Neither Scotch nor Japanese: 4 New World whiskies to bring to your festive party

Wondering what whiskies to gift or bring to that upcoming Christmas party? Time to consider picking a New World whisky. After all, there’s a good chance your malt-loving colleague is going to bring his usual Scotch to the table. Why not be a little bold with your choices?

The world of whisky has developed so dramatically in recent years that it’s no longer just the Scottish and the Japanese who are making headlines. The Taiwanese have shown that it’s possible to make top whiskies in a sub-tropical climate, while the Indians are now making drams out of local barley instead of relying on molasses. In Australia, the traditional centre of Aussie whisky-making in Tasmania is also starting to spill into the mainland.

We pick four New World whiskies that would make a great conversation starter at the dinner table.

STARWARD, SOLERA

David Vitale didn’t have any delusions of grandeur when he founded Starward in Melbourne in 2007: He knew he could not match the Scottish with their premium price points and long history in whisky-making, so he set out to make affordable, approachable Australian whiskies with local barley. It’s fair to say he has come quite a long way. In 2022, Starward picked up the Most Awarded Distillery of the Year accolade at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, becoming the first Australian distillery to do so in the competition’s history.

The Starward Solera is a crowd favourite. Blended using the Spanish solera system — a form of fractional blending whereby a portion of spirit from young casks is always blended with a more mature spirit in older casks — and aged in ex-Apera (Australian sherry) barrels, the whisky is a Christmas cake in a glass. The bouquet offers aromas of raisins and vanilla; on the palate, flavours of caramel and creme brulee gradually unveil hints of cinnamon and almonds.

S$135, from Malt & Wine Asia

KAVALAN 2020 PEATED MALT, SINGAPORE EDITION

Ever since it opened its distillery in Taiwan’s Yilan County in 2005, the award-winning Kavalan has shown a willingness to experiment with various cask-ageing regimens to take advantage of the subtropical climate, which encourages faster maturation and a stronger extraction of flavours from the oak.

Part of its Solist’s single cask range, the Kavalan 2020 Peated Malt, which is exclusively bottled for the Singapore market, is for those of you who like smoky drams. Expect notes of beeswax, peat, smoked meat, and pepper.

S$275, from La Maison du Whisky

KYRO, MALT OLOROSO, MALT RYE WHISKY

Kyro was established by a group of friends in Finland in 2012 — they started out making moonshine but a surprise gold medal win for their gin at the International Wine and Spirit Competition in 2015 proved to be the turning point. Today, the distillery makes a range of gins and rye whiskies.

The Malt Oloroso is a single batch rye whisky made from 100 per cent malted Finnish wholegrain rye and finished in Oloroso sherry casks. It has that unmistakable rustic character of spices and dark bread you’d find in rye whiskies, along with touches of vanilla and tropical fruit.

S$120, from La Maison du Whisky

AMRUT FUSION, SINGLE MALT WHISKY

No one took Indian whiskies seriously in the past; many of the whiskies were low-quality blended spirits of dubious origins. But things have changed over the past decade, as a few local whisky producers like Amrut began leading the conversation on what an Indian whisky should and can be. Amrut uses local barley for its whisky production and is also the pioneer of single malt whiskies in India.

The Amrut Fusion is arguably the distillery’s best known single malt. In 2010, renowned whisky critic Jim Murray declared Amrut Fusion to be the third best whisky in the world, an honour that drew more curious drinkers towards the brand. The Fusion, a blend of Indian barley and Scottish Highland barley, is aged in ex-Bourbon barrels for six to nine months. The nose has a gentle, smoky note while its flavour profile is a whirl of chocolate, cinnamon, and figs.

S$124, from 1855 The Bottle Shop