THE BEST SCOTCH WHISKIES IN THE WORLD FOR YOU

THE TOP TEN SCOTCH WHISKIES

Scotch Whisky is the most popular spirit in the world and a staple of every Home Bar. There are five Whisky regions in Scotland. Islands are sometimes mentioned as the sixth region, but are not officially recognised. The largest region in terms of the number of distilleries is Speyside, home to over half of all Scotch distilleries, while Campbeltown is home to three. It's surrounded by the Highland Whisky region. Some of the Scotch Whisky regions - Islay and Lowland, for instance - produce a very distinctive style of Scotch, while others are known for their versatility, but knowing what part of Scotland a Whisky is from, should give you some general idea about its taste.

Scotch Whisky can be made from malted barley (in this case it's called Malt Whisky) or from other grains, like corn or wheat (Grain Whisky). When a Malt Whisky is produced at a single distillery, it's called a Single Malt. The rest (which is roughly 88% of the time) is Blended Scotch, which means it's a blend of Single Malt and Single Grain Whiskies from different distilleries.

Prices for mature whisky are increasing, no-age-statement (NAS) expressions are also on the rise; it’s becoming harder to source an affordable bottle aged 20 years and above, but is Scotch whisky really running out? Not at all. The demand for single malts is increasing, mainly from the United States and Europe. The US accounts for 20% of global single malt sales, growing annually at almost 10%. 

When tasting Scotch Whisky, try it first on its own (neat), and add water later. While you're not prohibited in drinking it with ice or Coke, I strongly advise against it. Aromas and flavours of Scotch will get depressed or, worse, lost, and you will not be able to truly taste and appreciate them.

Here is a selection of ten top Scotch Whiskies in the world.

I have left out the exorbitant ones!

Macallan 12 Years Old

Aged in sherry seasoned oak casks atop a plateau in North-east Scotland, Macallan Sherry Oak 12 Years Old pours as a mature and rich body that blooms into an aroma of full of wood spice and dried fruits.

Ardbeg 10 Year Old

Voted "World Whisky of the Year" for four out of the past seven years, Ardbeg's distillery has remained on the small remote island of Islay for more than 200 years. The combination of the island's soft water, lush soil, and large supply of peat– the soil byproduct which is burned in the distilling process, leaving the Scotch with its smokey flavour– has made it a favorite among single malt connoisseurs. Rich and with a smokey body, the 10 year aged single malt scotch whisky will leave you with the taste of licorice, coffee, and tobacco.

Lagavulin 16 Years Old

Situated on the southern island of Islay, Lagavulin delivers a deep-smokey taste in it's masculine single malt that can only be achieved by the distillery's peat-rich environment.

Glenlivet 15 Year Old

When the British government began taxing the Scottish distilleries, many of them began producing whisky underground. Glenlivet was one of the premier illicit distilleries, so much so that when King George IV visited Scotland on a state visit he demanded to try an illegal dram of the Scotch. The iconic brand has never ceased producing top quality single malt and the 15 Year Old bottle, with it's lingering sweet almond finish, is a prime example of such.

anCnoc Peatlands

anCnoc's Peatlands joined their Peaty Collection in mid-2015, though you're much more likely to find it in Scandinavia and other areas of mainland Europe. It's a lightly peated expression (weighing in at 9PPM) and was aged in ex-bourbon barrels before being bottled at 46% ABV.

 
 

The Arran Malt 14

This bottle comes from the island of Arran’s only working distillery. It has been finished in sherry and bourbon casks, which helps give it the fragrance of a sweet and spicy apple pie. On sipping, that spiciness races through the senses, clearing the way for a fresher burst of fruit and some pronounced malt flavours, with a sherry sweetness maintained throughout. This whisky feels like a well-aged, more expensive bottle and although it lacks the complexity of more ancient single malts, there’s enough going on to give it a wide appeal.

Caol Ila 12 YO 43%

Caol Ila 12 enlightens your senses to Islay’s whisky pleasures. Although obviously smoky, the effect isn’t as dominant as it is with other whiskies, which allows some lighter notes of sweet lemon to come through with a freshness that makes one think of a stroll along Islay’s wild, sandy beaches. It finishes with dry charcoal and tobacco that gently settles on the palate and lingers. It’s the kind of whisky one can drink any time of the day and works particularly well with a salty snack accompaniment.

Glenmorangie Signet: Dry And Decadent

Boasting the tallest stills in Scotland, the Glenmorangie distillery can be found in Tain, Ross-shire and is categorised as a Highland distillery. The Ardbeg Distillery on island of Islay is also owned by the owners of Glenmorangie Company, LVMH. Glenmorangie Signet is a dry and decadent single malt. The nose for me possesses aromas of chocolate raisins, cocoa, and burnt peels. Take a dram and the cocoa intensifies on the palate, and brings with it a malty sweetness, along with oranges. The superb finish is fruity and dry.

Benriach 21 Temporis Peated

This whisky, launched earlier in the year, is unlike most contemporary Speyside whiskies, Benriach’s Temporis is peated – as would have been common in the region a century ago – and a lovely toasty smokiness drifts through the drink. It has been aged in a mix of casks – bourbon, virgin-oak, Pedro Ximinéz and oloroso sherry – which inevitably delivers layers of complexity and maturity. Along with the smooth, rich fruit and spicy flavours, there’s also some sweet citrus juiciness and that charred smoke keeps on drifting long after the other flavours fade. It tastes great after a busy working day as you curl up on a sofa to unwind

anCnoc Peatheart

The smokiest whisky from the anCnoc Peaty range - Peatheart! The Knockdhu distillery has used barley malted to 40 PPM (for perspective, Highland Park whiskies sit at around 20 PPM, while Ardbeg whiskies weigh in at about 50-55 PPM) and it was aged in ex-bourbon barrels before bottling at 46% ABV. Nose: Shortbread, oakcakes, pipe tobacco leading towards earthy peat smoke. Lighter notes of citrus peels and vanilla ice cream. Palate: Chocolate malt, a touch of BBQ meat, cinder toffee and cardamom seed. Finish: Surprisingly refreshing on the finish - smoke still persists, but notes of green apple and orange blossom develop alongside it.

 THERE ARE TWO MORE

I have deliberately kept certain Whiskies out of the list and they feature now as joint Top Ten rated brands. They are truly great whiskies, though NAS brands.

Kilchoman Sanaig

Kilchoman is a farm distillery on the west coast of Islay that was founded in 2005 – the first distillery to be built on the island in 124 years. By growing its own barley and installing a bottling line, the Islay distillery can claim to produce whisky completely on site, from raw ingredients to bottle, with a non-age, statement, limited-edition release celebrating this achievement every year. Sanaig is a handsome release from Islay's newest distillery and is an enjoyably peaty single malt which has been vatted from both Bourbon and Sherry casks. It's named after a small, rocky creek rather near the distillery on the west coast of the island. Look out for plenty of fruit and earthy peat coming through on this one, with a touch of dark chocolate-covered raisins.

Springbank 15

This Campbeltown whiskey is a fine mingling of sherry and spice with a nose that’s rich with caramel, pineapple, and passion fruit. Beneath the sweeter notes is a hint of leather and toffee. A full and rich palate delivers on even more fruitiness with a creamy fruit salad that pops with a hint of spice. The finish isn’t entirely long, but it’s warm and soothing.