The Best Whisky From Around the World Under £40

I am frequently asked ‘What is the best whisky to buy?’, and the honest answer is it depends on what you like, and how much you are willing to spend. However, if a tight budget is set there is still a lot of choice out there. I have compiled a list of the 10 best whiskies to have in a home bar from all over the world, and all at under £40. This list will include the best American, Irish, New World whisky, and of course, more than a few from Scotland. There should be something for everyone on this list, and If you drink whisky a fair amount, more than one of these should certainly grace your home bar this year.

Glen Moray Classic

Probably my most written about single malt whisky. It’s a flavour bargain in a bottle. Lots of Speyside sweet orchard fruit, honey and vanilla and for well under the set price. If you’d like to know more, there is plenty of information on our site.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find it here: UK £23.24 // US $29.99

Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Year Old

My well documented all-time favourite whisky. It has a good amount of fruit, sweetness, caramel and a soft whiff of smoke running through it. It can be mixed well in a multitude of cocktails, as well as being sipped over ice, drunk with a little water or even sipped neat. The most versatile whisky in the world. To find out more about the Johnnie Walker range, click here.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find it here: UK £21.99 // US $39.99

Glenfiddich 12 Year Old

This list is turning out to be the GOAT list for whisky! All classic whiskies are sold all over the world, and here we have the world’s most sold single malt Scotch. It’s so fruity with apples and pears with a little honey and fine oak. Hard to beat, and along with the following whisky, the best starter whisky for anyone’s palate.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find it here: UK £33.95 // US $44.99

Glenlivet 12 Year Old

Glenfiddich and Glenlivet 12 year old vie for the top position of best sold single malt in the world all the time. Like Glenfiddich, this whisky has lots of complexity and lots of fruit. The Glenlivet has a slightly richer profile with some dried fruits from more ex-sherry influence, but this is a point of difference rather than extra complexity. Both are brilliant.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find it here: UK £29 // US $47.99

Jura 10 Year Old

 A lesser known distillery, and one of the best introductions to island whisky. Both ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks are used in the production giving lots of complexity with both dried raisins, honey, vanilla and white stone fruits, and a long finish. It is very smooth and easy to drink and makes a great Old Fashioned. There is a subtle layer of smoke underlying all the other flavours showing the east coast influence.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find it here: UK £32.49 // US $38.99

Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon

One of the greatest value Bourbon whiskies in the world. Four Roses is made up from 10 mash bills and four recipes which are blended to create a complex, sweet very easy going and versatile bourbon. The complexity and intensity of flavour lift this bourbon beyond most of its competitors at this price range.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 45%
Find it here: UK £30.95 // US $33.99

Woodford Reserve Kentucky Bourbon

If I had to choose one bourbon to have at home, this would be it. With a mash bill that is corn dominant, but includes rye and malt, it is also triple distilled and placed in the barrels at a lower than usual abv. All this gives smoothness without the loss of flavour and complexity. Great in cocktails and just as good sipped slowly with or without ice.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 43.2%
Find it here: UK £39.49 // US $36.99

Stork Club Straight Rye Whiskey 

Stork Club hails from Germany and is distilled just south of Berlin. Using a mixture of ex-bourbon barrels and German Napoleon oak, this is a bold whisky with a spicy back palate that is perfect for making cocktails, especially a highball. There are flavours of butterscotch and pepper with some citrus, especially on the finish. I’d have this rye whisky on my bar all the time.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 45%
Find it here: £34.78

Nikka Days

A modern Japanese whisky for the modern whisky era. Nikka days is a blended Japanese whisky using all Japanese spirits. There are single malts from Miyagikyo and Yoichi distilleries and there is a delicate smoky influence that balances the malt and fruity flavours. With the rise in popularity and cost of Japanese whisky, this is great value.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find it here: UK £37.95 // US $49.99

Mars Kasei

This is a whisky I know little about except that it is blended using a variety of barrels using Japanese whiskies. However, I do know it tastes brilliant. It has aromas of wildflowers and a touch of smoke leading to a palate full of apples and honey and a little caramel. The finish brings in citrus and vanilla. This is a very good Japanese whisky and would deserve to grace any home.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find it here: £38.60 

Choosing the best whiskies to have at home for under £40 has been a challenge. There are still so many great whiskies to buy coming from all categories of whisky, including whiskies that would normally be thought of as expensive, like single malt Scotch and Japanese whisky. And what is exciting is that there are even more out there to explore in this price range. And if you can occasionally stretch to a little more the choice becomes even harder!

Words by Colin Hampden-White

The 12 Best Scotch Whiskies to Sip This Burns Night

It doesn’t take much of an excuse for me to have a dram or two on any evening of the year, but there is one night of the year that gives me a reason to open something very special. A very special whisky means different things to different people on different budgets and at different points on their whisky journey, so suggesting whiskies to try for Burns Night can be tricky.

Within this article, I am choosing the best whiskies I have tried over the last year or whiskies I have loved for many years at every price point beyond the bottom shelf of a supermarket. I will be brief with a few of them as I have written about them before extensively, and for others, which are new to me or the market I will try and give a fuller view of why they should pass your lips. Whether it be budget or blowout, I hope there is something here that whets your appetite for Burn’s Night.

