Whisky Wonderland: Your Guide to the Top 12 Bottles for Any Occasion
What are the best whiskeys in the world? How do you judge a whiskey, and how can we buy the finest spirits without fail, even without having tasted them all?
All these are sacred questions, and for that reason, we’ve compiled a list of the best whiskeys for the money. So that you can buy whiskey with confidence and know what makes each one good and what makes it bad, we’ve put together this guide.
A good bottle of whiskey is an investment, but it also brings joy not only to those who buy it but also to those who receive it. If you are thinking about a gift, whiskey is the best choice.
By giving a bottle of whisky, be it a peaty Scotch like Ardbeg, a spicy and caramelized bourbon, or a soft Irish whiskey, you will be sure to make a great present.
Depending on the type, age, and price of the distillate, you can make an intermediate product for casual drinkers or a smoky, strong whiskey for a friend who loves peat.
The beauty of whiskey is that the average quality of the product is high, as is the price. A 16-year-old Lagavulin is always the same; it has the same characteristics, elegance, and distinguishing feature.
You can’t go wrong. With wine, it is more difficult to handle: there are the vintages, the storage conditions, and one may like or not natural wines; one may drink only Armenian wines from the amphora, Riesling, or Sassicaia vintage 1968.
Whisky is a security blanket and, even more, could be considered an investment. Of course, the cost is slightly higher: let’s consider 40 euros the minimum cost to be budgeted, just to start playing.
But we’re talking about prestigious gifts, and a distillate is forever, at least until you kiss the last drop. However, the emotions, the flavors, and the warmth that whiskey can give are incredible.
Well, having said that, let’s move on to the list of the best whiskeys to give as gifts. We will talk about whiskeys that have excellent value for money and some of the finest whiskeys in circulation, including special bottles for those who want to make extremely prestigious gifts.
Lagavulin 16 years
One of the most well-known Islay whiskies, this classic combines peat and iodized sea flavors to create an amazing symphony. The peat is intense but not overpowering. The fruit is tantalizing and fades away into a salty rockiness. A masterpiece, but not a good whiskey for people who have never tried peated whiskey before. The review.
Whiskey Coffey Malt Nikka
We cross the world and move on to a delicious, silky Japanese whiskey. The structure is tough, but the roundness and pleasantness of this distillate are addictive. There are sweet spices, nuts, and caramel flowers in the bouquet, but not even a trace of peat. A perfect whiskey for both veterans and beginners
Macallan Amber
Let’s go back to Scotland to taste a particular single malt. It is very mellow, round, elegant, and vanilla-driven. There is no trace of peat, of course, but only softness in the glass. The rhythm and variety are excellent. It is not a static whiskey; rather, it hits hard; it is the so-called iron fist covered with silk.
Caol Ila 12 years
Another great Scottish single malt from Islay, Caol Ila 12, is unique in that it smells and tastes the most like the sea but has less peat than the others.
The smoke pervades the bouquet with delicacy; it is a hint, deep but not so bold. Instead, the sea’s call is very clear; it’s almost salty in the mouth, but it’s well balanced by a fleshy fruit that reminds me of dates and orange peel. Infinite floral finish The review.
Springbank 10 years
Another excellent single malt Scotch at a reasonable price. The nose is scented, ample, and sumptuous, with hints of ripe fruit and spices. Flowers, dates, and raisins, with hints of caramel Everything is decanted with uncommon elegance and aromatic precision.
Tough persistence. In the mouth, it is equally sumptuous but strongly flavored. Freshness and liveliness give it a vertical motion, and a measured roundness wraps up the whole mouth. The play of shadows and light between softness and rockiness is fabulous. For those who love Cognac-style meditation spirits, it is ideal.
Ardbeg 10 years
And finally, we taste a myth—one of the most acclaimed peated whiskeys of all time. Among the experts in the field and the critics, it is recognized as “The Whiskey Bottle.” The one that, despite costing 50–55 euros, can compete with whiskeys costing thousands of euros.
The Ardbeg 10 has such an intense bouquet that as soon as you uncork it, the perfume invades the room you are in. But behind the peat, there are flowers, the salt of the sea, a sharp fruit, traces of citrus fruits, and splendid notes of sweet spices. If it were a painter, it would be Caravaggio. The review.
Bulleit Kentucky Straight Bourbon
This book is a credible interpretation of what the bourbon of the old West must have been like. It is a great product that is harsh, herbaceous, and puritan, but full of cinnamon references and ripe, pulpy fruit. Do not expect an exaggerated “softness, caramel, butter, vanilla, and pecan pie suggestion.”
Rather, it has a strong character, the right dose of smokiness, and a sharp, burnt orange echo. peppery finish with mint and coffee. It deserves more than a couple of tastings.
Talisker Skye
Structure, body, an endless sea, and a nice dose of peat. This Talisker Skye is a bomb; it’s not very fine, but it has a nice intensity. Let’s say that if you are used to strong flavors and if you like smoked food, you have found the right bottle for you. BBQ time!
Lagavulin 12 years (2016) is a Scotch whisky
This is a special edition to try, totally different from the classic Lagavulin 16. This is balsamic, heterosexual, pungent, and mentholated.
Yes, there is peat in the background, but the aging in wood is more modeled and less pervasive. It is a more unplugged, free, and even lysergic distillate, with aromas and exuberance that the Lagavulin 16 has never seen.
The price is high, exactly like the alcoholic degree of 57.7 degrees, but it is a unique experience. Every Lagavulin 16 fan should try it at least once!
Laphroaig quarter cask
Mature and full of marine and spicy hints This single malt hits hard, has a flavor that is both complex and harsh, and knows how to charm with its elegance and stubbornness.
And it’s even softer than the classic Laphroaig 10, so this is a little more tolerant. If you like wood and peat, this is your go-to bottle.
Aultmore 21 Single Malt
A fabulous Speyside single malt for rigor, cleanliness, and incredible balance. The flavor and aroma of pure malt are drawn with mathematical precision: the fruit is citrusy and thin, and the spices from the wood are delicate and enriching without being heavy.
But above all, they do not dirty the clear contours of a single-malt champion. Herbs and softness, as one would expect from a great Speyside whiskey.
In short, it is very elegant, has no peat, and has a very deep and balanced aroma. It costs 200 euros (at least), but for a stunning Scotch that has slept in barrels for 21 years, that is acceptable.