Lifestyle -- 3 days ago
The best warming winter whiskies under £50
Tis the season for a tipple. Here are our pick of the best...
Words: Gentleman's Journal
From the post-Christmas dinner dram to a hot toddy after a long winter walk, whisky is very much the spirit of the season. But, with so many different brands and bottlings vying for competition on the run up to Christmas, it can be hard to choose and easy to overspend.
As such, we’ve pulled together a couple of choice bottles that are perfect for gifting to others this Christmas, or just drinking yourself. And what’s more, we’ve picked the best winter drams that won’t cost you the earth…
Balvenie 12 Year Old Doublewood
One of the classic after-dinner malts, Balvenie Doublewood’s extra complexity and richness are a result of a second maturation in fresh sherry casks. Exquisitely rich, and just decadent enough for the festive season.
Dalmore 12 Year Old
Dalmore 12 is aged for the first nine years in American white oak ex-bourbon casks, before half is transferred to ex-oloroso sherry casks for the final three years. The result is a whisky with a combination of sweetness and rich, sherried flavours – for a festive flavour.
Isle of Jura 12 Year Old
Elixir is a 12-year-old whisky from Jura distillery. Finished in a combination of American white oak and European sherry casks, this is complex with notes of pineapple, toffee and spice. A more considered whisky than many others on the list, perhaps one to ponder on Boxing Day.
Talisker 10 Year Old
A massive success as the island representative in Diageo’s ‘Classic Malts’ series, Talisker 10yo’s profile keeps increasing as more fans discover its intense coastal spicy, peaty character. A truly elemental malt – and one to keep in your drinks cabinet the whole year.
Compass Box The Peat Monster
A top-quality vatting of the peated Speysider Ardmore with some choice Islay malt, Peat Monster is never less than excellent. Pitch-perfect balance and delicious chewy complexity, the decorative labels make for great gifts at this time of the year.
Auchentoshan Three Wood
The ever-popular Auchentoshan 3 Wood is matured initially in bourbon casks before being finished in Oloroso then Pedro Ximénez casks for an extra layer of rich, sweet fruitiness. It’s like a Christmas pudding in the bottle, and what more could you want from your spirit to get in the Christmas spirit?
Aberlour A’Bunadh
The A’Bunadh range – small batch bottlings of oloroso-sherry aged single malt – continue with this 61st edition, which as usual offers tasty notes of dried fruit, sherry, dark chocolate and spice. Perhaps a little darker and richer than the usual, this is a winter warmer if ever we nosed one.
