff Red Label, the world’s bestselling vodka. This partnership has persevered right up until the most recent film, No Time To Die (2021). Clear colour, no strong odour – the vodka martini is perfect for a quick, stiff drink whilst keeping a low profile.

Whilst we’re here, if you’ve ever wondered why Bond requests his cocktail shaken, it’s because it aerates the drink, reducing the temperature and diluting the mix slightly. Most mixologists will stir it though.

When it comes to the books however, the vodka martini doesn’t show up until the third novel, Moonraker (1955). So, what was Bond’s preference before this? Well…

Gin Martini

Yep, an initial staple of Ian Flemings novels was a gin martini, served with Gordons gin, Vermouth, and a slice of lemon peel – so not a million miles away. But it was very much Sean Connery in Dr. No ordering the vodka martini, ‘shaken not stirred’ with that signature pronunciation that made this Bond’s drink.

The Vesper

This one stands out a little, because Ian Flemming actually invented it – a man of many talents it seems. In Bond’s own words, it’s, ‘three measures of Gordon’s [gin], one [part] of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shaken very well until it’s ice-cold.” These days, you would replace Kina Lillet with Lillet Blanc. It’s slightly sweeter and more bitter than a gin martini, with those botanicals tapered by the clean vodka.

Champagne

Vodka Martini may stand out as 007’s go to, but it actually seems to be Champagne that he goes for more often, especially in a more relaxed setting. With caviar on the train, late at night with bacon and eggs, at the baccarat table, or washing down a tense dinner, Champagne is probably Bond’s favourite option, with Bollinger featuring in every film since Moonraker (1979).

The first to appear is the Taittinger Blanc de Blanc Brut of 1943, which Bond orders as room service in Casino Royale, before later switching to Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut. Dom Pérignon 1946 accompanies Bond and M for their dinner in Moonraker, Veuve Clicquot Rosé in Diamonds Are Forever (1971) and Thunderball (1965) then Bond seems to find his favourite (that or it’s just a very lucrative product placement deal) with Bollinger. So Bond, perhaps unsurprisingly, has expensive taste. It doesn’t seem like author Ian Fleming had to stretch his imagination too far for this either, as he was a huge fan of bubbly himself, and a letter of his is framed in Maison Taittinger in Reims!

Whisk(e)y

007 absolutely loves a whisky. Scotch, American, his choice varies depending on where in the world his missions take him. More often than not, he mixes them with soda which, for premium whiskies, over dilutes them but there we go!

Isle of Skye favourite Talisker pops up in two Pierce Brosnan era films, a massive boost to the distillery that led to many more discovering the smoky, maritime flavour. In fact, this particular drink plays a bigger role than most, because whilst staring at the glass Bond realises a bomb is about to be detonated.

Jack Daniel’s pops up in GoldenEye (1995) too, at the request of M (Judi Dench) who states that she prefers bourbon to cognac. Jack Daniel’s is more of a Tennessee whiskey than an official Bourbon, but we’re not one to argue with M!

For a proper Bourbon, it’s no surprise that CIA counterpart Felix Leiter is the one providing it. He offers Timothy Dalton’s Bond a glass of Jim Beam in The Living Daylights (1987).

The Daniel Craig era has leaned towards Macallan, with Javier Bardem’s Silva offering him the Macallan 1962 Fine and Rare vintage in Skyfall (2012), a nod to the 50th anniversary of the Bond films. Bond even has the Macallan 18 Year Old in his personal collection which he cracks open during Spectre (2015).

Rum

This one would make a great pub quiz question – What is the first drink Daniel Craig orders as James Bond?

The correct answer is, ‘large Mount Gay and soda’ and not a martini! A sweet and expertly crafted Barbadian rum, we love Mount Gay too and think a splash of soda is a good choice.

Mint Julep

Sat on a Kentucky Racecourse with Goldfinger (1964), Bond enjoys a Mint Julep – bourbon, sugar, mint and a load of ice. This sweet, cooling, boozy mix is an authentic serve in the Southern States so it’s no surprise to see it popping up.

