The New Year holiday deserves a very special pour – we asked some whisky experts to reveal their celebration bottles

Choosing a single bottle to mark a special occasion like the New Year is no mean feat. Retailer’s shelves are groaning with choice and after a packed holiday season it’s difficult to choose whiskey to finish the year. We asked some whisky experts to reveal what they’ll be pouring as they ring out the old and ring in the new. It’s an eclectic mix of excellent Irish, bourbon, Scotch and Japanese bottles – each chosen for their delicate flavours, complex personalities and rich taste experiences.

Rosi Goswell

The Irish Whiskey Glass Company

Creator of the Tuath Irish whiskey glass and managing director of the Irish Whiskey Glass Company, Rosi Goswell spends much of her year consulting with some of the finest whiskey makers in Ireland and beyond. Needless to say, her tasting glass is rarely empty. 

“This New Year’s, I’ll be treating myself to an old favourite and a new discovery of 2023. Sherry is one of my favourite whiskey finishes, and one of the best is Dunvilles’ single malt Palo Cortado sherry finish. I have squirrelled away a bottle of the 18-year-old and will enjoy this late in the evening when all the mayhem of a full family Christmas has calmed down. It’s luxurious and contains all my favourite winter ingredients: dark fruits, bitter orange chocolate, spices, and layers of complexity. It is incredibly smooth for a cask-strength whiskey.

“My new discovery at Whiskey Live 2023 was the new single pot still release from the Method and Madness range, matured in bourbon casks and finished in Garryana oak barrels. It’s 46% and has a spice to it, as well as lots of toasted wood and coffee grounds and even a little hint of cloves – perfect for this Christmas season.”

Thomas Øhrbom

Whiskysaga.com

Whiskysaga.com is one of the biggest independent whisky blogs in Europe. Run by Norwegian whisky expert Thomas Øhrbom, from his home city of Oslo, it consistently tracks and reviews international releases, as well as promoting the booming Nordic whisky industry. For this New Year’s, he’s choosing from Japan and Scotland.

“At Christmas and New Year, I like to treat myself to something special. I love Japanese whisky, and Yamazaki 12 is perfect for the holidays. A complex whisky you can really get lost in as you cosy up in front of a blazing fire. With lots of dried fruits and honey, it’s beautifully sweet and decadent.

“If I want to go for something peaty, I have a new favourite: the blended malt MacNair’s Lum Reek 10 Cask Strength. Lovely, earthy notes of chocolate and dried fruits. It is peaty, but not overwhelmingly so.”

Barry Geoghegan

Duty Free Global

International travel is a huge part of Barry Keoghan’s year as founder of Duty Free Global, a specialised wine and spirits agency. So, when Christmas comes around, he’s very happy to relax and share something special with his three adult sons, who are also big whiskey fans. 

“I put aside two bottles for Christmas and the New Year. The first is a really special pour from Powerscourt Distillery – Fercullen 15. It’s a Madeira-finished single grain that is a total showstopper – it’s really stunning. I was a wine fan before whiskey, so I especially love the concentration of flavour that the Madeira finish and its raisin, apricot and mango profile create.

“Alongside that, I’ll pour a bourbon. I consider bourbon to be the rioja of the whiskey world – it makes everyone smile. Eagle Rare 10 from Buffalo Trace is a wonderful pour with that gorgeous smokey bacon flavour that is so accessible to everyone. It’s at such a great price point, too. Almost undervalued.”  

Glen Melia

The Single Malt Shop

As resident whisky expert and sourcing manager for The Single Malt Shop, Glen Melia gets to sample amazing pours from all over the world. 

“My whisky to sip after an indulgent Christmas and entering the New Year will be Glendronach 12. The dried fruit notes from the sherry cask maturation are the perfect sweet accompaniment to the festive mood.

“Another bottle I will have hidden away is Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14. I love Port Wood-finished whisky, and this has always been one of my favourites. With exquisite red berry notes and a lingering sweet finish.”