Newbie advice - whisky for a gift for keen whisky drinker!

[mattie]

Hi all, first post so a warm hello to everyone!

I've had a read of the forum to get a few ideas but I'd appreciate any direct advice anyone has - I'm after a bottle of decent whisky for a 40th birthday gift for my brother in law, he's a keen drinker of whisky but all I can get from my sister in law in the way of guidance is that he doesn't like Islay whiskies.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a decent whisky of any nature except Islay? I was looking at around £50-70 but would consider upping it if there's stand-out for a bit more. My brother in law is from Lewis, not sure of they have a distillery there but it would be a nice touch if it was local. I live near Bristol so was even considering a Penderyn or an English Whiskey Co, but my inclination is to spend the money on a really decent bottle outright than try to make it too regionally based.

I may also get him a marginally cheaper bottle and a decanter, to make it more likely my sister in law will allow it in the living room! I'm therefore considering gift sets, but worry that the whisky might be too much of a compromise.

Any and all advice greatly appreciated

Cheers

Matt

[opelfruit]

Welcome.

This is for a 40th so for me I'd recommend choices that are good presents (ie nice to look at as well as good whisky). I'd omit the decanter, not worth the effort and gives you more for the whisky.

If you up your budget to £90 then there are 2 really great bottles I'd go for as a birthday present;

Balblair 1990 2nd release. This is 23 year old from a single vintage from a grade A distillery. Top top stuff. Highland whisky finished in sherry casks and it's it really full of flavour. The good thing about Balblair is their bottles are gorgeous looking and the boxes open at the front like a presentation case, as a present in its own right they are great to give and a real impact.


The other choice is left field;

Hibiki 17 year old. This is a blend from Japan but don't underestimate it, it beats many single malts hands down. It's done in he Highland style and quite rich. Probably something he's never had before and a real treat. It comes in a lovely looking decanter bottle as well so again it's real treat as a gift.
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"Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whisky is barely enough."

[sorren]

Hi and welcome,
The balblair is a great choice, but in your original budget you could go for Glenfiddich 15 distillers edition or glenlivet nadura both around £50 and very good whiskys and available in supermarkets, then there is Glenfarclas 15 which is a fantastic whisky, upping the price to £90 Ish there is highland park 18, Glenfarclas 21, glendronach 1995 edition, Glenrothes 1995, glenmorangie 18, all great whiskys, also consider balvenie 15 single barrel sherry cask, it's getting great reviews and looks great, ( tastes even better )
I'm sure there will be many more interesting bottle suggestions..

[mattie]

Cheers to both, much appreciated

We opted for the Glenfarclas 15 and a Dartington decanter, as the general consensus from wife and sister-in-law was to get something he could keep as a momento as well as the whisky. I presume this is a backhanded way of my sister-in-law telling me he'll have drunk it all in one hit and have no memory of it afterwards!

Thanks once again for advice, I'll keep some of the other options in mind for other occasions.

[sorren]

You can't go wrong with the Glenfarclas 15, I hope he enjoys it 😀😀😀

[William]

Hi mattie

I am a little late at replying to your post but you may still be interested to know that Abhainn Dearg, (pronounced Aveen Jarræk) which translates as Red River Distillery is a new distillery on the Isle of Lewis. The distillery was only established in 2008, they do have a limited edition single malt whisky available direct from the Abhainn Dearg distillery website priced at £150 for a 50cl bottle, quite expensive but another option is a miniature of the single malt for £6.50.

They also have some Abhainn Dearg The Spirit of Lewis, which is young new make spirit which hasn't yet matured the minimum 3 years so it cannot legally be called whisky, £28 for a 50cl bottle, it was matured in a sherry cask so should have a bit of flavour and should make a good gift for someone from the Isle of Lewis.
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There's no bad whisky. Just good whisky and better whisky.