The season’s less favourable weather is blowing in, bringing rain, wind and colder nights, so warming winter whiskies would go down well. We’ve gathered an eclectic selection of five whiskies from around the world, with four you’re unlikely to have tried and one old favourite.
Put the fire on, sit back, and enjoy a dram or two while you pick your next bottle from our selection…
Coachbuilt Whisky Build No.001
Coachbuilt is the debut expression of whisky expert George Koutsakis and Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button. This crafted blended whisky incorporates ingredients from the five whisky-making regions of Scotland to produce Coachbuilt — an aromatic blend matured in 30-year-old ex-sherry oak casks.
Open the bottle, and you’re hit with a bit of fruit and quite a lot of toasted sweetness. There’s a sweet start with caramel and pineapple in the mouth before a dramatic switch brings in spices and cinnamon. The spices continue through the finish, with honey and vanilla joining the mix a little.
It’s a bold new flavour to add to your drinks cabinet and worthy of its place there.
What: Coachbuilt Whisky Build No.001
Where: CoachBuiltWhisky.com
How much: £42
Cotswolds Distillery Founder’s Choice
Founder’s Choice forms part of the Cotswolds Distillery Cask Expressions Collection. This cask-strength single malt whisky is aged in what the distillery calls STR — shaved, toasted and re-charred — casks, which are ex-red wine barriques. STR casks were the brain-child of the late Dr Jim Swan, a whisky expert and mentor at Cotswolds Distillery. They are designed to give a rich and intense maturation, creating both a deep flavour and colour in the new make spirit.
The nose provides plenty of wood aroma, with sweetness overlaid. On the palate, you’ll find red berries, cereals and a sweet, vanilla or even butterscotch flavour, giving way to a surprisingly spicy and woody finish with nutty undertones.
At 59.1%, it’s a powerful dram but a tasty one.
What: Cotswolds Distillery Founder’s Choice Single Malt Whisky
Where: CotswoldsDistillery.com / Amazon.co.uk
How much: £70 / £65
Rampur Double Cask Indian Whisky
Rampur Double Cask is the latest expression from the oldest distillery in India, nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas. The temperature extremes in the region mean that the whisky matures much more quickly than many other whiskies, which Rampur believes gives the spirit added depth and dimensions.
The spirit is matured in two types of cask, hand-picked by Master Distiller Anup Barik. The first maturation is spent in American bourbon barrels before transferring to European oak sherry casks for the final third of the process. However, there’s no age statement, so will the depth of flavour be there?
The experience starts with berries and toffee on the nose, with a floral hint. In the mouth, there’s a slightly oily texture, rich in chocolate and vanilla, with a bit of spice in the mix. The finish isn’t very long, with some sweetness balanced by salt and further spice.
What: Rampur Double Cask Indian Single Malt Whisky Non-Chill Filtered
Where: Amazon.co.uk
How much: £57
Gwalarn Celtic Blend
Gwalarn, a Breton name meaning North West Wind, is the first blended whisky from the Cotes-d’Amor-based Celtic Whisky Distillerie, following on from the well-received single malt expressions Kornog and Glann Ar Mor.
Gwalarn was created by bringing together whiskies of Celtic origin — so that’s Scotland, Germany and Brittany — before skillfully reducing the spirit using water from the distillery’s own spring. The resulting liquid is then aged, under the watchful eye of the Cellar Master, in American bourbon casks to give flavour and the characteristic whisky colouring.
The Northern Brittany oceanic climate has a variety of temperatures over the seasons and plenty of humidity, not unlike that of Scottish distilleries, helping to mature the spirits fairly quickly, with around a 3% evaporation rate.
The nose presents apple, sweet vanilla and some peat before giving way to rather subtle flavours on the palate. There’s a bit of vanilla sweetness, a bit of ginger spice and a bit of fruit. The finish is surprisingly long, with peat, spices and salt fading to leave a final sweet flourish.
What: Gwalarn Celtic Blend Whisky
Where: Master of Malt
How much: £36
The Dalmore 12
The Dalmore 12 single malt whisky — part of Dalmore’s core Principal Collection — is matured in American white oak ex-bourbon casks before going on to be finessed in rare and aged oloroso sherry casks, all in the care of Master Distiller Richard Patterson OBE and Master Whisky Maker Gregg Glass.
The process has produced an intricate mix of flavours with a delightful aroma beyond its years. On the nose, you’ll get citrus and coffee with a bit of spice. That changes to a more focused orange flavour in the mouth, with the sweetness of vanilla and some cocoa. The finish doesn’t last long but continues the citrus and sweet theme, perhaps with some chocolate notes.
The striking bottle makes it a great addition to any well-stocked drinks cabinet, not only for the taste and aroma but as a stylish nod to the 180 years of Scottish heritage behind the brand.
What: The Dalmore 12
Where: Amazon.co.uk
How much: £50
