A great thing to gift yourself or give to a whisky loving friend. Here are a few excellent whiskies to try:
J&B Rare has a light flavour profile, which makes it a perfect canvas for the at-home cocktail.
J&B Rare has been distilled, blended and bottled in Scotland since the 1930’s and is a blend
of 42 malt and grain whiskies. The heart of J&B Rare is formed from the finest Speyside malts including Knockando, Glen Spey, Auchriosk and Strathmill. The blend is returned to the cask for a further three years’ maturation which brings together the bold flavours of the single malts with the lighter grain whiskies adding fullness and depth to the blend.
RRP: £22.50 ABV: 40% Available to purchase from: Waitrose, thewhiskyexchange.com masterofmalt.com and Justerini & Brooks
@JBRareWhisky #TheUnexpectedWhisky
Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky
This award-winning single malt whisky was launched in October 2017 and uses 100% locally grown, floor-malted barley and matures the whisky in first-fill ex-Bourbon barrels and reconditioned red wine casks. The whisky is rich, fruity and sippable with notes of honey, Seville orange marmalade and dark red fruits.
Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky RRP: from £39 for a 700ml bottle. ABV: 46%
Available from: waitrose.com, majestic.co.uk, thewhiskyexchange.com, Harrods, Laithwaites, cotswoldsdistillery.com and selected Sainsbury’s stores nationwide.
Rampur Double Cask Indian Single Malt Whisky
Produced in India’s oldest distillery, located in the foothills of the Himalayas, this super luxury premium whisky combines tradition with innovation.
Distilled in traditional copper pot stills, the malt matures for two-thirds of its life in handpicked American Bourbon Barrels and a third in European Oak Sherry Casks at India’s largest distillery and is then non-chill-filtered and bottled at 45%.
Rampur Double Cask Indian Single Malt Whisky has a full-bodied aroma of tropical fruits with oaky notes and on the palate elegant sweet fruits and delicate balsamic vanilla. A must for any whisky lover this Valentine’s Day.
Rampur Double Cask Indian Single Malt Whisky: £60.00. ABV: 45%
Available from: The Whisky Exchange and Master of Malt
Storywood Tequila – tequila aged in whisky casks, something new for a whisky lover
Storywood, a tequila with the heart of Mexico and the soul of Scotland, was created by founder Michael Ballantyne who was born in Scotland and raised in Texas.
After an unexpected meeting with Master Distiller Luis Trejo at La Cofradia Distillery in Mexico, Michael began the journey of this delicious tequila by expertly aging 100% agave liquid in single malt whisky casks from Speyside and creating the world’s first sipping tequilas.
The whisky-like characteristics drawn from the wood mean that Storywood Tequilas can be enjoyed neat or on the rocks. Award-winning Storywood Tequila Speyside 14 Añejo is smooth and hiding in every deep amber sip are notes of toasted oak, roasted nuts and treacle toffee.
Storywood Speyside 14 Añejo Tequila: RRP £47.45 for 700ml. ABV: 40%
Available from: amazon.co.uk, masterofmalt.com, thewhiskyexchange.com and storywoodtequila.com