The post These 7 Scotch whiskies make great gifts appeared first on Golf.

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The number seven, they say, is lucky. Granted, you never want to see it on a scorecard, but there are plenty of other places where it’s far more attractive.

Take this round-up of Scotch whiskies, for example. Here, seven is the perfect number. Why? Because we can practically guarantee that from this list, you’re certain to find a bottle of Old World whisky that, come Father’s Day or any holiday necessitating gifts, will bring a smile to the recipient’s face.

Dewar’s 19 Year Champions Edition 2025

If you’re familiar with Dewar’s blended whiskies, you’ll immediately pick up those ripe berry and floral aromas in this unique expression. But there’s also something distinct about the 2025 release of Dewar’s 19 Year “The Champions Edition.” Crisp apple notes. They reflect Master Blender Stephanie Macleod’s decision to finish this limited-edition whisky in Calvados barrels. Although bright and fruity on the nose, this whisky delivers prominent spice notes on the palate and is pleasingly buttery on the finish. Shop now for $85.99 at Total Wine.

Lagg, Kilmory Edition

Although generously peated, this youthful whisky offers up a bouquet that is just that — sweet and floral with a backbone of earthy, maritime smoke. Delightfully light in body, Lagg’s Kilmory Edition is round, smooth, soft around the edges, and bright enough that it conjures up a sun-splashed summer day along the Ayreshire coast (more specifically, the isle of Arran — where the distillery is based). $65.

Glen Scotia 15 Year

Whiskies crafted in the Lowlands are characteristically light-bodied and soft — usually in texture, aroma, and flavor. Glen Scotia’s 15 Year, by contrast, delivers a surprising dash of spice on the nose, which swirls with other traces of bright and stewed fruits to create the smell of a freshly baked date cake. On the palate, this single malt is considerably softer and almost buttery in its mouthfeel. There’s a touch of spice on the back of the sip, but it’s counterbalanced by lots of butterscotch and vanilla on the front end, which will please fans of this particular style. Shop now for $87.99 at Total Wine.

Glendronach, Ode to the Valley

Breathe in the aromas of this whisky and be prepared for soft scents of orange peel with hints of raisins and figs. On the palate, traces of honey and marzipan intermingle with bolder baking spices (think cardamom and cloves). Those familiar with Glendronach’s 15 Year expression will find some parallels here; however, the subtle spice notes that linger on the finish of the 15 Year are more prominent and reveal themselves at the forefront of the sip. They do, however, share the spotlight with sweet notes from the spirit’s sherry finish, which nicely balances the whisky. Shop now for $119.99 at Total Wine.

Glenmorangie Signet Reserve

When Glenmorangie’s master distiller, Bill Lumsden, created Signet, he was inspired by the aroma of coffee. After studying the science of roasting coffee beans, Lumsden found that by using a high-roast chocolate malt — the type used to brew porters and stouts — he could create a whisky that smells of coffee and tastes of mocha. A once-a-year special edition of that whisky, Signet Reserve, delivers those customary roasted coffee and dark chocolate flavors, but they’re laced with a savory-sweet note that can only come from a prolonged finish in sherry casks. The end result? An already robust and layered whisky that is now even more complex and sophisticated. Shop now for $309.99 at Total Wine.

The Balvenie, 12 Year

Sweet and floral on the nose with hints of cardamom and stone fruits, this limited-production bottling from one of the Speyside region’s best-known single malt producers is prominently oaky, which is to say it delivers lots of spiced vanilla flavors and offers a moderately long and sweet finish. Shop now for $109.99 at Total Wine.

The Last Drop No. 38

On the nose, this 55-year-old single malt from the Tomintoul distillery in Speyside is a captivating blend of sumptuous toffee and ripe peaches, which carries over on the palate. Remarkably, there’s a juiciness to this more-than-half-a-century old whisky, which serves as a vessel to deliver flavors of warm baking spices (brown sugar, in particular) and spicy notes of ginger. Laden with bright tropical fruit character and a hefty dose of spiciness, the whisky finishes both sweet and slightly hot. It’s far more lively and potent than what you’d expect from a whisky that spent more than five decades slowly maturing in Scotland’s temperate climate. That alone makes it a memorable experience, one worth investing in, so long as you have the means. 6,600 GBP (about $8,900).

