The Whistler Irish Honey Liqueur

Lets kick things off with Bugonia, the fourth collaboration between Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone, and the third to be nominated for Best Picture. It tells the story of a high-powered CEO who is kidnapped under the belief that she’s actually an alien.

Finding a whisky to coincide with a story like that is pretty impossible, but there is an overwhelming theme of bees in the film (including its name) which brings us nicely to a honey-themed flavoured whisky — The Whistler Irish Honey Liqueur. Named best Irish Flavoured at the 2024 World Whiskies Awards, this is a sweet, honeycomb-overload. It's out of this world!

Rich aromas of honeycomb, like a honeycomb chocolate bar, and caramel chunks, with thick-set honey on oat crackers and vanilla ice cream. Tarte tatin and honey-glazed apricot pastry on the palate, with a frame of creamy vanilla and a lingering finish that is sweet with floral honey.

Jack Daniel's 2025 McLaren Edition

You don’t need to have seen F1: The Movie to have a pretty good understanding of what it’s about. From Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski and starring Brad Pitt, it feels like the most old-school, classic, American film in the lineup of ten.

Classic and American? Look no further than Jack Daniel’s. The brand released its McLaren Edition last year to celebrate its partnership with the motor racing powerhouse. As thrilling and exciting as the movie itself, there’s no more literal Oscar nominee as a whisky, than this.

A gorgeous combination of vanilla and fruit peel. Like nosing an orange sorbet. Pecan nut also comes through subtly. Pineapple. At first, there’s a caramel richness on the palate, which soon complements more vanilla and a subtle orange flavour. Almonds. Plums. Peach yoghurt.

Compass Box The Peat Monster

A film called Frankenstein needs no real introduction or explanation, others than its gothic influence and atmosphere is exactly what you’d imagine from a retelling of this story by Guillermo Del Toro.

What better whisky to pair with a film about a monster, than Compass Box The Peat Monster? The whisky is a frighteningly good blend, that has a really intense, punchy smokiness and maritime essence.

Prickly at first. A charcoal fire and oil paints. Banana bread, cut grass, and an agave-like sweet vegetal note. Cooked chard, rhubarb, and custard. Full bodied. Robust and spirit forward, with liquorice, menthol, lime, and a pleasing smoky, delicately woody character. Water brings out fresh apricots and dried pineapple. A shortbread biscuit note underpins it all.

Ardmore 12 Years Old Seyton Household Series Macbeth Act One

Chloe Zhao’s Hamnet is the most heartbreaking film of this year’s crop of nominees, telling the tragic story of William Shakespeare and wife Agnes dealing with the death of their son Hamnet, which leads eventually to the foundation of the play Hamlet.

This whisky bottling is one of ten inspired by another Shakespeare play — Macbeth — but the similarities between this whisky and the film are a little more nuanced. The Ardmore 12 Years Old has an extremely herbaceous, fresh flavour profile — woody herbs and mint especially — which compliments not only Zhao’s naturalistic, earthy directorial style, but honours Agnes’ role (played by Jessie Buckley on the cusp of her first Oscar win) as a gifted herbalist.

On the nose, herbaceous, like nosing a bouquet of flowers or lavender. Earthy. Subtle smoke. On the palate, very herbal, like a jasmine tea, with woody spices and hint of mint.

Ardbeg Wee Beastie

 In Marty Supreme, Timothee Chalamet plays a young, ambitious ping pong player, driven to the most chaotic and absurd lengths (as you’d expect from a Josh Safdie film) to achieve what he needs.

Young, ambitious and punchy, there’s no better counterpart to Marty Mauser than Ardbeg Wee Beastie. This 5 year old is fiery, intense and ambitious, but much like Chalamet, is impossible not to love and enjoy the youthful exuberance.

On the nose, there's a very strong maritime smoke, with hints of lemon and lime. Vanilla and syrup-glazed bacon. On the palate, its rich, with a powerful smokiness, chocolate, pepper spices and savoury meat.

