Best single malt whisky

Here, drinks expert Jonathan Hatchman has selected the best single malt whisky to buy, covering a range of styles and prices, from under £35-70+. Read on for our in-depth reviews, and for over 400 buyer’s guides, visit our reviews section to find taste tests of gin, vodka, tequila, rum and much more.

Jump to:

• What is a single malt whisky?
• How to choose a single malt whisky
• Best single malt whisky to buy 2025
• How we tested single malt whisky

Best single malt whisky to buy at a glance

• Best ‘new world’ single malt whisky: Copperworks Release 046 single malt whiskey, £68.95
• Best exotic scotch single malt whisky: Fettercairn 16-year-old, £71
• Best sustainable single malt whisky: Nc’nean Organic single malt whisky, £51.75
• Best introduction to Japanese single malt whisky: Nikka Miyagikyo single malt whisky, £63.56
• Best for tropical smoothness: Kavalan classic single malt whisky, £73.50
• Best Indian single malt whisky: Amrut single malt whisky, £45.50
• Best for peated whisky lovers on a budget: That Boutique-y Whisky Company Islay eight-year-old single malt whisky, £44.95
• Best for bourbon drinkers exploring single malt: Yellowstone American single malt whiskey, £69.50
• Best budget single malt whisky: The Busker single malt Irish whiskey, £35.25
• Best for wine-cask complexity: Starward Left-Field single malt whisky, £33.95

What is a single malt whisky?

The criteria for a spirit to be defined as single malt whisky is fairly consistent throughout the world, although Scotland’s regulations are the gold standard. Single malt scotch whisky must be:

• made exclusively from malted barley
• be produced at a single distillery
• be distilled in pots, then matured in oak casks for a minimum of three years
• bottled at 40 per cent ABV or higher

Global single malts follow a similar definition, although pot-still distillation isn’t always a legal requirement, nor is aging for more than three years, though this is still very common.

Flavour profiles vary greatly from region to region, even within the same country, but some of the most typical tell-tale flavour notes of a single malt whisky include maltiness, orchard fruits, oak, floral and/or herbal notes and subtle spiciness, dependent on the cask type.

Given the need for 100 per cent malted barley, single malt whisky differs quite significantly from other popular styles such as blended whisky, bourbon, rye and single grain.

How to choose a single malt whisky

Regardless of origin, there’s generally something to suit everybody when it comes to single malt whisky, given the category’s great flavour diversity. When buying a bottle of single malt whisky, it’s best to start by looking for flavours that you appreciate. If you enjoy fruity wines or smoky mezcal, for instance, look for similar notes in whisky. It’s also worth paying attention to age statements, which make a huge difference to overall flavour; alcohol by volume, as a higher ABV generally promises a more intense flavour; cask type and whether the whisky is peated (smoky) or unpeated.

Best single malt whisky to buy 2025

Copperworks Release 046 single malt whiskey

• Available from The Whisky Exchange (£68.95)

Best ‘new world’ single malt whisky

Rating: 4.5/5
ABV: 50%

Copperworks Distilling Company in Seattle, US, produces a range of spirits – including American single malt whiskey – by distilling high-quality, unhopped craft beer into whiskey. Run by former brewers Jason Parker and Micah Nutt, the pair utilise their beer knowledge to create truly mesmerising spirits that are distilled in traditional copper stills specifically created in Scotland for this purpose.

Showcasing a dedication to terroir and craftsmanship, Copperworks Release 046 single malt whiskey is produced using Genie barley from a single farm in Oregon, which undergoes a long fermentation followed by maturation in new American oak casks. The resulting spirit is extremely vibrant, with bold lemon zest, straw, vanilla and peach aromas that are joined by notes of rose water, raspberry and caramel on the palate and finished with a faint hum of chocolate. An outstanding, well-balanced American single malt that will leave you wanting another sip.

Available from:
The Whisky Exchange (£68.95)

Fettercairn 16-year-old

• Available from Selfridges (£81.99), The Whisky Shop (£92), The Tipple Cellar (£71)

Best exotic scotch single malt whisky

Rating: 4.5/5
ABV: 46.4%

Located in the heart of Aberdeenshire, Fettercairn Distillery has a progressive approach to scotch single malt whisky production. Since 1824, Fettercairn has been distilling outstanding whiskies, with its copper cooling ring lending a unique house style to its bottles. Pure mountain water is a key ingredient – the stills are drenched in it from the outside, which cools the copper and allows only the finest vapours to rise, resulting in a light spirit with bold, tropical fruit notes.

This unique house style is showcased by Fettercairn 16-year-old, which has joined the distillery’s core range. Deep grilled pineapple, passion fruit and mango notes are joined by vanilla, which gives way to honey, almond, soft baking spices and rose, plus mandarin, pear and cacao on the finish.

