Discover a new favourite style of fizz with these expertly taste-tested cremant recommendations
Could crémant be France's best kept secret? Made in the same meticulous way as champagne but produced in regions beyond its famous borders, crémant offers all the finesse of fine bubbles and layered flavour, often at a far friendlier price. Once used to describe a softer, “creamier” style of champagne, the term now refers to a diverse family of traditional-method sparkling wines made across eight French regions, each having key differences which reflect the local grapes and terroir, ranging from crisp and citrus-forward to richer styles with stronger brioche notes. Sitting neatly between prosecco and champagne, crémant has quietly carved out a space of its own – drier, more complex than prosecco, yet far more accessible than champagne. Whether you’re already a sparkling wine devotee or simply looking to upgrade your go-to fizz, wine expert Jonathan Hatchman has rounded-up the best bottles of crémant to buy for any occasion. For more expert wine reviews, check out our guides to the best rosé, best prosecco and best champagne. Best crémant to buy at a glance Best rosé crémant: Kew Gardens Crémant de Loire Rosé Brut, £18.99 Best champagne alternative: Hunter's Miru Miru Marlborough Brut NV, £19.99 Best crémant de Limoux: Roche Lacour Crémant de Limoux 2022, £15.99 Best organic crémant: Arthur Metz Crémant d'Alsace Organic Brut, £15 Best crémant de Bourgogne: Moillard-Thomas Crémant de Bourgogne Brut, Burgundy, £17 Best crémant de Bordeaux: Baron de Ray Crémant de Bordeaux, £15 Best crémant for drinking with seafood: Cave de Turckheim Organic Crémant d'Alsace, £15 Best budget crémant: Asda Extra Special Crémant d'Alsace Brut, £12 Best crémant for drinking in the sun: Lacheteau Cremant De Loire Brut Rose, £16.25 Best crémant to buy 2026 Kew Gardens Crémant de Loire Rosé Brut Available from Laithwaites (£18.99) Best rosé crémant Star rating: 4.5/5 ABV: 12% Laithwaites have collaborated with Kew Gardens, home to the largest living plant collection on the planet, on a small range of wines which champion lesser-known grape varieties, many of which are on the verge of extinction. The Kew Gardens Crémant de Loire Rosé Brut is crafted by Loire Valley winemaker Pierre-Jean Sauvion who is a devotee of biodiversity and working with nature, and uses cabernet France alongside a splash of grolleau for this delicate pink sparkling wine. Bold citrus notes of grapefruit and lemon join subtle red berry (with particularly prominent strawberry) and some nice minerality and refreshing acidity. A great option for enjoying in the sun. Available from: Laithwaites (£18.99) Hunter's Miru Miru Marlborough Brut NV Available from Laithwaites (£19.99) Best champagne alternative Star rating: 4.5/5 ABV: 12% The Marlborough wine region has seen remarkable growth over the past three decades and Hunter’s Wines has played a key role in that success. As well as establishing a benchmark for classic New Zealand sauvignon blanc, Hunter’s was also the region’s second winery to ever produce sparkling wine using the traditional technique used for champagne. Using classic champagne varietals and fermented in the bottle, the Hunter's Miru Miru Marlborough Brut NV is a bright and fresh champagne alternative, with bold pear and pineapple aromas which continue on the palate alongside green apple, brioche, lemon and peach notes on the backend. It’s rich, dry and ripe with good complexity, gentle creaminess and a long, fresh finish. Available from: Laithwaites (£19.99) Roche Lacour Crémant de Limoux 2022 Available from Laithwaites (£15.99) Best crémant de Limoux Star rating: 4/5 ABV: 11.5% For more than twenty years, Roche Lacour Crémant de Limoux has been one of Laithwaite’s best-selling sparkling wines, made using the same painstaking method as Grande Marque Champagne, yet significantly less expensive. Original winemaker Laurent Mingaud is back in charge, producing wines beneath the cool hills of Limoux, where the monks of Saint Hilaire are said to have mastered sparkling wine methods in 1531. The 2022 vintage’s blend is rich in chardonnay and pinot noir, with nearly half of the wine oak-fermented (just like Krug), providing depth and toasty complexity. Rich toasty notes are present alongside some fruit notes of ripe peach, pear and a hint of citrus, while the finish is very clean, crisp and smooth. Available from: Laithwaites (£15.99) Arthur Metz Crémant d'Alsace Organic Brut Available from Ocado (£15) Best organic crémant Star rating: 4/5 ABV: 12% A leading producer of Crémant d’Alsace, the house of Arthur Metz is renowned for taking great pride in the quality of its wines. The Arthur Metz Crémant d'Alsace Organic Brut is produced with grapes from partner vineyard owners in the villages of Dahlenheim and Balbronn, with the bottles aged on laths for between 18-24 months. This ageing gives the crémant its complexity, with strong peach, apple and citrus notes on the palate alongside some toasted brioche, which lingers on the finish. Available from: Ocado (£15) Moillard-Thomas Crémant de Bourgogne Brut, Burgundy, 2023 Available from Majestic (£17) Best crémant de Bourgogne Star rating: 4/5 ABV: 12% Having been producing wine since the 19th century, Moillard-Thomas is one of the oldest winemakers in Burgundy’s famous Côtes de Nuits. The 2023 vintage of its Crémant de Bourgogne Brut is made using the traditional method and a selection of grapes all grown in the Côte Chalonnaise and the Mâconnais, including chardonnay, gamay and pinot noir. The resulting wine is a bright and fresh crémant with a creamy mouthfeel and fine bubbles. Classic flavours of apple, pear and peach are accompanied by some honeycomb and white blossom on the palate, alongside gentle acidity and a satisfyingly dry finish. Available from: Majestic (£17) Baron de Ray Crémant de Bordeaux Available from Majestic (£15) Best crémant de Bordeaux Star rating: 4/5 ABV: 12% There’s more to Bordeaux wine than serious, special-occasion reds. Along with white wines from the region growing in popularity, crèmant de Bordeaux is also testament to the area’s versatility. Typically produced with sémillon and sauvignon blanc grapes shaped by Bordeaux’s mild climate and Atlantic breezes, the Baron de Ray Crémant de Bordeaux is a lively sparkling wine which uses sémillon as its primary grape variety. Honeysuckle and orange blossom floral notes dominate the nose, joining hints of grapefruit and lemon on the palate alongside almond, biscuit, Mirabelle plum, nectarine and just a hint of white pepper. In all, it’s a complex, elegant crémant with a crisp, slightly saline finish. Available from: Majestic (£15) Cave de Turckheim Organic Crémant d'Alsace Available from Waitrose Cellar (£15) Best crémant for drinking with seafood Star rating: 3.5/5 ABV: 12% Cave de Turckheim is a co-operative which lies at the mouth of the Munster Valley, working closely with 180 partners. As well as being devoted to sustainable wine-making practices, the co-operative only produces wine from the grapes of its member growers, who are encouraged to keep yields low and to harvest the grapes by hand. Made with auxerrois blanc, pinot gris and pinot blanc, the Cave de Turckheim organic crémant d'Alsace is a classy, elegant version of the style with a developing palate. The buttery nose gives way to prominent green apple and pear flavours alongside hints of grapefruit and lemon, melon, apricot, quince, delicate florals and notes redolent of custard cream biscuits, while the finish is creamy, long and refreshing. Available from: Waitrose Cellar (£15) Asda Extra Special Crémant d'Alsace Brut 75cl Available from Asda (£12) Best budget crémant Star rating: 3.5/5 ABV: 12% Produced by Arthur Metz, Asda's Extra Special crémant d'Alsace Brut is a pale sparkling wine with classic notes of pear, apple and peach alongside apricot and slight brioche, plus gorgeous hazelnut and almond flavours with additional faint hints of slate and oyster minerality. A slightly bitter zip of lemon arrives on the finish, which brings balance, alongside some honey sweetness, which pushes the overall flavour towards the sweeter end of the scale. Fairly dry with a prominent richness, it’s a fine example of crémant d'Alsace, especially considering its affordable price tag. Available from: Asda (£12) LaCheteau Cremant De Loire Brut Rose Available from Ocado (£16.25) Best crémant for drinking in the sun Star rating: 3.5/5 ABV: 12% Since 1987, LaCheteau has been operating from the Loire Valley of France. Their crémant De Loire Brut Rosé reflects the region’s cool climate and diverse grape varieties, using cabernet franc from Anjou and Touraine, which gives the wine distinctive Loire character. Once ripe, the grapes are quickly harvested during the coolest time of day to preserve aromas. Wild strawberry, cranberry, redcurrant and raspberry notes join a hint of rose, toasted brioche and a subtle citrus lift on the palate, while the finish is long with further red berry hints. Available from: Ocado (£16.25) Related reviews Best champagne Best cava Best wine glasses Best champagne glasses Best whiskey glasses Best pinot grigio Best pinot noir Best wine deals Best champagne deals Best prosecco deals Best cava deals For information on alcohol guidelines, read our guide to drinking responsibly.
Best prosecco, taste tested by the experts 2026
Italian prosecco is as popular a choice of fizz as traditional champagne or cava. Read our expert review of the best prosecco bottles to find your new favourite sparkling wine
Prosecco is a phenomenally popular drink in the UK. It's somewhat sweet and soft in flavour and more affordable than other sparkling wines, such as champagne. Prosecco is great to bring along when visiting a friend for dinner, heading to a party or having an impromptu celebration. Pink or rosé prosecco is a staple of boozy brunches, and prosecco's affordability means it can be transformed into refreshing spritzes or decadent cocktails without worrying about the cost. Most proseccos are simple wines. Don’t be afraid to mix them with peach juice to make a bellini, turn it into a spritz or add lemon sorbet and vodka for a sgroppino. But, what makes a good prosecco? We've rounded-up the top bottles to find a prosecco to suit everybody, from the best budget proseccos to bottles that are perfect for cocktails or gifting. Read on to discover our pick of the best. For more, visit our reviews section and find over 400 practical buyer's guides, including taste tests of rosé wine, gin, vodka and more. Best prosecco at a glance Best everyday prosecco: Alessandro Gallici Prosecco NV, £12.99 Best prosecco for gifting: Alessandro Gallici Prosecco Anniversario 2024, £15.99 Best alternative prosecco: Ribolla Gialla spumante cuvée Biele Zôe 2024, £9.99 Best prosecco for showing off: The Emmisary prosecco rosé brut, £17.90 Best for parties: Tesco Finest prosecco superiore, £10 Best easy drinking prosecco: Romeo & Juliet prosecco di Treviso brut DOC NV, £12 Best off-dry prosecco: Cinzano prosecco, £10.50 Best prosecco for entertaining: The Wine Society prosecco brut NV, £10.75 Best prosecco for complexity of flavour: Sacchetto prosecco extra dry Fili NV, £14.55 Jump to section: What is the best prosecco to buy? How we tasted prosecco Prosecco vs champagne How to open prosecco Prosecco cocktail recipes What is the best prosecco to buy? Alessandro Gallici prosecco NV Available from Laithwaites (£12.99) Best everyday prosecco Star rating: 4/5 This classic extra-dry prosecco is an accessible version of the UK’s favourite prosecco style, offering great value considering the wine’s quality. Delicate floral aromas join typical orchard fruit notes of apple and pear, alongside a zip of lemon, apricot, peach and very pleasant hints of honeydew melon. Dry and fresh with a relatively light body, fairly low alcohol content and fine bubbles, it’s everything you'd want from an everyday extra-dry prosecco. JH Available from: Laithwaites (£12.99) Alessandro Gallici prosecco Anniversario 2024 Available from Laithwaites (£15.99) Best prosecco for gifting Star rating: 4/5 Award-winning producer Alessandro Gallici has released a special cuvée to celebrate the company’s 50-year anniversary. Made entirely from the glera grape from the finest organic vineyards in the village of Ronade, this prosecco millesimato is produced using the Charmant method, where secondary fermentation takes place in large, sealed tanks rather than individual bottles, ultimately preserving the fresh, fruity character of the grapes. The result is a crisp, vibrant prosecco loaded with notes of lemon, peach, apple and pear, with creamy mousse and great balance. The unusual bottle also makes this prosecco an interesting option for gifting. JH Available from: Laithwaites (£15.99) Ribolla Gialla spumante cuvée Biele Zôe 2024 Available from Laithwaites (£9.99) Best prosecco alternative Star rating: 4.5/5 This isn’t technically a prosecco, but it’s a great alternative. Produced in Friuli, the wine is made predominantly using the ribolla gialla grape as opposed to the glera, which is required for prosecco. The same method is used, however, achieving a crisp, dry style that’s similar, albeit typically dried and less sweet. Produced by Valerio Civa at his family winery – which has extensive vineyards and a high-tech cellar – this wine uses grapes that are picked early for freshness, plus a 15 per cent portion of chardonnay for roundness. Gorgeous ripe apple notes are married with higher acidity and a more citrus-forward flavour profile than extra-dry prosecco, while the finish is crisp, bone-dry and eminently refreshing. JH Available from: Laithwaites (£9.99) The Emmissary prosecco rosé brut Available from Amazon (£17.90) Best prosecco for showing off Star rating: 4/5 With its clear glass bottle and gold