The Best 20 Single Malt Whisky Bottles

Whisky or Whiskey? Who cares!? But what does define a great whisky? Why some whiskies stand over the rest? What makes a dram the best?

So hard questions... but let me make some ideas clear: older doesn't mean better and more expensive usually doesn't mean better neither. So, this list of delightful bottled pleasures is crafted by using the rating I have assigned to each of them when I have tasted them.

I, over all, love young peated whiskies, mid-age sherried monsters, old bourbon casks whiskies and very old grain whiskies. So, don't get surprised if the list shows this personal preference. You can find whisky recommendations list for a community-built list of best whiskies. Help us improve it even more by recommending your favorite whiskeys.

Without more delays, here is the list of the best Single Malt Whisky available right now. You may want to see this list with all-time best whiskeys.

The Best 20 Single Malt Whisky

87

Aberlour a'Bunadh Batch 29
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“The best sherry whisky I have tried so far. So intense flavor: the wood, the sherry, the honey. Impressive.”
87
Ardbeg Renaissance
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“The best most fantastic peated whisky that I have had in a lot of time...”
- Buy on The Whisky Exchange for £225.00
87
Ardbeg Still Young
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“Simply awesome, mind blowing. Forget Supernova, Uigeaidail or whatever. This is Ardbeg!”
- Buy on The Whisky Exchange for £199.00
87

Arran 12 years old Single Cask Master of Malt
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“A whisky to taste at least once in your life. A masterpiece from Arran choosen by the chaps at Master of Malt. Thanks a lot.”
87

Cameronbridge 34 Year Old 1978 - Dimensions (Duncan Taylor)
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“All you can expect from a very old grain whisky. I really love this style of candies, fruits and spices”
87
Glenfarclas 25 year
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“Is this perhaps the last of the affodable aged whiskies? Still such a safe best to drink Glenfarclas. Great dram”
- Buy on The Whisky Exchange for £145.00
87

Glenglassaugh 32 year 1976 Signatory
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“Mindblowing! Out of this world nose and taste. I never thought anything can taste so good. Must-have!”
87

Imperial 27 year old 1982 Signatory
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“Mindblowing! Not sure how much this cost or if it is still available but it worths every pound of its price.”
87

Karuizawa 48 Year Old 1964 Cask 3603
Japan Single Malt Whisky

“Gorgeous! This Karuizawa has one of the best sherried noses that I have ever seen. Not a whisky for newcomers, it needs time and lots of attention to disclose it greatness. The more it is on the glass the more I like it”
87

Laphroaig 27 Year Old Oloroso Cask (2008 Release)
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“Heaven exists! And I am really happy this bottle is sold out because I would have had to buy one no matter the price.”
87

Master of Malt 60 years old Speyside Single Malt Whisky
England Single Malt Whisky

“Delightful experience... not everyday one has the honour of drinking liquid Scotland history. I think this whisky is even better than the mythical Glenfarclas 58yo released a few years ago for a fraction of the price”
87

Port Charlotte 25 years old Burns Malt #1271
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“( Just checking right now how much this cost... because definitively I need one! )”
86
Ardbeg Corryvreckan
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“Really like Ardbeg promised: it is a whirlpool of whisky. Don’t forget your life jacket.”
- Buy on The Whisky Exchange for £71.95
86
Ardbeg Supernova SN2010
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“An awesome release. More complex than Ardbeg 10 years old, definitively hotter and more earthy. If you are in the peat wave do your best to get one.”
- Buy on The Whisky Exchange for £399.00
86
Ardbeg Uigeadail
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“A great dram. One of the best Ardbegs I have tried that has still a reasonable price. It is more complex than Ardbeg 10 years old and has no trace of vanilla.”
- Buy on The Whisky Exchange for £57.95
- Buy on The Drink Shop for £58.48
86

Ayrshire 34 Year Old 1973 - Rarest of the Rare (Duncan Taylo
Uk Single Malt Whisky

“Lovely old whisky that surprises ( me ) with it tropical freshness. Another lost distillery to mourn”
86
Balvenie 30 year
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“It is a real pity it is so expensive, because it is an awesome whisky.”
86
Bowmore 18 year
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“The peat on this truly Islay malt lives together with a delicious citrus freshness altogether with some great notes of cocoa and nuts. Thirsty already?”
- Buy on The Whisky Exchange for £77.55
- Buy on Drink Supermarket for £79.99
86
Bunnahabhain 40 year
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“Mindblowing subtlely good! This is bottled perfection. I need this”
86

Bunnahabhain Dràm An Stiùreadair - Feis Ile 2014
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“Lightly peated they said! Muahahahaha fantastic stuff! A pity it is so hard to grab a bottle of this for a reasonable prize”