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How to give the gift of whiskey (and whisky)

Read time 3 Mins

Posted 24 Aug 2022

By
Mitch Parker

Three top whiskies, from Scotland, Australia and Ireland

Give them a special whisk(e)y and they’ll think of you every time they pour a glass.

Of all the sippable spirits, whisky (or whiskey – it changes depending on where it's from) is easily the most widely appreciated. There’s something really special about the ritual of sitting down with a nip and letting the warmth wash over you. Which is exactly what makes it such a great gift – you’re giving them that moment, not just something to drink.

There’s also something undeniably fancy-feeling about whisky, but it’s not all liquid gold. No judgement on what you choose to sip in your own time, but if you’re giving whisky as a gift, it’s best to focus your search on the more premium and unique end of the scale. You want to treat someone to a whisky they wouldn’t normally buy for themselves. Give them something new or special or well-aged and they’ll think of you every time they pour a glass. (Don’t worry – that doesn’t always mean mega expensive. There’s plenty of delicious brown stuff at a reasonable price point.)

To help you on your quest to find the perfect whisky gift, we’ve pulled together our favourite new bottles from around the world. Below you’ll find a whisky (or whiskey) that’ll suit everyone, from amateurs to full-blown obsessives.

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Best whiskey for spice addicts: Dubliner Spiced Whiskey Liqueur

Let’s be honest, being a whiskey purist can be a little dull – where’s the sense of adventure? Every now and then it’s fun to take a walk on the wild side – or should we say, the spicy side. Anyone who loves the tongue-tingling, full-body warming sensation of spicy flavours will fall head over heels for Dubliners Spiced Whiskey Liqueur. The blend is crafted by taking Irish Whiskey and setting the flavour on fire with an injection of sweet cinnamon and a prickle of chilli.

Best whiskey they’ve definitely never tried: Fuji Single Grain Japanese Whiskey

One of the newest whiskies to be imported into the country comes from Fuji Gotemba distillery at the base of Japan’s famed Mount Fuji. Described as “a gift from the mountain” the whiskey has the unique feature of being made with snowmelt. When the snow on the mountain's peak melts it begins a long natural journey into an underground aquifer, which the distillery taps in order to source the purest, most pristine water possible. The result is a whiskey that speaks to the Japanese pursuit of excellence and quality – which you’ll taste in the exceptional vanilla fruit flavours on the palate.

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Best whisky for serving neat: Bladnoch Vinaya Single Malt Scotch Whisky

With over 200 years under their belt, Bladnoch is the world's oldest privately owned Scotch Whisky Distillery. Bladnoch has a global reputation for crafting the kind of exceptional single malt whisky the Scottish Lowlands region is now known for. In fact, at one point it earned them the nickname ‘the Queen of the Scottish Lowlands’. Case in point is the distillery’s Vinaya Single Malt, which is matured in a unique combination of first fill bourbon and sherry casks – a whisky term that means the casks are being used to age whisky for the first time to impart the most flavour. The result is a whisky that you’ll only ever want to serve neat so that you can taste the fresh apple, sweet floral grass and hints of chocolate within.

Best crowd-favourite whisky: Johnnie Walker Double Black Scotch Whisky

Johnnie Walker didn’t become the most famous name in whisky for no reason – their unparalleled skill for blending is what made them the iconic label they are today. For 200 years Johnnie Walker has made consistently great whisky, so it’s no wonder they have a dedicated following of devotees around the world. You might think you know Johnnie Walker, but you’ve never had a glass of Johnnie Walker quite like their Double Black Scotch Whisky – a full bodied and intensely smokey sipper with a powerful and impressive flavour.

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Best whiskey for unique thinkers (and drinkers): 78 Degrees Australian Whiskey

Conversations about whisk(e)y are always kind of the same – Irish this, Scottish that, yadda, yadda yadda. But all the talk of international whisk(e)ys got the team over at Adelaide Hills distillery 78 Degrees thinking – what would an Australian version taste like? And so they decided to figure it out for themselves. The result is their Australian Whiskey, a remarkable drop that breaks away from the traditional boundaries of what we think whisk(e)y has to be and creates a new style and standard that’s uniquely ours. They’ve done us all proud.
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78 DegreesAustralian Whiskey 700mL
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BladnochVinaya Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 700mL
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FujiSingle Grain Japanese Whiskey 700mL
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Authour image
Mitch Parker Mitch Parker is Melbourne-based writer, editor and advocate for always sitting at the bar.
Tags
Hit ListSpiritsIrish WhiskeyAustralian whisk(e)yWhisk(e)yJapanese WhiskyAustralian productsScotch Whisky
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