Scotch Whisky ; American Whiskey ; Japanese Whisky . And if you wanna get wild, check out ARC-52, a $75,000 single malt aged for 52 years that comes in a decanter that looks more like a spaceship than a bottle. This is a classic whisky from the Island of Skye. Scotch whisky distillers are very exacting about both the quality and the yield of the barley . There was a time, only a few years ago, when old reliable Glenlivet 12 could have been included in a list of the best . This scotch is rested in bourbon barrels and then finished in Oloroso sherry casks, says Adam Morgan, head bartender at Husk Nashville. Laphroaig 10 Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Barley grains are malted (germinated) and then dried to stop the processsometimes using peat as a heat source to infuse the grain with a smoky flavor. For something a bit more accessible, try the 10-Year-Old Sherry Oak, which gives a sherry finish to the core expression with fantastic results. 36.00 (51.43 / l) Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 70 cl | Sherry Finish Whisky. If youre looking for something quite a bit stronger, try Batch 15 of the cask-strength version of this classic, which you can proof down as you like. So a bottle of Glenfiddich 12, for example, may be a blend of a few hundred barrels, but all of them come from the Glenfiddich distillery, and the 12-year-old age statement refers to the youngest whisky in the mix. This year, there still was a total of 1,400 entrants judged. Legally, a small amount of caramel coloring can be used for color consistency in single malts. Water. Honey-coated Grape-Nuts cereal, sweet cinnamon, and a touch of chili pepper spice run through this classic. The core lineup was relaunched with new bottle designs, names, and expressions a couple of years ago. 13. Talisker 10 YO, Single Malt Scotch Whisky Photo courtesy Talisker Talisker, 10 YO, 45.8% ABV, 750 ml, $60 This is a classic whisky from the Island of Skye. The Macallan is also famous for its incredibly expensive, extra-aged whisky, some of which approaches three-quarters of a century of maturation. While Islay in particular is known for using peat in the malting process, which gives its whisky that smoky flavor, the majority of scotch is not smoky at all. SHOP NOW. 42.00. With a style out there for everyone, here are the best single malt scotch whiskies available in a range of categories. The Singleton is actually three separate brands: The Singleton of Glendullan, the Singleton of Glen Ord, and the Singleton of Dufftown. The core lineup ranges in age from 12 to 21 years, and there have been some excellent new limited editions as well. From there the age statement bottles range up to 25 years old, with the Winchester Collection doubling that as a trio of 50 year old vintages. The whisky is aged for 12 years in ex-bourbon barrels and hogsheads, finished for nine months in Oloroso sherry casks, and then transferred into large "tuns" to allow the liquid to mingle. The Macallan Single Malts - The Macallan Explore Our Single Malts Our Whisky Explore Our Single Malts Each and every Macallan single malt whisky reveals our unrivalled commitment to the mastery of wood and spirit since 1824. Hailing from the Lochranza Distillery on the Island of Arran, southwest of Glasgow and southeast of Islay, this whisky boasts delicately spiced citrus and honey-coated yellow apples. Aged in second-fill ex-bourbon barrels, the 16-year-old expression is well worth the splurge. The Islay distillery produces some of the most heavily peated whisky available. Single malt scotch is often regarded as a rarefied drinksomething to be approached with reverence. 750ml. Read more. 2021 New York International Spirits Competition. Must Every Single Malt Scotch Whisky Bottle Be a Unicorn? A major malt component of the Dewars blend comes from Aberfeldy, a distillery that has been around since the beginning of the 20th century. The NYISC gives out awards for Distillery of the Year by Scotch producing region. 75cl, 47.2%. Almond and honeysuckle aromas lead to a palate. Single Malt. Sale! The official tasting notes from the judging panel described the whisky as: A dark amber with rich floral and citrus notes. In the world of Irish Whiskey, the Single Malt is a prestigious title, with whiskies here tending to be minimum 10 years of aging in the barrel. The whisky is generally moderately peaty and matured mostly in sherry-seasoned casks, with bourbon barrels used for a few expressions as well. There are many different combinations available to experiment with the whiskey. Runner-up single malt Scotch whisky. Open now : 11:00 AM - 02:00 AM. A favorite of bartenders and scotch fans alike, Caol Ila 12 is well-known as one of the best smoky/briny Islay whisky gateway bottles. The pioneer of the single malt Scotch whiskey category, Glenfiddich's Signature malt is famous for its wonderfully balanced scent and refreshing rich flavour. Single Malt ; Blended Whisky ; Rye Whiskey ; Blended Malt ; Single Grain ; Popular Brands. Try using the Glenfiddich 12-year in your Moscow Mule or Jungle Bird, and see for yourself.. For a Whisky to have this denomination, it. Get your glasses ready and let's see which the smoothest single malt scotch for beginners are: 7. Laphroaig 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70cl. But when it comes down to popularity, blended scotch is the clear winner with