The perfect whisky gift

Our gift guide is here to offer you some additional inspiration to select the perfect whisky gift…

As every spouse, parent or friend of a whisky lover well knows, buying fine whisky as a present can be a daunting task. Walking through the door of a well stocked specialist drinks store is for some a foray into an unknown world full of surprises awaiting an unsuspecting whisky novice. But don’t worry. Whether you’re an experienced whisky buyer looking for that extra inspiration or a complete whisky virgin, we have some straightforward pieces of advice on how to select a bottle of whisky as a gift for a loved one and get it right.

1. Know your target

A bit of white espionage is always recommended. Have a peek inside the whisky cabinet or ask around to find out what’s the person’s favourite tipple.

2. Make it sparkle

Now that you’ve established what your target always buys, make sure you don’t get the very same thing. The whole idea of buying presents for a special occasion is to make it that little bit special. For example, if your dear partner enjoys the occasional 12 year old single malt Scotch whisky, an Old Pulteney 17 Year Old is sure to hit the spot and will deliver that wow-factor and a very special holiday feel to the proceedings. Think of it as getting a cashmere jumper. It’s a little piece of luxury, something special and indulgent.

3. Build sets, win hearts

Make the gift of a bottle that little bit special by adding a set of glasses or a water jug to it. It will show your understanding of the passion for whisky if you get the right glasses to go with the dram and demonstrate that you’ve done your homework.

4. Tried and tested

No way of finding out what the person drinks exactly? Or maybe you had a peek inside the cabinet and didn’t pick up any obvious clues? You can always follow these tried and tested ideas:

• Old Pulteney 12 Year Old – This dram is well-known and appreciated by whisky lovers world-wide. It’s a fantastic single malt for a casual whisky drinker or someone who’s just starting to delve deeper into the fine spirits world (but perhaps hasn’t crossed that ‘enthusiast’ Rubicon yet).

• Old Pulteney 17 Year Old – Whisky enthusiasts have called this dram ‘cult’, ‘legendary’ and a ‘hidden gem’ for years and for good reason. Old Pulteney 17 Year Old delivers a tremendous flavour punch for the price and will put a smile of every whisky aficionado’s face.

• Old Pulteney 21 Year Old – Looking for something even more special? A voluptuous single malt that is sure to make this Christmas special? Old Pulteney 21 Year Old is your whisky. And don’t just take our word for it, the leading whisky writer and critic Jim Murray named it World Whisky of the Year in 2012, it’s the highest accolade a whisky can win.

We hope these simple tips help you choose the right whisky to give to your nearest and dearest as a special gift. Remember that Old Pulteney with it’s unpeated but intense, clean and bright character is a safe choice for everyone from a novice to even the most savvy whisky buff.