These are our top 10 premium whiskies perfect for Christmas 2024.
Maybe we have a little bit of bias, but in our opinion, whisky is one of the most thoughtful gifts. Because the choices are so seemingly endless, you have to know what the person likes to find the right present and that means you can tailor a bottle to the individual. Or, you can introduce a fan of the spirit to something new entirely and open another door of deliciousness.
Now you can get wonderful premium whiskies for less. But for those looking to splash out, either for yourself or as a gift, we have provided a top ten to inspire you.
Here are our top 10 premium whiskies for 2024
Johnnie Walker Blue Label Gift Pack with 2x Glasses
Blue Label is a legend in its own right. One of the ultimate premium blends, this rich and slightly smoky whisky is made up of some very old malt and grain Scotch whiskies and it’s said that only one in ten thousand casks makes the grade. Not only does this handsome gift set contain the ever-awesome Blue Label, but it also boasts a pair of very snazzy branded tumblers to sip said whisky from! Ought to make quite the gift.
Highland Park 19 Year Old – Forgotten Gems Whisky 70cl
Lucky for us Forgotten Gems got a hold of 84 bottles of 19-year-old single malt from Highland Park! Aged in a bourbon barrel it has generous layers of treacle, smoky barbecue sauce, herbal honey and brown butter, it’s a splendid expression from the Orcadian distillery.
Yamazaki 12 Year Old Whisky 70cl
The flagship single malt whisky from Japan’s first and oldest malt distillery and the expression that helped an industry reach the big time, Yamazaki 12 Year Old was the first Japanese whisky to be given a gold medal at the International Spirits Challenge in 2003, and many more followed.
Midleton Very Rare 2024 Whiskey 70cl
Midleton’s annual Very Rare series began in 1984 and ever since it’s been an annual highlight from the world of Irish whiskey. The 2024 release was created by master distiller Kevin O’Gorman, who increased the grain percentage and the amount of medium pot still whiskey (Midleton makes three styles of pot still: light, medium, and heavy style), as well as the number of first-fill American oak whiskey barrels of both pot and grain whiskey. It’s got a medley of fruits, rich pot still spice, and a rich creamy texture.
Dalmore King Alexander III Whisky 70cl
Dalmore King Alexander III is sensational, sophisticated Highland single malt Scotch whisky that looks as good as it tastes. It’s a marriage of many fine whiskies matured in wine, Madeira, sherry, Marsala, Kentucky bourbon, and Port casks. Whisky fit for a king.
Bowmore 16 Year Old 2003 (Release No.11699) – The Stories of Wind & Wave (The Character of Islay Whisky Company) 70cl
Great Bowmore whisky is a thing of beauty, so when a bottler like The Character of Islay Whisky Company gets its hands on some, you should take advantage while you can. This Bowmore 16 Year Old is a single cask expression, matured in a refill bourbon barrel before being bottled at cask strength of 55.2% ABV. It boasts a flavour profile packed with mature oak, rich smoke, and flashes of lively tropical fruit.
WhistlePig 15 Year Old Whiskey 70cl
Old, old whiskey in rye terms here from the always reliable WhistlePig. The 15 Year Old expression is a straight rye whiskey that enjoyed a finishing period in Vermont oak barrels which have been given a long toast and heavy char. Shorter growing seasons and harsh winters mean Vermont oak has a tight grain pattern, which can affect the flavour profile of the whiskey, which means there’s some tree terroir afoot here!
Glen Scotia 21 Year Old Whisky 70cl
A corker of a dram from Campbeltown distillery Glen Scotia here, a single malt Scotch whisky matured in a combination of refill bourbon barrels and refill American oak hogsheads before a six-month finish in first-fill oloroso sherry casks. It was bottled at 46% ABV with natural colour and is non-chill filtered. It’s classic Glen Scotia and all the better for it.
Bunnahabhain 21 Year Old Cask Strength – 2024 Edition Whisky 70cl
A very special Bunna whisky, the 2024 edition from the Cask Strength series is a sublime single malt Scotch whisky from the distillery on Islay that spent the majority of its time in oloroso sherry casks, before a 21-month finish in Pedro Ximénez casks! It was bottled at a cask strength of 53.6% ABV.
Royal Salute 21 Year Old Signature Blend Whisky 70cl
One of the finest blends ever created, the 21-year-old Royal Salute Signature Blend was first created to honour the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. It’s aged for a minimum of 21 years in honour of the 21 Gun Salute that is fired at the Tower of London for Royal celebrations and comes in a classic blue Wade ceramic decanter.