Fun Drinks Choices for Valentine’s Day

Drinks picked by Helena

Valentine's day, Galentine's day or ‘I'm just going to give myself some love’ day can be a stressful time with all the pressure to HAVE FUN. Fear not, though! I have donned my cupid cape and found 8 fun drinks and drinks gifts that are perfect for Valentine’s Day, whichever element of it you are celebrating!

Spirits

Personalised London Dry Gin & Single Malt Whisky

The Whisky Exchange are offering a customisable London Dry Gin and a stunning, customisable, Sherry finished, single malt whisky for you to gift a loved one this V day. For each, you can choose from six label designs and ten messages - or simply write your own text! The gin is crisp and refreshing; a classic London Dry with lots of citrus and juniper. The whisky is rich and round with notes of dried fruit, caramel and Christmas cake. Prices include personalisation and gift tube.

Gin: ABV 44%, Size 700ml, £39.95
Whisky: ABV 48%, Size 700ml, £54.95 

Ballycastle Red Velvet Cream Liqueur

Fans of Baileys Irish cream will love this, especially those who have enjoyed their new Red Velvet version and are looking for something less pricey. Aldi’s version is an indulgent blend of double cream, spirit and red velvet cake, serve it chilled over ice with a strawberry if you can find one. Forget dessert, This IS your dessert!

Find it in-store for £7.25 (700ml)

Mermaid Pink Gin Gift Set

The Isle of Wight Distillery is rapidly building an excellent reputation thanks to their stunning range of gins, vodka and rum that are all plastic-packaging free. This pink gin combines the flavour of fresh, Isle of Wight strawberries with their famously smooth, aromatic and complex gin and the bottle could not be prettier! If you want to take your gifting to the next level, however, then seek out their gift set, which includes a bottle of the Mermaid Pink Gin (70cl) and two gold-plated, gorgeous, copa glasses. 

Gin: ABV 38%, Size 700ml, £39.90
Gift pack: ABV 44%, Size 700ml, £65.50

Wine

Specially Selected Sparkling Shiraz

A sparkling red? Yes, for something a little different. Try this slightly chilled. It’s one of the rare style of red wine that goes with chocolate too (the darker the better). Sparkling Shiraz has been an Aussie no-so-well-kept-secret for a while! It will take you for Valentine’s day into summer barbecues in the sunshine too and this onen is awesome value.

ABV: 13.5%
Size: 750ml
Price: £6.99
Find here: Aldi

Coral Ethical Rosé Wine

This delicate, Spanish pink is an organic and vegan-friendly rosé wine with Tempranillo grapes in a carbon-neutral winery and packaged in an ultra-light bottle that uses recycled and recyclable materials. Think aromatic notes of grapefruit and strawberry with a refreshing, peachy palate. 10% of its profits are also donated to the restoration and conservation of coral reefs, which represent 25% of marine biodiversity. A rosé with heart!

ABV: 12.5%
Size: 750ml
Price: From £9.99
Find here: Abel & Cole, Adnams, Amazon.co.uk

W/O Frappato, Terre Siciliane, IGT 2020

A little taste of Sicily in a ‘wild glass’, which means glass bottles that are 100% post-consumer recycled. The first in the UK to do this! It does mean that each bottle is slightly different with a minimalist,easily  biodegradable label. Frappato is a native grape to Sicily and it offers a comforting, rustic red that’s all about spicy red fruit compote notes. It’s an unpretentious, comfort  blanket of a wine! Your new go-to week day favourite. 

ABV: 13.5%
Size: 750ml
Price: From £11.99/bottle or £9.99 for 6
Find here: Laithwaites

Specially Selected Amarone della Valpolicella D.O.C.G 2018

Amarone is a great choice for those looking for a rich and velvety red wine this Valentine's day. Think dark cherries dipped in melted dark chocolate and spice. Delicious! This is part of Aldi’s impressive ‘Specially Selected’ range and for an Amarone, it is excellent value. It even sounds like the Italian word for love: ‘Amore’. Yes please! I’ll have a glass of that.

