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Top 10 best value for money luxury spirits

Brands spanning vodka, gin, rum, world whisky and liqueurs are carving a niche in the luxury spirits sphere. We present the best value for money expressions worthy of a lofty price.

SB presents the best value for money luxury spirits on the market

The Spirits Business held its annual Luxury Masters last month, where an experienced panel of judges recognised the best bottlings in the business.

Looking across multiple categories, from world whisky to brandy, Scotch to Tequila, a wide range of expressions were awarded the top accolades of Master and Gold medals for their quality.

The individual scores of each entrant have not been revealed, however these are 10 of the highest rated medalists in the competition, in no particular order.

While some expressions are not standard priced, our judges have given each spirit listed here the seal of approval for offering excellent quality within their respective price categories.

Click through to the following pages to view the top 10 best value for money luxury spirits of 2018. 

Sullivans Cove XO Single Cask

Price: US$214.50

Tamanian whisky producer Sullivans Cove XO Single Cask grabbed a Master medal in the Brandy – Ultra Premium flight.

One judge said: “This had a classy nose, with notes of ripe banana and pineapple, with a hint of roast coffee in the background. To taste there was a marzipan element with a dark chocolate finish, reminiscent of marzipan Ritter Sport.”

Sullivans Cove XO is made with a blend of Tasmanian Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurztraminer and Chardonnay wines from the Huon Valley region.

Kanya by Paul John

Price: £195

A Master was bestowed upon Kanya by Paul John in the World Whisky: Single Malt – Ultra Premium round.

The expression was praised for its flavours of “wood polish, malt, banana, green apple, Bourbon” and its “velvety texture and big finish”.

Kanya by Paul John is has been matured for seven years in American white oak casks, and is bottled at 50% abv.

Hornitos Black Barrel Tequila

Price: US$41

Hornitos Black Barrel stood up to the judges’ high standards, attracting a Gold medal in the Tequila: Añejo – Super Premium flight.

Judges described the Tequila as “well made” with notes of “lemon spice, cardamom and fresh salt

The expression is crafted by ageing Hornitos Tequila in traditional American oak barrels for 12 months, then into charred American Oak barrels for four months, and finally into specially-toasted American Oak barrels for two months.

Ardbeg Twenty Something

Price: £430

Judges awarded a Master to Ardbeg Twenty Something, which was noted for having a mix of “bonfire and barbecue smoke” and flavours of “honeyed barley”

The 23-year-old whisky was distilled when production at Ardbeg had “slowed to a trickle” and only a small number of casks were filled in the 1980s and 1990s.

Dewar’s 18 Year Old The Vintage

Price: £75

Master medallist Dewar’s 18 Year Old The Vintage was praised for its “amazing nose”. One judge said of the expression: “Every time you go back, you keep finding another note in there.”

Produced by John Dewar & Sons, the whisky is blended from vintage old and rare Highland, Speyside, and Lowland single malts and grain whiskies.

Glengoyne 25 Year Old

Price: £240

In the Scotch Whisky: Single Malt – Ultra Premium round, a Master was awarded to Glengoyne Highland 25 Year Old for its notes of “cinnamon, dark chocolate and cloves”. “This was very well balanced,” one judge noted.

Produced by Ian Macleod Distillers, the expression has been matured for 25 years in hand-selected Sherry casks.

76.137 – Complete Nirvana

 

Price: £275

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s Cask No. 76.137 Complete Nirvana secured a Master for its flavours of “grass, pear, citrus, ginger and cooked banana”.

One member of the judging panel said: “It was really nice to see something that isn’t a Sherry bomb do so well; sometimes it’s a bit easy to rest on that. This was a really oily, satisfying whisky.”

The 30-year-old expression has been matured in a refill ex-Bourbon Hogshead cask and is limited to 180 bottles. It is bottled at 50.5% abv.

The Braemble Gin Liqueur

Price: £24.95

Gold medallist The Braemble Gin Liqueur was given a Gold medal in the super­premium liqueur. The expression presented flavours of “morello cherries”, with “freshness and a long length”.

The Braemble Gin Liqueur is made with a combination of London dry gin and Scottish brambles. It has been produced by Mike Aikman and Jason Scott from Edinburgh’s Bramble Bar along with gin aficionado Craig Harper.

Dewar’s 30 Year Old NE Plus Ultra

Price: US$484

The second Master medal for John Dewar & Sons was awarded to Dewar’s 30 Year Old NE Plus Extra in the Scotch Whisky: Blended – Ultra Premium flight.

One judge said: “This was really oily; it coats the mouth. An exceptional blend that really shows off the malt.”

The global travel retail-exclusive expression has been finished in Pedro Ximénez Sherry casks for 30 years.

Steel Bonnets

Price: £65

The World Whisky: Blended – Ultra Premium contingent found a Gold medallist in the form of The Lakes Distillery’s Steel Bonnets.

The judges commended its notes of “plum and damson” and “cinnamon warm spices”.

Bottled at 46.6% abv, Steel Bonnets is a combination of English whisky The Lakes Single Malt and malt whiskies from Scotland.

 

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