Available from:
Selfridges (£81.99)
The Whisky Shop (£92)
The Tipple Cellar (£71)

Nc’nean Organic single malt whisky

• Available from The Whisky Exchange (£51.75), Waitrose (£55), Master of Malt (£67.94)

Best sustainable single malt whisky

Rating: 4.5/5
ABV: 46%

Since its inception in 2017, Nc’nean has strived to do things differently. The primarily female-run distillery is based on the west coast of Scotland and uses longer mashing times, slow fermentation and experiments with uncommon yeasts to create new flavours in whisky. In 2021, Nc’nean also achieved verified net-zero status for carbon emissions from its own operations, making it the first UK whisky distillery to be classified as such for scopes one and two. It also achieved B Corp accreditation in 2022.

Produced using 100 per cent organic Scottish barley, the distillery’s flagship single malt whisky is an elegant and fruity expression, with bright lemon oil, nectarine and fudge flavours joined by grass, wine gums, candied pineapple, a hint of buttered toast and rich spice that lingers on the finish. An extremely well-balanced whisky from a distillery intent on doing its bit for the planet.

Available from:
The Whisky Exchange (£51.75)
Waitrose (£55)
Master of Malt (£67.94)

Nikka Miyagikyo single malt whisky

• Available from Master of Malt (£72.99), The Whisky Exchange (£77.25), Spiritly (£63.56)

Best introduction to Japanese single malt whisky

Rating: 4/5
ABV: 45%

Founded in 1934 by Masataka Taketsuru – often regarded as the 'father of Japanese whisky' – Nikka whisky has long been inspired by traditional Scotch whisky, using traditional production techniques combined with Japanese precision and attention to detail. It has two distilleries: Yokchi and Miyagiko.

Produced at the Miyagikyo distillery near Sendai in northern Japan, Nikka Miyagikyo single malt is a complex, fruity Japanese single malt whisky. Bold floral and soft fruit aromas give way to a rich palate, with roasted nut, ripe fruit, chocolate and honey flavours. Fruity and floral notes dominate the well-balanced finish, alongside a touch of oak and baking spices. This fruitier expression from Nikka is perfect for fans of Speyside whiskies, but also a great introduction to Japanese single malt whisky.

Available from:
Master of Malt (£72.99)
The Whisky Exchange (£77.25)
Spiritly (£63.56)

Kavalan Classic single malt whisky

• Available from The Whisky Exchange (£73.75), Master of Malt (£73.50), Spiritly (£64.21)

Best for tropical smoothness

Rating: 4.5/5
ABV: 40%

As is typical of whisky from countries with warm climates, Taiwanese whisky matures much faster than those aged in temperate areas, meaning the style is often exceptionally smooth. Founded in 2005, Kavalan is Taiwan’s first whisky distillery, mastering tropical aging to create a sophisticated portfolio of whiskies. As well as the maturation benefits, Kavalan’s distillery site was especially chosen for the abundance of pure spring water available from the Snowy Mountain range, which also has a notable effect on the resulting whisky’s complex flavours.

Coconut, tropical fruit and honey notes dominate Kavalan’s Classic single malt whisky, with ripe mango, spiced honey cake, apple and bold citrus notes, which develop further on the palate. A great example of masterful tropical aging, with a bold, fruit-forward flavour profile.

Available from:
The Whisky Exchange (£73.75)
Master of Malt (£73.50)
Spiritly (£64.21)

Amrut single malt whisky

• Available from The Whisky Exchange (£45.50), Master of Malt (£47.45)

Best Indian single malt whisky

Rating: 4/5
ABV: 46%

Established in 1948, Amrut has been producing some of India’s best whisky for decades, with its first single malt whisky introduced in 1982, inspired by the Scotch whisky introduced to the country during the British colonisation. Unlike Scotch whisky, Amrut single malt whisky is distilled with heritage Indian barley grown in the foothills of the Himalayas. India’s warm climate rapidly increases the speed of maturation – it's said that one year of cask maturation in India is equivalent to approximately three years of aging in Scotland. A downside of this, however, is the amount of liquid lost to evaporation, meaning older age statements are incredibly rare from Indian distilleries.

What’s most noticeable about Amrut single malt whisky is the flavour imparted by the use of six-row barley, which adds different flavour and texture to that typical of scotch whisky. Honey and vanilla are prominent on the nose, alongside lemon and orange peel, caramel and baking spices, while a slightly tart barley note is joined by further orange, vanilla and honey on the palate. Overall, it’s rich albeit not overly complex given its relative youth, with gorgeous stone fruit flavours and dark chocolate that lingers on the medium-light finish.

