Where Kentucky boasts more aging barrels of whiskey than living inhabitants, Scotland can counter with having one distillery for every 40,000 inhabitants. More than any other nation or region in the world, Scotland stakes a credible claim as being the home of whisky – with or without the “e”.
At a quick glance, the number of Scotch whisky brands can seem intimidating. There are various regions to explore, from Speyside to Islay. Then there are the different styles: single malts; blends and blended malts; peated and unpeated. Where to begin?
Thankfully, you’ve come to the right place. Within this list, there’s something for every palate, budget, and occasion. Whether you’re looking for a single malt that overdelivers on price, or you finally want to take the first step into a fiery peated exploration, you’ll find the perfect Scotch whisky brand listed below.
Without further ado, here are the 30 best Scotch whiskies for 2023.
Table Of Contents
Under $25
Imperial 12 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky
Scotch isn’t usually the category where decent bottles are found for under $25 stateside — and good luck finding any whiskey aged for over a decade at this price. But this Sazerac-produced blend checks both boxes. Profile-wise, it’s not the most interesting whisky you’ll encounter but its balance and general depth of flavor are undeniable. If it’s a bargain bottle that delivers bang for buck you’re after, this is just the dram.
Average price: $20
Rating: 87
Under $50
Isle of Skye 12 Year Old
Named after its island of origin, this is another 12-year-old release that offers a decade’s worth of age for the price of most younger, entry-level whiskeys from around the world. The aromas are nicely concentrated, though the palate is ever so slightly lacking on that front, likely because the producer proofed it down to 40 percent ABV. That shouldn’t matter too much when mixed in cocktails, which this whisky is both priced and placed for.
Average price: $30
Rating: 88
Compass Box Artist Blend Scotch Whisky
Aged in ex-bourbon barrels, French oak casks, and Palo Cortado-seasoned sherry butts, this blend opens with notes of underripe peaches and an attractive woody character. The palate has a well-rounded, creamy texture, thanks to the producer’s decision not to chill-filter. This is a great entry-level Scotch that’s equally apt for sipping and mixing.
Average price: $36
Rating: 92
Mossburn Speyside Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Mossburn employs an interesting barrel regimen for the aging of this Speyside blend, the specifics of which are detailed on the bottle label. Most notable is a second period of aging in oloroso sherry butts, which are topped with charred new American oak cask heads. Oak proves to be the guiding force from nose to palate, but don’t worry about losing out on vibrant fruit character.
Average price: $36
Rating: 92
Maclean’s Nose Blended Scotch Whisky
Named after both an iconic figure in Scotch whisky and a local landmark, Maclean’s Nose offers one of the best bargains in the category. A blend of non-chill filtered malt (70 percent) and grain (30 percent) distillates, its profile is attractive and approachable, with citrus and honey on the nose and chocolate and hazelnuts on the palate.
Average price: $37
Rating: 93
Deanston Virgin Oak Single Malt Whisky
A first aging period in ex-bourbon casks for this Highland single malt is followed by a finishing maturation in new oak barrels. The mixture of those two vessels is quickly apparent in the whisky’s aromas, which lean into spicy wood, banana, and caramel. Malt character breaks through on the palate, while its 46.3 percent alcohol keeps each sip lively.
Average price: $47
Rating: 90
Under $100
Laphroaig 10 Year Old Islay Single Malt
There are older and more vaunted bottlings in Laphroaig’s lineup but don’t overlook the brand’s entry-level, 10-year-old release. Caramelized pecans and a general nuttiness counter the expected burst of peated smoke on the nose. A whole wheat savory note runs through the palate, with orchard fruits brightening each sip.
Average price: $50
Rating: 91
Wemyss Malts The Hive Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Scotch blending house Wemyss Malts names each of its expressions after the character of the liquid in bottle. This release, a fusion of up to 16 single malts aged at least eight years, gains its moniker from its luxurious honeyed character. Expect an abundance of baking spices, too, and lively texture as the whisky meets the palate.