Glen Moray Classic

The all-time best value single malt whisky on the market today. It can be found in most shops at around £20 and can occasionally be found on special offer for under that. With typical Speyside flavours of honey, vanilla and lots of orchard fruit, this is the perfect whisky to start with.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find it here: UK £23.24 // US $29.99

Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Year Old

This is the whisky which, when asked what’s my favourite, I have no hesitation in choosing. I have listed it many, many times, like in this round-up of all the Johnnie Walker expressions. It is complex with fruit, smoke and sweetness. As Tina would say, it’s “simply the best”.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find it here: £26.89 // US $33.99

Glen Grant 10 Year Old

Another very good beginner’s whisky from Speyside, packed with flavour. This has an age statement so it is a little more expensive. Created with tall stills, there are lots of fruity flavours and lots of malty flavours, there is also a touch of peat, so for those wanting to experience a little smoke in their dram, this is a great place to start.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find it here: £30.99

Dailuaine 16 Year Old

This is one of my all-time favourite whiskies. The balance of fruit, sweetness and wood is perfect. It is one of the few bottles in my house that is immediately replaced when it runs out. I think it is still incredible value considering it is a 16 year old and from a distillery which is rarely found in any other bottling. This is the only official one from owners Diageo and it’s hard to beat. Usually, you’ll find it for around £60 but it can be found for less, like the link below.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find it here: £45.75

Jura Seven Wood

Hailing from the isle of Jura, and by looking at the name, this whisky is clear about the way it is matured. Using seven different cask types, there is American oak and six other types including French oak, Limousin, Tronçais, Allier, Vosges, Jupilles and Les Bertranges. All this makes for a complex whisky with lots of fine oak character and a mix of orchard and white stone fruits with peach being the main one. Fine oak on the finish with some vanilla and a touch of smoke. A great way to start an island adventure.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 42%
Find it here: UK £54.89 // US $83.99

Dalmore 12 Year old

Moving into the highlands, Dalmore is one of the luxury brands in Scotch, and with good reason. Here we start to see the use of ex-sherry casks in the maturation which gives a dried fruit character, as well as fruit cake and spice. There are also delicate citrus notes and a little marmalade, and you can expect a long finish too. Complex stuff and perfect for Burn’s Night.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find it here: UK £55 // US $64.99

Glen Grant 15 Year Old Batch Strength First Edition

A sweet and spicy expression of Glen Grant and at 50% abv this delivers flavour in abundance. Plenty of sweet orange and orchard fruit with caramel, fine oak and vanilla. Apricot jam is dominant on the palate and spices cut through the finish beautifully. An impressive dram where the alcohol helps rather than hinders all the delicate flavours. 

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 50%
Find it here: £59.95 // US $80.99

BenRiach 16 Year Old

This is a new addition to the Benriach range and a great addition it is. It is unpeated and matured in a mixture of ex-bourbon, ex-sherry and virgin oak casks. Based on the original expression of the 16 year old which was made quite a few years ago now, it is a fruity Speyside with spice, toasted oak, a little dried apricot and a finish that is long and satisfying. Class in a glass.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find it here: £76.95

Octomore 10.1

Octomore is a smoky whisky on steroids. The peating levels in Octomore are said to be the highest ever in a Scotch. However, whilst making this whisky pretty extreme, there is also an elegance allowing the fruit to come through the high levels of peat. The peat is also sweet rather than ashy making it surprisingly easy to drink given the high abv. I’d add a little water to remove some of the nose prickle, but each to their own, and at least at this strength, the whisky gives you the choice. The 10.1 series is now in short supply and getting difficult to find, so if you see one, I’d go for it.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find it here: £149.00

Bruichladdich Black Art 10.1 1993 29 year old

This is the 10th release of this brilliant whisky and the cask recipe is unknown to those outside of the distillery. It is even more complex than previous expressions of the Black Art with lots of chocolate, dark fruit jams and manuka honey leading to ginger, raisins, tinned peaches, tobacco, and spices. I could go on and on. It’s very impressive and although a bit of a splurge, this is worth every single penny.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 45.1%
Find it here: UK £403.57 // US $699.99

Islay Single Malt 32 Year Old from the Thompson Brothers

This is incredible value for a 32 year old single malt. Although we don’t know which distillery it comes from, we do know that is is absolutely delicious. Bottled in small quantities and with the usual, unusual, and colourful label from whiskyhobo especially for the bottlers, this is a wonderful Islay whisky. With typical briny notes and lots of crushed shells, ripe olives and some ripe tropical fruits, it is complex and grows with air in the glass. Simon and Phil Thompson have become a bit of a cult in the independent bottling world, and with drams like this one, one can see why.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 49.3%
Find it here: £350

Glenfarclas 50 Year Old

This particular release of the Glenfarfclas 50 year old was created for the 50th anniversary of the owner and chairman John Grant starting in the Scotch Whisky industry. John is the 5th generation of the grant family to take the helm and it is the oldest family owned and family run distillery. It is a hugely complex whisky with sherry influence and the influence of five decades of gentle maturation. This is something very rare and special, and finding it, or any 50 year old single malt for less than five figures is also rare these days.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 50%
Find it here: £9,000

Hopefully, there is something here you can experience for the first time and make this year’s Burn’s Night a memorable one. With the world of whisky expanding very quickly these days, it is good to have a day to reflect on the more traditional home of whisky, Scotland, and all its fabulous offerings. If you’re not too sure that whisky is for you, firstly, well done for making it this far but also, why not check out these Great Alternatives for Burn’s Night?

