The best whisky to savour this Christmas: 14 tried-and-tested tipples, from scotch and single malt to blended and bourbon

Searching for a whisky this Christmas? From Speysides to single malts, Japanese whiskies and special edition bottlings, the sheer choice can be overwhelming.

If you’re looking for a delicious dram to enjoy with your mince pie, a versatile bottle to have on standby this party season or the perfect gift, there’s a whisky out there with your name on it. It needn’t cost the earth either: I’ve found sustainable B Corp whiskies and pocket-friendly blends along with higher-end options to suit everyone’s budget.

From whisky flights to English single malts, and American bourbon to organic scotch, I’ve tasted a huge range (neat, no ice) to bring you a list of great-tasting bottles to work your way through this Christmas.

The best whisky in 2025

Best aged single malt

Glenmorangie 18-year-old, the Infinita, 70cl

It’s easy to spend silly money on aged single malts, but this (almost) accessibly priced 18-year-old Glenmorangie is a safe bet for scotch fans. Its honeyed spice notes morph into burnt orange, jasmine and wood smoke for a deeply delicious dram for any whisky connoisseur. This tasted fantastic rounding off a special dinner as a celebratory digestif.

Best sustainable whisky

Nc’nean organic single malt, 70cl

Made from organic barley on the wild west coast of Scotland, Nc’nean is single malt scotch – but not as you know it. Female-founded, B Corp-certified and the first UK whisky distillery to achieve net zero emissions, it tastes good and does good. It’s also a Great Taste award winner. It’s fresh and lively with lemon and opens up to candied citrus sweets with a dash of tropicality. I found it divine in a highball with a sprig of fresh mint.

Best unusual whisky

Rampur double cask single malt whisky, 70cl

India may not be the first place you think of for whisky – but think of India you should. Rampur distillery has been distilling for almost a century using Himalayan groundwater to add a uniquely Indian flavour. Extreme weather means the casked whisky matures rapidly, leading to deeper levels of flavour and complexity. Think heady cinnamon spice, salted caramel and all things nice in this must-try bottle.

Best aged blended whisky

GlenAllachie White Heather 15-year-old, 70cl

White heather is a rare variant of the ubiquitous purple plant with rich symbolism in Scottish folklore; stumbling across a patch is said to bring luck, and brides often include a sprig in their bouquet. Lucky you to be trying this wonderful blend from GlenAllachie’s master distiller, I say. Single malts from across Scotland combine to create a heather-honeyed balance of oranges, mocha and a faint wisp of smoke – I found it dangerously drinkable.

Best peated whisky

Tobermory Ledaig 10-year single malt, 70cl

Hailing from the Inner Hebridean Isle of Mull, this is a more approachable peated whisky than the famed neighbouring Islay styles. More freshness and minerality make for a more measured sip, yet it still retains that unmistakable smoky island character. Soft peat mingles with a medicinal nose that’s happily more peppery and vanilla-based on the palate, though the background of smoke persists. At this price, you can afford to try it even if you think island whiskies aren’t for you; you may just surprise yourself.

Best Japanese whisky

Nikka from the Barrel Extra Marriage, 50cl

Harmony is the name of the game when it comes to Japanese whisky, and Japanese whiskies don’t get much more iconic than Nikka from the Barrel. This then, is the limited edition 40th anniversary bottling, taking the original liquid and doubling its time in cask – an Extra Marriage of grain and malt whiskies, if you will. Still in the famous square glass bottle, Nikka Extra Marriage is light and playful with honeyed pineapple and sweetie notes against a background of mineral and smoke flavours; even more balanced, even more harmonious and even more pleasing.

Best small-batch whisky

Holyrood Distillery Ambir single malt, 70cl

Fresh from winning gold in the small-batch category at the World Whiskies awards, Ambir is the third iteration of single malts from newcomer Holyrood distillery. Using four speciality malts chosen for their dessert-style textures and flavours, Ambir is perfect for enjoying as an after-dinner drink. The tempting tastes of Scottish tablet, buttery fudge and jammy cornflake tart abound, with a subtle leathery savouriness taking it back from the brink of being too simplistic. Enjoy with – or as – pudding.

