Munitions grade dram (up to $50): At around $30, you can’t go wrong with the Aberlour 12 Year Double cask in my opinion but if you are buying for the more big brass ballz kind of whisky drinker the Laphroaig Select 750 might do you better at just under $35 it’s a steal. Knappogue Castle 12 Year Irish Whiskey would be a welcome site under my tree this year and is well priced at a hair under $45 at the moment.
Sipper dram (up to $100): On the reasonable end of this group I’d put in the Compass Box Spice Tree Blended Malt. Yea, John is an old friend of the 3DC, but I’ve always had a fondness for this particular expression. Yellowspot 12 Year Pot Still at around $90 is an excellent choice for the Paddy lover on your list.
Special occasion dram (up to $300): The Compass Box Hedonism is a bit more pricey that used to be, but at just over $100 it’s still a good value for money in my opinion. At a wink under $200 this dram’s price keeps crawling up there but it’s the only dram by this maker I actually like so I’ma toss it on the list, Balvenie 21 Year Port Wood Finish.
Stupid money ($300+): Save your coin. I love whisky as much as the next guy, but who the hell you buying this for anyway. Unless your are hanging with the Maharaja, buy a couple bottles for some closer friends instead. 😛
Out of the box thinking: Pricey for a sake at just under $40, but I do love this one: Masumi Hiyaoroshi Hiyaoroshi Ginjo Sake “Sleeping Beauty”
Book: Here’s one I’d like to get myself actually. We might know the author of this one so there’s that caveat, but he knows his shite so I don’t mind shilling for him. Robin Robinson’s book, The complete Whiskey Course: A comprehensive Tasting School in Ten Classes is available on a variety of retailers from at least Amazon to Target, at just under $30 (B&N has a deal on it right now though).
So you need a gift for that picky whisky lover in your life but don’t know enough about their tastes to buy them an actual bottle eh? Well we (3DC) have got you covered. The following is Raz’ top 10 non whisky-whisky gifts to give for the holidays.
Please note that, excepting the #1 pick, there is no particular order to them, nor are the links necessarily to the only and or best value sites to get these gifts from. Buyer beware is the rule of the day. These are just ideas for you to use as your own (with our blessings) and to get the job done.
OK, so there is SOME whisky in this “no-whiskey” gift list but as Seamus says, you can’t go wrong with the Balvenie, he’s wrong-but he says it anyway, so with that in mind; the Balvenie Gift Basket from Hi Time Wine Cellars would make someone very happy: $114.95 http://www.hitimewine.net/istar.asp?a=6&id=810534!0
Got someone that is so into whiskey that they’ve been considering making their own? Give them a Whiskey Barrel: $40-$272 http://thebarrelsource.com/combos.html
Because you really can’t do much better than giving knowledge as a gift, Tickets to WOW 2008 in San Francisco would be great. Remember, we’re staying at the Hotel Des Arts in case you want to send them by to say hello as well: $110.00 and up http://www.whiskiesoftheworld.com
Happy shopping and if you are reading this, I wouldn’t mind being on your list…
Are you close to a Whiskey, Whisky, or Scotch lover? Do you want to get them the perfect bottle as a holiday gift? Do you have no idea how to shop for a bottle of whiskies?
Because of my love for whiskies and my involvement with the 3 Drunken Celts, I am often asked for suggestions as to which bottle would be a good gift for a friend, family member, or boss. To this end I present: “Seamus’ Opinionated Guide to buying Whiskies as Gifts”
When accosted for a recommendation, my initial response is: “Find a bottle of ‘The Balvenie’ which suits your price point and buy it. You won’t go wrong…”
However, I have found that not everyone is as enamoured with the distillery as I am (cough, Raz, cough). So in a vain attempt to help out those recipients who don’t always prefer The Balvenie, I will attempt to provide some basic guidelines to choosing a suitable bottle as a gift. (If you just want Seamus’ top picks for each price point, scroll to the bottom past all the drivel in between…)
Ok, if you are still with me, let’s get to the substance of this article:
First and foremost, figure out what your price point is. There is no use finding the perfect bottle, only to realize it is way out of your range. Price can be used as a general guideline: the more costly, odds are it will be better than the cheaper stuff. But don’t let that get you down; there are some GREAT whiskies on the market which far outshine their lower price points. Just remember, there ARE deals to be had! Find some whiskies in the price range you are comfortable with, and then begin narrowing down from there.
