With the big day only a few weeks away, we take a look at some whisky gifts ideal for the connoisseur in your life.
From limited editions to club memberships, there’s something for all tastes this Christmas.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B5iXgrTCcn1/
Dram loving family members or friends will appreciate a membership to The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, which will soon open the doors to its latest venue in Glasgow.
Members can enjoy the ever-changing range of the Society’s one-off whiskies, released each month in the comfort of the Edinburgh, London or Glasgow bars, as well as a calendar of UK-wide tasting events.
Annual membership to the Society costs £65 and provides whisky-lovers with benefits throughout the year, including access to the multi award-winning monthly outturns of around 20 new single cask whiskies; free subscription to Unfiltered, its award-winning members’ magazine; and a calendar of colourful events and intriguing whisky experiences to share alongside other like-minded members.
Add-ons such as dram tasting boxes, a bottle of the moment and a three dram serve can also be included when purchasing a new membership.
To buy membership to The Scotch Malt Whisky Society as a gift this Christmas, visit their website here.
The Macallan Distillery Experience Bar
For a distillery tour with a visit head north to the Macallan distillery in Speyside.
Located in Craigellachie, The Macallan Distillery Experience, designed by internationally acclaimed architects, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, recently won the RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award and was included in TIME Magazine’s 2019 list of the World’s 100 Greatest Places.
The distillery has been transformed into a festive wonderland this month and will be serving a range of Christmas cocktails at the Macallan bar, where guests can relax and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding hills of Speyside.
The festive cocktails on offer include The Clootie, which celebrates Scotland’s famous clootie dumpling, a steamed pudding traditionally enjoyed at Christmas.
Featuring The Macallan Lumina, a cinnamon, star anise and juniper berry syrup, orange and Angostura bitters and plum, this seasonal serve is an old fashioned styled cocktail reminiscent of Christmas spice and based on a recipe which first appeared in 1747.
Tours of the Macallan distillery start from £15 with more info and how to book here.
Picture: Loch Lomond Whiskies
Loch Lomond Whiskies has curated a gift box this Christmas - ideal for fans of the distillery.
The specially created gift pack, priced at £50 features a 70cl bottle of Loch Lomond 12 year old and 5cl bottles of the distillery’s 12 year old Inchmurrin (46% ABV) and Inchmoan expressions.
Each expression features the underlying fruit character for which Loch Lomond whiskies are renowned. The gift pack is available online and specialist whisky retailers.
Johnnie Walker has a great range of limited-edition whiskies which are guaranteed to impress whisky fans on Christmas morning.
The Game of Thrones bottlings - A Song of Ice and Fire - are sure to put a smile on many faces.
Inspired by the iconic and powerful houses of Westeros, the two bottles are the ultimate gift for fans of the iconic TV series.
Johnnie Walker A Song of Ice represents House Stark and Johnnie Walker A Song of Fire represents House Targaryen.
For those looking forward to a white Christmas, A Song of Ice is the perfect present. Featuring single malts from Clynelish, one of Scotland’s most northern distilleries.
Those looking for a winter warmer will enjoy A Song of Fire, representing House Targaryen. A rich whisky with a full-bodied flavour, boasting flavours of sweet smoke and a hint of spice from the peated malts of Caol Ila distillery on Islay.
Priced at £34 each, the whiskies are available to buy online here.
This BenRiach whisky gift, which is new for this festive season, is ideal for those in pursuit of a flavoursome single malt.
The BenRiach 10 Years Old is three-cask matured in bourbon, Oloroso sherry and virgin oak barrels and boasts the classic, fruit-laden style of BenRiach with orchard fruits, toasted oak spice and the sweetness of malt.
The gift pack, priced at £40, includes a 70cl bottle of the expression, plus two branded tumbler-style glasses.
The Woodsman whisky have given the toolbox a modern makeover to contain the tools dads really want this Christmas - everything you need to make a Maple Syrup Old Fashioned.
