The most luxurious wines and spirits of the year

From rare champagnes to 27-year-old whiskey, these bottles make the perfect gifts

The best alcohol bottles to gift (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

2020 has been an interesting one to say the least and, as the most endearing time of the year rolls around, we’re reminded of one thing - we love to drink. 

Jokes aside, it really has been a tough year, but all we can do is make the most of the time we have with those around us. 

Whether together, 2m apart or through a device screen, nothing quite says “I love you” than a bottle of something special. 

Read on to discover our wine and spirits columnist’s top choices for the most luxurious wines and spirits of the year.

Champagne

(Aidy Smith)

Maison Bruno Paillard NPU. 2004 (£190, $200)

Created during the most spectacular years, only seven NPU’s (Nee Plus Ultras) exist. 

This is the top-tier Bruno Paillard you’ll get your hands on. Of the 320 villages in Champagne, only 17 are granted ‘Grand Cru’ status and this treat contains grapes from six of them. 15 years in the cellar later and you experience the beauty within. 

Extremely ripe, these fine bubbles are bursting with strawberries, honey, baked pineapple and a creamy texture that wraps itself around the tongue. A truly stunning representation of why the world has come to love champagne.

Billecart Salmon Cuvée Nicolas François 2002 (£130, $169)

Billecart Salmon have long held a reputation for producing fine champagne, and the texture of their cuvées, especially the Nicholas François range entice the palate to another level entirely.

2002 was deemed as a vintage to embrace and that’s exactly what this is, with layers of apricot, nectarine and lemon zest with a chalky white pepper that coats the tongue. 

This is a fabulous champagne for a fabulous occasion, or just whenever you feel like it.

Cristal 2012 (£198, $245)

Sometimes you want a champagne that will never let you down. Cristal is just that - a true testament to winemaking that, year after year, only continues to evolve. 

The 2012 is the newest vintage of the collection and, while deemed as a “new dimension,” once again gives you everything you want and more. 

Indulgently rich with that signature chalky texture, you’ll taste fresh Danish pastries, a slight smokiness and a zesty ripe apricot finish. It starts with a flash of balanced acidity before the silky-smooth mouthfeel kicks in. 

This is and always has been an emblem of a champagne and this vintage is yet another success.

White Wine

(Aidy Smith)

White Bones (£75, $90) & White Stones (£75, $89)

These are hands down, the best white wines in Argentina. If you want a wine that is sure to create conversation, these tick that box and more.

Despite being located directly across from one another at 4,500ft on the slopes of the Andes Mountains, both these wines have such a distinct and individual taste.  

Bones is mineral-driven masterpiece, packed full of fresh nectarine and peach, lemon rind and a hint of honey; a refreshing merriment that leaves you wanting more.

Stones is equally as moreish, with an insane texture and mouthfeel. There’s a buttery richness with baked pineapple and a kick of citric acidity that binds it all together. 

Without geeking out too much, it really is all down to the minute differences in terroir. Although both are Chardonnay this is a stunning representation of how the soil can have such a profound difference on the taste. 

Castillo Ygay 1986 White (£425, $425)

This has to be one of the most exciting wines on the planet – there is literally nothing else like it and it has received countless 100-point scores from critics all over the world.

This is an aged white Rioja from 1986 that still has such vibrancy, character and complexity to it.

Castilla Ygay is the luxury portfolio of Marques de Murrieta, a world class Rioja producer that is trusted all over the planet for its wines. 

The notion of quality over quantity couldn’t be more accurate here and we truly believe that if you are a wine lover, this is a bottle that you simply must try. 

Deep umami flavours entice your palate with a creamy saline and almost beeswax flavour. It evolves on its journey with spit-roast honey glazed pineapple, marmalade, lemon cheesecake and Darjeeling tea. The freshness powers through and the finish just goes on and on and on. 

This is, without question, one of the most magical wines in existence.

Faiveley Corton Charlemagne 2014 (£175) 2015 ($240)

Now in its seventh generations, Domaine Faiveley has been a family estate for nearly 200 years and has gained a solid reputation for producing truly stunning Burgundy. 

Legend has it that these Corton Charlemagne grapes found their existence due to a disgruntled wife whose husband, Emperor Charlemagne, would consistently stain his pearly white beard on the red grapes previously planted in this spot. 

