Whiskies to buy this Christmas
1 Abasolo, Mexico
£38.95-£43/70cl Widely available
For the drinker who’s tried everything (or thinks they have). The use of Cacahuazintle corn and a cooking technique called nixtamalisation makes for a fat, smooth spirit with an earthy note of burnt biscuits. Anyone for a Whisky Paloma? Alcohol 43% 2 Bushmills The Causeway Collection 2000 Port Cask, Ireland £259.90/70cl House of Malt, The Whisky World Bags of Christmas comfort in this rich, rounded whiskey that amplifies Bushmills’ lightly supple character with treacle, tangy marmalade and black cherries – and an anis lift to stop it becoming too flabby. Alc 54.1% 3 Compass Box Orchard House, Scotland £41.45-£48/70cl Widely available
From the consistently excellent and versatile makers of The Spice Tree and The Peat Monster comes a study in sunny lightness, with a basket of fruits from selected malts creating the perfect aperitif whisky. Alc 46% 4 Glen Moray Warehouse 1 1998 Barolo Finish, Scotland £134.95-£139.95/70cl House of Malt,
Master of Malt, Tyndrum Whisky
This is a really opulent winter warmer. Add a little water to open up the layers of dessert apple, spice and leather, alongside the perfumed pot-pourri notes. The satin texture on the palate is just gorgeous. Alc 52.9% 5 Michter’s US*1 Barrel Strength Straight Rye, USA
POA/70cl Master of Malt, The Whisky Exchange This straight-from-the-cask whiskey is hugely sought-after on release, and may well be hard to come by. Here’s why: even by rye standards, this is rich and full-bodied, but with no jagged edges. Dark cherry, butterscotch and dry spice from a pioneer of the rye renaissance. Alc 56.2% 6 Mortlach 13 Year Old Special Release 2021, Scotland £129.90-£135/70cl Widely available
A rich, meaty delight from ‘the beast of Dufftown’, given extra refinement by a combination of virgin and refill oak casks. There’s also some fun involving QR codes, augmented reality and storytelling – one for the tech fans. Alc 55.9% 7 Octomore 12.1, Islay, Scotland £124.95-£131/70cl Widely available
Strictly for peat freaks, although this über-phenolic malt from Bruichladdich starts off lean, with unripe banana and lime. Then camphor and coal tar explode on the palate, alongside a lingering tarriness that lasts and lasts. Alc 59.9% 8 Redbreast Iberian Series PX Edition, Ireland £71.95/70cl Master of Malt, The Whisky Exchange The perfect introduction to Ireland’s great whiskey style, single pot still. This release from Redbreast’s new Iberian Series is sweetly sumptuous, adding dark treacle and liquorice to pot still whiskey’s inimitable tangy fruit and spice. Alc 46% D