Sip Advisor: How to build the perfect 12-bottle whisky bar
Photograph: Jazzula Donoghue
Becky Paskin introduces her ultimate guide to curating your own whisky bar at home, with something to please every palate and purse…
Curating the perfect home whisky bar is a daunting task, but it’s also one of life’s great joys. For beginners, it can be difficult knowing where to start, while the well-initiated can too easily get carried away snapping up every shiny new bottle that catches our eye.
Sure, you can play it safe and stick to having just one favourite bottle open at a time, but where’s the fun in that? What if you fancy something a little different? Or something special? Or you want to impress a friend with your newly acquired knowledge of the burgeoning English distillery scene (don’t worry, we’ve got that covered)? When our palate is naturally curious and capricious in its desires - depending on the time of year, our mood, or even who’s sitting around the kitchen table - why confine your choice to just one whisky? After all, you wouldn’t settle for reliable old Dairy Milk every time you felt a chocolate craving coming on.
Diving deep into the world of whisky while keeping your collection to a reasonable size needn’t be overwhelming. Or break the bank. In fact, I promise it will be fun, a thrilling adventure that should last a lifetime, with your collection growing as you learn more and gain confidence. By choosing bottles that fall into one of 12 classic categories I’m going to guide you through, you’ll be off to a great start, and can be sure to have an exciting option on hand, whatever spirit you’re in.
I mentioned the cost. Yes, you can pay a lot of money for a good bottle of whisky, increasingly so, but you’ll find plenty of affordable options in the list. Plus, there’s no need to splash out on all 12 at once – once you’ve identified your favourite styles you can build up your bar gradually, one bottle at a time (you can always pop a few on birthday and Christmas lists).
By choosing bottles that fall into one of 12 classic categories, your collection will be off to a super start, with a great option on hand, whatever spirit you’re in
A dozen reasons to celebrate! Photograph: OurWhisky Foundation
If there’s a category you really don’t enjoy, skip it. If there’s a region you really love, experiment and explore it further. The key to a perfect whisky cabinet is that it’s assembled by you, for your personal pleasure and enjoyment.
That said, I’ve sampled enough whisky over the years (in a professional capacity, you understand) to confidently recommend a winning selection to get your collection up and running.
So, whether you’re hankering after a smoky hipflask-filler for a long autumn walk, a fruity malt for summer Highballs or a top shelf show-stopper to toast a special celebration, this is your hand-crafted guide to curating the ultimate whisky cabinet.
1. The Bargain Bourbon:
Michter’s US*1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon
The Bourbon to transform your favourite cocktails
What you’ll pay: £55
Every at-home whisky bar needs a solid Bourbon, and if you’re into big, bold flavours and so much depth you might drown in your glass, then this is the one for you. Michter’s is a Kentucky institution, crafting small batches of whiskey comprising no more than 20 barrels at a time. While the mash bill itself is a secret recipe, Michter’s both toasts and chars its new American oak barrels before filling them with spirit at a lower entry proof than usual, allowing more of the oak’s caramelised wood sugars to dissolve into the spirit. Rich with runny caramel, vanilla ice cream, fresh doughnuts, black pepper spice and juicy stone fruit, this is a whiskey to sip and savour, as well as mix. It will deliver a refreshingly icy Mint Julep to enjoy with your BBQ this summer.
2. The Fresh and Fruity One:
Craigellachie 13 Year Old
A taste of Speyside Summer
What you’ll pay: £55
Balmy summer evenings call for a whisky that’s mouthwateringly fruity, juicy and leaves you wanting more. That’s where Craigellachie 13 Year Old steps in. This Speyside stalwart is celebrated for its waxy, full-mouthed flavour defined by its traditional use of worm tubs during distillation. Expect big tropical fruit flavours of pineapple and mango with an oily note like honey-glazed ham and chargrilled meats. This is one to enjoy with friends beside a summer beach bonfire, marshmallows toasting on sticks and sea salt on your lips.
