You might think of whisky as an autumn and winter drink, but it’s just as great to sip on those warm summer evenings. Here are a few we’ve tasted that we think make a great choice for a summer whisky.

Tamnavulin Port Cask Edition
40% ABV
£36

Tamnavulin Port Cask Edition is one of the staples of the range from the Speyside distillery. It might sound like a more winter-based dram, but there are some wonderfully fruity notes that cross the seasons nicely. 

Matured in American oak ex-bourbon casks, the liquor is finished in Tawny port casks, giving it a distinctive flavour profile. 

On the nose, there are rich red berries and plums, with just a hint of sweetness. In the background, you can pick out a touch of apple and citrus, which lightens the aroma. 

On the palate, the dried fruits give way to candied pears and caramel, before pecans come through towards the finish. There is a hint of oak, but it is subtle, blending nicely with the rest of the flavours to give a mild and mellow finish. 

Tamnavulin Port Cask is a great sipping whisky, and over just a little ice, makes for a fabulous summer whisky dram to enjoy as the sun goes down.

summer whisky Tamnavulin
summer whisky Indri

Indri Trini Three Wood Single Malt Indian Whisky
46% ABV
£41

As you might well deduce from the name, three different wooden casks are used to mature this particular whisky. Ex-bourbon, wine, and sherry casks are all used to impart different flavours to the whisky and combine to create the natural honeyed colour. 

The whisky matures in the foothills of the Himalayas, where extreme climatic conditions add complexity. 

On the nose, the initial aroma is surprisingly subtle, with peaches, vanilla, honey and gentle spices coming up to greet you. On the palate, the fruits become more tropical, with a touch of pineapple and warm spices, before ending with a peppery kick. The finish is long and lingering, with gentle oak and notes of cinnamon rounding out the flavour. 

Indri Trini Three Wood is rich, elegant and complex. Add a little water or ice and enjoy in the heat of the day or at the end of an evening.

Glen Moray Forbidden Fruits
40% ABV
£32

Part of the distillery’s Xperience Collection, Forbidden Fruits is the first expression from Glen Moray to have been matured in ex-Calvados. The French oak had previously housed the historic, rich apple brandy, and that comes strongly to the fore in this summer-worthy dram. 

On the nose, green apples are the star, with hints of caramel, honey and white flowers. On the palate, the apple flavour becomes a little sweeter, with hints of brown sugar and baking spices. There is a touch of wood from the oak, but it blends beautifully with the orchard fruits. The long finish is full of gentle, flavourful spices, which mellow, leaving hints of pear among the oak. 

A delicious summer dram that is surprisingly subtle and well-balanced, making it far too easy to drink.

summer whisky Glen Moray

The English Distillery Gently Smoked Sherry Hogshead
46% ABV
£75

This unusual offering from The English Distillery pairs a slightly peated, smoky whisky with the sweetness of an Oloroso cask, resulting in a rich, flavourful whisky with distinctive smoky notes that enhance rather than overwhelm. 

Personally, I’m not usually a fan of a smoky whisky, but this Gently Smoked Sherry Hogshead balances the flavours well, making it highly drinkable, with just a hint of rich oak and wood smoke at all the right points. 

On the nose, dried fruits and cherries come to the fore immediately, with a little toffee and caramel ahead of a sweet smokiness. On the palate, the dried fruits are met with vanilla, cinnamon and cardamom before the oaky smoke develops. The finish is long and sweet, with some oak, and the smoke lingers to the very end. 

This small batch whisky might seem more suitable for a cool winter’s evening, but add just a few drops of water or a cube of ice and the more sunny side appears, with orchard fruits nudging the flavour in a more summery direction.

Sam Huff
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