If you’re not sure which type of single malt to go for, or you’re buying for a relative whisky newcomer, this is a good bet – particularly at the current offer price (it’s usually £32). It shocked some purists on its release – they perhaps expected it to match the complexity of the Glenlivet 12-year-old – but if you come to it without preconceptions it is velvety smooth and easy to drink. The ideal father’s day whisky, in other words.
Elements of Islay – £34.95
There was once a time when only single malts would do for the whisky connoisseur – not any longer. “Blended whisky is back with a bang at the moment,” says Sukindher Singh, co-founder of London’s Whisky Exchange. “This blend of single malts from around the island is a big, punchy ‘full-throttle’ dram with notes of roasted fruit, smoke and roasted spice.”
The Dublin Liberties Oak Devil Irish whiskey – £35
If you’re after an Irish whiskey – which is seemingly ever more popular – with a bit of extra kick then The Dubliner distillery has put out this fearsomely strong blend. ‘The Liberties’ is a part of Dublin once referred to as ‘Hell’ – and this whiskey is appropriately hot. It could scarcely be more fiery if you dropped in a lump of brimstone, perhaps in lieu of an ice cube. Fans of this kind of thing will love it.
The Bloom & Wild whisky kit – £35 (including delivery)
If you dare not wander into the territory of choosing the whisky itself, take a look at this A neat little gift set which contains a 50cl bottle of Haig Club, some whisky stones – to cool your drink without diluting it – and also, er, a trio of succulents. Well, the sellers Bloom & Wild are florists first and foremost, and as such this is perfect for a last-minute option since they’re certain to be on top of any guaranteed delivery promise. (Orders open on June 12.)
Glenfiddich IPA Experiment – £45
For the whisky lover who also likes a beer, this is an intriguing – if slightly wacky – idea from Glenfiddich. The distillery set about brewing their own IPA in order to finish off their famous single malt in one of the barrels.
Traditionalists may despair at this latest move in the vogue for ‘finishing’ whiskies in unusual casks, but the result is a whisky with a hoppy, zesty edge – the distillery plan more such experiments; we await the outcome with interest…
Whisky and chocolate pairing set – £45
This is a lovely idea. Prestat chocolate – including dark chocolate with raspberry and roast almond with sea salt – are paired with a selection of whiskies including Talisker Port Ruighe, Port Finish and Balvenie 14 Year Old Caribbean Cask.
Pickett hip flask – £59
A gentleman only needs one hipflask in a lifetime – if you’re in the market for one, make it a nice one. Pickett’s 6oz flask is finished in shadow hide leather and comes in 15 different colours.
Longmorn 16yo and 23yo – £95/£450
If you’re looking for something a bit special, Longmorn is a name often spoken in hushed tones among whisky lovers. We’ve yet to hear of anyone being disappointed, even at these top-end prices.
Balblair 1999 Sherry Cask – £125
Aged in a single sherry cask and selected by The Whisky Exchange, this is a rich and warming example of Balblair. Distilled in 1999 and bottled in its mid-teens, this is juicy and mouthwatering with notes of fruit cake, apricots, stewed fruit and butter toffee.
Craigellachie 23yo and 31yo – £299/n.a.
Another option for something really beyond the norm, this is well worth looking out for. Craigellachie’s 31-year-old was recently named the best single malt in the world, but we couldn’t find a bottle anywhere. The 23-year-old, however, is more easily available – if not exactly affordable. For a similarly-aged whisky that’s utterly wonderful and a couple of hundred pounds cheaper, the Balvenie 21-year-old is top notch.
Royal Salute 30yo, ‘The Flask Edition’ – £600
Royal Salute is the jewel in the crown of Chivas whiskies, and even their ‘standard’ 21-year-old blend costs just under £100 a bottle. This special edition set goes far beyond that, though, featuring a porcelain bottle and small carrying flask that are truly beautiful. As is the whisky within, a buttery smooth yet deliciously complex affair that simply melts on the tongue. Originally made only for the hugely-enthusiastic Chinese market, this now being released in very small quantities – you’ll have to order via Harrods to get it in the UK.
Brora 30yo 9th Release – £1000
Sukindher Singh of the Whisky Exchange is a huge fan of this: “Not only one of the great single malts in existence,” he says, “but also a closed or ‘lost’ distillery which means that the whiskies will only get rarer and more expensive as time goes by. It offers outstanding value for the quality, not least as the most recent 30 year old official release is selling at around £2500 per bottle.”
The R&B Distillers’ Whisky Club 10-year membership – £1,999
This is a gift that really involves taking a bit of a gamble. R&B are building a distillery on the Isle of Raasay, and – presumably to help fund it – they are selling memberships. Benefits of the £2,000 you’ll pay to sign up for the Na Tùsairean Club include a bottle of single malt each year (plus a couple of miniatures to taste, if you want to hang on to it), first dibs on further bottlings, and one day per year of free accommodation in the exclusive members’ accommodation on the island (you can defer this for a few years and take a few days at once). Of course, with the distillery opening still several months away it’ll be many years before the first whisky made on this island will be ready – but you’ll get sent a ‘While you Wait’ bottle that they say is ‘in the style’ of the whisky that they’ll be making on Raasay.
