Looking for whiskies to serve or to gift over the Christmas season? Here are five festive drams that will hit the spot.

If you’re a Scotch Whisky fan seeking a little Christmas cheer, a good place to start is with ex-sherry cask whiskies as they have a flavour profile that echoes Christmas cake – raisins, dates and spices such as cinnamon.

Glen Moray Sherry Cask Single Malt Scotch ($65.99), for example, has notes of dark chocolate, orange and dried fruit. Global Grand Ambassador Iain Allan describes it as the perfect gift for both whisky lovers and those new to the category. It’s also a delicious ingredient in Christmas puddings.

“Each year we see a growing appreciation for whisky as a gift during the Christmas season,” he said.

“Whisky embodies craftsmanship, heritage, and character – all qualities that make it the perfect way to show appreciation and celebrate special moments with loved ones.

“We’re seeing growth in popularity for our Explorer’s range, among not only whisky aficionados but also among new whisky drinkers, particularly with products like our Glen Moray Sherry Cask Finish which is great in cocktails, neat or on the rocks, as it has a subtle, rounded sweetness, which we find are more favourable among people who are new to whisky.”

Melbourne distillery Starward’s limited release Panettone Whisky ($99) is created using Two-Fold whisky finished in Australian tawny barrels. It features rich with notes of ripe pineapple, sticky raisins and almonds, it’s designed to be either sipped neat or in a Panettone (New) Old Fashioned (click here for the recipe).

The whisky is Starward founder David Vitale’s love letter to the warmth of a summery Christmas and his own family’s yuletide tradition. 

“Growing up, we would always have big family Christmases,” he said. “And, without fail, my mother’s panettone would always be on the table…made from her family recipe, of course.” 

The Derwent Distilling Co’s 2024 Christmas Cask – Festive Fortified ($195) aims to capture the warmth of the festive season in a bottle.

It blends complex layers of flavour using carefully selected casks, including Oloroso Port, Portuguese Port, Apera Sherry, and Tawny Port. Festive Fortified reveals rich notes of dark fruits, warm spices, and toasted nuts just like a plum pudding.

Lark Distillery teamed up with Tasmania’s Jean-Pascal Patisserie to produce a festive whisky reminiscent of liquid plum pudding.

The Christmas Cask 2024 Limited Release ($249) is aged in Port, Sherry and some ex-Bourbon casks. Finished in Frogmore Creek’s red wine barrels seasoned with Jean Pascal’s mince pie jus, this single malt whisky has been created as a toast to the passion and artistry that define Tasmania and the warmth of the season.

This year’s release sold out in just 48 hours online however there are some stockists around the country with a bottle or two available.

Redbreast 12 Year Old Irish whiskey ($115) is matured mostly in Oloroso sherry casks, giving it its trademark Christmas cake character. It features notes of marzipan, liquorice, ginger and vanilla. Oh, and it’s named after the robin redbreasts that often adorn Christmas cards.

Need more inspiration for Christmas gifting? Head to The Whisky List for its 11 Festive Whiskies to Gift (or Keep for Yourself) This Christmas!

And if you’re seeking a whisky-themed destination Christmas, Jack Daniel’s Barrel Trees (pictured main) have been a staple of the distiller’s holiday celebrations since the first tree was erected in Lynchburg in 2011. The 26-foot-tall tree was built from 140 American white oak barrels which had been used to mature Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey.

This year, Jack Daniel’s Barrel Trees have been built in 10 different cities: Lynchburg, TN; Nashville, TN; San Antonio, TX; Tampa, FL; Washington, D.C.; New Brunswick, NJ; New York, NY; San Francisco, CA; and Venice, CA.