Old Fashioned

More of a favourite in the books than the films, Bond repeatedly returns to this cocktail using ‘Old Grandad Bourbon’ with double measures. With how much he loves whisky, it only makes sense.

Americano

Another pub quiz cracker this. Did you know that the Americano is the first drink James Bond ever orders? In the Casino Royale book (1953), Bond points out how nice it is when dining at an outdoor café. Campari, sweet Vermouth and soda water, which, according to Bond, has to be Perrier. He returns to this cocktail in From Russia With Love (1963) as well as A View To A Kill (1985).

This is by no means an absolutely exhaustive list because, as we established, this is an agent with a serious alcohol intake, so drinks and cocktails pop up everywhere. Nonetheless, like everyone, Bond has his favourites – Martinis, Whiskies, and Champagne.

For more of the most famous cocktails and drinks from TV & Film, go to our breakdown here!

The Maple Syrup Old Fashioned

The Old Fashioned is a cocktail that can be endlessly reinvented, and one version we love is The Maple Syrup twist. It really brings the warm caramel flavours out of the Bourbon for a rich cocktail layered up with those delicately poised herbal and aromatic bitter notes. If you opt for the crispy bacon garnish, then the salty and smoky touch is an obvious winner with Bourbon and maple syrup and adds a wonderful intrigue to the flavour. Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it!

Ingredients
60ml/2 oz whisk(e)y (preferably Bourbon)
7.5ml/0.25 oz maple syrup (or to taste)*
2 dashes angostura bitters
Garnish: 1 orange peel or if you’re feeling fancy a piece of crispy bacon

Method
1.      Take a tumbler and stir together your whisky, bitters, ice, and syrup* - make sure you get your hands on proper maple syrup and not maple flavoured syrup because you will definitely notice the difference!
2.      Strain over large ice cubes, ideally in a rocks glass.
3.      Finish with your garnish. Now, orange peel is the traditional choice and works but if you want to try something different, try a piece of crispy bacon!

You can find other autumnal easy-to-make cocktail recipes all across our website like our Spiced Rum Hot Toddy and Fig Martini! If you want other Old Fashioned variations, go here!

Torabhaig Allt Gleann Batch Strength: Liquid Legacy

Closing the chapter on their Legacy Series are 2,500 beautiful bottles of Torabhaig’s Allt Gleann Batch Strength, each one showing how far this distillery has come since 2017. It's like the grand finale of a captivating novel, leaving us yearning for more.

When Torabhaig began distilling, it was the first new distillery on the iconic Isle of Skye for 190 years, and only the second to focus on Single Malt. After much renovation and experimentation, their signature well-tempered peat style has really taken shape producing robust drams with serious smoke and brine.

This release is, ‘our way of bidding a fond farewell to Allt Gleann’ says Whiskymaker Neil Macleod Mathieson and it’s, ‘the last time we’ll get to see this specific style of Torabhaig, so we set aside a few hundred casks of this expression distilled during the experimental phases of 2017 and 2018 to release at its natural strength’.

That natural strength is a lip-smacking 61.1% with unforgettable punch behind it. Torabhaig's Allt Gleann Batch Strength draws inspiration from the dramatic landscape of crashing waves and salt and seaweed scented air, truly capturing the essence of the Isle.

It’s a confident whisky, with the rugged intensity of the peat smoke and brine blending with the refinement of the floral fragrance. The vanilla-led oaky spice is a comfort from nose to finish, with touches of green apple and subtle grain throughout.

It’s full of the Torabhaig character and complexity that we’ve come to expect, and with the confidence of a distillery that’s been around for far longer than they have too, which has to make us wonder, what’s next for Torabhaig?

You can try and pick up your bottle of Allt Gleann Batch Strength today whilst stocks last from the Torabhaig site where it’s priced at £75.

