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<\/p>\nWhisky comes out with all the bells and whistles over the festive season with gift packs galore and huge displays in every liquor store. But, it can all be a little overwhelming! Rather than heading straight past it to the beers at the back, here\u2019s a guide to deciphering the labels so that you can make an educated decision when you buy a bottle of the good stuff, whether it\u2019s for a gift or simply to say cheers to surviving a challenging year.<\/p>\n
Whisky is fascinating because of the craftmanship that goes into it and then the impact of where it\u2019s made on the liquid itself \u2014 this is often called the whisky\u2019s provenance. There are a number of whisky-producing countries including Scotland, Ireland, America and Japan, each with its own flavour profile and style.<\/p>\n
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Japanese whisky is increasingly hard to come by for the same reasons as bourbon (made in America) \u2014 it\u2019s in high demand and years ago, when the whisky was laid down to mature, no-one could\u2019ve predicted its global popularity.<\/p>\n
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There are some excellent bourbons available in South Africa. Bourbon is more accessibly priced and sweeter in flavour than Scotch whisky, making it approachable for curious new whisky drinkers. Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon<\/a> has a classic bourbon flavour profile (think brown sugar, toffee and vanilla) and it\u2019s made at the world\u2019s most awarded distillery and also one of America\u2019s oldest, dating back to 1773. If sipping it neat seems too much, bourbon is great in cocktails (think Old Fashioned or a Mint Julep).<\/p>\n Find the best prices on bourbon whisky online with PriceCheck now:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Another country known for its whiskey-making prowess is Ireland. Irish whiskey (yes, it\u2019s spelt with an \u2018e\u2019 if it\u2019s Irish) is typically triple-distilled and unpeated, making it smooth and easy-drinking although not as sweet as bourbon. Paddy Irish Whiskey is blended with triple distilled pot still, malt (barley) and grain whiskeys and is a classic example.<\/p>\n Scotch whisky, loved by traditionalists, is known for its complexity and layers of flavour, starting with the nose (what it smells like), the palate (what it tastes like), the mouthfeel and the finish (or aftertaste). Knowing what flavours and aromas to look out for is part of appreciating it.<\/p>\n Try something like Monkey Shoulder Blended Scotch Whisky<\/a>, 100% malt whisky. To make this unique whisky, small batches of different Speyside single malts are expertly blended then married together, making it a whisky made for mixing. Richness and vibrant combine fruity aromas and mellow vanilla notes, for an unconventional flavour that that is bound to appeal to a new generation of whisky drinkers.<\/p>\n The general sentiment is that single malts are more complex, and therefore more difficult to appreciate than blends. A single malt is a whisky that has been made from 100% malted barley at only one distillery, while blended whisky is made from combining single grain and single malt whiskies from multiple distilleries.<\/p>\n Blends are often more approachable than single malts as Master Blenders are experts at balancing flavours to ensure a delicious end product. Worldwide cask finishes are trending.<\/p>\n A \u2018cask finish\u2019 means that the whisky matures in casks that were previously used for other alcohol, like sherry, port, rum and bourbon. Whisky matured in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks is naturally sweeter and easy-drinking, like Bannerman\u2019s Blended Scotch Whisky<\/a> which is smooth, round and boldly-favoured.<\/p>\n Then there\u2019s the whisky\u2019s age. To be called whisky, the liquid must have matured in oak barrels for three years or more, so many blends are made with young whiskies of the requisite three years. The label may only state the age of the youngest whisky in the bottle, so it\u2019s a good idea to look out for a whisky that contains slightly older liquid as it\u2019s then been matured for longer. For example, Bannermans whisky is a blend that has been blended using malts older than 5 years.<\/p>\n![\"view](\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Buttons_ViewOffers-300x57.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\nIrish whiskey<\/h3>\n
![\"Bannermans](\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Bannermans_whisky-300x169.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nScotch whisky<\/h3>\n
![\"monkey](\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Monkey-SHoulder-Gift-Pack_1-300x250.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nBlends vs single malt<\/h3>\n
![\"Bannermans](\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Bannermans-Main-300x169.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe finish<\/h3>\n
Aged whisky<\/h3>\n
![\"Sexton](\"\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Sexton_whisky-300x169.jpeg\")