Taster’s Club offers a selection of the finest single malt whiskey from Scotland. Our 2024 guide includes premium spirits for every taste and budget.
Our range goes from the smooth Aberfeldy 12 Year at 40% ABV to the strong Ardbeg Corryvreckan at 57.1% ABV. The Macallan Sherry Oak 12 Years Old, also at 40% ABV, gives you a classic taste of aged whiskies.
We have hidden gems like the Laphroaig Quarter Cask (48% ABV) from Islay and the Speyside Craigellachie 13 Year Old (46% ABV). Our 12-year-old whiskies average about 42.2% ABV and cost between $50 to $80 per bottle.
Our list focuses on Highland and Speyside whiskies. Many are aged in sherry-seasoned casks, giving them unique flavors. Explore the world of Scotch whisky with Taster’s Club.
The Art of Single Malt Scotch
Single malt Scotch whisky is a true masterpiece of craftsmanship. It’s made only in Scotland, showing off the rich heritage of Scottish whisky-making. Every bottle has its own story, coming from one of over 130 distilleries across the country.
The making of single malt Scotch is a detailed process. It begins with high-quality malted barley. The whisky must be made at just one distillery. This ensures a unique taste that shows where it comes from.
Cask maturation is key to the whiskey’s flavors. The spirit spends at least three years in wooden casks. Here, it picks up complex notes and smells. This aging gives the whisky a wide range of tastes, from smoky to fruity.
- Made exclusively from malted barley
- Produced at a single distillery
- Matured for a minimum of three years
- Develops unique flavors through cask aging
For a deeper dive into single malt Scotch, try distillery tours. These tours give you a peek behind the scenes of whisky-making, from start to finish. You’ll see the passion and skill that go into every bottle, making you appreciate this spirit even more.
Exploring Scotland’s Whisky Regions
Scotland’s whisky regions offer a world of flavors that delight fans everywhere. The Highlands, Speyside, and Islay are key areas, each with its own special taste.
The Highlands are known for their wide variety of whiskies. You’ll find everything from bold to sweet drams here. Historic distilleries like Aberfeldy and Glenturret have been making spirits since the late 1700s and 1800s. These places show off the area’s deep history.
Speyside is in the Highlands and is home to more than half of Scotland’s distilleries. Its whiskies are loved for their smooth taste and fruity flavors. You’ll find notes of grass, apples, pears, and cherries in these malts.
Islay is an island off Scotland’s coast, known for its strong, smoky whiskies. The sea gives Islay malts a unique taste. Ardbeg and Lagavulin are famous distilleries here, making whiskies with deep smoky flavors.
- Highlands: Diverse range, historical distilleries
- Speyside: Fruity notes, international favorite
- Islay: Bold, peaty, maritime influence
Knowing about these regional differences helps us enjoy single malt Scotch more. Whether you like the complex taste of Highland malts, the fruity flavors of Speyside, or the bold taste of Islay whiskies, Scotland has something for everyone.
Taster’s Club: Your Gateway to Premium Spirits
Taster’s Club opens the door to a world of top-notch spirits with its whiskey tastings. It sends full-sized bottles of great whiskeys to members in 46 states. You can find everything from American to World Whiskey, making it perfect for all tastes.
Starting at $69.99 a month, the club has prepaid options for longer commitments. Each month, you get whiskeys from award-winning distilleries around the globe. You also get digital tasting notes, cocktail recipes, and the story behind each distillery.
- Variety of whiskey types: bourbon, rye, single malt
- Cask strength options (50-75% ABV)
- Unique barrel finishes and production styles
Taster’s Club is all about learning. It teaches you about whiskey making, aging rules, and what makes each style special. This knowledge makes tasting these premium spirits even better.
With a 4.9 rating from 22 reviews, Taster’s Club is known for its quality. Members love the value, return policy, and customer service. For those who love whiskey and want to learn more, Taster’s Club is the best way to explore fine spirits.
Best Single Malt Whiskey: Taster’s Club Top Picks
Taster’s Club offers a selection of the finest single malt whiskey from Scotland. Our choices highlight the wide range of flavors and styles that make Scotch whisky popular around the world.
Cadenhead’s Loch Lomond 17 Year is our top pick. It has a 46% ABV, offering a great mix of age and strength. For those looking for value, Aberfeldy 12 Year at 40% ABV is smooth and affordable.
The Macallan Sherry Oak 12 Years Old is perfect for gifts. It has a 40% ABV and captures the classic Speyside style. Ardbeg Corryvreckan, with its 57.1% ABV, is great for peat lovers.