Words by Colin Hampden-White

The Best Whisky Alternatives For Burns Night

January 25th brings Burns Night, the birthday of The Scottish Bar, Robert ‘Rabbie’ Burns. His classic works like Auld Lang Syne are known across the world, and traditionally, haggis and Scotch are served after reading Rabbie’s words to ‘address the haggis’.

It’s the perfect excuse to pour out a special dram, but believe it or not Scotch lovers, not everyone loves it! So, whether it’s wine, spirits, or even alcohol-free drinks you’re looking for, these are the best alternatives to sip on during Burns Night, that give nods to the event without going the whole hog, or the whole haggis. Enjoy!

WINE

Jacob’s Creek Double Barrel Shiraz

Another fantastic wine drinker’s choice for Burns Night is this Double Barrel Shiraz... because it’s literally aged in Scotch whisky barrels! Available in almost all supermarkets, this Jacob’s Creek range includes other wines finished with Scotch, but the Australian Shiraz is really top notch. It’s first matured in traditional oak wine barrels, building richness and elegance with hints of blueberry and ripe plum. Finishing in Scotch barrels leaves for a seriously moreish easy-drinking smoothness as well as vanilla and charry oak notes. It’s a fantastic food-friendly Shiraz that would sing alongside beef, mushrooms, and blue cheese.

Size: 750ml
ABV: 14.5%
Find here: UK £10 (usually £12!) Sainsbury’s // US $21.99

1000 Stories Chardonnay

1000 Stories make a number of wines, with each fermenting in charred barrels that once housed iconic Kentucky bourbon. We’ve picked out their Chardonnay which reimagines the Cali classic without losing the characteristic of what makes the full-bodied grape so loved. The result is lush, charred vanilla and toasted caramel perfectly balanced by the more familiar baked apple and pear. The inclusion of a little Viognier adds even more intrigue with tropical hints in the background. Gorgeous!

Size: 750ml
ABV: 13.5% 
Find here: UK £16.50 Tesco // US $16.99

SPIRITS

Mount Gay XO Triple Cask Blend

The peak of rum heritage is Mount Gay who release some absolute crackers, and the dark and brooding XO is right up there. Resting for between 8-15 years in a combination of American whiskey, bourbon and Cognac casks creates a precision balance. A lovely oakiness underlines everything, decorated with inviting notes of waxy pear and sticky toffee fig pudding. Full-flavour, impossibly smooth, and finally the very gentle warming spice that you need on Burns Night – it’s the best rum option to replace Scotch. Try it with a large coconut water ice cube to really accentuate the coconut notes too.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: UK £54.59 // US $64.99

Firkin Gin Islay Cask

Firkin Gin produce some delicious gin, many finished with wines and whiskies. We even tried their Côtes Du Roussillon in, ‘The Three Drinkers Do Scotch Whisky’, but on Burns Night, gin lovers should go to their Islay Cask! Best known for Scotch, Firkin Gin have imparted that Islay character into this London dry-style gin by resting it in oak casks that used to house local whisky. In amongst the juniper, lime and honey botanicals, peat smoke wafts through on the nose before distinct vanilla and sea-breeze notes on the palate. The peppery finish ties up the peaty elements nicely, for a gin that is both light, zesty, and coastal, but smoky too. Explore it neat but perhaps serve with ginger beer after that.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £34.99

Storywood Speyside 14 Añejo Tequila

Raised in Texas but born in Scotland, Michael Ballantyne founded the award-winning Storywood to produce tequila, ‘with the heart of Mexico and the soul of Scotland’. It’s unusual to see Speyside and Tequila in the same sentence, but the 100% blue weber agave añejo matures in Scotch casks from the area for 14 months to create one of the most uniquely layered tequilas around. Think caramelised nuts and toasted oak, intertwining with the earthy and vegetal agave that sits at the heart of it. Innovative and well worth a try to see if the combination is a hit for you!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £49.30

Kalak Peat Cask Vodka

Another expression you don’t see often but just so happens to be the perfect alternative to Scotch for Burns Night... cask-aged vodka. Kalak’s crisp Irish malted barley vodka is distilled four times and finished in virgin American oak casks charred over Irish peat fires. What an image that is! A mellow smoke coats the bakery profile of vanilla, gingerbread, and cream wonderfully. The whisky presence is far from overbearing if you’re worried about that, it just adds a new toasted layer to the existing characteristics. We think this would also create some really unique cocktails, like a Smoky Martini. Cheers to Rabbie!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £33.90

Beeble Honey Whisky Liqueur

If you’re anything like us you’ll be instantly curious about that distinct honied hue and giant bee, and even more intrigued about what ‘honey spirit’ is. When the founders began their first hive, they found it difficult to avoid wasting the honey that stuck to the frames. They tried soaking them in whisky and the first Beeble batch was born. They now have over 130 sustainable hives, and still only use honey, water, and whisky. English apple blossom honey blends with Scotch for a super silky and floral bottling at just 30%. If you really don’t like whisky, then maybe stay clear but if you want to explore a much easier drinking sweet liqueur version, then this is a must try. It won a Great Taste Award in 2020 for its original flavour so see what you think!