label, this prosecco will appeal to those looking to show off (or post their bottle on Instagram). Happily, the contents within live up to the glitzy packaging. This has a delicious orange sherbet quality, combined with ripe strawberries and a creamy texture. HJ Available from: Amazon (£17.90) Tesco Finest prosecco superiore Available from Tesco (£10) Best for parties Star rating: 3/5 Prosecco Superiore is a cut above the ordinary stuff, as the name suggests. This is grape-y and lemony – just the thing to get in bulk for parties. It has a refreshing quality that's lacking in most supermarket proseccos, which will have everyone reaching for another glass. HJ Available from: Tesco (£10) Romeo & Juliet prosecco di Treviso brut DOC NV Available from Majestic Wine (£12) Best easy drinking prosecco Brut-style, and you can really taste it. There are pastry notes on the nose, then on the palate it's really dry with some bitter lemon and almonds. It's a really nice prosecco that's easy to drink. HJ Available from: Majestic Wine (£12) Cinzano prosecco Available from Amazon (£10.38), The Bottle Club (£9.59), Drink Supermarket (£10.49) Best off-dry prosecco Cinzano doesn’t just make vermouth, but also a range of wines like this prosecco. If you like your fizz a little on the sweet side, then look no further. This would be extremely nice with some lemon drizzle cake or mixed in an Aperol spritz. HJ Available from: Amazon (£10.38) The Bottle Club (£9.59) Drink Supermarket (£10.49) The Wine Society prosecco brut NV Available from The Wine Society (£10.75) Best prosecco for entertaining Prosecco is actually a much better drink than champagne to serve at events such as weddings, as it's cheaper, lower in alcohol and much less acidic, so it's easier to drink. This dry, refreshing sparkler would be our pick for entertaining. HJ Available from: The Wine Society (£10.75) Sacchetto prosecco extra dry Fili NV Available from VINVM (£14.55) Best prosecco for complexity of flavour There’s lots going on with this one. It initially tastes quite sweet but finishes with a dry and refreshing flavour. There’s a nice saline quality with peachy fruit and even a touch of toastiness at the end. HJ Available from: VINVM (£14.55) Prosecco vs champagne People often ask what the difference is between prosecco and champagne. Well, they’re both sparkling wines from specific regions: Champagne in northern France, and Treviso in north-eastern Italy, but the similarities end there. Champagne is dry, highly acidic and usually expensive, whereas its Italian rival is soft, sweetish and affordable – no wonder it's so popular. Part of the difference in price is down to prosecco’s production method. To make champagne and most sparkling wines, a still wine is fermented for a second time in the bottle with added yeast and sugar, which creates carbon dioxide – aka fizz. In prosecco, this secondary fermentation takes place in a tank, then the wines are filtered and bottled under pressure. This method is less labour intensive – unlike champagne, which has to be aged for a minimum of 15 months – so prosecco can be sold straight away. Not only is this method cheaper, it preserves fresh fruit flavours, too. This is the fundamental difference between the two wines: champagne tastes of mature yeasty flavours, whereas prosecco should be all about fresh fruit. The term frizzante on the label, as opposed to spumante, means the wine is less fizzy. Only wines from the Prosecco region, not far from Venice, can be called prosecco. The principal grape is called glera, but it used to be called prosecco, before the wily Italians changed the name so that the Australians couldn’t use the magic word prosecco on their bottles. Prosecco tends to be much sweeter than champagne. Confusingly, wines labelled dry are actually quite sweet. Extra dry is drier, though it still contains between 12-17g of sugar. If you want a proper dry wine, look for the word 'brut' on the label. In a good prosecco, you'll often find green apple, peach or citrus flavours and often some floral notes, too. With better examples, you may notice flavours of almonds and biscuity champagne-like notes. Don’t be afraid to mix it with peach juice to make a bellini, Aperol or Campari to make a spritz or, most hedonistic of all, lemon ice cream and vodka, which is called a sgroppino. Our version, icy kir, swaps the ice cream for berry sorbet. How to open prosecco When opening a bottle of prosecco, remember it will behave far better and more predictably if it has been left to sit and chill for a few hours. Warmth and/or rough handling both make for an explosive cork situation, meaning more mess and waste. Fizz should go into glasses, not onto ceilings. Make sure you have your glasses ready and within easy reach. Then, take your bottle and remove the foil; there should be a tag or perforation line to make this easy and neat. Once this is done, grip the neck of the bottle in one hand with your thumb over the top of the caged cork. From here on in, keep the bottle pointed away from yourself and anyone present, especially people's faces – about a 45 degree angle is good. With your other hand, untwirl the cage fastening. Uncover your thumb, lift off the cage and replace your thumb over the cork. If you can feel the cork pushing to leave the bottle already, get a glass ready. Otherwise, with the bottle gripped in one hand, slowly pull up the cork with the other. It may be quite stiff at first – if so, alternate pulling and twisting motions – but as you go you'll start to feel the pressure from within helping you out. Ease it up, always with your hand over the cork in a firm grip and, as you hear a pop, you know you've opened it. If everything went smoothly, you have a bottle at 45 degrees, with a touch of vapour wafting out. Let that excess gas escape for a few seconds, then in smooth, gentle motions, pour a small amount – just a splash – into each glass in turn. Now return to the first glass and, tilting it also at around 45 degrees, top up slowly, until no more than two-thirds full. If the champagne is very lively and the mousse is rising to the top of the glass despite a slow pour, just move onto the next one and come back to it. That mousse is the fizz escaping, and in excess, leaves you with a flat drink, and nobody wants that. Don't overfill the glass, as it will warm up far faster there than in the bottle, and warm prosecco is a shame. If you have a bottle where the cork is straining to be free as soon as the cage is removed, then you will have to move fast. Once the cork is out, it will be followed by froth, which should go straight into that readied glass. Keep pouring off the excess into your glasses one by one until it subsides, then top up as before. How we tasted prosecco Our prosecco taste test covered over 15 bottles, aiming to find the best example of a good prosecco. In a good prosecco, we’re looking for clean, fresh fruit flavours like green apple, peach or citrus, and often some floral notes, too. With very top-quality prosecco, you might also notice flavours of almonds and biscuity, champagne-like notes. A lower-quality or poor example of a prosecco may taste sugary or artificial, so these were marked down and not included. Prosecco is naturally sweeter, but there should be enough acidity to balance the sugar. Prosecco cocktail recipes A bottle of prosecco is celebratory enough to drink on its own, but it’s also a versatile addition to cocktails. Classic prosecco cocktail recipes include an Aperol spritz or passion fruit martini. Make a jug of apple prosecco punch to feed a crowd, try a sweet peach & rose fizz in summer or pair with coconut and rum in a tropical coco fizz. There are more than just cocktails, too: a box of homemade prosecco truffles make a great edible gift, while this showstopping prosecco cake recipe is the perfect birthday party centrepiece for a prosecco fan. Prosecco recipes and tips Video: next level prosecco cocktails 10 prosecco cocktails you can make in minutes More prosecco cocktails and recipes Related reviews The best champagne The best cava Best wine glasses Best champagne glasses Best whiskey glasses Best pinot grigio Best pinot noir Best wine deals Best champagne deals Best prosecco deals Best cava deals For information on alcohol guidelines, read our guide to drinking responsibly.
The best Japanese whisky taste tested, 2026
Read our expert review of the best Japanese whisky. We taste-tested bottles of this complex spirit to bring you our recommended buys.
Even 10 or 20 years ago, Japanese whisky was something of a niche amongst a very small set of aficionados. The mere existence of Japanese whisky might be a surprise to the mainstream drinker, despite the best of it being as complex and refined as anything being put out by the Scots. Today, Japanese whisky-makers find themselves held in the highest regard around the world, laden with awards and struggling to keep up with demand. Japanese whisky is deeply influenced by Scotch whisky in many ways, but has grown and developed into something that is very much its own beast. As with scotch, there are differences between the output of distilleries that reflect the equipment, methods and local climate. Distillers play with process in a way that many Scottish operations may not, experimenting with yeasts and fermentation times to great effect. Here, our drinks experts Richard Davie and Jonathan Hatchman have selected the best Japanese whisky to buy, covering a range of styles and prices from under £40 to an investment £150. Read on for our in-depth reviews. For over 400 buyer’s guides, visit our reviews section and find taste tests of gin, vodka, tequila, rum, whisky and much more. Best Japanese whisky to buy at a glance Best well-known Japanese whisky: Nikka Days whisky, £39.49 Best light Japanese whisky: The Chita Suntory whisky, £68 Best intense Japanese whisky: Taketsuru pure malt, Nikka whisky, £69.31 Best luxury Japanese whisky: Hakushu 12-year-old single malt, Suntory whisky, £149.99 Best mizunara cask aged Japanese whisky: Ichiro's Malt Mizunara Wood Reserve, £94.95 Best Japanese whisky for Scotch lovers: Mars Maltage 'Cosmo' whisky, £52.25 Best Japanese whisky for whisky beginners: From The Barrel, Nikka whisky, £41.20 Best blended Japanese whisky: Hibiki Japanese Harmony, Suntory whisky, £75.50 Best classic Japanese-style whisky: Yoichi single malt, Nikka whisky, £79.50 Best for pairing with food: Miyagikyo single malt, Nikka whisky, £79.50 Jump to: What is different about Japanese whisky? Japanese whisky: a brief history Best Japanese whisky to buy 2026 Nikka Days whisky undefined Best well-known Japanese whisky ABV: 40% Rating: 4/5 Nikka dominates the Japanese whisky market. This easy-drinking blended whisky from their extensive range is light in aroma and flavour, making it a good option for newcomers to the whisky world, or for lovers of cocktails who, with this, can serve a highball with a punch. Read our full Nikka Days review. undefined The Chita, Suntory whisky Available from Master of Malt (£48.95), The Whisky Exchange (£50.50) Best light Japanese whisky ABV: 43% Rating: 4/5 Along with Nikka, Suntory is one of the most-loved and well-known Japanese whisky brands. Operating from numerous distilleries, this whisky flies the flag for its Chita operation. This grain whisky is lighter and more delicate than other Japanese whiskies in our list. It's a fruity spirit with unripe banana flavours present in its thin, intense sweetness. Read our full review of The Chita by Suntory Available from: Master of Malt (£48.95) The Whisky Exchange (£50.50) Taketsuru pure malt, Nikka whisky Available from Amazon (£66), Master of Malt (£69.31) Best intense Japanese whisky ABV: 43% Rating: 4/5 Unlike the Nikka Days whisky, this doesn’t map across quite so simply to the more familiar Scottish whiskies that Japanese whiskies are often associated with. It tastes intense at first sip, with tobaco and smokiness present, and finishes to reveal a savoury, almost bitter note. This one is great in an old fashioned cocktail. Read our full review of Taketsuru whisky by Nikka Available from: Amazon (£66) Master of Malt (£69.31) Hakushu 12-year-old single malt, Suntory whisky Available from Master of Malt (£149.99), The Whisky Exchange (£161), Selfridges (£175) Best luxury Japanese whisky ABV: 45% Rating: 5/5 Made at Suntory's Hakushu distillery, this maturation is refined with cool herbal notes. On the palate, that coolness gives way to a smooth alcohol warmth, mint notes and some lemon that mingles with the sweetness of the malt. It's full-bodied with a little creaminess, too, making this an ideal whisky to serve neat in a dram. Read our full review of Hakushu 12 whisky by Suntory. Available from: Master of Malt (£149.99) The Whisky Exchange (£161) Selfridges (£175) Ichiro's Malt Mizunara Wood Reserve Available from Master of Malt (£100.95), The Whisky Exchange (£94.95) Best mizunara cask aged Japanese whisky ABV: 46.5% Rating: 4/5 Founded by Ichiro Akuto, grandson of the founder of the Hanyu distillery which ceased production in 2000, the famous Chichibu Distillery has been distilling Japanese whisky since 2008. Over the past 17 years, the distillery has become particularly well renowned, with a somewhat cult following, making the whiskies especially sought after. With a very small production, the distillery’s limited releases generally involves masterful blending of old Hanyu stock and new Chichibu production, each with interesting maturing techniques. From Ichiro’s Malt Leaf Series, the Mizunara Wood Reserve comprises a blend of world whiskies finished in Japanese mizunara casks. Native to Japan, mizunara is an oak tree that’s becoming increasingly popular for barrel-ageing whiskies, renowned for the unique flavours it imparts, although it’s challenging to work with given its porous nature