Best Whiskeys for Mother's Day

A far from traditional bottling, Spice Tree has certainly caused folks to pay close attention (its former incarnation was deemed illegal by the SWA). Heavily toasted French oak heads are used along with American oak in the 2nd maturation. This rich, spicy whisky is a prime example of how Compass Box is changing the perception of blended Scotch.

Created in 1989 but only recently available in the United States, Hibiki is a blend of single malts from Suntory's two distilleries, Yamazaki and Hakushu, and grain whisky from their Chita distillery. The design of the bottle is meant to symbolize the 24 seasons of the Japanese lunar calendar. Note: Announced in 2018, this product will be discontinued in some markets at some point beginning in 2019 with limited availability in the next few years.

Aberlour which translates to “mouth of the chattering burn (aka a tributary)" in Gaelic, is a humble distillery located in the heart of Speyside where the Lour Burns joins the River Spey. This expression from the Distillery Aberlour which has been producing whisky since 1812, is a 16 year-old single malt Scotch and is matured in both ex-bourbon barrels and oloroso sherry butts before being bottled at 86 proof.

Originally launched in 1879, I.W. Harper, the venerable Kentucky Bourbon returns to distribution within the United States this year (2015) after a long absence. Created by the Bernheim brothers, Isaac and Bernard, the brand was named after Isaac's first two initials (I.W.), but the surname Harper was chosen for broader market appeal. With a high corn mashbill (86%) this 15 year old offering was distilled at the New Bernheim Distillery in Louisville (now part of Heaven Hill) and aged most recently at the Stitzel-Weller Distillery.

Rock Hill Farms Bourbon is a single barrel whiskey produced in Frankfurt, Kentucky by the Sazerac brands and released in fairly limited quantities in most markets. This single-barrel bourbon was named for a swath of rich farmland along the Kentucky River and is bottled without an age statement at 100 proof. The beautiful, etched decanter-like bottle is topped with a glass stopper.

High West A Midwinter Night's Dram is a blend of straight rye whiskeys using whiskeys from MGP and Barton Distillery. Aged in new, charred American oak, the rye is then finished in French oak and ex-port barrels and bottled at 98.6 proof. The name is a take off of Shakespeare's famous play as this dram is a perfect way to keep you warm on a midwinter night. This is a seasonal release with different year releases listed as different acts. The scenes are just different bottling days. Note: As of 2018 (the 6th Act), High West has included their own distillate in the bottling.

Independently owned, Glenfiddich is the largest single malt whisky seller in the world. The first to market and sell their whisky as single malt whisky back in the 1960's when blends dominated the world market, they started a trend that has no signs of slowing down. Glenfiddich shows no intention of resting on their laurels. In November 2014, the brand's core range was redesigned and this whisky now includes "Small Batch Reserve" on the label. Their 18 year old expression has been aged in both Oloroso Sherry Casks and Bourbon casks; ‘tis a fine example of a marriage between the two.

This Kentucky straight bourbon is selected from barrels at least 10 years old by master distillers Jimmy & Eddie Russell of Wild Turkey Distillery. This small batch bourbon is bottled at 90 proof. Jimmy & Eddie's signatures are proudly displayed on each bottle.

Yamazaki is a single malt distillery, Japan's oldest, that utilizes several different sizes and shapes of stills and three varieties of wood to in which to age them. This bottling gets its influence primarily from American ex-Bourbon barrels, but ex Spanish Oloroso Sherry and Japanese Mizunara Oak barrels are also in employ.

Located in the Highlands where it is quite remote and windy, the Dalwhinnie Distillery is a distillery that doesn't quite get the press it deserves. It is a whisky that displays classic Highland malt qualities of honey and heather. This is one of the original six distilleries in Diageo's Classic Malts range and they release very few distillery bottlings.