Women’s Rugby and Whisky: 6 Drams Inspired by the Women’s Six Nations

Few sports events are as iconic as rugby’s biggest annual tournament (at least, in the northern hemisphere): The Six Nations Championship.

Every year, national teams from England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Italy and France compete to lift the coveted trophy, making it one of the most-watched sporting events of the year.

Whilst the men’s tournament has come and gone, we are now full into the women’s tournament, and this year’s edition is a milestone one, as record crowds are being recorded across the board in most of the games. The growing connection between women’s rugby and whisky also feels more natural than ever, with fans gathering to celebrate not only the sport itself, but also the traditions, flavours and stories that unite these rugby-loving nations.

To put this into perspective, the second weekend saw Scotland take on England at home, playing at Murrayfield Stadium for the very first time in front of a record crowd of almost 30,500 people, setting the highest attendance for a women’s sports event in the country.

And, much like our well-beloved drams, these teams have all their unique characteristics.

As we head into the Women’s Six Nations Championship final week, here are a few “pairing” ideas to have some extra fun and a bit of a journey around the world, with some lesser-known whiskies from around Europe.

England: Power and Precision in a Dram

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England is, by far, the team expected to win this championship, as they have each year since 2019. Distinctively, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) has been the one to invest the most in women’s rugby over the past decade, both at the grassroots and elite levels, pushing athletes’ professionalism and creating a pool of talent unlike any other nation in women’s rugby. Which is also why they took home the World Cup title last year.

The level of athleticism here is quite unmatched in any other team – they have power, speed and endurance, as well as some of the finest strategists of the game around.

Most importantly, they have paved the way for women’s rugby to elevate its level in Europe and worldwide.

For this team, I have picked Lakes’ Distillery: one of the new wave of distilleries, established in 2011 to help kick off the current whisky scene, and which has created a series of delicious, award-winning whiskies.

One example is their Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.7: a blend of oloroso, PX, and red wine casks (Spanish and American oak) that was bottled at a god 52% and which is the latest in the series. It’s a relatively young whisky, full of depth, power and flavour, with layers of complexity that just make everyone go “wow” when they sip it. Much as we do, watching the Red Roses doing their thing on the pitch.

France: Spice, Flair and French Single Malt

Although Les Bleues are lagging somewhat behind in depth and development compared to English rugby, their level of play and the growth of the game in the country have been another inspiring driving force in women’s sports.

They are a tough enemy on the pitch: their game is spicy and fierce, with some of the most powerful forwards of the game, as well as some moments of pure genius and brilliance in the back line, taking some of the best aspects of the French free-flowing game.

When talking about spice and fierce originality, we can have a look and a sip at the French distillery Moon Harbour.

This Bordeaux-based distillery has some incredible single malts in its range, including one expression made with barley smoked with seaweed, which imparts a delicate smoky, briny character to the whisky.

A great and unconventional dram, much like the players in full blue.

Ireland: Tradition and High Voltage Energy

Credit: Stefano Delfrate, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A team which has turned a corner in recent years, Ireland has found depth and a squad which is electric, energetic and vibrant, and is able to take on some of the top teams in the world and put up a great fight (including a milestone win against the Black Ferns back in 2024, which has kicked off an avalanche for the national side in green).

Therefore, a whisky I’d like to recommend sipping while you are watching this side play is Redbreast 12… cask-strength edition!

A classic name in Irish whiskey, Redbreast comes from the Midleton distillery in Cork, which distils six popular Irish Whiskey brands (including Jameson). There is tradition, heritage and history at play here.

This edition of Redbreask 12 is a Single Pot Still whiskey, and the cask strength edition, at 57% ABV, is described as its ‘high voltage’ version of the spirit.

It has a warming spiciness combined with fruity notes, and it packs a punch of flavours. It’s something that reminds you of the glories of the past, but with a fiery energy that accentuates depth and flavours, making it an absolute banger.

Scotland: Sustainability and Resilience

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Now, where to start with the home of whisky (don’t tell the Irish! Well, it is at least in terms of global exports, right?).

Scotland’s team has made interesting progress in recent years, with some excellent performances and surprising wins, alternating with the occasional big upset (as it happened last month against Italy).

