Barrel-Aged?
High-Proof?
Single Malt?
Whatever you’re looking for in a Scotch Whisky, we’ve got a recommendation for this
timeless spirit.
Stay tuned to see the best of the best of the Scotch world in 2022.
Also known as ‘king of Islay,’ the Lagavulin 16 Year Old Scotch Whisky is the distillery's,
quote, “fiercest” Scotch.
“And tell our enemies that they can take your lives.
But they can never take our peat!”
While the single malt might be a little intimidating for newbies, it's hailed as a must-try by
whisky connoisseurs.
Aged for a minimum of 16 years in oak casks, this whisky's most distinguishing characteristic
is its peat smoke flavor, a well-known characteristic of southern Islay.
Initially released in the 1990s as a limited edition, the Lagavulin 16 Year earned its
spot in the distillery's celebrated range due to its overwhelming popularity.
However, while adored by many, the bottle is not for the faint-hearted.
It carries a variety of truly bold flavors, including tobacco, vanilla, and sherry.
It also boasts a thick mouthfeel and a hint of sherry.
You can purchase the Lagavulin 16 Year Scotch Whisky starting at just under $110 from Drizly.
The GlenAllachie distillery refers to its Speyside Single Malt 12 Year Old Scotch Whisky
as the heart of its range, and for good reason.
Opened in 1967, for decades the distillery only produced whisky for blending.
Then, in 2017, the facility was purchased by private investors who created this very
unique whisky, propelling the distillery to its current glory.
Though it hasn’t officially been confirmed by the brand, some suspect that the 12 year
old single malt is matured in a combination of virgin American white oak casks, Pedro
Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks, and first- and second-fill bourbon casks.
However, we do know that the whisky contains old expressions from when GlenAllachie reopened
in 1989, after it was purchased by Invergordon Distillers.
The result is a light mahogany liquor with a nose of dried fruit, demerara sugar, candied
orange peel, and nuts.
In flavor, the medium-bodied offering features notes of oats, marmalade, oak, and toffee,
as well as cinnamon and cloves.
The medium finale completes the balanced picture with hints of barley, toasted oak, and white
pepper.
You can purchase the GlenAllachie Speyside Single Malt 12 Year Old Scotch Whisky from
Drizly starting at $70.
Owned by the same family for five generations, the Glenfarclas distillery specializes in
producing traditional Highland single malt Scotch whiskies.
The Glenfarclas 25 Year Old Scotch whisky is one of the distillery's Speysiders.
Aged in first-fill Oloroso Sherry casks, this delicately sherried whisky is so rich in flavor
that it can easily replace a dessert.
The award-winning amber liquor comes with aromas of marmalade, coffee, honey, sherry,
and nuts, as well as hints of oaky tannins.
Expect a full-bodied and robust palate with notes of both sherry and oak.
The intense and long finish is dry and malty, with a pleasant aftertaste of dark chocolate.
While some have commented that the Glenfarclas 15 Year might be a better-value bottle than
its older counterpart, the balance of the 25 year helps it win through.
One reviewer described it as:
"So smooth it can be imbibed without a drop of water."
You can purchase the Glenfarclas 25 Year Old Scotch Whisky from Drizly starting at $200.
The largest of Scotland's whisky regions, the Highlands are made up of coastline, mountains,
and moors.
With such a diverse landscape, it's not surprising that the region's whisky offerings are also
quite vast.
The Glenmorangie Nectar d'Or is one of the most pleasant of these offerings.
Aged in American oak bourbon casks for 10 years and then finished for two years in Sauternes,
or white dessert wine casks, the whisky's aroma and flavor bring to mind the sweet offerings
of a French patisserie.
Nectar d'Or translates to ‘golden nectar,’ accounting for the liquor’s deep gold color.
As bold and sweet as the rich color implies, there are notes of honey, vanilla, raisins,
lime, and cinnamon feature in the whisky’s subtle aroma.
The flavor evokes hints of caramel, raisins, gingerbread, and creme on the middle palate,
orange zest on the roof of the mouth, and sugar-covered almonds at the back of the palate.
Finally, the medium finish balances the placid notes of apple blossom, honey, lemon, and
caramel.
You can purchase the Glenmorangie Nectar d'Or Scotch Whisky from Drizly starting at $80.