Best experimental whisky

Compass Box Nectarosity, 70cl

Many people fixate on single malt whiskies as the gold standard for quality, but that just isn’t the case. When made skilfully, blends deserve their place at the table and usually represent far more bang for your buck, too. Compass Box was founded by whisky heavyweight John Glaser to champion the skill of blended whisky-making from exceptional scotch, and the curiously delicious creations that come out of its Richmond blending room are testament to this. I’ve picked the Nectarosity here, which is like a breakfast buffet of fruit, honey, cinnamon swirls and Danish pastries wrapped up in an oaky haze, but honestly, you can’t go wrong with any Compass Box whisky.

Best bourbon

Woodford Reserve Kentucky bourbon, 70cl

This universally popular smooth bourbon is as good as a gift as it is for drinking yourself. Kentucky’s favourite straight, Woodford Reserve is harmoniously balanced, with warming aromas, dried fruit and a creamy finish. Best enjoyed neat – although it’s also my go-to for a Don Draper-worthy old fashioned.

Best Speyside whisky

Benromach Contrasts organic Speyside single malt, 70cl

This is the whisky that first made me fall in love with whisky. Impossibly smooth, with unexpected-but-harmonious flavours of banana split, a hit of pepper and tons of malt, Benromach Contrasts organic is typically Speyside in terms of its sweetness and light, but with a cocoa richness, aged maturity and interest that its price suggests. It’s also the world’s first Soil Association-accredited organic scotch. Drinks like a dream in a hip flask on a cold country walk.

Best Islay whisky selection

Smokehead whisky skull gift tin, 3 x 5cl

Fans of Islay scotch will enjoy making their way through this Smokehead selection flight. There are three single malts laden with seaweed, fiery peat and sweetness to be explored: original; High Voltage 58%; and Rum Rebel, which is matured in Caribbean rum casks for a tropical explosion alongside the signature sea spray and smoke.

Best whisky gift set

Isle of Raasay scotch gift set

The rugged Hebridean island of Raasay (population 194) is home to the Raasay distillery, which produces this lightly peated single malt. Matured in rye, oak and bordeaux casks, this is a complex drop with flavours of wild dark fruit, toffee, spice and smoke. Take this smartly boxed set next time you need a dinner party gift for a whisky-drinking host: two beautiful Glencairn tasting glasses are included alongside the decanter-style bottle for sharing.

Best sherry-led whisky

The Lakes Whiskymaker’s Reserve No 7, 70cl

The Lakes distillery has quickly made a name for itself in new world whisky, and with expressions like this one, I can see why. The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No 7 is a single malt made in the image of whiskies like Dalmore; sherry-led, matured in oloroso and pedro ximénez casks, plus a few red wine casks thrown in for good measure. The result is richly fruited with warming spices and layers of woodiness, complex, clever and evocative of long Lake District walks. While it’s not the most affordable whisky on this list, you won’t regret putting your hand in your pocket for a little treat this tempting.

Best whiskey stocking filler

Writer’s Tears Irish whiskey book set, 3 x 5cl

A gift for your resident whiskey-drinking writer friend, this cute collection of three Irish whiskeys is inspired by Irish poets and playwrights. Writer’s Tears’ Copper Pot is a triumphant revival of a 19th-century style of whiskey popular with the literati of the time. As is characteristic of Irish whiskey, it’s gently sweet and smooth, with apples and honey; the Double Oak offers more in the way of sweetness but with added spice, while the Cask Strength is a more complex expression with persistent woody notes.

Joanne Gould is a food, drink and lifestyle writer with a decade of experience. As well as enthusiastically eating her way through London’s best bars and restaurants, she’s also a keen home cook and can often be found trying a new recipe or kitchen gadget, while taste-testing anything from South African wines to speciality coffee or scotch. Luckily, she also enjoys walking, running and keeping fit and healthy in her spare time – for balance

This article was originally published on 17 December 2024. Reviews published in the Filter may be periodically updated to reflect new products and at the editor’s discretion. The date of an article’s most recent update can be found in the timestamp at the top of the page. This article was amended on 12 December 2025; three more whiskies were added, and prices were updated throughout.

Illustration: Sandra Navarro/Guardian Design

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