In order to keep the household peace, he ripped out the red vines, replacing them with white grapes and thus the problem was solved. 

Only 3,200 bottles are produced each year, each aged in oak for 14-16 months in 19th century vaulted cellars.

 Fine grain and light toasting create a stunningly rich, aromatic wine bursting with baked apricot brioche, apple crumble and balanced buttery vanilla oak. 

For those who like a great texture, mouthfeel and a zip of acidity to bind things together, this is a Burgundy you shouldn’t ignore.

Red Wine

(Aidy Smith)

Opus One 2013 (£2,383 per 6-case, $850 per magnum)

Arguably one of the most iconic wineries in the world due to its graceful yet personality-driven wines, Michael Silacci has been working wonders with Opus One since 2001 and every single vintage is sublime. 

The 2013 blend saw a dominance of Cab Sauv (79 per cent), balanced out by Cab Franc (seven per cent), Merlot (six per cent) and Malbec (two per cent). The result? A combination of stunningly rich blackberries and cassis with baking spices, freshly cracked cacao and a juicy yet silky black-fruit profile. 

The tannins are so velvety, they just roll off the tongue. This is a complete gem of wine.


Chateau Changyu Moser XV Purple Air Comes From the East 2016 (£202, $267)

Lenz Moser, an Austrian wine pro with over 30 years winemaking experience, has put China on the global wine map. 

His top-tier offering, “Purple Air,” has racked up countless awards and is clear proof that China can indeed produce phenomenal wines. 

100 per cent estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon goes into this bottle, showcasing an exuberant burst of stewed dark meadow fruits, fresh cigar box and a generous dollop of baking spices and cedar oak. 

Cardinale 2014 (£336, $225)

The Jackson Family have been making wine for as long as we can remember and the beautiful thing about each and every one of their estates is that quality is never compromised for scale.

This hefty Bordeaux blend (largely Cabernet Sauvignon with some Merlot) is produced in limited quantities and is well worth the money. 

Showcasing rich flavours of cassis, mint and raspberry with a moreish earthiness thanks to its incredible terroir, this wonder adds an extra layer of comfort to the cold winter air. 

This is another highlight and a testament to the stunning wine that calls Napa Valley its home.

Pommard Simone 2018 (£326, $436)

Only half a hectare of the estate's finest grapes are used to create this gleaming gem of a Burgundian. 

Each year, the estate sees no more than 1,800 bottles being produced, making it highly sought after and incredibly rare. 

An abundance of complexity and richness places this as one of our favourite pinots. 

Delightfully intense and full of complexity, there is no machinery used in the vines, only horse ploughs, and the vines on which these grapes grow have stalks over one-hundred-years-old.

Lokoya Mount Veeder 2013 (£472, $375)

A visit to Lokoya’s winery, perched snuggly upon the hills of Spring Mountain, is one of the key reasons we fell in love with Napa. 

Cabernet Sauvignon is their icon, and they produce award-winning style from all corners of the region – Spring Mountain, Diamond Mountain, Howell Mountain and Mount Veeder. 

Today, we focus on the latter. Dark cherry, blackcurrant, demerara sugar and black liquorice evolve into blackberry and stewed raspberry. The robust tannins within this beauty pave way to a long dark chocolate and tobacco finish, held together with a beautiful texture and mouthfeel.

Whisk(e)y

(Aidy Smith)

Baccarat Edition: Woodford Reserve, 45.2 per cent (£1,500, $2,000)

Whoever said Bourbon couldn’t be luxury? Woodford Reserve challenged themselves to create an edition that embodied this category and they succeeded. 

Teaming up with crystal legends, Baccarat, the whiskey’s vessel is a piece of art in itself. 

The liquid inside? Some of the finest Kentucky Bourbon aged in XO Cognac barrels, each sourced individually by Master Distiller, Chris Morris. 

Given each barrel witnessed three seasons of cognac before being used, the flavours are an intertwining of purity from both American and French oak. 

You can expect mouth-watering dark cherries, chocolate, and Madagascan vanilla with cinnamon, dried apricots and citrus peel, with the finish only continuing to evolve and linger with burnt caramel and rich toffee oak.

