World Whisky Day (May 22, 2022) is upon us, and if you haven’t had a chance to really get into the spirit, here’s a great start to finding out what types of whisky you’ll begin to appreciate.
There isn’t just one “type” of whisky. Unlike vodka, where there isn’t a lot of variation to the final form, whisky can vary based on a myriad of factors and the final products can be completely different from one bottle to the next.
For this particular post we’ll be focusing on “proper whisky”, we’ve covered Canadian Whisky, Irish Whiskey and American Bourbon in the past.
Something Smooth
Auchentoshan 12
Auchentoshan is a great whisky for any beginner. The distillery triple distils this product, meaning you’re going to get a much smoother character from the whisky; in layman’s terms that means it’s not going to pack as much of a bite as some other whisky. The whisky also has notes of vanilla and almond, so a much smoother, softer whisky overall.
Something with Character
Arberlour 10
Arberlour is a fantastic distillery, and as you get deeper into whisky, if you find you like spicier notes then Arberlour will be your best friend. Aberlour uses ex-sherry casks to give their whisky the rich spicy tones of dried fruits and nuts. Overall, the price point and complexity make it an excellent example of Speyside varieties.
Something Smokey
Bowmore 15
This is a good option to let you experiment with smoke and peat without being overwhelmed right away. Bowmore is matured in a combination of both bourbon and sherry casks, with the final three years spent in the coveted Oloroso sherry casks giving it a final mix of toffee, fruit and peat.
Something Sweet
Glen Grant 10
Glen Grant is one of the world’s best-selling single malts due to its very approachable nature. It also happens to have been named one of the best whisky’s under 10 years of age. Drinkers will get notes of lemon, orange, cream and toffee so there’s lots of flavour without any hint of smoke.
Ale/Sessions 