ABV: 15%
Size: 750ml
Price: £19.99
Find here: ALDI

Bubbles

Codornìu Cava Rosé  NV

Codornìu is the big name in Cava, producing a fantastic range of traditional method bubbles in all sorts of styles and at all price points. It is fantastic value for some classic Spanish bubbles, with a herbaceous nose and a crunchy, red cherry tang. This is definitely a winner with all sorts of food.  

ABV: 12%
Size: 750ml
Price: £9
Find here: Ocado

Splash out: Veuve Clicquot Rosé

The widow ‘Veuve’ Clicquot invented rosé wine so this really is the original! A super special bottle where the Pinot -Noir dominant wine is the most elegant pink colour and super silky, with delicately complex aromas and flavours of brioche, summer fruits, toast and apricot. This is truly a fizz to savour; give it time to let it open up in the glass and enjoy!

ABV: 12.5%
Size: 750ml
Price: £49
Find here: Tesco

If you enjoyed this, then don’t forget to have a look at our other wine and spirits recommendations!

The Bring a Bottle Podcast: Episode 76

Episode 76 has landed and it is Chinese New Year - the year of the tiger. As if by magic, we have a whisky that pairs perfectly with Peking duck, pancakes and hoisin sauce - listen in below to find out more!

WHAT’S IN OUR GLASS?

This week we’re sipping on Jura 18 year old. A whisky that perfectly showcases the signature style of Jura with its light peatiness that is harmoniously intertwined with caramel. Aged in ex-bourbon AND premier grand cru Bourdeaux barrels, this whisky is perfect for a little ‘you time’.

ABV: 44%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £65.99

Buy it or Bin it!

It’s back, and we’re not sure how we feel about it this week. It’s vodka from The Wasabi Company - we will let you take an educated guess at what it might contain… but where did it end up? You’ll have to listen in to find out!

ABV: 40%
Size: 500ml
Find here: £29

Drinks From Around The World

We don’t want to get you too excited but we cover two drinks this week. Have you heard of Byarozavik? It’s a traditional drink from Belarus made from birch sap that helps to keep low cholesterol levels. And with an extra nod to the new lunar year, Helena tells all about the world’s most popular spirit that you’ve probably never heard of.

Drinker’s Discovery

Helena has discovered Cannabrew, a craft beer brand that produces CBD lagers and cider. Crisp, pure and fresh they have 15mg of CBD per can meaning they are all about the chill without any hempy taste. What’s even better? For every case sold they plant 2 trees so there’s nothing not to love!

ABV: IPA 4.5% // Cider 4%
CBD: 15mg
Find here: IPA £37.19 for 12 // Cider £37.19 for 12

Mailbag

Last but by no means least: “Why is aged wine seen as being so good?” We fill you in on whether older really does mean better and if so which bottles to look out for.

Don’t forget to get in touch with us on Instagram to let us know what you think and don’t forget to listen in!

The Bring a Bottle Podcast: Episode 75

Welcome back to the Bring a Bottle Podcast! It’s our first podcast of 2022 and with brand new sections, more drinks news and the usually lighthearted fun, boy are you in for a treat. Here’s just some of what you can expect from this week…

WHAT’S IN OUR GLASS?

This week we have such a treat in our glasses, Fettercairn Limited Edition 16 Year Old 2nd Release 2021. It’s aged in three different types of sherry cask, resulting in tropical notes with delicate dry fruits and spice on the palette and in our opinion is the perfect introduction to the Fettercairn style.

ABV: 46.4%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £69.95

Buy it or Bin it!

We have a brand new section ladies and gentlemen where we taste a product and decide whether we would buy it or bin it! Following the theme of Dry January, this week we taste test Brothers zero-alcohol toffee apple English cider. What’s the verdict - you’ll have to listen in to find out!

Drinks From Around The World

Which country could it be this week? Well, as this podcast came out on Burn’s Night it seems only fitting that we start with Scotland. Aidy brings a certain can of fizzy pop that’s apparently made from girders! No prizes for guessing the brand, but did you know it’s delicious cooked with pulled pork and as an ingredient in cupcakes?

