Christmas is just around the corner and if you are searching for the perfect Christmas gift for the whisky lover in your life, there’s no need to look any further. As Co-founder and Managing Director of Still Spirit, Whisky Hammer, and Halcyon Spirits, I am lucky enough to have built up knowledge and experience that can help you to find the best whisky Christmas gift for every type of whisky fan.
Whether you’re shopping for a whisky newcomer, a regular drinker, a whisky connoisseur, or even putting together some whisky gift ideas for yourself, our Still Spirit Christmas whisky gift guide will help you navigate through the hundreds of whiskies on sale. We’ve narrowed down the choices according to all budgets and tastes to find the perfect whisky for you to make your festive season ‘merry and bright’.
Best Whisky For Beginners
If they’ve only just dabbled into the world of whisky or have expressed an interest in trying whisky for the first time, we’d recommend Speyburn 10 Year Old Single Malt Whisky.
This classic single malt whisky from Speyburn’s core range is aged for 10 years in carefully chosen ex-bourbon and sherry casks, absorbing the natural character of the Speyside region. The resulting whisky offers subtle notes of creamy toffee, vanilla, and butterscotch, delivering a smooth, light, and wonderfully drinkable experience.
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Best Whisky Under £50
There are a lot of great whiskies out there for under £50, but our pick this Christmas season would be Tomatin 12 Year Old Single Malt Whisky.
This exceptional Highland single malt from the Tomatin Distillery is an excellent example of Tomatin’s famously soft flavor profile. The 12 Year Old, the youngest in the core range, is aged in ex-bourbon casks and then finished for six to nine months in sherry casks, imparting distinct notes of apple, toffee, and rich buttery biscuits.
Best Whisky Under £100
Looking for a gift of under £100 for the whisky enthusiast in your life? Look no further than Aberfeldy 16 Year Old Single Malt Whisky.
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Aberfeldy 16 Year Old is an outstanding, complex, and refined Speyside single malt scotch whisky. Aged in ex-bourbon and sherry casks, it boasts a rich and layered flavor profile with a ‘kiss of sherry’ and notes of heather honey, orange peel, and fruit cake before a long, warming finish. A must-try for any whisky enthusiast.
Best Whisky For The Scotch Connoisseur
If they’ve been drinking whisky for years, then they’ll know about The Macallan. We highly recommend The Macallan 18 Year Old Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky.
Matured in carefully selected sherry-seasoned oak barrels from Jerez, this 2023 release brims with notes of oak, citrus, and dried fruit before a hint of ginger and wood smoke on the finish. Full-bodied yet smooth, this iconic single malt is aged for a minimum of 18 years and delivers the classic Macallan flavor that connoisseurs have come to expect.
Best Whisky For Breaking The Budget
If you’ve got a very special someone who deserves to be splurged upon, look no further than The Balvenie 30 Year Old Single Malt Whisky.
From The Balvenie’s Rare Marriages range, this malt whisky is an exceptional dram that has been matured in a combination of ex-bourbon and sherry casks. The sherry cask influence shines through with aromas and flavors of toasted nuts, citrus, gentle spice, and leather. The finish is long, warming, and graced with a subtle hint of honey.
Best Whisky For The Eco-Conscious Drinker
Looking for a gift for an eco-conscious whisky drinker? We’d highly recommend Nc’Nean Organic Single Malt Whisky.
Produced with 100% organic Scottish barley, this smooth and easy-going single malt has been made at Nc’Nean’s net zero distillery and has been matured in a selection of red wine, ex-bourbon, and sherry casks. This delicious Highland single malt imparts notes of lemon curd, poached peaches, and juicy apricots. Even better, the bottle is made from 100% recycled glass!
Best Bourbon
If bourbon’s their go-to tipple, we’d advise Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon.
Not just your average bourbon, Blanton’s is a hand-poured single barrel bourbon produced at the world-famous Buffalo Trace Distillery in Kentucky. Made with a mash of corn, rye, and malted barley, this highly sought-after bourbon offers notes of baking spice, caramel, and oak with a long peppery finish. It’s beautifully presented too with a collectible jockey and rider bottle stopper.
Best Blended Whisky
If they prefer the smooth consistent taste of a blended whisky, you couldn’t go far wrong with Chivas Regal 18 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky.
Including over 20 of Scotland’s rarest single malt whiskies, this award-winning blended whisky is wonderfully rich yet perfectly balanced. With complex notes of dried fruit, chocolate and cinnamon, this whisky has gradually become the hallmark of blended Scotch since it was first released in 1997.
Best Irish Single Malt
Do they prefer Irish whiskey over scotch? Your best bet would be Teeling Single Malt Irish Whiskey.
Teeling Single Malt offers a rich array of fruit flavors, complemented by bittersweet chocolate, soft spices, and mixed berries, with a finish of oak and lingering tropical passionfruit. This multi-award-winning whiskey is crafted in five hand-selected casks including virgin American Oak, Ruby Port, Carcavelos, Madeira, and Bourbon barrels.
Best Japanese Whisky
They’ve tried scotch, Irish whiskey, and bourbon. Could it be time for something new? If so, we’d highly recommend giving Japanese whisky a go and can fully recommend The Yamazaki 12 Year Old Japanese Whisky.
From Japan’s oldest whisky distillery, this 12 Year Old flagship expression from Yamazaki is rich with citrus, stone fruit, and warm spice aromas. Its buttery palate offers flavors of coconut and cranberry, leading to a long, sweet finish with subtle spice. Aged to perfection in mizunara oak barrels, it’s a true cult classic.
Best Peated Scotch Whisky
If you’re searching for the perfect gift for a peat lover or someone who wants to try a peated whisky for the first time, try Bowmore 15 Year Old Single Malt Whisky.
Aged in ex-bourbon casks and finished in Oloroso sherry casks, Bowmore 15 Year Old offers enticing aromas of freshly baked banana bread, treacle, and woodsmoke, complemented by a caramel sweetness and a distinctive briny finish. This 15 Year Old serves as an ideal introduction for anyone looking to explore the world of peated whisky.
Have A Happy, Whisky-Loving Christmas
Scotch whisky makes for a timeless and thoughtful gift, especially at Christmas. We hope our guide has offered you something special for every type of whisky lover, from the seasoned connoisseur to the curious beginner, and we’re sure that your choice will be appreciated long after the holiday season has finished.
Here’s to making this Christmas a memorable one with a great dram!
Slàinte!
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