The whisky dubbed ‘the gentle dram’ is said to distil the very essence of the Scottish Highlands, the largest whiskey-producing region in Scotland. The distillery established in 1965 is set amid the gentle folds of the misty, moody Cairngorms and uses water sourced from the Ballantruan spring to distil the whisky, which is exceptionally smooth and well-balanced. Grab that tartan blanket and get Braveheart on the box. Available from First Choice Liquor; $70.

Those trying to figure out what kind of whiskey drinker they are should start with a bottle of Tamdhu 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch. The rich and complex whisky is matured in sherry casks for 12 years and has hints of iced cinnamon rolls, boiled orange sweets, sweet oak, raisins and a hint of mint. The whisky has a silky texture that is balanced with ground spice and dried fruit. Available from BWS; $101.

Those looking to buy a bottle of whisky for a connoisseur should consider the iconic Tasmanian Classic Cask. Each bottle and box of the single malt whisky is made by hand with a label that can be personalised for collectors. Hand-crafted and double-distilled in the Coal Valley Distillery, the single-malt whisky is approachable and well-balanced with a hint of citrus and rich plum pudding that tells a very Tasmanian story about these masters of malt. Available at First Choice Liquor; $200.

Speed-read a copy of Dave Broom’s A Sense of Place to learn about the culture of whiskey before snapping up a bottle of Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey. The tasting notes describe a whiskey that boasts aromas of rum-raisin, vanilla and allspice with a profile layered with dried fruit, raisin and apricots. This small-batch whiskey is first aged in ex-Bourbon barrels before being married together in Central American rum casks for up to a year in the Dublin distillery. Available at BWS; $72.

Fuji Whisky has blossomed since its inception in the Shizuoka Prefecture 50 years ago. Master distiller Jota Tanaka is known for his innovative takes on tradition resulting in a layered complexity that has become his signature. The Fuji Single Blended Japanese Whisky is an elegant fusion of malt and three different grain types aged for up to 16 years. The distillery is located 700 metres above sea level with filtered snow-melt water from Mt Fuji having a direct result on the style. Shop here.

The tiny town of Renmark, Western Australia, is home to 23rd Street Distillery, on the site of Australia’s first cooperatively owned winery. The whiskey continues the vineyard’s long-held tradition of working with WA farmers and the local citrus farms have a huge influence on the palette. The whisky is matured in ex-Bourbon American oak for a minimum of two years in the century-old barrel room, which results in a rich, approachable drop with notes of dark chocolate, spice, citrus (of course) and vanillan oak.  Vintage Cellars; $150

When fans of Archie Rose Distilling Co. got a whiff of the fact the distillery had released its first-ever single malt whisky they rightly assumed it would be crafted with character. That was in 2020. The Sydney distillery has since raked in numerous awards around the globe. The Single Malt Whisky has been crafted to celebrate six malts, which results in a more expressive flavour. Think shortbread biscuits, raisins, toffee and dark chocolate. This top-shelf drop has been rated Australia’s Best Single Malt Whisky seven times. Get amongst it. Booze Bud; $119.90.

This one’s for red wine drinkers who want to geek out about the fact the Starward Single Malt Whisky has been aged in red wine barrels. This innovation results in an intensely bright, red fruity flavour with a punch of dark chocolate and whisper of soft spice. You can have your name printed on the label of this oh-so-smooth whiskey which has been designed to enjoy any which way you like it. We recommend an Old Fashioned. A very nice fragrant drop. First Choice Liquor; $100

Purists may scoff at the mere mention of Peanut Butter Whiskey. But whateves. The flavoured whisky that screws with tradition is just a bit of nutty fun, especially when shaken with bourbon, lemon juice and honey into a Gold Rush cocktail. Screwball Peanut Butter Whiskey is also a good icebreaker for those wanting to elevate their appreciation of the spirit made from fermented grains. It’s giving peanut-butter and jelly sandwiches. Whiffs of buttery pastry. Available from Booze Bud; $79.90.