Recommended Christmas whisky gift

[Rebecca]

Hi all

I wonder if someone could recomend some whisky you think is good which i could buy for my husband as a Christmas whisky gift.

He is a keen malt whisky drinker and i am looking to buy him a couple of bottles which he wouldnt find in a high street shop or supermarket. Something which you would rate as particularly good. I know his tastes are varied from smoky to light and fruity so anything goes. Probably looking to spend about £150 on 2 maybe even 3 bottles.

Your help is appreciated.

Thanks

Rebecca

[bifter]

Rebecca, your husband is a lucky man!

When looking for something exclusive an independent bottling may be the way to go. William has created a good list of bottlers here:

www.scotchmaltwhisky.co.uk/independentbottlers.htm

You will find releases from these bottlers online at sites such as Whisky Exchange, Malt Master or Royal Mile Whiskies. Alternatively, depending where you live a whisky merchant may carry them, e.g. in Edinburgh Royal Mile Whiskies, Cadenheads and Robert Graham can all be found on the Royal Mile. The only drawback is that the releases are so limited that they don't last long and it can be hard to find an opinion on them.

Lastly I should mention the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Only members can purchase bottles so you would need to know someone who has a membership but bottles can be bought online. There's not much more exclusive than a cask strength, single cask, single malt whisky! Of the latest releases I've tried I can recommend the following that would come in on budget.

77.29 Marmalade, Cornflakes and Bagels
25 year old refill bourbon hogshead (Glen Ord) £83.90

53.173 Glowing Embers on the Tongue
16 year old refill sherry butt (Caol Ila) £59.50
_________________
"Whisky is liquid sunshine."
[George Bernard Shaw]

[albo]

I have to agree with Bifter here.

On-line somewhere like The Whisky Exchange would be a good bet, but it depends where you live, and if you have a specialised whisky shop near by, again going somewhere like there will enable you to see everal differnet malts and talk to the people in the shop.

Obviously you don't want the usual supermarkey offerings, however, somewhere like Waitrose has a much more diverse offering than your Tesco, Asda etc.

Independent bottles would be the most unique but as they are so limited it is difficult to get a really solid opinion on them.

I recently picked up a bottle of Black Art 3 from Bruichladdich which was excellent, that was just about £100, you could pick up another lovely bottle of say Arbeg Uigeadail which would take you up to your £150.

[whiskystu]

The advice above seems like a good place to start.

I'm currently trying to narrow down my Christmas whisky wish list (presents to myself unfortunately) and find the best prices. Maybe it'll help...

Ardbeg Corryvreckan £54 @ Nickolls & Perks (free P&P when you spend £60+)
Lagavulin 12y/o special release (2011) £67 @ WhiskyExchange
Lagavulin 1995 Distillers Edition £64 @ WhiskyExchange with a free 20cl Oban 14y/o
Gordon & MacPhail Glen Albyn 1976 £155 @ Master of Malt
Gordon & MacPhail Glen Albyn 1975 £115 @ Single Malts Direct
Benriach 12y/o Heredotus Fumosus £32 @ WhiskyExchange
Glenfarclas 105 £40 @ WhiskyExchange
Big Peat £33 @ Single Malts Direct
Big Peat Christmand Edition £42 @ WhiskyExchange
Talisker 2000 Amoroso Finish Distillers Edition £51 @ WhiskyExchange with a free 20cl Oban 14y/o
Mortlach 16 y/o Flora & Fauna £45 @ WhiskyExchange

I'll be treating myself to a few of them hopefully. Im assured they're all great whiskies but only tried a few

[Rebecca]

Thanks for your suggestions, bifter and albo. I have looked at independent bottlings and they are very tempting but there are a lack of reviews and feedback on them probably due to each bottles limited availability.

whiskystu, i recognise a few of the brands you mention which i know he particularly likes. So would these be considered particularly good:

Lagavulin 12y/o special release (2011) £67 @ WhiskyExchange
Lagavulin 1995 Distillers Edition £64 @ WhiskyExchange with a free 20cl Oban 14y/o
Talisker 2000 Amoroso Finish Distillers Edition £51 @ WhiskyExchange with a free 20cl Oban 14y/o
Glenfarclas 105 £40 @ WhiskyExchange

[Quaich1]

[Rebecca]

Thanks Quaich1, I have just been reading reviews on The Whisky Exchange and i think the Lagavulin 12 and Lagavulin Distillers Edition are very highly thought of so i think i will get those. Just to decide on another bottle and i would probably go up to around £60 i think, so if you have anymore suggestions they are very much appreciated.

[Quaich1]

[Keith]

If he already likes Lagavulin then i am sure he will love the the Lagavulin 12 and Distillers edition. As for another bottle here are some very highly rated whiskies, not just by me but by most whisky drinkers that he may not have tried yet:

Highland Park 18 Year Old
Tomintoul 21 Year Old
Glen Grant 1992 Cellar Reserve
Talisker 57 North
Mortlach 21 Year Old Gordon & Macphail
Aberlour 18
and if he likes heavily sherried whisky you could consider Aberlour A'Bunadh

[Creed]

I would rate all Keiths suggestions highly and would think any malt whisky drinker would be very happy to receive any of them.

[Rebecca]

[Keith]

You are welcome, do let us know how your selections go down.

[TheWM]