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17 Luxury Single Malt Scotch Whiskies You Need To Try
Refine your palate with the best single malt scotch whisky
Whisky might have once had a reputation for being the drink of choice for old men, however, we think it’s about time that changed.
Online drinks retailer The Whisky Exchange has seen an increase in female customers, and Head Buyer Dawn Davies MW says: 'We’ve noticed female shopping habits tend to be more adventurous, less brand-led, and more interested in recommendations, with a willingness to experiment – in fact, the perfect customer!'
With that in mind, we’ve put together a luxury edit of the best single malt scotch whiskies on the market, whether you’re shopping for yourself or looking for the perfect gift...
Best single malt scotch whisky 2023
What is single malt scotch whisky?
The term 'single malt' refers to whiskies that come from a single Scottish distillery. It can’t legally be called whisky until it’s at least three-years-old, but you’ll notice some display an 'age' on the label too, such as Glenfiddich 21-Year-Old. This age statement refers to the youngest whisky in the mix, although the liquid might be a blend of hundreds of barrels, all from the same distillery. Older whiskies are often considered 'the best', but ultimately it will come down to personal preference.
What to consider when gifting whisky
With numerous whisky brands to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start. If buying as a gift, we’d first consider how the lucky recipient might enjoy it. Are they likely to drink it neat, or in cocktails? Do you think they’d prefer something sweet and fruity (in which case, focus your search on single malts from the lowlands), or strong and peaty? If the latter, Islay scotch is the one to go for.
How we test single malt scotch whisky
We recruited a panel of 10 expert testers to give 52 single malt scotch whiskies their undivided attention. They rated each, looking for flavours across the full spectrum — from sweet and fruity through to medicinal and peaty. Here's our final best whisky list to try now...
Stacey is our Senior Food and Drink Editor, looking after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila.
Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine.
Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings.
Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business.
You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk
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