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

88
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
88
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
88
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
Glenfarclas 30 year
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“Godness! This whisky is really fantastic... I think it has improved even more from the last time I tasted it”
- Buy on The Whisky Exchange for £390.00
87
Glenfarclas 40 year
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“Oh my! Oldness! Sweetness! Godness! This is a truly fantastic Glenfarclas... and you can't get anymore such great 40yo whiskies for this price”
- Buy on The Whisky Exchange for £675.00
87

Highland Park Thorfinn
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“Mother of God! This is a serious dram. It is the best Highland Park whisky I have had and one of the best of the year”
87
Lagavulin 16 year
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“This Lagavulin is a superb Islay whisky with its amazing peat complexity. Really one of the best bang for the buck single malts out there.”
87
Mackmyra Ten Years Swedish Single Malt Whisky
Sweden Single Malt Whisky

“Fantastic! Lovely sweet nose with a torrent of spices and vanilla when you have a sip. Quite rounded. Delightful dram”
- Buy on The Whisky Exchange for £67.45
87
Talisker 35 Year Old - 2012 Release
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“It is always a pleasure to taste such great whisky. Tasted it almost blind ( one from under the counter :P )”
- Buy on The Whisky Exchange for £1,000.00
86
Aberfeldy 21 year
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“Fantastic whisky with traces of smoke and pinapples. I really love it. What a discovery!”
- Buy on The Drink Shop for £118.74
- Buy on The Whisky Exchange for £128.00
86
Amrut 46% Single Malt
India Single Malt Whisky

“Superb Indian whisky with lots of tropical fruit notes on nose and spices on the palate. Love it.”
- Buy on The Whisky Exchange for £44.95
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 Perpetuum
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“Damn good malt... so much time without drinking whisky... and this Ardbeg brought me memories of why I loved it”
- Buy on The Whisky Exchange for £110.00
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
Balvenie 12 Year Old Single Barrel - First Fill
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“Sometimes the expression aged to perfection isn't just bullshit... this is one of those marvelous times. I love this Balvenie”
- Buy on The Whisky Exchange for £50.55
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
Brora 30 years 2005 Release
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“Great fruity flavor! And what about that peat... oh my God! Why did they close it?”
- Buy on The Whisky Exchange for £1,500.00
86
Bunnahabhain 25 Year Old
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“Marvelous! One of the best Bunnahabhain single malts I have had”
- Buy on The Drink Shop for £319.20
- Buy on The Whisky Exchange for £330.00
86

Glenfarclas 1953 - 58 Years Old
Scotland Single Malt Whisky

“Maybe the best Glenfarclas I have had? An awesome single malt whisky as every Glenfarclas whiskies are.”