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24 Best Scotch Whisky Brands to Drink Right Now
By Jacob Osborn - Guide Published: , Last Updated:
When you’re shopping for the best Scotch whisky, it’s hard to go past brands like The Macallan, The Balvenie, and Ardbeg. However, our team of editors, and drinks expert Christopher Osburn, have done their part in testing multiple expressions before compiling our list of favourites below.
As the premier whisky publication in Australia, with more than 10 years of experience covering the industry, it’s safe to say we know a thing or two about whisky. So whether you’re looking to dip your toe into the world of Scotch for the first time, or you’re interested in learning about Scotland’s national drink, this article is for you.
The best Scotch whisky at a glance
The whisky regions have become synonymous with different flavours, styles and practices. Even the amateur dram drinker can tell a bottle’s lineage via a few key characteristics. If you want to learn more about whisky types, price points and styles, check out our guide to whisky for everything you need to know and more. For now, these are the whiskies you’ll want to know:
- The best overall Scotch whisky: The Macallan
- If you’re looking for a great peated whisky: Ardbeg
- If you want something that’s good value for money: Glen Moray
- If you’re after a great single-malt: The Balvenie
- If you want to try a great blended bottle: Johnnie Walker
Now you’ve had a look at some of the favourites, let’s check out the complete list.
List of the best Scotch whisky
- The best Scotch whisky at a glance
- 1. The Macallan
- 2. Glen Moray
- 3. Johnnie Walker
- 4. Bunnahabhain
- 5. Glenfiddich
- 6. Tobermory Distillery
- 7. Laphroaig
- 8. The Balvenie
- 9. Lagavulin
- 10. Talisker
- 11. Ardbeg
- 12. Glenmorangie
- 13. Bowmore
- 14. The GlenDronach
- 15. The Glenlivet
- 16. Chivas Regal
- 17. Ben Nevis
- 18. Oban
- 19. Bruichladdich
- 20. Caol Ila
- 21. Highland Park
- 22. Springbank
- 23. Kilchoman
- 24. Glenallachie
- How we chose our list of the best
- How you should choose a good bottle
- What is Scotch whisky?
- Alternatives to Scotch whisky
- Frequently asked questions
1. The Macallan
Sitting at the pointy end of our list of one of the all-time greats, The Macallan. About as close to smooth and balanced perfection as top-shelf Scotch Whisky can get, the brand has unique expressions up and down the price spectrum, including the most expensive whisky ever sold.
We’ve come to love the brand for its offshoot expressions, including their latest Harmony Collection, inspired by Arabica which we absolutely loved. The brand remains one of our top picks, but recent stories of The Macallan’s mixed medium release provide that the Speyside legend isn’t afraid to go big (quite literally). To explore this brand in full is to jump down a rabbit hole of limited-edition one-offs and special releases, so we’ll save you some trouble: If you’re rich, start out with the 18-Year Sherry Oak Cask and work your way up from there. If you’re not rich, save up for a bottle of the 12 Year and enjoy.
Region: Speyside
Founded in: 1824
Best-known expression: 12 Year
Shop at The Macallan Shop at Dan Murphy’s Shop at The Whisky List
2. Glen Moray
For a taste of classic Speyside Scotch, look no further than Glen Moray. Located in one of Scotland’s oldest towns, the distillery has been crafting quality single malts on the banks of the River Lossie for over 120 years. Passion is fundamental to the operation and the resulting whisky imparts an impeccable sense of balance and consistency.
We asked whisky specialist Emma Cookson for her opinion on the brand, “Glen Moray 18 Year Old is a dram often overlooked because of its great price point, people often assume that it’s not good! But it’s actually one of the best single malt Scotch whisky to get your hands on at an affordable price – thanks to some nifty purchasing discounts by the major chains. Fruity, floral, perfect for sipping neat or mixing in a cocktail, it’s a good age-statement whisky to have in the collection”.