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The post This newly reimagined whisky blend gives you plenty of reason to sit, sip and savor this holiday season appeared first on Golf.

The post This newly reimagined whisky blend gives you plenty of reason to sit, sip and savor this holiday season appeared first on Golf.

With all due respect to the glory of October, turning the calendar to November feels like the true marker of the beginning of the festive season.

Winter is coming and with it, cool temperatures, the last vestiges of fall leaves, early evening darkness and a seemingly instinctual need for coziness.

And starting with Thanksgiving, there seems to be a significant uptick in gatherings of every kind. In times like these, you’ll likely be called upon to host or attend a get-together, and that’s when providing a foolproof libation is of the utmost importance.

Selecting a crowd-pleaser is no easy task, and while scotch may not be the first spirit that comes to mind when you’re thinking about satisfying a range of palates, the versatility and flavor profiles available in a blend like the newly reimagined Dewar’s 12-year-old are a fantastic option to consider. It features an ultra-smooth, velvety texture combined with sweet vanilla and a fruity, floral finish.

That finishing flavor, presented against a backdrop that includes notes of light smokiness, peach, butterscotch and spiced apple, is wowing aficionados the world over (check out what the experts are saying at the bottom of this page).

The whisky’s smooth mouthfeel is a characteristic that Brian Cox, vice president of Dewar’s Scotch Whisky, North America, is particularly proud of. Not only does it enable the blend to be an enjoyable sipper on its own, but it also makes an excellent candidate for cocktail mixing.

Lifestyle

Cox recommends giving the Dewar’s 12 a run in well-loved recipes that are traditionally made with bourbon or rye whiskey. Substitute Dewar’s 12 for rye whiskey in a Manhattan, which also calls for sweet vermouth and bitters, and you have a Rob Roy (see main photo above).

“The complexity and round smoothness of Dewar’s 12-year-old makes it a perfect foundation for more subtle and smoother versions of classic cocktails,” Cox says. “When you incorporate Dewar’s 12, what you find is that they’re warming but not burning cocktails. And that’s again due to the smoothness.”

That brings us to an important point: warmth versus burn. We’ve all experienced the difference, and one is infinitely preferable to the other. But where does it come from? Turns out, it’s all part of the distiller’s process.

During distillation, the art is to capture the heart of the distillation — the main body of the distillate — where most of the key flavor notes come from, while avoiding the head of the distillation that accounts for the highest run of alcohol (but also the most volatile compounds that can cause the “burn” sensation later) and the tail, which has the heavier base alcohol.

Dewar’s 12 aims to incorporate the maximum possible amount of the distillate heart, which is called the “spirit cut.” The smaller a spirit cut is, the purer the flavor. And, of course, eliminating as much of the head and tail as possible is integral to creating the coveted warmth without the burn. Once the spirit cut is made, all that’s needed is time — 12 years, in fact — and the expertise of Dewar’s master blender, who expertly combines up to 40 single-malt and grain whiskies to create the final bottled product.

Time: It’s also what you’ll want to have in order to properly enjoy your festive libation this winter and holiday season. Straight-up, with ice or as a cocktail: As the experts often say, there’s only one way to best enjoy scotch — your way.

What the experts are saying about the new Dewar’s 12

“This is a zinger … an outstanding blended Scotch whisky.” It’s the highest rated 12-year-old blended Scotch ever in the history of the publication.
—Jonny McCormick, Whiskey Advocate

“This whisky represents the true symphony of a great blend.”
—Mahesh Patel, Universal Whisky Experience

“94 points. A stunning surprise. With this release, Dewar’s raises the bar on blended Scotch whisky, and it is a testament to the artistry of blending.”
—Mark Gillespie, WhiskyCast

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The post Scotch whisky guide: These 6 regions of Scotland produce the world’s best single malts appeared first on Golf.

