The ultimate Christmas whisky guide
Still looking for that ultimate Christmas whisky gift to get for your loved one? Or feeling like getting yourself a little winter treat? Than keep on reading this ultimate Christmas whisky guide for some heart-warming ideas to keep yourself bundled up and snuggly in the icy wintertime ahead.
Buying a bottle for somebody else is hard, especially when you have to guess their preferred flavors. And even buying a new bottle of whisky for yourself can be quite tricky when you want to invest in something that’s quite pricy but you’re not really sure what you’re getting without tasting it beforehand. This is where this gift guide comes in handy. Listed below are our top picks for Christmas/ winter edition drams. Enjoy!
For all the peat lovers out there:
Douglas Laing’s Big Peat Christmas Edition 2017
If it’s not for the Christmas-screaming look of the bottle, you’ll love it for the taste anyway. For this 2017 edition Douglas Laing have blended 7 Islay single malts, including a Port Ellen whisky. Bottled at cask strength this is an absolute peat-bomb, guaranteed to warm your frozen winter toes. All of this at a reasonably priced 50 EUR, roughly 60 USD and around 44 GBP. Although it’s still a blend, you do get top-notch quality without breaking the bank. And for us lesser mortals it might be the closest we'll ever get to a Port Ellen. At this price we believe it makes an excellent gift to any whisky enthusiast!
For those who like it a bit more traditional:
Dalwhinnie Winter's Gold
It’s not only the marketing and look of the bottle that makes this ‘highest Scottish single malt’ so wintery. This since 2015 available Dalwhinnie is said to be distilled only between the months of October and March, giving it an exceptional frosty character. A sweet and overall peppery nose reminiscent of mulled wine. What’s more Christmassy than that? And at 45 EUR (54 USD; 40GBP) this is a very attractive choice for those more interested in a classic and traditional single malt without losing the holiday-feel.
For those who like it a bit more extravagant:
Glenfiddich Winter Storm
With a production of only 8000 bottles worldwide you just know you're getting your hands on something exclusive and you're paying for it too, with prices varying between 250 and 350 EUR when it first came out. You'll probably have to multiply that by 2 or 3 if you want to buy one now. Still, it couldn't be left out this list because this might just be the most exquisite winter/ Christmas marketed whisky ever. Why? This 21 YO Glenfiddich finished for six months in French oak casks previously containing ice wine from Canada. The grapes for this wine are picked at night, and only in freezing temperatures. Ironically it’s said to give this whisky a tropical and fruitlike warmth. Since we have never had the chance to taste a dram of this beauty we can’t account for the taste. We do hope it lives up to its fantastic backstory. This whisky, which is third in the Speyside distillery’s Experimental Series, after the Glenfiddich IPA and Glenfiddich Project XX, might be the best choice for you if all you’re looking for is exclusivity and wow-factor!
For those who like a good old bit of folklore:
Glengoyne Teapot Dram
This bottle by the Glengoyne distillery was created to remember and celebrate an old Scottish tradition at this highland-based distillery. The workers would receive up to three drams of whisky throughout their work day. This immature whisky would be served from a teapot, hence the name. This would get them through the cold and often long and hard work days. A tribute to this long forgotten tradition. Today, as the distillery states itself, it’s “a deliberately young, bold whisky”. Just like it was in times past.
For those who like it a bit offshore:
Mackmyra Vinterdröm
It doesn’t have to be Scottish all the time, does it? A bit of variation and wandering of the beaten track might be good once in a while. Especially when giving somebody a present, it might be nice to gift them something unexpected. This Swedish single malt does the job! Who does Christmas best? On that we can’t decide but we can say that Scandinavian countries do it good. And when we say good, we mean lights-reindeer-and-over-the-top-decorations-everywhere- kind of good. This ‘Vinterdröm’ which loosely translates to ‘winterdream’ was made in collaboration with Plantation Rum. So, basically a wintery dram with a tropical character because of it’s rum cask finish. Making it even more unexpected! Enjoy a Scandinavian-Caribbean Christmas.
We hope you enjoy our Christmas Gift Guide and do leave a comment if you have any other suggestions or tasting notes for any of these. We're always very interested in your input!
