The Perfect Birthday Whisky Gift
When it comes to a whisky lover, there is an obvious choice of gift. But with such diversity in flavour and preferences in palate, how do you choose?
Look below at our guide to whisky gifts, from fun and affordable accessories, bold and spicy flavours to luxurious, deep and rare single malts.
Create the perfect tasting
Everyday Whisky Dropper
Sometimes, the gifts in the detail. Small changes can change the whole whisky tasting experience. Have you tasted the change and accentuation of aromas after adding just a drop of water? We use an Angels Share Glass Water Dropper during our tasting experiences. And for just £8.50, it can be make great small gift for a whisky enthusiast! Look at their site for some of their premium water droppers.
Glencairn Whisky Glass
Enhance any blind tasting experience with a Glencairn whisky glass. Perfect for nosing any spirit, the bowl shape channels aromas to the rim.
Whisky Tasting Staves
Perfect for a whisky tasting. Have a look at Barrel to Dram’s beautiful hand crafted whisky staves. From small and sweet gifts for a whisky lover to 7-glass whisky flights for the best way to enjoy your whisky tasting selection.
Choose the perfect whisky
Tasting is so subjective, there really is no right or wrong. But with so many amazing Scotch whiskies out there, it can be hard to choose! Our tasting selections always include a diverse selection of single malts. Made for sharing, we know there will be something for everyone! Shop our whisky tasting gift sets here, but if you’re looking for a bottle for a friend, we have outlined a few of our recommendations below, with flavours for every style!
Sweet and sippable
Are you looking to introduce a friend to the world of whisky and want to begin with something soft and palatable? Below are a few of our recommendations for sweet and sippable Scotch’s.
Auchentoshan American Oak
Auchentoshan is sometimes nicknamed ‘the breakfast whisky’ for its soft and palatable flavour. It is the only distillery in Scotland to triple distill 100% of its spirit, producing a light, fruity distillate. Using completely unpeated malt in keeping with its Lowland roots, you know when you go for an Auchentoshan, you will find a sweet delight. The American Oak uses first fill ex-bourbon barrels to mature it’s spirit which promotes the vanilla and coconut aroma commonly found in American bourbon.
Macallan 12 Double Cask
A harmonious marriage between ex-bourbon American oak and ex-sherry barrels. Macallan, renowned for its quality and pure spirit, has the smallest spirit stills in Scotland creating a rich spirit. It’s heart of the run is just the finest cut to ensure purity and to not allow the heavier compounds within the spirit to make it into the barrel. This, in addition of the use of sherry casks, creates a lusciously smooth, pure, fruity and rich malt whisky. Disliked by few, it’s always a quality choice when you don’t quite know what to go for!
Glenfiddich 15 Solera Cask
The Solera system, used to mature sherry, is a way of fractional blending to gain flavour and aroma from a variety of different ages. The Glenfiddich installed their Solera Vat in 1997, and it has never been emptied! This system creates layers in the malt and an added complexity. A Speyside distillery, Glenfiddich is known for it’s sweet fruity notes. The Speyside region has historically had links with the Sherry bodegas in Spain, and has become known for the stewed fruits flavours derived from sherry casks. Fancying a sweet, fruity yet complex single malt? Look no further!
Full bodied, earthy malts
Glenkinchie 12
A classic Lowland malt, Glenkinchie exhibits the grassy, fruity flavours true to the Lowlands. However, it’s use of a cold run worm tub lessens copper contact and promotes a meatier spirit. With distant yet not overpowering peat, this can be a great whisky to explore some more authentic flavours Scotch whisky has to offer.
Oban 14
A full bodied, balanced Highland malt. Illustrating a harmony between the coastal and earthy character of island malts with rich fruits and florality common in the Highlands. We find this malt works particularly well with a number of food pairings, not overpowering but working in balance with rich or bold flavours, accentuating the subtleties. We find smoked kippers, burnt oak, caramel and heather. An interesting Scotch.
