11 best Scotch whiskies that deserve a spot in your drinks cabinet

Built in the mid-1870s, the Glenglassaugh Highland distillery looks out over Sandend Bay, after which this single malt has been named. Matured in ex-bourbon, sherry and manzanilla casks, it has a beautiful golden colour and a taste to match.

The sherry casks bring tropical and aromatic fruit notes, with bucketloads of pineapple and citrus making this bottle stand out from the smokiness of Benriach or the freshly baked flavours of Glendronach. The distillery’s coastal surroundings add a very welcome snap of sea salt, and this bottle also comes with a splendid glass – what more could you want?

Made with a blend of single malt and grain whiskies matured in American oak casks for three years, here’s an inexpensive way to enjoy a glass of Scotch, either neat, with ice or water, or as part of a host of cocktails.

At this price, you may not expect or get the subtle qualities of a single malt, but what you do have is a surprisingly great-tasting Scotch whisky with lots of smooth caramel and fruit-driven notes.

It’s said maturation determines at least two-thirds of a whisky’s character, which is why the barrels used play such an important part in a malt’s look and flavour.

This Speyside malt is matured at first in American ex-bourbon barrels but finished in German pinot noir red wine casks. That supplies the whisky with a distinctive rosewood hue and a taste that marries elegant fruit notes – think spiced orange and ripe peaches – with underlying vanilla and caramel flavours.

This malt is matured for at least 12 years in bourbon barrels, sherry casks and marsala wine casks. During mashing (the process that takes all the soluble sugars from the barley), four batches of mineral water are used, instead of the typical three.

The malted barley is then dried over Highland peat fires, which infuse the whisky with rich and smoky notes. The happy outcome is a malt with expressive caramel and dried fruit flavours over-laden (but not dominated) by an aromatic and almost creamy smokiness. It may not be for everyone (try the Glasgow 1770 single malt, for a subtly different and unpeated taste), but for those who appreciate it, there’s little better.

This flagship malt takes its name from the date the original Glasgow Distillery Company was founded. That company closed in 1902, but whiskymakers Liam Hughes and Mike Hayward were determined to bring Scotch back to the city. After finding suitable premises on the city’s outskirts, Glasgow 1770 was eventually launched in June 2018.

Made using unpeated barley, it’s matured in ex-bourbon casks to begin with and finished in virgin American white oak. In contrast to the smoky Benriach or the salty Heirarch, the 1770 is clean and bright, with a hint of sweet biscuit and honey on the nose, and deeper flavours of red fruit and caramel on the tongue.

A single sip of this hugely distinctive malt tells you it’s something special. The distillery here was only established in 2015 and while ex-bourbon barrels and former oloroso and fino sherry casks provide a slightly spicy backdrop, it’s the strong taste of the sea, with salty overtones that takes the spotlight.

Here’s a whisky that, like the Tamnavulin Speyside single malt (also included in this round-up), is made for sipping. Now the island can be considered the home of two great products – Harris Tweed and this excellent whisky.

This is a special release from the Glendronach distillery, which was founded in 1826 by James Allardice – the man who was among the first to use old sherry casks for maturing malt whisky. There’s a double helping of Iberian influence in this single malt, as it’s also matured in ruby port casks from the Douro Valley in Portugal.

As you’d expect, there’s lots of fruitiness here, with stewed apples and ripe plum notes complemented by hints of butterscotch and freshly baked fruit loaf. It’s a really satisfying drink that stands apart from single malts such as the more traditional Glenglassaugh or Bruichladdich, also sampled here.

Hedonism is a Scottish blended grain whisky that has been released annually in limited quantities since the year 2000. The 2025 offering of 9,912 bottles features a single grain whisky (from the Fife-based Cameronbridge distillery) matured in marsala casks.

It may lack the peatiness found in other malts in this selection, but that’s more than made up for by the compelling notes of caramel and vanilla, with hints of apple crumble and custard and a long, satisfying finish.

A first glance, this signature bottling from the distillery team that proudly labels themselves as “pioneers, provocateurs and change makers” is enough to tell you the classic laddie is not your usual single malt. It may look like a trendy water bottle but inside is a whisky that’s unpeated and colouring-free, and it firmly puts the spotlight on home-grown Scottish barley.

The result is a whisky that is light and crisp. There’s no real saltiness here – unlike, say, the saline notes found in the Heirarch Isle of Harris single malt (also included in this round-up) – just orchard flavours on the nose and a vanilla sweetness. Plus, there’s that added tang connoisseurs claim can only come from Scottish barley.

Blended in small batches from three of Speyside’s best distilleries – Glenfiddich, Balvenie, and Kininvie – this award-winning whisky is excellent enough to enjoy neat. The rich nutty and dried fruit notes, along with the mellow maltiness, differentiate it from malt and grain blends such as Cutty Sark (see below).

For the full taste experience, however, be adventurous and enjoy a bit of home mixology with a Scotch and apple juice combination or a classic whisky and coke mix.

When it comes to famous names, Cutty Sark has been up there with the best since 1923. Master blender Stephen Woodcock keeps Cutty Sark on an even keel by blending single malt and grain whiskies to create a whisky that’s perfect for mixing.

Yes, you can enjoy it neat with ice or a splash of water, but its vanilla smoothness and lighter notes – different to the more driven and defined flavours of a single malt such Bruichladdich – are probably best enjoyed mixed with amaretto in a Godfather cocktail or simply enjoyed with a ginger ale.