Size: 500ml
ABV: 30%
Find here: £32

NO LO

Feragaia

If you don’t drink alcohol but still want to sip on something special for the celebrations, then how about Feragaia? It’s a Scottish alcohol-free spirit combining 14 wild botanicals including chamomile, bay leaf and seaweed with local Scottish water. The grounding spices like pink peppercorn work well with the coastal Kelp and fresh lemon and blackcurrant for a really balanced and clean feeling of flora and earth. It might look like a very pale whisky, but Feragaia doesn’t intend to try to replicate a spirit, instead they hope that this stands in its own right as its own thing. Bravo!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 0%
Find here: £19.94

Crossip ‘Dandy Smoke’

Crossip has a great range of booze-free spirits, but it was Dandy Smoke that picked up The Independent’s Best Overall Non-Alcoholic Spirit of 2021, and it has that Scotch profile we’re looking for. It’s smoky (obviously!) and velvet smooth with satisfying viscosity, which is important because a thin feel can be an issue with booze-free spirits. Underneath the enjoyable texture are layers of warming spice with a subtly medicinal punch not dissimilar from Islay expressions. It’s a smaller bottle than most but a little goes a long way with this one. Try it with cola or ginger ale, or even at the base of a fresh mocktail!

Size: 500ml
ABV: 0%
Find here: £22

If after all that you’ve come full circle and just want quality Scotch for Burns Night, then check out our list of the very best, from budget to blowout.

Words by Calum Ecroyd

The Best Hot Toddy Cocktail Variations

What is a hot toddy?

There’s nothing quite like a hot toddy to soothe the winter chill in our bones is there? The history of the hot toddy is by no means set in stone. In India, toddy has long been a fermented palm tree sap concoction, and by the end of the 1700s, it came to mean, ‘a beverage made of alcoholic liquor with hot water, sugar, and spices’ in the United Kingdom.

One man credited with its popularity is Robert Bentley Todd, an Irish physician who prescribed hot brandy, cinnamon, syrup, and water in the 1830s to his patients with flu. Now that sounds better than tablets to us!

These days, the winter warmer is loved by many to jump-start mornings, soothe colds, and sore throats, as a nightcap, or just to heat up during the chilly nights. So versatile! And the good thing about that is, there are tonnes of room to adapt the recipes...

So, without further ado, here are our best hot toddy variations, whatever you’re in the mood for, and even if you don’t like whisky!

For the traditionalists: The Original Hot Toddy

Some recipes are as simple as whisky + sugar + water, and others read more like full shopping lists, so we’ve kept it fairly simple with cloves and cinnamon for mellow and warming spice, honey for sweetness, lemon juice to cut through and of course, a gorgeous splash of whisky at the heart of everything. Balanced and beautiful, it’s soothing comfort in a mug.

Ingredients
1 clove
2 tsp lemon juice
1 tbsp honey
100ml-150ml hot water
35ml Whisky (Johnnie Walker Black Label is great)
1 cinnamon stick (optional)
Lemon wheel (garnish)

Method
Grab your favourite mug or handled glass and add the water. Mix in the whisky, lemon juice and honey until it’s completely disappeared. Chuck in the clove and the cinnamon if you like it. Most important of all, have a taste and adapt it how you like! You can add some sugar, or some more lemon, or even a splash of whisky if it’s not got enough oomph.

For the bourbon drinkers: Ginger Toddy

Bourbon works just as well as Scotch in a Hot Toddy, so it’s just down to your preference, but we love it with the ginger here. Those warming spicy notes, with vanilla and caramel bourbon hints create a delicious bakery feel to the cocktail. This is guaranteed to leave a lovely zing in your mouth and warm you down to your toes!

Ingredients
35ml bourbon
15ml ginger syrup
100ml hot water
Lemon wheel (garnish)

Method
Combine the bourbon, ginger syrup and hot water in your favourite mug and stir thoroughly, adding a splash of lemon juice if you want extra zing! Then enjoy!

For the cider drinkers: The Hot Apple Toddy

Now be aware that this has a serious kick to it because the water is being swapped out for apple cider. You can still add cinnamon and a clove if you wish, but if you’ve used a good cider then there should be bold enough flavours without. Along similar lines, if you’d prefer an even fruiter version, use apple brandy instead of whisky! Oh so satisfying and that subtle tang is lovely.

Ingredients
1 tsp honey
100ml apple cider
35ml whisky or apple brandy
1 cinnamon stick (optional)

Method
Heat up your cider in a saucepan and pour this into your mug or glass coated with honey at the bottom. Add your whisky and optional spices and stir well.

