The Best Whiskies For Christmas 2024

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Whisk(e)y. Not for the narrow of mind or the faint of heart. Or so many would have you believe.

“It’s an old man’s drink!”; “Doesn’t it burn as you drink it?”. Many a statement I’ve had from friends and relatives, which, in all fairness, has some truth if you read some of the press Whisk(e)y has got over the past few decades.

But as I sit in my lounge, which my wife has quite remarkably given an essence of Indiana Jones’ study and more books than the British library, sampling the fruits of this very article it suddenly hit me (no, not the ABV). But the reason why Whisk(e)y seems to have a smaller following than any other spirit on the market. Patience.

You see, much like the journey it makes from barley to glass - learning how to enjoy Whisk(e)y takes time. Maybe not 18 years like the fine Scotch you can get at your local retailer, but a wee dram in comparison. My first taste was an awful experience and for a few years later my only experience was nightclub shots of Jack Daniels or Jameson if you were lucky which was hardly breaking the bank. A good Whisk(e)y will no doubt leave a burn for the more amateur drinkers among us, but you have to learn that the feeling you’re experiencing isn’t a burn, more so an aftershock of the explosion of flavour. Start to sip, wait, then swallow and exhale. You’ll find you’ve just lit the fuse on a newfound love for patience.

So in case you’re looking to take your Christmas after-dinner drinks to the next level and impress your folks, or trying to find that something special for the Whisk(e)y lover in your life. We’ve compiled a list of some of the best Whiskies on the market for you to dazzle with this December.

Berry Bros. & Rudd

Balmenach Christmas, Berry Bros & Rudd

Taster’s notes: I get the sherry cask notes quite heavily from this particular Whisky. If you had my eyes closed I could mistake it for a sherry, which I think is such a wonderful tipple and it lends itself so well to Whisky. The spices flood in, marrying the warm & cosy glow it gives inside - the deep, rich cacao at the end is a wonderful touch. An exceptional Christmas dram and insanely good value.

Distillers notes: With an array of festive flavours, this dram is a delightful treat for a cosy winter’s eve. On the nose, an inviting mix of toasted nuts, sweet malt and a hint of roast pork greets you. The palate unfolds with notes of sumptuous raisins, warming spice and orange zest with baked apple and toasted oak. 70cl, 46%. £95, BBR

House of Hazelwood | John Paul Photography

Minute to Midnight, 45-year-old

Taster’s notes: This is a very loud and proud Whisky, 45 years old and it has every essence of boomer entitlement to it, with the class of an early millennial. The flavours have matured brilliantly, with hints of Butterscotch and Vanilla. This is not for the Whisky connoisseurs-in-training in both flavour and price tag, but for a long-time Whiskey lover, it could well be on your “Special Occasions” Christmas list.

Distillers notes: Expect within a big, bold character redolent of blackberries and raspberries, a cornucopia of dark fruits, developing into a strawberry jam sweetness. The spice of the season comes to the forefront on the palate, with cinnamon balancing the fruity expression, before drifting into a moreish mulled wine character – the last embers of a season well spent. 154 Bottles in turn. 70cl, 58.6%. £4,000, House of Hazelwood.

Copenhagen Distillery x Harvey Nichols

Copenhagen Distillery x Harvey Nichols, Rare Aquavit cask

Taster’s notes: This has winter written all over it. The flavour is absolutely outstanding in this tipple. Lovely nutty tones come through the nose, prominent Almonds which no doubt come from the ageing in the Aquavit casks, Chocolate notes on the tongue as you swallow and a sense of contentment lingers as you wait for another sip. So very, very smooth, especially with one or two drops of water. A very good Whisky, worth splashing out for to impress your Christmas dinner guests.

Distillers notes: Available only at Harvey Nichols. A dark heather honey-coloured whisky presents distilled notes of caraway, fennel, sweet citrus, honey, grain, and oak. Scandinavian caraway flavours, light hints of anise, dried papaya, and green leaves gently merge with vanilla, white pepper, and cloves, creating a lightly viscous, oily, well-balanced single malt. The finish elegantly offers a pleasant dryness from oak tannins, heather honey, cedar tree, and leather. 70cl, 49%. £275, Harvey Nichols.

The Isle of Harris Distillery

The Hearach Oloroso Cask Matured

Taster’s notes: I am a big fan of sherry casks being used to mature an already good Whiskey but this dram is unlike anything you’ve ever had. The smokey tones that come through from a lot of Highland Whiskies have been subdued perfectly by the sweetness of the Sherry casks. A solid 10/10 dram for Christmas, birthdays, screw it, even a wet and windy Tuesday night. How it is only £75/bottle I have no idea, there will be one alongside my cheese board this Christmas.

