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All I want for Christmas is whisky

Read Time 4 Minutes

Posted 29 Nov 2022

By Vintage Cellars

Dreaming of unwrapping a Christmas whisky that’s a cut above the rest? Your wishes can come true with this must-try range of quality single malts.

With the festive season upon us, it’s time to start thinking about the whiskies you’d like to see under the tree this Christmas. And if unique, high-quality Scotch whisky is your go-to, then you need to explore a great range of whiskies now available in Australia. Whether you’re shopping for the whisky lover in your life, or simply after a special dram to farewell another year of hard graft, then we have a couple of Scotch whiskies just for you.

Loch Lomond Distillery is an independent distiller and blender of some of Scotland’s finest whiskies, and recognised as one of the industry’s most innovative and versatile operations. Loch Lomond can produce a mind-boggling array of malt and grain whiskies, but the quality of its single malts, from lighter, fruit-driven styles to more earthy and smoky offerings, beguile even the most obsessive connoisseurs.

Head west from Loch Lomond, wind your way south down the Kintyre peninsula, and you reach Campbeltown, once the Victorian whisky capital of the world and now an official whisky region experiencing something of a renaissance. That renewed interest and recognition has been driven by distilleries like Glen Scotia, which has in recent years received an impressive run of awards and accolades, including World’s Best Whisky 2021 for its 25 year old expression, and just seven months later Scottish Distillery of the Year 2021. Glen Scotia’s liquid profile is perhaps the perfect encapsulation of the classic Campbeltown style that serious whisky lovers covet. It’s rich, viscous, and full of subtle maritime nuances interwoven between layers of fruits.

Thankfully, you can now get your hands on a range of bottlings from these award-winning distilleries, so here’s a deeper look at the whiskies on offer.

The best whiskies from Loch Lomond Distillery

For an introduction to the Loch Lomond range, start with the Loch Lomond Reserve Blended Scotch, a premium blend of malt and grain whiskies distilled entirely in-house – a rare achievement in the Scotch industry.

Loch Lomond has an array of brilliant single malts to get acquainted with. The Loch Lomond Original is a wonderful entry point, approachable and easy drinking, with a balanced profile of honey, citrus and a gentle hint of smoke.

From there, move up to the age statement range. The Loch Lomond 10 Year Old and 12 Year Old are perfect representations of the distillery’s style. They highlight the spirit character from Loch Lomond’s straight neck and traditional swan neck stills, while balancing tropical fruit notes with vanilla from aging in American oak casks. And if you really feel like treating yourself, try the Loch Lomond 18 Year Old, which offers up mouth-watering notes of baked apple, toffee and a hint of wood smoke.

Having trouble deciding which bottle of deliciousness to go for? Loch Lomond also offer a taster pack featuring three 50ml bottles of the Original, 12 Year Old and 18 Year Old – a perfect gift for the enthusiast.

The best whiskies from Glen Scotia Distillery

Founded in 1832, Glen Scotia is one of only three whisky producers in Campbeltown that has endured to the present day. Its signature Atlantic salinity on the nose and palate is like being transported to its coastal home.

The Glen Scotia ‘Campbeltown Harbour’ Single Malt exhibits those signature flavours in spades. It’s a superb introduction to the Glen Scotia range, with a fresh coastal influence and soft smoke balanced by soft peach and vanilla custard.

The Glen Scotia Double Cask adds an extra dimension to the distillery’s signature style, finishing first-fill bourbon cask matured whisky in rich Pedro Ximenez sherry casks for 12 months. The result is a rich, spicy, and deeply satisfying dram that offers notes of toffee, crème caramel, apples and peaches.

And then there’s Glen Scotia 15 Year Old, a classic evocation of the distillery’s profile: saline, fruity and oily, but with crisp sea spray notes redolent of Campbeltown’s maritime flavours. Expect citrus peel, plump fruits, ginger biscuits and a dry subtle oak finish.