Whisky is, most of the time, greatest loved neat. But it surely’s a matter of desire; generally you want a neat Islay dram after an extended day, generally you need to take pleasure in an extended drink of Irish malt over ice. We have identified the whiskies greatest loved with a bit one thing additional.
Listed below are our picks of one of the best whiskies to order on-line for that particular somebody in your life. For extra, go to our critiques part and discover over 400 sensible purchaser’s guides together with style checks of one of the best gin, vodka, rum, brandy and extra, plus reward guides like one of the best letterbox items to order on-line or one of the best cocktail items.
Greatest whiskies to purchase as items at a look
Greatest Welsh whisky: Penderyn Portwood, £58Best Danish whisky: Stauning HØST, £43.51Best Taiwanese whisky: Kavalan Sherry Oak, £105.04Best Indian whisky: Amrut Fusion, £52.94Best for the whisky buff: Nikka Yoichi single malt, £76.94Best for sherry sweetness: Balvenie DoubleWood 12, £48.99Best for followers of smoky whisky: Lagavulin 16-year-old, £79.99Best for followers of traditional flavours: The Macallan 12-year-old, £103.45Best for English whisky lovers: Bourbon Cask Cotswolds Distillery, £75Best for attempting one thing new: Daddy Rack Tennessee whiskey, £42.11Best for Irish whiskey fans: Inexperienced Spot single pot nonetheless, £44.99Best for clean, fruity whiskey followers: Teeling single malt, £51.95Best for American whiskey explorers: Maker’s Mark 46 bourbon whiskey, £39.95Best for environmentally acutely aware whisky followers: Outdated Pulteney 15-year-old, £76.50Best whiskey for cocktails: Sexton single malt Irish whiskey, £31Best for the informal whiskey drinker: Jack Daniel’s single barrel choose, £39.80
Greatest whiskies to purchase as items 2025
Penderyn Portwood – 46% ABV
Greatest Welsh whisky
The concept for Penderyn – the primary Welsh whisky distillery in over a century – was born, as many nice concepts are, throughout a late night time in a pub. Established on the foot of the Brecon Beacons by a gaggle of doubtless lads and steered for a time by legendary grasp distiller Dr Jim Swan, Penderyn constantly produces award-winning whisky. The Portwood is matured in ruby port barrels and is a deep stew of berries and summer season fruits – these first seem on the nostril with a dusting of cocoa earlier than the fruits take centre stage on the palate, with baking spices supporting.
Accessible from:
Stauning HØST – 40.5% ABV
Greatest Danish whisky
Scandinavian spirits are a delight to discover. Bursting with character, you will usually discover that almost all spirits from northern Europe share an ingredient: rye. It is plentiful in Denmark, so it is smart that this storming Stauning spirit is called HØST, translating to ‘harvest’ in English, as a celebration of the rye and barley cultivation that surrounds the distillery. The nostril is invitingly candy and creamy, marrying vanilla and beeswax with lemon zest. The wildlife of the fields that impressed the bottle burst by way of the palate: orchard fruits and berries are on the fore, previous a cinnamon spice end.
Accessible from:
Kavalan Sherry Oak – 46% ABV
Greatest Taiwanese whisky
Since its institution in 2005, Kavalan has earned a popularity for excellence, with its Solist releases specifically having fun with widespread acclaim. Nestled within the lush landscapes of Yilan County, the distillery advantages from the pure spring water from Snow Mountain, in addition to the Central Mountains. The subtropical local weather additionally accelerates the maturation course of, including great depth of character in a brief area of time. Kavalan Sherry Oak is matured in handpicked Spanish sherry casks, and that is evident on the nostril, with dried fruits and baking spices flooding in. The spices observe by way of to the palate, and are joined by plum and blackberry.
Accessible from:
Amrut Fusion – 50% ABV
Greatest Indian whisky
Based mostly in Bangalore and based in 1948 by Shri J.N. Radhakrishna, Amrut is one other distillery that’s pioneering whisky in its nation. Amrut Fusion is a mix of 75 per cent Indian barley and 25 per cent peated Scottish barley, which ends up in a spirit that’s each candy and slick, spicy and smoky – it is a troublesome line to stroll, nevertheless it’s one this bottle does magnificently. Barley is on the fore on the nostril, with spices and juicy fruits forward of a whisper of peat. The peat muscle tissues into the gang on the palate, together with darkish chocolate and fruity notes.
Accessible from:
Nikka Yoichi single malt – 45% ABV
Greatest for the whisky buff
Nikka are one half of an indomitable pair of distilleries in Japan which have been on the peak of the Far East whisky marketplace for a long time. The Yoichi single malt is Nikka’s biggest success; the bottle leans into Nikka’s Scottish inspiration with out being contrived, whereas bursting with their uniquely Japanese flavour profile. On the nostril it is delicately balanced, matching peat and tropical fruit, and a fancy palate follows the identical method with added nuts. Very best for a younger whisky buff.
Learn our full evaluation of Nikka Yoichi single malt.
Accessible from:
Balvenie DoubleWood – 40% ABV
Greatest for sherry sweetness
Make a journey to Speyside with this opulent, flavourful addition from Balvenie. Anticipate wealthy milk chocolate on the palate, with recent raspberry, warming cinnamon and a touch of spicy black pepper to complete. Each true whisky connoisseur might do with a bottle of this particular single malt on their cabinets.
