My Name Is Jo And I Am Not An Alcoholic…but I do know my whisky. My love of whisky came as a complete surprise to me. As a teenager, I had an overly enthusiastic encounter with a bottle of Bell’s, so I didn’t touch a drop for decades. Then a chance encounter with a Bowmore 15 lead to years of intensive ‘research’ into the field.

The intention of this blog is to share my thoughts and findings from all that diligent research. This is a guide for the new and seasoned whisky drinker who is looking to buy quality over brand and casking over caramel.

Whisky ‘appreciation’ can be an expensive hobby, but with an increasing array of distillers now supplying supermarkets, there are bargains to be had if you know what you’re looking for. In this blog I will review the current bargains and give you an insider’s view into trends and collectables for the future.

With the popularity of whisky ever growing, distillers are bringing more liquid into the market to try and keep up with demand, some good, some not so good. Whisky is a very personal taste, but I hope to help consumers buy the right whisky for any occasion. From a quiet night in round the poker table to an anniversary gift for your boss, with years of whisky buying experience for clients, I hope to inform your choices and stop expensive mistakes.

This week’s top supermarket offers:

Sainsbury’s

Strathisla 12  40%vol – £27

Chivas Regal lovers should give this a go. Strathisla is a Speyside single malt, it’s the major constituent malt that’s used  to make up Chivas Regal blends.

Sweet, fruity, caramel and vanilla, it’s a bit aggressive (hot) when fresh out of the bottle. The oaky bourbon casking leaves a slightly bitter citrus tang.  Give it 5 to 10 minutes in the glass to open out, and it sweetens right up. When you try any new bottle of whisky try it first without, then with, a drop of water. The great thing about whisky is that everyone appreciates it in different ways. I personally wouldn’t put water in this one, being 40% chill filtered (Google it), it dulls the sweet heat of the lingering finish. It’s made to make your mouth water.  Be careful with this one, it’s a drinker!

Tescos

Glenrothes Select Reserve 43% vol – £30

Another chill filtered Speyside whisky, sweet and fruity with a touch of oaky citrus. This guy wakes up with a drop of water, at 43% vol it can take it. Big vanillas, honeyed and spicy with a nice, syrupy mouth feel that reminds me of non-chill filtered whisky. Berry Brothers are responsible for this malt. They are an independent bottling agent who specialise in releasing top quality blended ‘single’ malts.

I have always loved the presentation of Glenrothes. I know it shouldn’t matter… but sometimes it helps if you’re looking for a gift whisky on a limited budget. Also Glenrothes is a certified kosher distillery, if this a consideration.

Jura Superstition 43% vol – £27

Time for some smoke. This is a non aged (mix aged casks) single malt from near the home of peated whisky, Islay. Jura is an Island off the Scottish west coast, sandwiched between the main land and Islay itself. Jura is it’s only distillery and Superstition is a good place to start an exploration into smoky and peated whisky. It’s sweetish and the smoke is gentle, it was the first whisky I ever bought on purpose!

The smoke will hit you straight away after opening the bottle, you’ll either love it or hate it. Smoky whisky is the marmite of the whisky world. About 40% of committed whisky lovers hate it, so don’t be put of if it’s not for you, you are not alone… Dark amber in colour, the liquid is oily and sticks to the glass (Talisker is similar in texture). This one is all about the finish it leaves in your month. Smoky with rich honeyed toffee, this definitely has some spice straight out of the bottle, but with a drop of water it relaxes and gives you a warm gentle smoky sweetness. Cracking finish!

Always good value. Available in most bigger supermarket and online.

Bunnahabhain 12  46.3% vol – £30 to £39

This Islay malt is not smoky, just to confuse matters. Islay has couple of distillers that specialise in unpeated whiskies, the other being Bruichladdich, and both also produce peated whisky. Read the bottle – if it’s from Islay and not peated, it will say so on the bottle as it’s not typical of the region.

I include this black bottle of loveliness because I think it’s the best value sherry casked whisky on the market. It’s also non-chill filtered at 46.3% vol and has no artificial colouring. This chap is good with and without water. It will go cloudy with water, don’t worry, it’s meant to. It’s a characteristic of non-chill filtered whisky. Dark in colour, rich, raisiny and molasses sweet, this single malt has all the flavours of a classic sherry casked whisky from the mainland. Massive depth of favour you would associate with older malts but, with none of the drier oakiness, there’s not a bitter bone in its body. With a gentle spice, it leaves a sweet and slightly liquorice flavour on the finish. Good presentation as well, a dark and mysterious bottle that doesn’t show you how fast you’re drinking, a great gift purchase. Christmas in a bottle; if you don’t like this, you don’t like whisky.

Last tip: Most supermarkets do brand match, check before you buy.

 

Whisky Jo…it’s all about the finish.