It is World Whisky Day (15 May) but if you are a connoisseur of the stuff, then you would know. That's because those who love a dram are obsessed with the stuff. And quite rightly, too, as the drink is one of the greatest pleasures in the world.
It is also something that should be tried by all, so ignore the whisky snobs and find a bottle of the good stuff that is right for you, regardless of age, price and, well, make.
If you need some help deciding we have a whole host of whisky buying guides available for you.
Whether single malt or blended is what you want, Scottish, Irish or bourbon, we've scoured the globe for the best whisky right now - and we have also thrown in a few deals, too.
Enjoy!
Our current top whisky
If you head to our best whisky list then you will see that we have a selection of 22 of the greatest whiskies we have taste tested.
As voted by you, the current top of the crop is the Cotswolds - Single Malt. As we say in our review: "With notes of honey, orange marmalade and dark red fruits, it is very sippable" and "a great option if you're looking for a gentle introduction to the world of whisky."
Our favourite Irish whisky
In our best Irish whiskey guide, Sailor's Home - The Haven is in the the top spot. This is a cracking whiskey, packed with a good dollop of cream that is peppered with subtle spice. It's a single pot still Irish whiskey, made with malted and unmalted Irish barley and oats.
The number one bourbon right now
Our number one bourbon in our best bourbon list is the fantastic-tasting Buffalo Trace. According to its distiller, it's “Pleasantly sweet to the taste with notes of brown sugar and spice that give way to oak, toffee, dark fruit and anise”.
World Whisky Day: great cocktails to try
To make sure your World Whisky Day is a special one, we spoke to Alex Thomas, The Sexton Single Malt Irish Whiskey’s Master Blender, and asked her to share her top five cocktails. Enjoy!
1. Bury the Hatchet
Ingredients
- 50ml The Sexton Single Malt
- 25ml Lemon Juice
- 12.5ml Sugar Syrup
- Top with Soda
- 15ml Sweet Sherry Float
- Garnish with a wedge of lemon
2. Laid to Rest
- 25ml The Sexton Single Malt
- 20ml Manzanilla
- 12.5ml Spiced Claret Syrup
- 5ml Pedro Ximenez
- Garnish with a mint sprig and dried spices
3. The Haunted
- 50ml The Sexton Single Malt
- 5ml Coffee Liqueur
- 5ml Maple Syrup
- 2 Dashes Chocolate Bitters
- Serve on the rocks!
4. Umami Old Fashioned
- 40ml The Sexton Single Malt
- 10ml Maple Syrup
- 3 Dashes Angostura Bitters
- Irish ceps Mushrooms
5. A Dark Turn
- 40ml The Sexton Single Malt
- 10ml Creme de Cacao White
- 1 Egg White
- 25ml Lemon Juice
- 1 Bar Spoon Smoked Chipotle Ketchup
- 2 Drops of Hot Pepper Sauce
6. And one from Nc’nean... The Whisky Six
- 2 parts Nc’nean (50ml)
- 4 parts soda water (100ml)
- Mint sprig to garnish
Fill a glass with cubed ice and add all the ingredients. Gently stir then garnish with a fresh sprig of mint.
5 exciting whiskies to try
We have been trying out a number of new whiskies while celebrating World Whisky Day. Here are a selection of our favourite new tipples...
1. That Boutique-y Whisky Company Millstone 4-Year-Old
We have to admit that this is the first Dutch whisky we have tried but we are glad we did. bottled at 49% ABV from the Zuidam Distillery, this is a great dram that's limited to under 2,000 bottles and has a real dark fruit and chocolate flavour. The bottle design is fantastic, too.
2. Teeling Blackpitts
If you are looking for a peated whiskey to try this World Whisky Day then the Teeling Blackpitts is it. The first peated release from the distiller, this is triple distilled and bourbon casks are used so there's plenty of smoke. There's hints of plum, pepper and green pear too.
3. Kyrö Malt Rye Whisky
Finland isn't the place that you automatically think of when it comes to whisky but the Kyrö Malt Rye Whisky is a great-tasting whisky that's packed with bundles of spice, toffees and oak. It's a rye whisky so expect more of a spiciness than normal but this is definitely a whisky worth investigating.
4. Shanky's Whip
This whisky liqueur is a lot of fun to drink. It's made with Irish whiskey and infused with vanilla and caramel giving it a smooth finish that gives the mouth feel of a creamy drink, even though there is no cream in it. We love the old-school bottle and have enjoyed Shanky's Whip with Coca-Cola, so really recommend giving this one a try.
5. Nc’nean Organic Single Malt Scotch Whisky
We are all for sustainability so it's great to see that Nc’nean is a 100% renewable energy distillery and the bottle is 100% recycled, too. The liquid inside is also great: there's a real warmth to it with apple pie and lemon curd coming to the fore.
If you want more whisky goodness, then head to one of the following guides:
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