Signing for a Scotch Subscription may not be an easy choice, given that there are too many options on the market. Depending on your whisky journey, there are a few tips that might help choose the best scotch whisky subscription for you.
In this article we will advice you on what to look for in a whisky subscription depending if you are taking your first steps in the whisky world or if you are a true expert on the matter. Also, we will show you some of the expressions we have sent our customers in the past, so you don’t miss out in anything.
Table of Contents – Sip this Article
- The Best Scotch Whisky Subscription – What to look for…
- Scotch Sampler Subscription – The Whisky Flavour Box
The Best Scotch Whisky Subscription – What to Look For…
… If you are a younger dram
If you are taking your first steps in the scotch whisky world just now, chances are that you feel overwhelmed with all the whiskies on the market and all the information about this type of whisky.
There are too many brands and an even higher number of whisky expressions. Besides, there is a lot to know about this type of whisky: how is Scotch made? What are the whisky-producing regions in Scotland and how does it have to do with the flavours a whisky expression have? What are the types of Scotch whisky? These are not questions to answer straightforward and it takes a lot of study to become a Scotch Whisky expert.
Connecting this to what to look for in a scotch subscription, our advice is to get a subscription that make you learn something new in each box that arrives to your door. Get a subscription that not only sends you whisky, but will also send you some additional information. This type of subscription might let you know what kind of scotch whisky you are about to drink, how is it made, what makes that expression different and its tasting notes.
The Whisky Flavour Subscription Boxdelivers you a bit of knowledge with every box sent. Along with four whisky miniatures, there are four cards with a small presentation of the whisky you got, so you know what whisky you are drinking.
If you are a more mature dram
Being called an expert can mean a lot of things. It might mean that you work in or for the whisky industry (as a master distiller or journalist, for example);
it might mean that you are a connoisseur and take part in whisky tastings regularly;
or it might mean that you just absolutely love this spirit and have a lot of knowledge about whisky and everything around its production. Depending on who you are and where you are on your whisky journey, there will be a proper scotch subscription for you.
So, to be the best scotch whisky subscription for you, this service should meet your professional and / or personal needs, being them super specific or not.
If you work in the whisky industry
, you might need a whisky subscription box that will show you what other brands on the market are doing and if there are upcoming brands that you might need to be aware of.
Our advice is that you should sign up for a scotch only subscription if you work in the scotch industry. Also, if you are only subscribing to know your competitors better, it might be profitable to sign up for a subscription that delivers samples or miniatures. In this way you can keep up to date without having to buy the whole bottle of every expression that goes on the market.
In case you are a connoisseur
or
you
work for the whisky industry
, getting a subscription might be a way for you:
- To know new whisky expressions and taste different kinds of whisky in a regular basis,
- To be on top of upcoming brands and evaluate their potential,
- To practice your tasting skills and get prepared for spirits competitions.
Whatever your case is, we advise you to get a scotch subscription that delivers more than one expression at a time for a long time. Look for a whisky sampler subscription, for example, that keeps delivering whisky to you for a year. Our experience tells us that the longer a person signs up for a subscription, the wider the range of whisky expressions delivered.
For those who are
experts just for the fun of it
, our suggestion is that you look for a subscription that delivers a wide range of whisky expressions for as long as it keeps making sense to you.
It might be interesting for you to sign up for a whisky subscription that delivers you whisky from all over the world. Another feature you might want to look for is the possibility of suspension at any time. In this way, you get to taste a lot of different expressions, while not being attached to a service you might want to switch off later.
The Whisky Flavour Subscription Box is a service that will deliver you 4 whisky miniatures per month and you can sign up for as long as one year. And, although this is a mystery tasting boxwe can tailor the box in a few aspects, such as the type of whisky you wish to receive. Say you want a scotch-only subscription;
we can provide that for you. Send us an email and let us know what you need!
Scotch Sampler Subscription – The Whisky Flavour Box
Although the Whisky Flavour Subscription is a service that delivers whisky from all over the world, we have a large selection of Scotch whisky brands and expressions. Chances are that will receive at least one scotch expression inside the tasting box.
But if you really want or need this tasting box to be an only scotch subscription, we might be able to deliver that to you. Contact us and let us know what you are looking for.
Besides this flexibility in our service, the Whisky Flavour Tasting Subscriptioncomes with a lot more than four whisky miniatures inside. After signing up for our service, you can count with:
- Four Original Branded Whisky Miniatures – They will remain a secret until you receive them, to keep things fun and enthusiastic for you, and we can assure we ship only the world’s finest drams.
- Perhaps a few treats, such as Chocisky chocolates, for example, to upgrade your whisky tastings, as a Whisky Flavour offer.
- Maybe a couple coasters, Glencairn glasses or whisky stones, as an offer from us.
- Exclusive access to our Whisky Flavour Club – as online platform with deals on full whisky bottles.
- A handcrafted, high-quality and reusable wooden-box to store your whisky miniatures perfectly.
Scotch Subscription – 7 Whisky Expressions We Have Sent
As we stated in the previous section of this text, we have a legion of Scotch whisky brands that we work with. Until this moment we have sent 93 different brands of Scotch Whisky (each with several more expressions of their range sent).
