Five Whiskeys for your Special Lady on Valentine’s Day

Valentine's Day is coming up. Skip the flowers for your lady, and buy whiskey instead.
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Hey guys. Woman here. I’m going to let you in on a secret: Most women don’t want stuffed animals, waxy chocolate, or cheap jewelry for Valentine’s Day. But whiskey? Whiskey always hits the spot.

laphroaig_triple_woodWomen’s whiskey tastes vary just as widely as men’s. Some of us love the delicate, sweet, floral notes of Speyside single malt or blended Canadian whiskies. Others are looking for something a little brawnier, like peated Scotch or barrel-proof bourbon.

If you’re getting your wife or girlfriend a bottle of whiskey for Valentine’s Day, I’ll assume you already know a little something about her tastes. And there’s nothing wrong with picking up a bottle you already know she loves. But if you want to surprise her, then read on for a handful of bottles I’d be delighted to receive this year.

Bruichladdich Gift Set

Quick whisky question

Single malt is everywhere, but what does it mean? We want to know what the word “single” means to you. Three quick questions, under a minute.

Which stages must take place at the same distillery for a whisky to be called “single malt”?

Tick as many as you like

or

Must the barley in a single malt be grown in the same country the whisky is made in?

How would you describe your whisky knowledge?

Some researchers think that women are actually better tasters than men, so why not give your wife a tasting set to exercise her skills? Bruichladdich recently unveiled a new “Wee Laddie Gift Box” that includes three 200ml bottles of different Bruichladdich expressions: Classic Laddie, Islay Barley, and Port Charlotte Scottish Barley. Plus, it comes in a super-stylish box featuring Bruichladdich’s signature aqua color.

Laphroaig Triple Wood

Laphroaig, that famously intense Islay single malt that makes strong men’s knees buckle, owes its popularity to the hard work of one woman of vision: Bessie Williamson, the firm’s owner during the middle of the 20th century. She recognized the potential of single malts and the importance of reaching into export markets, transforming Laphroaig from a blending stock producer to the flagship brand it is today. Triple Wood spends time in ex-bourbon barrels, oloroso casks, and quarter casks, balancing Laphroaig’s famous smokiness with rich flavors of dried fruit and chocolate.

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Michter’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon

One of Kentucky’s newest distilleries, Michters is also the first major Kentucky distillery to hire a woman as it’s master distiller. And not just any woman. Pamela Heilmann worked as a distillery manager at Jim Beam for nearly a decade before making the leap to Michter’s. Spicy and lively, Michter’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon is a consistent crowd pleaser.

Clynelish 14-Year-Old

Sweet and delicate, with a subtle hint of smoke, Clynelish 14-Year-Old is mysterious and alluring, the kind of thing Bond girls might drink. On top of that, it’s very approachable, making it a perfect single malt for people who don’t yet know that they love single malt.

Green Spot

Once hard to get your hands on, this single pot still Irish whiskey from Midleton is now distributed a bit more widely in the United States. With a creamy mouth feel and herbaceous, aromatic flavor, Green Spot will open the eyes of any Jameson drinker to the wide, wonderful world of Irish single malt. Plus, it has one of my all-time favorite label designs—simple, stylish, unmistakable.

 

 

 

 

 

Margarett Waterbury

Margarett Waterbury is the author of "Scotch: A Complete Introduction to Scotland's Whiskies" and a full-time freelance writer and editor specializing in the beverage industry. Her work has graced the pages of numerous publications, including Whisky Advocate, Food and Wine, Spirited Magazine, Artisan Spirit, Edible Seattle, Sip Northwest, Civil Eats, Travel Oregon, and many others. She also boasts editorial experience as the former managing editor of Edible Portland and as a co-founder and former managing editor of The Whiskey Wash. In recognition of her talent, Margarett received the Alan Lodge Young Drinks Writer of the Year award in 2017 and was awarded fellowships for the Symposium for Professional Wine Writers in 2017 and 2019.

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