People often see whiskey as fancy, expensive, or too exclusive to try them. While there are more complex whiskeys in the market, many whiskeys are sweet, subtle, and slightly smoky, which makes them ideal for those who want to try them out.
Whiskey is accessible to all. You can drink it clean, you can shake or stir it into a cocktail, or you can put it in an ice ball. You don't have to worry if you're a beginner to trying whiskey. Here is our roundup of the best smooth whiskeys for starting your whiskey journey.
Scotch - Cragganmore 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
The sweet, honey, and orange-zest flavoring is embodied in this 12-year-old sherried single malt from the Diageo Classic Malts range. Cragganmore is scented with spring meadow scents and wildflowers with a tinge of smoke.
In contrast to the fragrance, the taste is exceptionally light, combining honey with a basket of flavors of nutty. A thin, peppery finish begins and rolls into an enjoyable, smoky warmth. It is a solid whiskey to start a journey into single malts.
Scotch - Dalwhinnie 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
The Dalwhinnie 15 year old Single Malt Scotch Whisky is a basic but well-done malt. It boasts a sophisticated, creamy, medium-sized single-malt whisky flavor with a mild, fruity mouth and a heathery finish. Think of caramel apples, luscious creaminess, light fennel notes, and strong citrus with no peat or sherry influences.
Scotch - The Macallan 12 Year Old Sherry Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Macallan earned its reputation as a “luxury” brand because their whiskeys are consistent in quality. The Macallan 12 Sherry Oak has fully matured in barrels of sherry oak and is bottled after 12 years. The flavors are balanced, and the dry sherry notes can easily be detected within the palate. A wonderful drink with a touch of warm sherry spices. It finishes on a festive note. This gives the whiskey beginner a chance to get to know a well-known whiskey before getting into more complex whiskeys.
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Japanese - Nikka From the Barrel 51.4% Blended Japanese Whisky
Nikka From the Barrel is a robust and drinkable cask strength Japanese drop. With the grain whisky lending broad sweetness and versatile mouthfeel over the long finish, it feels generously malty. Even the small, squat bottle doesn’t hold true to its magnificent complexity. It's lovely when sipped neat and tastes great with water.
Australian – The Corowa Characters Wine Cask Single Malt Australian Whisky
The whiskey is aged in wine casks, positioning it instantly among the finest Australian single malts. The casks’ characteristics of ripe fruits and berries shine through, and the malt notes unique to Corowa’s other releases are present. This is another great whiskey for the everyday drinker.
American Bourbon - Eagle Rare 10 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey
Aged for a minimum of ten years, Eagle Rare has the sweetness of peach, cherry, caramel, honey, and vanilla. The nose is subtle but tasty, with a heavy emphasis on orange peels and other citrus fruit. For a beginner looking for a whiskey to try before drinking older bourbon, it is sweet, satisfying, and easy to detect the flavours.