sales far surpassing those of single malt. Its priced affordably and has a really approachable palate, according to Chris Dempsey, bartender at Xaman in Dallas. Price certainly plays a part here, as your average blend is generally a lot less expensive than a single malt, but thats not always the case. Its Colkegan Single Malt, named for distillery owner Colin Keegan, uses a combination of 30% mesquite-smoked barley alongside 70% un-smoked malted barley. All have their own unique distillation process but all follow the same blueprint to garner the title Single Malt. This Speyside distillery has an excellent lineup, with the 16-year-old landing right in the sweet spot of maturation between the 12 and 18, the other two age statement bottles in the range. - 20ml freshly squeezed lemon juice. The Macallan is an extremely popular distillery that is known for making whisky almost entirely aged in sherry-seasoned casks sourced from Spain, giving it a creamy, fruity mouthfeel with a hint of dry spice and cocoa. A Guide to the Five Scotch Whisky Regions, Plus the Islands. Related: The Best Whiskey Glasses, According to Experts, Region: Highlands | ABV: 46% | Tasting Notes: Espresso, Tobacco, Orange. It seems that things are going quite well at the distillery, given last summers announcement that parent company Brown-Forman is making a major investment to expand operations due to high global demand for the whisky. Talisker 30 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 750ml. Highland Park does not add coloring to its whisky. Spectacular single malt Scotch whisky from the legendary Glenfarclas Distillery up in Speyside, matured for 29 years in a single refill Oloroso sherry hogshead from December 1991 to September 2021. More info. Single Malt Scotch Whisky is defined by law as whisky distilled from only malted barley, aged for a minimum of three years and produced by a single Scottish distillery, Single malt whisky is one of the most highly-prized and sought-after categories of alcoholic drinks in the world. Speyside whiskies are known for being frugal with peat . Flaviar The Speyside of the Noon Scotch Tasting Kit One of the most popular Single Malt Scotch Whiskies is Speyside. GlenAllachie, 15 YO, 46% ABV, 750 ml, $95 took similar honors as the Best Single Malt from Speyside. Talisker. There are also 11, 12, and 16-year-old whiskies if you prefer something a little bit more mature. Aberlour is often overlooked by whisky drinkers here in the US, but undeservedly so. One such whisky comes from Auchentoshan, a distillery located in the Lowlands just outside of Glasgow. In addition to those icons, the 15 single malt scotch whiskies below, listed alphabetically, are well worth stocking up on. This limited edition expression is made from barley that was kiln-dried with what the brand calls woodland botanicals. The result is a totally different side of Glenmorangie, a smoke-kissed dram that speaks of deeply roasted root vegetables, woodsy spice, and pear fritters, all complicated by kumquats and balsamic notes that linger on the very long finish. The balance continues maturing in ex-bourbon casks. Aberlour, 16 YO, Single Malt Scotch Whisky. What's the Difference Between Scotch and Bourbon? The whisky in the 14-year-old Caribbean Cask is finished in rum barrels, where it picks up molasses and fruit notes. Last winter, the oldest bottling to date was released, an 81-year-old whisky called The Reach which was distilled in 1940 and had a price tag of $125,000. The dried figs from the first sip ride all the way through the long, sweetly spiced finish. If you taste from one of the 25 bottles in existence, youll be treated to a whisky unlike anything youve likely had before. Colkegan. "It is fruity and complex on the nose and it does not punch you with peat," he says. Related: The Best Cheap Scotches to Drink, Region: Highlands | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Vanilla, Almond, Baking Spice. This classic expression of Laphroaig is exuberant and full of the iodine and peat smoke that drinkers have gravitated toward for generations. The landscape of Speyside in the Scottish Highlands is a patchwork of green; rolling but rugged, each morning it seems to shimmer slightly in the mist. Also look for Octomor and Port Charlotte, both made by Bruichladdich as well. This bottling, named after a local loch, has all the maritime salinity you come to expect from the distillery literally on the water, but also has one of the most satisfying finishes in Islay, adds Kurpinsky. Distillers are then allowed to get as creative as they'd like, from experimenting with the number of distillations to using a variety of cask finishes. Floral and dried dark fruit on the tongue with a balanced long finish with a soft layer of honey. 