The whole team went through very tough times just ahead of the women’s World Cup last year, as many players’ contracts had not been renewed, and their head coach left after that tournament, along with some stalwarts of the team.

They stuck together through thick and thin. They have some individual glories, and the progress is there.

For this team, my pick is NcNean for the distillery, and for the whisky, I’ll go with the expression I have loved the most among their range (so far).

NcNean is among the wave of new distilleries, has made a mark for its sustainability goals and standards, and is also one of the first distilleries founded by a woman (recently).

The dram I am raving about is the Quiet Rebels: Amy, which is a pretty darn good dram: it brings together Nc’nean’s organic Scottish barley with a finish in casks coming from a tiny French vineyard where they do everything by the moon and plant trees right among the vines (agroforestry), resulting in a fortified wine profile that’s basically Port’s sophisticated French cousin: Maury.

Bottled at a sturdy 48.5%, it’s a blend of those Maury casks with their classic STR and Bourbon maturation. It’s a treat on the palate and the nose: buttery, creamy, with hints of red berries and orange peel, alongside a lovely oakenness and depth.

Young yet complex, it is finding its way in a difficult market to navigate. This is an exceptional dram, like the women’s squad!

If you are keen to know more about Scotch whisky check our range of whisky experiences in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness or even better let us craft your next distillery tour accorss Scotland.

Wales: Grit, Spice and Determination

If most of the teams on this list have been through rough patches, Wales has probably had the worst and longest one, one that also includes the men’s team.

With issues at the Welsh Rugby Union level, this rugby-proud home nation is craving for success and results, and the pressure is on the athletes and the team. But even under pressure, these athletes can deliver amazing performances, and as a team, they have some truly world-class players.

For their grit and outside-the-box thinking despite the challenges, my pairing for them is a Welsh Rye whisky by Aber Falls distillery.

Besides the better-known Penderyn, Welsh whisky is still finding its feet, but Aber Falls produces some pretty good spirits.

Its 6-year-old rye whisky is a pack of spices (clove, cinnamon) and the warmth of rye bread with some sweeter vanilla and creamy notes.

A solid fighter, like the Welsh team!

Italy: Creativity, Chaos and Continental Whisky

Italy is the country in this tournament where rugby culture is considerably less prominent than in the others, yet they manage to play some incredible rugby, sometimes putting top-tier teams under pressure.

There are internal challenges, including the union’s lack of proper investment in women’s rugby, but the level of the game has been growing, and some excellent players have come through the Italian ranks and are now playing in top clubs in England and France.

If structure is slowly becoming more present, it is in broken play that this team thrives. The improvisation and creativity, with some spurs of genius, will have you jumping on the sofa and screaming at the TV.

Mad genius for me rings a bell when I think of one of the juiciest drams I have tried lately: Eretico Whisky’s 7-year-old, matured in grappa and Gewürztraminer casks.

Its producer, Psenner distillery on the South Tyrolean Wine Road, specialises in grappas but has since 2016 ventured into the whisky world, with pretty incredible results.

Will it be the same for the Italian team?

Celebrating Women’s Rugby Through Whisky

Women’s rugby and whisky both tell stories of identity, resilience, community, and passion. From the vibrant atmosphere of the Women’s Six Nations Championship to the artistry of distilleries across Europe, there’s a deeply human element to coming together to enjoy a great match and a memorable dram. Whether cheering for England, Scotland, France, Ireland, Wales, or Italy, these whiskies offer an exciting way to explore each nation’s culture. As women’s rugby continues to grow and attract record audiences worldwide, now is the perfect time to raise a glass and celebrate the game with exceptional drams. Whatever your dram of choice, we hope you enjoy the Women’s Six Nations final!

FAQ Section

What whisky pairs best with rugby?

Rich, characterful whiskies such as sherry-matured single malts or spicy rye whiskies pair particularly well with the atmosphere of a rugby match.

Why are whisky and rugby often connected?

Both rugby and whisky share strong traditions, community culture and regional identity, especially across Scotland, Ireland and Wales.

What is the Women’s Six Nations?

The Women’s Six Nations Championship is Europe’s biggest annual women’s rugby tournament featuring England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France and Italy.

Author
Federica Stefani
Whisky Writer & Journalist