- Top Highland: Oban Distiller’s Edition (43% ABV)
- Best Speyside: Craigellachie 13 Year Old (46% ABV)
- Island Favorite: Talisker 10 Year (45.8% ABV)
We also have unique options like Tomintoul 14 Year and Kavalan Select Single Malt. These award-winning spirits showcase the best in single malt whiskey craftsmanship.
Highland Gems: Smooth and Sophisticated
Highland whisky is a standout in the world of aged spirits. These whiskies are smooth and sophisticated, offering a wide range of flavors. They go from light and floral to rich and full-bodied, showing the diversity of Scotland’s largest whisky region.
Highland Park 18 is a top choice. It has a gentle peat taste, thanks to peat from Orcadian peatlands. The nose brings out delicate peaty smoke, sherry notes, and flavors of red grapes and juniper berries. When you taste it, you’ll find a mix of smoke, salted creme caramel, fennel, and chocolate spread.
Deanston Virgin Oak is another gem, winning four awards in 2021. It shows the region’s focus on quality and new ideas. For a unique taste, try the Arran Machrie Moor Single Malt. It has tropical flavors like vanilla and pineapple with a peaty finish.
- Highland Park 18: Gentle peat, sherry balance
- Deanston Virgin Oak: Award-winning innovation
- Arran Machrie Moor: Tropical notes with peat
Whisky lovers will find a wide variety of Highland whiskies to enjoy. From the sweet Aberfeldy 12 Year to the complex Oban Distiller’s Edition, there’s something for everyone. These whiskies show why Highland whisky is a top choice for connoisseurs of aged spirits.
Islay’s Finest: Peaty Powerhouses
Islay whisky is the top choice for peated whisky lovers. This Scottish island is famous for its unique whiskey flavors. Taster’s Club delivers these smoky treasures right to your home.
Laphroaig Quarter Cask is a top pick from Islay. It’s aged twice, giving it a strong, smoky taste. Ardbeg Uigeadail is another favorite, known for its spicy and smoky flavors.
Islay whiskies are often more expensive because they’re so high quality. For example, Caol Ila Distillers Edition costs about £75. Ardbeg’s special releases can even be pricier. But these peated whiskies are worth it for their complex and deep flavors.
- Laphroaig Lore: A rich, smoky experience
- Bowmore 18 Year Old: Balanced peat and fruit notes
- Lagavulin 16 Year Old: Classic Islay powerhouse
Islay whiskies are perfect for those who love strong flavors. The sea’s influence gives them a unique salty taste. Whether you’re new to peated whisky or have tried many, Islay’s whiskies will take you on a memorable tasting adventure.
Speyside Delights: Fruity and Complex
Speyside whisky is a standout in the world of aged whiskies. It’s home to half of Scotland’s distilleries, making some of the most loved single malts. These whiskies are famous for their fruity and complex tastes, making them a hit with whiskey fans.
Taster’s Club offers amazing Speyside expressions that show off the region’s best. Craigellachie 13 Year Old is a great example. It has unique tastes like toasted marshmallows and fire-roasted pineapples. This whisky is a perfect example of the wide range of flavors found in Speyside.
Another top pick from Taster’s Club is The Macallan Sherry Oak 12 Years Old. This whisky is a Speyside classic with rich wood spice and dried fruit flavors. It’s aged in sherry casks, giving it a deep, complex taste that whiskey lovers love.
- Speyside produces 41.5% ABV whiskies on average
- Common tasting notes include dried fruits, nuts, and spices
- Many Speyside whiskies use sherry casks for aging
These picks show why Speyside is known for its balanced and sophisticated single malts. Whether you’re new to Speyside whisky or you’ve been drinking it for years, Taster’s Club takes you on a journey through the region’s best drams.
Unique Offerings from Lesser-Known Regions
Scotland’s major whiskey regions often get all the attention. But, lesser-known areas are making spirits that are truly special. In 2020, Scotland sent almost 129 million bottles of single malt whisky out into the world. Yet, the average American liquor store only has a few dozen brands to choose from. This means there’s a whole world of unique tastes just waiting to be found.
Small distilleries like Benromach make only a few hundred thousand liters a year. This is tiny compared to big names like Glenfiddich. These small distilleries often bottle their whisky at higher strengths, usually 46% ABV or more. They don’t use chill-filtration or add coloring, which keeps the spirit’s true taste. This results in bold flavors that truly show where they come from.
Cask maturation is key to making these unique whiskeys. For example, Loch Lomond distillery stands out by making both single malt and grain whisky. Some distilleries even try new things, like using ex-Californian red wine barrels for finishing. This creates interesting flavors that go beyond what you might expect.
Now, even American distilleries are getting into single malt whisky. From Texas to Washington, craft producers are making their own versions. These new whiskies use local ingredients and new techniques. They’re adding to the global whisky scene and giving fans more flavors to try.