Scotch whisky Christmas gift ideas

If you’re still stuck for what to buy your loved ones this Christmas, we’ve compiled a guide to Scotch whisky gifts to suit every budget and taste.

We have plenty of Scotch whisky Christmas gift ideas for every palate

With so much choice available, from Speyside malts to aged blends and Islay peat monsters, Scotch whisky gift buying at Christmas can become a tricky affair.

Scotch fans usually have a particular whisky character they are fond of, making the task easy for savvy shoppers searching for a similar style, whether around the same price mark or as a special upgrade.

But for those looking to give something a little different this year, to improve the whisky lover in their life’s repertoire, the job can become decidedly difficult.

To help shoppers on their way to a lifetime of gratitude, we’ve compiled our own little Christmas guide to Scotch whisky gifts.

Whether the budget is small or large, we hope there is something here to suit all tastes.

Scotch whisky Christmas gift ideas for under £50

Fruity
Glenlivet 15 £35

Aged in limousine casks, this fruity little number from The Glenlivet transforms the distillery’s ripe green fruit character into toasted apple crumble with cinnamon spice.

 

Longmorn 16 £47

Fresh green flavours abound with some citrus for an added lift and an oaky dryness on the finish. This 16-year-old Longmorn is a perfect gift for those looking for something a little different.

 

Strathisla 12 £30

One of the best value-for-money whiskies available, Strahisla 12 Year Old has a stunning palate accessible by any whisky drinker, but is still relatively unknown by novices.

 

Old Pulteney Navigator £46

A maritime malt created in the spirit of the sea, Old Pulteney Navigator has a flavour reminiscent of munching on fresh toffee apples on a seaside holiday. Delicious.

 

Rich and smoky

Talisker Storm £38

Already a huge hit since its launch in February this year, Talisker Storm is a sweet, salty, smoky expression with bags of distillery character. It also comes in a rather stylish gift box this Christmas.

 

Oban 14 £37

If the recipient of this whisky is a fan of medicinal smokiness and you’re on a budget, this is a fantastic gift. Expect to find notes of cut hay, fresh cereal and some saltiness.

 

Lagavulin 16 £48

A hefty dose of smoke from one of the peatiest distilleries on Islay, Lagavulin 16 Year Old is a wonderful gift with its intense notes of figs, spice, sherry and creamy vanilla.

 

Johnnie Walker Double Black £30

A blended whisky but one of the best when it comes to BBQ smoke character. A snip at just £30, this gift will become a pretty decent go-to whisky for its recipient.

 

Sherry monster

Tamdhu 10 £33

The first release from this formerly mothballed distillery under Ian Macleod Distillers, Tamdu is now a 100% sherried whisky, bringing bags of dried fruit, spice and raisins.

 

Aberlour A’bunadh £39

Another fantastically good value-for-money single malt, Aberlour A’bunadh is one of the most sherried whiskeis you’ll find. Bottled at cask strength, it is not for the faint hearted but is easy to see why it’s loved the world over.

 

Glenfarclas 15 £40

What better gift at Christmas than a Scotch whisky with bucket-loads of Christmas cake flavour. Raisins, orange peel, spices, walnuts and sherry flavours abound. An extremely festive dram.

Scotch whisky Christmas gift ideas £50-£100

Fruity

Balvenie Doublewood 17 £73

Matured in both ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry barrels, Balvenie Doublewood 17 Year Old has a more woody character than its 12 Year Old cousin, but still retains that lively, fruity distillery character The Balvenie is famous for.

 

Chivas 18 £51

At the lower end of the scale is a decent blended whisky with a very pleasant, drinkable flavour. Expect notes of marmalade, vanilla, fudge and some oak.

 

 

Balblair 1990 £85

A spectacular expression from this Highland distillery, Balblair 1990 is a complex single malt full of milk chocolate, honey, raisins and zesty fruits.

 

 

Rich and smoky

Caol Ila 18 £76

This is a wonderful expression from Caol Isla – sweet, herbal, vegetal and oaky, its flavour is complex yet perfectly balanced. Perfect for a peat lover and whisky aficionado.

 

Kilchoman 100% Islay £55

Every aspect of this whisky was produced at the Kilchoman Distillery on Islay, from the barley grown to the peat used for smoking. A young whisky at three to four years old, but perfectly formed.

 

Ardbeg Uigedail £55

A personal favourite of The Spirits Business managing editor Becky Paskin, Ardbeg Uigedail is brimming with sweet, sticky fruit cooked over a roaring open fire with a dribble of honeyed sweetness.

 

Sherry monster

Aberlour 18 £68

This gorgeous dram kicks off with plenty of citrus fruit and honey before Aberlour’s distinctive sherried character takes over with raisin, toffee and vanilla ice cream notes.

 

The Macallan Sienna £65

The third darkest and dearest in The Macallan’s 1824 Series, Sienna is rich with fruit and spice. A revered brand, we guarantee any recipient will be pleased with this gift.

 

Glenfarclas 21 £60

For a 21-year-old there is little oak influence on this particularly smooth dram teeming with rich, vanilla sweetness.

Scotch whisky Christmas gift ideas over £100

Fruity

Johnnie Walker Blue £140

The cream of the world’s most famous blended whisky brand, Johnnie Walker Blue Label is deserving of its higher price tag. Smooth, but rich and complex, this dram is a perfect gift at this time of year.

 

Glenfiddich 125^th anniversary £150

More difficult to get hold of than other Scotch whiskies on our list, this dram was created in celebration of Glenfiddich’s 125^th anniversary last year. Deep, rich and full of fruity character, it’s a steal at £150.

 

Royal Lochnagar 12 150^th anniversary £550

A special bottling of Royal Lochnagar released in 1995 for the distillery’s 150^th anniversary, this is a rare gem indeed, only available as far as we can tell, from The Whisky Exchange

 

Rich and smoky

Cardhu 21 £160

One of Diageo’s Special Releases for 2013, this edition of Cardhu is nothing short of spectacular, and as far as we’re concerned, a steal at £160.

 

Brora 35 £750

If you’ve got a spare £750 to spend, and really want to make the whisky aficionado in your life extremely happy, give them this Special Release of Broara 35 Year Old. You’re guaranteed a happy friend/ relative forever.

 

Bunnahabhain 25 £190        

Heavily sherried but with a warming smokiness running through, Bunnahabhain 25 Year Old is a special whisky indeed. Non-chill filtration makes this whisky creamy and long-lasting. Just perfect.

 

Sherry monster

Tomintoul 1977 Sherry Cask £399

This 36-year-old whisky is brimming with wood, spice and tobacco character, balanced rather well despite spending so long in Sherry casks.