Christmas whisky

December 23, 2011 5:00 AM

A Scotch Whisky that tastes of Christmas?

I was looking forward to a bottle of Dalmore Gran Reserve over Christmas but never got round to reserving a bottle and my otherwise excellent local shop (it has hundreds of different scotches) has none in. Can you recommend something along the same lines, fruits, spices, etc? I am looking for something which tastes 'Christmassy', none of your peats, etc. Under £50 would be good.

I am not looking for general recomendations, not Islay's or intro whiskies.

posted by biffa to Food & Drink (7 answers total)

Perhaps one of the Macallan Sherry Oak malts might do: there's a 10, a 12 & an 18 year old. The producer's tasting notes for the 12-yo apparently mention ‘vanilla with hints of ginger, dried fruits, sherry sweetness and wood smoke…’ which accords with my distant recollection of tasting it years ago. I would imagine other sherry-cask-aged Speyside malts
posted by misteraitch at 5:32 AM on December 23, 2011 [2 favorites]

Best answer: [oops, posted too soon] ...could conjure up Christmassy-ness too: for example the Glendronach 15yo or 18yo.
posted by misteraitch at 5:48 AM on December 23, 2011

Compass Box Spice Tree
posted by neroli at 7:45 AM on December 23, 2011

Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban is a port finish that is quite nice. I think it might have the richness of flavor that might seem christmas-y

Or maybe I'm just saying that because I'm getting a bottle for myself this weekend.
posted by Fleebnork at 9:53 AM on December 23, 2011

Glenfiddich Solara Reserve may fit the bill and it should be in your price range. Slightly higher priced would be Bruichladdie 21 year old finished in a PX sherry cask. Lovely whisky if you can find it.
posted by troll on a pony at 9:56 AM on December 23, 2011

Best answer: Auchentoshan Three Wood is essentially fruitcake in hooch form.
posted by Rat Spatula at 11:03 AM on December 23, 2011

Response by poster: I went with the 15 year glendronach revival, will be taste testing shortly. The Auchentoshen would have been a contender but I had to buy before the shop shut, and it hadn't been posted then, I will mark it down for future investigation as you did a good sell there, thanks everyone!
posted by biffa at 12:56 PM on December 23, 2011