Single Malt Scotch Whisky - A Buyers Guide

The Malt Whisky Regions
Speyside Single Malt Whisky
Highland Single Malt Whisky
Lowland Single Malt Whisky
Island Single Malt Whisky
Islay Single Malt Whisky
Campbeltown Single Malt Whisky

Single Malt Whisky Awards
Whisky Bible World Whisky Award

Rare Single Malt Whisky
Quite Expensive Single Malt

Single Malt Whisky Auctions
UK Auctions
US Auctions

Whisky Drinking Accessories
Whisky Glasses
Whisky Decanters
Malt Whisky Guide Books
Whisky Quotes

Speyside Malts are from a smallish region in the Highlands, North-East of Aberdeen and west - south-west of Inverness. They range from light floral honeyed whiskies, to an almost Liqueur like sherried sweetness and some even have the odd peated malt taste.

Some of the top Speyside Single Malt's to enjoy and to seek out include -

Benromach

A single Malt with a rich, yet mellow taste with a hint of sweetness and liquorice. Also available from this distillery are matured malts upto 40 years old and organic malts.

Tomatin

A light gold sweet whisky, this 12year old Single Malt has a rich herbal spice hint with some subtle earthy tones. Inexpensive yet elegant.

Glenfiddich

Probably the most famous of the Speyside Single Malts. This Whisky is the most widely drunk Single Malt in the world with it's distinctive triangular bottle seen in almost all respectable bars.

Glenlivet

This 18year old Single Malt is an award winning whisky embodying the true essence of a Speyside Malt. In fact as the first Distillery in the region to gain a legal license in 1824 and being the preffered tipple of King George IV on a trip to Edinburgh it was the inspiration for the Speyside distilleries which followed.

You can choose from and view details of a large selection of Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky here.

The Islands region is quite a broad classification for Malt Whisky as it covers quite a variety of tastes from the Peaty/Smokey flavour of Highland Park to the lighter fragrance of Talisker. Here we bring you a selection from this region which we hope you may take some time to enjoy in the future. You will find that many of the most famous and sought after Malt's come from the Islands region.

Highland Park

This 12 year old single malt is personally my favorite, with a heady mix of smokey peat flavours and a smooth warm aftertaste it's a whisky for all occasions. Highland Park's award-winning quality has its roots in the whisky's Orkney home and the obsession of the people who craft it. Established in 1798 on Orkney, Highland Park is one of the most remote Scotch whisky distilleries in the world. This northerly island location gives access to unique heather peat from the distillery's own moor, water from the same spring that has fed the distillery for over 200 years, and the cool, maritime climate that allows the spirit to interact gently with the carefully-chosen oak casks and develop into the fabulously rich, layered whisky that is consistently lauded by connoisseurs and experts.

Talisker

Talisker needs little or no introduction to any lover of fine whisky. With it's gentle peaty aroma and the clarity of it's double distillation process it is a king among Malt Whisky. Available in a number of ages it is surely a whisky that will be loved by any introduced to it.

Jura

A very accessible, easy-drinking malt. Medium-bodied with a delicate sweet palate, with a hint of brine developing on the finish. A great introductory malt. Excellent Malt to have as an aperitif.

You can choose from and view details of a large selection of Island Malts here.

By far the biggest region geographically, the Highlands inevitably embraces wide variations. It is difficult to generalise about the character of the Highland Malts, if they have anything in common, it is a rounded, firm, dry character, with some peatiness. The far north of the Highlands has several whiskies with a notably heathery, spicy, character, deriving from the local peat soil. The more sheltered East Highlands and the Midlands of Scotland (often described as the South Highlands) have a number of sweeter & fruity whiskies. None of these Highland areas is officially regarded as a region, though they surround the area known as Speyside.

Oban

Possibly one of the most famous west Highland Malt Whisky's. A superb, full-blooded fruity malt with a whiff of heather and more than a hint of peat. An easy whisky for those not familiar with the strengths and subtleties of Malt Whisky.

Glenmorangie

Easily one of the most recognisable of the Highland Malts. "Perhaps the most enigmatic aroma of them all... A great single malt: beautifully uncompromising from the first sniff to the last gulp." Jim Murray in Whisky Magazine Nov 2000

Dalmore

One of the most popular Highland Single Malts. Dalmore have an extensive range of aged malt, most expensive of which being a 50 year old laid down in the 1920's and bottled in 1978 to produce a £5,000 bottle of malt. Creating Malt Whisky for over 160 years this is certainly a distillery that is worthy of sampling.

Dalwhinnie

A classic 15 year old malt which is good introduction to the delights of single malt whisky - elegant, smooth and medium-bodied with a light, fruity palate and a whiff of heather on the finish.

You can choose from and view details of a large selection of Highland Malts here.

The Lowlands Whisky Distilleries produce a much maltier and less peaty whisky which is much softer and more mellow than the Highland and Island Malts. Although the number of distilleries in the Lowlands is quite small considering its geographic area they are often more sought after and higher priced than their Highland counter parts.

Glenkinchie

A classic Lowland Malt from one of the few surviving historic lowland distilleries. This has quite a complex and full flavour with a dry vanilla tinged malt taste. Though if looking for something special the 20 year old malt is one well worth seeking out.

