10 Best Single Malt Scotch Brands February 2015

#1 of 10 Top Single Malt Scotch Brands of 2015 - Glenfarcias 25 has been crafted for generations by the Grant family, who are dedicated to this brand's excellence. This 25 year amber colored scotch has complex aromas of honey, freshly ground coffee, marmalade, nuts, sherry and a hint of oak. Its refined yet smoky taste is a beautiful union of oak and sherry. The robust flavor is strong, but not overpowering. The Glenfarcias 25 has a smoky and dry malt finish that is completed with the taste of dark Belgium chocolate. Almost a dessert on its own right, this single malt scotch is perfect rich as an after dinner whiskey.

#2 of 10 Best Single Malt Scotch Brands of 2015 - Like the whirlpool it is named for, Ardbeg Corryvreckan Scotch whiskey is sure to shake things up! From the very first whiff of its aroma, the power of creosote and linseed oil flood your senses, followed hot on their heels by a triumvirate of dark chocolate, blackcurrant and muscovado. The first taste reveals notes of peppered steak and seaweed. As you delve into the flavors, you will be surrounded by coffee, berries and bitter almonds. The assault concludes with notes of dark coffee, chocolate cherry and hot peppers. It is a whirlwind journey you’ll not be soon to forget.

#3 of 10 Leading Single Malt Scotch Brands of 2015 - Intensely complex, Highland Park’s 21 year old single malt scotch whisky is a delight to taste. While the center is both sweet and spicy, the three different layers are comprised of a combination of butterscotch, chocolate, and a sweet smoky sensation. The oak casks provide most of the scotch’s diverse and dynamic flavor. Patience, a virtue many brewers must become acquainted with, is certainly rewarded to patrons who purchase a bottle. Highland Park is distilled in Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, Scotland.

#4 of 10 Best Single Malt Scotch Brands of 2015 - Laphroig's 200 plus years in the industry have proven them to be superior craftsman of single malt whiskey. Tradition and quality rein supreme in this brand, and this timeless distillery even offers seasonal tours. Laphroaig's first-rate single malt scotch brand is celebrated and loved for having a pleasing robust scent and a luscious taste. Choose from a variety of well textured aged whiskey selections and cask strengths. The smell and taste of peat smoke are one of the most distinguishing qualities of all selections in this brand.

#5 of 10 Best Single Malt Scotch Brands of 2015 - Bunnahabhain 25 takes a while to get to the discriminating palates of certain Single Malt Scotch drinkers, but patience is a virtue that's rewarded with this amber gold offering of delight. An early aroma that suggests cinnamon and caramel that is caressed by the hints of leather and oak that helped age this product into a shining example of excellence. That only serves as the warmup to a welcoming embrace of cream mixed with berries, along with roasted nut, raisins and chestnuts. Throwing in a sample of ginger and flan makes the final product even more memorable.

#6 of 10 Best Single Malt Scotch Brands of 2015 - The Glenlivet 18 year old single malt scotch is both balanced and elegant, creating a rich palate for even the most sophisticated of scotch drinkers. One of the most famous malts in the world, this scotch has won two gold medals at the International Wine and Spirits Competition. By combining several different oak cask types, this blend comes out with rich, well-rounded aromas of toffee and fruit on the nose. The palate is complex, with hints of orange and oak. The scotch is finished off with long, spicy, raisin notes.

#7 of 10 Top Single Malt Scotch Brands of 2015 - The Bowmore 12 takes its name from its remarkable aging process – 12 years’ time. This Scotch hails tradition, as the distilled malts have been smoked the same way the Scots did in the 18th century – peat-fired kilns. Subtle aromas of lemon and honey grace the smooth smoky peat, inviting the drinker to drink in the warm honey and peat flavors. Drinkers are rewarded with a flavor that has been described as “remarkably long and complex” by none other than the late, great Michael Jackson. Those seeking a warm, smoky, traditional Scotch need look no further.

#8 of 10 Top Single Malt Scotch Brands of 2015 - Dalmore is honored to present the 18, a remarkably smooth and rich Scotch aged for eighteen years in American white oak and Matusalem sherry wood. Scotch aficionados will first be greeted with the warm, sweet aroma of toffee and baked bread. Rich, smoky coffee and chocolate greet the tongue on the first sip, and a spicy Christmas aftertaste of cinnamon and nutmeg leave the palate smiling. With an exotic finish of pear and caramel, this is a smooth, delicate, enduring Scotch that surely will not be forgotten for some time.

#9 of 10 Top Single Malt Scotch Brands of 2015 - Glengoyne distills more slowly than anyone else in Scotland, using only hand selected oak casks and barley that is dried by air; never peat. As a result, this 10-year-old single malt scotch whiskey is very clean and smooth; a gentle mix of cream and malt. It is a clear, bright, golden yellow in appearance, and its nose is sweet and slightly nutty, with aromas of toffee and popcorn. The initial taste is one of green apples and grass, with a touch of sweet licorice, followed by sweeter linseed oil and almonds. The finish is both malty and sweet.

#10 of 10 Top Single Malt Scotch Brands of 2015 - The Bruichladdich Black Art 4 bewitches with its deep, dark spell. Aged in oak for 23 years, each bottle hails back a quarter of a century. The color has the richness of a spellbinding New Mexico sunset. The tantalizing notes of plump grape, sweet honey and sparkling citrus invite you to experience the magic. The flavor is forcefully demanding, but the enchantment is strong: coconut, tangerine, chocolate, cinnamon, aniseed and barley sugar dance upon the taste buds, and the dark spell is almost complete. With a finish of apricot and peach, this is a ritual you will want to revisit.