Halloween is looming, creeping up on us until the clock strikes midnight and bewitching hour officially begins. So, whether you will be out on the town, spooking trick or treaters, or having a quiet night in, there are plenty of chilling Halloween whiskies for you to enjoy this autumn.
Let’s take a look at some of the spooky spirits on offer…
Ardbeg 5 Year Old Wee Beastie
The clue is in the name with this fiery dram. The 5 year old Ardbeg spirit truly packs a punch with notes of coffee, fennel, and tree sap on the nose. Smoke, chocolate, aniseed and savoury meats explode on the palette, and the drinker is left with hints of cocoa and fudge on the finish. Ardbeg has bestowed the title of “the rawest, smokiest Ardbeg ever” on this “monster of a dram”.
It is the latest whisky to join Ardbeg’s core range, and is available on Ardbeg’s website for just £41.50.
SMWS 64.139 The Devil Drinks Oloroso
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has released a number of spooky drams for Halloween, and if you are a fan of sherried whisky then this might be the one for you. ‘The Devil Drinks Oloroso’ is a 16 Year Old Mannochmore whisky distilled in 2006. The whisky spent 13 years in a bourbon hogshead before a 3 year finishing period in an Oloroso hogshead.
The tasting notes on the SMWS website give you a sneak preview of the way that the flavours of “black tea and coffee crept in from behind a mound of cinamon sticks and liquorice”. There is also mention of a a “dash of holy water” – vampires: beware.
The SMWS 64.139 is currently out of stock with SMWS, but keep an eye on whisky auctions to see if this dram makes an appearance.
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Auchentoshan 1996 22 YO Old Particular Halloween Edition 2019
This spooky-looking bottle is filled with 22 year old Auchentoshan whisky, bottled in 2019 by Douglas Laing. The whisky was distilled on 31st October 1996. The packaging displays lots of Halloween imagery including a pumpkin, some potion bottles, a snake, and a skull.
The whisky is light and creamy, with notes of lemongrass and sugar on the nose, and pepper and citrus on the palette with a warm and bitter finish.
This bottle is not currently available at retail. So, again, keep a weathered eye on the whisky auctions.
Glenrothes Halloween Edition 2019
In 2018 and 2019, Glenrothes released two peated single malts for Halloween. Peated whiskies are a rarity from this Speyside distillery, so these spirits are sufficiently shocking and scary!
The 2019 Hallowwen Edition is presented in an opaque, ghostly-white bottle with an orange label. Tasting notes include vanilla, sweet oak, peat smoke, almonds and pears.
You can purchase the Glenrothes Halloween Edition 2019 for £150 at Scotch Galore.
Ledaig 1997 25 Year Old Douglas Laing XOP Seasonal Curiosities 2022
Douglas Laing’s Seasonal Curiosities is a whimsical series celebrating public holidays. This 25 year old whisky was distilled at Tobermory distillery in 1997 and bottled for Douglas Laing’s Seasonal Curiosities range in 2022 under the name Ledaig, Tobermory’s peated brand. The label displays a skill wearing a bowler hat sitting atop a snake.
Only 62 bottles on this whisky were produced, making it something of a ghost story on the secondary market. You can purchase the bottle for £600 on The Whisky Vault.
BONUS: Browse our selection of Ardbeg on the Mark Littler Shop
Ardbeg’s marketing team clearly don’t take themselves too seriously, and that’s why we love the tongue-in-cheek approach to modern Ardbeg bottlings. Get your hands on Ardbeg’s spooky spirits featuring fire-breathing dragons, alien abduction, and swashbuckling pirates.
However you choose to celebrate, have a Happy Halloween!