The holidays are a time for joy and celebration. This includes good company, delicious food, and delightful drinks. In addition to sticking to traditional entertaining, consider trying a new drink. Here are five bottles that will enhance your entertaining or gift-giving experience.
The QuintEssential by Cedar Ridge is a prominent player in the booming American single-malt scene. This whiskey is made with 100% malted barley and is finished using various techniques, resulting in a well-balanced single-malt whiskey. The QuintEssential is aged for 3-5 years in ex-bourbon casks before being transferred to rum, brandy, sherry, wine, port, and rye casks for finishing. After an additional two years, all are mixed together to create a whiskey with a unique, rich flavor and a strong malt backbone. Bottled at 46% ABV, The QuintEssential is a great value at $59.99, offering a complex and celebrated whiskey.
Another standout in the American single-malt category is The Macklowe Kentucky Gold Edition. Founded by designer and whiskey collector Julie Macklowe, this brand offers a luxury American single-malt made from organic grain and natural spring water, with an elegant design that embodies sophistication. This single malt, priced at $250, is among the finest in the American category and makes an excellent gift for whiskey enthusiasts.
Brown (or dark) spirits extend beyond whiskey, especially with agave-based liquors. Bacanora, an ancient spirit from Sonora, Mexico, is often overlooked alongside tequila and mezcal. Kilinga is a brand that is dedicated to preserving the tradition of Sonora, and its reposado expression is a perfect new discovery for celebrating the holidays.
Distinctive to bacanora is the type of agave used in its production. Adhering to strict regulations, Kilinga crafts its reposado with 100% agave angustifolia, resulting in a spirit with a citrus-forward profile. This vibrant character is enhanced by a smooth 80-proof and barrel notes of vanilla, caramel, and oak, from up to three years of aging in American oak casks. If you’re new to bacanora, Kilinga Reposado is a great place to start, and it’s only $64.99.
The spicy flavor of rye whiskey is ideal for holiday sipping, and Filibuster’s rye expression is no exception. This Virginia-based whiskey maker may be new to distilling, but its team’s decades of industry experience are helping it make a name for itself. Drawing inspiration from Scottish distilling techniques and the innovative spirit of American life, Filibuster sets itself apart with its creative finishing and blending program, as showcased in this rye.
After 3-4 years of aging in traditional oak, Filibuster Dual Cask Rye</strong is finished in French Oak barrels, imparting a subtle white wine aroma that neutralizes the typical grassy notes found in other ryes. Priced at $42.99, this rye is a great choice for whiskey drinkers of any level, whether expert or novice, and offers a good value.
For whiskey collectors, Ardbeg Rollercoaster is a highly sought-after treasure. This limited release from the legendary scotch brand is among the rarest whiskies to enter the market. The set includes two expressions, one bottled from the last remaining cask of Arbdeg’s 1981 stock, making it a 42-year-old whisky and a living piece of the brand’s history. The other half of Ardbeg Rollercoaster, 1989, is a bottling from the year Ardbeg reopened. This exclusive set comes in a box handcrafted from Scottish Oak, adorned with copper accents to symbolize the Ardbeg Distillery’s stills. Ardbeg Rollercoaster is a piece of whisky history that only a select few will have the pleasure of experiencing.
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