Ardbeg - The Harpy’s Tale: A Story of Smoke and Sweetness

Ardbeg has never been one for the faint-hearted, and the ambition shown with this unusual hybrid encapsulates that; The Harpy’s Tale (46%), a Single Malt Scotch aged for 13 years in a combination of ex-bourbon and sweet Sauternes casks.

Amongst tough competition, Ardbeg is considered by many whisky connoisseurs to be one of the most peaty, smoky, and complex drams on the island of Islay – a place known for exactly that. Where Ardbeg often stand out however, is with what they dub, ‘the peaty paradox’, something deliciously demonstrated with this release, because alongside all that peaty smoke, Ardbeg are known for nuanced sweetness. With The Harpy’s Tale, this comes from the sweet Sauternes ageing which brings a mouthwatering woody sweetness that works like a dream.

The aroma rising from the beautiful amber huge is noticeably oily, with hints of olive oil, coriander, and sage, before a waft of smoked lemon that appears only for a moment.

True to the nose, the oily softness of the liquid is a delight and carries you straight into that woody, treacle sweetness before the smokier notes begin to win the battle. Think aniseed, smoked apricots, and eucalyptus, as the tussle takes shape and spills over into the lingering aftertaste where it’s joined by a touch of fragrant spice. For a single sip, it’s quite the journey.

Paying homage to this experiment is the charming packaging, based around the Harpy, a half-human half-bird winged hybrid from ancient mythology – it’s the complete package.

Harpy’s Tale is the first in Ardbeg’s new Anthology Collection, with more experimental single malts to come. More specifically, they will feature cask types never used before at the distillery… and if the success with Sauternes can be replicated, then we can’t wait to see what’s next.

You can find this innovative Islay blend on Ardbeg’s website for the RRP of £141.

The Outlander Stars And All Their Boozy Ventures

If you love Outlander and want to get even more of it in your life, then how about exploring the major passion of several stars of the show– their drinks ventures.

Did you know that not one, not two but a remarkable three members of the cast have launched their own booze?

The most well-known is from Sam Heughan (aka Jamie Fraser) himself, with The Sassenach, a slang term used for English people that crops up regularly in the show. Their flagship and original launch was the delicious Sassenach Blended Scotch, naturally. We’ve featured it before because we love it, and so do the judged awarding it Double Gold at the 2020 World Spirits Competition. Sam described it as a, ’lifelong dream’ to have his own dram’ and it tastes like a dream too.

Sam’s successful spirits portfolio has since expanded too, with The Sassenach Wild Scottish Gin bringing 8 Scottish botanicals together to create a wonderfully fresh profile of apples, berries, sweet rhubarb and airy pine and heather. It’s beautifully bottled like the Scotch, as is the spirit that completes the trio -  El Tequileño (and you don’t need to speak Spanish to know what is). From the Scottish Highlands to the Jalisco Highlands, this Reposado tequila brings bold agave flavour and is definitely one for sipping.

Sam’s character Jamie shares a whirlwind romance with time travelling nurse Claire, played by Catriona Balfe who herself is involved in a very interesting gin project. In August 2020, Balfe launched Forget Me Not, a small-batch Scottish-based gin where 25% of the proceeds go towards funding art programmes – a really high percentage for a spirit so hats off. When times are tough, art is one of the first funding groups to be cut despite the joy it brings. Not only does this gin look absolutely stunning and taste even better, but it also helps plug that funding gap.

But we’re not done there. Outlander fans, you’ll know Graham McTavish as War Chieftain Dougal MacKenzie. When he’s not fighting for Clan MacKenzie, Graham is behind The Warchief, his very own 7-year-old bottled-in-bond bourbon (which is US certification guaranteeing certain standards). He said, “It’s a dream of mine from when I was very young in Scotland, when I thought about the journey that I wanted to take in life – going to America, and the opportunities that gave me. This is the distillation of that experience”. Sweet vanilla, caramel, chocolate, and baking spice – classic, characterful bourbon.