which makes it more prone to leakage. On the nose, the Mizunara Wood Reserve is dense with strong honey, plum sake, apple, white grape and sandalwood notes typical of mizunara-ageing, then initially spicy on the palate with a hint of black pepper, some more honey and fruity sweetness, a zip of bitter grapefruit and some pleasant woodiness that continues on the relatively short finish. JH Available from: Master of Malt (£100.95) The Whisky Exchange (£94.95) Mars Maltage 'Cosmo' whisky undefined Best Japanese whisky for Scotch lovers ABV: 43% Rating: 4/5 Mars Shinsu is a heritage distillery that's had a complicated journey, closing several times along the way, although it's enjoyed a resurgence in recent years. Known for very interesting special editions, this 'Cosmo' distillation has butterscotch on the nose and stewed fruit flavours. Expect a profile very similar to a traditional scotch. Read our full Mars Maltage review undefined From The Barrel, Nikka whisky undefined Best Japanese whisky for whisky beginners ABV: 51.4% Rating: 4.5/5 A flagship blended whisky from Nikka that you may have seen in bars and supermarkets. From The Barrel does what you imagine Nikka would like for a standard-bearer of their whiskies, showing many of the flavour elements in an approachable way, without sacrificing complexity. Read our full review of From The Barrel whisky by Nikka. undefined Hibiki Japanese Harmony, Suntory whisky Available from Master of Malt (£72.90), Waitrose Cellar (£81), The Whisky Exchange (£75.50) Best blended Japanese whisky ABV: 43% Rating: 4.5/5 A blended whisky from Suntory, this pulls in malt whisky from their Yamazaki and Hakushu distilleries, and grain whisky from Chita. It has a complex but light nose, with red fruit and apple flavours and a marshmallow sweet note. Enjoy with an ice cube as a sundowner. Read our full review of Hibiki Japanese Harmony whisky by Suntory. Yoichi single malt, Nikka whisky Available from The Whisky Exchange (£79.50) Best classic Japanese-style whisky ABV: 45% Rating: 5/5 You can almost taste the Scottish influence in this dram, but Nikka's Yoichi has a distinctly Japanese flavour profile. On the nose there's gentle peat smoke and caramelised citrus fruits, and the palate carries the peat and fruit through, with melon and fresh apple being the most notable flavours. Overall, this is one of Japan’s top whiskies. It's a perfect introduction to the region's offering as it exemplifies its best qualities. Read our full review of Yoichi whisky by Nikka. Available from: The Whisky Exchange (£79.50) Miyagikyo single malt, Nikka whisky Available from The Whisky Exchange (£79.50) Best for pairing with food ABV: 45% Rating: 5/5 The no-age Miyagikyo is a great showcase for the Nikka distillery. The nose is intense without being heavy, with oodles of cereal, hints of candyfloss, banana and crisp apple. The palate shows a continuation, with delicate grass and floral notes before a full barley-malt sweetness. A dram of this would pair well with fruitcake. Read our full review of Miyagikyo whisky by Nikka. Available from: The Whisky Exchange (£79.50) What is different about Japanese whisky? To generalise, Japanese whisky tends toward precision and complexity without getting too heavy. Finishes, even if intense, don’t linger on the palate in the same way as an Islay might. Quite a few of the whiskies listed here shift through a few different sets of flavours as you sip them, with savoury notes you don’t see elsewhere. Closer to scotch than bourbon or rye, they run the gamut from the super-light to intense brooders. Flavour profiles will include hints of bitterness, too, that are striking when first tasted, but sit neatly within the blenders’ intent. Japanese whisky: a quick history The origins of this spirit can be traced back 100 years. The Japanese have links with Scotland going back to the mid-19th century, with students sent across in order to learn scientific and engineering innovations as the nation sought to modernise itself. This practice was still going strong when, in 1918, a young chemist named Masataka Taketsuru was put on a boat to Glasgow to learn how to make whisky. Returning two years later, he would become possibly the single most significant figure in Japanese whisky. The company that had sponsored his trip, Settsu Shuzo, had drawn back from making a proper whisky distillery, so Taketsuru instead spent his time making an ersatz substitute for them. Moving on in 1924, he joined Kotobukiya (now Suntory) making Japan’s earliest recognisable single malt at the country’s oldest whisky distillery, Yamazaki, in Osaka. Then, in 1934, he founded his own company, now known as Nikka, and set up the Yoichi distillery on the northern island of Hokkaido. The equivalent might be if Glenfiddich’s original master blender had gone on to found Glenlivet after a false start with Budweiser. Between the two behemoths of Suntory and Nikka, you have a majority of the whisky made in Japan and available to buy in the UK. With far greater attention being paid to Japanese whisky, fans are caught in a bit of a bind. On the one hand, a swift rise in demand for a drink that can take upward of a decade to mature properly has put pressure on stock levels, with commensurate price rises and whiskies of a particular vintage removed in favour of 'No Age Statement' (NAS) releases. Whisky collectors and traders are admittedly a niche, and one probably best not sucked into, but if you happened to pick up a Japanese single malt a decade ago, you might be rather surprised at the difference in price. On the other hand, the range of Japanese whisky that you can find in the UK is broader and more easily accessible. Flagship brands like the Nikka's From The Barrel can be seen in supermarkets, alongside scotch, bourbon and the never-ending panoply of gins. Whilst there are not currently equivalent budget options, there are very decent whiskies that don’t cost the earth. One thing to be aware of is that Japan does not have the same legislation surrounding methods and requirements for calling a drink a whisky and calling a whisky Japanese. As such, there are a lot of blended whiskies using Scottish base spirit that may or may not have been aged in Japan, and it is apparently possible to see aged shōchū being sold as whisky in the USA. Thankfully, the latter doesn't seem to have made its way over here. More on whisky The best whisky to buy as a gift The best bourbon whisky The best craft whisky The best Scotch whisky The best Irish whiskey The best sustainable spirits to buy Popular whisk(e)y recipes Whiskey sour Whiskey sour mocktail Whiskey highball Whisky cream sauce Marmalade and whisky bread and butter pudding The best whisky cocktail recipes Are you a fan of Japanese whisky? Share your product suggestions with us. Leave a comment below...
Best rosé wine to buy under £20 – taste tested 2026
When the sun is shining, there’s nothing better than a chilled glass of delicious rosé wine. We put our wine expert to the test in order to find the best rosé bottles under £20
Rosé has become the drink of summer (although there's nothing to stop you enjoying it all year round) – fresh, stylish and effortlessly drinkable. The palest pink bottles from Provence have led the trend, with their delicate colour and light, crisp character setting the benchmark for modern rosé. That pale Provençal look is now copied around the world, and while the colour may be similar, the flavours can vary depending on where the wine is made. Expect anything from subtle red berries and citrus to softer peachy notes – all designed to be refreshing and easy to enjoy. But rosé isn’t only about whisper-pale pink. Some regions produce deeper-coloured styles with more fruit and body, offering a richer alternative for those who prefer a bit more weight in their glass. Whether you’re after something feather-light for a hot afternoon or a fuller style to pair with food, the best rosés share one thing in common: they’re dangerously easy to sip and even easier to love. Our wine experts Henry Jeffreys and Jonathan Hatchman have tried and tested a selection of rosés – here are 5 of the best bottles to buy in 2026, all under £20. For more, visit our reviews section and find over 400 practical buyers' guides, taste tests of gin, vodka, best English wine and more. For regular wine deliveries direct to your door, sign up to the Good Food Wine Club for discounts on exclusively curated wine cases, chosen by experts and the Good Food team. Best rosé at a glance Best Bordeaux rosé: Le Rosé de La Clarière 2024, £14.99 Best everyday Provence rosé: Domaine du Mas Ensoleillé Provence Rosé 2024, £10.99 Best rosé for seafood: Domaine de Paris Côtes de Provence Rosé 2024, £15.99 Best Italian rosé: Tormaresca Calafuria, £15 Best English rosé: Simpsons Railway Pinot Noir Rosé 2022, £19.50 Jump to section: Best rosé to buy in 2026 How old should rosé be How pink should rosé be How we tested Rosé recipes Best rosé to buy in 2026 Le Rosé de La Clarière 2024 Available from Laithwaites (£14.99) Best Bordeaux rosé Star rating: 4/5 This Bordeaux estate produces just a small amount of rosé each year, with most of the grapes being reserved for Claret. The 2024 vintage is a blend of cabernet franc and merlot, slowly fermented in stainless tanks which captures the delicate summer berry notes and a zippy citrus freshness. Prominent strawberry and cherry aromas dominate on the nose, giving way to raspberry and lemon notes alongside wild strawberry, more cherry and some very faint pomegranate. It’s a fresh, dry light-bodied rosé with good minerality, complete with a long, persistent summer berry finish. Best enjoyed well-chilled. Jonathan Hatchman Available from: Laithwaites (£14.99) Domaine du Mas Ensoleillé Provence Rosé 2024 Available from Laithwaites (£10.99) Best everyday Provence rosé Star rating: 4/5 The Domaine du Mas Ensoleillé 2024 vintage is a quintessential Provence rosé, from a small cellar in Aix-en-Provence. Grenache and syrah are night-harvested and hand-picked from Jean-Didier’s vineyard, in the shadow of Mediterranean olive trees, with the sun and breeze encouraging the elegant fruit flavours synonymous with the style. Floral aromas are joined by strawberry, tangerine and slight melon, while the palate is particularly fruit-forward with a medley of strawberry, blackberry, cranberry, orange zest, grapefruit, passionfruit, white peach and apple flavours joining elegant minerality and some vanilla creaminess which lingers on the medium finish. Jonathan Hatchman Available from: Laithwaites (£10.99) Domaine de Paris Côtes de Provence Rosé 2024 Available from Laithwaites (£15.99) Best rosé for seafood Star rating: 3.5/5 Renowned for their elegant Provence rosés, Domaine de Paris comes from the Brun family estate, which has been owned by three generations of the family since 1900 and prides itself on its old vines, including 50-year-old syrah and grenache vines, plus classic cinsault and carignan. The Côtes de Provence Rosé 2024 has a flinty backbone alongside wild strawberry, raspberry and peach notes alongside a touch of cream and medium acidity. Fresh, sophisticated and slightly tart on the finish, this one is great for pairing with foods such as seafood, white meat and light salads. Jonathan Hatchman Available from Laithwaites (£15.99) Tormaresca Calafuria Available from Sviando (£15), Twelve Green Bottles (£21.95), Amazon (£24.95) Best Italian rosé Star rating: 5/5 We love the colour of this rosato, much redder than a Provence-style wine and that’s reflected in how it tastes. There’s bright red juicy strawberries, a refreshing tang here with notes of orange peel and even a whisper of tannin. Absolutely delicious and the bottle looks superb too. Henry Jeffreys Available from: Sviando (£15) Twelve Green Bottles (£21.95) Amazon (£24.95) Simpsons Railway Pinot Noir Rosé 2022 Available from Corkk (£19.50) Best English rosé Star rating: 4/5 English rosé has come on in leaps and bounds in the past years so this was a hard one to narrow down. We went for the Simpsons one because there’s real pinot noir character and body here despite the fashionably pale colour. The price is also very reasonable for an English wine of this quality. Henry Jeffreys Available from: Corkk (£19.50) Rosé: what is it and why is it so popular? How old should rosé be? Rosé should be enjoyed relatively young, although the best pinks actually taste better with a little time in the bottle. But largely these are not wines for keeping, and you should be aware that their clear glass bottles can leave their delicate contents susceptible to damage from sunlight – which is why you should never buy rosé that has been kept in a shop window. How pink should rosé be? The Provençal style of rosé wine is now used all over the world. You get that beautiful colour from very gently pressing red grapes – usually grenache, cinsault and other Mediterranean varieties – so that only a tiny bit of colour (and indeed flavour) from the skins gets into the wine, resulting in that classic blush shade. However, this is not the only way to make rosé. Just a little north of Provence, in the villages of Tavel and Lirac at the southern foothills of the Rhône valley, you'll find rosé that is very nearly red because they make pinks with tannin and lots of fruit. Darker styles of rosé are made all over the world, particularly in Spain and Italy. In Australia and other New World countries, rosé wine can be made simply by mixing red and white wine together. How we tested Our expert sampled some of the famous rosé names versus the best from the supermarkets and the high street, all ranging in price between £7 and £17. The wines were tested both in a formal tasting – one by one – and then again informally, served with food. Often, ones that didn’t impress on first tasting became the favourites after paired with foods. Rosé recipes Frozen raspberry sangria Strawberries in rosé wine Mulled rosé wine More reviews Best champagne Best prosecco – taste tested Best wine glasses Best pinot noir Best red wines for cooking