Average price: $50
Rating: 92
Jura Seven Wood Single Malt
For a whisky that first aged in ex-bourbon American oak casks and was then transferred into virgin casks from six different regions of France — hence the name — oak influence does not get in the way of the distillate here. Instead, that maturation gives the nose layers, with fresh green notes, underripe cherry, toast, and just a hint of smoke. The palate comes out swinging with concentration and spice, while tannins add to its subtle smoke complexity. There’s a lot going on in this bottle — especially at this price point.
Average price: $60
Rating: 93
Talisker 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Produced at the oldest distillery on the Isle of Skye, this peated single malt evokes a beachside bonfire. Though powerfully smoky at its core, the palate delivers whispers of sea water and sweet malt, which add layers and intrigue.
Average price: $60
Rating: 93
BenRiach The Smoky Twelve Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky
This Speyside single malt brings together multiple components in one harmonious, enjoyable sip. Composed of peated and unpeated whiskies, the spirits age in bourbon, sherry, and Marsala wine casks. Its smoky character is delivered like a spray of perfume — not so thick that you can’t appreciate its red currant and spice notes.
Average price: $68
Rating: 94
Glenglassaugh Sandend Highland Single Malt
This Highland single malt is bottled at 50.5 percent ABV with no age statement given. We’re highlighting that because more importance is often placed on age than alcohol content but this whisky far outshines anything with significant time in barrel that’s been proofed down to the lowest legal ABV (40 percent). It dances between rich sweetness (caramel, butterscotch) and vibrant tropical fruits, with a touch of briny salinity bringing balance. A stunning Scotch, this expression is more than deserving of its recent packaging redesign (which looks great).
Average price: $70
Rating: 95
The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14
Aged in traditional whisky barrels for 14 years, this single malt is finished in Caribbean rum casks. It’s quickly apparent that close attention was paid during that final resting period, with molasses notes only ever appearing as a light seasoning from nose to finish. That’s often not the case for rum-cask-finished spirits, so kudos to the distillery team. That measured approach also allows us to appreciate its lively aromas and malt-rich palate. Only on the finish is there a hint of rum-soaked raisins, which is a fine culmination for each sip.
Average price: $75
Rating: 93
The GlenAllachie Speyside Single Malt Aged 12 Years
From the “valley of the rocks” (the translation of the Gaelic Gleann Aileachaidh), this single malt has a much bolder character than most 12-year-old releases. Ripe dark berries are complemented by baking spices, toast, and oak on the nose, before the fruit transforms to richer (and sweeter) berry compote on the palate. Nicely integrated tannins from virgin oak add to the textural experience.
Average price: $76
Rating: 93
Isle of Raasay Hebridean Single Malt
Every ounce of this whisky was distilled, aged, and bottled on the tiny Hebridean island of Raasay, population just 161. A lightly smoky dram, it’s made from a mix of peated and unpeated malt and matured in three different types of casks. It can’t be overstated how light the peat influence is, which allows a great intro to the world of smoky Scotch and lets notes of tropical and stone fruits, citrus peel, and leather to shine.
Average price: $77
Rating: 93
Arran Single Malt Sauternes Cask Finish
If you’ve ever enjoyed Sauternes, one of the world’s great sweet wines, you will marvel at the extent to which those casks have influenced this whisky. Honey, white flowers, and ripe stone fruits begin the experience and continue well onto the palate. The whisky lands with a rich, luscious texture, which coats the mouth and sets up a stunning finish. Don’t be afraid to sip this over one large ice cube.
Average price: $80
Rating: 94
Aberlour 16 Year Old
Matured in American oak and sherry butts, this 16-year-old release serves a truly decadent sipping experience. Its nose brims with baking spices, while subtle aromas of sweet, fortified wine provide a perfumed backdrop. The palate is well rounded and rich, with a great concentration of flavors — especially considering it’s bottled at 40 percent ABV.
Average price: $85
Rating: 93
Torabhaig Allt Gleann Batch Strength
Transparency is the name of the game with this stellar Isle of Skye release. On its label, you’ll discover everything from time in cask (5+ years), level of peat in the base grain (78+ parts per million), residual peat level in the whisky (22.8 parts per million), ABV (cask strength 61.1 percent), and the fact it was bottled without chill filtration or the addition of colorants. The profile, likewise, is one for spirits geeks, showcasing the earthy, green side of peat versus full-on bonfire smoke. There’s maritime influence and plenty of fruit, too. And despite being peated and high proof, this whisky feels a lot more approachable than most cask-strength whiskeys.
