The Spirits of Christmas

The final countdown has begun. The finale to the Christmas shopping season. What to get? Hmmm… What to get? Maybe we have the answer to all of your shopping problems. Well, most. Maybe not for the kid’s stocking stuffers. Although I did read recently about the Dad in England that bought his son a MaCallan 18 every year for his birthday, as an investment. At age 27, the son sold the collection for enough money to make a significant down payment on his first house. So. maybe you should be filling those stockings with a bottle of the good stuff.

Other than that, here are a few suggestions for the various people in your life;
– For a co-worker – I suggest an introductory level single malt whisky. Something at the lower end of the core range. And don’t go overboard on the taste scale. Something tame and easy to like. Aberfeldy 12 pops to mind. Or Glenmorangie Original. Safe bets for all whisky palettes.
– For your wife – I suggest a nice Rye, such as 40 Creek, Gooderham and Worts, or perhaps Michter’s Rye. If you want give a single malt scotch, Balvenie 14 Caribbean Cask is a great choice. One of the few scotches aged in rum casks, it has a light, sweet taste.
– For your husband – He’ll probably tell you exactly what he wants in terms of a good whisky. If it’s a surprise, I suggest that you appeal to his sense of manliness and hit him hard with something from Islay. Maybe a nice Ardbeg or a Lagavulin. Heavy, rough, and manly. He’ll tell you that he loves it, even if he gags on it. The good news is that he will eventually learn to love it. So you’ll be doing him a favor.
– For the younger generation – Lots of choices here. Many of the budding whisky drinkers that I know gravitate towards Bourbon. The uncomplicated taste seems to appeal to younger people. Many will move on to the more complex flavors of scotch whisky, so your gift choice might depend on what their taste buds are currently yearning for. Lot’s of good Bourbon out there. Don’t buy the cheap stuff. It tastes cheap. Try something with an age statement, like Mitcher’s 10 or Basil Hayden’s 8. If you have a bigger budget, I recommend the Pappy Van Winkle or a William Larue Weller.
– For your whisky connoiseur friends – So many choices. It can take a while to find the right whisky because they may already have a fairly large whisky collection. Look for new releases or off-the-beaten-path choices. My buddy is a stalwart Highland Park fan, so I found a bootle of the funky new HP 16 Twisted Tattoo for him. Newer distilleries can be interesting. But be careful – newer whisky can be a little rough as the distillers learn their trade. Some the smaller, more established distilleries can put out some great whisky. Edrador, Benromach and Jura are all strong choices. And there are some great Irish drams out there. Mitchell and Sons of Dublin have a terrific core range of Green Spot, Yellow Spot and Red Spot Irish Whiskey that I strongly recommend.

So….what to put under the tree this year? Lots of great choices, indeed. Choices that will help create a holly, jolly Christmas for the favorite person in your life. Cheers, and a Merry Christmas!