Like price, Age is also a decent guideline where the older is typically better. On general principal a 21 year old whisky will be smoother than a 10 year old whisky. This guideline, however, tends to only stand up within the same distillery. Once you begin comparing differing distilleries and differing ages, the guideline begins to break down with too many exceptions.
When using Age as a guideline, it is also best to add Region in as well. You may well find a great 22yr Single Malt, only to discover it is from a region known for its brine when your recipient prefers peat.
If at all possible, you should try to determine of the recipient has any specific preferences when it comes to his/her whiskies. If so, you have it easy… stick with those preferences. Straying from a preferred distillery/region can be a risky venture as most connoisseurs are quite particular with their drams.
Assuming that the recipient has no particular preferences, you’ll have your work cut out for you. At the least, try to determine if he/she likes the smoky, peaty, briny, or sweeter whiskies. This will help you narrow down to a smaller regional subset and progress from there.
Some general regional characteristics to help you along the way:
Highlands – Arguably the most popular region appealing to the widest range of tastes including peat, brine, and smoke.
Speyside – A very popular and quite prolific region. Sweet, delicately complex; some with a refined smokiness, some with fruity finishes.
Islay (pronounced “Eye-la”) – Gives the Highlands a run at most popular. Challenging, Peat, brine, smoke and sometimes a tinge of salty seaweed
Skye and Orkney – Similar in character to the Islays but tend to be softer on the pallet. The Peat on the Orkneys is from heather which imparts a honey like flavor.
Lowlands – This region no longer boasts the copious number of distilleries as it once did. Soft, smooth and mild. A little of the peat and brine of the Highland malts, but much more subtle.
Campbeltown – This also use to be a prolific region, but is now in rarity. Slightly briny but not as aggressive as the Islay malts.
Irish – Not as popular as Scotch malts but this is a developing malting region its blends are quite popular. Distinguished by the un-malted barley used along with malted barley. Smooth, complex and frequently with some fruity flavor. Once known for peated whiskies, this is rarely done now.
Bourbon – From the Bourbon County, KY area of the US. Sour, sweet and smoky
American – Not from the Bourbon County area. Many are quite new to the market place with varying differences in flavours.
Assuming you have a set price range, you can really start narrowing down your selection set based on Age/Year, region, and the particular palette imparted by each bottling. Of course none of this can take the place of experience (i.e. sampling and knowing how each tastes); but if you knew already, then you wouldn’t need this guide would you?
At this point the internet is your best friend. You can find some great tasting notes on darn near any bottle ever produced! Start your searches on some on-line liquor retailer websites to find the bottles in your price range, and then do a few Google searches to find tasting notes and ratings on each. You should have a short-list selection in no time. From there, either order your choice from one of the sites who will ship to you (even with shipping you can get some wonderful deals on the internet), or take your list to your local purveyor of spirits to fill your order.
Now, it seems that even after I espouse my diatribe above, people still look at me and ask “…well that’s fine and all, but what do YOU recommend?”. I have two answers to that question:
1. If you are asking this question, then you haven’t understood a word I have said. Whiskies are a complicated thing and can be very personal for each drinker. You are best to follow the advice above, lest you buy a bottle which doesn’t meet the recipient’s desires…
2. If you are still going to demand a particular bottle recommendation, and were buying said bottle for MY palette, here you go:
Seamus’ Top Picks by Price Point (2 bottles each category):
$250 and higher:
The Balvenie 25 year / Bowmore 35yr
$120 – $249:
The Balvenie 21yr Port Wood / Edradour 22yr Port Wood
$100 – $119:
Midleton Very Rare / Compass Box Hedonism
$75 – $99:
Compass Box Flaming Heart / GlenRothes 1987
$50 – $74:
Oban 14yr / GlenRothes 1991 14yr
$30 – $49:
Sheep Dip / Knappogue Castle 1992
$10 – $29:
Aberlour 10yr / John, Mark, & Robbo’s The Rich Spicy One
Other picks…
For the Bourbon lover: Bulleit Bourbon is an amazing distillation, which at $15-$30 can’t be beat at all!
For a fun grab-bag type surprise, choose any Bruichladdich bottling (pronounced ‘brook’- ‘law’-‘day’). NONE are the same and will challenge the connoisseur’s palette and expectations. You never know what you’re going to get!
