What is Single Malt Scotch Whisky?

Single Malt Scotch Whisky is distilled by a single distillery in a pot still, using malted barley as the only grain, in Scotland. Like all other Scotch Whisky, Single Malt Scotch must both be distilled in Scotland and matured in oak casks in Scotland for three years minimum.

Single Malt Scotch, and indeed all other countries' single malts, although Scotland was the main producer at this time, suffered a bit of a setback in the 1800s, when Blended Whisky came in as a cheaper alternative. Only recently has single malt seen a resurgence and managed to position itself as a luxury good. Whilst Single Malt Scotch is still the most popular, there are Single Malt whiskies from all over the world including Japan and Sweden.

Why not try our our A-Z Single Malt Scotch distillers to browse some popular brands. You can also click the regions on the map below to browse all our whiskies from each Scotch region.

The Top 10 Single Malt Scotch Whiskies

We love Single Malt Scotch! But with such an enormous selection, it can be tricky to know where to start. Here are our top 10 single malt whiskies, at all price points, to make it super simple whether you’re buying a treat for yourself or a lucky gift recipient.

Nothing beats discovering a delicious new dram. But with more than 140 distilleries in Scotland producing whisky, it can be a challenge to know where to start your next flavour adventure.

We’ve started by narrowing down whisky type, honing in on Scotland, but sticking with single malt specifically. (Although there are plenty of incredible Blended Scotch, Blended Malts and Blended Grain Whiskies out there too.)

So. Single malt. To be able to carry the ‘single malt’ label, the whisky must have been made according to a series of rules to ensure it’s of a certain quality, and has that signature character. It’s kind of like a control measure – if you know you like single malt, you shouldn’t be in for an unpleasant surprise. Here are three of them: it must be made using 100% malted barley; it can only be made at one distillery; and it must be aged in an oak cask for at least three years.

All the whiskies on this list are made according to those rules – and they’re all delicious. Read on, and enjoy!

1.) Seaweed & Aeons & Digging & Fire 10 Year Old

We just love this bottle – and the whisky inside is pretty delicious, too! It’s from an undisclosed Islay distillery, and has been aged for at least 10 years. Excitingly, 25% of it has been finished in a first-fill Oloroso sherry octave (a teeny little cask), so you’ve got lots of Christmas cake notes in with all the smoke. Mouth-watering stuff, indeed.

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2.) Balvenie 14 Year Old Caribbean Cask

A much-loved expression from Speyside’s The Balvenie distillery. The whisky here has been aged in traditional casks, before being finished in a bunch that previously held Caribbean rum. The result is a slightly sweeter spirit, but one that’s wonderfully well-rounded, and bursting with tropical fruit, toffee and vanilla notes. Tasty!

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3.) Loch Lomond 12 Year Old

Loch Lomond makes all kinds of whisky at its distillery, including this excellent aged expression! Highly ideal for the experimental spirits drinker in your life, or a tasty treat for yourself. The 12 Year Old expression (creamy with orchard fruit notes) has been aged in three different casks to give it some real complexity and nuance.

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4.) Macallan 18 Year Old Sherry Oak

A fancy-pants release from Macallan, this release of the classic 18 Year Old Sherry Oak has been matured in sherry-seasoned oak casks all the way from Jerez, Spain. It’s bursting with spice, citrus and dried fruit notes, wrapped up in ginger and orange zest. An absolute treat if you like your whiskies luxuriously mouth-filling.

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5.) Dalwhinnie 15 Year Old

A long-adored whisky from one of Scotland’s highest distilleries, Dalwhinnie 15 Year Old offers wonderful value for money. It’s lushly crisp, with loads of fruit salad, apple blossom and cereal notes. We also detect a teeny hint of smoke with the honey and soft spices, too. It’s a gentle dram, and definitely one for sunny, summer sipping.

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6.) Talisker 10 Year Old

Double-distilled to impart a rich, deep character, aged for a minimum of 10 years in American oak casks which creates plenty of smoky sweet notes, hints of sea-salt spray and a spicy pepper kick. This is immensely satisfying stuff, a smoky, maritime dram that has gained popularity around the world.

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7.) Glenmorangie Signet

A superbly silky whisky here from Glenmorangie! It’s made using two different types of malted barley (a single-estate Cadboll variety and malted chocolate barley, the latter often used in craft beers), and has been matured in bespoke virgin American oak casks. As well as mocha coffee notes, it’s also gorgeously smooth, and something different indeed.

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8.) Kilchoman Machir Bay

Back we hop to the magic island of Islay, and to Kilchoman, the farm distillery founded in 2005. Machir Bay has become a favourite, matured in both ex-bourbon barrels and Oloroso sherry casks, for a beautifully balanced flavour profile. We like the biscuity vanilla notes, along with the big beach bonfire peat quality. Enjoy!

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9.) Aberfeldy 12 Year Old

If you like your single malt Scotch whiskies on the nuttier side of life, they Aberfeldy 12 Year Old is likely for you. It’s distilled in the Highlands, and is known for its nougat-like, cereal-led palate. You’ll find subtle oak influences in there too, along with custard notes, and a hint of smoke. Multifaceted and marvellously tasty.

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10.) Auchentoshan Three Wood

Right here we’ve got a celebration of a cask’s influence on whisky. And there’s a triple-whammy here, to be precise! This Auchentoshan expression has been matured in ex- Pedro Ximénez sherry, ex-bourbon casks and Oloroso sherry casks, and it’s a fruity fiesta indeed. There are chocolate notes too, along with gentle fruit spices. Delicious!

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There we go! Ten tasty single malt Scotch whiskies to add to your drinks cabinet now. Cheers!