Scotland's lush Lowlands deliver smooth malts light enough to be enjoyed before dinner.
Fresh, fruity, and smooth, the Auchentoshan Three Wood Single Malt Whisky is no exception.
One Drizly reviewer notes that the pour's gentle profile makes a great starter whisky,
writing:
"I'm a newbie to Scotch but out of everything I've tried over the last year and a half this
is the best.
Very smooth especially when the ice melts just a tiny bit."
As its name suggests, the Auchentoshan Three Wood Single Malt Whisky gets its characteristics
from three different types of casks: American bourbon, Spanish Oloroso Sherry, and Pedro
Ximenez Sherry.
While the whisky doesn't come with an age statement, the Scotch Noob suggests that it
spends around 10 years in bourbon casks, then the next two years in the two sherry casks.
The triple distillation process is somewhat unusual for Scotland, where whisky is usually
only distilled twice.
So what is the end result?
On the nose, the Auchentoshan Three Wood is all about sherry with hints of dried fruit,
cranberry, and caramelized sugar.
On the palate, the full-bodied pour features notes of figs, dark chocolate, hazelnuts,
and balsamic reduction.
Finally, the short finish is nutty with flavors of molasses, plums, dried fruit, and mint.
You can purchase the Auchentoshan Three Wood Scotch Whisky from Drizly starting at $82.
Well-known for its fiery, peated whiskies, the small island of Islay is home to 3,000
residents and nine distilleries, including Bruichladdich.
The distillers there are the masterminds behind the Bruichladdich Port Charlotte 10.
Committed to making its whisky as true to Islay as possible, the distillery not only
sources all its malt and peat on the island, but also uses Islay spring water in the production
process.
While other Islay distilleries outsource some tasks to facilities on the mainland, Bruichladdich
distills, matures, and bottles its whiskies on the island.
Named after a town on Islay, the Bruichladdich Port Charlotte 10 scores high on the peat
level with a phenol measurement of 40 PPM.
Still, the pour doesn't taste as peaty as the numbers would indicate.
Instead, the smokiness presents as quite subtle.
While the smoke is discernible, it's well-balanced with the sweetness drawn from the oak barrels.
You can purchase the Bruichladdich Port Charlotte 10 Scotch Whisky from Drizly starting at $75.
Unlike most other Scotch whiskies, the Compass Box Hedonism isn't made with any malt.
Instead, it's a blended grain whisky that combines long-aged, single-grain whiskies
from reputable distilleries such as Cameronbridge and Cambus.
However, Scotch Noob notes that this doesn't mean you should pass judgement just yet, even
if the technique is notoriously used for lower-shelf whiskies.
Since the Compass Box Hedonism is produced once or twice per year out of different combinations
and quantities of whiskies, every batch is bound to be at least slightly different.
While you can just about always expect quality, there are no batch numbers on the bottles
to tell you exactly what you are drinking.
What you can expect, however, is a whisky that's lighter and creamier than most single
malts, and features notes of vanilla, caramel, and fruit.
You can purchase the Compass Box Hedonism Scotch Whisky from Drizly starting at $120.
Priced at around $40, the Deanston Virgin Oak is smooth, sweet, and generally easy-going.
In character with its affordable price, it is a young whisky.
“I got some Scotch.”
“Single malt?”
“Aged 18 years.
The way I like it.”
However, while the youth doesn't necessarily show with each sip, it's not a bad thing when
it does — it has a surprisingly fresh and well-balanced finish.
Aged in bourbon casks from Kentucky and refined in virgin oak, the Deanston Virgin Oak is
a simple whisky with a nose of wood spices, nutmeg, vanilla caramel, banana, honey, and
leather.
The full-bodied flavor is both sweet and subtly spicy with hints of fruit, nuts, vanilla,
and cotton candy.
Meanwhile, the finale is accented by nuts, cereal, and smoke.
According to the Whisky Jug, the Deanston Virgin Oak gains a lot during the oxidation
process, so it pays to let the whisky sit for a couple of weeks after opening.
You can purchase the Deanston Virgin Oak Scotch Whisky from Drizly starting at $38.
The Nc'Nean Organic Single Malt Scotch Whisky is not just certified organic, but also comes
with a minimal carbon footprint, making it great for both the taste buds and the environmentally
conscious soul.