For the gin lovers: Hot Gin Toddy

There are even options for you gin lovers out there. The Hot Gin Toddy relies on the beautiful botanicals in the gin, with the heat opening them up and giving them a new lease of life. It’s just as warming, but with a pleasantly aromatic profile that’s surprisingly light and refreshing too.

Top Tip: Dry gin will work better because the botanicals tend to react to hot water more reliably.

Ingredients
1 tsp sugar
35ml gin (dry)
100ml hot water
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 cinnamon stick (garnish)
1 lemon wheel (garnish)

Method
Super simple, just mix everything really well with the hot water and give it a final stir with the cinnamon stick. Make sure the water isn’t boiling hot because this may be too harsh on the gin.

For the rum drinkers: Hot Rum Toddy

Rum fits so nicely into the Hot Toddy recipe, with those warming spices and underlying sweetness accentuated beautifully. Whilst Scotch has always been the Hot Toddy go-to in the UK, rum used to be far more readily available in America, so this or brandy was usually used. Any rum works, but we would suggest dark rum for that deep caramel flavour, and the spicier notes.

Ingredients
1 tbsp honey
35ml rum (preferably dark)
100ml hot water
1 cinnamon stick
Lemon wedge (garnish)

Method
Stir together everything so that the honey is completely dissolved and drop in the cinnamon stick giving it plenty of time to diffuse. Garnish with a lemon wedge to finish, and squeeze in a little juice if you prefer! Truly a fireside sipper that gives the original a run for its money.

For the vodka drinkers: Toffee Apple Hot Toddy

This may ring some bells because we recommended it as the perfect Bonfire Night cocktail when Lewis Stairs, founder of Sunday Cocktail Club joined us in Ep.96 of the Bring a Bottle Podcast. It’s gorgeously smooth, with that slightly sweeter bourbon intertwining with crisp toffee vodka. The apple juice completes the hot toffee apple vibe, and it’s a fantastic option if you’ve got a sweeter tooth.

Ingredients
25ml toffee vodka
50ml bourbon
40ml apple juice
Splash of lemon (optional)
Cinnamon stick (garnish)

Method
All you’ve got to do is heat everything up in a saucepan until it’s hot throughout, but not bubbling. Keep some cool apple juice behind to cool it down if needs be. We love the very subtle sour edge that the lemon provides, but feel free to leave it out – it’s your creation! Feel free to check out Lewis making it here.

For the non-alcoholic drinkers: Apple Berry Toddy

There are lots of alcohol-free hot toddy variations using different types of tea, but we wanted something that still has the boozy profile to it... just without the booze itself. Step up Crossip Rich Berry, perfect for mulled wines but also hot toddies. It’s packed with rich blackberries and cherries, and a lovely layer of spice. Obviously, there isn’t quite the power that comes from a spirit, so swap out the water for some lovely hot apple juice and it’s a warming winner with heaps of flavour.

Ingredients
25ml Crossip Rich Berry
125ml Apple Juice
Lemon (garnish)

 Method
Like every hot toddy, it’s easy to pull together. Just heat everything together and decant! A little squeeze and garnish of lemon is a nice finishing touch. The only difficult bit is trying not to finish it all in one sitting!

If you are looking for more delicious drink ideas this January, why not check out our recommendations for the best no and low alcohol drinks?

Words by Calum Ecroyd

10 Stunning Scotch Whiskies For Hogmanay

There’s nothing like a dazzling dram to usher in the New Year. Whether you’re clinking glasses with friends and loved ones or looking for a tasty Scotch to arrive with as a ‘first footer’, we’ve got you covered.

Not familiar with first footers? It’s the Scottish tradition of being the first person to enter the house after midnight, who usually brings gifts including coal and whisky in exchange for a meal, before cracking open the good stuff afterwards.

Well, if you bring any of these, you’ll definitely be welcomed into any house in your neighbourhood (okay, maybe not any), because whether it’s peaty, fruity, or sweet, you’ll find the standout Scotch for your Hogmanay in this Top 10.

Black Bottle Double Cask Alchemy Series

Inside this gorgeous retro bottle is an equally gorgeous wine-finished whisky with two intertwined blends. First, a grain whisky matured in red wine casks, and second a malt matured in Spanish sherry. Bright red berries run from nose to finish and are offset by mellow vanilla and nutty notes for a really well put together Scotch on the sweeter side. One of the best options for the price.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46.3%
Find here: £25.75

Glen Grant 10 Year Old

We loved sipping this on our Bring a Bottle podcast because it appeals to whisky beginners and seasoned dram drinkers all the same. Behind that gorgeous amber colouring is a Speyside single malt that’s spent a decade in bourbon casks infusing with a light and malty profile. Green orchard comes through, as does distinct toffee and vanilla with a gentle peat finish. It's completely deserving of its awards, and you’ll have no regrets whatsoever about making it your first drink of the new year!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%    
Find here: £30.99

Glen Moray 12 Year Old Elgin Heritage

Glen Moray has a great portfolio of whiskies, but this is probably their best – the flagship 12-year-old. There’s none of the slightly unusual casks you often see with Glen Moray here, simply American oak done super well. It’s a classic Speyside single malt with good malty depth and variety of notes, from apple and shortbread on the nose to a light vanilla and honey palate. Nothing dominates, the balance is spot on and it’s more than up to the job of being your Hogmanay dram!