With all that passion for booze, it’s no surprise that Sam Heughan and Catriona Balfe reportedly turned up to work a little bit worse for wear on one occasion… and where was that tasting – Graham McTavish’s house of course.

Still, it’s refreshing to see some celebrity drinks that dedicate real time, expertise and passion to the craft and producing an end result well worth trying – bravo.

The Best Whiskies For An Old Fashioned

The definitive cocktail of the dram drinker, The Old Fashioned is so simple using just whisky/whiskey, a sugar cube, a little dash of Angostura bitters and an orange twist.

Like with all recipes so simple though, the base ingredient has to be good quality so you need a whisky that can live up to the headline act billing. There are so many directions you can take the Old Fashioned in using your drink of choice, be it smoky, zesty, spicy, or sweet, so have a read through of these bottles and the effect they’ll have on making a stunning Old Fashioned.

Classic Glen Moray

A complete favourite here at The Three Drinkers with so much flavour for the money. Fresh and sweet Speyside orchard fruits flood the palate, with rich honey and vanilla bringing sweetness and just a touch of lemony zest to keep you on your toes and add subtle refreshment to the cocktail. Such a popular and reliable Scotch and for good reason.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £24.74

Jura 10 Year Old Whisky

We can never praise Jura enough, a really characterful distillery on a tiny Scottish isle that sits at the centre of a resilient community which saved the production years ago and has gone on to completely flourish since. Jura 10 is now a prized inclusion in Jura’s core range, adored for its delicate, fragrant smokiness intertwined with velvety, sweet honied raisin notes and hints of cocoa and vanilla. A decade of maturation in American white oak ex-bourbon barrels, followed by a sherry cask finish, imparts complexity and depth on your Old Fashioned too.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £33.90

Deanston Virgin Oak Single Malt

We loved sipping our way through Deanston on our podcast, and their Virgin Oak Single Malt is perfect for cocktail versatility. Crafted by hand, it matures in ex-bourbon casks from a Kentucky cooperage, then blooms in virgin oak casks, creating a subtly zesty and spiced character that will really bring out the best in the Angostura. Aromas of heather honey, green apples, and citrus zest lead to candied fruits and creamy toffee on the palate, all before a lingering finish with spices and honeyed malt. And let us tell you, this tastes so much older than it actually is so the value here is immense.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46.3%
Find here: £27 (usually more!)

Glenturret 12 Year Old

Glenturret’s 12-year-old is always a stunning dram, and the latest batch is no different. European oak and American oak hogsheads casks boast creamy vanilla, and spiced, dried fruits that create a really appetizing profile in an Old Fashioned. The warmth of the spice here, with that touch of ginger in particular is a dream in the cocktail.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £64.90

GlenAllachie 15 Year Old

A real crowd pleaser and favourite of Billy Walker, GlenAllchie’s 15 year old is masterfully enhanced by sherry casks boasting dark chocolatey fig notes with indulgent mocha, honey and treacle flavours. The spices are sweet, there’s tremendous warmth, there’s smoothness and balance – it’s so complete. A jewel for Old Fashioned enthusiasts.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £66.95

Laphroaig 10 Year Old Whisky

If you’re bored of Old Fashioned’s always ending up the same, then this is the one for you. Not a beginner’s choice, this is a dram that embraces the essence of Islay with quintessential peated single malt delivering serious smoke and a touch of medicinal, seaweed character. A decade of Bourbon cask ageing marries those peat notes with warm spice for a full body that carries a little surprising fruity sweetness and sprinkles of salt. Rich and briny, this will take your cocktail in directions you never expected.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £39.45

Well, now you’ve got the whisky, how about the Old Fashioned? Master the traditional recipe going back centuries here, and experiment with twists too – especially check out the Maple Old Fashioned!

The Best Whisky to Gift For a 21st Birthday!

Throughout our lives there are birthdays which seem to have more meaning than others. The first big birthday arrives at 18, where in most of the world we become of drinking age. However, one would probably argue that our palates at that point in life are not very developed and we are at the stage of experimenting with what we like and dislike (though there are still loveable options for that milestone here!). Three years later is a different matter.