Littlemill

One of the oldest established lowland distilleries, licensed in the 1820's, though with claims to have been producing whisky back to the 14th Century. This floral malt is still available in somewhat limited quantities at a reasonable price since the demise of the distillery in the 1990's. Definitely a whisky to lay down for the future.

Kinclaith

Another testament to the scarcity & quality of Lowland malts, the Kinclaith was only produced for about 20 years, with the majority going into a blended whisky. A light fruity apertife style malt the rareness of which means that these bottles command a price of £600 a bottle.

You can choose from and view details of a large selection of Lowland Malts here.

This peninsula on the south west of Scotland used to be home to 34 distilleries, giving the town of 5,000 the title of Whisky Capital of the world, now only two remain active, Glen Scotia and Springbank. Glen Scotia is currently awaiting a buyer though is kept ticking over by the other Campbeltown distillery Springbank. They remain distinctive to other malt whisky regions by having a distinctive full-bodied sweet, smokey flavour with a briny hint.

Glen Scotia

A single malt typical of the Campbeltown Malts. With a golden colour and a delicious smokey sweet floral flavour you will find this a very pleasing malt whisky.
Older bottlings are also available from the Glen Scotia Distillery.

Springbank

A smokey, heathery flavour with a hint of spice characterises the Springbank Malts. A great whisky to enjoy with a cigar after dinner.

Longrow

Also produced by the Springbank Distillery, Longrow brand is distinct due to it's peaty flavour from the use of peated barley. It has a more complex smokey peaty flavour, similair in ways to the Islay Malts

You can choose from and view details of a large selection of Campbeltown Malts here.

Ardbeg Uigeadail was awarded 97.5 points out of a possible 100 by Whisky Bible Author, Jim Murray for the 2009 edition.
"From the utter silky brilliance of the delivery to the multi-layered middle, this simply oozes complexity, and on a level only a handful of distilleries in the world can even dream of reaching...mind boggling complex...one of the great moments in my whisky life" - Jim Murray.
And at only £41.99 pretty reasonably priced for a Single Malt. Currently on special offer at £38.49!

In 2008 Ardbeg were awarded "Whisky of the Year" for their 10year old Single Malt.
'A really delightful bottling from the distillery many Islay connoisseurs would choose as their favourite. A whirlwind of peat and complex malty flavours, this is an exuberant, in-your-face whisky to be cherished.'
A steal at still only £30.99
Currently on special offer at £26.49!

Read more about the award on BBC Scotland

Malt Whisky from the Isle of Islay is often thought to be some of the finest Malt Whiskies available. With definite Peat undertones and a hint of the surrounding sea, Islay Malts are as distinctive as they are popular. We hope you take the chance to sample some of the ones shown below.

Laphroaig

A classic dram of Malt, full-bodied, smoky, with a slight sweetness and a splash of sea air amidst the seaweedy, peaty characters before a long warming finish. One to savour for the winter evenings.

Bowmore

The Bowmore Distillery is one of the most famous on Islay and a must visit attraction if ever on Islay. The taste of sea air mingled with the peaty undertones and honey like sweetness make the Bowmore malt a very popular single malt.

Bunnahabhain

This very lightly peated malt is a great introduction to the distinctive Islay Malt Whisky. With a distinctive floral sweetness overriding the hint of peat, this malt whiskey will leave you wanting to explore the peat characters of other fine Islay Malts.

You can choose from and view details of a very large selection of Islay Malts here.

Single Malt Whisky Poster
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Many will tell you that the correct method of drinking a single malt whisky is by adding a splash of water to bring out the taste and that adding ice will only numb the palate, deadening the complex flavours found in a single malt.
Recently there have been some very good comments on adding water to whisky on the Refined Vices forum, that are well worth reading if interested in both sides of this debate. You may have to scan down past the original post, as it does wander off-topic and onto the subject of watering your whisky and provides some interesting opinions. You can find the thread Here

Johnny Walker is actually a 'Blended Malt' and as such should not be on this page of Single Malt Whisky, though due to it's popularity, range of fine bottlings and actual quality we will discuss the different labels briefly.

Red Label - 8 Year Old
This is the most common JW often found in bars and is a blend of 8 year old Malt whisky's. Often considered a budget whisky for its price it does deliver good value for taste, hence it's popularity.

Black Label - 12 year Old
The black label is definitely a cut above, and as long as not being drowned in coke or other mixers is a noticeable cut above the red in smoothness and flavour. Again, fairly common in bars around the world.

Green Label - 15 year old
You're starting to move into the world of premier blended whisky now with this aged blended malt delivering a distinct malt taste similar to that of a good single malt. Definitely one to savour.

Gold Label - 18 year old
A smooth and textured taste, definitely one to look out for and a premier blended whisky. Definitely one for special occassions and giving for significant birthdays.

Blue Label - 25 year old
This is the premier blended whisky of the Johnny Walker range and as such would surely be appreciated by all. Though due to the price tag on it this does mean most people are unlikely to sample except on special occasions. Definitely one of the few blended malts that could compete with a single malt.

For a full range of Johnny Walker Labels, including special editions and premier blends, along with pricings and availability - Click Here

Johnny Walker, Born 1820, Still Going Strong!
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I thought it would be interesting to track which countries people were visiting from so I added this tracker on 9th November 2008