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: UK £35.90 // US $43.99

CreAg Dhu

Another beautiful bottle with that river of whisky nectar running through inviting you in, and the landscape hints at Craeg Dhu’s mission too. Smoky Scotch requires peat burning, which releases carbon and can cut into the biodiverse peatlands in an unsustainable way. Therefore, funds from each bottle of this non-peated Scotch sold go towards saving the peatlands, which are the largest UK carbon store. The Speyside dram itself is matured for 8 years in Sherry casks and there’s sumptuous, dried fruits with honey alongside nutty malt notes and warming ever so slightly charred spice. If you like sweet and fruity Scotch then this is great for you, and you’re supporting a good cause at the same time. Win win.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40.2%
Find here: £33.99

Bladnoch Vinaya

Since changing ownership, renovating, and bringing in a new Master Distiller, Bladnoch’s new expressions have levelled up. Vinaya is wonderful single malt matured in first-fill bourbon and first-fill sherry casks for a complexity beyond the price, capturing summery lowland florals, gentle spice with pepper and cinnamon and a comforting fruity sweetness through the heart of it. Easy drinking and a distillery to keep an eye on going forward!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46.7%
Find here: £48.99

Blair Athol 12 Year Old - Flora and Fauna

This is a Highland gem from the Flora and Fauna series of single malts. Dating back to 1798, Blair Athol Distillery sits on the peaty foothills of the Grampian Mountains in a stunning landscape, and the Scotch is just as magical. Pure sherry cask maturation gives rich dried fruit spices and a toffee aroma that builds as it’s exposed to the air. As the ice in your glass melts, fresh gooseberries and apricots come to the front before a curiously sweet and slightly unusual aftertaste. One of the most characterful sherried whiskies around and well worthy of celebrating the New Year with.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: £48.94

Big Peat 12 Year Old

This Islay Blended Malt arrives in a very distinct and eye-catching bottle, and it’s the first permanent release from Douglas Laing’s peat series, blending various single malts from the island’s distilleries. At 12 years old, the peaty intensity is bold but not overpowering and there’s a fine balance, with forward coastal sea-breeze vibes too. Citrus complexity adds depth to the flavour, and the campfire char arrives early on. Simply put, this is a must try for those of you who love peaty whisky and one you’ll probably revisit a few times in the year ahead after trying.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: UK £49.95 // US $45.99

Deanston 12 Year Old Oloroso Cask Matured

This Oloroso Sherry Cask Matured Scotch is very special, and if you can’t pour it on celebrating a new year then when else can you? It was limited to 13,227 bottles when it was distilled in 2008, and at almost 53%, it has serious oomph. With dried fruit, honey and warming gingery spice, it’s a fantastic way of continuing the Christmassy flavours. From the minute it hits your nose, it’s bold and the smooth mouthfeel is so moreish. Nom!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 52.7%
Find here: £76.99

The Sassenach Blended Scotch Whisky

Double Gold winner for Blended Scotch at the 2020 World Spirits Competition, The Sassenach is the first Scotch launched by actor Sam Heughan (Outlander) and it’s a triumphant debut. It’s bursting with warmth and vibrancy, with cinnamon and zest on the nose, and honeyed almonds alongside vanilla fudge rising up on the palate. It really is a completely satisfying dram with beauty to match the Highlands it’s inspired by. Classy bottle too.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £79.95

Jura Tide 21 Year Old

We’ll finish on a pricier option, but it’s impossible to leave it out. It’s gilded with major awards and if you’re able to splash out, then this is where you want to put your money. 60 miles off the west coast of Scotland is the tiny, remote, and rugged island of Jura. There are 20x the number of deer as there are people, but for an island with just a single road and pub, it leaves its mark and then some. It also has just one distillery that has always been at the centre of the community, and since being rescued from ruin in the 1960s, it has a flawless reputation now. Tide is their 21-year-old single malt that’s released as part of their Aged Vintage series. It’s double matured, in ex bourbon barrels first, and then virgin American white oak casks. The spicy complexity is beguiling, with warming spices like ginger and pepper balanced out by lofty banana and white chocolate biscuits. From start to finish, it’s heaped with flavour that’s driven home by the high alcohol percentage. When it comes to bottling the magic of the surroundings, Jura Tide hits the nail on the head.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46.7%
Find here: £144.99

If you’re more into Irish whiskey, then it might not be the most traditional Hogmanay but hey ho, who’s gonna notice just by looking at it? Here are the best!

Words by Calum Ecroyd

Is Johnnie Walker Blonde the Perfect First Whisky?

Very few take to whisky on the first sip which is why many dram debutants quickly disregard it, leaving them completely puzzled about what all the fuss is for. If anyone has an interest in changing that, it should be the world’s best selling Scotch blend Johnnie Walker – introducing, ‘Blonde’.

We’ve covered the iconic colours of Johnnie Walker before, and from their complex black label to their sweeter gold, they have been slowly diversifying their range. This blonde bombshell is a blend of whiskies from Cameronbridge and Cardhu that are then matured in American oak giving the whisky delicious notes of toffee and caramel, as well as sweet fruit and vanilla. 

