Want to buy your Dad a special thank-you present for helping you to weed the garden last weekend? Or, treat a colleague to something special? Perhaps you just want to try a different brand of whisky yourself and want to know what's knew.
Which whisky should you buy though? There are so many and how on earth do you tell the difference? That's where we come in. We're here to save the day - and we've done the hard work by testing a load of whisky to help you choose the best one. I mean, it's a hard job, but someone's got to do it, and we've done it for you.
So, without further ado, we present the 16 best whiskies, from scotch to bourbon, for your dad, your mum or, you know (go on...) yourself.
CHECK OUT: The best whiskies
Best whisky gift
whisky-me.com
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Looking for a letterbox whisky gift to make someone's (or your own) year? Whisky Me will drop a
www.masterofmalt.com
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If you love a rye whisky as much as me this bottle from Finnish distiller Kyro is well worth a
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Like a liquidised baklava in a glass, this bourbon (yes, not a whiskey) has all the same honey
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A great entry point into what can be quite an uncompromising spririt, this is a delicate rye
www.masterofmalt.com
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A first from Cotswolds Distillery, this single malt is aged in ex-bourbon and red wine casks for a
www.thewhiskyexchange.com
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This 15-year-old single malt wastes no time with its 50% ABV and equally strong price, setting it
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This gift set contains two blended malts and two tumblers, so I'm going to review the lot in one
www.masterofmalt.com
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You've heard of Famous Grouse - it's apparently Prince Phillip's whisky of choice. Naked Grouse is
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A really complex and outside of the box selection for anyone looking to try something a little
www.masterofmalt.com
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This one's pretty unusual, it's all about the wood. Each cask (kasc?) is made from five different
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This whisky is one for people who prefer toasty biscuit flavours and warm fruit aromas. It's a
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Jura is an island 60 miles off the west coast of Scotland, there are 200 people, one road, one
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Whisky is hugely popular in Japan and Nikka is one of the biggest and legendary brands. There is a
14. Adnams Single Malt Whisky
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Adnams knows drinks. They have a huge selection of quality beers, and have won top awards for
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Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey, the ubiquitous bourbon. Unlike its popular relative, the
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The Nolstrop family's Norfolk-based distillery was founded in 2005 and has since produced some of
www.waitrosecellar.com
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Kentucky's state slogan is 'Unbridled Spirit', and the award-winning Woodford Reserve certainly
How did we test the whisky?
Our three testers - Stuart Adam, Sophie Knight and William Lobley - are all whisky drinkers and were keen to try out a variety of new and exciting whiskey. Each whisky was tested neat to keep the comparisons fair, and we started from sober for each one.
Is Dad more of a gin drinker? Sorted - 'cos we've tested the best flavoured gins, too
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Which type of whisky should I buy?
It can be confusing choosing a whisky, but we're here to make it simple. There are three compositions of whisky to choose from:
Single Malt – Made exclusively with malted barley, water, and yeast.
Grain – The main ingredient is corn, wheat or both.
Blended – A combination of single malt and grain whiskies.
Then we come to types of whisky:
Scotch - It shouldn't be surprising to hear that this is produced in Scotland. Scotch can only be legitimately called Scotch if it is made from malted barley, be aged for no less than three years and made in Scotland.
Irish- Guess what - it's made in Ireland! Irish whisky is traditionally triple distilled in a copper pot - Scotch whisky is usually double distilled.
American - Made in the USA and aged in new charred oak barrels. It's usually sweeter and less smoky than Scotch or Irish whisky.
Japanese - Growing in popularity, Japanese whisky is smooth and delicate.