There’s the top shelf and then there’s the top shelf. From vintage whiskies and rare cognacs to sipping tequilas, these spirits are for truly special occasions. (A drinker can dream). But no one says you have to be practical when writing a holiday gift list. (If you insist, we’ve also included less expensive alternatives.) Let’s drink to the other half! . Gold Bowmore Single Malt Scotch ($6,250): Any Scotch drinker should have the Gold Bowmore o...

...spirits specialist, the hottest categories are whiskey (single malt, Irish, bourbon) and cognac. To get you started, here are three rare bottles that may already be in your home bar or local liquor store. Happy hunting! Black Bowmore: Between 1993 and 1995, Bowmore released almost 6,000 bottles of a 1964 Scotch. The so called Black Bowmore sold for between $130 and $250. The current auction estimate for the whisky is $2,250, but bottles still occ...

The musty scent of damp earth, the slightly bitter smell of fallen leaves, the complex aroma of fireplace smoke—fall is in the air. Is the season a time of reflection? Of melancholy? Well, there’s no better drink to match the former and banish the latter than smoky single malt. That is if you can find one… Ardbeg, Bowmore, Caol Ila, Lagavulin and Laphroaig are so popular now that they’re being rationed by distributors. Other distilleries may pro...

... of whiskies but also a small amount of cassis from locally grown blackcurrants in the fall. The delicious concoction is then rested in, of course, whiskey barrels. The liqueur will for sale at its gift shop later this month. Bowmore Maltmen’s Selection Single Malt Scotch Whisky (£100): Your reward for getting to the remote Scottish island Islay is this rare single malt from Bowmore. It was created from five sherry casks filled with 13-year-old w...

... it allows for the hints of fruit to come through. Those notes, combined with the high proof of the spirit and the spicy bitterness of the chocolate, are an intensely cheeky experience. Salted hazelnut chocolate truffle & Bowmore 15 Years Old Darkest Single Malt Scotch Whisky: A salted truffle perfectly complements the notes of the sea and peat smoke in the Bowmore. And the sweet nutty chocolate loves the sherry-cask flavor. I could imagine m...

For most of us, tax time means an unwanted reckoning of the state of our finances. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a large refund check this year. Celebrate by splurging on one of these deluxe bottles. But if you owe the government money, try one of our more modestly priced picks, which even your accountant would approve.   Refund Splurge: Bowmore Tempest Small Batch Release No. 2 Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($100) The renowned Islay distillery ...

... and a healthy amount of wood. And the next time your buddy calls you a cheapskate for not ordering a wallet-busting-malt, you’ll finally have a good response, which will put him in his place. ETHAN KELLEY’S FAVORITE DRAMS: Bowmore 15-Year-Old ($68): Full-bodied with bold peat aromas, the Bowmore 15-Year-Old is nicknamed the “Darkest” for a reason. The rich spirit tastes of dried fruits, molasses, mesquite and waves of barbecue pit smoke. It ha...

... independence of its homeland, Jamaica. And this June, the company released the liquor, which is the world’s oldest barrel-aged rum and has deep wood and vanilla flavors. There are just 70 bottles for the whole United States. Bowmore 1964 Fino Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($13,500): Over the years, Bowmore has impressed us with its limited-edition whiskies. We’re adding the 1964 Fino to the list. It’s a beguiling mix of both tropical fruit and smoky...