Drinker’s Discovery

Producer Helena brings a bottle to the table this week and that is Monsoon Valley wine from Thailand served at The Giggling Squid. This naturally leads us on to the topic of why you should never dismiss wines from lesser known countries or unfamiliar regions… check out which lesser-known countries/regions we rate by listening in above!

Mailbag

Last but by no means least: “I’m going to a Burns Night party, what drink goes with haggis?”. Get in touch on Instagram and let us know what you think and make sure you listen in here to find out our answers!

Great Scotch Whisky for Burns Night!

Words by Colin Hampden-White

Burn’s Night is always a good excuse for whisky lovers to open up their favourite bottles and celebrate the Scottish poets life and works over a few drams and haggis. Here are some of my favourite whiskies aged 13 to 18 years which won’t break the bank and one special dram which I think most people would like. From those just starting out on their whisky journey to seasoned travellers on the whisky road. There are some classics, some newbies and a couple of unusual bottles here, but they have one thing in common. They are all delicious.

Craigellachie 13 Year Old

Back in 2014, Craigellachie released a new core range of whiskies, all with prime numbers as age statements reflecting the maverick edge to the brand. The 13 year old was the beginning, and it was a very good start. One of the few whiskies I will always have on a shelf, I’ll be starting my Burn’s night celebrations with one of these. Lots of character, plenty of fruit and bold intense flavours whilst remaining smooth and easy to drink.

ABV: 46%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £46.99 // US $64.99

The Balvenie 14 Year Old Caribbean Cask

This is probably the best expression of whisky finished in rum casks. Spending the beginning of its life in ex-bourbon casks giving vanilla and toffee flavours, the rum cask finish brings in banana and other tropical notes. The rum casks were filled with rum that malt master David Stewart had blended to give lots of complexity and sweetness. I find this whisky pairs well with a great number of foods but goes especially well with haggis.

ABV: 43%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £56.95 // US $100.99

Tamdhu 15 Year Old

Tamdhu is the king of sherry cask maturation on Speyside being the only distillery which uses only ex-Sherry casks for all its whisky. This 15 year old gives all those who love a sherry bomb enough of a kick whilst remaining balanced and fruity for those just getting into sherried whisky. There are lots of dark fruit flavours and plenty of Christmas spice from the ex-Oloroso Sherry casks. Perfect for smoked salmon or a well-seasoned haggis.

ABV: 46%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £74.95 // US $119.99

Fettercairn 16 2021 (2nd release)

This second release of a 16 year old from Fettercairn is very different from the 1st release. There is no use of chocolate malt in this expression and lots of expertly blended sherry casks. Three different types of sherry casks were used: first fill Oloroso, refill Oloroso and first fill Palo Cortado Sherry Butts. This marriage of casks gives lots of complexity and balance from the fruity spirit and spicy oak. It’s definitely one to savour. Leaving the whisky in the glass to air for twenty minutes or so will bring extra complexity and nuance.

ABV: 46.4%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £64.95

Deanston 2002 17 year old Pinot Noir Cask Finish

This is a sophisticated dram. There are lots of vanilla notes and fudge from the first maturation in American oak, and orchard fruits from the spirit, all backed up with plenty of fresh red fruit flavours and grape notes from the second maturation in the Pinot Noir casks. The distillery character is still prevalent, but there is so much more to this expression that their core range delivers. Definitely, a dram worth spending that little bit extra on.

ABV: 50%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £110

Johnnie Walker 18

I believe this is a whisky all whisky lovers will enjoy. It is a blend of at least 18 whiskies including Cardhu, Glen Elgin and Blair Athol which are all favourites of mine. This used to be known as the Platinum label, but by giving it the age statement back gives clarity that this is a whisky of good age. With lots of fruity flavours, clear honey and gentle wisps of smoke this is a real crowd pleaser, and is astonishingly good value for an eighteen year old dram.

ABV: 40%
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
Find here: UK £52.84 // US $79.99

Tomintoul 19 Year Old Port Pipe Matured Cask No.1

At the end of a Burn’s Night evening when a few different whiskies may have been consumed, something with a little punch is needed, and this whisky delivers. It is big and bold having been matured for all its life in a single port pipe which has imparted huge flavour into the spirit. Only 753 bottles were produced in 2020, and there are a few left. It gives lots of plums and creamy toffee with summer red fruits leading to dried fruits like raisins before giving way to peppery spice and a brilliantly balanced spice and sweetness all the way through the finish. It’s an absolute belter!

