Whiskey for people who don’t like whiskey

Maybe it’s just the Don Draper-ification of it all, but there’s something about being able to truly enjoy whisky that feels like a cultural level-up. Slow sipping requires taste, pace, nuance and a certain savoir-faire. And while the old-world aesthetic of drinking whisky (or whiskey), especially neat or on the rocks, is wildly alluring (and quite chic in a candid, ‘nonchalant’ Instagram-story kind-of-way), it’s a bold jump from the Aperol Spritzes and Tommy Margs of a typical night out.

For the whisky-curious who prefer small steps to bold jumps, our favourite brands have been turning out a heap of new releases making whisky appreciation more accessible. There’s a slew of fruity infusions and natural flavour additions that soften the spirit and help newer sippers’ tastebuds to appreciate the toasted caramel notes and other characters of good whisky (and while we’re here, rum too). You’ve got to start somewhere, right? Make it one of these.