13 Finest Single Malt Scotch Whisky Manufacturers to Purchase in 2022

There are lots of preconceived notions within the whisky world. For instance, single malt scotch may get the vital accolades, and nonetheless looks like a rarified, critical drink to many individuals. However when it comes right down to recognition, blended scotch is the clear winner with gross sales far surpassing these of single malt. Value definitely performs an element right here, as your common mix is usually so much inexpensive than a single malt, however that’s not at all times the case. Each kinds have their deserves, however many individuals desire single malt whisky, which actually showcases the traits of the actual distillery at which it’s made.

A fast primer on the variations between these totally different kinds: “Single malt” signifies that the whisky comes from one distillery and is constructed from 100-percent malted barley. So a bottle of Glenfiddich 12, for instance, could also be a mix of some hundred barrels, however all of them come from the Glenfiddich distillery, and the 12-year-old age assertion refers back to the youngest whisky within the combine. Blended scotch, alternatively, is a mixture of malt and grain whisky that often comes from many alternative distilleries. And blended malt is a mix of malt whiskies, with no grain whisky included.

There are 5 or 6 totally different whisky areas in Scotland, relying on who you ask, every with its personal character—Lowlands, Speyside, Highlands, Campbeltown, Islay, and (typically) Islands. Whereas Islay specifically is understood for utilizing peat within the malting course of, which supplies its whisky that smoky taste, the vast majority of scotch isn’t smoky in any respect. (Peat is measured in ppm, or components per million; the upper the ppm, the smokier the whisky will probably be.) Legally, a small quantity of caramel coloring can be utilized for coloration consistency in single malts. Some persons are staunchly in opposition to this, believing it impacts the character of the whisky, whereas others argue that it makes no noticeable distinction. Regardless, the distilleries that do not use coloring in any respect of their whiskies will proudly and loudly let this be recognized.

No matter kind of whisky you select to drink, keep in mind that there’s no proper or incorrect method to get pleasure from it. Whisky is meant to be enjoyable, so don’t take heed to anybody who says you shouldn’t add ice or it’s a must to add water to get pleasure from your dram correctly. Hell, if you wish to combine a $300 bottle of whisky with Eating regimen Dr. Pepper, go for it (however perhaps additionally give the whisky a strive by itself as properly).

There are such a lot of to select from (over 130 and counting), however listed here are 12 of the very best single malt scotch distilleries making whisky proper now.

BenRiach

BenRiach isn’t the very best recognized scotch distillery on the market, however it’s actually fairly attention-grabbing and produces some unbelievable whisky. It’s additionally one of many few distilleries that also does its personal ground maltings, albeit sometimes, wherein the barley is soaked to germinate after which dried onsite earlier than distillation (that is often achieved by malting homes these days). BenRiach was acquired by drinks conglomerate Brown Forman, proprietor of Jack Daniel’s and Woodford Reserve, just a few years in the past as talked about earlier than, and the core lineup was relaunched with new bottle designs, names, and expressions. Essentially the most accessible and inexpensive whiskies are merely and straight named: The Unique Ten and The Smoky Ten, The Twelve and the Smoky Twelve. As you’ll be able to guess, one in all every is peated, the opposite isn’t. However there’s much more that goes into these glorious single malts in addition to far because the vary of casks used for maturation, together with ex-bourbon, sherry, port, virgin oak, and rum. Most just lately, Malting Season was launched, the primary whisky to be made utilizing barley malted inhouse at BenRiach in a century, together with Smoke Season, the distillery’s most closely peated whisky up to now. No coloration is added to those delicate and flavorful whiskies, that are complicated sufficient for seasoned drinkers however concurrently appropriate for newcomers to scotch.

Highland Park

Highland Park is understood for just a few issues which can be distinctive inside the scotch whisky trade—particularly, its fixation on all issues Viking, and its distant Orkney location, which makes it Scotland’s northernmost distillery (it beats Scapa by a couple of mile). The whisky is usually reasonably peaty and matured largely in sherry-seasoned casks, with bourbon barrels used for just a few expressions as properly. The core vary right here within the U.S. consists of 10-, 12- and 18-year-old whiskies, all of which do a pleasant job balancing smoke with wealthy dried fruit flavors. A 15-year-old expression joined the lineup final yr known as Viking Coronary heart, housed in an attention grabbing ceramic bottle, with the whisky aged in a mixture of first-fill European and American sherry-seasoned oak casks and a small variety of refill casks. One other new and actually flavorful addition to the household is the Cask Power expression. The second batch of this NAS, non-chill filtered whisky was launched final fall, bottled at 63.9% ABV with massive notes of smoke, vanilla, and honey on the palate. There are numerous different Norse-themed bottles from Highland Park to discover, with age statements ranging as much as 50 years. Highland Park doesn’t add coloring to its whisky.