Region: Speyside
Founded in: 1897
Best-known expression: Elgin Classic
Shop at The Whisky Exchange Shop at Dan Murphy’s Shop at The Whisky List
3. Johnnie Walker
What began as John Walker’s bootleg whisky operation eventually became this global behemoth. It was actually Walker’s sons who took the iconic brand into the stratosphere by way of premium blends, intelligent Scotch bottle designs, cunning business practices, and clever marketing. Speaking of clever marketing, who can argue with the idea to break each unique blend down according to colour? At the top of the line is Johnnie Walker Blue, which might very well be the smoothest whisky we’ve ever tasted. That said, we’re more partial to the Black Label and Green Label and their respective complexities.
While you might not necessarily consider Johnnie Walker to be overly top-shelf, there’s a lot happening behind closed doors at this iconic distillery. Recently, the brand launched the Johnnie Walker Masters of Flavour Blended Whisky Aged 48 Years, the third instalment in its Master’s Series collection. An ode to former ‘Master Blender of the Year’ Jim Beveridge, who held the reins of the top brands for over 40 years, this stunning release captures some subtle smoke and rich flavours, but it won’t come cheap. This bad boy will set you back over $35,000 – not bad for a non-top-shelf brand, right?
Founded in: 1820 (though the brand didn’t create its first commercial blend until 1865).
Best-known expression: Red, Black and Blue Label
Shop at The Whisky Exchange Shop at Dan Murphy’s Shop at Booze Bud
4. Bunnahabhain
While we’re still roaming around Islay, let’s stop at yet another one of the island’s relatively few active distilleries. In the game since 1881, Bunnahabhain releases a modest selection of core statements and the occasional one-off. It’s also a favourite of whisky specialist Emma Cookson who describes the 12-year-old in the following way.
“If you’re a sweet tooth like me, then this has to go on your list. Don’t let the long Gaelic name fool you, this whisky (pronounced boon-a-hav-en) is an iconic Islay single malt scotch whisky that is actually unpeated (not smoky!) and because of its coastal location, the sweetness of the sherry cask is offset by a lovely salty note-making complex but also quaffable. There’s a reason this whisky is a cult favourite,” said whisky specialist Emma Cookson.
Region: Islay
Founded in: 1881
Best-known expression: 12 Year
Shop at The Whisky Exchange Shop at Dan Murphy’s Shop at The Whisky List
5. Glenfiddich
If you don’t want to spend hours at the nearest liquor store, grab a bottle of Glenfiddich and be done with it. Like some other names on the list, this is one of the best Scotch Whisky brands because it’s one of the most consistent, reliable, and (relatively) affordable. While you’ll likely find this brand in most bottle shops, that’s not to say it isn’t a seriously impressive piece of whisky-making ingenuity. Glenfiddich has received more awards since 2000 than any other single malt Scotch whisky in two of the world’s most prestigious competitions; the International Wine & Spirit Competition and the International Spirits Challenge. The recently introduced 14 Year Old Bourbon Barrel Reserve is our top pick, namely due to the fact that it is a genuine winner, bringing deep notes of caramel, oak, and spice.
Region: Speyside
Founded in: 1886
Best-known expression: 12 Year
Shop at The Whisky Exchange Shop at Dan Murphy’s Shop at Booze Bud
6. Tobermory Distillery
While Tobermory Distillery might not be the most famous name on the tip of everyone’s tongue, we’re here to explore the top Scotch whiskies so take this as a hint. Top 25 Australia Bartender of the Year, Emma Cookson, says this peated option is one of her favourites.
“Anyone who knows me knows that I would say Ledaig for all five if I could! This is one of my must-have whiskies, it’s from a small distillery on the Isle of Mull that most people have never even heard of. Ledaig (pronounced le-chay-g) is the name for their peated (smoky) expression and it has this approachable creaminess to it so that, paired with the Rioja red wine cask finish, it is the perfect flavour profile for any season. It also doesn’t knock your socks off with the smokiness either, a great introduction into the style of peated whisky,” said whisky specialist Emma Cookson.
