A quality bottle of whisky is the thoughtful gift that doesn’t require too much thought at all. If you’re Christmas shopping for a whisky lover, or even just someone who enjoys the occasional tipple, you could pounce on a tasty deal right now to put the task to bed. At Amazon, the well-regarded Talisker 10 Year Old whisky is just £29, down from £49.99.
Double-distilled for a rich, deep texture and flavour, this whisky has been produced with coastal tradition and patience at its heart. Aged for 10 years in American oak casks, it’s a peaty and smokey single malt with a warm, peppery profile that lingers at the back of the throat in a very satisfying fashion.
This 10 Year Old whisky is a multi-award winner, including four consecutive double-gold awards at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. It’s fantastic neat, on the rocks or as part of a classic cocktail.
It’s been living up to its reputation with customers, too, with 4.8 out of 5 stars averaged across 12,530 Amazon ratings. “Talisker is our absolute favourite, a good strong aroma, incredibly smooth and easy to drink!” said one five-star review. “A lovely honey gold colour. Definitely not a cheap whisky but also very good value for the quality.”
“A 12th anniversary present from my better half and an absolute beauty,” said another happy customer. “It’s my favourite dram and for good reason. It’s peppery, orangery, smoky and yet there’s a smoothness that defies the smoke. It’s paradoxical and yet it works. Liquid gold!”
Another added: “I love the taste of this whisky, got it at a good price and feeling happy. What I love most is that you can taste the cask it has been in!”
Of course, everyone’s got a different palate, so there’s no guarantee that it will be a winner for each individual. “It is hot to taste, a friend thought it tasted ‘rushed’, and it has none of the peppery finish I was expecting,” said one three-star review. Another said: “Talisker 10 is by no means a bad one — it just doesn’t quite hit the mark. For me, it has a harshness that detracts from the overall experience.”
If you’re interested in other whisky-related gifts, check out this refillable whisky barrel for £20 at Debenhams. For a stone-cold classic that hits the spot for most whisky fans, £35 for the Jack Daniels’ single-barrel Tennessee Whisky is a steal at Asda, down from £47.
