Please help me find a really nice whiskey to buy DH

[mckenzie]

He's just started drinking it again after years of sticking to wine and so i thought I'd get him a really nice one for christmas. But I don't know one whiskey from the other so I need help please.

TIA

DH's current favourite is Ardbeg but that is a peaty islay malt, he usually has a bottle of Laophraig on the go somewhere as well.

I can't bear the smell of either of them so would choose something more mellow but it is definitely personal choice.

The South Islay whiskies are very peaty, slightly less so as you travel up the island. We used to stay in the cottage next to Ardbeg distillery and shared the same water supply - it was straight from the burn and golden Brown in colour!

Caol Ila is lovely, a real treat. But hey, whisky is such a personal drink!

Hubby and I went to Scotland for our honeymoon and toured quite a few distilleries in the Speyside region (in the north east). Glen Moray and Clynelish were our favourites. Also look out for Chivas Brothers. They are the parent company of quite a few good distilleries. If he is a frequent whisky drinker, definitely get him a single malt rather than a blend.

Just to add, I much prefer the smoother whiskies to the peaty ones so that's what my favourites were based on.

Take a look on Master of Malt website. They sell various whisky tasting sets which may be a good idea if you/he aren't sure what he likes. Great customer service too. My H has discovered that he actually likes Japanese whisky (Nikka) and really dislikes anything peaty. Alternatively, Selfridges have a selection of unusual whiskies and seem knowledgeable if you're buying a gift.

I found Loch Fyne whisky man v helpful. Phoned and chatted re budget and what type of drinker I was buying for. ( clueless )
Gift wrapped delivery arrived v quickly and friends beyond delighted www.lfw.co.uk

If you think he'd prefer something fairly easy to drink and is a bit of an intro to whisky go for singleton of Dufftown.

If he prefers a stronger tasting whisky with a bit more body and stronger pallette then go for tallisker or if he wants something to blow his head off go for caol ila.

DH liked the Islay one best out of his Sainsbury's taster setDMum gave him.

Totally at the other end of the spectrum, but is my favourite, the American bourbon Makers Mark

Very smooth and way classier than Jack Daniels or Wild Turkey. It also comes in bottles that just say present!

Oooh, I do like Balvenie.

In fact, the whiskies mentioned here are all lovely.

Pancakeflipper - yes, you've sussed me! Mumsnet is my very own personal christmas shopper this year. And doing very well i must say.

Thank you so much everybody who has replied - I thought i might get 4 or 5 comments so i'm thrilled with the response. I'm off to look at the whisky recommendations you've all given me after I've checked out the box set recommendations I've been given on another thread

An important question is, what does he usually drink? You are safest buying something similar but a bit better.

I would go for a single malt if it's a present. most popular whiskys are blended and innocuous.

I don't often drink whisky now. I used to like Cardhu. Somebody once complained that it tasted of smoke

Aldi have fantastic deals on Christmas whiskys but they are still branded with a fake name (I believe that has not been permitted since November on new packaging) so it is difficult to find out what distillery it came from. Last year they had some good stuff.

If he is Scots he is likely to know what he wants. If not I agree with trying to get a taster set, then next year you can get the one he likes best.