The Whisky Advent Calendar

Have you got your Advent Calendar yet or are you looking for a gift for a loved one in need of some extra warmth in their life? Then look no further than the Original Whisky Advent Calendar at Master of Malt. Filled with 24 wax-sealed 30ml measures from a range of producers around the World, you won’t regret this.

Having got my hands on one and starting early (and nearly finishing too - whoops) I can strongly, strongly recommend this excellent treat for anyone either into their whisky or looking to broaden their horizons and explore a whole range of flavours. I’ve written about some of the drams below and really did find them all to have an exciting variation in flavour and style. You won’t get bored and will always be looking forward to the next treat, if you can hold off opening it all at once!

Kyrö Malt Rye Whisky

The first, and perhaps most interesting of the bunch, was from the Kyro distilling company in Finland. Indeed, it is so Finnish that it was a whisky envisioned by 5 friends whilst in a Sauna. It started with a dark malty nose which has the fantastic ability of not sending pure spirit up there. Where the interesting came in was the strong flavour of toasted rye bread coupled with fancy style coarse salt on the finish. It is a bit like sipping the bread course of an artisan restaurant. On top of that come chocolate and hazelnut, caramel and black pepper spice. Still, it felt remarkably easy drinking. One for the Rye bread fanatics.

Teeling Small Batch

Moving from the Nordics to Dublin and an Irish household name are Teeling. Made from a blend of malt and grain whiskies, it undergoes unconventional barrel ageing in ex-bourbon casks followed by rum casks. The result is a lot of flavour, and plenty of fruit with hints of orange blossom. From the barrel ageing comes vanilla and wood spice. The palate is delightfully creamy too helping it feel wonderfully smooth.

Glenfiddich 15 Year Old Solera

Glenfiddich is a name you can’t avoid if you’ve ever looked at a whisky shelf, so Master of Malt have given you one of their more unique and special whiskies. This appealed as it is made the same way as sherry through a solera system which is essentially a never-ending pool that is constantly drawn from and topped up resulting in a complex blend of old and new whisky, giving some powerful flavours mixed with fresh and fruity. With that in mind, the age on the label was also quite appealing! It displayed a honeyed nose with light fudge and citrus notes. There was even a hint of fino sherry (I may be wishfully thinking there). The palate held the richer depths with caramel, Christmas cake, oak, raisin and orange rind. Again, it was wonderfully smooth.

Mortlach 16 Year Old

Another Scotch on which age alone appeals, the Mortlach 16YO is a very special drop. And again, on the sherry theme, this whisky is matured in sherry casks imparting rich and fruity notes. You’ll find bags of ginger spice, nuts and apple pie on the nose. The palate is a nice frontal concentrated assault of fresh oak, clove, prune, citrus and has a lovely earthy quality. It screams Christmas really. Definitely a show-stopper and winter warmer wrapped up in one.

Mackmyra Björksav

Returning to the Nordics, we move to a Swedish Single Malt by Mackmyra, a distillery which I’ve had recommended many times by a friend. Björksav, meaning Birch sap to signify the start of Spring, is very appropriate to this whisky. A whisky full of honey, floral heather and fresh cut grass expresses Spring beautifully whilst flavours of peach, vanilla, nutmeg, some very strong green apple and sweet ginger shore up the profile even more. On the finish is a softly toasted cedar rounding it out nicely.

So, on the off chance you are still reading and haven’t already left in desperation to buy one, what are you waiting for? You’d be hard pressed to find a better chance to try so many fantastic whiskies all in one place and really treat yourself.