Owner: Burn Stewart (Distell)
Founded: 1798
Headquarters location: Isle of Mull, United Kingdom
No. of stills: 4 Wash stills; 4 Spirit stills
Shop at The Whisky Exchange Mumm Launches First-Ever Australian Sparkling Shop at Tobermory
7. Laphroaig
Founded just one year before Lagavulin was this similarly smoky and no less extraordinary neighbour. Far more versatile by comparison, Laphroaig consistently surprises with new releases and annual collaborations. Its benchmark expression is the mighty 10 Year, which pretty much defines the brand. Think heavy peat, chocolate-covered espresso beans, and blasts of iodine and you’ll get the idea. To take those flavours up a few notches, snag a bottle of the 10-Year Cask Strength; it’s a personal favourite.
Region: Islay
Founded in: 1815
Best-known expression: 10 Year
Shop at The Whisky Exchange Shop at Dan Murphy’s Shop at The Whisky List
8. The Balvenie
Ask a passionate drinker to name his favourite whisky and he might very well say The Balvenie 21-Year-Old Port Wood Finish without a moment’s hesitation. A deft balancing act if there ever was one, the tippy-top-shelf Scotch serves up creamy and classic notes of fruit and grain, with just a hint of smoke. Of course, it’s but one amongst a number of sippable stunners from this coveted brand, which does literally everything on-site and isn’t afraid to experiment with wood.
Region: Speyside
Founded in: 1892
Best-known expression: DoubleWood 12 Year
Shop at The Whisky Exchange Shop at Dan Murphy’s Shop at The Whisky List
9. Lagavulin
The one, the only: Lagavulin. Popularised by actor Nick Offerman (who was recently honoured with his own release), this Islay-based distillery has mastered the art of single-malt Scotch whisky. Its 16 Year statement is quite simply the stuff of legend and one of the world’s best whiskies, presuming you have a penchant for peat. Like refined molasses melting over a bonfire, it delivers palpable layers of sweet and pungent smoke. More than a quality brand, Lagavulin will awaken dormant taste buds.
Region: Islay
Founded in: 1816
Best-known expression: 16 Year
Shop at The Whisky Exchange Shop at Dan Murphy’s Shop at The Whisky List
10. Talisker
Affordable single malt Scotch whisky doesn’t get more classic than the Talisker 10 Year, which unravels one layer at a time before trailing out on a peaty finish. It won a Double Gold Medal and “Best Single Malt Scotch Whisky up to 12 years” in the 2015 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Move up from there and you arrive at the acclaimed 18 Year, which was named the “Best Single Malt In The World” at the 2007 World Whiskies Awards. No matter which expression you try, you’ll probably smack your lips and say, “Damn, that’s good Scotch!”
Region: Island
Founded in: 1830
Best-known expression: 10 Year Old
Shop at The Whisky Exchange Shop at Dan Murphy’s Shop at The Whisky List
11. Ardbeg
Call us biased, but we just can’t get enough of that peaty Islay malt. Should you agree, then surely you’ll want to check out Ardbeg and its wondrous array of expressions. The brand has been plying its craft for over 200 years, with some downright timeless flavours to show for it. You can’t go wrong with a bottle of the popular 10-Year, which is kind of like sucking on a chimney…in a good way, of course. Meanwhile, no two sips of Ardbeg Uigeadail are exactly the same.
Over 200 years old and as iconic as they come, Ardbeg very nearly didn’t make it through the ’90s before Glenmorangie acquired the distillery and resumed full production,” whisky expert Aaron Shuttleworth explains. With a cult global following called the Ardbeg Committee which help shape weird and wonderful releases like Ardbeg, Arrrrrrdbeg and Gallileo (commemorating Ardbeg that was shot into space!), the whisky is some of the most coveted and unique in the world.
Ardbeg is one of our favourite peaty whisk brands, check out our others here.
Region: Islay
Founded in: 1815
Best-known expression: 10 Year
Shop at The Whisky Exchange Shop at Dan Murphy’s Shop at The Whisky List
12. Glenmorangie
For over three decades, Glenmorangie’s Original 10 Year has been the most popular single malt Scotch whisky in all of the land (where they know a thing or two about whisky). Combine that with the brand’s endless slate of awards and you have a spirit that basically sells itself. The Original also serves as the base whisky for a variety of finishing programs, yielding rich expressions like Quinta Ruban and Lasanta.