5. If its been a while since youve tasted them, then you owe it to yourself to taste them again for the first time. The distillery has six stills, all of which have a unique shape. Its the sister distillery to Glenmorangie in the Highlands, and generally appeals to hardcore fans of the smoky stuff. Speyside. A total of 228 bottles were released. Talisker 2021 Distillers Edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 750ml. The whisky is matured in both bourbon and sherry casks for 16 years before being married together and bottled. Orange peel and oak lay on the tongue with winter spices on top of the medium finish. The Glenlivets 12-year-old expression is extremely popular, and for good reason. Single Malt and Blended Whisky What's the Difference? The Singleton of Glendullan, 15 YO, 40% ABV, 750 ml, $50 took the award for the Best 15 YO Single Malt. Talisker 10 YO, Single Malt Scotch Whisky. The hook for me is its time in both Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry casks, creating a complex, incredibly enjoyable whisky with a burst of flavor notes such as dark fruits, raisins, chocolate, butter, baking spice and orange peels. Its also non-chill filtered and has no added color, as the whisky picks up its dark golden hue from the casks alone. Its aged in a combination of PX and Oloroso sherry casks, giving it a range of flavor from sweet to baking spices. he Singleton of Glendullan, 15 YO Single Malt. Glenfarclas. The result is terrifically appealing and right around $100. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife, two daughters, and one cairn terrier. Classic Serve : The Last King. Here is a summary of my top five selections. The 10-year-old anchors the range, with some hard-to-pronounce, Gaelic-named expressions to round it out. Since a portion of the wash is distilled two and a portion is distilled three times, the distillery claims that it distills its whisky exactly 2.81 times. It was prominently featured in. If you have the money to spend, the extra-aged expressions are where the whisky really starts to take on new dimensions. The best-selling whiskies from Scotland might be blends, but single malts better speak to a distillery's character. A single shot of scotch contains 97 calories, no carbohydrates, no sugars, and no fiber. On the opposite end of the Macallan spectrumand most definitely not under $100is a Macallan 1969, aged a stunning 52 years, that was bottled and released last December by Duncan Taylor. our process. This excellent sherry cask-matured whisky comes out in batches (its currently on number 74), with each varying slightly in ABV but usually hovering somewhere around the 60 percent mark. Dried-fruit biscotti and a lingering note of ginger-snap cookies round it all out. It was prominently featured in Diageos Classic Malts Collection as a quintessential example of a West Highlands malt. This is a classic Highlands whisky and is an interesting look at one of the whiskies that makes up the much better-known Dewars White Label. The barley is then milled and combined with water and cooked to release the sugars. This generous, balanced whisky is creamy and delicately honeyed, with cinnamon and vanilla notes of white peaches and dried figs. Select store for Click & Collect availability. The use of worm coil condensers limits the amount of copper contact the vapor receives, resulting in notable meaty aromas of bacon fat and raw steak. Lisa Glen currently holds the title of distillery manager, leading a whisky making team that is responsible for core expressions like the classic Glenlivet 12, a very good introductory single malt for beginners. The well bodied liquid with citrus and honey layers lay on the tongue with hints of oak and brown sugar on the long finish. Its seaside maturation imparts a slightly maritime savoriness. The peat is about half the ppm of Laphroaig, so while its still noticeable, the fruit, caramel, and spice flavors create a whisky potpourri that unravels as you drink. It has appeared in an episode of "The People V. O.J. .css-1kgqwta{background:#ffffff;background-color:#ffffff;-webkit-background-size:100% 200%;background-size:100% 200%;border:thin solid #FF3A30;border-radius:2rem;color:#000;display:inline-block;font-family:Lausanne,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:0.875rem;letter-spacing:0.04rem;line-height:1.3;padding:0.625rem 1.25rem;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;text-decoration-color:#FF3A30;text-decoration-thickness:.0625rem;text-transform:uppercase;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;white-space:pre-line;width:auto;}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-1kgqwta{padding:0.5rem 0.7rem 0.3125rem;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-1kgqwta{padding:0.6rem 1.125rem 0.3125rem;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-1kgqwta{padding:0.6rem 1.125rem 0.3125rem;}}.css-1kgqwta:focus-visible{outline-color:body-cta-btn-link-focus;}.css-1kgqwta:hover{color:#000;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;-webkit-background-position:100% 100%;background-position:100% 100%;background-color:#FF3A30;}Shop Wine.com Shop The Whisky Exchange. After 18 years the two liquids are blended together and, after being allowed to marry, are bottled. It was traditionally made in the Highlands in the 18th and 19th century only from malted barley. It must be aged for a minimum of three years in oak barrels. Shop on Reserve Bar Shop on Drizly Shop on The Whisky Exchange. This distillery is located in the Highlands and focuses on sherry-cask matured whisky. $53 at Wine.com. Other types of whiskey provide the same number of calories and carbs. British chemist and scientific consultant for the whiskey industry Dr. James Swan claims that Single Malt Scotch Whisky is also good for health Flag. 6. His first love remains whiskey, but he is partial to tequila, rum, gin, cognac, and all things distilled. This non-age statement whisky is initially aged in bourbon barrels before being finished in Tawny