Barolo seems an unlikely finish for a peaty Scotch—especially for those who like their whisky to taste like, uh, whisky—but Longrow Gaja Barolo makes a strong case for it. The seven-year-old single malt from Springbank, one of Scotland's most renowned distilling dynasties, is matured in bourbon casks for five years and then finished for a year and a half in Barolo wine casks from Angelo Gaja's famed vineyard in Piedmont. The result? A symphonic confluence of flavors, with smoke from the Scotch creeping up over the fruit and harmonizing perfectly with the oak. Caveat emptor: It's a cask-strength 111.6-proof, and—unlike a Barolo—is best served with a splash of water.
About $80, springbankdistillers.com