Perfect Christmas Present?

I like your style Iain- are you then going to contact our respective WaGs/partners/others and let them know what they should be buying us for Xmas?! If so, put me down for an Old Pulteney 21 year old, as it has just won Jim Murray's Whisk(e)y of the year, a Highland Park 18 year old as it is probably my favourite Whisky of the year so far (not taking price into account), and another bottle of Aberlour A'bunadh for my stocks, simply because if you cant drink practically neat alcohol at xmas, when can you? £175 should do it. Oh, and can I have an Ipad 2 please, or is that "mission creep"? Good luck.

@smokeybarrels Thanks Smokey. Good selections, although £175 would mean gifts from two friends. Rules is rules is rules! :) Although at about 50 quid a sling two bottles of Aberlour A'bunadh is an option I suppose. You could drop one off at my house. I thought of either Glenmo Signet (bit predictable I know) as it receives nothing but good reviews and the tasting notes sound delicious. It's slightly over £100 but I can hope for a sale can't I? Another option for me would be Glengoyne 21yo. I love the 10yo, 12 yo and 17yo so I would hope the 21 would be even better. The only fly in the Glengoyne oitment for me is the 14yo which I wouldn't give to my worst enemy (shame as I've got a litre of it!). Cheers.

No need to wonder, I have already been told by my wife that I am getting a bottle of Ardbeg Corryvreckan. I am not complaining.

Dear Santa IainVH,

I don't know how pricing for these works out on the other side of the pond (combined, they're about CAN$180 in Ontario), but for Christmas, I would like to pick up a cask strength, Non-Islay, whisky...say Aberlour Abunadh, and/or a bottle of Glenfarclas 15 since I have read so many reviews that describe it as 'Christmas cake in a bottle'. That would make a perfect bottle for the holiday season.

Thank you Santa IainVH. I will leave a dram for you by the fireplace.

I'd go for a bottle of Glenmorangie Signet (which I've seen listed for £104, so it's soooooo close it counts, right?). And then I'd invite everybody over to share a dram with me, because that's what amazing whisky is for!

If I had to acquire here it would either be Highland park 18 or Balvenie 21 yr portwood Ballpark $150 - 195 cdn. If Santa was bringing it I would ask for a bottle of Glenmorangie Signet. Actually since I'm Santa in this house I think Mrs Claus will have a bottle under the tree for me but only if I'm good.

Like Pudge 72, Glenfarclas 15 would be a great gift for Christmas. It is the first I think of when I hear the word Christmas. A lot of spice and fruits preserves in the mix. Very warmful for the cold winter. On the more expensive side, Octomore would be just right!

@Pudge72 Well, I'll see what I can do. It all depends on whether you've been naughty or nice. I'll check my list.

A Green Spot - Pot Still Irish Whiskey for me please, been good, I promise . . . well sorta :)

well not really . . .

so I'll settle for for your Glengoyne 14yo

Johnnie Walker Double Black

Here in "the states", we are just getting Johnnie Walker Double Black, and only for a limited time. According to the official JW website's countdown clock, less than 62 days remain until it disappears from retail shelves again. So by Christmas, this limited release will be gone. Given the brand's wide appeal, reasonable price, and limited availability, it seems like this might be a great gift choice for the casual Scotch drinker. It this price point, you could buy several bottles for several friends for $160 (the stateside equivalent of £100).

@Billyboy05055 If it was just a matter of walking around the corner and calling in to drop it off, I would gladly swap the Glengoyne 14yo for your Redbreast 12yo!

@MacBaker62 Several bottles of good whiskey for under £100 does indeed sound like Christmas!

@smokeybarrels By the way Smokey, If you and everyone else want to give me contact details for your wives and girlfriends then I'm not going to argue!! :)

Oooh, can I change my order? The Glenfarclas Movember bottling is a stunner, and only £39.95! That'd be a perfect Christmas present, methinks - cask strength, sherried, and gorgeous. www.masterofmalt.com/movember/

@jasonbstanding I'll allow a £4 overspend as long as you've been a good boy.

@jasonbstanding Changing your order, dear dear, the elves will be going on strike you know, they're very militant!

For a Christmas Whisky present, I would be happy with 200 ml of Highland Park 30. I suppose I would have to have it purchased from someone with a larger open bottle.

@jasonbstanding Just been onto the Master Of Malt site and placed an order. Very good cause so thanks for the tip. Cheers.

@Victor Or maybe if you've been doubly good this year Santa might be especially kind to you.

I would settle for a 5cl sample of the Auchentoshan 1957 50 Year Old cask 480. I've just obtained a 4cl sample of the Auchentoshan 1957 50 Year Old Cask 479. It would be great to be able to taste them head to head on Christmas Day! Oh, and while we are at it, Santa, I'm still very much looking for an empty bottle of the Toshan 50 for my collection. Countin' down the days until your arrival this year. Ho-ho-ho!

@markjedi1 If Santa can makle all wishes come true shouldn't you be wishing for a FULL bottle of Toshan 50?? I'm sure that would make your Christmas!

Glendronach 1989 for me, the 21 year old is nicely in budget :) whiskymarketplace.com/search/…

I think I would like the Glenfarclas 15... everybody loves it ahaha. I tried the a long time ago, and remember liking it.

That is supposed to say, "I tried the 17 y.o. a long time ago."

@IainVH Rules is rules is rules, no? Hence I'm only asking for a sample.

@markjedi1 Quite right for pulling me up on that Mark, rules are indeed rules.

I would like a bottle of Highland Park 18. Every one speaks nicely of it and I haven't had the chance to try it yet. Would be great to compare ti with my bottles of Laphroaig and Talisker 18.

@drinix: The HP 18 is in a league of its own and really has very little in commom with either the Talisker 18 or the Laphroaig 18...except that they are all damn fine. @Victor: I was in Scotland recently and I was able to buy 50ml. miniatures of HP 30. I got 4 of them for 15 pounds each. That's about the only way I could ever hope to afford it and even at that, it is the equivalent of about Can.$95 for 200 ml. Maybe you can find the minis where you live. Cheers.

@BlueNote Last time I was in the distillery gift shop they were selling them for about half that price, but you would have to buy an awful lot to recoup the costs of travelling up here!

For myself I shall be asking for a bottle of the other local whisky, Scapa; I haven't tasted the new 16 year old expression yet but it should be a good one to share with family and friends over the Christmas period.

I would be sorely disappointed if Santa didn't bring a bot. (or two), of A'bunadh. I remember all the expressions back to batch #5 and with one exception have found them consistently exciting, full flavoured and a real testament to the 'Art of Whisky Making'.