Aberfeldy 16
Jammy, smooth with a full body. Remaining palatable with a slight sweetness yet exhibiting a depth and complexity. A great choice for those who love a smooth spirit and the depth and sweet spice of oak but want to explore some of the more buttery, fruity and rich flavours rich in Highland malts.
For Peat Lovers
To us the bold smoke, iodine and medicinal tones in Scotch are more like an experience than a flavour. It takes us back to a bed and breakfast in the Highlands, cosied up around the fire. Every malt has a perfect setting. We find Glenmorangie Sauternes Cask is great for a spring afternoon, Macallan 12 for an aperitif, but the whiskies below are something extraordinary.
Lagavulin 8
We’ve found responses to this whisky are a little like marmite… But don’t let youth put you off! Some (like us) love the intense smoke and green fruit on the palate, the marriage between the deep coastal smoky character of Islay with light sweet fruits and fresh florality. With less influence from the cask, we can explore the raw and edgy flavours of the spirit. Some dislike the harsh bite of immaturity, reminiscent of methylated spirits and perhaps nail polish. There is no right or wrong, just personal preference. We love its bold character, the atmospheric coastal tone, the brightness, youthful edge, hot spice and smoke. In comparison to the Ledaig 18 below, which is a luscious after dinner treat or one to relax, this one is alike a plunge in ice water. A slap in the face to wake you up, to feel the fire. It may not sound all that nice… but it’s one of our all time favourites.
Ledaig 18
Lusciously rich, authentically Scottish with clear coastal tones, oaky spice and warming smoke. A clear favourite at our tasting events, and paired wonderfully with rich deserts like treacle tart or salted caramel cheesecake. Whilst the Lagavulin 8 wakes you up, the Ledaig is the perfect nightcap to enjoy by the fire, the rich stewed fruits and oaky spice rounding and balancing with the bold smoke. Definitely a premium whisky and something special, if you’re looking to treat.
Octomore 10.4 Virgin Oak
Matured in charred virgin oak casks and extracting a large amount of flavour from the oak, this whisky is unlike anything we’ve ever tasted! Three years old (though you’d never believe it) and peated to a whopping 188ppm (to put that into context, the famously smoky Laphroaig is peated to around 45ppm). The intense smoke creates a whole new array of flavours, it fills the palate and lasts long into the finish. Rich spice and deep flavours from the oak match the striking bold character. This isn’t a Scotch for the faint hearted! It is, however, a unique experience, and undoubtedly enhances ones appreciation for Scottish single malt whisky.
Can’t decide?
Taste and share a selection of premium single malts with our unique blind tasting experiences.
Six Styles of Scotch
Our classic Scotch whisky selection features six premium single malts from all corners of Scotland. Choose between a tasting gift set or sharing box and we will provide a complete blind tasting experience.
Featuring Talisker 10, Ledaig 18, Glenkinchie 12, Auchentoshan American Oak, Oban 14 and Glen Moray Peated
Including a blind tasting guide, six information cards, tasting tips and the wax-sealed envelope for ‘the big reveal’.
Whisky and the Barrel
Explore the distinct characteristics created in the cask with six diverse single malts.
Featuring Glendronach 15 Revival, Bowmore 15 Darkest, Lagavulin 8, Glengoyne 18, Arran Quarter Cask and Glen Moray 10 Chardonnay Cask
Including a blind tasting guide, six information cards, tasting tips and the wax-sealed envelope for ‘the big reveal’.
The Luxury Tasting Experience
A really special treat, have the unique opportunity of tasting six much sought after Scotch single malts, including a £350 1997 peated 22 year old Bunnahabhain Pedro Ximenez cask, the celebrated Macallan Rare Cask, Glenfiddich 21 Gran Reserva Rum Cask Finish, Balvenie 21 Portwood, Highland Park 18 and our favourite Octomore 10.4 Virgin Oak. If you were to buy all these whiskies, it would set you back more than £1000! A collection only found in a specialist whisky bar, bring that quality home with you and explore super premium flavours with friends.