Port pipes from W & J Graham's winery in Portugalexemplifying why port wood is a preferred cask finish. Muscular is the adjective often used to describe the flavor of the whisky from Craigellachie, a distillery owned by Bacardi (along with Aberfeldy, Royal Brackla, Aultmore, and Deveron). ", Related: The Best Peaty Scotches for Smoky Scotch Lovers, Region: Islay | ABV: 43% | Tasting Notes: Vanilla, Black Tea, Smoke, McCoy is a big fan of Lagavulin, an Islay distillery that produces some nicely peated scotch. If you love a scotch with a fiery flavor, this is the whisky for you. There are so many to choose from (over 130 and counting), but here are 15 of the best single malt scotch distilleries making whisky right now. The Balvenie . William Grant created this best single malt Scotch whisky in 1887 using pure waters from a local spring known as the Robbie Dhu. For that relatively low price, the discerning drinker is rewarded with flavor-rich, syrupy notes of honey punctuated by bursts of vanilla and paired with a gentle spice undercurrent. Malt whisky is made only from malted barley, in two (occasionally three) copper pot stills, by a batch process. Johnnie Walker ; Jack Daniel's . Italian Whisky ; Taiwanese Whisky ; Welsh Whisky ; Shop all. Glenmorangie took home the award for The Best 18 YO Single Malt. There are five or six different whisky regions in Scotland, depending on who you ask, each with its own characterLowlands, Speyside, Highlands, Campbeltown, Islay, and (sometimes) Islands. This 12-year-old expression from Glenfiddich, one of the biggest names in scotch whisky, is both affordable and readily accessible. Region: Islay | ABV: 50% | Tasting Notes: Green Apple, Brown Sugar, Grass. The distillery, among the best known in the world, is one of the oldest distilleries on Islay, although its history of distillation activity reaches much further back than its official start date. The Balvenies Caribbean Cask 14-Year-Old Scotch is a stellar example. Mix bourbon whiskey, lemon juice, and syrup for a simple cocktail. 00. to $ 104. The Glenlivet is one of the most popular and best-selling single malt scotch whisky brands, usually positioned neck and neck with fellow Speyside distillery Glenfiddich. ABV: 40% (80 proof) Price: $45-50. Distinctive notes of pear and green apple define this classic whisky, which has been matured in bourbon and sherry casks before being married together in a large tun. Shop Reserve Bar Shop Drizly Shop The Whiskey Exchange. Two new age statements were added to the Double Cask lineup a few years ago, 15- and 18-year-old expressions that are matured in both American and European oak Oloroso sherry-seasoned casks, both exceptional whiskies that are spicy and fruity with notes of chocolate and vanilla. All of these whiskies, with the exception of Insurrection, are well known, relatively easy to find and reasonably affordable. Rich notes of chocolate, spice, cherry syrup and ripened fig abound in every sip of this luxury single malt scotch. This provides it with the best of both worldsa rich, oaky structure with some sweet vanilla notes from the lengthy time in bourbon barrels, and ripe fruits and spices from the sherry casks. Aberlour 16 is a double-cask single malt Scotch whisky with a complex and deep flavor profile. Sale Off . The name is a reference to the Catholic Insurrection in England in the early sixteenth century that attempted to topple Queen Elizabeth I and replace her with her half-sister, Mary Queen of Scots. Talisker 25 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 750ml. Taking great pride in its Viking roots, Highland Park is situated in Orkney, a group of scarcely populated islands in the far north of Scotland. This statement single malt is light and full of notes of citrus, sweet malted barley, vanilla and honey. Easy Sipping Arran Robert Burns Single Malt Scotch Whisky. The highest medal given out is the Double Gold. I write about wines and spirits and the hidden corners of the world, Some of the Single Malt Whisky Medalists at the. The official tasting notes of the judging panel described the whisky as having: A dark amber hue signaling its years in the cask. This particular expression spends 15 years in ex-bourbon barrels before 30% is transferred to Oloroso Sherry butts. The Speyburn 10 was described by the judging panel as: A fine medley of baked apple and orange on the nose. Price reduced from $ 105. And while its well more than $100, make sure to taste the 30-year expression if you canits balance between subtlety and exuberant pleasure is remarkable, the honey, white raisins, and pastry shell lingering with serious balance. In addition to the Double Gold medalists, the NYISC also recognizes outstanding distilleries in some of Scotlands key producing areas. Of Islay's 8 distilleries, Laphroaig's 10-Year-Old single malt scotch whisky stands out as the leader of the pack. James Gilpin is a designer and researcher who has turned the sugar-rich urine of elderly diabetics into a high-end single malt whisky Can diabetics drink single malt whiskey? Vanilla and floral aromas draws you in time and time again, making it far-too-easy to go through a bottle without noticing. As noted above, Talisker also received a Double Gold medal for its 10 YO expression. This is definitely a scotch for bourbon drinkers, as many of the same flavors from the American style of whiskey can be found here.