3.The Sherry Monster:
Glendronach 15 Year Old Revival
Tastier than a slab of Black Forest Gateaux
What you’ll pay: £67
This Sherried Highland single malt from Glendronach caused such an uproar when it was discontinued in 2015 that the distillery ‘revived’ it, this time with a richer, fruitier recipe. What’s all the fuss about, you ask? Master blender Rachel Barrie uses a combination of Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso Sherry casks from Andalucia in Spain to mature Glendronach’s full-bodied spirit for at least 15 years. It’s one hell of a dram, rich with dark fruits, indulgent Black Forest gateaux, Manuka honey, bitter walnuts and a touch of spice. An absolute classic and such fantastic value that it’s sure to soothe your soul while satisfying your sweet tooth.
4. The Gorgeous Grain:
Compass Box Hedonism
Tastes like a Bake-Off final in a glass
What you’ll pay: £68
You might have been lured into whisky by single malts, or even fallen hard for a blend, but don’t sleep on grain whisky. In Scotland, it’s usually made from wheat or corn and distilled to a higher ABV, giving the whisky a lighter character that can be floral (wheat) or buttery (corn). When matured fully in ex-Bourbon casks these whiskies take on a life of their own, alive with complex flavours of caramel, cookie dough, vanilla ice cream, toffee and honeycomb. Hedonism, by Scotch blending house Compass Box, is a blended grain whisky that lives up to its name. Creamy, complex and full of toffee, coconut, cocoa and crème pâtissière, it’s an indulgent joy to devour. Enjoy as a treat with a flaky almond croissant or messy cream puff.
5. The Top Shelf treat:
Talisker 18 Year Old
A salty celebration from Skye
What you’ll pay: £189
Having a cabinet of affordable but eye-catching whiskies to suit your every mood is a dream, but it’s worth forking out for the odd bottle that will blow your mind (and palate). This award-winning single malt from the Isle of Skye delivers the dram detonation you’re after. With its salty and maritime yet sweet and warming character, Talisker is a fan favourite for a reason. This 18 Year Old has been matured in ex-Bourbon and Sherry casks for a rich, complex and full-bodied experience, packed with dark chocolate, cooked apples, espresso and peppery spice, all with a soft whiff of peat smoke and salinity. Once a splurge of choice for many, a recent price hike means it’s now confined to the top shelf. Still, one to open to mark a significant birthday, celebrate a win or treat your (best) friends with.
6. The Taste of Japan:
Hibiki Japanese Harmony
Springtime in Tokyo
What you’ll pay: £80
These days we’re spoiled for choice by the variety and quality of Japanese whiskies, although thanks to stock shortages many are more of a rare indulgence than an everyday pour. Still, Japan’s precise, focused approach to whisky-making means it’s a category seriously worth exploring, from its single malts and grain whiskies through to its blends. One such superior blend is Hibiki Japanese Harmony, a combination of single malts from Yamazaki and Hakushu, and Chita grain whisky matured in American oak, Sherry and Mizunara (Japanese oak) casks. Light, easy-drinking and with uplifting, aromatic notes of orange peel, apricot and honey, it’s a perfect springtime sipper. One to take into the garden and enjoy beneath the cherry blossoms.
7. The New World Wildcard:
Rampur Double Cask
Indian tea time in a rose garden
What you’ll pay: £60
Did you know there are now over 40 countries worldwide making whisky? That’s a whole lot of magic to uncover and why you need to add a new world whisky to your collection. Make this a rotating bottle and move from country to country, and region to region to get a full appreciation of the spectrum of flavours being produced around the globe. You could start with this single malt from Rampur in Northern India. The distillery and production methods are similar to Scotland, but factor in a proprietary yeast combination (they use three varieties), indigenous six-row barley and India’s heat and humidity, and you’re looking at an entirely different flavour profile - rich and oily, and bursting with tropical fruits, lychee, honey and rose petals. Time to shift out of your comfort zone and reach out into the wider world of whisky – it’s bigger than you think.
