Written by Emma C | Updated May 2023

The GlenDronach 15

An early pioneer of sherry cask maturation, The GlenDronach has a deep history going back to the 1770s. The distillery is known for distinctive and characterful single malts aged in oak Sherry casks, which dates back to its founder, James Allardice, in 1826. The GlenDronach 15 offers notes of dark fruits, rich chocolate, and manuka honey with a memorable finish worthy of this monumental malt’s history.

Region: Highland | Tasting Notes: Fruit, Chocolate, Honey | ABV: 46%

Aberfeldy 12 Year

Aberfeldy has been producing Scotch whisky since 1898. Today, it operates the Dewar’s World of Whisky educational facility and is known for its heritage and time-honored production methods, and quality water source, the Pitilie Burn. The maker’s Aberfeldy 12 single malt Scotch is a honeyed dram with notes of fruit, spices, lots of vanilla, and just a hint of smoke.

Region: Highland | Notes: Fruit, Spice, Vanilla, Smoke | ABV: 40%

Dewar’s 19 Year

John Dewar founded Dewar’s with his sons John Alexander and Tommy, who turned it from a small wine & spirits shop to a world-renowned blended Scotch whisky brand, today being the world’s most-awarded blended Scotch whisky. Dewar’s 19 Year Old Champion’s Edition was created by four-time Master Blender of the Year, Stephanie Macleod, with the USGA. To honor the site of the 2023 Tournament at the Los Angeles Country Club, the 2023 19-Year-Old Champion’s Edition is double-aged and finished in Napa Valley red wine casks.

Region: Highland | Tasting Notes: Red Fruits, Cherries, Nutmeg | ABV: 43%

Johnnie Walker Gold Label

In 1819, within the year that John Walker’s father died, he began blending whiskies to make each dram as good as the next. After a busy number of decades, by 1920 the brand’s whisky was being sold in 120 countries. Today, Johnnie Walker is the world’s largest whisky brand. Its Gold Label whisky is luxurious, creamy, and honeyed – a wonderful tribute to the harmony of Speyside and Highland whiskies, with just a hint of smoldering embers from the West Coast.

Region: Highland, Speyside | Tasting Notes: Honey, Spiced Vanilla | ABV: 40%

Benriach The Smoky Twelve

Benriach’s whisky-making heritage goes back to 1898 when founder John Duff built his distillery. Today, water is taken from a mineral-rich aquifer deep under the premises. The brand’s makers work with full flavor options in single malt, thanks to the longstanding distilling tradition of three whisky styles. The Smoky Twelve is crafted from unpeated and peated spirit and triple cask-matured for at least 12 years in bourbon barrels, sherry casks, and Marsala wine casks, then married together to create a smooth, creamy single malt, multilayered with flavors of malt, dried fruit, vanilla, spice, herbs, and nuts.

Region: Speyside | Tasting Notes: Malt, Dried Fruit, Vanilla, Nut | ABV: 43%

Ardbeg Uigeadail

Ardbeg makes world-renowned whisky, including six prestigious award-winning expressions.The distillery has been making its spirits for over 200 years with abundant soft water, fertile soil, and acres of peat unique to Islay. One great example is its Uigeadail (pronounced ‘oog-a-dal’), a special vatting that marries Ardbeg’s traditional deep, smoky notes with luscious, raisiny tones of old ex-Sherry casks. This expression was voted by the 120,000+ strong Ardbeg Committee as their favorite Ardbeg.

Region: Islay | Tasting Notes: Fruitcake, Honey, Smoke | ABV: 54.2%

Bowmore 15

Bowmore is Islay’s oldest licensed distillery and the site of the oldest Scotch aging warehouses in the world – the No. 1 Vaults. The maker’s single malts have been matured and crafted for over 240 years. Bowmore 15 is matured first in bourbon barrels, then in oloroso sherry casks for the final three years. These last years give the spirits its rich, deep color and robust warming finish.

Region: Islay | Tasting Notes: Cedar, Toffee | ABV: 43%

Glengoyne 18

Glengoyne has been making whisky since 1833 and still prides itself on patience. Its whiskies are made with air-dried barley and spend three minutes in stills – the slowest in Scotland – before being transferred to casks that take six years to prepare. This produces the brand’s signature complex, fruity profile. Glengoyne 18, matured in first-fill sherry casks, offers spicy vanilla fruit, ripe apples, and a rich, luxurious mouthfeel.

Region: Highland | Tasting Notes: Vanilla, Apple, Spice | ABV: 43%

Glen Scotia 10 Year

Glen Scotia’s distillery carries a deep heritage, as seen in its historic buildings and whisky-making process. Today, it continues to make peated and non-peated Scotch with traditional methods that showcase its maritime roots, cask finishings, and flavors. The maker’s 10-year expression offers a unique flavor profile of rich oils, green fruits, and citrus, with its signature maritime nuances.

Region: Campbeltown | Tasting Notes: Oil, Fruit, Citrus | ABV: 40%

Springbank 18

Springbank uses traditional production methods in its handmade whisky. Each step of its production process is done onsite at its Campbeltown distillery, which gives the maker total control over the final result. The 18-year-old expression is full of authority as a classic, full-bodied dram. It has a delicious nose of maraschino cherries, sea salt, citrus, cassis, raspberry, and pepper, followed by unique flavors of stewed fruit, berries, salted caramel, pretzels, coffee, and spice.

Region: Campbeltown Tasting Notes: Fruit, Salted Caramel, Coffee, Spice | ABV: 46%

Arran Sherry Cask Finish ‘The Bodega’

Known as ‘Scotland in miniature’, Arran shares features of both the Highlands and Lowlands. The geography – including nearby water, microclimate, and air quality – impacts the spirit during distillation and maturation and makes up its character. The maker’s Sherry Cask 'The Bodega' is a stunning new addition to its core range of whiskies and is the perfect choice if you enjoy your single malt with plenty of body and complexity.

Region: Islands | Tasting Notes: Cherry Cordials, Figs, Caramel | ABV: 55.8%