Redbreast 27-Year Old, 54.8 per cent (£420, $498)

A 27-year-old icon for one of Ireland’s most celebrated distilleries, this liquid is produced exclusively from Pot Still whiskeys, all of which have been triple distilled before evolving and maturing in a trio of casks; fine bourbon, ex-sherry and ex-ruby port casks. 

27 years of sitting, waiting and ageing result in hints of mango, pineapple, baking spices, toffee and toasted walnut sitting on the nose. 

The taste? An incredibly rich texture, ripe with black plums, black cherries, cinnamon, nutmeg, black pepper and an incredible spice-forward finish. 

Glenmorangie Grand Vintage 1996, 43 per cent (£614, $1,000)

This wonder is a true statement of Scotch craftsmanship. 

Each vintage is taken solely from the Bond House No 1 Collection and tells its very own unique story given how all the liquid was distilled in just one year. 

In this case, the incredible creamy and divine 1996 is quite possibly one of the best whiskies in existence. 

Aged for 23 years, the sixth release of the collection was aged in oak barrels sourced from the northern slopes of Missouri’s Ozark Mountains. 

These American white oaks were turned into first fill casks and given their incredibly porous structure, create a creaminess never before witnessed in luxury scotch. 

The result is a nose of roses, jasmine, mandarin orange and pear with an epic taste profile that includes vanilla, fudge, ginger, sweet chilly, cake mix, toasted almonds and orchard fruits.

The Devil’s Keep Craft Irish Whiskey, 48.5 per cent (€10,000, $12,150)

This is the oldest-ever triple-distilled Irish single malt. 

Ultra-rare, only 333 bottles have been released to market, with a remaining 666 set to be released next year. 

Just a few months ago, this whiskey set a world-record by becoming the most expensive first release at auction, fetching $60,000 in Houston, Texas.

The 29-year-old delight continues to evolve a luxury Irish Whiskey scene that has so much potential. Matured in Northern Ireland and finished on the coasts of the South East, Devil’s Keep is aged in 200 litre first fill American oak casks, which previously held Kentucky Bourbon, before being finished in both French oak barrels that once held tawny port and rare virgin Hungarian oak. 

Meticulous precision has paved the way for a taste sensation, in which you can expect caramelised sugar, rich Madagascan vanilla, toasted maple syrup and wild honey combine based on the oak profiles.

(Aidy Smith )

Fettercairn 28-Year-Old, 42 per cent (£400, $610)

A distillery cut off from the rest of the world in the remote stretches of Scotland, it’s to be expected that this is where such a gleaming gem would exist. 

Over the past few years, we’ve seen some extraordinary releases from Fettercairn, this being one of them. 

Their unique still is known within the whisky world, with its constant cascade of water trickling down at all times, giving the new-make an incredibly fruity flavour. 

Matured in ex-bourbon casks, this delight showcases pineapple, banana bread and treacle tart alongside coffee, apricot, clementine peel and vanilla seasoned walnuts. 

Caperdonich 25-Year-Old – Peated Small Batch, 48 per cent (£350, $390)

This 25-year-old scotch is a time capsule of the final stocks of a distillery now closed and completely dismantled in 2011; making it a true piece of history. 

Matured for a quarter of a century in oak hogsheads, this nectar is ripe and complex with red berries, burnt caramel and a smoky peat. 

The end of an era, but the taste lives on for just a few more drams.   

Hibiki 21 Year Old, 43 per cent (£780, $1,000)

This is arguably the most famous Japanese whisky in the world, and for so many reasons.

Launched in 1989 to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Suntory, Hibiki has racked up countless awards and continues to do so every year - making it the most awarded Japanese whisky in existence. 

So, what’s in the bottle? A selection of malt and grain whiskies, harmoniously blended to create perfection. Dried nectarine, orange peel and strawberry jam roll across the palate. Insanely smooth, ridiculously moreish and with a finish that strikes every chord and more, this is yet another reason Japanese whisky is held in such high regard.

Glenturret 30-Year-Old, 45.7 per cent (£980, $1,300)

While Glenturret may have just re-imaged itself, they certainly aren’t a new kid on the block when it comes to producing whisky. 

