These are the best whiskies to gift this Christmas
From a future collectible by Glenmorangie to a cocktail-ready bourbon by Buffalo Trace, these are the perfect presents for enthusiasts of the strong stuff...
Christmas is a time of high spirits; spiced sloe gins; and brandy-soaked puddings. But, in this boozy parade of present-giving, one bottle remains prized above all others, and it’s filled to its festive brim with single-malt scotch. Because whisky was made for winter. It’s dark, decadent, and perfect for everything from warming your cockles to toasting the new year ahead.
And the choice! There really is something for every drinker, however discerning they may be. If they prefer it peaty, Islay’s the ticket. If they like it lighter, scoot over to Speyside. There are even excellent bottlings to be found further afield, such as the slightly sweeter bourbons and ryes of north America. Here, we’ve rounded up a bevy of the best to wrap, ribbon, and pop under the tree.
Glenfiddich 21 Year Old Gran Reserva Rum Cask Finish
A classic to kick things off (and the first of four ‘Glens’ to make our list). Glenfiddich has been creating its Reserva Rum Cask Finish for over two decades (albeit under different names), and the spirit has a four-month stint in Cuban rum casks to thank for its notes of leather, toffee and oaky smoke. If you’re lucky enough to be offered a sip after it’s been unwrapped, try to identify elusive aromas of lime and banana. Mysterious and moreish, no wonder it’s the pride of Speyside.
Bladnoch Alinta Single Malt
As with many of the whiskies on this list, our chosen bottle from Bladnoch comes displayed in a handsome box, making it the perfect present for Christmas. The spirit itself is also suitably seasonal, with such intense smoky, fiery flavours in every drop that a dram feels like a blazing hearth in a glass. The Lowland distillery also ages its Alinta expression (an indigenous Australian word for ‘flames’) in first-fill Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, which affords it notes of raisins, almonds and sweet white chocolate.
Glen Scotia Victoriana
A curious choice next, and one ideal for any self-confessed whisky buffs you have to buy for. Not only does Glen Scotia’s Victoriana hail from Campbeltown, where the world-beating distillery has been producing spirits since 1832, but it also holds historical significance in every sip. With a heavy char profile, dark-berry juiciness and concentrated woody flavours, it was developed and distilled to evoke the Campbeltown whiskies of old, making it something of a time capsule in the label's lineup. A ghost of Christmas past – and a great gift.
Aberlour A'Bunadh Alba Single Malt Scotch
Another bottle overflowing with heritage. Aberlour’s original A’Bunadh launched in 1998, but the more recent Alba variation offers a smoother spin on the signature style, curbing its dramatic spice with a rounded, honeyed profile and accents of rich red apples and creamy vanilla. But, there’s still bite behind those soft flavours and, at cask strength (57.1 per cent), the Speyside distillery’s dark horse will still make for an impactful gift.
Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon
Our first festive foray outside Scotland. Woodford Reserve has been distilled, for decades, in Versailles, Kentucky, and its liquids are just as decadent as their address suggests. This Double Oaked Bourbon may not be the priciest of Woodford’s expressions (we’d recommend one of the brand’s Batch Proof releases, or its Five-Malt Stouted Mash if you’re really pushing the sleigh out), but its aromas of marzipan, chocolate and winter spices make it suited for the festivities (and its pleasingly portly bottle will look a treat on the mantle).
Glenmorangie A Tale of Tokyo
Back to Scotland, by way of Japan. A Tale of Tokyo is the fourth in Glenmorangie’s most idiosyncratic series of scotches (previous editions have told tales of the forest, winter and, somewhat unexpectedly, cake). This one pays tribute to the Japanese capital by maturing Glenmorangie’s malt in rare Mizunara oak casks. It’s a distinct, coconut-scented wood that imbues notes of white pepper and sandalwood into the whisky. Throw in the cherry and chocolate notes of the pre-aged spirit – and some quirky cartoon packaging – and you’ve got the chance to make a collector’s dreams come true.
Macallan 15 Year Old Double Cask
There’s a time and a place for innovation. And, while Glenmorangie’s Tokyo-inspired tipple may offer a more eccentric gift option, the classics are always appreciated at Christmas. Think the customary pair of slippers, or time-honoured aftershaves. Few gifts, then, are as traditional (or reliable) as Macallan’s trusty 15 Year Old Double Cask. Splitting its maturation time between two types of sherry-seasoned oak casks, this single-malt mainstay balances baked apple and caramel with warming ginger. For fathers-in-law and any particularly picky Secret Santa recipients, look no further.
Rabbit Hole Boxergrail Straight Rye
The only rye on our Christmas list comes from Rabbit Hole, a dynamic, relatively new whiskey maker. The Kentucky-based brand has some fine bourbons behind its bar (check out Heigold or Dareringer if you’re searching for something sweeter), but the herbal, slightly spicy Boxergrail ticks all of our proverbials. There’s cut grass and butterscotch on the nose, but it’s the notes of aniseed and pine resin that’ll really pique your tastebuds. If they already have specialist nosing glassware and enjoy hunting for nuanced notes in their whiskies, this is the bottle for them.
The GlenDronach Grandeur Batch 12
Since 2010, the annual release of The GlenDronach’s Grandeur whiskies has given whisky aficionados a moment to mark in their calendars – a sort of pseudo-Christmas in of itself. This year’s release, a full-bodied spirit drawn from a selection of the distillery’s oldest and most magnificent Oloroso sherry casks, has flavours even deeper than its strong brunette colour, with notes of sticky damson jam, plump medjool dates and cocoa-sweet cherries giving Batch 12 an almost cognac-velvety richness.
Buffalo Trace Bourbon
For our final high-spirited suggestion, we’ve opted for – in our opinion – the No.1 best-value whiskey on the market. Another bourbon, Buffalo Trace’s entry-level offering has been honed for almost 25 years by master blenders, and is both a perfectly sweet, accessible introduction into the world of whiskey, and a brilliant base for mixed drinks. Gift this one, then uncork it together to create some of the best festive cocktails – we’d start with that creamiest of Christmas drinks: eggnog.
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