When it comes to whiskey and whisky drinkers, most would agree that Scotch is arguably the finest whisky there is. The production of Scotch can be traced back to the late 1490’s, and every since it’s been a favorite amongst countless whisky drinkers across the world. Scotch comes in all different types and is produced all throughout Scotland, where different regions make different types of Scotch. In fact, there are some very specifics laws regarding the definition of “true” Scotch, namely it has to be produced in Scotland from water and malted barley and it has to be aged in Scotland for at least three years. Of the various forms of Scotch, single malt remains as a favorite. While other Scotch’s are made from blends of whiskeys from single distillers, single malt comes from just one distillery, as the name implies. Scotch is easily considered one of the most luxurious forms of liquor out there, and there are many brands that are among the best. Let’s take a quick look at ten of the finest single malt Scotch brands that are out there, in no particular order.
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Lagavulin Scotch
Lagavulin is a fairly small Scotch brand whose distillery is located in the town of Lagavulin on the island of Islay. The brand can trace it’s roots all the way back to 1816, and it posses all the qualities one could want when seeking a pure and untampered single malt. You know, the distillery is really old, they release small batches each year, and take their time with the distillation process. In fact their operation is so small, they don’t even have a website. It’s a Scotsman Scotch and their 16-year serves as their base offering. They’re known for their smoky flavors and are a type of Scotch that’s very specific to this region. With their 16-year-old starting at about $70 per bottle, Lagavulin is also a great value. Although they do produce a 37-year-old that’s considerably more expensive.
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Glenfiddich Scotch
Sure, Glenfiddich may be one of the most popular and well-known single malt brands in the world, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad. This Dufftown favorite has been in business since 1886 and still remains to be an industry leader. For first-timers, their 12-year is a solid single malt to start with. Their standard production goes all the way up to 50-year batches, and of course they have vintages that will easily run you a few thousand dollars per bottle. They’re are a tried and trusted name, and you can never go wrong with Glenfiddich.
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Bunnahabhain Scotch
Another brand from Islay, Bunnahabhain has been producing quality single malts since 1881. They are known as one of the more “accessible” Islay Scotches, in terms of drinkability. Their standard offering is a solid 12-year single malt that’s sure to please. If you’re feeling fancy, opt for the 25-year that blend notes of fruit and toffee with the iconic smoky taste that Scotch is known for, however expect to pay around $400 dollars for a bottle.
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Glenmorangie Scotch
Located in the town of Tain in the Scottish Highlands, Glenmorangie is another standout Scotch brand that produces some of the best single malts out there. Their offerings start with “The Original” which is a 10-year that has subtle notes of vanilla and flowers and is aged in American white oak casks. They are a fairly large distillery and have a range of different offerings, depending on how deep your wallet is. Their private reserve, limited batches, and various vintages are all incredible drinks, but like many Scotch brands, expect to pay a lot for stuff that’s old.
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Springbank Scotch
Springbank is a small distillery from the Campbeltown region of Scotlan, and is one of the few remaining brands that produce Campbeltown-styled single malt Scotches. Like the rest of brands on our list, Springbank is pretty old; 187 years, to be exact. Their standard and more affordable single malts are their 10-year and 12-year Scotches, bust most would agree that the 21-year is the best from their standard range of Scotches. That is, unless you come across a bottle from, say, the 1960’s, for example.
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Highland Park Scotch
With a name that’s recognized throughout the world, Highland Park is one of the leading brands in single malt whisky. Their various Scotches, particularly their 25-year, have won a variety of awards over the years. They are truly a Highland brand, and are actually the most northern distillery in all of Scotland. They’re a fairly large operation and their standard offerings range from 12-years to 40-years. But then they offer things like their Orcadian Vintage Series 1968 which is essentially drinkable art, and that comes at a price. If you can locate a bottle, expect to pay around $3,300 dollars for that vintage.
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Royal Lochnagar Scotch
Royal Lochnagar is yet another standout Highland brand that’s based out of the town of the same name. They’ve been in business since 1824, and have been producing incredible single malts ever since. The “Royal” in their name isn’t just a marketing move either. In 1848 Queen Victoria and Prince Albert visited the distillery, and they later obtained their Royal Warrant later that year because they loved their Scotch so much.
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Glenkinchie Scotch
Situated in the town of East Lothian which is about 15 miles outside of Edinburgh, Glenkinchie is a smaller brand but a great one none-the-less. Like most Scotch brands, their offerings start with a 12-year and then go up from there. They are a Lowland Scotch brand, and have won a few awards for their Scotches over the years.
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The Macallan Scotch
The Macallan is a Scotch brand that needs no introduction, and many would consider it to be one of the finest single malt brands in the entire world. They’re well renowned and you’ll be paying a premium even for their most humble offerings (their 12-year goes for around $80). Their 30-year is one of the finer bottles from the brand, but even that can run some $1,700 dollars. And then you get into limited releases that are 60-years old or some of their vintages, and soon you will need to remortgage your home to afford a bottle. But there’s a reason they cost so much: The Macallan is just that good.
Photo from The Macallan
Bowmore Scotch
Founded in 1779, Bowmore is an Islay brand that’s considered one of the oldest Scotch distilleries in the entire world. They are a respected name within the Scotch industry, and produce a range of different batches. Their 12-year is a solid place to start as it has a great taste and is fairly affordable. Up from there, things start to get expensive. Their 25-year is considered one of the best that you can actually get your hand on, but a bottle will run you around $350 dollars. But then you get into the world of their rarer 54-year-old’s and vintages from before World War II, for example, and you enter into an entirely new world of Scotch drinking that’s typically reserved for the wealthiest individuals on the planet.
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