Average price: $90
Rating: 94
Lagavulin Islay Single Malt 16 Years
Lagavulin 16 Years is a much loved standard bearer for peated single malts. Earth and smoke define its profile and mingle nicely among an attractive array of fruit, light caramel and vanilla, and a spray of seawater. Spice lingers on its finish, leaving smoke behind as a pleasant and surprisingly subtle afterthought.
Average price: $99
Rating: 95
The Glen Grant Single Malt Aged 15 Years
Bottled at 50 percent ABV, this 15-year-old single malt has a youthful profile for its age. Floral and citrus aromas season a sweet undercurrent of cake batter, while the palate is rounded and full of sweet, malty flavor. The alcohol content is just right on this whisky, ensuring that each sip feels lively but never overwhelms the palate with heat.
Average price: $93
Rating: 94
The Glenturret Aged 10 Years Peat Smoked
From Scotland’s oldest working distillery, this Highland single malt is another celebration of smoke. When the bonfire cloud dissipates on the nose it reveals decadent sweet notes of butterscotch, vanilla, and dried stone fruits. The palate exhibits wonderful range, with savory umami notes that cause an immediate craving for a food pairing (think BBQ or anything grilled).
Average price: $93
Rating: 94
Over $100
The GlenDronach Cask Strength Batch 12
One for sherried whisky drinkers with a penchant for high-proof drams, the 12th edition of The GlenDronach’s Cask Strength line clocks in at 58.2 percent ABV. It opens with dried fruit and caramelized nut aromas — imparted, largely, from maturation in oloroso and Pedro Ximénez casks. The punchy alcohol content serves to lift those notes and carry them through onto a dense, dark berry palate that’s also sweet, savory, and suffers no lack of oak character. Get this limited-edition release while you still can.
Average price: $105
Rating: 94
Elements of Islay Sherry Cask
Bottled by Elements of Islay, this blend of malt whiskies from undisclosed Islay distilleries is one of the most alluring and complex peated releases on the market. Smoke is present throughout but it’s not worth lingering on that note because there’s so much more on offer: stewed fruit compote, winter spices, enchanting toffee sweetness, and sherried oak. At 54.5 percent ABV, the proof is absolutely on point, too.
Average price: $110
Rating: 94
Chivas Regal Aged 18 Years
An approachable blended whisky for those working with a big budget, Chivas 18 serves vanilla, baked apples, and caramel on the nose. The palate is rounded, malty, and mildly sweet. Overall, this is not the most complex Scotch but its flavor profile offers greater depth and nuance than most blends.
Average price: $113
Rating: 91
Balblair 15 Year Old
At this age and price, great Scotches offer an experience that evolves in glass, and this release is no exception. Intense dried fruit aromas (mainly prunes) set a decadent tone, followed by seasonings of toffee, baking spices, and citrus. Velvet sips introduce leather onto the palate, with spiced oak notes emerging over time. This full-bodied, full-flavored Scotch will easily hold up to an ice cube or two, or even just a few drops of water.
Average price: $120
Rating: 95
Tamdhu 15 Year Old
Aged exclusively in oloroso sherry casks, this Speyside single malt arrives at 46 percent ABV and without chill filtration. Its profile suggests the whisky was pulled from barrels during the late summer and early fall of its lifespan — i.e., there are still fresh stone fruit and berry notes to appreciate but the signs of lengthy time in oak and contact with oxygen are also present, if not fully stealing the show. Dark chocolate, fortified wine, and sweet malt notes linger on the finish.
Average price: $150
Rating: 93
Mortlach 20 Year Old Cowie’s Blue Seal Single Malt Scotch Whisky
“Tamed” for 20 years reads the label on this exceptional single malt, but don’t take that as an indication of prudence or lack of character. Violets and sweet raspberries set the tone on its scintillating nose, followed by honeyed oak, vanilla, and baking spices. You’ll be wanting something remarkable from a whisky this age and this price, and this spirit delivers.
