THE TOP TEN SCOTCH WHISKIES
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%.
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
