Penderyn Gold Madeira
Did you know the Welsh make whisky? Well now you do, and Penderyn is (at the moment) the only distillery to have successfully revived the practice since production died out in the 19th century. Unbound by Scotch laws, this distillery can produce spirits that are lighter, fruitier and more delicate than their Scottish and Irish rivals.
Macallan Enigma
This travel retail exclusive sits at the high end of The Macallan’s Quest Collection. Fully matured in first-fill sherry casks, its notes of fruit, cinnamon and dark chocolate should placate the old man when he grumbles about you never visiting enough on account of all that travelling.
Ardbeg Corryvreckan
A great option for the father who is unafraid of peat, the Ardbeg Corryvreckan packs an additional punch with an ABV of 57.1 per cent. Its intensity and wonderful balance earned it a place in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible as the Best No Age Statement Scotch.
Hibiki 21 YO
Following the heartbreaking news of the discontinuation of the Hibiki 17 YO, this might be a good time to stock up on everything else, like this 2013 winner of the World’s Best Blended Whisky by the World Whiskies Awards.
Jefferson’s Ocean Aged at Sea
No one said spirits needed to spend all their time in cold, dark warehouses before bottling. Jefferson’s sent theirs out to sea to mature for a few months, exposed to temperature fluctuations, salty air and rocking waves. Though still a bourbon at its core, it has taken on the dark colours and caramel flavours of rum as well as the briny flavours of Islay whiskies.
Glenfiddich Winter Storm
Only whiskies aged at least 21 years could cope with the intensity of ice wine casks, learned Glenfiddich malt master Brian Kinsman. The experimentation resulted in the Glenfiddich Winter Storm, with underlying flavours of tropical fruit and wine.
Bruichladdich Rare Cask 1986
Part of Bruichladdich’s Rare Cask Series, the 1986 comes from the distillery’s very last seven casks from that year. Non-chill filtered and matured in oloroso casks till 2012 before being re-casked in Fernando de Castilla PX casks, the sherry influence is pronounced in this powerful, almost savoury spirit.