Scotland is not the only country famous for producing malt whisky. In fact, it isn't even the world's largest producer of whisky. Below you will the best whiskies the rest of the world has to offer.
Although we Scots are rightfully proud of our national drink, we have to admit that a good dram can come from almost anywhere in the world - these international whiskies are a testament to that!
A super release from Jameson, with a high proportion of Irish pot still whiskey as well as small batch grain. The result is an increased body and level of richness giving it a much richer flavour than regular Jameson.
Mackmyra's core expression is a light Swedish whisky matured primarily in first fill bourbon barrels but also includes whisky aged in Sherry and Swedish oak casks. The award winning whisky is light, well-balanced and fruity dram with a touch of spicy juniper smoke.
Glendalough Double Barrel is a single grain Irish whiskey, aged in a combination of bourbon and oloroso sherry casks. Sweet and creamy, with butterscotch and honey from the American oak and dried fruit from the Spanish.
Since the Teelings parted company with Cooley, the company they started, we've been waiting for their return and here it is – Teeling Whiskey. Finished in rum casks and bottled at 46% without chill-filtration, it's an excellent statement of intent. The blend is said to contain a high proportion of first-fill bourbon cask whiskey, and a higher-than-normal ratio of malt to grain.
This limited-edition release of The One comes from the team at the Lakes Distillery. A blend of whiskies from around the British Isles, this was finished in oloroso sherry hogsheads at the fledgling Cumbrian distillery and released in 2015.
The ongoing unpeated release from The English Whisky Co, Original is aged in bourbon casks, creating a whisky with notes of vanilla ice cream, nuts and a hint of sea spray.
This is The English Whisky Co's ongoing smoky release. Peated to 45ppm, this has notes of vanilla, aniseed, ginger and of course, smoke. A great introduction of peated whisky.
Released in 2013, Teeling's Single Grain Whiskey has been matured full term in Californian Cabernet Sauvignon wine barrels, resulting in a spicy and fruity whiskey.
The 7 Year Old from Wicklow's Glendalough distillery is silky smooth with sweet butterscotch, cinnamon, pepper and dark chocolate.
This elegant gift pack contains a bottle of Teeling's rum-cask-finished Small Batch blended Whiskey and a pair of tumblers. The blend is said to contain a high proportion of first-fill bourbon cask whiskey, and a higher-than-normal ratio of malt to grain.
Old Deer is the unpeated release from Switzerland's Langatun distillery. This triple-distilled whisky has been aged in a combination of Chardonnay and sherry casks, leading to a malty style of whisky.
The cask-strength release of Old Bear, a peated whisky from Langatun distillery in Switzerland. Triple-distilled and aged in ex-Chateauneuf-du-Pape casks, this is a big and bold peated whisky with notes of peat, oak spice and dark fruit.
Amrut Fusion gets its name from the fact that it uses two barleys: Indian and Scottish - with the latter being peated for good measure. Fusion has been picking up awards ever since it first appeared in 2009, and in 2012 was named the best whisky for a Rob Roy in the Ultimate Cocktail Challenge in New York.
The new 46% Amruts are a very different proposition to the pleasant but unexciting original release. At the higher strength this 24ppm peated effort fairly fizzes along the tastebuds. This is excellent - hugely improved stuff from a distillery coming along in leaps and bounds.
The cask-strength edition of Old Deer – the unpeated release from Switzerland's Langatun distillery. The high ABV has been tempered by the use of triple distillation. Matured in a combination of Chardonnay and sherry casks, this is a malty style of whisky.
Continuing the run of impressive cask strength bottlings, this edition from Amrut clocks in at a pokey 61.8% and promises their usual balance of spice and fruit.
The first in a new series from Teeling celebbrating the spirits of the Liberties area of Dublin where its distillery is based. This celebrates William Brabazon, 3rd Earl of Meath and has been aged entirely in sherry casks, with 5% from 2001, 5% from 2002, and 30% each from 2005, 2007 and 2008. Rich and sherried with notes of toffee, red berries, liquorice, clove and toasted marshmallow.
From Amrut distillery, founded in 1948, just one year after Indian independence, this is a stormingly hot and spicy whisky, peated and bottled at a punchy cask strength of 62.8%.
More woody experimentation from the folks at Amrut, maturing the Portonova first in a combination of new american oak and ex-bourbon barrels, then moving it to refill port pipes and then back into ex-bourbon casks. It combines the traditional vanilla and coconut flavours with the rich fruit you'd expect from a port cask for an interesting mix.
A new concept from Amrut. The spirit for Intermediate Sherry Matured starts life in a mix of ex-bourbon and virgin oak casks. It is then transferred to sherry casks for a period before going back into bourbon casks to complete its maturation. There's been a huge buzz about this, and we've only got a small allocation,
Volume III in Teeling's The Revival series is a 14-year-old whiskey. Matured initially in ex-bourbon barrels before being finished for the final year in Pineau-des-Charentes casks, this has notes of dried fruit, toffee, almonds and chocolate.
The second release of Amrut's Double Cask is a blend of two whiskies: one aged in a bourbon cask from June 2009 and one PX sherry cask from May 2010. This shows excellent balance between sweet vanilla and coconut flavours from American oak and rich fruit from the European wood.
The first ever release of Indian single malt rye. Made with European rye and aged for five years in American oak, this is fruity and floral with notes of sweet spice. A unique whisky that's much more elegant than is usual for Amrut.
Distilled in 1991, this 24-year-old whiskey from Teeling was aged initially in bourbon barrels before being finished in Sauternes casks. Made with a small amount of peated malt, this is a subtly sweet whiskey with notes of ripe fruit and a hint of smoke.
A rare long-aged Irish whiskey, limited to just 275 bottles, from Teeling. Matured in a pair of bourbon barrels for 33 years, this is complex, floral and lightly spicy. The presentation includes a hand-bound booklet detailing the history of the release.
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