any whisky buffs here?

[Fashionista101]

So I know nothing about whisky but I bloody love a JD Diet Coke.

My partner bloodys loves the stuff and I want to get home something special/nice for Christmas. I know he like a single malt and I think it's from the highlands?!

Any ideas? He has those cube/stones things. He has small tumblers but they look shit, what should I look for?

What's an unusual whisky that he may appreciate?

Tours/distilleries etc he will never go to so not really an option.

Thanks!

What sort of whisky does he like, smoky, peaty, light?

Do you have a budget it mind? A decent single malt can be anywhere from £25 up.

laphroaig Is probably what your after. Or if you want something smoother - Balvenie.

My DH likes Ardbeg, they do some quirky ones. I've got him a tasting set before: www.masterofmalt.com/tasting-set/drinks-by-the-dram/regions-of-scotland-whisky-tasting-set/

Balvenie Double Wood and some good heavy based crystal tumblers - charity / vintage shops are good for finding them. (It should sit in the palm of your hand cradled underneath so try them out like that when your buying them)

I don't think you can go wrong with a Macallan - of any kind - but the master of malt website sells some for the travellers market - more unusual ones you can't pick up in any ordinary supermarket.

How much are you planning to spend?

My DH has some cut crystal tumblers for whisky , no ice or stones though. Does your DH has water in his? You could buy a really nice little water jug (Scotch and a Threat it's callled . A 'threat' of water )

My DH likes one called Speyside IIRC (white box , inside is bright pink! )

There are oaky, peaty, smokey, can you find out what his preferences are ?

I don't drink, I;m going to buy DH some whisky too, I go by the nice label (for shame , I am shallow )

Highland malts tend to be smooth and sweetish - not too peaty.
So maybe a me thing else in that vein?

Eg Dalwhinnie, Royal Loch agar, Knockandhu etc.

How does he take his whisky - with ice? If so, maybe an ice cube maker that makes BIG cubes or better still spheres? Cools the drink with less dilution. Like a less faddy version of whisky rocks.

Islay whiskies tend to be quite smoky/peaty. Bruichladdich is gorgeous.

If he likes smokey whiskies, Lagevulin is also good, and Smokehead is amazing (I am a fan of the very heavilynoeat d/smokey whiskies).

Highland Park is a distillery on Orkney - dsis and her dh are fans.

Auchentoshan distillery (Glasgow) does some lovely whiskies - my favourite is Three Woods - aged 10 years in oak barrels, 2 in sherry barrels, and a final,year in oloroso barrels - it is so smooth and rich - it isn’t sweet, but it has the richness of a liqueur.

Laphroig and Ardbeg are challenging peaty whiskies - not what I'd suggest for someone who drinks highland malts.

Glendronach is a nice highland whiskey that’s harder to find in the shops so a bit more of a treat. £39, which is what you’d expect to pay for most decent single malts.

OP can you look and see what whisky it is that he likes?

Glenlivet is from Speysife and is lovely 😊

Speyside

It could be Auchentoshan he likes?

I used to work in a swanky whisky bar and always recommended Balvenie. It also comes in a lovely box and there are a few different editions (Double Wood, Port Wood, Carribean Cask are the ones I remember).

You could also buy some heavy bottomed crystal glasses or maybe Glencairn glasses?

I love whisky but I don't know that much about it. I just like drinking it. Go for something that's at least over 12 years old if you're going for single malts. The age does make a difference. It's pricey though, so if you don't fancy spending lots you can probably get a nice 12-year old single malt in a supermarket for about 25-30 quid.

As for other stuff, how about a nice whisky guide? Or some cool whisky tumblers. I know they're supposed to be those almost funnel shaped ones, but I've always liked those old school type glasses that you see mafia people drinking from in old movies. My husband got me a lovely engraved tumbler last Christmas and I love it!

(Also bookmarking for recommendations!)

You could try him with something completely different from the highlands- Japanese! They're massive producers as the moment, and coming out with great stuff. Also have a look online for the Norland whiskey glass

It would help you if you knew what type he likes - peaty, creamy, smokey, etc. Definitely expect to pay for a decent one - I've just spent £40 on a bottle of relatively basic (but very lovely) single malt whisky. If you can afford it, go for something older - a 10 year old, 15 year old, or more. But the older they are, the more expensive they get. Definitely go single malt.

Distilleries we've used before include Jura, Talisker, Oban, Ardbeg, Lagavulin (OH recommends), Caol Islay (OH says this has probably been his favourite), Bowmore, Highland Park, Glen Moray. These are all ones we've got my OH and that he's liked.

Hi OP. Glenlivet is a lovely malt as is Bowmore. These are the main ones I buy. Glenlivet is a speyside malt. They are really good. Both are smooth and nothing too extreme tasting if you don’t know exactly what he likes. Avoid Laphroig unless you know he likes it really peaty! Generally malt whisky is better the longer it’s been matured for. If the bottle doesn’t state how long, it’s only been matured the minimum 7 years. Therefore, 10, 12, 15 years and upwards are definitely superior (and understandably more expensive). If you find him a single-malt 15+ years old he will be a happy man. If you wish to get him glasses, then I’d go for heavy crystal tumblers, but not too big.

Isle of jura do some lovely whiskeys and not as peaty as the Islay ones

Does he have any at home that he likes? Malts tend to taste similar depending on the area they're from I.e the highland malts are more peaty and taste a bit like antiseptic. The lowland and Speyside are more palatable across the board. I like Dalwhinnie and Glenkinchie but can't stomach Laphroaig. DH will drink any malt and loves to try a different one. If you want to play safe get a Speyside (it should tell you on the back of the bottle)

These are what he has in the cupboard. This is a very new thing so even he doesn't really know what he's buying. These have however been repeat buys.

No real budget, thanks so far for the recommendations!

A sherry cask is usually lovely. Balvenie and Glenlivet are great ones (but quite expensive!). Oban is also a very good highlands whisky, although it's not unusual.

I know you said he likes a highland single malt but you could get him a Penderyn welsh whisky. I can't stand the stuff myself but my DH and our friends drink whisky, they have a collection of different whiskies as does my DH and all 3 of them love the Penderyn Madeira finish Gold Seam. They are also all big fans of the Penderyn Myth, that's the one that they and my DH always have in the collection.

My absolute favourite is Jura Prophecy. I’m not a ‘buff’ but I do enjoy my whisky and know what I like. Laphroaig is very intense and a very particular taste so don’t get him that unless you’re sure it’s the one he likes!

Does he use the whisky stones or ice a lot? Most hardcore Scottish whisky fans I know will drink it neat with just a drop of water, so if he likes it ‘on the rocks’ he may prefer something a little sweeter and closer to a bourbon?