When I think of the ideal whisky for Christmas, my mind and my tastebuds take me to those warming spices, dense fruit cakes, rich, fruity notes and maybe even a little smoke in there somewhere. I’m usually a bit of a peat freak but I’ve learned to appreciate sherried whiskies too, especially the ones that are richer and more elegant on the palate. A whisky you really want to sip and savour.
Here are some of my favourite seasonal scotch whiskies to enjoy during the holidays.
Aberlour A’Bunadh
There are several batches of Aberlour A’Bunadh, but they all tend to be full of Christmas cake with nuts and candied fruits, winter spices and dark chocolate. Aged in Oloroso sherry butts and bottled at cask strength. This is a guaranteed success at the Christmas table. Bottled at cask strength, usually around 60% ABV.
GlenAllachie 15-Year-Old
This GlenAllachie 15-Year-Old, 46% ABV, is finished in a combination of puncheons and hogsheads that previously held Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry. It is full of Christmas spices, ginger, dried fruits, coffee and dark chocolate. Very rich yet you’ll be reaching for seconds.
Arran 18-Year-Old
Fully matured in sherry casks, Arran 18 (46%ABV) is a beautiful whisky for Christmas. Expect orchard fruits on the nose, rice pudding, candied orange and ginger, dark chocolate, and baked peaches on the palate. It is the most popular Arran release for a reason!
Need help planning your Christmas drinks? See my previous blog post for tips – Christmas Drink Essentials.
Tomatin 18-Year-Old
Tomatin 18-Year-Old, 46%ABV, is finished in first-fill Oloroso sherry casks for a good few years. It is a beautiful, balanced sherried whisky with aromas of gingerbread, Christmas cake, candied orange, apple pie and some dried grass. On the palate you’ll find more seasonal spices, juicy dried apricot, nuttiness, chocolate and toffee sweetness. There’s some oiliness on the long finish. A great choice for Christmas!
Tomatin 14-Year-Old
I had to include another Tomatin into this list as their 14-Year-Old, 46% ABV, Tawny Port Finish is absolutely divine for the holidays. Expect aromas of vanilla wafers, dark berries and chocolate. More berried jam notes on the palate with dried apple, honey, cloves, bitter dark chocolate and Brazil nuts. If you are looking for a lighter style whisky for your Christmas table, this one is a great choice!
Glenmorangie Signet
Glenmorangie Signet single malt, 46% ABV, is chocolatey, espresso, coffee cake deliciousness. It’s like a Tiramisu in whisky form. Once a year the distillery uses chocolate malt to create the spirit for their Signet release. It is aged in a combination of bourbon, sherry and virgin oak casks and the bottling has some of the oldest stock from the distillery. An excellent after-dinner whisky!
Pintail Teaninich Vin Santo Finish
This 8-Year-Old Teaninich from the independent bottler The Whisky Cellar is finished in two gorgeously rich Vin Santo Octave casks (Tuscany’s highly prized sweet wine). It is described as Christmas in a bottle with notes of amaretti biscuits, caramel, charred raisins, hazelnuts, and orange peel.
Shop fast as from 11th December there will only be 131 bottles available from select retail partners and export markets.
Scallywag Winter Edition
This Scallywag winter release from 2023 has a beautiful label of northern lights. Matured in both Oloroso and PX sherry butts, this has notes of juicy berries, nuttiness, dates and cacao. Great for festive cocktails too! Bottled at 52.5%ABV.
Or try their limited-edition Winter Orange finished in orange wine casks from Spain. Expect zesty orange with warming cinnamon and vanilla.
Big Peat Christmas Edition
The annual Christmas edition of Big Peat is the ultimate winter warmer for those who enjoy a smoky dram. There are juicy dried fruity notes from the sherry cask finish, spiced oak, sticky toffee, sea air and the signature smoke of the release. Bottled at 54.8%ABV.
Glen Scotia Icons of Campbeltown
The latest release from Glen Scotia is finished in unique Palo Cortado sherry casks and bottled at 54.1%ABV. It’s full of yummy toffee, molasses, dried fruits, orange peel, honey, salty notes, and nuttiness. Absolutely divine. The label design is by Joel Holtzman who has worked with Marvel and LucasFilm.
Arran Amarone
If you are looking for a nice juicy yet chocolatey dram, this is for you. This Arran release is finished in selection of Amarone red wine casks from an artisan wine producer based in the Veneto region of Italy. Expect cherries, Turkish delight, dark chocolate, poached pears and honey. Bottled at 50% ABV. I recommend trying it in a Rob Roy cocktail.
1770 Peated Tokaji
There are so many whiskies I could recommend from Glasgow Distillery but since they sell out fast, I decided to go with the latest Peated Tokaji cask finished bottling (53.4% ABV) as it is heavily peated but still sweet and light. Much lighter than their core range peated.
Tokaji is a Hungarian sweet wine, and it brings lovely, sweet fruity notes into this peated spirit. Expect candied orange, Manuka honey, dark chocolate, vanilla custard, sweet smoke, and cashews.
1770 The Original
If you aren’t into peat, 1770 The Original is widely available and fits the festive profile perfectly. First matured in first-fill Bourbon barrels before finished in new American oak. Bottled at 46% ABV (now also available at cask strength – which I thoroughly enjoyed!).
The palate has lovely, dried fruit notes, orange marmalade, shortbread, nutmeg, cardamom, and sweet butterscotch.
The Glenlivet Sample Room Collection 21
This is slightly pricier bottle but oh so tasty! The Glenlivet 21-Year-Old Sample Room release, 43% ABV, is luxurious and elegant, a whisky to be savoured as it evolves in the glass. It has a triple finish: first-fill Oloroso sherry casks, Troncais oak Cognac, and Colheita Tawny Port casks.
Expect aromas of muscovado sugar, coffee icing, dried fruits, and nuttiness. The palate has a nice texture and rich flavours of chocolate, juicy pears, caramel sauce, gentle spiciness, ginger, and a long finish with oiliness of Brazil- and pine nuts. It’s a multi-award-winning for a reason!
Do you have a favourite whisky for Christmas? Which whiskies would you add to this list?
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