Aperitif and Digestif Whiskies

When entertaining, whisky works perfectly to bookend a magnificent meal. A refreshing aperitif’s purpose is to open up the palate in preparation for the feast ahead, while a fine digestif follows the meal to aid digestion. Numerous cocktails and beverages are fit for the job, of course, but this is the list for you if you’re the busy host coordinating the meal ahead from the kitchen, or an easygoing guest who just wants a neat pour unfettered by slices of fruit dropped into a single drink that took every piece of barware to make. Despite what people might tell you, there are no hard and fast rules around drinking etiquette on either side of the meal: “I’ll take a whisky” is a perfectly acceptable response.

Each selection is based on one of 12 flavor themes, highlighting the flavor of each whisky’s strongest suit, with key tasting notes and a food pairing suggestion, leaving you ample scope to experiment and adapt to your own preferences. Here are 12 neat pours designed to elevate your aperitif and digestif occasions: six of one, half a dozen of the other.

Aperitif Whiskies

Floral

Glencadam 10 year old, 46%, $50Style: Scotch single malt (Highlands)Tasting note: Lemon, apple blossom, green pear, and citrusServe with: Yakitori chicken

Fresh Fruit

Komagatake 2021 Edition, 48%, $200Style: Japanese single maltTasting note: Red apple, strawberry, watermelon, and candy sweetnessServe with: Glazed pork belly squares

Sweet

Brother’s Bond, 40%, $40Style: Straight bourbonTasting note: Candy corn, butterscotch, honey, and vanilla puddingServe with: Melon & prosciutto skewers

Citrus

Formosa 12 year old, 40%, $130Style: Taiwanese pure maltTasting note: Tangerine peel, cooking apples, marmalade, bitter lemonServe with: Crabmeat blinis

Herbal

Dewar’s 8 year old Japanese Smooth, 40%, $25Style: Blended scotchTasting note: Roasted spices, lemongrass stalks, vanilla, yellow appleServe with: Balsamic caramelized onion and goat cheese tartlet

Smoky

Johnnie Walker Blue Label, 40%, $250Style: Blended scotchTasting note: Vanilla pod, cedarwood, dried fruits, and peat smokeServe with: Smoked salmon crostini

Digestif Whiskies

Nutty

Dunville’s Three Crowns, 43.5%, $43Style: Blended IrishTasting note: Toasted nuts, wood spices, orange peel, cinnamonServe with: Montgomery’s cheddar, a hard cow’s milk cheese, or Gubbeen, a washedrind cow’s milk cheese

Dried fruit

Bushmills 16 year old, 40%, $150Style: Irish single maltTasting note: Dried cranberry, blackberry, damson, and black pepperServe with: Almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios, macadamias, and cashews

Spicy

Rittenhouse, 50%, $28Style: Bottled in bond ryeTasting note: Cinnamon, coriander seed, orchard fruit, and toffeeServe with: Charcuterie board

Coffee

The Whistler Imperial Stout Finish, 43%, $40Style: Blended IrishTasting note: Coffee bean, black cherry, orange peel, and dark chocolateServe with: Tiramisu or chocolate cake

Chocolate

Mortlach 12 year old The Wee Witchie, 43.4%, $60Style: Scotch single malt (Speyside)Tasting note: Chocolate-covered ginger, orchard fruit, cinnamon, and black pepperServe with: Vanilla ice cream

Peat

Laphroaig 10 year old, 40%, $63Style: Scotch single malt (Islay)Tasting note: Iodine, charcoal, vanilla, peat smokeServe with: Soft blue cheeses, like Roquefort or Bleu d’Auvergne