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).