Deemed “Scotland’s oldest working distillery,” they recently re-launched with a selection of aged casks that have been maturing for decades, sitting and waiting for the perfect moment. 

Their 30-year-old in particular showcases a dram based on patience and skill - with slow distillation at the heart of everything they have made and continue to make.

Take a sip and you’ll discover caramelised tropical fruits and vanilla with stewed green apple, pear and cedar oak. 

Only 750 bottles exist, so you better be quick.

Other spirits

(Aidy Smith )

Gran Patrón Piedra, 40 per cent (£295, $300)

When a tequila utilises the ancient tahona process and goes that step further to ensure quality, you know it’s going to be good. For those who don’t know what that is, it’s a large volcanic stone that slowly crushes the agave, a massively time-consuming task, but well worth it given the flavour extracted as a result. 

The liquid is then aged in carefully sought American oak and French barrels for over three years to ensure maximum character on the taste. 

The deep mahogany coloured tequila that emerges is bursting with light citrus, toasted vanilla danish pastries, and dried apricots with a comforting touch of savoury notes. Upon tasting you can expect to find cooked agave, mushroom, sweet toffee caramel and brown sugar with an incredibly smooth mouthfeel. 

This is absolutely a sipping tequila.

Last Drop Distillers 1976 Jamaican Rum, 68.5 per cent (£3,120, $4,153)

It’s not that often you come across a 43-year-old rum, which would probably explain why there’s only 183 bottles of it. 

This gem started its life in 1976, when it was distilled from pure Jamaican sugarcane.  

Its former years were spent in Jamaica, snugly laying within ex-bourbon casks that soaked up the vibrant character of the tropical heat. From there, its journey took it to Liverpool, the cool setting and salty tang of the Irish sea blowing through the warehouses and imparting a unique taste sensation that simply cannot be replicated after 43 years of ageing.

Ripe apple, pears, pineapple, mango, allspice and nutmeg hit you on the nose with an indulgent marmalade, burnt caramel, salty smoke and tobacco on the palate. 

There is so much complexity wrapped up in this unique gem, with a finish that never seems to end.

Hennessy XO Gevry Special Edition, 40 per cent (£178, $200)

When you celebrate your 150th birthday, you have to do something special, right? Well, Hennessy did. 

A bespoke bottle was designed by David Gehry, the world-renowned architect behind wonders such as the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris and the Art Gallery of Ontario. Showcasing a nod to the Charente river in Cognac, its gold carafe and gift box are reminiscent of the fractured flow of babbling water. 

The liquid inside the bottle is just as beautiful too. Produced from 100 different eaux-de-vie components and aged for a minimum of 12 years, this is a cognac filled with complexity, wonder and elegance. 

Candied apricots, warm spices, fresh cocoa and cedar intertwine with a sensational mouthfeel and intricacy. 

This is one for the cognac lovers.

Grand Marnier Cuvée du Centenaire, 40 per cent (£108, $163)

Grand Marnier was a turning point for mixology as it enabled the words “luxury” and “cocktail” to sit side-by-side as everything from Margaritas to Sidecars began to elevate their flavour profiles. 

While the “rouge” is an unquestionable must have for every bar and liquor cabinet,  the Cuvée du Centenaire was launched in 1927 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of La Maison Marnier Lapostolle. 

An 82 per cent blend of cognac, most of which hails from the Fine Champagne region, is aged for the same length as top XO cognacs, finished off with 18 per cent of the famous orange liqueur we’ve come to love and adore. 

Once blended, the two are bound together for a further 24 months in oak, making this a perfect harmony of candied orange peel, bergamot and tobacco intertwine with balsamic, burnt caramel and marmalade. 

Remy Martin XO, 40 per cent (£124, $167)

Remy Martin is a benchmark for luxury when it comes to cognac and their XO is divine. Since 1724, the House of Remy Martin has been creating cognac - that’s nearly three centuries. The XO made its first appearance in 1981 and it is the signature of the cellar master. 

A stunning blend of more than 400 eaux-de-vie taken from the Fine Champagne region of Cognac, it’s easy to fall in love with the notes of dried summer figs, cinnamon and late harvest autumn fruits.

Take a sip and you’ll uncover a smooth and velvety texture, with flavours of cinnamon, baked hazelnuts, candied orange peel and juicy plums.