Best non-alcoholic and low-alcohol wine 2026
Discover the best non-alcoholic and low-alcohol wines for booze-free drinks options that are sophisticated and full of flavour, ideal for entertaining or special occasions
With more people choosing to drink less alcohol or seeking out alcohol-free alternatives, non-alcoholic wine is enjoying a surge in popularity. Whether you are giving Dry January a go, need a sophisticated non-alcoholic option for social occasions, or simply want to enjoy the ritual of a glass of wine without the effects of alcohol, there are now a wide range of choices. When selecting a non-alcoholic wine, it’s worth considering the style and sweetness. Many alcohol-free wines tend to be on the sweeter side – if you prefer a drier style, look for options that are specifically described as crisp or refreshing, or consider sparkling varieties, which often offer a lively, balanced flavour. To help you find a bottle that suits your taste, drinks experts Miriam Nice and Jonathan Hatchman have taste-tested a selection of the best non-alcoholic wines to buy, from prosecco styles to aromatic German rieslings. Whether you’re hosting, celebrating, or simply unwinding at home, there is a non-alcoholic wine to suit every occasion. There are also a few of our recommendations for low-alcohol wines, for those of you are choosing a lower-alcohol approach rather than going completely alcohol-free. These sparkling wines bring no fewer bubbles than their standard counterparts, and deliver a lighter tipple with all the same flavour. For more non-alcoholic advice, check out our review of the best non-alcoholic spirits or the best non-alcoholic champagnes and sparkling wines. Best non-alcoholic wines at a glance Best non-alcoholic wine for prosecco lovers: Mille Bolle Alcohol Free Sparkling, £5.99 Best non-alcoholic wine for cava lovers: ¡H! Barcelona Hola Alcohol Free Sparkling, £4.99 Best eye-catching non-alcoholic wine: Von Buhl Zero Secco Alcohol-Free, £8.99 Best non-alcoholic sweet wine: De Bortoli The Very Cautious One gewurtz riesling, £5.70 Best full-bodied non-alcoholic red: De Bortoli The Very Cautious One shiraz, £5.70 Best non-alcoholic vegan red wine: Eisberg cabernet sauvignon, £18 (case of 6) Best non-alcoholic sauvignon blanc: Eisberg sauvignon blanc, £18 (case of 6) Best alcohol-free merlot: Eisberg alcohol-free merlot, £18 (case of 6) Best for making alcohol-free mulled wine: M&S alcohol-free merlot, £4 Best non-alcoholic German wine: Leitz Eins Zwei Zero riesling, £13.99 Best non-alcoholic wine for a spritzer: Torres Natureo muscat, £9.41 Best non-alcoholic rosé wine: Torres Natureo rosé, £5.45 Recommended low-alcohol wines at a glance Best low-alcohol sparkling rosé: Hacienda de Lluna Moscatel Rosado,£5.99 Best low-alcohol Spanish sparkling wine: La Chica Bonita, £5.99 Best low-alcohol Asti: Le Monferrine Moscato d'Asti Frizzante, £7.99 Best low-alcohol sparkling red wine: L'Occhiolino Semi-Sparkling Red, £7.99 Jump to: Best non-alcoholic and low-alcohol wines to buy in 2026 How we tested non-alcoholic wine How is non-alcoholic wine made? What are the disadvantages of non-alcoholic wine? Best non-alcoholic and low-alcohol wines to buy in 2026 Mille Bolle Alcohol Free Sparkling Available from Laithwaites (£5.99) Best non-alcoholic wine for prosecco lovers Rating: 4.5/5 ABV: 0% Crafted with Chardonnay and Glera grapes, the wine is gently de-alcoholised using modern, environmentally friendly techniques, which aim to preserve more of the wine’s natural characteristics. Yeast and grape juice are added for a secondary fermentation which gives the alcohol-free wine more depth and rounded flavour, with fruity notes of green apple, honeydew and peach, and its fine bubbles. JH Available from: Laithwaites (£5.99) ¡H! Barcelona Hola Alcohol Free Sparkling Available from Laithwaites (£4.99) Best non-alcoholic wine for cava lovers Rating: 4/5 ABV: 0% This wine is produced by Belgian entrepreneurs Christopher Heirwegh and Christel Weemaes, who moved to Barcelona with a dream of producing the world’s best cava. Just like cava, this non-alcoholic brut wine is produced with the region's local grapes, Macabeo, Parallado and Xarel-lo, then fermented and carbonated. It’s certainly reminiscent of cava, although with more sweetness and tropical fruit character alongside the vibrant bubbles, bright green apple and lime notes. JH Available from: Laithwaites (£4.99) Von Buhl Zero Secco Alcohol-Free Available from Laithwaites (£8.99) Best eye-catching non-alcoholic wine Rating: 3.5/5 0.5% A non-alcoholic take on their hugely popular Secco wine, Von Buhl Zero Secco Alcohol-Free comes from Germany’s historic Reichstrat Von Buhl winery, which was founded in 1849. The estate is known for having some of the most well located vineyards in the Pfalz region, more than 40% of which are classified as grand cru, as well as crafting innovative new wines such as this alcohol-free option. Bold fruit notes of grapefruit, lime, green apple, pear and apricot are joined by floral undertones and a mineral finish, all presented in an eye-catching ceramic bottle. JH Available from: Laithwaites (£8.99) De Bortoli The Very Cautious One gewurtz riesling Available from Ocado (£5.50) Best non-alcoholic sweet wine ABV: 0.0% Rating: 5/5 Part of the De Bortoli Wines portfolio based in Australia, this wine has heady aromas of lychee and beeswax. It's unsurprisingly sweet with lots of rose petals, peaches and overripe nectarines on the palate. You might detect a touch of minerality at the end which adds interest and stops it tasting too sickly and soapy. We advise serving well chilled. MN Available from: Ocado (£5.50) De Bortoli The Very Cautious One shiraz Available from Ocado (£5.50) Best full-bodied non-alcoholic red ABV: 0.0% Rating: 5/5 This pours as a dark ruby red. It is nuanced and complex with floral notes of rose, honeysuckle and sweet pea blooms on the nose, which then move into dark fruits, raspberries and blueberries on the palate, leaving you with red apple skin tannins and tobacco. It's another great Australian entry to the list. MN Available from: Ocado (£5.50) Eisberg cabernet sauvignon Available from Morrisons (£3.25), Amazon (£3.50) Best non-alcoholic vegan red wine ABV: 0.0% Rating: 4.5/5 Aromas of cooked cherries and jammy strawberries appear along with a touch of green peppers, juicy blackcurrants and blackberry. There is a touch of acidity on the palate but this gives way to a smooth, rounded mouthfeel, lots more fresh cherry flavour and a touch of tannic astringency providing a moreish finish. Serve at room temperature, but, as with all these wines, keep chilled the rest of the time once opened. They don’t keep more than a day or two without the preservative qualities of alcohol. MN Available from: Morrisons (£3.25) Amazon (£3.50) Eisberg sauvignon blanc Latest Deals Best non-alcoholic sauvignon blanc ABV: 0.0% Rating: 4/5 This has delightfully tempting fresh floral aromas of elderflower with hints of green apple. The flavour is supported by lots of juicy ripe pear, peach and more elderflower with a touch of melon. We suggest serving this very well chilled or in a spritz to keep the sweetness in balance – as a helpful reminder to serve this cool, 'eisberg' is the German word for iceberg. MN Latest Deals Eisberg alcohol-free merlot Available from Ocado (£3) Best alcohol-free merlot ABV: 0.0% Rating: 4/5 Raspberries, blackberries and a hint of a woody aroma appear here along with a dash of clove and vanilla. On tasting you’ll find rich, juicy black cherry skins and soft blackberries. As the flavour develops on your palate, the dry and tannic qualities appear before leaving you with a lingering gentle return of cloves and a touch of cocoa. MN Available from: Ocado (£3) M&S alcohol-free merlot Available from Ocado (£4) Best for making alcohol free mulled wine ABV: 0.05% Rating: 4/5 On the nose you’ll find black cherries and stewed plums. The tastes evokes a light mulled wine there’s a lot of warming festive spices, baked orange and more slow cooked stone fruits. The tannins and the dry finish keeps the sweetness in check for what is an accessible and easy drinking merlot. MN Available from: Ocado (£4) Leitz Eins Zwei Zero riesling Available from Amazon (£13.99) Best non-alcoholic German wine ABV: 0.0% This wine has some earthy notes on the nose to begin with, but on the palate it tastes like a German riesling with peachy fruit, blending sweetness and acidity. This actually made me want another glass. MN Available from: Amazon (£13.99) Torres Natureo muscat Available from DryDrinker (£9.41) Best non-alcoholic wine for a spritzer ABV: 0.0% The Natureo range from Torres, one of Spain’s biggest producers, is probably the best widely available low-alcohol wine. This muscat is unashamedly sweet with notes of honey and flowers. It tasted best in a spritzer with ice and sparkling water. MN Available from: DryDrinker (£9.41) Torres Natureo rosé Available from Ocado (£5.45) Best non-alcoholic rosé wine ABV: 0.0% This rosé from Torres is also pretty good. Again, there's no doubt that it's sweet (2.6g sugar per 100ml) but the sweetness suits it and the finish isn't at all cloying. If you like Mateus rosé (for those under 40, ask your parents), you’ll enjoy this. MN Available from: Ocado (£5.45) Hacienda de Lluna moscatel rosado 2024 Available from Laithwaites (£5.99) Best low-alcohol sparkling rosé ABV: 5% Even when drunk during a dull, grey British winter, this bright thirst-quencher will transport you to warmer climes. Made from the moscatel grape (one of the oldest in the world) on the sunny slopes around Valencia, Spain, this gentle fizz is an easy drinker. This has the sweetness of ripe grapes, a crisp finish and just 5% ABV, making it a lightweight tipple that will suit many palates. Available from: Laithwaites (£5.99) La Chica Bonita 2023 Available from Laithwaites (£5.99) Best low-alcohol sparkling ABV: 5% Another Valencian moscatel, this low-alcohol fizz (5% ABV) comes from winemaker Fernando Tarin Casado, a specialist of the moscatel variety. The gentle fizz brings a wave of floral notes, as well as peach, mandarin and that signature ripe grape taste. This sweetness is well balanced by a lemony freshness, and the result is an off-dry tipple that makes a pleasing apéritif or light accompaniment to food. Available from: Laithwaites (£5.99) Le Monferrine moscato d'asti frizzante 2024 Available from Laithwaites (£7.99) Best low-alcohol asti ABV: 5% Hailing from the Piedmont region of north-west Italy, asti has been classified as a denominazione di origine controllata e garantita – the highest classification Italian wine can achieve – and is the highest-producing appellation of the country. Naturally low in alcohol (this one is just 5% ABV) and made in the frizzante style, moscato d’asti is medium-sweet and full of bubbly charm. Le Monferrine brings hints of rose petal, along with the classic grape and fruity, fresh flavours. Available from: Laithwaites (£7.99) L'Occhiolino semi-sparkling red Available from Laithwaites (£7.99) Best low-alcohol sparkling red ABV: 7.5% Sparkling red wine might not quite have the same reputation in the UK as its lighter-coloured cousins, but it is steadily growing in popularity – and for good reason. This fresh Italian frizzante is best served properly chilled, and the ripe fruit and sweet spices make themselves known with the gentle bubbles. At just 7.5% ABV, it’s a much easier drink than many reds. Available from: Laithwaites (£7.99) How we tested non-alcoholic wine All wines were stored and served at the temperatures suggested by the producer. Each one was tasted in the same style of glass for the first taste, and then in a wine glass best suited to the grape variety. We were looking for bottles that accurately evoked the characteristics of the wines they were emulating, but more importantly, seeking flavour and complexity that would please both drinkers and non-drinkers alike. How is non-alcoholic wine made? Non-alcoholic wine can be made in a few different ways. A common method is vacuum distillation. This lowers air pressure in order to be able to reduce boiling temperature, before wine is boiled. This means alcohol is boiled off the liquid at a much lower temperature, which is far less destructive to the delicate flavours and aromas of the wine. Other methods of making non-alcoholic wine include using mechanical filtration or a process called a ‘spinning cone’ which separates the wine in order to isolate and remove the alcohol. What are the disadvantages of non-alcoholic wine? A word of warning: non-alcoholic wines are often sweet, much sweeter than conventional wines. A normal off-dry white will have around 4-7 grams of residual sugar per litre, and many of these have the same amount per 100ml – not a great option if you’re trying to lose weight. They're too sweet to cook with, too. Low or alcohol-free wines are made by creating a normal wine, removing the alcohol by using a spinning cone, and sweetening the resulting liquid with sugar or grape juice to give it some body. Many have a small amount of added flavouring in them, too. Some styles of non-alcoholic wine work better than others: we saw best successes in non-alcoholic prosecco and German riesling, perhaps because both are based on originals that are sweet and low-alcohol. Non-alcoholic drinks inspiration Best non-alcoholic champagnes and sparkling wines Non-alcoholic drinks recipes Mocktail recipes Top 10 non-alcoholic drinks ideas Non-alcoholic Christmas drinks ideas We’d love to hear about your favourite non-alcoholic wine. Share your suggestions in the comments below.
