Christmas Whiskies

We are led to believe that Santa is partial to a drop of the amber nectar, so you might need to think about what you leave out. Santa’s home is in Lapland, most of which lies in Finland and he will know all about Teerenpeli Kaski Single Malt (43%), matured in a sherry cask. However, we need to introduce him to something more local and you won’t find better than the New Zealand Whisky Collection South Island Single Malt, aged 21 years (40%), which compares very favourably with a 30 or 35 year-old Speyside. Leaving New Zealand and crossing the ditch, Santa will drop into Tasmania, specifically for a taste of the Great Outback Rare Old Australian Single Malt (40%), before heading due North to Japan for a noggin of Hakushu Single Malt, aged 12 years before bottling in 2011 (43%). Then it’s a mad dash South-Westward to pause appreciatively in India for the Amrut Double Cask (46%) – one of the world’s great whiskies. Europe beckons next, with a bewildering choice before even thinking of Scotland or Ireland! France produces the beguiling Eddu Gold at Distillerie des Menhirs (43%) and there is the nearby Lichtenstein Telsomgton IV, just 3 years old, distilled 2008 (42%), which has a maturity and sophistication beyond its tender years. Finally: Scotland and a plethora of the world’s greatest whiskies. Santa will start with the soft, smooth and slightly peaty Dalwhinnie 15 year-old (43%), before going on to the standard Glenmorangie 10 year-old (40%) with its distinctive yellow-gold label and finishing with the strongly-peated Laphroaig QuarterCask (48%). Ireland hosts some of the world’s oldest distilleries and, common though it is, the standard Jameson (40%) is a gem of a whiskey. Rounding off Santa’s first deliveries before dreaming of Canada and the USA and the next leg of the trip, he will settle down with a Redbreast 12 years old (40%) or a very special Bushmills aged 21 years (40%). Night-night, Santa!