ABV: 57%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £175.95

Enjoy the whiskies, the haggis, the poetry and the bagpipes (there is always Spotify), but above all enjoy the company. Happy Burn’s night to you all. Slàinte Mhath.

Has all this whisky talk got you wishing you were in Scotland? If so, make sure you have a read of these brilliant Scotch Whisky Distillery Tours!

Brilliant Rye Whiskies

Words by Colin Hampden-White

Over the last few years, there has been a huge rise in the popularity of rye whisky. Not only from the USA but from all over the world. These Whiskies are not one-off oddities, they are truly great spirits and although they may not be American, they have all the flavour, complexity, and balance of their cousins across the Atlantic. And in some cases, even more so. I have recently found four which completely blew me away with their originality, flavour, and sheer deliciousness. There are two countries in particular that are creating fantastic rye whiskies, and two distilleries I think have been excelling over the last couple of years, Denmark and England.

Stauning

Stauning Rye

There are two Rye whiskies I have tried recently from Stauning and both of them were fabulous. Firstly, their main expression, Stauning Rye. It is made from Malted Danish barley and rye which is floor malted at the distillery. It is distilled on open fired stills and matured in new American oak barrels. The spirit has the typical spicy flavours one expects from rye, with a slight oiliness, but what stood out for me was the smoothness and balance. It is very easy to drink and is a sophisticated whisky, which rye quite often isn’t.

ABV: 48%
Size: 700ml
Price: £56.95

Stauning El Classico

Secondly, I tried the El Classico. This whisky started out as an experiment and ended up being absolutely brilliant. It is the first rye whisky to be matured in vermouth casks, and it is a match made in heaven. The casks give a perfect balance of bitter and sweet which makes this whisky incredibly versatile. I tried it neat at first, and then in a Manhattan and both were excellent. I am sure it would work very well in many whisky cocktails.

ABV: 45.7%
Size: 700ml
Price: £59.95

Moving from mainland Europe, I had a couple of favourites from an English distillery. This distillery is making whisky from ancient grains as there are so few places growing these grains. In fact, those that do are either making artisanal bread or growing for this distillery. Therefore, there is not a lot of grain and consequently not a lot of whisky. Made in annual batches, the last two batches have been particularly impressive.

The Oxford Artisan Distillery

Batch 4: The Graduate

The name of this whisky says it all. And boy has it graduated. The level of complexity for a young whisky is very good, and the balance of sweet fruit, oak and peppery rye is perfect. Rich enough to be sipped at leisure, it is also a great base for a cocktail, especially the king of rye cocktails, the Manhattan. This has been made with mostly rye, but also some heritage wheat, oats and even thistles! Aged in American oak casks of various sizes and toasting levels, it packs flavour and at 51.3% the flavour is delivered to the palate seamlessly.

ABV: 51.3%
Size: 700ml
Price: £89.95

Batch 5: Red Red Rye

The grain for this four year old whisky was harvested in 2017 and was made with a mash bill of 90% Maslin; a blend of 70% rye and 20% wheat which were grown in the same field a few miles from the distillery, and 10% malted barley. Adding to this complexity were three different cask types. It started life in two American oak ex-bourbon casks which were then married together into an ex-Pedro Ximenez Sherry butt. This was then split into two vintage Port barriques for the end of its maturation. As well as being complex and smooth, the batch has a deep red hue to the whisky from the Port barriques. It is rich in fruit, but still holds that peppery oily rye character. There were only 600 bottles produced and you can only buy them from the distillery shop.

ABV: 46.4%
Size: 700ml
Price: £150

There are plenty of other rye whiskies in Europe which are also very good and well worth a try. Two others to mention are Millstone in the Netherlands and Adnams Rye Malt from England. If you’d like to learn more about them and some of their American cousins, take a look at this article all about rye.