Best port to buy in 2026, from tawny to vintage
From ruby and tawny to vintage, there's a port to suit your taste and budget. Find out how our wine experts, Henry Jeffreys and Jonathan Hatchman, rated them during our taste test
Port is made by taking very ripe grapes grown in the Douro Valley, crushing them to extract as much colour and flavour as possible, and leaving them to ferment. While there is still lots of sugar, brandy is added to kill the yeasts and stop fermentation, leaving a wine of about 20% alcohol that’s intensely sweet, fruity and bold. The cheapest ruby ports spend a couple of years in wood before being bottled. At the top of the tree sit vintage ports, which are only made in the best years. Ideally they need around 15-20 years minimum in bottle before being ready to drink. There are also single quinta ports, which come from a particular year but mature quicker, and late bottled vintage (LBV), matured in large wooden vats for six years before bottling ready to drink. There are also tawny ports, which aged in barrels with oxygen contact like sherry, until they lose their colour and take on a nutty quality. They can be superb, and sold ready to drink with no need to decant. Finally, you can buy white ports that make great aperitifs, especially when mixed with sherry. Some say port should just be drunk in December, but we think it can be enjoyed year-round. Tawnies, in particular, are surprisingly versatile and pair well with any season. Read on to find which ports are best. For more, visit our review section and find over 400 buyers' guides, including taste tests of gin, whisky, vodka, rum, brandy and more. Best port to buy at a glance Best tawny port: Sandeman 20-year-old tawny port, £47.95 Best complex port: Alta No. 10 Tawny Port, £23 Best ruby port: Andresen Fine Ruby Port NV, £18.99 Best port for beginners: Taylor’s 10 Year Old Tawny Port, £30.50 Best port for cocktails: Graham’s Blend No 5 White Port, £24.67 Best value port: Tesco Finest 10-year-old tawny port, £14.50 Best budget port: António José Da Silva Tawny Port, £22 Best port for a light, nutty finish: Waitrose No.1 Reserve Tawny Port, £16 Jump to: How to store port once opened How to drink port What to eat with port Best port to buy in 2026 Sandeman 20-year-old tawny port Available from Amazon (£47.95) Best tawny port Rating: 5/5 ABV: 20% The complexity is astounding with orange peel, tobacco and masses of candied fruit. And just when you think it's over, a wave of walnuts hits you and goes on for a good 15 minutes. I don’t think you will find so much pleasure anywhere for the money. Blimey! HJ Read our full Sandeman 20-year-old tawny review. Available from: Amazon (£47.95) Quinta Da Pedra Alta No. 10 Ten Year Old Tawny Port Available from The Wine Society (£23) Best complex port Rating: 4.5/5 ABV: 19% Aged in granite lagars, Alta No. 10 comprises a blend of various aged parcels, with differing levels of sweetness and acidity, as well as a small portion of especially old barrels, aged for at least 40 years. The aim here is to produce a port where sweetness takes a back seat, with the acidity providing more of the focus. Bold dried fruit aromas are joined by toffee and caramel, continuing on the palate with expected tawny complexity and velvety texture, while the finish is refreshing and fruity. Best enjoyed slightly chilled. JH Available from: The Wine Society (£23) Andresen Fine Ruby Port NV Available from Laithwaites (£18.99) Best ruby port Rating: 4/5 ABV: 19.5% One of the last remaining family-owned and run port houses, Andresen have been producing remarkable ports since 1849. Particularly renowned for using a strictly curated grape selection, the extensive cellars house a vast collection of aged ports resting in barrel, ready to be expertly blended. This young port is eminently fruity with jammy forest fruit notes, hints of chocolate and a lengthy, juicy finish. JH Available from: Laithwaites (£18.99) Taylor’s 10 Year Old Tawny Port Available from Ocado (£30.50) Best port for beginners Rating: 4/5 ABV: 20% While better known for its vintage ports, Taylor’s 10 Year Old Tawny port is an exemplary version of the style. Fully matured in seasoned oak casks and blended from extensive reserves of old cask-aged ports, this port is elegant and complex with rich fruit notes of ripe berry, fig and prune, plus mellow chocolate and oak notes alongside a long, jammy finish. JH Available from: Ocado (£30.50) Graham’s Blend No 5 white port Available from Amazon (£24.67), Waitrose (£26.50) Best port for cocktails Rating: 4/5 ABV: 19% A modern take on white port made with two grape varieties, Malvasia Fina and Moscatel Gallega which are cold-fermented and sold unaged to preserve primary fruit. It’s intensely aromatic with floral, honey and citrus fruits, and makes a cracking alternative to gin when mixed with tonic. HJ Available from: Amazon (£24.67) Waitrose (£26.50) Tesco Finest 10-year-old tawny port Available from Tesco (£14.50) Best value port Rating: 4/5 ABV: 20% Made by one of Porto's great families, the Symingtons, this is another wine that offers great value. It's a blend of wines with an average age of 10 years, giving it the ripe strawberry fruitiness of young wines but with the nuttiness of older ones. One to give people who think they don't like port. HJ Available from: Tesco (£14.50) António José Da Silva Tawny Port Available from Laithwaites (£22) Best budget port Rating: 3.5/5 ABV: 18% Master of fine port Álvaro van Zeller has collaborated with Laithwaites for a very special, limited-edition tawny port, produced exclusively from aged wines selected from Álvaro’s cellar’s best barrels. With each barrel bringing something completely different to the blend, this tawny port is complex and silky with profoundly rich depth, with walnut, dried fruit, caramel and fig flavours alongside some baking spice presence. Great with roasted chestnuts, Christmas cake or hard cheeses. JH Available from: Laithwaites (£22) Waitrose No.1 Reserve Tawny Port Available from Waitrose (£16) Best port for a light, nutty finish ABV: 20% This is made by the Symingtons, the family that owns Grahams port. You’ll find candied fruit on the nose while the palate is sweet and light, with an earthy finish, like biting into a Brazil nut. HJ Available from: Waitrose (£16) How to store port once opened Ruby and vintage ports should ideally be drunk within five days of opening. After that period, while still alcoholic and drinkable, they will start to lose freshness and taste raisin-y. Don’t leave your port in a decanter for months. Put the cork back in the bottle or stopper the decanter, and keep it somewhere cool and dark like a cupboard. Tawny ports are different because they are aged with oxygen contact and will only deteriorate very slowly. Once opened a tawny port will last for a month or more. It’s a style that suits chilling so why not keep the bottle in the fridge? How to drink port To decant or not to decant, that is the question. The ageing process will leave sediment in vintage port. To remove this, stand the bottle up overnight and carefully pour into a glass jug or decanter with a light or candle shining at the neck of the bottle, when you start to see a heavy sediment, stop pouring. You’ll probably lose about half a glass of port (which is handy for putting in gravy.) Most ports won’t need decanting, however. Tawny ports are very nice chilled whereas other types suit being served cool but not cold. Too hot and they will taste too alcoholic. Port is deceptively strong, 20%, so it’s worth serving it in smaller glasses. Something like a sherry copita works best. What to eat with port In Britain, we tend to associate vintage port with stilton but it also goes brilliantly with hard cheeses like mature cheddar and comte. While there’s nothing better with Welsh Rarebit than a tawny port, saucisson sec and cured ham are also a good fit with this style. Meanwhile, young vintage or LBV have an affinity with chocolate - try them with these Melting Chocolate Puddings. Don’t be afraid to mix your port: white port is great with tonic, and ruby and cheaper tawnies can be used in cocktails in place of vermouth. And finally you don’t have to serve port with anything, a glass of chilled tawny makes a fine aperitif. Related reviews Best champagne Best prosecco Best cava Best rosé wine Best gin to buy as gifts Best bourbon Best craft whiskies Best Pinot Noir For information on alcohol guidelines, read our guide to drinking responsibly.
Our wine experts put the best champagnes to the test in order to find the best bottles – from supermarket bubbles to some fairly posh plonk, you're sure to find your new favourite fizz.
It’s the drink of parties and celebrations, of weddings and christenings, the drink that conjures up special occasions and a touch of luxury. Champagne is no everyday drink so, when buying a bottle, it’s worth buying the best – so we’ve rounded up the best champagnes to buy so you can find the ultimate bottles to pop. There’s plenty of choice when it comes to fizz these days: from affordable prosecco and cava to unique English sparkling wines and even non-alcoholic sparkling options, but champagne remains the most decadent option. The strict rules limiting the region of the same name where it can be made in northern France, along with production rules, explain why its price tag is often higher as well as why it retains such a distinct character. Some champagne houses may be familiar names, such as Taittinger or Veuve Clicquot, but we’ve tested a range of lesser known, budget-friendly and even best supermarket champagnes, too, to find a brilliant affordable bottle of bubbly. Our selection varies from £15 to £50, for fizz to suit any budget. For more, visit our reviews section to find more than 400 practical buyer's guides, including taste tests of gin, vodka, rum and brandy, plus round-ups of the best rhubarb gins, pink gins and citrus gins. For regular wine deliveries direct to your door, discover our Good Food x Laithwaites partnership for discounts on exclusively curated wine cases chosen by experts and the Good Food team. Best champagnes at a glance Best grower champagne: Château de Bligny Grande Réserve, £34.99 Best Blanc de Blancs champagne: Laithwaite Brut Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs, £32 Best richly flavoured champagne: Champagne Gaston Declos 25th Anniversary Blanc de Noirs Brut NV, £39.99 Best fresh tasting champagne: Champagne Bruno Paillard Première Cuvée Extra Brut, £44 Best all-rounder champagne: Tesco Finest Premier Cru Brut NV, £26 Best of the big-name champagnes: Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut NV, £50 Best budget champagne: Veuve Monsigny Champagne NV, £15.49 Best blanc de noirs: Waitrose Blanc de Noirs Brut, £28 Best rose champagne: Taittinger Brut Prestige Rose NV, £49 Jump to: What is the best champagne? Why is champagne so expensive? What makes a bad champagne? How we tested champagne How to open champagne Champagne cocktail recipes What is the best champagne to buy in 2026? Château de Bligny Grande Réserve Available from Laithwaites (£34.99) Best grower champagne Star rating: 4.5/5 ABV: 12% Fun fact: Château de Bligny is the only house in champagne to benefit from the title of château. All of the estate’s winemaking stages are conducted on-site, from growing to fermenting and ageing. Dating back to the 18th century, it was taken over in 1999 and renovated. Comprising an equal blend of chardonnay and pinot noir, the Château de Bligny Grande Réserve is bottle-fermented and lees-aged, which gives the wine a remarkably toasty richness, joined by bold floral aromas, ripe pear, strawberry, peach and nectarine notes and just a touch of brioche. With dense structure, fine bubbles and lingering finish, it’s a complex and astonishingly well-balanced champagne. Available from: Laithwaites (£34.99) Laithwaite Brut Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs Available from Laithwaites (£32) Best Blanc de Blancs champagne Star rating: 4/5 ABV: 12.5% Produced exclusively for Laithwaites, from a prominent cellar in the village of Vertus, this Blanc de Blancs champagne is crafted using grapes sourced entirely from premier cru vineyards, undergoing a 30-month maturation (which is double the required minimum). With expected finesse and less weight than traditional champagne, this has plenty of butter and toasted brioche notes alongside crisp green apple, lemon and a delightful biscuit character on the complex, elegant finish. Available from: Laithwaites (£32) Champagne Gaston Declos 25th Anniversary Blanc de Noirs Brut NV Available from Virgin Wines (£39.99) Best richly flavoured champagne Star rating: 4/5 ABV: 12% Virgin Wines has partnered with Gyéjacquot Frères for the past 15 years, so to celebrate the wine merchants’ 25th anniversary, a collaborative cuvée has been launched. Founded in 1970 by brothers Daniel and Michel Gyéjacquot, the House of Gyéjacquot Frères is still family owned, with an estate of 19 hectares of vineyards spread across eight villages in the Côte des Bar. Exclusively produced from pinot noir, the house’s star grape, the Champagne Gaston Declos 25th Anniversary Blanc de Noirs Brut NV is aged for 22 months on its lees, expressive and rampant with apple, lemon, brioche and hazelnut notes, with pronounced freshness and delicacy. With layered richness, the champagne is great as a standalone, but also pairs incredibly well with food. Available from: Virgin Wines (£39.99) Champagne Bruno Paillard Première Cuvée Extra Brut Available from Wanderlust Wines (£48), Hedonism Wines (£44) Best fresh tasting champagne Star rating: 4.5/5 ABV: 12% Established in 1981, Bruno Paillard is an independent, family-owned champagne house with an aim of showcasing the northern and chalky character of champagne. An interpretation of the entire Champagne region, their flagship Bruno Paillard Première Cuvée features a blend of pinot noir, chardonnay and meunier from more than 30 crus from the most noble terroirs, with 20 per cent fermented in-barrel and aged for three years on lees. What’s also notable about this particular champagne is the extraordinarily low dosage, at fewer than five grams per litre, which provides outstanding finesse and purity. Ripe grapefruit, lime, redcurrant, cherry are all clear on the nose and on the palate, complete with bright acidity and a long, clean finish with a whisper of almond. Available from: Hedonism Wines (£44) Wanderlust Wines (£48) Tesco Finest Premier Cru Brut NV Available from Tesco (£26) Best all-rounder champagne Size: 75cl ABV: 12.5% Star rating: 4/5 This probably the best value champagne on the market and it’s one I buy regularly. With its notes of bruised apple, flakey pastry, toasted brioche and hazelnuts, it massively over-delivers for the money. Also, unlike many other supermarket champagnes, it’s consistently excellent so you can buy repeatedly with confidence. Available from: Tesco (£26) Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut NV Available from Waitrose (£50), Tesco (£50), Amazon (£48) Best of the big-name champagnes Size: 75cl ABV: 12.5% Star rating: 4/5 That orange label is so ubiquitous that it’s easy to overlook Veuve Clicquot. This would be a mistake because in the past few years it has become one of the best Grand Marque non vintages around. I loved its lemon sherbert vibrancy, creamy texture and long brioche finish. Absolutely superb and well worth the money, especially if you buy six bottles. Available from: Waitrose (£50) Tesco (£50) Amazon (£48) Veuve Monsigny Champagne Brut Available from Aldi (£15.49) Best budget champagne Size: 75cl ABV: 12.5% Star rating: 3.5/5 This is a crazy affordable price for champagne. It’s a name that attracts headlines all over the press for its supposed ability to rival the well-known champagne giants and while I don't think it's as good as all the hype would have you believe, it is much better than you would expect a £14.99 champagne to be. It is simple, clean and well balanced. Just the thing if you’re having a party. Available from: Aldi (£15.49) Waitrose Blanc de Noirs Brut Available from Waitrose (£28) Best blanc de noirs Size: 75cl ABV: 12.5% Star rating: 4/5 Another supermarket stalwart, this is made by Alexander Bonnet for Waitrose. The term ‘blanc de noirs’ means that it is made from black grapes only (pinot noir and meunier) and the result is rich and bold. If you like a fuller style of champagne, then you'll like this. Lots of complexity for around the £20 mark and often less when you buy six bottles or more. Available from: Waitrose (£27.99) Taittinger Brut Prestige Rose NV Available from Sainsbury's (£49), Waitrose Cellar (£49) Best rose champagne