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Oban

This diminutive distillery positioned on the west coast of Scotland within the tiny port city of the identical identify is usually missed by whisky followers, however the liquid being made there may be deserving of consideration. There are simply two stills at work, and the ensuing whisky is wealthy, fruity, and has some smoke on the palate however nothing as pronounced as its neighbors to the south on Islay. There are only a few bottles anchoring the core lineup: a 14-year-old, 18-year-old, and Little Bay, a NAS (non-age-statement) whisky matured in numerous cask varieties. There’s additionally the annual Distillers Version, which is a part of a group of limited-edition double-matured whiskies compiled by father or mother firm Diageo from its many distilleries. The 2021 launch took the core 14-year-old single malt and completed it in Montilla Fino casks. There’s a little bit of brine and a puff of smoke on the palate, however the sherry cask end actually infuses the liquid with placing dried fruit and candied orange notes. Should you see one in all these within the wild, go forward and seize it.

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Laphroaig

Peaty scotch generally is a very divisive subject for whisky drinkers. Some individuals love the earthy, smoky rush that envelops them from nostril to complete, whereas others suppose it tastes like an acrid tire fireplace. There are totally different ranges of peat, after all. Laphroaig, from the Islay area of Scotland recognized for its smoky scotch, falls round 45 ppm, which makes this a decidedly peat-forward whisky. The ten-year-old is a staple yow will discover at most bars and liquor shops, and it’s a stable alternative, stuffed with seaweed, vanilla, and grill smoke flavors. Should you’re on the lookout for one thing fairly a bit stronger, strive Batch 12 of the cask-strength model of this basic, which you’ll be able to proof down as you want. In case you have the cash to spend, the extra-aged expressions are the place the whisky actually begins to tackle new dimensions. When it reaches 1 / 4 century of maturation, Laphroaig nonetheless brings smoke to the get together, however a number of different parts come into play that aren’t instantly evident in among the youthful expressions. The Ian Hunter Story is a more recent sequence of whiskies highlighting the life and contributions of the previous Laphroaig proprietor. E-book 3, the latest launch, was aged for 33 years in ex-bourbon barrels, and is a scrumptious, if costly, dram. For one thing a bit extra accessible, strive the 10-Yr-Previous Sherry Oak, which supplies a sherry end to the core expression with unbelievable outcomes.

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Bladnoch

The Lowland isn’t a area that many single malt drinkers consider when perusing the numerous totally different distilleries of Scotland, however there are some to look out for. Glenkinchie and Auchentoshan are two names that is perhaps acquainted to some, whereas Bladnoch is just simply gaining floor right here within the US. This distillery was based in 1817, so there’s a substantial amount of historical past there, though it’s skilled many possession adjustments and even been silent for a time period. Dr. Nick Savage is now grasp distiller, and has a protracted background within the whisky trade. There are presently just a few key bottlings obtainable: Vinaya, NAS whisky aged in bourbon and sherry casks; Samsara, additionally NAS whisky aged in bourbon and California purple wine casks; 15-year-old aged in Oloroso sherry casks; and 25-year-old completed in virgin oak and bottled at cask energy. Should you’re seeking to discover one thing new on the planet of single malt scotch, strive sampling just a few of those expressions.