The post Scotch whisky guide: These 6 regions of Scotland produce the world’s best single malts appeared first on Golf.

Welcome to a special InsideGOLF edition of Clubhouse Eats, where we celebrate the game’s most delectable food and drink. Hope you brought your appetites!

***

The 150th Open Championship has come to a close, but your Scottish experience can live on. Cameron Smith celebrated his victory by filling the Claret Jug with as many beers as it could hold (surprisingly, just two!), but Scotland is best known for a different drink. 

Which single-malt whisky shall we pour? Here’s a look at the country’s six whisky regions and the characteristics of the spirits they produce.

Speyside

Food

Lighter and sweeter than most single malts, Speyside whisky is commonly aged in sherry casks.  Because of this, it’s light in peat but full of fruit, vanilla, and spice. Over half of Scotland’s distilleries reside here due to the fertility and abundance of water (it’s just 15 miles wide!). Home to Macallan, Glenlivet, Balvenie, Glenfiddich, and Speyburn, nowhere in the world offers a better, more classic selection. 

Highlands

The Highlands region neighbors Speyside, but the taste is foreign. This peated whisky has hints of sweet — namely flowers, fruit and honey — but can be much more dry and textured. You’ll find Loch Lomond, Glenmorangie (located just 10 miles south of Royal Dornoch), Oban, and Dalmore in the Highlands. Enjoy a versatile selection from the largest geographic region of distilleries. 

Campbeltown

Once crowned the “whisky capital of the world,” Campbeltown produces at a smaller volume these days. However, three distilleries embody the roots of this smaller region. Spring Bank, Glen Scotia, and Long Grow are rich and robust with a touch of smokiness. Delicious traces of vanilla, salt, and fruit are also prevalent from the three remaining distilleries here.  

Lowlands

The Lowlands region is famed for smooth, honeysuckle-tinged whiskies that land as softly on the palate as a lob wedge settling on the green. Not that anyone’s hitting a lob wedge here, as St. Andrews just hosted the 150th bump-and-run clinic. The combination of whisky (Auchentoshan, Bladnoch and Glenkinchie) and golf (St. Andrews, Muirfield, Turnberry) in the Lowlands is Scottish heaven. 

Lifestyle

Islay

The island of Islay (pronounced ‘‘eye-luh’) is the only island to have its own whisky region. Always windy and often cold, the Ileach locals (all 3,228 of them) stay warm with their signature briny, peaty and complex single malts. Despite being the smallest whisky region protected by the law, there are nine popular distilleries, including Laphroaig, Lagavulin, Kilchoman, Bowmore, Ardberg, Bunnahabhain, and Bruichladdich.

Islands

Despite many of the 900 islands being uninhabited or sparsely populated, there are enough residents around to produce whisky, of course! Production of whisky on these islands, excluding Islay, is not regulated. This doesn’t stop producers like Orkney, Skye, Mull, Jura and Arran from crafting a variety of whisky distinguished by being heavy in salinity and light in peat. 

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The post How to make a Dewar’s Lemon Wedge, the U.S. Open’s refreshing official cocktail appeared first on Golf.

The post How to make a Dewar’s Lemon Wedge, the U.S. Open’s refreshing official cocktail appeared first on Golf.

Some sporting events are synonymous with their accompanying cocktails: Wimbledon has the Pimm’s Cup; the Kentucky Derby has the Mint Julep; the Masters, the Azalea.

And at this year’s U.S. Open, fans can enjoy the Dewar’s Lemon Wedge — a refreshing blend of Dewar’s 12-year Scotch whisky, club soda and lemonade.

The best part about the Lemon Wedge is its delicious simplicity. Here’s how to concoct one of your own.

Dewar’s Lemon Wedge

• 1.5 oz Dewar’s 12
• 3 oz club soda
• 2 oz lemonade

Combine all ingredients over ice in a highball glass and garnish with a lemon wheel. (If you’re looking for maximum authenticity, spear that lemon with a golf tee!)