By our 21st birthdays we have probably worked out if we like whisky, and hopefully by that point haven’t had an experience which has put us off for some time. By the time whisky is 21 years old, many feel it is in a sweet spot. It has enough age to have great complexity, and yet not so old to still have verve and vigour. The oak hasn’t had the opportunity to overrun the spirit and the tannins are still supple and not yet dry. I have not yet found a bad 21 year old whisky. There are those that I like more than others, but that is all about personal preference. With such variation in flavour and with so many 21 year old whiskies on the market I think they make an ideal present for a 21st birthday.

Expensive enough to be very special, yet not so expensive to be completely out of reach for most of us. So in no order of preference, although I may point to some of my favourites along the way, I will offer up 16 of the best 21 year old whiskies to buy.

SCOTtish

Dewar’s 21

This 21 year old joins Dewar’s Double Double series which uses double methods of maturing and blending before finishing the whisky in oloroso sherry casks. It is a decadent whisky with dried pineapple, peach, honey and crunchy nut cornflakes. There are tropical fruits which come through the palate and gentle wood spice on the finish. Blended whisky is all about balance and this has great balance yet still character shines through with the dried fruits from the oloroso cask finishing. Just be aware that it might seem too inexpensive to be true, but it is 500ml not 700ml. Still worth every penny.

Size: UK 500ml // US 375ml
ABV: 46%
Find it Here: UK £127.95 // US $49.99

Royal Salute

This is the quintessential 21 year old blended whisky. There are no younger age statements from Royal Salute. It was created in 1953 to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. It honours the 21 gun salute which accompanies royal celebrations. It is a sophisticated whisky, so well balanced with a mix of sweet ex bourbon cask maturation and soft spicy notes from ex sherry casks. It is a masterclass in blended whisky. The fruits are complex with both fresh and dried fruits present and flavours which let you recognise its age. Light furniture polish and dark chocolate with elegant floral notes and orange blossom in the background. This might represent the establishment, but this established whisky feels open to all.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find it Here: UK £136.99 // US $209.99

BenRiach 21

From one great value 21 year old whisky to another! The last of my selection from Speyside and it’s a cracker. This whisky is matured in a complex mix of casks. Ex bourbon, sherry casks, virgin oak casks and Bordeaux red wine casks which deliver huge amounts of fruit seamlessly delivered to the palate. Lots of dried fruit flavours with citrus peel, nuts, dark chocolate and a wisp of smoke in the background. The blending of all these casks has been executed perfectly by Rachel Barrie the master blender for BenRiach, Glenglassaugh and Glendronach, which I will come on to next. As for this, I’d be surprised if it stays at this price for very much longer.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find it Here: £142.35

Tomatin 21

Moving further into the highlands now with Tomatin. This distillery produces whiskies which have lots of tropical fruits in the flavour profile and this expression is no exception. With fresh mango and papaya and dried passion fruit. Having been fully matured in 1st fill ex bourbon casks, the whisky is sweet with honey and vanilla fudge and fine oak to balance the sweetness. A whisky which is extremely easy to drink and if I were gifting a whisky to a first time whisky drinker, this would be the one, and I think they’d be bowled over by it. It is very hard to find in shops as it is distributed in the travel retail market, but there are a few websites which manage to find a few bottles.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find it Here: £149.26

Aberfeldy 21

Some say that Aberfeldy is the real gateway to the highlands. Only a little over an hour from Stirling, the landscape changes dramatically from here on. The hills become higher as you pass with other great names just off the same road like Blair Athol and Edradour, in another 30 mins you are on the highest road in Scotland at the Drumochter pass, aptly named. Having passed Dalwhinnie distillery, the next stop is Speyside. The whisky from Aberfeldy is honied and this is no exception, yet there is a refinement and elegance in the 21 year old, with fine oak, soft spices and fresh and dried fruits. It’s a classic.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find it Here: UK £156.99 // US $199.99