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Bowmore

Bowmore is an Islay distillery owned by Beam Suntory, which additionally owns Laphroaig, however the whisky it produces is sort of totally different. The No. 1 Vaults are supposedly the oldest maturation warehouses on the planet, or so goes the road from the distillery. Regardless, that is layered, textured whisky that stays with you for fairly some time. The 15-year-old spends its final three years maturing in Oloroso sherry casks, whereas the liquid within the 18-year-old (a standout bottle) spends its life in each bourbon and sherry casks earlier than being blended collectively. The peat is about half the ppm of Laphroaig, so whereas it’s nonetheless noticeable, the fruit, caramel, and spice flavors create a whisky potpourri that unravels as you drink. Lately, Bowmore has collaborated with British automaker Aston Martin, and the latest launch is Masters’ Choice 21 Yr Previous. This whisky was impressed by the idea of the golden ratio, a mathematical proportion that usually seems in nature and is an inspiration for structure and design. This whisky is a wedding of liquid aged in various kinds of sherry casks, and contains some as much as 35 years previous.

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The Glenrothes

The Glenrothes is owned by the identical father or mother firm as The Macallan, Scottish firm Edrington, which acquired it once more after almost a decade underneath possession of Berry Bros & Rudd. However it’s usually missed in favor of its way more standard Speyside sister distillery. The Glenrothes additionally makes use of sherry-seasoned casks for almost all of its maturation, and has an in-house cooperage to restore and refurbish these casks that come from Jerez, Spain. Additionally like The Macallan, the whisky has pure coloration. The core vary consists of whisky aged for 10, 12, 15, 25 years, in addition to a 50-year-old that retails for $35,000. Should you solely have just a few thousand {dollars} to spend as an alternative of some tens of 1000’s, think about the brand new 36-year-old expression. This single cask launch comes with an NFT, if you happen to care about such issues, with paintings from The New Yorker illustrator Maddie Dai.

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Ardbeg

Ardbeg is a sturdy Islay whisky, which at about 50 ppm is barely peatier than its neighbor Laphroaig. Ardbeg, the sister distillery to Glenmorangie within the Highlands, typically appeals to hardcore followers of the smoky stuff, and for a few years was form of a cult whisky. However there’s lots of nuance beneath all of that salty, ripe, daring, burnt vanilla taste. The whisky is predominantly aged in first- and second-fill bourbon barrels, with some liquid going into sherry butts and French oak as properly. The ten-year-old anchors the vary, with some hard-to-pronounce, Gaelic-named expressions to spherical it out. Uigeadail brings sherry cask whisky into the combo, with dried cherry and prune notes complementing the peat, whereas Corryvreckan ups the ABV to 57.1 %. Every June, the distillery celebrates Ardbeg Day with a particular launch, and this yr that whisky known as Ardcore (which is accessible now). Ardcore is supposedly influenced by the spirit of punk rock, and Islay’s major city, Port Ellen, was allegedly known as Punk Ellen again within the ‘70s. Ardcore was made with roasted black malt, a primary for the distillery. Head of distilling and whisky creation Dr. Invoice Lumsden describes the whisky as tasting “like biting on a spiky ball,” which can be attractive or disturbing relying in your choice, however no judgment. One other new launch is Fermutation, a 13-year-old whisky that was fermented for 3 weeks as an alternative of three days, creating a singular, floral, and citrus-forward taste profile. Ardbeg doesn’t add coloring to its whisky.

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The GlenDronach

The GlenDronach may not be as properly often known as fellow sherry cask whisky maturation big The Macallan, however that’s altering, and for good cause. In 2016, The GlenDronach was acquired by Brown-Forman (together with BenRiach and Glenglassaugh), rising its profile within the aggressive world of single malts. Like The Macallan, its focus is on sherry cask maturation, however the whisky produced right here is fully totally different. It’s aged in a mixture of PX and Oloroso sherry casks, giving it a variety of taste from candy to baking spices. The core lineup ranges in age from 12 to 21 years, and there have been some glorious new restricted editions as properly. The latest is the nineteenth batch of the Cask Bottling assortment, a sequence of single cask whiskies chosen by grasp blender Rachel Barrie. This yr’s assortment comes from simply 12 casks, and whereas costly remains to be not as expensive as different equally aged single malts. There are three releases: 1992 Cask 217 (29 years previous, aged in an Oloroso sherry butt), 1992 Cask 6052 (28 years previous, aged in a Pedro Ximinez puncheon), and 1994 Cask 5080 (27 years previous, aged in an Oloroso puncheon). Every is accessible in several markets within the US. The GlenDronach doesn’t add coloring to its whisky.

