The top 5 blended whiskies

If you're a whisky know-it-all, you'll know it's bad form to turn your nose up at blended bottles. Single, double, or triple malt brews aren't any better, just different. If you want to get a varied taste experience, go for a blended whisky this Christmas: these are our top five to try.

1. Hankey Bannister
We would buy a case of this based on the name alone. Hankey Bannister? Amazing. We're going to open our own distillery called Tissue Bollard, and it'll do brillliantly. Unfortunate names aside, Hankey Bannister offers delicious mixes of grain and malt with a subtle, light taste that's well worth withholding a snigger for when you ask for it in the shop. It was also drunk by Winston Churchill, Evelyn Waugh and King George V.

2. Jameson 18 Years Old Master Selection
It's an interesting premise: does taking the very best of different types of whiskey and mixing them all up create a god-like, alcoholic ambrosia, or ruin them all? One of Jameson's finest vintages veers towards the former.

3. Chivas Regal 18 Years Old
Apparently, just one man, the distillery's master blender, approves all of the malt and grain casks that go into Chivas individually, and while we're almost as impressed at the man's dedication to his job as we are with the results, we can't help but wonder if he doesn't spend much of his time asleep next to them. It must all be one long hangover to him.

4. Suntory Hibiki 17 Years Old
This Japanese blend matches anything produced in Scotland, Ireland or America for quality, and even undercuts them when it comes to pricing. The citrus and wood flavours are well worth the extra effort in hunting down.

5. Crown Royal Special Reserve
Apparently, the Canadians make whiskey now. The smooth, almost creamy feel of this one means you should put expectations aside and seek out a bottle.