The holiday season is a time for celebration, and what better way to toast to the festivities than with a glass of fine whiskey? Whether you’re in search of a gift, or be the ultimate dinner party host, this Last Minute Christmas Festive Drinks Guide to Whiskey (Whisky) has been curated to help you find the perfect bottle. From smooth and mellow single malts to bold and smoky blends, there’s something for everyone’s taste preferences.
Rampur Asava Indian Single Malt Whisky
This whisky makes the history books as the first single malt matured in American Bourbon Barrels, carefully finished in Indian Cabernet Sauvignon casks. The combination of Rampur’s unique distillation and maturation process sees Rampur Asava Indian Single Malt Whisky taking traditional Indian heritage and rooting it in contemporary culture.
RRP: from £59.99. ABV: 45%. Available from: DrinkSupermarket, The Whisky Exchange and Master of Malt
Cotswolds Signature Single Malt Whisky
The award-winning Cotswolds Signature Single Malt Whisky was launched in 2017 and is the first whisky ever distilled in the Cotswolds. 100% locally grown, floor-malted barley and the whisky is matured in first-fill ex-Bourbon barrels and reconditioned red wine casks. This whisky is rich, fruity and sippable with notes of honey, Seville orange marmalade and dark red fruits. Delicious neat, mixed with ginger ale for a longer serve or as an excellent base for cocktail creation.
RRP: £39 for 70cl. ABV: 46%. Available from: Cotswolds Distillery, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Ocado, Majestic Wine, The Whisky Exchange and Laithwaites
Cotswolds Cream Liqueur
From the heart of the English countryside, Cotswolds Distillery’s Cream Liqueur is wonderfully rich and silky with notes of vanilla and butterscotch.
The Cotswolds Distillery was born from a dream to produce outstanding natural spirits in one of the most beautiful parts of the world and focuses on quality and flavour above all else. Their Cotswolds Cream Liqueur is no exception and is a blend of fresh cream and Cotswolds Distillery’s award-winning single malt spirit, which is made with locally-grown Cotswolds barley. Like all good cream liqueurs, this is excellent over ice or in a coffee and gives the best excuse to relax by the fire after a long lunch.
RRP from £24.94 for 70cl. ABV 17%. Available from Cotswolds Distillery and Master of Malt
Micil Earls Island Single Pot Still
This fruity, spicy Single Pot Still Irish whiskey is enriched by Bordeaux red wine casks, with hints of soft turf smoke from ex-peated whiskey casks. It pays homage to the great Galway distilleries of the past, and to the Latin wine merchants who made the city their home. The red wine finish from the ex-Bordeaux casks imparts a rich spice to the spirit, enhancing the ripe barley character of the pot still whiskey.
RRP: £52.94 for 70cl. ABV 46%. Available from Master of Malt
Micil Distillery Irish Cream Liqueur
Awarded Best Irish Cream at the 2022 World Liqueur Awards, this Irish Cream Liqueur is luxurious blend of sweet Irish whiskey, rich Irish cream, and smooth Connemara poitín from Micil Distillery. Micil Connemara Irish Cream is made using Micil Irish Poitín, distilled with 100% malted Irish barley and spicy Connemara bogbean. Notes of sweet chocolate and a sprinkling of coffee and honey, all balanced by the soft, fruity spice of Irish poitín. Perfect for Christmas gifting and entertaining.
RRP: From £25.95 for 70cl. ABV: 17%. Available from The Whisky Exchange, Master of Malt and Micil Distillery
Evan Williams Black Label Bourbon
A smooth, easy to drink Bourbon named after Evan Williams who, in 1783, opened Kentucky’s first commercial distillery along the banks of the Ohio River. Today, Evan Williams is the second largest selling Kentucky Straight Bourbon whiskey in the world, distilled just a few streets away from the site where Evan himself built his distillery.
RRP: from £26.99 ABV: 43%. Available from: The Whisky Exchange, House of Malt and Milroy’s
Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey
Elijah Craig Small Batch is the signature Bourbon bearing the name of Reverend Elijah Craig, who founded his distillery in 1789 along Elkhorn Creek in present day Georgetown, Kentucky. He is credited with being the first distiller to age his whiskey in charred oak barrels, earning his place in history as the Father of Bourbon. Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon is naturally aged and presented in a contemporary bottle.
RRP: £43.98 for 70cl. ABV: 47%. Available from: Master of Malt, Amazon and The Whisky Exchange
Glen Scotia 12 Year Old Whisky Limited Edition
Named Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year at the Scottish Whisky Awards in 2021, Glen Scotia presents this 12 year old unpeated spirit which has been matured in first fill Bourbon barrels before a final twelve month finish in Amontillado Sherry Casks. The result is a warm, nutty dram with long lingering vanilla notes and a mildly dry finish.
RRP: £80 for 70cl. ABV: 53.3%. Available from Glen Scotia
Glen Scotia Icons of Campbeltown
Another from the award-winning Glen Scotia distillery is the first release from its new Icons of Campbeltown series which launched this year. The collection pays homage to the famous Campbeltown Market Cross, a historic stone cross carved with saints and beasts, which has been an important meeting point for the local community to share stories for centuries. Each release will bring one of the carved icons to life, with the first celebrating ‘The Mermaid’ and a supposed sighting in the nearby harbour of the town. The liquid, another classic subtly maritime dram, is fitting of the name, with a Palo Cortado sherry cask finishing complementing this unpeated coastal and saline cask strength spirit.
RRP: £90 for 70cl. ABV 54.1%. Available from Glen Scotia
Shanky’s Whip Whiskey Liqueur
Shanky’s Whip is a smooth, black Whiskey liqueur based on a combination of Irish spirits and aged pot still whisky, blended and bottled under bond in Co. Cavan, Ireland, with the natural flavour of vanilla and infused with caramel. It makes for a delicious drink; neat over ice, as a fabulous alternative Irish Whiskey or as the perfect ingredient for an Irish Coffee.
Shanky’s Whip is presented in a bespoke glass bottle with the word Ireland embossed around the top. Inspired by vintage Irish matchbox artwork, the label features the fantastical wild boy of racing Irish jockey, Shanky.
RRP: From £26.49 for 70cl. ABV: 33%. Available from: Amazon, Spirits Kiosk, The Drink Shop, Drink Supermarket and Master of Malt
Rittenhouse Straight Rye Whiskey
Rittenhouse Straight Rye Whiskey is a Pennsylvania Rye that celebrates Philadelphia’s famous Rittenhouse Square. It follows the traditional style of rye whiskey that used to be the most popular in the United States. Rittenhouse meets all the requirements to be considered ‘Bottled-in-Bond’ which ensures the quality, consistency, and transparency of the product, certified by the US government. Rittenhouse has a distinctive and spicy flavour with touches of honey, oak, pipe tobacco and caramel.
RPP: from £39.95 for 70cl. ABV: 50%. Available from: The Whisky Exchange, House of Malt, Master of Malt and Amazon
Wooden Keg Whiskey Barrel
Don’t just keep your whiskey in it’s bottle, give it a new home with this high-quality wooden whiskey barrel! It has a tap for pouring, and is great for putting on display. Holds up to 800 ml of whiskey. Makes a fun gift for any whiskey drinker.
RRP: £20 Available from www.menkind.co.uk
There are captivating narratives and traditions associated with every bottle. So delve into the world of whiskey and discover the perfect embodiment that will make this holiday season truly unforgettable. Cheers to a joyful and whiskey-filled time!
As always, please drink responsibly.
Written by Kai Lutterodt, and the My Soho Times team | @mysohotimes @the.soho.girl
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