Single malt Scotch whisky is made from malted barley, and is the second-largest category of Scotch sold worldwide. Here's our go-to list if you're a fan of the golden stuff.
We’ve all heard that sales of home-bound booze are soaring during the lockdown, as nights out become nights in, but drinking simply to get you through the crisis is not something we advocate. We think there should be more purpose to any such activity. So without the buzz and banter of your favourite drinking den, perhaps you could use the opportunity to broaden your tastes into new areas instead. And what could be better than embarking on a Scotch whisky discovery, where the slow pace of sipping is just what’s required in these uncertain times.
For the whisky novice, deciding where to begin can be more challenging than locating a bag of flour in a supermarket, with six regions to discover and a seemingly infinite array of flavour variations available within each one. So to help you navigate the whisky maze, we’ve come up with ten single malts that are certain to account for most tastes.
Old Pulteney 12 Year Old, 40%
Region: Highland
In a nutshell: sweet and citrusy
The good folk of Old Pulteney have conjured some lockdown escapism with their ‘Sounds of Wick’ video, a soothing piece of slow TV that transports you to the sights and sounds of the distillery’s home on the north coast of Scotland. Their 12-year-old whisky further immerses the senses into Highland life, with a whiff of the ocean and some sweet citrus and vanilla notes that are so easy going you’ll be reluctant to leave.
Grab a bottle here.
Highland Park 12 Year Old Viking Honour, 40%
Region: Island
In a nutshell: smoke and honey
There aren’t many whisky drinkers who don’t appreciate a drop of this golden booze sloshing around in their tumbler. It’s laced with a smooth honeyed sweetness that instantly enchants the whisky novice, while heather, smoke and oak mingle to give it a complexity that’s appreciated by epicures whose cabinets already creak under the weight of whisky. It’s an Island classic and we dare you not to like it.
Grab a bottle here.
Whisky and soda
Glenfarclas 15 Year Old, 46%
Region: Speyside
In a nutshell: fruit and sherry
Maturing whisky in sherry casks is a popular pursuit among Speyside distilleries, but not many extract as much rich ambrosia from theirs as Glenfarclas. This is sherry that has soaked a Christmas cake, smothered a cinnamon bun and stolen a cherry from the top of a trifle before leaving the scene in a puff of smoke. Exceptional stuff.
Grab a bottle here.
Springbank 10 Year Old, 46%
Region: Campbeltown
In a nutshell: salty and oily
It’s not just aroma and flavour that varies among whiskies, but also the texture, and this Campbeltown classic has a viscosity that is creamier and oiler than most. We love its highly sip-able charms, feeling it coat our palates with marzipan, pear and resinous pine – each flavour accentuated by a touch of smoky salt.
Grab a bottle here.
Port Charlotte 10 Year Old, 50%
Region: Islay
In a nutshell: peat and TCP
Islay is famed for its peated whisky and the Bruichladdich distillery likes cranking up the peat levels higher than most, as evidenced by this modern gem. Along with heady, dry smoke and punchy, spicy oak there’s also another Islay hallmark at play – a seaweedy, medicinal quality often compared to TCP. This causes some taste buds to tremble with fear, but tune yours in and you might not want your whisky any other way.
Grab a bottle here.
Glenkinchie 12 Year Old, 43%
Region: Lowland
In a nutshell: light and grassy
For a taste of the Lowland ‘light and grassy’ style, head East of Edinburgh to the Glenkinchie Distillery and their 12-year-old whisky. The aroma is instantly light and floral with some fruity, baked apple fullness developing on the palate, while those Lowland grassy notes add a cool freshness to the finish.
Grab a bottle here.
Talisker Skye, 45.8%
Regions: Islands
In a nutshell: sea and smoke
Can a whisky really smell and taste of the Scottish coast? Those who believe it can will frequently cite Talisker as evidence, describing a briny and rugged character to its whisky. This release, named after the distillery’s home island, is a tamer version of their standard whisky that features peppery spice, smoke and tannic fruit softened and sweetened with citrus juice. A maritime whisky perhaps, albeit on a calm day.
Grab a bottle here.
Whisky sour
Glenmorangie Bacalta, 46%
Region: Highland
In a nutshell: fruit and nut
Distillers can be an experimental bunch, producing special editions that delve into new flavour territories and, they hope, create a decent marketing story in the process. With limited raw ingredients required, most experimentation comes from the casks used to age the spirit. Glenmorangie’s Bacalta basked for two years in sun-baked Madeira casks, enriching the flavours with toffee-coated fruits, white chocolate and toasted almonds – all aglow with a dose of Spanish sun.
Grab a bottle here.
Glen Scotia Victoriana, 54.2%
Region: Campbeltown
In a nutshell: meaty and oaky
Victoriana harks back to the days when little old Campbeltown was rammed with over 30 distilleries and Scotch was used to deal with most of life’s setbacks. A shot of this cask strength, bold booze will certainly deal with your senses – it’s oily, meaty, oaky and nutty, and even the lighter lemon touches are more pith than juice.
Grab a bottle here.
Glenlivet Spectra, 40%
Region: Speyside
In a nutshell: a mystery
This latest release from Glenlivet features an interactive element that should help while away a few hours of isolation. The package contains three 200ml bottles of unique whiskies but no information of what’s behind each one – instead you’re challenged to partake in a ‘digital experience’ to explore their characteristics before their secrets are revealed later in the year. And as we don’t want to spoil your lockdown fun you’ll get no tasting clues from us.
Grab a bottle here.