Size: 75cl ABV: 12.5% Star rating: 5/5 Champagne roses are usually made with a small addition of red wine (made from pinot noir) being added to the blend. Sometimes this is such a little amount that you can barely taste it. Not so with this rose champagne which is positively packed with dark cherry fruit. I loved its intense savoury finish. This would work well served alongside duck or other rich dishes. Available from: Sainsbury's (£49) Waitrose Cellar (£49) Latest Deals Why is champagne so expensive? Champagne is a costly wine to produce. The raw materials (that is, the grapes) are the most expensive in France. Most champagne houses don’t own nearly enough vineyards to provide for their needs so they have to buy in grapes from small growers. This demand pushes up the price. The region Champagne has a climate very similar to southern England so these precious grapes don’t get terribly ripe. The resulting wines – low in alcohol and high in acidity – are not yet delicious but perfect for turning into sparkling wine. The process where base metals are turned into sparkling gold involves blending the still wines, usually from different vintages and vineyards all over the region, into a house style. The resulting blend is then bottled with a mixture of wine, yeast and sugar, sealed, and left to ferment a second time. The result is those magic bubbles of carbon dioxide. But this secondary fermentation also produces flavours of toast, nuts and yeast – the flavours we most associate with champagne. It’s left in this state for a minimum of 15 months (some are kept for decades like this). The yeast is then removed, the wine corked, and it is ready to sell, though the best wines are kept longer. All of this takes time and money. What makes a bad champagne? Disappointing champagnes – and there are many, sadly – will have been made from inferior grapes, matured for the minimum period and will result in a green acidity that has been merely masked with sugar. Wines like these are the reason many people think champagne is over-hyped. Those lovely toasty, bready notes take time to arrive and time is money. No wonder most of us just reach for one of the big names (though these can be a disappointment too). How we tested champagne All champagnes have been tested by wine writers Henry Jeffreys and Jonathan Hatchman. Henry is a drinks and wine writer who writes for Master of Malt and his work has appeared in the The Guardian, The Spectator and The Financial Times. We thought it would be interesting to try the best of the no-name champagnes. We sampled a range, from supermarket own-labels made by giant cooperatives to hand-crafted champagnes made by small growers who use only their own grapes, unusual in Champagne. The wines tried ranged from £10.99 to £50 though the majority were in the £20-30 sweet spot. Each champagne was tasted blind. Not surprisingly the more expensive bottles, on the whole, tasted better. The conclusion? Around £18 seems to be the minimum you should spend. Anything cheaper, you’d be much better going for something sparkling from Australia, New Zealand or Spain. This article is updated regularly to find the best champagnes to buy each year. How to open champagne When opening a bottle of fizz, remember it will behave far better and more predictably if it has been left to sit and chill for a few hours. Warmth and/or rough handling both make for an explosive cork situation and the likelihood of more mess and waste. Champagne should go into glasses, not onto ceilings. Make sure you have your glasses ready and within easy reach. Then, take your bottle and remove the foil; there should be a tag or perforation line to make this easy and neat. Once this is done, grip the neck of the bottle in one hand with your thumb over the top of the caged cork. From here on in, keep the bottle pointed away from yourself and anyone present, especially people's faces – about a 45 degree angle is good. With your other hand, untwirl the cage fastening. Uncover your thumb, lift off the cage and replace your thumb over the cork. If you can feel the cork pushing to leave the bottle already, get a glass ready. Otherwise, with the bottle gripped in one hand, slowly pull up the cork with the other. It may be quite stiff at first – if so, alternate pulling and twisting motions – but as you go you'll start to feel the pressure from within helping you out. Ease it up, always with your hand over the cork in a firm grip and, as you hear a pop, you know you've opened it. As to pouring champagne, if everything went smoothly, you have a bottle at 45 degrees, with a touch of vapour wafting out. Let that excess gas escape for a few seconds, then in smooth, gentle motions, pour a small amount - just a splash - into each glass in turn. Now return to the first glass and, tilting it also at around 45 degrees, top up slowly, until no more than two-thirds full. If the champagne is very lively and the mousse is rising to the top of the glass despite a slow pour, just move onto the next one and come back to it. That mousse is the fizz escaping, and in excess, leaves you with a flat drink, and nobody wants that. Don't over-fill the glass, as it will warm up far faster there than in the bottle, and warm champagne is a shame. If you have a bottle where the cork is straining to be free as soon as the cage is removed, then you will have to move fast. Once the cork is out, it will be followed by froth, which should go straight into that readied glass. Keep pouring off the excess into your glasses one by one until it subsides, then top up as before. Champagne cocktail recipes We’ve gathered the best champagne cocktail recipes for when you want to do more with your bottle. Classic champagne cocktails include buck’s fizz for a special brunch, or a fruity kir royale made with crème de cassis. For something a little more unique, try a champagne mojito or refreshing sgroppino (mixing champagne with vodka and lemon sorbet). Fans of an aperol spritz can put champagne to good use in a sparkling aperitivo spritz during summer. In the festive season, a spice 75 is a perfect Christmas party drink. Check out our list of champagne cocktails you can make in minutes, using as little as two ingredients to make something special. Champagne recipes Champagne cocktails you can make in minutes Mimosa recipe Raspberry champagne cocktails More wine and drinks reviews Best wine gifts Best cava Best sloe gin Best bottles of gin to buy as gifts Best rum Best classic gin Best vodka Best tequila Best prosecco Best Pinot Grigio Best wine deals Best wine glasses Best champagne glasses Best whiskey glasses Best champagne deals Best cava deals Best prosecco deals Best wine for Christmas
12 of the best English sparkling wines to buy, 2025
Discover the best English sparkling wine to buy, a growing genre of drink that can be enjoyed like champagne, prosecco or cava.
Once considered a curiosity, English sparkling wine has now firmly established itself among the world’s finest fizz. Crafted using similar methods to Champagne, these English wines are typically made from classic grape varieties such as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. Thanks to England’s chalky soils and cool climate, they deliver remarkable freshness, delicate bubbles, and a distinctive crisp acidity that rivals their French counterparts. To help you find the very best bottles, our drinks experts taste-tested and rated a selection of the best English sparkling wines, from well-known big producers to up and coming boutique vineyards, ranging from £25 to £45 a bottle. Here, we reveal our top 12 picks — the bottles worth celebrating, whatever the occasion. Best English sparkling wine at a glance Best richly flavoured English sparkling wine: Wyfold Vineyard English Sparkling Brut 2017, £38 Best for food pairing: Harrow & Hope English Sparkling Blanc de Blancs 2020, £40 Best budget English sparkling wine: Laithwaites English Heritage Sparkling Rosé NV, £28 Best sustainable English sparkling wine: Virgin Wines 25th Anniversary Limited Edition English Sparkling Brut NV, £38.99 Best English Pet Nat: Good Day Pet Nat, £25.55 Best elegant English sparkling wine: Black Chalk Classic Cuvée 2022, £40 Best English sparkling rosé: Exton Park RB|23 Rosé NV, £39 Best own label brut: Candover Brook Brut NV, £38 Best organic English sparkling wine: Davenport Limney Estate 2014, £27 Best non-vintage English sparkling wine: Redfold Vineyard Ambriel Classic Cuvée NV, £33 Best with strawberries: Bolney Cuvée Rosé 2018, £39.95 Best rosé English sparkling wine: Everflyht Rosé de Saignée 2019, £45 Best English sparkling wine to buy 2025 Wyfold Vineyard English Sparkling Brut 2017 Available from Laithwaites (£38) Best richly flavoured English sparkling wine Rating: 4.5/5 ABV: 12% Wyfold is Barbara Laithwaite’s two-hectare Oxfordshire vineyard, high on a south-facing slope of flinty gravel and chalk in the Chilterns. Using a traditional blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, the grapes are sent off to Barbera’s son Henry’s Harrow & Hope winery, where they’re expertly crafted into great English sparkling wine. The 2017 Brut is lees-aged for five years, which gives the wine a particularly bold flavour, with remarkable richness. Typical apple and pastry aromas are joined by elegant mineral length, with lime juice, orange peel, sweet cherry, pear and soft peach notes on the palate, finished with bright acidity typical of the style. Best served only slightly chilled to let the flavours standout. JH Available from: Laithwaites (£38) Harrow & Hope English Sparkling Blanc de Blancs 2020 Available from Laithwaites (£40) Best for food pairing Rating: 4.5/5 ABV: 12% Winner of Gold in the International Wine Challenge 2025, the Blanc de Blancs 2020 from Harrow & Hope in Marlow is a fine example of an English sparkling wine. Using 100% Chardonnay grown in a single vineyard which sits on an ancient Thames gravel terrace, wild yeast fermentation in the barrel and minimal sulphur, the wine is lees aged for four years. Lemon, green apple and mineral aromas dominate the nose, while the palate is fruity with notes of lime, grapefruit, apple, peach, quince, nice pastry notes and a dry, acidic finish. JH Available from: Laithwaites (£40) Laithwaites English Heritage Sparkling Rosé NV Available from Laithwaites (£28) Best budget English sparkling wine Rating: 3.5/5 ABV: 12% Showcasing outstanding English sparkling wine and celebrating the global reputation it has gained, English Heritage has collaborated with Ridgeview Estate in Sussex for this sparkling rosé. Produced with a trio of high-quality Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier grapes, using the same traditional method as champagne with long lees ageing, the resulting wine has a gorgeous toasty complexity with bright summer berry, green apple and citrus notes, creamy mousse and an elegant finish with toasted brioche flavours. JH Available from: Laithwaites (£28) Virgin Wines 25th Anniversary Limited Edition English Sparkling Brut NV Available from Virgin Wines (£38.99) Best sustainable English sparkling wine Rating: 4/5 ABV: 11.5% To celebrate their 25th anniversary, Virgin Wines have launched a small-batch English sparkling brut, produced by one of their favourite English winemakers, Collette O’Leary, Head Winemaker at Henners in Sussex. Committed to sustainable vineyard and winery practices, Henners are a founding member of Sustainable Wines of Great Britain, led by a small team. This particular English sparkling wine is crafted in the traditional method and is particularly elegant with notes of marzipan joining green apple, lemon zest, buttery pastry and just a touch of subtle spiciness on the creamy, biscuity finish. JH Available from: Virgin Wines (£38.99) Good Day Pet Nat Available from Shop Cuvee (£25.55) Best English Pet Nat Rating: 5/5 ABV: 10.5% This English Pet Nat wine has been produced by Ben Walgate of Tillingham fame especially for London-based restaurant, wine shop and wholesaler Top Cuvée. It is an outstanding version of the style. Crafted with Sussex-grown Pinot Noir, Rondo, Phoenix and Seyval grapes, it’s a really vibrant and fruity wine, complex and well-balanced, with summer berry, strawberries and cream sweets a hint of vanilla and pronounced tartness with echoes of rhubarb that lingers on the finish. Best served chilled (slightly cooler than typical sparkling wines). JH Available from: Shop Cuvee (£25.55) Black Chalk Classic Cuvée 2022 Available from Black Chalk Wine (£40) Best elegant English sparkling wine Rating: 5/5 ABV: 12% Black Chalk Classic Cuvée 2022 is the latest release from the dynamic English wine producer based in Hampshire’s Test Valley. Since 2015, Black Chalk have become particularly renowned for their approach to winemaking: reflecting their chalk soils, using minimal intervention and producing with meticulous attention to detail. For the 2022 vintage, a blend of hand-harvested Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier grapes undergo whole bunch pressing for purity of flavour before being cool fermented with 10% fermented oak, then aged for at least 22 months on lees and a further six months on cork post-disgorgement. The result is an exceptionally crisp wine with fresh acidity, well-balanced with just a hint of oak richness, lovely creaminess from the long lees-aging and a long, vibrant finish. JH Available from: Black Chalk Wine (£40) Exton Park RB|23 Rosé NV Available from Exton Park (£39) Best English sparkling rosé Rating: 4/5 ABV: 11.5% Founded by Malcolm Isaac MBE, a UK salad industry pioneer, Exton Park’s first vines were planted in 2003 with the intent of becoming one of the leading English sparkling wine producers in the Hampshire Valley. The Exton Park RB|23 Rosé NV has since become the estate’s most popular wine, using hand-harvested grapes from their single vineyard, pressed plot-by-plot before being stored in their library of reserve wines. This particular blend is a delicate, dry rosé with balanced floral character, ripe peach, sweet cherry and apple notes alongside vibrant acidity and some feint burnt sugar on the long finish. JH Available from: Exton Park (£39) Candover Brook Brut NV Available from Candover Brook (£38) Best own label brut Rating: 4/5 ABV: 12% Crafted at the Sainsbury family’s regenerative farm estate in Hampshire, Candover Brook Brut NV is based on the 2019 harvest from the farm’s single vineyard. It is all hand-harvested, whole-bunch-pressed and vinified in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks. To produce this particular wine, base wines from the 2019 vintage are blended with reserve wines from a solera dating back to 2011, which gives the wine plenty of aromatic complexity. Aged for a minimum of 42 months on lees, the wine has bold floral and lively young fruit notes alongside some nutty overtones, creamy vanilla, orchard fruits and a long, mineral finish. JH Available from: Candover Brook (£38) Davenport Limney Estate 2014 Available from Corkk, £27 Best organic sparkling wine It’s not easy growing organic grapes in England’s damp climate, but Davenport manages it with style. The fruit is superb with notes of lemon peel and crunchy green apples. I imagine this would be incredible with shellfish. HJ Available from: Corkk (£27) Redfold Vineyard Ambriel Classic Cuvée NV Available from Corkk, £33 Best non-vintage A producer based in the South Downs in West Sussex. This wine smells of caramelised apple with a touch of yeast extract, take a sip and there’s firm lemony acidity with beautiful delicate little bubbles and a yeasty finish. HJ Available from: Corkk (£33) Bolney Cuvée Rosé 2018 Available from Slurp (£39.95) Best with strawberries Don’t be fooled by the pale colour, this is meaty wine. With its dark cherry flavours it tastes almost like a red wine. For the money, I’d rather drink this over most pink champagnes. HJ Available from: Slurp (£39.95) Everflyht Rosé de Saignée 2019 Available from Threshers (£45) Best rosé wine The name might be unusual but new brand Everflyt is doing some remarkable things. If you think rosés can be a bit boring then think again. This is bursting with raspberries with cranberries with oaky flavours and even a little tannin. It’s a little bit wild and all the better for it. HJ Available from: Threshers (£45) More drinks reviews The best champagne The best cava The best malbec The best prosecco The best classic whisky The best brandy Best rosé Best wine glasses Best pinot noir Best wine deals Best cava deals Best champagne deals Best prosecco deals Best wine for Christmas This review was last updated in November 2025. Have you tried English sparkling wine? We'd love to hear your favourites below...