Average price: $240
Rating: 96
Glengoyne 21 Year Old Highland Single Malt
This 21-year-old single malt opens with a surprising amount of freshness and vibrancy on the nose but that quickly transitions to intense aromas of dried cranberries, prunes, and a floral perfume. The palate shows even more age and delivers a well-balanced, enjoyable sipping experience. It’s a slight shame, however, that the whisky arrives at 43 percent ABV as it feels like a few extra percentage points would provide even more depth to the palate, elongate the finish a touch, and further justify its lofty price tag.
Average price: $245
Rating: 92
The Dalmore 18 Year 2023 Edition
Rich, bold, decadent, and heady — each of those descriptors only scratches the surface of the full-bodied, full-flavor profile of this Highland single malt. Aged in ex-bourbon barrels (where a lot of the richness likely derives from) and oloroso sherry casks (finesse), dark caramel, brown sugar, and baked stone fruit notes steal the show. Nuance arrives by way of earthy complexity, and hints of leather and cigar tobacco. The palate has tannic texture, which also dials back the sweetness and sets up a crisp yet persisting finish.
Average price: $290
Rating: 94
Glenfiddich 23 Year Old Grand Cru
Everything about this whisky is lighter than the age would suggest, from its golden Chardonnay-like hue to the tropical and spiced aromatic profile. The palate arrives with applaudable intensity, though the finish is a little short, especially for this price and age. On that front: The whisky matured for 23 years before a finishing period of up to six months in French “cuvée” casks from the Champagne region. As to why the palate and finish fall ever so slightly short, we again suspect the bottling strength of 40 percent ABV, which no-doubt helps stretch stocks of such aged distillate but hold it back from realizing its full potential.
Average price: $300
Rating: 92
The Macallan Double Cask 18 Years Old
Sure, there’s no escaping the exorbitant price of this release, but this whisky ranks as one of The Macallan’s most luxurious permanent expressions, having joined the brand’s core Double Cask lineup in 2020. Aged in oloroso-seasoned American and European oak casks, booze-soaked golden raisins join ginger and caramel on the nose. High-definition dried fruit notes arrive on the palate, along with hints of nuts, and a luscious mouthfeel. Ball out on a bottle and savor it sparingly over time.
Average price: $380
Rating: 96
FAQ
How is Scotch different from whiskey?
Technically speaking, all Scotch is whiskey, though producers in the nation and the industry at large opt to drop the “e” from the word, spelling it “whisky” instead.
What are the different types of Scotch?
In total there are five different Scotch regions: Campbeltown, Highland, Islay, Lowland, and Speyside. While producers in each region share some general similarities in style — almost all Islay Scotch whisky brands are peated, for example — so many factors go into Scotch production that two distillers from the same region may produce vastly different styles of whisky.
What is the proper way to drink Scotch?
Scotch is a very versatile spirit that can be sipped neat, with a few drops of water, on the rocks, or mixed in cocktails.
VinePair’s Tasting Methodology
Throughout the year, VinePair conducts numerous tastings for our popular Buy This Booze column and wine and spirits reviews. Our mission is to provide a clear, reliable source of information for drinkers, providing an overview applicable to day-to-day buying and drinking.
Tastings are not typically conducted blind. In alignment with our reviews mission, we believe in purposefully tasting all products as our readers typically would, with full knowledge of the producer, the region, and — importantly — the price.
For Buy This Booze roundups, we typically include a maximum of one expression per brand, though we do allow multiple products from the same production facility (i.e., released under different labels).
For this Scotch roundup, we considered a number of different factors before finalizing the list. Our overall aim was to provide a complete overview of the myriad styles and expressions of Scotch that define the world’s most famous whisky-producing nation. That means entry-level, “approachable” blends featured alongside intricately finished and limited-edition releases that spirits geeks go to great lengths to seek out. We are confident that every bottle that made this final ranking delivers on flavor, balance, depth, and complexity for each of their respective price points.
