Choosing a bottle of whisky can seem a little daunting particularly if you are unfamiliar with Scotland’s distilleries and their styles of malt whisky. TheWhiskyBarrel.com stocks over 800 different whiskies from Scotland, Japan, Sweden and India so we have put together a handy selection of our favourites picked especially by our expert staff to provide you with a helping hand.

Traditionally, Scotch whisky is matured in oak casks which were previously used by American Bourbon distillers or European Sherry wineries. This maturation interaction between the clear spirit which runs from the distinctive copper stills and the oak casks is what gives whisky the dark amber colours and its complex flavours.


Our Recommendations: Mid-Range £25-50

Berry’s Speyside Reserve - £39.99 inc. VAT (£34.03 ex. VAT)
Big Peat - £31.99 inc. VAT (£27.23 ex. VAT)
Bladnoch Lightly Peated 8 Year Old - £38.99 inc. VAT (£33.18 ex. VAT)
Springbank 15 Year Old - £43.89 inc. VAT (£37.35 ex. VAT)
Rosebank 17 Year Old - £48.99 inc. VAT (£41.69 ex VAT)
Lagavulin 16 Year Old - £47.99 inc. VAT (£40.84 ex VAT)
Glenrothes 1994 Vintage - £46.99 inc. VAT (£39.99 ex. VAT)

Our Recommendations: Premium-Range £50-100

Glenfarclas 21 Year Old - £58.99 inc. VAT (£50.20 ex. VAT)
Glendronach 20 Year Old, Tawny Port - £63.99 inc. VAT (£54.56 ex. VAT)
Port Charlotte PC8 - £64.99 inc. VAT (£55.31 ex. VAT)
Laphroaig 18 Year Old - £71.49 inc. VAT (£60.84 ex. VAT)
Balvenie 17 Year Old - £75.99 inc. VAT (£64.67 ex. VAT)
Strathisla 30 Year Old - £84.99 inc. VAT (£72.33 ex. VAT)
Ardbeg Supernova - £86.99 inc. VAT (£74.03 ex. VAT)

Our Recommendations: Ultra Premium-Range £100+

Tamdhu 20 Year Old - £99.99 inc. VAT (£85.10 ex. VAT)
Bruichladdich Golder Still 20 Year Old - £116.99 inc. VAT (£99.67 ex. VAT)
Ardbeg 18 Year Old - £121.99 inc. VAT (£103.82 ex. VAT)
Port Ellen 27 Year Old - £144.99 inc. VAT (£121.69 ex. VAT)
Yoichi 20 Year Old - £179.99 inc. VAT (£153.18 ex. VAT)
Laphroaig 21 Year Old - £189.99 inc. VAT (£161.69 ex. VAT)
Glenfarclas 40 Year Old - £199.99 inc. VAT (£170.20 ex. VAT)

Our Recommendations: Single Cask

Balvenie 15 Year Old, Single Barrel - £47.99 inc. VAT (£40.84 ex. VAT)
Laphroaig 12 Year Old - £54.99 inc. VAT (£46.80 ex. VAT)
Caol Ila 25 Year Old - £74.99 inc. VAT (£63.82 ex. VAT)
Jura 1999 Vintage - £89.99 inc. VAT (£78.25 ex. VAT)
Caperdonich 37 Year Old - £121.99 inc. VAT (£103.82 ex VAT)
Macallan 33 Year Old - £284.99 inc. VAT (£242.54 ex VAT)
Brora 28 Year Old - £356.99 inc. VAT (£303.82 ex VAT)

As the name suggests single cask whiskies comprise whisky from just one, unique barrel. The number of bottles produced from a single barrel is limited and some such bottling may be very collectable.

It has become increasingly common for whisky to be matured in oak casks which had previously held a variety of spirits. These include red and white wines from a diverse range of wineries, both old and new world, in addition to sweet or dry sherry, rum and port. Additionally, whisky may be matured primarily in one cask but be transferred into a different cask for the final few months or weeks prior to bottling thereby introducing additional flavours and increasing the complexity of the final product.

Consequently, the style of Scottish whiskies has expanded enormously in recent years and can no longer be confined to just Highland or Speyside, peated or unpeated, bourbon or sherry. The range of whiskies now produced in Scotland is such that there must be at least a handful to suit every individual. So it just needs you, ladies and gentlemen, to spend a little time tasting and a little time thinking and some time being adventurous and exploring different whiskies and even taking the odd risk, to find the ones which chime with your unique taste buds and set your unique wee grey cells dancing. It is a very personal journey which will last a lifetime.




Smoky Whiskies:

If you or the recipient enjoys a rich and pungent smoky peated whisky we suggest whisky from these distilleries:-

Benriach
Bowmore
Cragganmore
Highland Park
Lagavulin
Longrow (distilled by Springbank)
Old Pulteney
Port Charlotte (distilled by Bruichladdich)

If you or the recipient enjoys a peppery, medicinal and dry smoky peated whisky we suggest whisky from these distilleries:-

Ardbeg
Caol Ila
Oban
Port Ellen
Springbank
Talisker

Light Floral Whiskies:

If you or the recipient enjoys a light and delicate floral whisky we suggest whisky from these distilleries:-

Bladnoch
Clynelish
Dalwhinnie
GlenfiddichJura
Linkwood
Rosebank

If you or the recipient enjoys a rich, nutty and sweeter whisky we suggest whisky from these distilleries:-

Aberlour
Balvenie
Bruichladdich
Bunnahabhain
Glenlivet
Longmorn
Macallan

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