What's more, the liquor is produced in a carbon-neutral distillery and packaged in 100% post-consumer
recycled glass.
The cork stoppers combine natural cork and wood, the tamper is made from renewable-sourced
wood pulp extracts, and the cardboard gift tube is 90% recyclable.
Last but certainly not least, the Nc'Nean distillery is powered by renewable energy.
But what about the whisky itself?
Aged for a minimum of three years, the Nc'Nean Organic Single Malt Whisky gets its flavor
from bourbon casks and treated STR — shaved, toasted, and re-charred — red wine barrels.
On the nose, the pour is rich in lemon oil, nectarines, and fudge.
The creamy palate is packed with spice and hints of lemon, ginger, peach, coconut, and
rye.
The experience ends with a medium spicy finish with a subtle mint prickle.
You can purchase the Nc'Nean Organic Single Malt Scotch Whisky from the brand's website
starting at $70.
Retailing at around $240, Glenmorangie Signet Scotch whisky is one of those varieties you
might want to hold onto for special occasions.
If you are happy to spend over $200 on a bottle of whisky, however, this is your bottle.
Distilled once a year in the tallest malt whisky stills in the country, the pour has
no age statement.
However, according to Ape to Gentleman, it's matured for around 21 years.
For that time, the Highland whisky is housed in a variety of casks: bourbon for creaminess,
sherry for sweetness, and virgin charred oak for spiciness.
Glenmorangie Signet delivers an explosion of flavors inspired by Italian coffee bars.
Expect notes of mocha, spice, and dark chocolate, all balanced by velvety butterscotch.
The full-bodied whisky features a long, fruity finish with hints of cocoa, roasted malt,
and powdered sugar.
You can purchase the Glenmorangie Signet Scotch Whisky from Drizly starting at $240.
While whisky is typically bottled at either 40 or 43% alcohol by volume, this is by no
means a requirement.
In fact, it's not unusual for Scotch whisky to reach heights such as 57% ABV.
The Ardbeg Corryvreckan is one such whisky.
At 57.1% ABV, or 114.2 proof, the rich amber pour is one of the strongest Scotch whiskies
on the market.
Named after a whirlpool in the north of Islay, Ardbeg Corryvreckan is described by the distillery
as:
"Not for the faint-hearted."
“Good, isn’t it?”
While we know that Ardbeg Corryvreckan is high proof, its composition remains a mystery.
The distillery hasn't disclosed the whisky's age statement or the type of casks it is matured
in.
However, Whiskey Watch makes an educated guess that the pour is aged in bourbon oak and French
oak casks.
Bold and big, Ardbeg Corryvreckan's dense nose is characterized by peat smoke, lemon,
peach, oak, tar, and seaweed.
The whisky's multi-layered flavor is also rich in earthy peat smoke, as well as chocolate
malt, oak, orange, peach, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
The long and powerful fade exudes dark chocolate, peat smoke, dried fruit, wood shavings, and
cinnamon.
You can purchase the Ardbeg Corryvreckan Scotch Whisky from Drizly starting at $100.
One of the biggest names in the industry, the first Chivas Regal blend was released
way back in 1909.
The 25-year-old whisky quickly became a hit with well-heeled whisky lovers.
Hampered by Prohibition, Chivas Regal made a comeback with its 12 Year blend in 1938.
Adding to the historic collection, the Chivas Regal 18 Year Old Scotch Whisky was released
in 1997.
The pour blends 20 malt and grain whiskies to deliver 85 unique flavors.
The star of the show is a Speyside malt from Strathisla, a distillery purchased by the
Chivas Brothers in 1950.
The malt is produced exclusively for this whisky.
Deep and complex, Chivas Regal 18 Year Old is both a smooth sipper and a great addition
to cocktails.
Once poured, you can expect rich aromas of dried fruit, dark chocolate, and buttery toffee.
The multi-layered palate exhibits dark chocolate with floral and smoky notes.
Finally, the whisky's finish is both long and warm.
According to Drizly reviews, this impressive blended Scotch might just turn an occasional
sipper into a full-blown professional quaffer.
You can purchase the Chivas Regal 18 Year Old Scotch Whisky from Drizly starting at
$85.
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