International Chocolate Day 2025: 5 Best Whiskeys With Chocolate Notes
Celebrate International Chocolate Day 2025 with whiskies that balance smooth cocoa, coffee, and vanilla notes. From Glenlivet to Dalmore, here are five bottles that taste like dessert in a dram
Some flavours just belong together—and whisky with hints of chocolate is one of them. Rich, smooth, and oh-so-decadent, these expressions carry notes of cocoa, coffee, and vanilla that make each sip feel like dessert in a glass. Perfect for both whisky lovers and those just starting to explore, these bottles bring out the comforting, indulgent side of the spirit. This International Chocolate Day 2025, raise a glass to these chocolate-forward whiskies that prove sometimes the sweetest pleasures come in a dram.
5 Whiskies With Chocolate Notes
The Glenlivet 18-Year-Old
A classic single malt that’s both elegant and full of flavour, The Glenlivet 18 is one to savour slowly. Aged in American oak and ex-sherry casks, it offers a balance of citrus brightness and rich, chocolatey depth. Think dark chocolate raisins, sweet vanilla, and warm spice wrapped into a silky finish.
Tasting Highlights:
- Nose: Tropical fruit, plums, dark chocolate, vanilla
- Flavour: Citrus, cocoa, cinnamon spice
- Finish: Long, with raisins and spice
Price: Around INR 9,000 (Gurgaon); INR 15,500 (Mumbai)
Chivas Regal 18-Year-Old
If you’re after something smooth and layered, Chivas 18 is a treat. It’s often described as a “chocolate lover’s whisky,” with dark chocolate, caramel, and dried fruit notes leading the way. The palate is rich and dessert-like, finishing long and sweet with just a hint of smoke.
Tasting Highlights:
- Nose: Dark chocolate, dried fruits, toffee, vanilla
- Flavour: Butterscotch, caramel, candied orange, gentle spice
- Finish: Sweet, warm, lingering
Price: INR 10,500–12,000 (Gurgaon); INR 17,000–19,000 (Mumbai)
Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition
Born from a collaboration with a local craft brewer, Jameson Caskmates is aged in stout-seasoned barrels—giving it a chocolatey, malty twist. Expect smooth Jameson character with added layers of cocoa, hazelnut, butterscotch, and creamy milk chocolate. It’s approachable, versatile, and perfect neat, on ice, or in a cocktail.
Tasting Highlights:
- Nose: Fresh hay, orchard fruits, hazelnut, milk chocolate
- Flavour: Cocoa, butterscotch, a touch of hops
- Finish: Long, bittersweet, chocolatey
Price: Varies by city, but generally more affordable than the 18-year-olds above
Aberlour A’bunadh
For fans of bold, sherry-cask whiskies, Aberlour A’bunadh is a chocolate bomb. Cask-strength and non-chill filtered, it’s rich with flavours of dark cocoa, dried cherries, and warming spice. Imagine sipping liquid fruit-and-nut chocolate with a fiery kick—intense, but unforgettable.
Tasting Highlights:
- Nose: Dark chocolate, dried fruit, cinnamon
- Flavour: Rich cocoa, orange zest, nutty sherry sweetness
- Finish: Long, warming, and slightly spicy
Price: ~INR 12,000–15,000 (depending on batch)
Dalmore 12-Year-Old
Known for its luxurious style, Dalmore 12 spends time in both bourbon and oloroso sherry casks, giving it a velvety, dessert-like profile. Expect smooth layers of chocolate orange, roasted coffee, and nutmeg—making it a go-to for anyone who likes their whisky on the indulgent side.
Tasting Highlights:
- Nose: Citrus, coffee, chocolate
- Flavour: Dark cocoa, vanilla, orange peel, spice
- Finish: Sweet, elegant, slightly nutty
Price: ~INR 8,500–10,500 in India