These are some of the best smoky whiskies for Christmas 2024.
As the weather outside becomes a touch more frightful now seems like the perfect time to cosy up. One of our favourite ways to keep out the cold is with smoky whisky, which we think of as being like a fireplace in a dram. The perfect winter warmer.
That’s why we’ve rounded up a range of smoky treats, from the mild and sweet to the full-on dragon’s breath peat monsters from across Scotland as well as America, Denmark, England, and more. Hint: they also make great gifts…
Here are our top ten smoky whiskies for Christmas 2024
Green Isle 70cl
Kicking things off we have a delightful blend that does some serious heavy lifting for a bottle at its price. Green Isle is a blended Scotch whisky with an emphasis on the smoke from the people behind The Character of Islay Whisky Company. It features Speyside malt and Lowland grain whiskies chosen to complement the Islay core. The effect is a dram that can do it all: enjoy it neat, mix it up, enjoy as you please. It won’t let you down.
What does it taste like?
An approachable blend, boasting smoky depth as well as light fruit, fragrant toasted barley, warming oak, honey-glazed apples, cut grass, vanilla pod earthiness, coastal peat, pear drops and crushed peppercorns.
Bowmore 12 Year Old 70cl
If you want great smoky whisky, then the first place you should head is Islay, and a good place to start is this 12-year-old from Bowmore. A classic for good reason and the heart of the Bowmore range, this is one of the most impressive core bottlings in Scotch thanks to its affordability and expert balance of smoke, spice and sweetness.
What does it taste like?
Exhibits some beautiful coastal notes with a gentle peat, bergamot, orange zest, lemon and an oily sweetness. The balance that the floral element of heather smoke brings makes this a great entry bottling for Bowmore.
Stauning Smoke Whisky Design Edition 70cl
Stauning Smoke from Denmark demonstrates that beautiful peated whisky doesn’t just belong to the islands of Scotland. It’s made from local grain and peat, which are malted on open floors. The kiln holds both peat and heather for a lighter more complex style of smoke. It’s then double-distilled in small flame-heated pot stills (the distillery has 24 small, direct-fired stills, a very unique and interesting set-up) before being aged for five to six years in a mix of first-fill bourbon casks, first-fill Madeira casks, first-fill Jamaican rum casks, and virgin American oak casks, and bottled at 47% ABV.
What does it taste like?
Robust, but refined smoke blends with Granny Smith apples, salted caramel, cinnamon pastries, sea breeze, bittersweet orange marmalade, vanilla and the floral freshness of chamomile.
Hakushu 12 Year Old Whisky 70cl
A peated Japanese single malt whisky from Hakushu distillery, owned by Suntory and found in the forests of Mt. Kaikomagatake. Rather fittingly, this boasts a fresh and foresty flavour profile. It’s actually unique.
What does it taste like?
Rich, herbaceous and grassy with toasted barley, seed and nut loaf, chopped almonds and a little bit of barrel char. Hints of milk chocolate and dried grass bring sweetness.
Millstone Peated Pedro Ximénez Sherry Cask 70cl
Ever had peated Dutch single malt whisky? Well, now’s your chance. From the marvellous Millstone comes a whisky matured in casks that previously held intensely sweet Pedro Ximénez sherry. Combine that with the powerful salinity of peated malt and you’ve got yourself a jumble of flavours that are not only delicious, but actually quite festive too.
What does it taste like?
Smoky and salty tones balance the sweetness of sultanas, chocolate sauce, sherried orange peels and honey.
Port Charlotte PMC:01 2013 Whisky 70cl
Bruichladdich’s Cask Exploration series is full of great whisky, including this 2013 vintage Port Charlotte. It was made from Scottish Concerto barley peated to 40ppm and aged in first-fill bourbon barrels for four years. In 2017, the spirit was re-casked into Pomerol wine casks from Bordeaux’s Right Bank. It’s the first time that Port Charlotte spirit has matured in Pomerol cask and it brings all kinds of sweet and tart dark berries and leather notes to the single malt Scotch whisky.
What does it taste like?
Classic Islay salty maritime notes meet rich peat smoke, red fruits, Conference pears, marzipan, rose, honey, aged leather, and clove.
The Glenturret 10 Year Old Peat Smoked (2023 Release) 70cl
The Glenturret, Scotland’s oldest working distillery, has been revamping its range in recent times and one of the highlights is this 10 Year Old Peat Smoked expression. This is made in exactly the same way as the unpeated spirit but using lightly-peated malt, so it’s a good one for beginners to the delights of peat rather than confirmed smokeheads.
What does it taste like?
A smouldering sipper with notes of flamed lemon peel, bittersweet chocolate, toasted malt and singed heather shrouded by bonfire embers and oily smoke.
FEW Triple Smoke 70cl
Not all smoke is peat, don’t you know? Take those clever craft distillers over at FEW Spirits in Evanston, Illinois, who made whiskey smoked with not one, not two, but three different types of wood. The base spirit is made with 100% malted barley, and it’s smoked with cherry wood, applewood and mesquite wood, giving it plenty of smoky goodness, just not what you’d be used to if you’re an Islay whisky lover. One to broaden your horizons with.
What does it taste like?
Powerful, oily, and smoky with roasted apricot, hints of burnt sugar, BBQ char, and vanilla pod.
Black Bottle Andean Oak – Alchemy Series Whisky 70cl
Black Bottle has always been a firm favourite among whisky fans for its versatile, affordable offerings. The brand proved it’s able to innovate and keep those values intact with the Alchemy Series which includes this blended Scotch whisky titled Andean Oak. As far as we know, this blend from Black Bottle is the first to include whisky matured in virgin Andean oak casks. The variety is unique to Colombia and Panamá and is regarded for its ability to thrive at altitudes that others cannot. Andean oak imparts a similar character to American oak, but with more tannins and spice. It was chosen in this case to elevate the creamy, smooth grain whiskies of the blend, by finishing them for seven months in Andean oak casks with various toast and char levels.
What does it taste like?
This offers up whiffs of coastal air, scorched oak, seaweed and more, alongside familiar vanilla-rich sweetness and flashes of spice.
Islay Whisky Tasting Set 15cl
And if you just can’t decide on one bottle because they all sound so delicious (damn my powers of description!), then a whisky-tasting set should tick the box. For lovers of massively smoky, peaty whiskies, the Islay Whisky Tasting Set offers five 30ml samples to showcase some of the island’s best!