Region: Highland
Founded in: 1843
Best-known expression: The Original 10 Year
Shop at The Whisky Exchange Shop at Dan Murphy’s Shop at The Whisky List
13. Bowmore
We’re going back to Islay, to Islay, to Islay…we’re going back to Islay because that’s where you’ll find Bowmore, i.e. another one of the best Scotch whiskies to drink. The flagship 12 Year is certainly nothing to scoff at, nor is its palatable mix of salt, vanilla, chocolate, and soft smoke. On the far opposite side of the spectrum is the ultra-rare Bowmore 31-Year-Old, which must be tasted to be believed. And by that, we mean we don’t believe we’ll ever get to taste it!
Region: Islay
Founded in: 1779
Best-known expression: 12 Year
Shop at The Whisky Exchange Shop at Dan Murphy’s Shop at The Whisky List
14. The GlenDronach
One look at the rich red colour of The Glendronach Original 12 Year and you’ve already got sherry on your mind. Unsurprisingly, the whisky is matured by combining Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez ex-sherry casks, paving the way for luscious colour and taste alike. When only the biggest flavour explosion will suffice, accept nothing less than The GlenDronach Parliament 21-Year-Old. That said, the privilege will cost you.
Region: Highland
Founded in: 1826
Best-known expression: The Original 12 Year
Shop at The Whisky Exchange Shop at Dan Murphy’s Shop at The Whisky List
15. The Glenlivet
Since first launching in 1824, The Glenlivet has ceased operations just once over the course of its lifespan and that was for a little event called WWII. Bigger now than ever before, it’s the second-best-selling single malt Scotch whisky brand in the world (first place goes to Glenfiddich). Its core range is anchored by some straightforward sippers, namely the 12-Year and the Founder’s Reserve. We’re personally more partial to the 18 Year or the Nadurra 16 Year, the latter of which is bottled at cask strength.
Region: Speyside
Founded in: 1824
Best-known expression: 12 Year
Shop at The Whisky Exchange Shop at Dan Murphy’s
16. Chivas Regal
Given the domination of single-malt Scotch whisky on our list of the best, let’s make way for this renowned blender. A number of Chivas Regal’s top-shelf entries have taken home major awards, including Gold and Double Gold in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. While we’d never refuse a glass of the 12 Year, it’s the 25 Year or the Regal XV we’re really after.
Founded in: 1801
Best-known expressions: 12-year-old, 15 years old, 18-year-old, 25-year-old
Shop at The Whisky Exchange Shop at Dan Murphy’s Shop at The Whisky List
17. Ben Nevis
If you’ve never heard of Ben Nevis, you’re not alone. Here’s what whisky expert Emma Cookson has to say about its allure;
“A tricky one to find nowadays since it has been discontinued thanks to stock shortages, hopefully, one day it will return. Ben Nevis is a great distillery known for a toffee apple and salted popcorn flavour profile and this whisky is no exception. Beloved by whisky drinkers all over the world, I’ll be sad to see my remaining bottle become empty.”
Address: Lochy Bridge, Fort William PH33 6TJ, United Kingdom
Owner: Nikka Whisky Distilling
Founded: 1825
Age(s): 10-year-old
Water source: Allt a’Mhuilinn
18. Oban
Located in the Scottish west coast port of Oban is this distillery of the same name, which takes direct inspiration from the local maritime climate. The 21-Year Cask Strength is worthy of your bucket list, but in the meantime, you’ll have to settle for the brand’s popular 14-Year or Little Bay expressions. Both are dried with peat and the 14 Year delivers plenty of smoke, in particular.
Region: Highland
Founded in: 1794
Best-known expression: 14 Year
Shop at The Whisky Exchange Shop at Dan Murphy’s
19. Bruichladdich
Under the supervision of legendary Master Distiller Jim McEwan, this Islay-based brand underwent a complete overhaul back in 2001. Total transparency and a number of fantastic releases (of both the peated and non-peated variety) would soon follow. That includes the iconic Black Art series, which is supremely high in quality and price alike. For those who don’t have hundreds of dollars to spend on alcohol, the Port Charlotte or Classic Laddie make for solid jumping-off points.