8. The Zingy Single Pot Still:
Sailor’s Home The Haven
A bathtub filled with berries and cream
What you’ll pay: £37
Made from a combination of malted and unmalted barley, Ireland’s iconic whiskey style is a must in your eclectic whisky cabinet. The country’s rapidly growing whiskey scene means more distilleries than ever are creating their own styles of single pot still. Sailor’s Home is a contemporary collection of Irish whiskies inspired by the seafarer’s spirit of exploration, and named after the historic Limerick landmark. Its single pot still expression, The Haven, is a blend of triple-distilled malted and unmalted barley with oats, all matured in ex-Bourbon and Sherry casks for a rich and creamy texture. Sticky, sweet yet bright and juicy, it’s shot through with flavours of red berries, peaches, honey, roasted almonds and chocolate chip cookies. The perfect accompaniment to a long indulgent soak in the bath.
9. The Balanced Blend:
Woven Superblend
Like turning up the saturation on a watercolour painting
What you’ll pay: £45
No whisky collection is complete without a solid blend. Historically (and unfairly) seen as inferior to single malts, blended whisky is having a renaissance as thoughtful, quality bottlings finally get the attention they deserve. After all, a blend requires skill and a well-practised nose to bring so many individual flavours into harmony. Leith-based blending studio Woven is on a mission to redefine Scotch blended whisky, honing their artistic approach to whisky making one ‘experience’ at a time. Their Superblend, however, is a little bit different. A combination of 11 different whiskies from Scotland, Ireland, Germany, USA and England, it’s a rebellious spirit that transcends borders. Is it balanced? Yes. Is it tasty? Most definitely. A deep and complex whisky with notes of fresh fruit, citrus peel, chocolate and oak. Crack open a bottle and enjoy with friends into the wee hours.
10. The Spicy Rye:
Oxford Rye Purple Grain
Turbo-charge your English high tea
What you’ll pay: £75
If you thought all rye whisky hailed from the US and Canada, think again. With rye a common grain in many parts of northern Europe, several producers across the UK are starting to experiment with their own version. The most exciting innovation is taking place in England, where the Oxford Artisan Distillery is using locally-grown heritage grains to create a rich, incredibly complex whisky. This latest expression, released to mark the distillery’s fifth anniversary, is matured in American oak barrels before being finished in Moscatel Roxo casks from Setúbal, Portugal. It’s overflowing with notes of blackberry jam, raisin-flecked flapjacks, juicy peaches, almond pastries, warm sourdough bread and sticky pain au chocolat. Forget the tea, bust out a dram for your jam on toast elevenses.
11. The One for Highballs:
Starward Leftfield
An Antipodean classic to rival Neighbours
What you’ll pay: £35
The classic Highball cocktail is an integral part of Japanese culture, but has taken off around the world with the speed of a bullet train. The ultimate in summer refreshment, it’s a simple mix of whisky and soda that’s hard to mess up. When it comes to choosing the right whisky you want something that’s light but fruity or floral, which is why Starward Leftfield is a perfect option. This single malt from Melbourne has been matured in Australian red wine casks for bright, fruity notes of strawberries, ginger beer, orange peel and sultanas. Mixed with soda, ginger beer or even tonic water, it makes the perfect thirst-quenching highball. Wimbledon’s coming up – stick the tennis on and pour yourself a long one, you’ve earned it.
12. The Smoke Bomb:
Ardbeg Uigeadail
Tastes like currant buns burnished over a bonfire
What you’ll pay: £67
Not everyone’s a fan of heavy peat, but if you’re going to grab a smoky whisky for your cabinet, let me -highly recommend this one. Peated single malt comes in all shapes and intensities, with flavours ranging from medicinal and maritime, to bonfires and barbecued pork. Take the time to discover which style of smoke suits your palate best, but if you’re feeling overwhelmed, give this amazing Ardbeg Uigeadail a go. Hailing from the south coast of Islay, this is a medium-peated, cask strength single malt matured in ex-Bourbon barrels and Sherry butts. It’s deliciously sweet and smoky with flavours of rich fruitcake, chocolate raisins, banana bread and currant buns, all wrapped up in a lick of aromatic bonfire smoke. Perfect for filling into a hipflask for those long autumn walks.
Becky Paskin is an award-winning whisky journalist, presenter and consultant, and founder of OurWhisky and The OurWhisky Foundation
Sign up for an OurWhisky subscription and get two premium whisky samples posted through your letterbox every month. For 50% off your first month’s subscription, use the code OURWHISKY50. ourwhisky.com
Photograph Jazzula Donoghue