Drinks experts Henry Jeffreys and Jonathan Hatchman share their best Malbec to buy, from Argentina and beyond. We've got wines for any budget, with blowout bottles and plenty under £10
A wine merchant once let me into a secret about ordering from an unfamiliar wine list: go for the Rioja or the Malbec, and you can’t go wrong. Malbec is one of the very few grape varieties, like Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay, that has become a brand name familiar to non-wine buffs. What’s all the more remarkable is that 25 years ago the word ‘Malbec’ was almost unknown. In its home in south west France where it went into an often rather tough wine called Cahors, it was called Cot. In Bordeaux, however, it was known as Malbec but there was very little of it. Once an important variety, it had largely been superseded by Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc, and Merlot. But there were acres and acres of the stuff in Argentina, where it was brought by French immigrants in the 19th century. In the 1990s Argentinian producers managed to harness all that sunshine to transform this often awkward grape into something that people loved, full-bodied but with smooth tannins, lushly fruity and perfumed with violets. A new wine style was born, Argentinian Malbec. It’s become such a success that in south west France, they now call the grape Malbec instead of Cot, and it is generally made in a fruitier, more friendly style than in the past. Most Malbec on the shelves comes from Argentina or France, but we have included a couple from other countries too. Read on to discover the pick of the best Malbec wines, ranging from under £10 to £30 a bottle. For more unbiased expert buyer's guides and taste tests, visit our review section to find 400+ round-ups of everything from the best English wine and prosecco to rosé. To learn more about wine, explore our complete wine varieties guide and discover all you need to know about Chenin Blanc, Garganega, Vermentino and much more. For regular wine deliveries direct to your door, discover our Good Food x Laithwaites partnership for discounts on exclusively curated wine cases chosen by experts and the Good Food team. Best Malbec at a glance Best overall Malbec: Zuccardi Concreto Malbec 2021, £30 Best Malbec for pairing with food: Opi Malbec Reserve 2023, £16.99 Best Malbec for Bordeaux lovers: HJ Fabre Barrel Selection Patagonia Malbec 2023, £17.99 Best fusion Malbec: Domaine Bousquet’s Finca Lalande Malbec 2024, £13 Best value Argentinian Malbec: Definition Uco Valley Malbec 2022, £13.50 Best Malbec under £10: by Amazon Our Selection Mendoza Argentinian Malbec, £8.49 Best Australian Malbec: Felix Noctua Malbec 2024, £13.99 Best value French Malbec: Tesco Finest Malbec Cahors, £8.75 Best French Malbec: Georges Vigouroux Malbec Le Grand Retour, £12 Best Malbec with steak: Trivento Golden Reserve Malbec, £16 Best Malbec to buy in 2025 Zuccardi Concreto Malbec 2021 Available from Laithwaites (£30) Best overall Malbec Star rating: 5/5 ABV: 14% From one of Argentina’s most revered wine producers, the Zuccardi Concreto Malbec 2021 is produced using grapes grown in the chalky soils of the estate’s own vineyards in Paraje Altamira. The chalky character of the soil is highlighted by fermenting and ageing the wine in concrete vessels, hence the 'Concreto' name. It's this unique ageing process that gives the wine the purity, precision and elegance it has become so well renowned for. Fresh and floral on the nose with some herbal aromas, the palate is characterised by berry fruitiness with chalky tannins, a hint of black pepper and a bold floral finish. An absolutely exemplary Argentinian Malbec. Available from: Laithwaites (£30) Opi Malbec Reserve 2023 Available from Laithwaites (£16.99) Best Malbec for pairing with food Star rating: 4/5 ABV: 14% Made by Rodolfo Sadler, chief winemaker at Andean Vineyards in Argentina, this uses grapes from older, higher altitude vineyards in the Maipu region of Mendoza. It was aged for 15 months in new French and American Oak barrels for rounded tannins and greater depth of flavour. With intense black fruit notes of plum, mulberry and blackcurrant, this is a particularly juicy Argentinian Malbec with some gorgeous vanilla and spice notes lingering on the finish. It’s an elegant bottle that is great for pairing with food, especially steak, roast beef and game. Available from: Laithwaites (£16.99) HJ Fabre Barrel Selection Patagonia Malbec 2023 Available from Laithwaites (£17.99) Best Malbec for Bordeaux lovers Star rating: 4/5 ABV: 14.5% Bordeaux-born Hervé Fabre moved to Argentina during the 1990s and soon fell in love with old-vine Malbec. Since then, the winemaker has bought estates in Mendoza and Patagonia, where he runs his winery like a Bordeaux Château, with barrel cellars at each. This particular wine is made like a fine claret, using grapes from 30-year-old vines in Patagonia’s Río Negro, aged for a year in French oak barriques. The result is a powerful, elegant Malbec with velvety tannins, a hint of oak, blackcurrant, spice and a medium to full body with a well-balanced finish. Top tip: ideally decant for at least an hour to experience this wine at its best. Available from: Laithwaites (£17.99) Domaine Bousquet’s Finca Lalande Malbec 2024 Available from Waitrose (£12) Best fusion Malbec Star rating: 4/5 ABV: 13% The Bousquet family fell in love with the Gualtallary Valley, which occupies the highest extremes of Mendoza’s viticultural limits. It is here that the family planted vines to nurture organically-grown wines with their dream terroir, a perfect blend between France and South America. The results blend French winemaking with Argentinian terroir. Really showcasing the Gualtallary soil, the Finca Lalande Malbec’s 2024 vintage is bursting with red and black fruit notes, including plum, blueberry, blackberry and fig alongside soft tannins and an elegant, well-balanced finish. Available from: Waitrose (£12) Definition Uco Valley Malbec 2022 Available from Majestic (£13.50) Best value Argentinian Malbec Star rating: 4/5 ABV: 14% Crafted exclusively for Majestic, the Definition Uco Valley Malbec is a more accessible wine from Zuccardi, the producers of the Concreto Malbec above. Using grapes from vineyards which range between 800-to-1400 metres above sea level, half of the wine is aged in French oak for 10 months while the other portion is aged in concrete egg vats, like Zuccardi’s other exceptional wines. This protects the fruit and terroir. In this edition, jammy notes of blackberry, plum, blackcurrant and black cherry are joined by some oak and vanilla hints, plus some very feint tobacco alongside smooth tannins and moderate acidity. Available from: Majestic (£13.50) By Amazon Our Selection Mendoza Argentinian Malbec Available from Amazon (£8.49) Best Malbec under £10 Star rating: 3.5/5 ABV: 13.5% From Amazon’s own curated range of high quality food and drink, the By Amazon Malbec showcases grapes from 25-year-old vines in the Agrelo district of Mendoza in Argentina. A pure, classic example of Argentinian Malbec, the wine is bold with violet, redcurrant and blackcurrant notes alongside a silky smooth finish. Although not quite as complex as other options, the By Amazon Malbec is far greater than its price suggests, great for pairing with food. Available from: Amazon (£8.49) Felix Noctua Malbec 2024 Available from Virgin Wines (£13.99) Best Australian Malbec Star rating: 4/5 ABV: 13.2% Sun-kissed, perfectly ripe Australian Malbec grapes are showcased in this Felix Noctua Malbec, known for their pronounced jammy fruit flavours. Produced by the expert team at Felix Noctua in South-Eastern Australia, this particular wine reminds us of the nation’s red wine credentials, which is a slight step away from the better known French and Argentinian Malbecs. Offering plenty of depth without excess, the jammy dark fruit presence is balanced by some subtle spice and a touch of earthiness, framed by silky tannins and a long fruity finish. Available from: Virgin Wines (£13.99) Tesco Finest Malbec Cahors Available from Tesco (£8.75) Best value French Malbec Star rating: 3/5 ABV: 13% Cahors, the original home of Malbec, tends to produce wines with more tannin than Argentina. That is the case here, but it’s also supported by acres of fresh ripe damson fruit so it’s not going to frighten the horses. Available from: Tesco (£8.75) Georges Vigouroux Malbec Le Grand Retour Available from Majestic (£12) Best French Malbec Rating: 4/5 ABV: 13.5% Another wine from Cahors, this is more traditional than the Tesco version. There’s a smell like old leather with dark fruit and violets. It’s robust on the palate with dark fruit and grippy leather, but with freshness and fragrance too. Try this with cassoulet. Available from: Majestic (£12) Trivento Malbec Golden Reserve Available from Tesco (£16) Best Malbec with steak Rating: 4/5 ABV: 14% Trivento makes a huge range of wines (including some tasty supermarket own labels) but I’ve gone for a more upmarket version which is worth the extra money. It’s very spicy with violets, plums and the kind of furry tannins that love a nice bit of rare steak. Available from: Tesco (£16) More drinks reviews Best champagne Best prosecco Best rosé Best classic whisky Best brandy Best pinot grigio Related reviews Best wine glasses Best champagne glasses Best whiskey glasses Best Pinot Noir Best red wines for cooking Best wine for Christmas This review was last updated in October 2025. What do you think of our selection of best Malbec wines? 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From classic scotch to innovative bottles from Taiwan, Australia and India, discover the best single malt whisky to buy
When single malt whisky is mentioned, most people think of Scotland, which is widely recognised as its historic and spiritual home. However, distilleries around the world are now getting involved in the production of truly outstanding single malts. Not governed by the same strict criteria as Scotland, prominent distilleries in Japan, India, Taiwan, Ireland, the US and beyond are now producing world-class single malt whisky and earning global acclaim, even among whisky purists. To put it simply, single malt whisky must be made from 100 per cent malted barley and distilled at one single distillery. Single malt whiskies can differ significantly from region to region, even if produced in the same country. Scotch single malt is a typical example of this, with widely varying flavours across different regions, from peaty and powerful, to light and floral. Many Indian single malt whiskies have bold, tropical flavours thanks to the fast-aging climate, while Japan is renowned for elegance and precision, producing whiskies that are often light and oaky. Distilleries in the US and wider Europe tend to produce innovative takes on the style that are inspired by Scotch single malt icons. Some single malt whiskies work well in cocktails, but the general consensus is that they are best enjoyed either neat or with a splash of high-quality spring water to open up the flavours, especially in higher-ABV expressions. Here, drinks expert Jonathan Hatchman has selected the best single malt whisky to buy, covering a range of styles and prices, from under £35-70+. Read on for our in-depth reviews, and for over 400 buyer’s guides, visit our reviews section to find taste tests of gin, vodka, tequila, rum and much more. Jump to: What is a single malt whisky? How to choose a single malt whisky Best single malt whisky to buy 2025 How we tested single malt whisky Best single malt whisky to buy at a glance Best ‘new world’ single malt whisky: Copperworks Release 046 single malt whiskey, £68.95 Best exotic scotch single malt whisky: Fettercairn 16-year-old, £71 Best sustainable single malt whisky: Nc’nean Organic single malt whisky, £51.75 Best introduction to Japanese single malt whisky: Nikka Miyagikyo single malt whisky, £63.56 Best for tropical smoothness: Kavalan classic single malt whisky, £73.50 Best Indian single malt whisky: Amrut single malt whisky, £45.50 Best for peated whisky lovers on a budget: That Boutique-y Whisky Company Islay eight-year-old single malt whisky, £44.95 Best for bourbon drinkers exploring single malt: Yellowstone American single malt whiskey, £69.50 Best budget single malt whisky: The Busker single malt Irish whiskey, £35.25 Best for wine-cask complexity: Starward Left-Field single malt whisky, £33.95 What is a single malt whisky? The criteria for a spirit to be defined as single malt whisky is fairly consistent throughout the world, although Scotland’s regulations are the gold standard. Single malt scotch whisky must be: made exclusively from malted barley be produced at a single distillery be distilled in pots, then matured in oak casks for a minimum of three years bottled at 40 per cent ABV or higher Global single malts follow a similar definition, although pot-still distillation isn’t always a legal requirement, nor is aging for more than three years, though this is still very common. Flavour profiles vary greatly from region to region, even within the same country, but