Not only is this specifically made to be a surprisingly sweet scotch, but it’s also one of the most versatile. Whilst it isn’t likely to offer the more seasoned whisky drinkers much in the way of neat sipping, it is ‘made to be mixed’. As a refreshing whisky lemonade or in most whisky cocktails, Johnnie Blonde truly comes into its own. 

By responding to, ‘a change in who’s ordering whisky, and how they’re drinking it’ as brand ambassador Tim Phillips-Johansson said, the hope is that this light and sweet scotch will win more drinkers around from the off, who then fall in love with whisky and go on to explore more challenging and complex flavour profiles – a well-trodden path indeed, and one that many of you might recognise yourself?

So, if you’ve simply never got on with whisky or you just want to try something a bit different, then a bottle of Blonde might surprise you. 

You can find it here for £27.88. If your scotch experiment goes well, then you might want to dive deeper into the world of whisky and explore some of Johnnie Walker’s other colours! You can find our breakdown of those here. 

Oh, one last thing - definitely let us know if Blonde has turned out to be your whisky breakthrough! And congratulations, a whole new world awaits you!

8 Stunning Wine Finished Whiskies You Need in Your Glass

If you’re not familiar with a ‘whisky finish’, then let us very quickly explain what it is. It’s when the spirit is aged in a cask from a certain origin, before being moved to a different cask for further maturation. More often than not you’ll find American oak ex-Bourbon barrels have been used for the first cask, but it’s often with the second cask that more unusual flavours come into play. 

One of our favourites for this whisky finish is wine, but there’s a hell of a lot of inconsistency with the results. It’s no simple task aging whisky with wine, so if it sounds like it might be up your street, here are a few of our absolute favourites worth seeking out.

Black Bottle Double Cask Alchemy Series

Two blends intertwine to create this; a malt whisky matured in Spanish sherry casks and a grain whisky matured in red wine casks. As a result, the red fruits and berries are influential from nose to finish, but they are balanced out by vanilla and nutty notes. This is delightfully sweet wine finished whisky and we love the bottle too!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46.3%
Find here: £25.75

Tamnavulin Red Wine Cask Edition

This splendid whisky is matured in American oak barrels and finished in French Cabernet Sauvignon casks imparting gorgeous notes of apple, honey, vanilla, and sweet red berry. It’s beautifully balanced because the mellow Tamnavulin works so well with the expressive fruity sweetness. 

Size: 700ml
ABV: 40%
Find here: £33.74

Tullibardine 225 Sauternes Cask Finish

This is a gloriously golden single malt distilled in the Scottish Highlands finished in a 225-litre cask - hence the name! These casks used to hold Sauternes dessert wine, so it’s no surprise that this whisky is particularly creamy and citrusy, with traces of sweet spice lingering on the finish. It would work really nicely for a fruitier Irish Coffee.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: £39.90

Linkwood 12 Year Old 2008 Bordeaux Edition

A fairly rare dram with a total of 358 bottles produced, it was distilled at Linkwood in Speyside and finished in a Bordeaux wine barrique (a fancier way of saying oak barrel, but particularly used for wines like Bordeaux). There’s a lot of very alluring baking notes with this one, including gentle spice, buttery pastry, baked apples and rich red fruits. The finish in particular is very warming with touches of roasted nut, pepper, and nutmeg. Super sippable!

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £49.95

Green Spot Château Léoville Barton

Another whiskey finished in barriques, but this one is Irish! In fact, it’s billed as the first of its kind in that respect. Before reaching these Château Léoville Barton casks though, it’s initially matured in a mixture of ex-Oloroso Sherry and ex-bourbon barrels. The result is a deeply layered blend, with floral fruity notes, and a lingering spice that continues from palate to finish.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £53.99

Glenmorangie Nectar D'or Sauternes

The exquisitely named Nectar d’Or has the syrupy, honeysuckle, and orange peel notes that you’d expect from a sweet Sauternes wine. No smokiness, it’s golden inside and out and is definitely one for the wine lovers out there. It would work well with a lightly flavoured soda like grapefruit, but at this quality you’ve got to try it neat first. 

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: UK £58.94 // US $81.99

GlenAllachie 12 Year Old Sauternes Finish 

This was whisky legend Billy Walker’s favourite wine finished whisky when he spoke with us recently, so you’re in good hands trying this one. A wonderfully well balanced Sauternes cask finish with plenty of fresh fruity sweetness on the palate, it’s a delightful dram.

Size: 700ml
ABV: 48%
Find here: £59.95

Whistle Pig 12 Year Old - Old World

Whistle Pig have been impressing people big time with their releases over the last few years and their award shelves must be feeling the strain, which explains the jump in price for this one. Old World is straight rye whiskey finished in three different wine casks – Madeira, Sauternes and finally Port. The spicy rye combines so well with the sweetness from the casks to create probably the best wine finished rye whiskey in the world. If you want to go all out, then this is the one for you.

Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 43%
Find here: UK £174.95 // US $179.99

We love wine finished whiskies at The Three Drinkers, so there’s a more detailed article here about Helena’s journey of discovery in Scotland. There’s also a few other fantastic options there that aren’t mentioned above!