The unique box includes: Woodsman glass, stirrer, spoon, maple syrup, bitters, and a bottle of The Woodsman Whisky - the only other thing you'll need is an orange.
The Woodsman is mix of freshly-built oak casks and double-scorched Bourbon barrels, giving it a smooth, sweet taste, with a hint of smoke - perfect mixed long or straight over ice.
The Woodsman old fashioned toolbox is priced at £40.27 with more info available here.
Picture: Glengoyne
“Summer Eveninglight at Glengoyne Distillery” is the fourth and final release from a special collaboration between Glengoyne and renowned Glasgow contemporary artist, Jolomo.
The limited edition case was painted by Jolomo after he was inspired by weekends spent at the distillery as a student and is an ideal Christmas gift for whisky fans and collectors alike.
Inside contains a print of the painting and bottle of Glengoyne 10 Year Old Highland Single Malt – a smooth, fruity whisky that’s an ideal tipple to accompany any festive feast.
The Jolomo series was set up to help support the Glasgow School of Art following two fires which destroyed the iconic Mackintosh building.
Priced at £36.99, the whisky is available to buy here.
This 25 year old single malt is a perfect gift for whisky connoisseurs. Fully matured in ex-sherry casks the 25 year old Bunnahabhain is a rich, sweet burst of caramel and berries.
And with more than two decades of slumber by the sea, this premuim whisky is imbued with a delicious salty sea air influence.
Priced at £375, it is available to buy here.
Scottish whisky merchant Goldfinch has released the first in its new Mey Selections Rare Cask Series.
This limited edition single cask bottling of a rare first fill Oloroso sherry cask from Glen Ord Distillery is an ideal Christmas present for whisky lovers and collectors around the globe, which also helps to support rural communities in the North of Scotland.
Only 689 hand-numbered bottles of this rare single malt from one of Scotland’s oldest whisky distilleries (and the only remaining single malt distillery in the Black Isle), are available.
Glen Ord single malt is normally only found in the Singleton range in the Asian market or as a blend in Johnnie Walker.
The 12 Year Old release, the first of the Mey Selections Rare Cask Series from Goldfinch, has notes of spice, fruit and butterscotch, is non-chill filtered and natural in colour.
It was distilled in April 2007, matured in a single first-fill European oak Oloroso sherry butt and bottled in July 2019 at cask strength of 51% ABV.
The Rare Cask Series has been selected for Goldfinch by top whisky maker Max McFarlane who has been responsible for creating iconic whisky brands of the highest quality for many years.
A donation from every bottle sold will go towards supporting rural communities in the far north of Scotland through the North Highland Initiative charity.
Mey Selections Rare Cask Series - Glen Ord is available now from Goldfinch Whisky Merchants online priced at £118 (incl UK duty and VAT) with free delivery. It is also available from Wood Winters, The Scottish Gantry, Master of Malt and Valhalla’s Goat.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B059OFoAmjd/
Embodying the signature flavour of Fettercairn, the 12 Year Old is aged in American Oak ex-bourbon barrels and is a good whisky for those who are just getting into the spirit.
The team describe the taste as "Vanilla and pear, with soft spices."
And the finish "Refreshing nectarine and tropical fruit, with subtle roasted coffee, clove, and ginger. A memorable finish of sultanas and black toffee."
Priced at £50, you can buy the 12 year old at The Whisky Shop, The Whisky Exchange, Master of Malt and other leading specialist whisky stores.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B5KXGwmH-Ol/
Specialist online whisky shop, TheWhiskyBarrel.com, have recently released a range of limited edition bottlings, which would make great gifts for fans of something a bit special.
These never to be repeated whiskies include: Bunnahabhain 10 Year Old, Cameronbridge 37 Year Old, Ledaig 11 Year Old and a Miltonduff 10 Year Old.
More information can be found via the site's YouTube channel.
