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The perfect whisky for Christmas: Ten top picks

There’s arguably no better time to raise a glass of warming whisky than during the festive season, but which style to choose? Get timely help from our guide to the perfect drop to suit every palate.
Richard Woodard Richard Woodard

Around the world, it’s an all too familiar Christmas Eve routine for anyone with young children (and also, no doubt, for plenty of others too). The fireplace carrot for Rudolph, the mince pie for Father Christmas, accompanied by a glass of the perfect whisky. But which whisky?

Maybe I spend a bit too much time thinking about these things, but I always try to exercise a bit of imagination when making this seasonal choice – rather than simply reaching for the nearest available bottle and sploshing a casual dram into a glass.

So, when the bearded bearer of gifts has descended down our chimney in the past decade or so, he’s been confronted, yes, by whiskies from Scotland, Ireland and the US, but also from an increasingly cosmopolitan array of other locations: Japan, Taiwan, Mexico, Denmark, New Zealand, India. Even, on more than one occasion, England.

Of course, I have no idea about Santa’s personal whisky preferences. I’ve proceeded on the basis that someone as well-travelled as him (on at least one night of the year, anyway) will appreciate exploring the wider world of whisky, especially now that you can find great liquid from just about every part of the globe. Even Lapland.

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