“Revived by the visionary that is Mark Reynier (now behind the equally great Irish whisky ‘Waterford’), Bruichladdich has single-handedly brought back barley production to Islay through Reynier’s vision of terroir and provenance, now carried on by new owners Remy Cointreau,” Scotch expert Aaron Shuttleworth tells us. “Under their three distinctive brands of Bruichladdich (non-peated), Port Charlotte (heavily peated) and Octomore (very heavily peated), the distillery is innovative, fun and a breath of fresh air.”
Region: Islay
Founded in: 1881
Best-known expression: The Classic Laddie
Shop at The Whisky Exchange Shop at Dan Murphy’s
20. Caol Ila
Why did we put Caol Ila on the list? Because we’re all about that smoke, ’bout that smoke. We know it’s an acquired taste, but we still think less of you if you don’t like it. Just kidding—we have nothing against all you peat-haters out there. Everyone else, start picking up what this long-running Scotch whisky brand is throwing down. You’ll be glad you did.
Region: Islay
Founded in: 1846
Best-known expression: 12 Year Old
Shop at The Whisky Exchange Shop at Dan Murphy’s Shop at Booze Bud
21. Highland Park
The northernmost single-malt Scotch whisky distillery is also one of the best. It goes by the name of Highland Park and hails from the archipelago of Orkney, where the winds are fierce and the weather is temperate. Making brilliant use of its surroundings, the distillery smokes hand-malted barley over local peat, resulting in a distinctive flavour profile. In 1997, it introduced an 18 Year expression and the world of whisky has never been quite the same. To put it another way: this stuff is gooooood. Unfortunately, it’s also really expensive, which is why you should stick with the superb 12 Year until that big bonus check comes in.
In 2022, Highland Park added a 15-Year-Old expression to its permanent lineup. Check it out here.
Region: Island
Founded in: 1798
Best-known expression: 12 Year
Shop at The Whisky Exchange Shop at Dan Murphy’s
22. Springbank
Family-owned and operated, Springbank is Scotland’s oldest independent distillery and one of the last brands standing in the once-thriving region of Campbeltown. The standard 10 Year single malt Scotch whisky is distilled 2.5 times and mildly peated, leading to a wonderfully diverse profile. A hard-working brand if there ever was one, it performs 100% of the production (malting, ageing, bottling, etc) on-site.
Region: Campbeltown
Founded in: 1828
Best-known expression: 10 Year
23. Kilchoman
The first new distillery to be built on the island of Islay in 124 years, Kilchoman has come a long way in precious little time. As the owner of nearby Rockside Farm, the brand oversees every single aspect of production, going from barley to bottle. The 100% Islay series, in particular, represents grain-to-glass in the truest sense of the concept. We expect more great things from this veritable newcomer.
Region: Islay
Founded in: 2005
Best-known expression: Machir Bay
Shop at The Whisky Exchange Shop at Dan Murphy’s
24. Glenallachie
While it might be the most familiar name, the unique distillery is actually one of the world’s best. Previously, the distillery mainly produced whisky for blends, however, in recent years, Glenallachie has undergone some serious changes, introducing a number of fruity, single-malt expressions. According to Shuttleworth, Glenallachie is a hidden gem of Scotland, offering an outstanding portfolio of spirits, backed by some very famous names. “Previously owned by Chivas Brothers and recently bought by a group including Billy Walker, Glenallachie is putting out some of the most exciting whisky in Speyside,” he says. It all comes thanks to a vast library of 50,000 casks dating back to the ’70s, a leading cask program and Walker’s unparalleled expertise.
Region: Speyside
Founded in: 1967
Best-known expression: Glenallachie 12-Year-Old
Shop at The Whisky Exchange Shop at Dan Murphy’s
How we chose our list of the best
While Man of Many are sticklers for research and certainly know a thing or two about Scotch whisky, we also turned to the experts in compiling our list. We treated personal experience and online research as primary sources, while also speaking to experts in the industry for their commentary, e.g. Emma Cookson (an award-winning bartender in Australia), alongside The Whisky List’s very own Oliver Maruda and Crown Resorts expert Aaron Shuttleworth.