Distillers notes: A bold and deeply aromatic spirit that builds upon the complexity and drinkability that fans of The Hearach have come to expect, the rich dram features notes of orange peel, warming spices, fireside smoke and toasted hazelnuts that evoke a cosy winter evening. 70cl, 46%. £75, Isle of Harris Distillery.

Glenallachie

Glenallachie Sauternes

Taster’s notes: With notes of Butterscotch and Caramel it’s hard to not put this down as a must-have this Christmas. The sweet, Sauternes wine casks give this Whisky a beautiful finish; for under £75 it would be rude not to grab a bottle. You know, just in case Santa needs a livener…

Distillers notes: The specially selected hogshead casks have imparted luscious notes of ripe peach, caramel sauce and stem ginger on our honey-forward spirit. 70cl. 48%. £70.99, The Glenallachie.

House of Hazelwood

The Long Marriage, 56-year-old

Taster’s notes: Another strong contender for boomer whiskey of the year! This drop knows exactly what it is, and who should be drinking it. Again, not for the amateurs but a delight to anyone who knows a perfectly aged Scotch. Pricey, but it will be worth every penny.

Distillers notes: Take a step back into the past and experience an evocative nose of candle wax, paraffin, and Victorian stately homes, underpinned by the generous decadence of a grain whisky character. The palate is vibrant and spicy, offering up sweetly cinnamon finish. The whisky gift for the changemakers. Distilled in the mid-sixties and bottled at natural cask strength; 288 Bottles in turn. 70cl, 48.7%. £4,000. House of Hazelwood.

Meikle Tòir

Glenallachie, Meikle Tòir The Original - 5-year-old Single-Malt

Taster’s notes: This younger Whisky is a bit sharper on the nose than one that has matured for 12 years, but a single malt nonetheless and a very good one. The smoke tones come through well with a hint of oak. A good buy for the money! Put it in your drinks cabinet or wrap it up for the early Whisky drinker in your life!

Distillers notes: Made with mainland peat from St. Fergus, the flavour contribution is sweeter than that anticipated of coastal peat. Baking spices, burnt honey and espresso, with hazelnuts, smoked almonds and butterscotch on the nose. Sweet peat, rich chocolate and heather honey, with cinnamon, ginger and oak-smoked sugar on the palate. 70cl, 50%. £53.99, The Glenallachie

Kanosuke

Kanosuke Single Malt

Taster’s notes: I’ve never settled into Japanese Whisky but I’m going to do a lot more research after this! Notes of vanilla and Caramel on the nose, and the mix of sweet and spiced is a nice touch from the sherry casks used for ageing. Lots of wintery and comfort food flavours in this tipple. There’s no wonder there is so much demand for Japanese Whisky if this drop is anything to go by. An easy drink and definitely one for you beginners out there!

Distillers notes: This whisky is matured in ex-shochu, ex-sherry, and American white oak litchi casks, embodying the warm summers and cool winters of Kagoshima. Enjoy rich notes of banana, salted caramel, and cinnamon sugar, candied ginger, and orange peel, with a gentle finish. 70cl, 48%. £89.95, The Whisky Exchange.

High West

High West Campfire

Taster’s notes: I spent a lot of time out in the south of the USA and I tasted a few “Cowboy” Whiskies. This really gives you a sense of freedom when drinking. Every drop gives you another look at a clear desert night sky. The sweetness in the smoke is like those charred, caramelised burnt ends of brisket you get in the best Barbecue joints. A solid bourbon, with a real depth of character!

Distillers notes: Roasted white peaches, lemon zest, jasmine, caramelized meringue, graham cracker, leather riding saddle, vanilla bean; a delicate sweetness nestled under smoke and spic on the nose with Asian pear, s’mores, burnt almond toffee, mocha and tobacco, balsam fir needles, macadamia nut, and woodsmoke from a long-forgotten campfire on the palette. 70cl, 46%. £81.50, The Whisky Exchange.

Fielden

Fielden Rye Whiskey

Taster’s notes: Sweetness feels prominent in this particular Whiskey. Bursts of Caramel and Honey. At times even a taste of candy floss comes through! A good whiskey and not too hard for a newcomer, if you know someone who is just getting into their Whiskey this is a top gift idea!

Distillers notes: The best of our fields, bottled: think warm flaky pastry, butter and caramel. Serve neat, on the rocks or in an Old Fashioned. 70cl, 48%. £60, Fielden