Dewar’s Double Double 21 Years Old

Undoubtedly the year’s most acclaimed film, and the current frontrunner to win the Best Picture prize as well as several others, One Battle After Another tells the tale of a revolutionary in hiding, and the subsequent chaos when that cover is blown. There is a real prestige to its cast and crew, from Paul Thomas Anderson in the director’s chair, to Oscar-winning cast members like Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn. You could say this has a real blend of talent...

Speaking of blending, that brings us nicely to the whisky of choice, the award-winning Scotch blend Dewar’s Double Double 21 Years Old. Blended masterfully by Whisky Magazine Hall of Famer Stephanie Macleod, this expression is delightfully smooth, easy-going and has a considerable amount of prestige going for it.

Big and rich right off the bat. Lots of sherry-soaked sultanas and figs. Fresh citrus coming through too. There’s some well-balanced spice with a lovely light citrus touch. Leathery notes hide underneath. Rich and controlled, with good balance.

The Kingsmalt Crownline

For the second consecutive year, a Brazilian film has found itself in the Best Picture lineup, as the Academy’s international membership continues to grow exponentially year-on-year. I'm Still Here triumphed in International Feature last year, and now The Secret Agent will look to repeat this glory for Brazil.

In parallel, the Brazilian whisky scene is also continuing to excite, not just in production but also in its worldwide presence. Much like Wagner Moura’s Best Actor Golden Globe win on the big stage this year, The Kingsmalt Crownline won big for Brazil at the World Whiskies Awards last year, winning the Country’s Best Single Malt.

Savoury and nutty expression with some dark chocolate ganache and nutmeg. It has some tannins, a bit of a mouthcoating texture, and a lightly sherried finish.

Feddie Ocean Single Malt

 From acclaimed Norwegian director Joachim Trier, Sentimental Value features not one, but three powerhouse female performances from actress at the top of their game. This includes Norwegian duo Renate Reinsve and Inga Ibsdotter Lilleass who picked up deserving nominations.

What better comparison than Norwegian distillery Feddie Ocean, which has female power in abundance given its women-only approach to funding. The single malt itself has a breezy, soft complexity, perfect for light sipping and reflecting familial relationships.

Light and fruity on the nose, particularly with orchard fruits and orange. On the palate, there's a continued softness, with sweet notes of caramel and toffee, passionfruit and mango.

Good Trouble Bourbon Blue Limited Edition

This year’s biggest success story is Ryan Coogler’s Sinners. This vampire period drama smashed box office records for an original horror film, and has transcended popular culture. Music plays an integral role in the film, and those who have watched will be aware of the now-iconic scene featuring the Oscar-nominated song “I Lied to You” which showcases centuries of music influence, past and present, in a seamless one-take.

There’s no better representation of Sinners in whisky form than Good Trouble Bourbon Blue. Inspired by the Chicago Blues scene, this dram has a tremendous balance of toffee sweetness and pepper spice. The finish is smooth and soulful, and as Miles Caton sings in the film, “I love the blues.”

On the nose, there's a smoky warmth, with hints of toffee and vanilla. On the palate, pepper spice, toffee, strawberries, raspberries, and cherries.

Woody Creek William H Macy Reserve Straight Rye

Train Dreams is a very quiet character study about the fragility of life, following the character of Robert as he works on various projects to bring in the new world at the turn of the 20^th century. It’s undoubtedly the most subtle of this year’s nominees, and features a great cast of character actors including Joel Edgerton, Kerry Condon, and William H Macy. 

William H Macy you say? Well, he recently had his second release partnership with Woody Creek on the William H Macy Reserve Straight Rye. It’s a subtly spicy dram with a smoky texture. It has the abundance of American characteristics that wouldn’t have been out of place for the railroad workers in the film.

On the nose, spicy notes of ginger and cinnamon, along with citrus notes of clementine and lime. On the palate, there's a subtle smokiness and spice develops. Autumnal baking spices.