Dewar’s 12

Famous for its double-aged blend, with six months of marrying in oak casks after initial maturation and blending. This Scotch whisky’s unique taste and experience is one of the world’s most popular and awarded whiskies.

$24.49 from go.skimresources.com

Whether you’re enjoying the Open drama at home or simply perusing GOLF’s extensive U.S. Open coverage, a Lemon
Wedge is sure to enhance your experience.

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The post Gimme that: Celebrate — or forget — a career round with Dewar’s latest whisky appeared first on Golf.

The post Gimme that: Celebrate — or forget — a career round with Dewar’s latest whisky appeared first on Golf.

Welcome to Gimme That, a GOLF.com column where we’ll highlight one notable item we think you might like. Whether it’s an article of clothing, an intriguing electronic device or anything in between, we want to share these items with you because they’ve generated a bit of chatter by our water cooler (or, these days, on our Slack channel). So sit back, scroll down and keep up with the latest gear golf has to offer.

Scotland and Portugal have been friendly with each other for a long time. In fact, since the Treaty of Windsor was signed in 1386, the Portuguese and the Scots have never waged war on one another, nor have they fought on opposite sides of the same conflict. Now, thanks to Dewar’s, the bond gets stronger. Dewar’s Portuguese Smooth takes its 8-year-old double-aged, blended Scotch Whisky and finishes it in ruby port casks. According to the folks at Dewar’s, the resulting flavor “features subtle notes of stone fruits, dark red fruits and honey… intended to engage all those with wanderlust and curiosity.” And, no doubt, to create lifelong friendships.

Dewar’s Portuguese Smooth Whisky

Dewar’s Portuguese Smooth is crafted with 8-year-old blended Scotch Whisky, double-aged, and then finished in casks that previously held Ruby Port Wine for a delicious and unexpected flavor and aroma.

$25 from fave.co

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The post 11 delicious American craft whiskies I tried for the first time this year appeared first on Golf.

The post 11 delicious American craft whiskies I tried for the first time this year appeared first on Golf.

Whiskey has been a relatively new hobby of mine, something I only just discovered over the last few years. It didn’t take much time along the way to discover how much overlap there is between people who love golf, and people who love whiskey.

Every week — on Wednesdays — I take a break from my customary slate of golf content to talk about whiskey. But with the year coming to an end, I thought I’d go a little deeper. Throughout the week I’ll be highlighting different types of whiskeys that I’ve enjoyed, and I figured we could start off with American craft whiskies. These are smaller, independently-owned companies that either make their own whiskey or source it from elsewhere. It’s a burgeoning scene that’s been pumping-out a bunch of great whiskies in recent years, and I’ve had the pleasure of trying some of them for the first time this year…

1. Barrell Craft Spirits

An independent whiskey blender based in Louisville, Kentucky, that specializes in sourcing unique whiskeys and rums, I had the pleasure of trying three of Barrell’s spirits: Its bourbon line, its rye, and my personal favorite (and the one pictured above) the delightful “Dovetail” expression.

I got a series of deeper, sweet notes of molasses, chocolate and dark cherry with a hit of spice for good measure. Put a sneaky few drops of water into the glass, and I found the spice mellow and a note of orange come through instead.

Learn More about Barrell Craft Spirits here.

2. Sweetens Cove Spirits Company

If you’re a golfer looking for a bourbon to spark a conversation, there’s no better option than Sweetens Cove’s signature spirit. An endeavor from Peyton Manning and Andy Roddick, overseen by Master Blender Marianne Eaves (formerly of Woodford Reserve) and named after the sought-after 9-hole course by the same name, the stuff isn’t the easiest to get, but it’s a treat if you do. I tried the foursome gift set — which is currently only for sale in Tennessee, but includes its more widely-available signature 14-year single barrel Tennessee Straight Bourbon Whiskey (pictured above).

It’s bottled at cask strength, so it has a bit of a bite, but loosen it up with some water and you’ll get long notes of caramel vanilla, and lots of oak.