How you should choose a good bottle
Similar to Champagne or Cognac, Scotch is a label that can only be given to whisky distilled within Scotland, provided it meets some specific requirements, including maturation time-frames, ABV% regulations and a host more.
Here’s everything you need to know about Scotch whisky:
- What is Scotch whisky?
- Why does the Scotch whisky regulatory body exist?
- The rise of Scotch whisky
- Types of Scotch whisky
- Alternatives to Scotch whisky
- Frequently asked questions
RELATED: The best whiskey stones to chill your dram.
What is Scotch whisky?
So what is Scotch whisky? Well, we could wax poetic about the “water of life” and so on, but instead, we’ll stick to the basics. According to the official Scotch Whisky Regulations (SWR) – which were last updated in 2009 – genuine Scotch whisky must meet the following criteria:
- It must be produced at a distillery in Scotland from water and malted barley.
- Should any additional grains (of other cereals) be added to the mash, they must be whole grains.
- The distillery must perform the following actions to all of the grains:
- Process them into a mash
- Convert them to a fermentable substrate exclusively by endogenous enzyme systems
- Ferment them by adding yeast only
- The spirit must be initially distilled at an ABV of no more than 94.8% (190 proof).
- The spirit must be wholly matured in an excise warehouse in Scotland inside oak casks for a minimum of three years.
- No substances other than water and plain caramel colouring can be added to the spirit.
- The resulting statement must have an ABV of no less than 40% (80 proof).
If you wanted to explain Scotch whisky to someone in a single sentence, we’ve put this one together;
“Scotch whisky is a whisky that’s made in Scotland using water and malted barley (and other whole grains on occasion) and is aged for a minimum of 3 years inside oak casks with an ABV of more than 40%.”
Why does the regulatory body exist?
We spoke to whisky expert Oliver Maruda to get to the bottom of why the regulatory body exists.
“In Scotland, the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) oversees distilleries to make sure good business practices are being followed, it’s a big reason why Scotch is such a highly respected product all over the world. Other countries have their own regulators for whisky, and Canada was actually one of the first, setting guidelines on age statements and casking to the point that at one point in time it became the number one spirit consumed in America because the quality was guaranteed,” said Oliver Maruda, a whisky expert and co-founder of The Whisky List.
Unfortunately, not every country has these guidelines, and in some parts of the world, you can find the word ‘whisky’ stamped on everything from rum to aged rice wine. Having these purity laws in Scotland gives consumers the assurance that they are buying a bottle of whisky that is made with heritage, practice, and skill.”
While the SWR’s requirements may seem over the top, they still leave plenty of room for experimentation. For instance, Scotch whisky can be either chill-filtered or non-chill-filtered. Also, the type of cask in which the whisky is aged can vary, though the spirit is most often aged inside ex-bourbon barrels. After that, Scotch whisky can undergo additional maturation (aka finishing) inside sherry casks, port casks, rum barrels, or whatever the distiller or producer has in mind. So what about the different types? Let’s check them out.
The different types
Scotch whisky breaks down according to the following types:
| Types of Scotch whisky | |
|---|---|
| Single Malt | To qualify as single malt, the Scotch must be made from a mash of 100% malted barley and distilled at a single distillery by way of a pot still distillation process. |
| Single Grain | Despite the name, single-grain Scotch can incorporate other whole cereal grains (malted or unmalted) into the mash. The whisky must be distilled at a single distillery and it can be distilled continuously in continuous stills or column stills. |
| Blended Malt | A blend of single malt Scotch whisky from at least two different distilleries. |
| Blended Grain | A blend of single-grain Scotch whiskies from at least two different distilleries. |
| Blended Scotch | A blend of single malt Scotch and single grain Scotch whiskies. |
RELATED: These are our favourite Japanese whisky brands.
Why is this whisky so sought-after?