The Bring a Bottle Podcast: Episode 73

As we don on our Santa hats and get started on celebrating all things Christmas in this week’s podcast, we just want to say a big THANK YOU to you, our wonderful listeners, for all of your support each week. If you have any suggestions for our podcast, if there are any topics you would like us to cover or if you have found an amazing product you think is worth shouting out about then please do reach out to us at sophie@thethreedrinkers.com. Have an amazing Christmas everyone! Here’s what you can expect this week…

What’s in our glass?

This week we’re sipping on Deanston The Chronicles Series: Edition 1. This release expertly blends four malts from casks from four different decades a 1977 Whisky Refill, 1994 Madeira cask, 2004 Amontillado cask and a 2011 Bourbon cask. Think apricot, fresh flowers and butterscotch with notes of baking spice, gingerbread men and a herbaceous finish that freshens it up beautifully.

ABV: 46.3%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £85

Drinker’s Discovery

This week we’re giving a big shout out to a no-lo brand, Three Spirit, who have released a gorgeous sparkling number called ‘Sharp’. It has a lovely texture, slightly yeasty like champagne but it doesn’t take like wine and it is packed full of botanicals to chill you out but keep you sharp. Yum.

Size: 700ml
Find here: £18.99

Christmas Bang for Buck

This year we are loving Graffigna Organic Malbec from the Uco Valley, Argentina. It is rich and chocolatey with a ripe blueberry note and for its price point is an absolute steal!

ABV: 13.5%
Size: 750ml
Grape: Malbec (Argentina)
Find here from Sainsbury’s: £7

Mailbag

‘How did you get into the wine and drinks industry as a profession?’

Listen in as we chat about all this and boozy baubles, British Airways new wine related job, the new 2022 trend of ‘Switching’ and much, much more…

How to Put Together the Perfect Cheeseboard

As Helena looks into wine and cheese matching, she gets some tips from Hero Hirsh, head of retail at the award-winning cheesemonger, Paxton & Whitfield about how to put together the perfect cheeseboard or cheese platter.

How much cheese per person?

If your cheeseboard is part of a meal, about 100g to 125g of cheese per person and  possibly a little more at Christmas is ideal, so 150g each. This is because at Christmas, the cheeseboard will often sit out for longer so people will come and go for snacks throughout the day. We can certainly agree with that!

How do you put a cheeseboard together?

Think about offering a mix of styles, textures and flavours on the platter. This is why the combination of Cheddar, Stilton and Brie has always been popular as you've got a blue, a hard cheese and a soft cheese; different textures, different milks and different flavours to savour. If you’d like to add further cheeses, perhaps think about a goats cheese and a washed rind to complete the board. Five is a good number for a full board.

Should you consider other food in the meal when putting together the cheese platter?

Yes, certainly consider what other food you are serving for the meal or at the event. If the dish just before is rich and flavoursome, think about selecting cheeses that have a stronger flavour so that they complement preceding courses. The cheese course should be a continuation of flavours so it can be enjoyed so try to match the intensity. 

What are the ideal accompaniments to a cheese board?

If you’ve got lots of flavoursome cheeses, then keep accompaniments simple, so one chutney or honey, one style of biscuit or artisan bread and then perhaps some grapes or dried fruits. Arrange them around the pieces of the cheese on the cheeseboard. Finally, I’d add  in the cheese knife and then you have a visually appetising cheeseboard to enjoy.

Are there rules to how to lay out cheese on a cheeseboard?

There are no hard and fast rules about laying a cheeseboard out. The most important thing is to make sure that it looks visually appealing and that it is easy for guests to help themselves to the cheese. There are no real rules about which cheeses can and can’t sit close to each other on a cheeseboard. If you go for a good balanced selection as outlined above, everything should be fine. 

Any tips on how to store various types of cheese?  And what to do with any leftover bits of cheese?  

How you treat the cheese has an important impact on your enjoyment of it. Once bought, I would always recommend storing the cheese in a cold room or the bottom of the fridge - if possible wrapped in waxed paper as this allows the cheese to breath. Before serving, bring the cheese out to warm up to room temperature. Twenty minutes should be enough, particularly in a warm house at Christmas. Letting the cheese warm a little will help improve its flavours when you come to eat it.  