Learn more about Sweetens Cove Spirits here.

3. The Clover Whiskey

Speaking of whiskeys-for-golfers, 2020 also marked the first year I tried the Bobby Jones-inspired “Clover” whiskey. Named for Jones’ tradition of enjoying three fingers of the the good stuff after a victory, The Clover is popping-up in an increasing number of clubhouses across the country, its 10-year aged bourbon features sweet maple and caramel notes.

Learn more about The Clover here.

4. Chicken Cock Whiskey

The “famous old brand” Chicken Cock was one of the most recognizable whiskey brands in the Kentucky region before it sadly gave way to history when its distillery burned-down in the 1950s. The brand has been revived in recent years, and its bourbon is an easy sipping whiskey with sweet, caramel notes that also serves as a great option for mixing.

Learn More about Chicken Cock here.

5. Traverse City Whiskey Co.

2020 also marked the first time I ever tried whiskey from Michigan, and first time I had ever tried cherry whiskey. Both came at the hands of Traverse City’s range of craft whiskeys. Its cherry whiskey is steeped in cherries grown in the Cherry State on the family who owns the whiskey’s farm. It’s a whiskey first and foremost but features a creative hit of cherry that everyone can have fun enjoying, especially those who may be new to whiskey. Its Barrell Proof Bourbon features strong chocolate notes followed by spicy rye and sweet dates, all of which open even further when with a few drops of water.

Learn More about Traverse City Whiskey here.

6. Westward Whiskey

Another state’s craft whiskey I tried for the first time in 2020: Oregon’s Westward city. The company experiments with a number of different cask finishes, including an interesting Pinot Noir finish where the grapy flavors come through the spirit. But I’m a sucker for rich, chocolate-y whiskies like its Stout Cask finish. Aged in casks that previously held stout beer, it has richer, cocoa notes that make it a delicious after-dinner option.

Learn more about Westward Whiskey here

7. Virginia Distillery Co.

An American Single Malt featuring Malted Barley and spring water from the Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, its signature “Courage & Conviction” line tastes like a classic Speyside scotch with an American flair. Sweet notes of butterscotch and fig compliment a spicy, barrel note.

Learn more about Virginia Distillery Co. here

8. Still Austin Whiskey Co.

The Texas-based distillery’s signature whiskey — a straight bourbon called “The Musician” — is a melding of rye, barley, and a 100 percent Texas-grown corn made in a Scottish-made still. An easy, breezy sipping whiskey with light vanilla and sweet caramel notes.

Learn more about Still Austin Whiskey Co. here

9. Sagamore Spirit

I hadn’t tried many rye whiskeys before this year, but I was lucky to sample a range of them in 2020, Baltimore-based Sagamore Spirit’s Cask Strength Rye chief among them. Rye — rather than corn in bourbon or barley in scotch — is the predominant grain in these whiskeys, which gives it a spicier note than its counterparts.  That’s enhanced by Sagamore’s cask strength expression (which means they don’t dilute it with water before putting it in the bottle), and its hearty cinnamon, black pepper and clove notes make it a fine rye whiskey for special occasions.

Learn More about Sagamore Spirit here.

10. Wheelhorse Whiskey

If you’re rye-curious as I was and looking for to try it without breaking the bank, you won’t find many better options than Wheelhose’s Rye Whiskey, which I also had the pleasure of trying for the first time this year. Bottled at 101 proof, the oak from the barrel cuts matches-up with rye spice, which you can enjoy neat, with ice or in an old fashioned cocktail (my preferred option).

Learn More about Wheelhorse Whiskey here.

11. Breckenridge Distillery

Tucked atop Colorado’s Breckenridge mountains, the distillery claims to be the “world’s highest distillery.” Its signature bourbon is a high-rye whiskey that’s been widely-regarded by Whisky Magazine, and has been aged for three years in charred oak barrels, which gives it pleasant butterscotch and sweet orange notes.

Learn more about Breckenridge Distillery here.

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