Glen Moray 21 Portwood Finish

Glen Moray is often seen as the best value for money, not just in Speyside, but is Scotland. And this expression is certainly showing this to be true. The quality of the whisky is incredible. Here, they have matured the whisky for most of its life in ex bourbon barrels, but for a few months before bottling they have finished the whisky in Port casks. This finishing gives darker fruit flavours of blueberry and a little strawberry tart among caramel, vanilla shortbread, dark chocolate, and some spicy ginger, this dies away to leave raisins and honey with a little milk chocolate. Complex and fruity, and incredible value for a 21 year old whisky.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46.3%
Find it Here: £157.99

 Jura 21 Time

There are two 21 year old Jura whiskies on the market at the moment, one of them is very coastal and has an ashy style of smoke in its flavour character, and if you like that you can find it easily in quite a few shops and it’s call Tide. Time on the other hand can mostly only be found in global travel retail, so look out for it when you are on holiday abroad. For me it is the far better of the two, but then I like a sweet fruity style of smoke in whisky, and this certainly fulfils that wish. With Turkish delight, oranges and tropical fruits with sweet smoke, it’s a pity it’s harder to find, but when you do it’ll that little bit more special. As it should be for a 21st birthday.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 47.2%
Find it Here: £159.99

Tobermory 21

Onto the islands we go with a trip to Mull, the home of Tobermory. This is a new expression in the Tobermory line up and they have a plan to keep only the 12 year old younger than this. It’s a great addition, having been finished in ex oloroso casks to create flavours of the foraged fruit found on Mull, it really does taste of red berries, nuts and a little salinity, as well as marzipan, toffee, raisins and ginger. It’s not so saline that it is competing with many of the other coastal whiskies for that big saltiness and iodine, this is a gentle dram, but non the less complex for it. If any of these drams were to accompany a summer party in the islands, then this would do the trick.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46.3%
Find it Here: £164.99

Glenfarclas 21

From one of only two family owned and family run distilleries in Scotland, I have started with Glenfarclas for a good reason. - It is about to be discontinued. Fortunately, not forever, they are simply having to lay down stocks for the future to make the age statement more sustainable. Find this if you can at under £200 and it’s going to represent good value. I am pretty sure that in four years time when it arrives back on the market it won’t be under £200. This is an elegant whisky but with that typical sherry cask style Glenfarclas is well known for. Lots of Christmas cake flavours, but still refined. The tannins and rounded and soft, and the dried fruits still present with some juicier fresh fruit too. There are notes of chocolate and fine spice and leather. This is a whisky with lots of finesse and is one of my all-time favourites.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 46%
Find it Here: UK £170 // US $219.99

The Singleton of Dufftown 21

Staying in Speyside and a distillery not known to many. The brand is one of the world’s biggest with different distilleries being used for it in different countries. The brand is The Singleton, and in the UK the 21 year old comes from the Dufftown distillery. Three different cask types are used, Oloroso, Pedro-Ximenez and ex bourbon casks are blended together and married in American oak giving a hugely rich dram with exceptional balance. Rich baked orchard fruits mix with fresh pears and creamy vanilla fudge, with a little soft spice in the background. There are delicate floral notes, white chocolate and white pepper keeping the whisky elegant and showing that although there are youthful elements in the whisky it isn’t in its youth any more.  Perfect for a 21st birthday present.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find it Here: £179.95

Glengoyne 21

Glengoyne is unique. It is classed as a highland distillery yet is in the lowlands as well. It sits right on the Highland Line, and although its stills are in the highlands, the warehousing on the site in in the lowlands, but it is the stills that matter when naming a whisky’s region, so highland it is. And highland it is in character as well. It is a very fruity whisky with plenty of white fruits, both orchard and stone fruit. Yet ex sherry casks are predominantly used in the maturation so there is a refined spiciness as well with tangy molasses and cranberries and cider vinegar. A complex and exciting dram.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 43%
Find it Here: UK £195 // US £239.99

