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!

I AM a whisky buff (and I am both Scottish and have a WSET Level 4 diploma to prove it!).

From the pic you've posted, it would appear that he's been necking the Dalwhinnie - a soft Highland malt - as opposed to the Laphroaig (I love a peaty Islay malt, but they are challenging for novices).

I would suggest a 'middle ground', such as a Campbeltown malt.

Anything from Springbank is SUPERB, but the distillery has just released a special limited edition called 'Longrow', and if you're looking for something really special, this is where I would go. I've tried the 14-yr-old and it is amazing. Alternatively, the Springbank 18-yr-old is also really, really good.

Also, good cut glass or crystal tumblers are the best glasses for whisky-drinking and will never go out of style!

Also bear in mind that whisky is produced by hand in small batches by experts: its provenance makes it expensive. Anything under £25 can be written off as 'council whisky'.

If you want good stuff, you need to be prepared to pay upwards of £40: a decent 15-yr-old will cost ~£80+, a limited edition or cask strength anywhere from £60-150, and then it's basically a case of 'how much do you want to spend?'.

I was going to suggest Dalwhinnie winter gold. Cardhu Gold might be a safe bet - rounded and smooth, no strong peat or smoke which isn't to everyone's tastes (given that he's already got Dalwhinnie he'll probs like that). I tried one the other day that's quite sweet/creamy, Aberlour, been aged in sherry casks - bit different

My OH is very into whiskies, he has the same ones your partner does. His favourite distillery is Talisker, especially Talisker Storm

This one is kinda special

Dimple Whisky, if you can get it.

Edradour - from the smallest distillery in Scotland ( Pitlochry). It’s a lovely drop, very smooth.

www.edradour.com/

My H isn’t so keen on the peaty whiskies. On the recommendation of my local spirits shop I have got him a Japanese one - Nikka I think but would need to double check

It is something special Seneca.

We went on holiday to Scotland once and visited some distilleries and I became a whisky lover after that. There are different types of whiskies so you need to know if he likes smoky or light or rich or delicate - it’s all to do with the maturing process. If you have an idea of one that he already likes, you can get an idea of others that fall in the same category. Look up “whisky chart” online and you’ll get a few examples and can see other similar flavours. I prefer light ones to smoky ones so can look at the chart and see ones which fall into the same category. A lot of the highland ones start with “glen” like Glenmorangie and Glenlivet and they’re matured in Sherry casks and have a lovely flavour - not too smoky or peaty.
There’s a distillery in Wales which makes a nice single malt if you want to go for something a bit more unusual. It’s called Penderyn and is quite a light one. Again, it’s a good idea to have look at one you already know he likes and go from there.

Not sure if anyone else has said this but
this is a brilliant idea.

www.whisky-me.com

@Meangirls56 - ds1 is a whisky fan, and that Japanese whisky is his Christmas present from us this year!

I don't drink whiskey but dh does and he loves Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, Glenmornagie

I have bought him Talisker and Laprhoig in the past and he has enjoyed them but always reverts to one of the above 'Glens'

My husband is a real whisky buff. He doesn’t like laphroaig as he finds it too smoky. His favourite is Bunnahabhain.

Just remembered I have this tea towel. 😄

Having trouble posting photo

How about Penderyn Welsh whisky, it's really nice and quite unusual

The welsh one is on offer in Morrisons just now as well but if it’s not Scottish then it can’t possibly be very good

Bought dp the Norlan glasses in clear and black-they were a hit.
I’ve bought him Johnnie Walker white walker, the limited addition Game of Thrones whisky for Christmas. I’m hoping it’s nice!

The welsh one is on offer in Morrisons just now as well but if it’s not Scottish then it can’t possibly be very good

Ahem! Have you actually tried Penderyn?

No, I’m joking which is why it was scored out...

oh I see, I think.

Another MacAllan fan here too, not had any for years though - beyond my budget nowadays. Must write to santa !

Laphrioag is beautiful