Despite news at the end of 2016 that UK production of whisky was falling, the rest of the world looks set to take up the slack. As such, 2017 is to be the year of international whisky – with drams from Asia and America the it-drinks for the twelve months to come. Here’s our pick of the best bottles.
The 10th edition in Woodford Reserve’s Master’s Collection is made using white corn, rather than the usual yellow, which results in a lighter and sweeter whiskey with notes of lemon custard, shortbread, white pepper and butter.
The 28-Year Old has been sold in travel retail outlets for some time, but 2017 sees the tipple introduced to the mass market. A super example of long-aged Highland whisky, some of you may be lucky enough to have tried it already – and savoured the peach, orange, lemon, vanilla and butterscotch notes.
Another whisky that is flying its travel retail roots, Bruichladdich is made entirely with organic Scottish-grown barley. Rich in texture with an underlying sweetness and notes of honey, almond and pear, this is a purchase worth it for the bottle alone – a striking addition to any drinks cabinet.
This new bottling, from August 2016, is a cask-strength Glenlivet that has been solely matured in first-fill oloroso sherry casks that is the sibling of the much-loved bourbon-cask-matured Nadurra. The result is a full-bodied, heavily sherried dram, but one with a delectable smoothness.
Kavalan are one of a host of premium Asian whiskymakers. This Taiwanese matured spirit, matured in bourbon casks, is rich and fruity with a lot of wooded spice. Kavalan may not be a name you’ve heard of yet – but, by the end of 2017, we assure it’ll be on everyone’s lips – literally.
A Japanese offering, Hakushu means “white sand banks” and this tipple is named after the mineral deposits in the stream that feeds the distillery. A lighter style whisky with citrus notes and a smoky sweetness, this single malt is the perfect introduction to non-scotch whisky.
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