Lagavulin 16-year-old – 43% ABV
Greatest for followers of smoky whisky
Lagavulin’s 16-year-old expression is a titan of the business. One of many world’s hottest single malts, this whisky is a go-to at native pubs and loved by the wealthy and well-known. Definitive of the Islay area, imposing smoky notes are tempered by a wealthy sweetness. For the whisky geek in your life.
Learn our full evaluation of Lagavulin 16-year-old.
Accessible from:
The Macallan 12-year-old Triple Cask – 40% ABV
Greatest for followers of traditional flavours
A luxurious mix of creamy vanilla and darkish berries with simply the correct amount of kick supplied by pepper and spices. This 12-year-old dram is testomony to the stature The Macallan holds within the whisky world – it’s delicate, subtle and oozes class. Good for the swanky whisky drinker in your world.
Learn our full evaluation of The Macallan 12-year-old Triple Cask
Cotswolds Distillery bourbon cask single malt whisky – 59% ABV
Greatest for English whisky lovers
This wealthy, clean single malt matured in bourbon casks has loads of attribute vanilla flavours, candy honey notes and candied fruit. It’s a punchy cask-strength expression made for sluggish sipping. Though the Cotswolds Distillery is comparatively new to scene, having been established in 2014, it’s producing some thrilling drams. The best reward for any whisky lover seeking to increase their English whisky assortment.
Inexperienced Spot single pot nonetheless – 40% ABV
Greatest for Irish whiskey fans
As soon as upon a time this whiskey was completely bought in Mitchell’s grocers in Dublin. The bottle is now a lot adored all through the world and in 2018 was awarded ‘liquid gold’ standing by Jim Murray in his revered whisky bible. This whiskey is a supremely sippable, stubbornly Irish celebration of caramel and fruit. Give this one to any newbies or theatre geeks, any stage fans are positive to be shocked by the corporate this whiskey retains.
Learn our full evaluation of Inexperienced Spot single pot nonetheless.
Teeling single malt – 46% ABV
Greatest for clean, fruity whiskey followers
A contemporary Irish whiskey that oozes the smoothness and heat related to the Emerald Isle’s heritage drams. This Dublin-made tipple caresses the tongue with summer season fruits, heat spices and pepper. A ingesting expertise that can preserve your mates round lengthy after dinner has been served. Greatest introduced to any Irish whiskey heads you realize.
Learn our full evaluation of Teeling single malt.
Accessible from:
Maker’s Mark 46 bourbon whiskey – 47% ABV
Greatest for American whiskey explorers
Whiskey aficionado Jim Murray awarded this bourbon his ‘liquid gold’ award in 2014. This spiced bourbon was the primary addition to the Maker’s Mark vary because the Nineteen Fifties. The whiskey pitches a bag of spices towards the candy funfair notes usually present in bourbon. Nutmeg takes over from toffee apple with the subtlety of an earthquake however it’s a nice seismic shift. The best reward for lovers of American whiskey.
Learn our full evaluation of Maker’s Mark 46 bourbon whiskey.
Outdated Pulteney 15-year-old – 46%
Greatest for environmentally acutely aware whisky followers
A scotch that packs in spice and sea spray. Pulteney is an environmentally acutely aware distillery based mostly within the Scottish coastal city of Wick. Its whiskies are unmistakably born at sea; they burst with salty sea air and the bracing freshness that comes in consequence.
Its 15-year-old expression is not any exception; salinity is balanced with delicate vanilla and warming spices, matched by candy toffee and lightweight floral flavours. A whisky bursting with character and flavour. Purchase this bottle for the whisky ingesting eco-warrior in your circle.
Accessible from:
Sexton single malt Irish whiskey – 40%
Greatest whiskey for cocktails
Sexton have developed a liquid that’s excellent for mixing – it is each tremendous clean and bursting with intense fruity, spicy flavours. The nostril of the whisky is extremely wealthy with almonds, cocoa and buttered baking spices. On the palate, honey offers a clean base layer with accents of peppered pears, baking spice, citrus and prunes.
Over ice it really works effectively as a simple sipping whiskey, whereas the daring and demanding flavours of the palate make it a cocktail makers dream with so many alternative traits to attract out of the liquid.
Accessible from:
Jack Daniel’s single barrel choose – 45%
Greatest for the informal whiskey drinker
The Jack Daniel’s distillery, the very first in the US, was formally established in 1866, two years after Jasper ‘Jack’ Newton Daniel realized the artwork of whiskey-making from a reverend and a slave. Consideration to element and an insistence on doing the exhausting work in-house has made Jack Daniel’s the distillery it’s in the present day.
The nostril of this single barrel choose whiskey is typical of Tennessee whisky – it is full-bodied, candy and guarantees loads of indulgent golden syrup notes on the palate. Your tongue is flooded with corn and caramelised sugar, honey and baking spices.
Rye offers a pepperiness that punctuates the thick layers of sweetness, stopping it from turning into sickly. The end is enduring, with notes of pepper, citrus fruits and honey.
Accessible from:
Extra critiques
Greatest Scotch whiskyBest Irish whiskeyBest bourbonBest craft whiskiesBest whisky subscriptions and clubsBest whiskey glassesBest introduction calendars
This evaluation was final up to date in January 2025. When you have any questions or strategies for future critiques, or spot something that has modified in worth or availability, please get in contact at [email protected]. For data on alcohol pointers, learn our information to ingesting responsibly.
