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As I scrolled through my news feed of war, tariffs, earthquakes, gas leaks and even people-slapping; it occurred to me that everyone in this world is short of hugs. Yes, I know it sounds silly, and simplistic. A simple hug isn’t going to fix any problems, let alone big world problems. Yet maybe, if there is more hugging in the world, there will be less problems. Maybe.
This thought however, did get me to thinking: what whiskies could feel like a hug, what would be the equivalent of a hug in a Glencairn glass?
If you know me well, you know I’m a hugging kind of person, and a great big, joyful, so-happy-for-you hug can definitely be found in an Arran 10 Year Old. Mango, passion fruit, pineapple and pure, sunshine goodness. It’s wholesome sweetness, all wrapped in a chirpy little bow. A happy hug for sure.
Sometimes hugs convey more than words; on exhausting days, it can be like a much needed fuzzy, blanket-wrapping comforting reassurance. And what’s more rounded and fuzzy-comforting than a Glenfarclas 15 Year Old? You know this whisky, it’s an old-fashioned, consistently good whisky that evokes memories of fruitcake baking in the oven and a warm Milo in your hand, all rolled into one. This is the comforting hug in a glass.
Replicating a hug would require a whisky that can give the sense of warmth and security. The Tobermory 23 Year Old is not cask strength, coming in at 46.3% abv and that is just perfect hugging strength in this case. If you remember the old Tobermory 15 Year Olds in the gorgeous wooden boxes, which were fully matured in González Byass sherry casks — well, this takes this a step further. This is effectively the same 15 Year Old, but matured for a further 8 years in Oloroso sherry. Come on! Tiptoe me to the moon…that’s definitely a hug.
The last hug I thought of was are the kind of hugs that you give when you need to help squeeze out the pain, wring out sadness to make space for healing, hope and light. This is the serious hugs – the attempting to soul-fix kind of hugs. This kind of hugs need a whisky with a bit of weight behind it, one that throw out the punches not for an attack but in defence. The Bunnahabhain Feis Ile 2024 14 Year Old Ruby Port, bottled at 58.7%, ticks all these boxes for me. Rich over ripe plums, dark chocolate and cinnamon.
And when some peat is needed, the brand new Kilchoman Sanaig Cask Strength can also give some soul-fixing hugs. Although not fully matured in sherry casks, it is perfectly balanced for a mouthful of everything you need – rich peat smoke, smoked oak and spiced dark chocolate, all rounded by red berries. A peated soul-fixing hug!!