Available from:
The Whisky Exchange (£45.50)
Master of Malt (£47.45)

That Boutique-y Whisky Company Islay eight-year-old single malt whisky

• Available from Master of Malt (£44.95)

Best for peated whisky lovers on a budget

Rating: 4/5
ABV: 45.8%

Having started life in 2012 as an independent bottler, renowned for its extensive collection of rare releases, That Boutique-y Whisky Company has more recently began to add to its award-winning core range – a selection of bottles considered to be some of the finest in their field, according to the experts behind the brand.

From the core range, That Boutique-y Whisky Company’s Islay eight-year-old single malt whisky encapsulates the spirit of the Scottish island. Crafted in small batches of 1,000 litres, the whisky is sourced from an undisclosed distillery, finished in both ex-bourbon hogsheads and ex-sherry octaves and bottled without chill filtration or additional colouring. Boldly peated with a distinct earthiness alongside citrus, oak, fudge and dried fruit notes, the whisky has plenty of dry peat presence on the palate, with juicy fruit flavours and warm vanilla, and more earthy smokiness on the finish. It’s a very well-balanced, competitively priced option, perfect for peated scotch whisky lovers.

Available from:
Master of Malt (£44.95)

Yellowstone American single malt whiskey

• Available from Master of Malt (£69.50)

Best for bourbon drinkers exploring single malt whisky

Rating: 4/5
ABV: 54%

Especially renowned for Yellowstone Select bourbon, a new American single malt expression has been added to the brand’s portfolio, produced at the Limestone Branch Distillery in Kentucky. Like scotch single malt, the Yellowstone American single malt whiskey is produced from 100 per cent malted barley and aged in oak using new charred American oak barrels, in which the liquid is matured for four years.

Typical single malt notes of cereal and honey are joined by hints of pear, stone fruit, date, vanilla and barrel spice notes, complete with pepper and spiciness evocative of rye whiskey, plus further vanilla on the mellow finish. A good introduction to American single malt whiskey, building excitement for an expression with a greater age statement.

Available from:
Master of Malt (£69.50)

The Busker single malt Irish whiskey

• Available from The Whisky Exchange (£35.25)

Best budget single malt whisky

Rating: 3.5/5
ABV: 44.3%

A contemporary Irish whiskey brand, The Busker is a relative newcomer, launched in 2020. Operating from the Royal Oak Distillery, The Busker is proud to be the sole Irish whiskey brand to produce all styles under one roof, with a portfolio containing pot still, single malt and grain whiskeys that strive to balance tradition with innovation, using only locally sourced raw materials. Moreover, the distillery fully reclaims waste from cereal distillation and fermentation for animal feed, totalling over 20 million litres of liquid waste and 2,000 tonnes of solid waste.

Distilled in large copper stills and matured in American oak bourbon and oloroso sherry casks, The Busker single malt has stewed fruit, pine, malt biscuit and rich chocolate notes, plus a sweet and creamy lingering finish that nicely showcases the spirit’s richness.

Starward Left-Field single malt whisky

• Available from The Whisky Exchange (£38.25)

Best for wine-cask complexity

Rating: 3.5/5
ABV: 40%

Based in Melbourne, Australia, Starward was founded with the goal to create a whisky reflective of Australia’s unique character, using ingredients sourced from within a day’s drive of the distillery and innovative production methods, including some processes inspired by craft brewing.

From the distillery’s core range, Starward Left-Field single malt whisky is matured in 100 percent French oak casks that previously held wine from Australia’s Barossa Valley region, best known for shiraz. Tannic, fruity notes are joined by a hint of apple skin, apricot jam and dried fruits, plus whispers of almond, maple syrup, cacao and baking spices like nutmeg and ginger. Ginger cake flavours also prevail on the palate, alongside a bold vinous character with woody notes and a suggestion of oaky vanilla, rye bread, dark chocolate and liquorice. A bold, complex whisky with some tropical notes on the finish and a soft tannic structure.

Available from:
The Whisky Exchange (£38.25)

How we tested single malt whisky

When tasting single malt whisky, there are a few key components to consider: the aroma (which is often the most complex part of the whisky), flavours with a specific focus on balance, texture or mouthfeel, finish and the overall value of the whisky, taking various aspects of the production and finesse into consideration. Given the many different flavour profiles and personal preferences, it’s important to consider that a good single malt whisky will have a prominent aroma that’s not dominated by the smell of alcohol and well-balanced flavour regardless of whether it’s powerful or more subtle, and it will ultimately leave you reaching for another sip.

All of the featured whiskies were blind-tasted neat, then again with a drop of spring water to open up the aromas and flavours for a more nuanced tasting experience.

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