Words by Calum Ecroyd

50 Years of Whisky Making History: Billy Walker’s Favourite Bottles from the GlenAllachie Range

We recently had the greatest pleasure of talking to one of the legends of the whisky industry, Billy Walker. Billy has been in the Scotch Whisky industry for 50 years and throughout his time in it has gained many awards including Master Distiller/Blender of the Year at the World Whisky Awards as well as being inducted into Whisky Magazine’s Hall of Fame in 2020!

Billy grew up in the whisky town of Dumbarton and having developed an interest in making whisky at a young age he went to The University of Glasgow and studied Chemistry gaining a BSc Honours Degree in 1967. It is this chemistry background that Billy has always said stood him in great stead along his whisky making career, and his advice to anyone wanting to make whisky is that having a background in chemistry would be very useful.

Billy’s huge enthusiasm for whisky was evident when he told us “The blending side of the business is unquestionably the most exciting part for me. It encompasses looking at what you have at the start of the journey and using experience to decide what needs to happen to a whisky to get it into that sweet spot such as which casks to place it in, or which casks to finish it in. That’s the most enjoyable side of the business for me”.

As for his favourite thing about the industry, he replied, “There is one thing I will say about this industry, and it may not be my favourite thing, but it is important. While we are competition (for each other), we are friendly competition, we will help each other out. There is no great envy or secrecy about who we are and what we are doing, and we will help each other out in certain circumstances which perhaps wouldn’t happen in other industries”.

We congratulate Billy on his fifty years and can’t wait to see what he produces next. Here are some of his favourite bottles from the GlenAllachie range:

What is the Best Bottle of Whisky for Newbies?

‘If you’re dipping your toe in the water, the 8 year old and the 12 year old are great. These two whiskies give an introduction to the style and the flavour experience that represents the real flavour and personality of GlenAllachie.’

GlenAllachie 12 Year Old

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £47.95

GlenAllachie 8 Year Old

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £42.44

What is the Best Bottle of Fruity Whisky?

Billy told us ‘From the start we wanted the whisky to be a sherry style whisky which delivers flavour characteristics such as mocha, chocolate, vanilla, Christmas cake and so on, but in terms of a fruity whisky I would say the Port finish or Marsala finish releases. All of these are different styles but they are wonderfully fruity experiences.’

GlenAllachie 12 Year Old Ruby Port Wood Finish

Size: 700ml
ABV: 48%
Find here: £62.99

What is the Best Bottle of Smoky Whisky?

‘The one I would go for in the range at the moment is the Lum Reek 10 year old Cask Strength. It’s not too peaty and has lots of fruity flavours too. Our journey isn’t finished here as I have been looking at and spending time with these casks and there will be some really, really nice peated expressions coming out in the future.’

Lum Reek 10 Year Old Cask Strength

Size: 700ml
ABV: 55.4%
Find here: £69.99

What is the Best Bottle from the GlenAllachie Range for Those Who Want to Splash Out?

‘The single cask range is always good to look out for, but in the near future, a very nice release with a mizunara cask twist is coming. That would be a good call. Also, If you were lucky enough to be in the visitor centre in the last few weeks, there was a sherry cask release which was transferred into a peated cask which was delicious.’

GlenAllachie Billy Walker 50th Anniversary Mizunara Virgin Oak Finish
Unfortunately, this has now sold out but more single casks are coming soon!

What is the Best Wine Finished Whisky?

‘I’ve done quite a few of these, I have to say, and we’re continuing to do a lot of interesting work with wine casks. It’s a tough choice, but it would be between a Sauternes cask release and a Grattamacco cask release. It’s hard to choose between the two but the Sauternes release has lots of sweet fresh fruits and is wonderfully well balanced.’

GlenAllachie 12 Year Old Sauternes Finish

Size: 700ml
ABV: 48%
Find here: £59.95

What is the Best Virgin Oak Whisky?

‘We have used many virgin oak casks. We’ve looked at Ozark, Chinquapin, Japanese Mizunara, French, Spanish and Scottish oak. My initial favourite was Chinquapin, which as well as the usual notes of honey, vanilla and butterscotch has a hint of anise and liquorice in the background. But the one that I really love is the Scottish Virgin Oak. Some was bottled quite recently but it is hard to get your hands on. The wood is difficult to work with, the coopers hate working with it because it is complicated and has lots of knots but once the whisky is in it and it has been given two to three years it’s terrific.’

GlenAllachie 10 Year Old Chinquapin Virgin Oak Finish

Size: 700ml
ABV: 48%
Find here: £61.50

And our final question…

What is your favourite whisky from the whole GlenAllachie Range?

‘That’s difficult to answer. It would have to be the 15 year old, but it would have good competition from the 21 year old. It’s the whisky that I spend a lot of time engaging with... and drinking!’

GlenAllachie 15 Year Old

Size: 700ml
ABV: 46%
Find here: £66.95

With those last tempting words from Billy, we leave him to his work of creating some of the most magical drams around and wish him all the best for all the further years of distilling, blending and keeping our palates excited and souls warmed.

For more exciting whisky news, click on this link!