A good piece of advice for when buying cheese for your cheeseboard at Christmas is to buy less cheese but bigger pieces. Larger pieces of fewer types will keep better over Christmas time. Bigger cuts of cheese store better than lots of small cuts. A hard cheese, a blue, a soft cheese and a piece of cheese that is slightly different or surprising is all that you need to create an appealing cheeseboard. 

In terms of leftovers, cheese is incredibly versatile and leftover cheese makes a superb cooking ingredient. It can be used in soups, risottos, pasta bakes and as a finishing touch stirred into a gravy, or sauce, to add a little bit of richness.  

Visit Paxton & Whitfield for all your cheese needs:

www.paxtonandwhitfield.co.uk

London Shops

93 Jermyn Street, London SW1Y 6JE 
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7930 0259
Email: jermynstreet@paxtonandwhitfield.co.uk

22 Cale Street, London, SW3 3QU
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7584 0751
Email: calestreet@paxtonandwhitfield.co.uk

Bath Shop

1 John Street, Bath, BA1 2JL
Telephone: +44 (0)1225 466403
Email: bath@paxtonandwhitfield.co.uk

The Best Luxury Whisky to Gift

Words by Colin Hampden-White 

There are many things I love about Christmas, but the one thing I love the most is the number of new releases and extensions to core ranges that are released in the world of whisky. Especially that nowadays, the world of whisky really does mean the world over. Even through lockdown I have managed to metaphorically travel the globe within the world of whisky. This Christmas I’d like to share with you my favourite luxury whiskies, after all it’s a time of year we like treat those, we love. I’ll begin with my first love, Scotch, and then take you on a little journey to all four corners of the globe in a veritable concoction of exotic flavours.

Scotch

The Glenturret Manager Dram  

Created by distillery manager Ian Renwick, who is known to like peated whisky, he took three American and European oak casks of peated whisky and married them together to create this beautifully sweet peated whisky. With only 500 bottles produced, this is very limited, but there is still some left in the distillery shop.

ABV: 53%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £145

Glen Moray 1998 Barolo Finish Warehouse 1

This is Glen Moray, but not quite as we know it. It has the typical honey and orchard fruits we love in Glen Moray, but it also has a whole lot more. The finishing in Barolo gives the whisky a greater richness. Red fruits are plentiful and arrive on the palate as fresh and confected fruits. Red wine gums are the predominant fruit flavour with lots of sweetness and toasted oak.  A morish whisky which expands the already eclectic wine finished whiskies created by Glen Moray. With only 863 bottles released, I’d make a b-line for one sooner rather than later.

ABV: 52.9%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £143.16

Glenmorangie Signet

I know I extol the virtues of Glenmorangie Signet a lot, but that’s because it is so good. Made by using a small percentage of Chocolate Malt, which is heavily roasted malted barely, this whisky epitomises luxury in a glass with lots of coffee and chocolate flavours alongside manuka honey, toasted oak and soft gentle spices. One of my favourite whiskies of all time and if I’m asked for any recommendations for a special present for someone, this is always on my list. The bottle looks and feels special too with great design, more akin to a premium Cognac to Scotch, it feels special from start to finish.

ABV: 46%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £143.48

Jura 18

This is one of my favourite whiskies from Jura and I think it represents the best value on the planet for an 18 year old whisky. It will not stay at this price for long so stock up whilst you can, I have! Created from a mixture of American and European oak it is rich and smooth with plenty of complexity in the form of fresh and dried fruits. With a subtle touch of spice and fine toasted oak, this whisky punches well above its weight and is certainly a luxury dram.

ABV: 44%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £59.14

Talisker 18  

This is another whisky which is great value at the moment but will be increasing in price very soon. The current stock of this whisky is selling quickly and is already hard to find. Whisky Online still has some at a little more than the original price. When the restock comes next year expect Talisker 18 to be at least 25% more expensive.