From Johnnie Walker to The Macallan, the long list of Scotch whisky brands that have infiltrated the global market is nothing short of incredible. Over the years, the spirit has become one of the leading exports for Scotland, with the Scotch Whisky Association revealing that the export value of Scotch whisky in 2021 was £4.51 billion, up £705 million compared to 2020. On average, 44 bottles of Scotch whisky are exported every second, thrown from all parts of the country to a massive international legion of fans, hailing from regions as far-reaching as the USA, France, Australia and even Latvia, which accounted for £176 million of Scotch exports in 2020. According to Scotch expert and Crown Resorts venue manager Aaron Shuttleworth, each region of Scotland is responsible for pioneering its own versions of the spirit, which in turn has garnered a unique and engaged fanbase. While Highland Scotches
“Whilst there are subtle variations in production methods from distillery to distillery and region to region, there are characteristics you’ll generally find that define a particular designation,” he explains. “Highland scotches tend to be richer and fuller styles with notes of malt, oak, fruit cake and heather coming through. Further south in Speyside the whiskies are more delicate and generally absent of any peat, with notes of apple, vanilla, nutmeg and dried fruits making them approachable to newcomers to whisky.”
“The Lowlands produce a lighter style again, and are unique in that they were once all triple distilled. Grass, toast, and honeysuckle are predominate tasting notes,” Shuttleworth continues.” Islay is best known for its use of local peat to create unique malts, channelling notes of seaweed, brine, smoke, iodine and rich fruit. Finally, The Islands surrounding Scotland aren’t technically classified (aside from Islay) and each has its own distinctive style, with heather, honey and salinity present in most examples. Needless to say, there are countless outliers and curve-balls to all of these regions and surprises to be found where you least expect them.”
RELATED: These are the best whiskey stones to cool off your dram.
Alternatives to Scotch whisky
If you’re looking for alternatives to Scotch whisky, we recommend looking at Japan, Ireland, and Australia. Japanese whisky has grown exponentially to the point some of their brand’s bottles are fetching world-record pricing for rarity and quality. Ireland has made a name for itself by offering a more relaxed ruleset compared to its Scottish friends and the result is a new age of whisky that experiments with younger age statements barreled in sweet wine barrels. The same can be said for the best Australian whiskey brands, specifically those from Tasmania that have won awards against some of the world’s best.
Whisky Brands Worldwide
- Japanese Whisky Brands
- Irish Whiskey Brands
- Australian Whiskey Brands
- New Zealand Whisky Brands
- American Craft Whiskey Brands
- Canadian Whisky Brands
Different Types of Whisky
Whisky Arrivals
- Redbreast American Oak Series Whisky
- Nikka Limited Edition Japanese Single Malt Whiskies
- Conor McGregor’s Proper No. Twelve Whiskey
- The BenRiach Smoky 12 is a Whisky For the Dark Side
- Scotch Whisky Brand Talisker Unveils Oldest Release to Date
Whisky Distilleries
- 20 Best Tasmanian Whisky Distilleries
- How Go Westward Distillery is Leading America’s Single Malt Whiskey Movement
- Inside the World’s First Whisky Distillery to Earn a Michelin Star
- Melbourne’s Starward Whisky Named ‘Most Awarded Distillery’ in the World
Frequently asked questions
There are far too many variables to denote an all-time best Scotch whisky. That said, statements such as Lagavulin 16 Year Old, The Macallan Fine Oak 21 Year, The Balvenie 21 Year Old Port Wood, and Highland Park 18 Year Old are cherished by seasoned drinkers worldwide. That's not to mention highly sought-after releases such as the Bowmore 50 Year or The Macallan M, which occupy a category all their own.
Scotch is whisky (No 'e') and the differences between whisky and whiskey boil down to region while remaining somewhat interchangeable. Hence, Scotch is whiskey from a technical perspective.
Scotch whisky must be produced at a distillery in Scotland and crafted in accordance with specific regulations. All Scotch whisky must be aged for a minimum of 3 years.
Johnnie Walker, Chivas Regal, and Dewar's are just a few brands that make and distribute blended Scotch whisky. Glenmorangie, Glenfiddich, The Glenlivet, and The Macallan are a few brands that make and distribute single malt Scotch whisky.
