When I picture the perfect Christmas whisky, I’m drawn to bottles that echo the season itself, warming spices, dense fruit cake, rich dark fruits, sometimes wrapped around a whisper of smoke. While peat has always been my weakness, I’ve grown to love the depth of sherried whiskies too, especially those that carry themselves with elegance and richness across the palate. These are the kind of drams you linger over, slowly savouring every sip while basking in the festive spirit.
Christmas always seems to be the time I most often reach for whiskies matured in sherry or other fortified wine casks. So, here are some of my recommendations for festive Scotch whiskies to savour this Christmas.
Flavour for Less – Under £50
Old Perth Double Sherry Wood, 48.2% ABV
Old Perth Blended Malt Double Sherry is a marriage of oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks. As you’ve probably guessed, it will deliver vibrant red berry notes on both the nose and the palate. Some are dried and soaked in sherry, others are coated in chocolate. Lovely touch of baking spices and malty biscuits to balance it off.
Glencadam Reserva de Madeira, 46% ABV
A great value bottle from Glencadam. Lovely notes of stone fruits, candied ginger, toffee, sponge cake with vanilla, chocolate and even coffee on the finish. Plenty to discover with this one.
Johnnie Walker Black Ruby 40% ABV
If you have a sweet tooth, you might want to try this new release from Johnnie Walker. It’s a blend of malts from Clynelish, Glenkinchie, Cardhu, Caol Ila, Roseisle and grain from Cameronbridge. Aged in a selection of first-fill red wine, PX, oloroso and bourbon casks.
Lots of dark fruits on both nose and palate. It’s jammy, honeyed, sticky with dates and balanced with bonfire smoke and winter spices. It also works well in many cocktails, try it in a sour or a Rob Roy!
The 1770 The Original from Glasgow Distillery is a great value single malt! The ageing takes place in first-fill bourbon barrels before being finished in new American oak.
The palate has lovely dried fruit notes, figs, orange marmalade, shortbread, nutmeg, cardamom, and sweet butterscotch.
This Lochlea release gets those Christmassy notes from a blend of Pedro Ximénez, oloroso and port casks. Expect juicy fruit cake, winter spices, gingerbread, plums and cherries.
The Sweet Spot – Under £100
Bunnahabhain 12 Cask Strength 56.4% ABV
Delicious festive whisky from Bunnahabhain Distillery. Matured in second-fill sherry casks to impart those lovely, rich aromas of raisins, apricot, honey-coated nuts and florals. The palate is delicious, with notes of honeycomb, chocolate-coated nuts, warming cinnamon, ginger, cacao and sea salt.
A Good Old-Fashioned Christmas Whisky 2009 55% ABV
This 16-year-old Highland Single Malt is a special annual release by The Whisky Exchange. Packed with winter spices, dark fruits, chocolate and nuts, this bottle is the ultimate scotch for Christmas. Aged in first-fill oloroso sherry casks to bring richness and plenty of festive notes.
Edradour 10-Year-Old 2015 PX Sherry, 46% ABV
This bottle was released as part of the distillery’s 200th anniversary celebrations. Aged in Pedro Ximénez butts and therefore filled with rich Christmas flavours. Think cocoa, dense fruit cake, figs, coffee beans and vanilla.
GlenAllachie 15-Year-Old, 46% ABV
This GlenAllachie 15-Year-Old 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.
If you want to splash the cash a bit more, see the distillery’s website for their single cask releases – you won’t be disappointed!
It wouldn’t be Christmas without Tomatin 14-Year-Old Tawny Port Finish! This remains a favourite year after year. 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!
Silent Night, Benrinnes 13-Year-old, 54.1% ABV
This Speyside single malt is part of the WhiskyHeroes range from the independent bottler Brave New Spirits. Perhaps not the most festive label, but the flavour profile more than makes up for it. Finished in a first-fill PX sherry barrique, it offers dried apricot, candied ginger, lemon zest, touch of warming spice and vanilla.
Kilchoman Sanaig Cask Strength, 57.8% ABV
For peat lovers, Kilchoman Sanaig at Cask Strength offers festive notes such as stewed fruits, rich toffee, chocolate, baking spices and, of course, lovely, elegant smoke throughout. Aged in both bourbon and sherry casks with a higher proportion of sherry, it’s a great warming fireside dram.
Ardnamurchan Madeira Cask, 52% ABV
Made with almost 50-50 peated spirit and unpeated. First aged in bourbon barrels, then re-racked into Madeira casks. Lots of festive notes in there from candied almonds to stone fruits to chocolatey nuts and winter spices. And, of course, a nice lingering smoke on the palate.
Splash the Cash – £100 or over
Arran Harmony vol 7 2024 56.7% ABV
Last year’s Arran Harmony release was divine! It is a blend of first-fill Port Pipe and second-fill Madeira casks, aged one year apart. Lovely, sweeter notes of honey, jammy dark fruits and caramel-coated nuts together with orange and winter spices.
Living Souls Glenrothes 17-Year-Old, 51.5% ABV
This single malt from the indie bottler Living Souls is a nice sherry-soaked number for your Christmas celebrations. Aged in first-fill sherry hoggies, it offers aromas of sweet figs, dark chocolate and spices. The palate is rich and warming. Expect notes of black cherries, baking spices, hazelnuts and molasses.
The Glenlivet 21-Year-Old The Sample Room Collection, 43% ABV
This is a slightly pricier bottle but absolutely divine! The Glenlivet 21-year-old Sample Room release is luxurious and elegant, a whisky to be savoured as it evolves in the glass. It has a triple finish using 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 the oiliness of Brazil and pine nuts. It’s a multi-award-winner for a reason!
Do you have a favourite whisky for Christmas? Are you reaching for heavily sherried whiskies around the festive season?
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