ABV: 45.8%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £87

Raasay Single Malt

A new whisky to come to market this year, Raasay has been making waves. Distilled in the western isles of Scotland Raasay is a complex whisky especially considering it isn’t very old. It is also brilliant value for a luxury whisky. I’ve had this whisky in plenty of blind tastings and it is always mistaken for a much more expensive whisky. With lots of red fruits, vanilla fudge and touches of pepper and chocolate, all wrapped up in a sweet cloak of peat and smoke, this is a smooth whisky which is definitely worth trying.

ABV: 46.4%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £48

The Dalmore Port Wood Reserve  

The Dalmore must be one of the few whiskies which everyone associates with luxury. Known for creating whiskies with lots of sherry influence this expression is no different, with lots of Christmas cake aromas and flavours and plenty of spice. What makes this one a little different is the port wood which adds a layer of complexity and deep red fruit flavour, think plumbs and dark cherries. Bottled at an above average strength this whisky is still very smooth. So rather than pass the port this Christmas, try passing the port wood reserve.

ABV: 46.5%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £74.95

World Whisky

Oxford Artisan Distillery The Graduate

The Oxford Artisan Distillery makes their whiskies with ancient grains, and they have so little that they must batch their whiskies. This one is the 6th of their releases and is made with Rye. The colour of the whisky is deep amber, and the flavours are not only typical of rye with oily peppery notes, but also have plenty of underlying fruit and rich toasted oak. A new distillery which is going from strength to strength with every release. And they make a great gin too!

ABV: 51.3%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £89.95

Bushmills 2000  

This expression is a part of the causeway collection from Bushmills. It takes the usual flavours one expects from Bushmills and Irish whisky and turns the volume up. It is rich and complex, and left to build on the palate a huge wave of exotic tropical fruit comes through. A truly luxury Irish whisky and with old Irish malt whisky continuing to rise in price, these will never by found for these prices again. A real treat for this holiday season.

ABV: 54.1%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £259.95

Stauning Rye

Last year I was loving Rye whisky from Stork. This year I’ve been enjoying another European rye whisky but this time from Denmark rather than Germany. With big oily peppery flavours mixed with cooked fruits and sweet oak from fresh barrels, this Rye has a luxury feel and flavour. I would say savour it, but it is so moreish I suspect it won’t last that long on anyone’s shelf.

ABV: 48%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £56.95

Cotswolds Sherry Cask

This is one of the best sherry cask whiskies I tasted in 2021. Not just one of the best from the new world of whisky, but one of the best from everywhere, including Scotland. It delivers the spicy, Christmas cask flavours with such beautiful balance one doesn’t notice it is over 57% ABV. Rich with lots of dried and fresh fruit from both the oak and spirit, it is no doubt a luxury whisky and is an ongoing expression in the Cotswolds core range. So once you’ve tried it this Christmas, it will be there next year for you to enjoy even more.

ABV: 57.4%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £62.95

Kavalan solist Amontillado Sherry Cask

Kavalan produce quite a few single cask ex sherry whiskies, and this is one of my favourites. Not as heavy as an Oloroso sherry cask and not as light as a ex Fino cask, this whisky has a flavour profile which runs right down the middle. There are Christmas cake flavours and spice, but also zesty lemon and a very slight salinity to it. Extremely complex and the epitome of luxury coming from Taiwan.   

ABV: 55.6%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £360

Johnnie Walker Masters of Flavour

Jim Beverage, the Master Blender at Diageo, the creator of Johnnie Walker is about to retire at the end of this year. His last creation, made with the assistance of the whole blending team at Diageo is a 48 year old blended whisky. Masters of Flavour is quite a whisky and tops my luxury whisky for Christmas 2021. Out of most of our reach, but for those who can, should. Only 283 bottles were created, and it is one of the greatest blended whiskies I have tried. Sweet at first, with a complex mix of honey, but clear and crystalline, leading to fresh fruits, then dried with a touch of smoke then building up on the palate. The finish is extraordinarily long, but not drying. Using seven whiskies from Port Dundas, Brora, Glen Albyn, Glenury Royal, Blair Athol, Dalwhinnie and Camronbridge, it is a remarkable whisky to end a difficult year.

ABV: 41.8%
Size: 700ml
Find here: £20,000

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