some of the most typical tell-tale flavour notes of a single malt whisky include maltiness, orchard fruits, oak, floral and/or herbal notes and subtle spiciness, dependent on the cask type. Given the need for 100 per cent malted barley, single malt whisky differs quite significantly from other popular styles such as blended whisky, bourbon, rye and single grain. How to choose a single malt whisky Regardless of origin, there’s generally something to suit everybody when it comes to single malt whisky, given the category’s great flavour diversity. When buying a bottle of single malt whisky, it’s best to start by looking for flavours that you appreciate. If you enjoy fruity wines or smoky mezcal, for instance, look for similar notes in whisky. It’s also worth paying attention to age statements, which make a huge difference to overall flavour; alcohol by volume, as a higher ABV generally promises a more intense flavour; cask type and whether the whisky is peated (smoky) or unpeated. Best single malt whisky to buy 2025 Copperworks Release 046 single malt whiskey Available from The Whisky Exchange (£68.95) Best ‘new world’ single malt whisky Rating: 4.5/5 ABV: 50% Copperworks Distilling Company in Seattle, US, produces a range of spirits – including American single malt whiskey – by distilling high-quality, unhopped craft beer into whiskey. Run by former brewers Jason Parker and Micah Nutt, the pair utilise their beer knowledge to create truly mesmerising spirits that are distilled in traditional copper stills specifically created in Scotland for this purpose. Showcasing a dedication to terroir and craftsmanship, Copperworks Release 046 single malt whiskey is produced using Genie barley from a single farm in Oregon, which undergoes a long fermentation followed by maturation in new American oak casks. The resulting spirit is extremely vibrant, with bold lemon zest, straw, vanilla and peach aromas that are joined by notes of rose water, raspberry and caramel on the palate and finished with a faint hum of chocolate. An outstanding, well-balanced American single malt that will leave you wanting another sip. Available from: The Whisky Exchange (£68.95) Fettercairn 16-year-old Available from Selfridges (£81.99), The Whisky Shop (£92), The Tipple Cellar (£71) Best exotic scotch single malt whisky Rating: 4.5/5 ABV: 46.4% Located in the heart of Aberdeenshire, Fettercairn Distillery has a progressive approach to scotch single malt whisky production. Since 1824, Fettercairn has been distilling outstanding whiskies, with its copper cooling ring lending a unique house style to its bottles. Pure mountain water is a key ingredient – the stills are drenched in it from the outside, which cools the copper and allows only the finest vapours to rise, resulting in a light spirit with bold, tropical fruit notes. This unique house style is showcased by Fettercairn 16-year-old, which has joined the distillery’s core range. Deep grilled pineapple, passion fruit and mango notes are joined by vanilla, which gives way to honey, almond, soft baking spices and rose, plus mandarin, pear and cacao on the finish. Available from: Selfridges (£81.99) The Whisky Shop (£92) The Tipple Cellar (£71) Nc’nean Organic single malt whisky Available from The Whisky Exchange (£51.75), Waitrose (£55), Master of Malt (£67.94) Best sustainable single malt whisky Rating: 4.5/5 ABV: 46% Since its inception in 2017, Nc’nean has strived to do things differently. The primarily female-run distillery is based on the west coast of Scotland and uses longer mashing times, slow fermentation and experiments with uncommon yeasts to create new flavours in whisky. In 2021, Nc’nean also achieved verified net-zero status for carbon emissions from its own operations, making it the first UK whisky distillery to be classified as such for scopes one and two. It also achieved B Corp accreditation in 2022. Produced using 100 per cent organic Scottish barley, the distillery’s flagship single malt whisky is an elegant and fruity expression, with bright lemon oil, nectarine and fudge flavours joined by grass, wine gums, candied pineapple, a hint of buttered toast and rich spice that lingers on the finish. An extremely well-balanced whisky from a distillery intent on doing its bit for the planet. Available from: The Whisky Exchange (£51.75) Waitrose (£55) Master of Malt (£67.94) Nikka Miyagikyo single malt whisky Available from Master of Malt (£72.99), The Whisky Exchange (£77.25), Spiritly (£63.56) Best introduction to Japanese single malt whisky Rating: 4/5 ABV: 45% Founded in 1934 by Masataka Taketsuru – often regarded as the 'father of Japanese whisky' – Nikka whisky has long been inspired by traditional Scotch whisky, using traditional production techniques combined with Japanese precision and attention to detail. It has two distilleries: Yokchi and Miyagiko. Produced at the Miyagikyo distillery near Sendai in northern Japan, Nikka Miyagikyo single malt is a complex, fruity Japanese single malt whisky. Bold floral and soft fruit aromas give way to a rich palate, with roasted nut, ripe fruit, chocolate and honey flavours. Fruity and floral notes dominate the well-balanced finish, alongside a touch of oak and baking spices. This fruitier expression from Nikka is perfect for fans of Speyside whiskies, but also a great introduction to Japanese single malt whisky. Available from: Master of Malt (£72.99) The Whisky Exchange (£77.25) Spiritly (£63.56) Kavalan Classic single malt whisky Available from The Whisky Exchange (£73.75), Master of Malt (£73.50), Spiritly (£64.21) Best for tropical smoothness Rating: 4.5/5 ABV: 40% As is typical of whisky from countries with warm climates, Taiwanese whisky matures much faster than those aged in temperate areas, meaning the style is often exceptionally smooth. Founded in 2005, Kavalan is Taiwan’s first whisky distillery, mastering tropical aging to create a sophisticated portfolio of whiskies. As well as the maturation benefits, Kavalan’s distillery site was especially chosen for the abundance of pure spring water available from the Snowy Mountain range, which also has a notable effect on the resulting whisky’s complex flavours. Coconut, tropical fruit and honey notes dominate Kavalan’s Classic single malt whisky, with ripe mango, spiced honey cake, apple and bold citrus notes, which develop further on the palate. A great example of masterful tropical aging, with a bold, fruit-forward flavour profile. Available from: The Whisky Exchange (£73.75) Master of Malt (£73.50) Spiritly (£64.21) Amrut single malt whisky Available from The Whisky Exchange (£45.50), Master of Malt (£47.45) Best Indian single malt whisky Rating: 4/5 ABV: 46% Established in 1948, Amrut has been producing some of India’s best whisky for decades, with its first single malt whisky introduced in 1982, inspired by the Scotch whisky introduced to the country during the British colonisation. Unlike Scotch whisky, Amrut single malt whisky is distilled with heritage Indian barley grown in the foothills of the Himalayas. India’s warm climate rapidly increases the speed of maturation – it's said that one year of cask maturation in India is equivalent to approximately three years of aging in Scotland. A downside of this, however, is the amount of liquid lost to evaporation, meaning older age statements are incredibly rare from Indian distilleries. What’s most noticeable about Amrut single malt whisky is the flavour imparted by the use of six-row barley, which adds different flavour and texture to that typical of scotch whisky. Honey and vanilla are prominent on the nose, alongside lemon and orange peel, caramel and baking spices, while a slightly tart barley note is joined by further orange, vanilla and honey on the palate. Overall, it’s rich albeit not overly complex given its relative youth, with gorgeous stone fruit flavours and dark chocolate that lingers on the medium-light finish. Available from: The Whisky Exchange (£45.50) Master of Malt (£47.45) That Boutique-y Whisky Company Islay eight-year-old single malt whisky Available from Master of Malt (£44.95) Best for peated whisky lovers on a budget Rating: 4/5 ABV: 45.8% Having started life in 2012 as an independent bottler, renowned for its extensive collection of rare releases, That Boutique-y Whisky Company has more recently began to add to its award-winning core range – a selection of bottles considered to be some of the finest in their field, according to the experts behind the brand. From the core range, That Boutique-y Whisky Company’s Islay eight-year-old single malt whisky encapsulates the spirit of the Scottish island. Crafted in small batches of 1,000 litres, the whisky is sourced from an undisclosed distillery, finished in both ex-bourbon hogsheads and ex-sherry octaves and bottled without chill filtration or additional colouring. Boldly peated with a distinct earthiness alongside citrus, oak, fudge and dried fruit notes, the whisky has plenty of dry peat presence on the palate, with juicy fruit flavours and warm vanilla, and more earthy smokiness on the finish. It’s a very well-balanced, competitively priced option, perfect for peated scotch whisky lovers. Available from: Master of Malt (£44.95) Yellowstone American single malt whiskey Available from Master of Malt (£69.50) Best for bourbon drinkers exploring single malt whisky Rating: 4/5 ABV: 54% Especially renowned for Yellowstone Select bourbon, a new American single malt expression has been added to the brand’s portfolio, produced at the Limestone Branch Distillery in Kentucky. Like scotch single malt, the Yellowstone American single malt whiskey is produced from 100 per cent malted barley and aged in oak using new charred American oak barrels, in which the liquid is matured for four years. Typical single malt notes of cereal and honey are joined by hints of pear, stone fruit, date, vanilla and barrel spice notes, complete with pepper and spiciness evocative of rye whiskey, plus further vanilla on the mellow finish. A good introduction to American single malt whiskey, building excitement for an expression with a greater age statement. Available from: Master of Malt (£69.50) The Busker single malt Irish whiskey Available from The Whisky Exchange (£35.25) Best budget single malt whisky Rating: 3.5/5 ABV: 44.3% A contemporary Irish whiskey brand, The Busker is a relative newcomer, launched in 2020. Operating from the Royal Oak Distillery, The Busker is proud to be the sole Irish whiskey brand to produce all styles under one roof, with a portfolio containing pot still, single malt and grain whiskeys that strive to balance tradition with innovation, using only locally sourced raw materials. Moreover, the distillery fully reclaims waste from cereal distillation and fermentation for animal feed, totalling over 20 million litres of liquid waste and 2,000 tonnes of solid waste. Distilled in large copper stills and matured in American oak bourbon and oloroso sherry casks, The Busker single malt has stewed fruit, pine, malt biscuit and rich chocolate notes, plus a sweet and creamy lingering finish that nicely showcases the spirit’s richness. Starward Left-Field single malt whisky Available from The Whisky Exchange (£38.25) Best for wine-cask complexity Rating: 3.5/5 ABV: 40% Based in Melbourne, Australia, Starward was founded with the goal to create a whisky reflective of Australia’s unique character, using ingredients sourced from within a day’s drive of the distillery and innovative production methods, including some processes inspired by craft brewing. From the distillery’s core range, Starward Left-Field single malt whisky is matured in 100 percent French oak casks that previously held wine from Australia’s Barossa Valley region, best known for shiraz. Tannic, fruity notes are joined by a hint of apple skin, apricot jam and dried fruits, plus whispers of almond, maple syrup, cacao and baking spices like nutmeg and ginger. Ginger cake flavours also prevail on the palate, alongside a bold vinous character with woody notes and a suggestion of oaky vanilla, rye bread, dark chocolate and liquorice. A bold, complex whisky with some tropical notes on the finish and a soft tannic structure. Available from: The Whisky Exchange (£38.25) How we tested single malt whisky When tasting single malt whisky, there are a few key components to consider: the aroma (which is often the most complex part of the whisky), flavours with a specific focus on balance, texture or mouthfeel, finish and the overall value of the whisky, taking various aspects of the production and finesse into consideration. Given the many different flavour profiles and personal preferences, it’s important to consider that a good single malt whisky will have a prominent aroma that’s not dominated by the smell of alcohol and well-balanced flavour regardless of whether it’s powerful or more subtle, and it will ultimately leave you reaching for another sip. All of the featured whiskies were blind-tasted neat, then again with a drop of spring water to open up the aromas and flavours for a more nuanced tasting experience. 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