Once a year we like to break our own rules and directly recommend some whisky. With the autumn festival season wrapped up we’re ready to name our favourite drams. Unlike most other sites we have some unique rules about what we recommend and you can learn them below before we dive in:

1. We pick two whiskies that have all been tasted by us at a public event this year.

2. Both were subsequently purchased at retail with our own money – no freebies here.

3. No event exclusives or “under the table” drams are included. This is whisky purchasable at the event or online on the day. However, it may well be out of stock when you read this.

Runner Up: Kyro Oloroso – The Whisky Event

This is rich tea biscuits dipped in jam on the nose, it’s almost the whisky equivalent of a summer afternoon tea – but from the wilds of Finland instead of Mayfair. The sherry doesn’t dominate on the palate and the speculoos biscuit taste of Kyrö is allowed to shine amid the dried fruit notes. I snagged a bottle for £46 at The Whisky Event the moment I found out the price after sampling it. Kyrö are the global masters of malted rye at this point and if you want a whisky that’s full of spice and fruit without the heat that often comes with an American rye this is for you.

Winner:  Glasgow Manzanilla  – Croydon Whisky Festival

What. A. Dram. When Duncan of Honest to a Malt fame poured this for us on the Glasgow 1770 stand at Croydon Whisky Festival he told us this was a “enthusiast’s dram” and I remember him watching for the reaction. Neat, this whisky plays havoc with your palate, its a sweet Christmas bonfire with so many layers to work through and it immediately dried out my mouth. Adding water lets you explore it some more. Pineapple, cherries, dry leather, black pepper and a salty-slash-bacon-y peat all come forward. It’s like drinking a Hawaiian burger.

Since trying this I have sampled other manzanilla sherry finishes and none quite live up to the balance of sugar and smoke present here. Yes, the malt is unpeated but this is absolutely not a beginners dram with the tasting notes above. It’s the perfect example of what many enthusiasts are seeking when it comes to whiskies: cask strength, no colouring or chill filtration, and an interesting finish that’s balanced well with the spirit. The real cherry on top? It was less than £60 at online retail when I purchased it. Glasgow are delivering quality finishes at incredible value right now versus most of the competition and we salute that.

We’re excited to see what whiskies make the cut from 2025’s events. See you in the new year!