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Bruichladdich

Bruichladdich is a examine in artistic contradictions. The Islay distillery produces among the most closely peated whisky obtainable. Actually—the Octomore vary ventures into the a whole bunch of ppm, which is extraordinarily, critically, not-fucking-around smoky (the 08.3 launch clocked in at 309.1 ppm!). Then there’s the Basic Laddie, a light-weight, un-peated whisky stuffed with citrus and inexperienced fruit notes that would not be extra totally different. Current expressions have targeted on the idea of terroir in whisky, an concept that Bruichladdich is making an attempt to persuade the doubters actually exists. Whereas some individuals suppose the cask performs the largest half in taste, overriding barley varieties and even peat supply, Bruichladdich is intent on proving in any other case. The latest Octomore sequence (the twelfth) contains some attention-grabbing experiments, and proves that age actually isn’t an indicator of high quality in whisky. Bruichladdich additionally launched the primary biodynamic scotch whisky (Waterford launched a biodynamic Irish single malt previous to this), and new vintages of its unpeated Islay Barley expressions that are constructed from barley grown solely on the island.

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The Macallan

The Macallan is an especially standard distillery that’s recognized for making whisky virtually fully aged in sherry-seasoned casks sourced from Spain, giving it a creamy, fruity mouthfeel with a touch of dry spice and cocoa. There are a number of totally different ranges to strive, from Sherry Oak to Double Cask to Triple Cask Matured. Two new age statements have been added to the Double Cask lineup just a few years in the past, 15- and 18-year-old expressions which can be matured in each American and European oak Oloroso sherry-seasoned casks, each distinctive whiskies which can be spicy and fruity with notes of chocolate and vanilla. The Macallan can be well-known for its extremely costly, extra-aged whisky, a few of which approaches three-quarters of a century of maturation. Final winter, the oldest bottling up to now was launched, an 81-year-old whisky known as The Attain which was distilled in 1940 and had a price ticket of $125,000. Extra just lately, the New York entry within the Distil Your World sequence launched, a limited-edition bottle produced in collaboration with the famed Spanish cooks the Roca Brothers that’s an try to seize the essence of the Massive Apple. No coloring is added to any of the whisky.

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The Glenlivet

The Glenlivet is likely one of the hottest and best-selling single malt scotch whisky manufacturers, often positioned neck and neck with fellow Speyside distillery Glenfiddich. The distillery’s historical past dates again to the early 1800s, and it has persevered through the years by means of Prohibition and World Wars. Longtime grasp distiller Alan Winchester retired in 2018 and has been the model ambassador since then, however simply introduced his retirement from that function as properly. Lisa Glen presently holds the title of distillery supervisor, main a whisky making workforce that’s answerable for core expressions just like the basic Glenlivet 12, an excellent introductory single malt for newcomers. From there the age assertion bottles vary as much as 25 years previous, with the Winchester Assortment doubling that as a trio of fifty yr previous vintages. Should you’re on the lookout for cask-strength choices, try the Nadurra expressions, that includes sherry and peated cask matured whiskies. There are some NAS bottles to attempt to some attention-grabbing single cask releases, every with its personal particular character.

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The Balvenie

William Grant & Sons has two neighboring distilleries simply outdoors of Dufftown in Speyside: the bigger Glenfiddich and the smaller Balvenie. The Balvenie is arguably the extra delicate and distinctive of the 2 when it comes to taste, though Glenfiddich is way more standard. Balvenie malt grasp David Stewart has labored within the trade for greater than half a century and remains to be arising with new creations. Considered one of his crowning achievements was DoubleWood 12, which launched in 1993. The whisky is aged for 12 years in ex-bourbon barrels and hogsheads, completed for 9 months in Oloroso sherry casks, after which transferred into massive “tuns” to permit the liquid to mingle. The whisky within the 14-year-old Caribbean Cask is completed in rum barrels, the place it picks up molasses and fruit notes. Lately, the distillery has give you extra new whiskies, some underneath the auspices of apprentice malt grasp Kelsey McKechnie. Batch 8 of the Tun 1509 whisky sequence launched final fall, the ultimate launch on this sequence of specifically chosen casks which can be married collectively within the distillery’s particular picket vat. And the newest high-end launch known as the Uncommon Marriages Vary, a trio of whiskies aged for 25, 30 and 40 years that “marry” liquid aged in each American and European oak casks.

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