In the past, we have sent it all to our clients: from the most well-known in the market, such as Dewar’s or Dimple Whisky, to the upcoming brands, like Peat’s Beast, and passing through some giants, as The Glenlivet, The Macallan or The Glenfiddich.
All the whisky expressions sent to our customers are handpicked, meaning that they can differ from one costumer to customer, depending on several factors. Some clients have made specific requests that we tend to respect and, besides this, we also have to consider stock, previous expressions sent to the same client, their feedback, and others.
These are only 7 scotch whisky expressions that may or may not be in your new Scotch Subscription!
Auchentoshan Three Wood Single Malt Scotch Whisky
The Auchentoshan distillery is based in Glasgow and is the only one that distils their mash three times before putting it into the barrels. The Auchentoshan Three Wood expression goes beyond the triple distillation and matures in three different kinds of casks.
If the triple distillation, so characteristic of the brand, gives this spirit a fruity character with citrus flavour notes, the ex-Bourbon, ex-spanish Oloroso Sherry and Pedro Ximenez Sherry casks give it the sweet, spicy and nutty aromas and flavours.
The award-wining scotch whisky expression has a fresh and smooth character with citrus in its core. One may also taste cinnamon, hazelnuts and sweet oak.
The Balvenie 14 Caribbean Cask Single Malt Scotch Whisky
The Balvenie is a true giant when it comes to reputation. Its 14 years Old Caribbean Cask expression lives up to the brand’s name, since it has the innovation and flavours the Balvenie is known for.
The Balvenie 14 Years Old Caribbean Cask is aged in oak casks and finished in American Oak Casks that held a selection of West Indian rums, chosen by the Malt Master David C. Stewart.
This combination makes this whisky creamier and sweet with hints of fresh fruit. Its well-rounded and the finish is soft.
Bowmore 18 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
If you are a fond of peated Scotch Whisky, this expression is a “must-taste” and that is why we have sent it to our customers as part of their scotch subscription box.
The Bowmore 18 Years Old is the culmination of peat smoke to malt the barley and 18 years of maturation in the finest oak casks. The final result is perfect balance in one of Bowmore’s rarest expressions.
The aromas and flavours of this whisky expression gave it the necessary character to be awarded three times in 2018 with: a gold medal in the International Wine &
Spirit Competition;
double gold in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and another gold in the International Spirits Challenge.
The Bowmore 18 Years Old has a creamy mouthfeel and complex character, with fruit, chocolate and light peat-smoke aromas as flavours.
GlenDronach Parliament 21 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
21 years of maturation leads to one of the richest creations of GlenDronach. We are glad we could offer this expression to our clients on previous scotch subscription tasting boxes.
The GlenDronach Parliament 21 Years Old is named after the ‘parliament’ of rooks nesting in the brand’s distillery for 200 years. As it is common in GlenDronach’s scotch whisky expressions, the Parliament is full of fruity flavours and spicy flavour notes.
The nose is full of fruity flavours as plums, oranges and blackberries. It is also possible to smell oak and cereals. Regarding the taste, the Oloroso sherry casks have provided it flavours of plums, dark chocolate and spices as nutmeg and cinnamon.
Craigellachie 13 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
The Craigellachie 13 Years Old is not your typical expression. It becomes distinct from the rest for many reasons and the first is its age. It stays in ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry casks for 13 years, one more than the most common scotch whisky expression.
In addition, the aging process is not so usual among the scotch whisky distilleries. After the distillation, half of the spirit goes to the bourbon casks and the other to the sherry casks. In the end, both halves are put together to become one of Speyside’s most dynamic drams.
The third reason why this Craigellachie expression is not typical lies on the contrast between the aromas and the flavours. In the nose, this expression is robust and fruity, with light smoke notes, as well as pineapple, clove and marshmallows. Regarding the taste, it is much more delicate and smooth. It is possible to feel flavour notes like roasted cereals, vanilla and apples.
Kilchoman Sanaig Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Matured in ex-Sherry and ex-Bourbon casks, the Kilchoman Sanaig is everything you might hope for in a Islay whisky and more. Spicy, smoky and fruity fill this bottle in layers of flavour.
With peat smoke in the background, the aromas develop from pears, orange and raisins to cinnamon and clove. The palate has its foundations in the sherry and bourbon casks, so it is possible to taste cherries, plums and hints of orange. It is rich in peat smoke and balanced with chocolate and caramel sweetness. In the end, the spices linger as caramel and brown sugar pop.
Smokehead
This is one of the heavyweights of peated scotch whisky. As an upcoming brand, Smokehead is, definitely one you should know and that’s why we have included it in previous of our scotch subscription boxes.
There is nothing usual about the expressions Smokehead produces. The original of the range has notes of honey, spices, salt, seaweed and, of course, peat smoke. On the nose, one can feel citrus notes, woodsmoke balanced by a light sweetness. The body of the whisky is heated by peat and pepper, as the flavour of honey develops on the mouth. It ends with allspice, citrus and peat smoke.