Aultmore 21

Aultmore is a whisky not seen in many shops, but it is certainly worth tracking down, now that we are all traveling again, the best place to find it is in travel retail. There is a balance in this whisky between herbal flavours and fruity flavours which are rarely experienced in other whiskies. The fruits are complex with melons, peaches and pears mingling together with a little tropical dried mango. These fruity flavours are bound together by rosemary flavours and a little note of olive oil. The finish is spicy, with fine oak and cracked black pepper which stays on the palate for a long time.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find it Here: £199

Glendronach 21 Parliament

Glendronach 21 is so called because the collective name for rooks, is Parliament and there is a Parliament of rooks living in the trees by the distillery. Matured in sherry casks, both Oloroso and Predro Ximenez, this whisky is the epitome of a refined sherry matured whisky. It is released by vintage, so there will be tiny variations, but all on the same theme giving plenty of fruit cake flavours, along with lemon zest, dates, coffee, raisins, dark honey, coco nibs, and complex spices. The oak, fruit and spice all mix perfectly with a tiny touch of smoke in the background. If you haven’t tried a sherry matured whisky before, then this is a top notch dram to start with, and if you’re an experienced sherry cask whisky drinker, then you’ll certainly see the quality in Glendronach.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 48%
Find it Here: UK £215 // US $349.99

Royal Brackla 21

Heading into the highlands, the Royal Brackla distillery is found near Inverness on the Cawdor estate of Macbeth fame and unfortunately doesn’t have a visitors centre, which is a great pity. Although it was re-built in the 1960’s like many distilleries, this distillery is beautiful to look at. With a lake in front of the distillery perfectly reflecting its white walls. The whisky is pretty spectacular too. Having been matured in Oloroso, Pedro Ximenez and Palo Cortado casks, this is an indulgent whisky with honey, lots of dried fruits inclusing apricots, raisins and dates. The spices are complex and so well balanced allowing the sweeter flavours to come through. truly worthy of a 21st birthday. Although it may spoil the recipient’s palate and make it harder to stomach the less finer things in life. Royal Brackla is only one of two distilleries which have Royal in the name, and it is definitely worthy of it.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 46%
Find it Here: UK £231.99 // US $691.99

irish

Bushmills 21

I couldn’t write an article about 21 year old whiskies without traveling across the Irish sea. We start in Northern Ireland where there has been a resurgence in a very old brand. It was not long ago that Bushmills had a rebranding and the liquids blended with even greater precision than ever before. There are classic tropical fruits in this 21 year old, which are typical of older Irish whiskies, but also some soft spice from oloroso casks and then also red fruit complexity from finishing in Madeira casks. There are also flavours of toffee, dates, damp tobacco leaves and a hint of mint. An exquisite whiskey.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find it Here: UK £194.99 // US $272.99

Redbreast 21

Finally, my GOAT. Yes, it is this brilliant Irish whisky which is my greatest 21 year old of all time. There will be times I am going to prefer any of the other whiskies from time to time over this one, but the majority of the time if I saw this line up, this is the bottle I would reach for. If my wife hasn’t hidden it. It is also her favourite 21 year old whisky. In fact, Redbreast is her favourite whisky overall, so I have to fight for it! This is a spicy pot still Irish whisky exclusively matured in first-fill Sherry and ex bourbon casks, it is a masterpiece of blending from Billy Leighton with typical tropical Irish whisky flavours with menthol, leather, chocolate and leather. Figs, and a touch of guava hang in the background, and then the finish has dark honey and fine oak.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 46%
Find it Here: UK £230 // US $399.99

There we have it. Now you may say there are some notable absences from this list, and I agree there are some other great 21 year old whiskies from other distilleries and brands, but there are expressions from them at different age statements which I find even more notable, so you’ll likely see them in other listings from me. If I were turning twenty one again, any whiskies in the selection would make me feel special, and for such an important milestone in one’s life, it deserves an important dram.