Distiller Users Favorite Scotch

First released in 2003, Ardbeg Uigeadail is a marriage of single malts aged in Oloroso sherry casks and ex-bourbon barrels, combining younger and older components. The name Uigeadail, which translates to “a dark, mysterious place,” refers to the loch that supplies water to the Ardbeg distillery. It is bottled at cask strength and carries no age statement.

Highland Park is renowned for the peat they use and for their exclusive use of ex-Sherry casks. The climate on the Orkney Islands is quite windy and sea swept creating a dismal environment for trees. As such, the Orcadian peat bogs have more heather, grass, and plants than those on Islay. Highland Park 12 which was first released in 1979 uses about 20% 1st-fill sherry casks. Note: Previously known as Highland Park 12 Year Viking Honor, the brand has since dropped that name and updated its packaging with heather-flecked labels.

Founded in 1794 by brothers Hugh and John Stevenson, Oban Distillery sits on the shores of the Firth of Lorn in the coastal town that was subsequently built around it. One of the smallest distilleries in Scotland at just over an acre in size, it uses some of the smallest pot stills in the country alongside traditional worm tub condensers, which cool the vapor outside among the rooftops in the sea air. The 14 Year is lightly peated with a notably coastal character, bottled at 86 proof.

The Macallan invests an exorbitant amount each year into the wood in which they age their whiskies. In the case of the Sherry Oak Cask Series European oak sherry casks were predominately used with some American oak sherry casks used as well. Additionally, the majority of these barrels were first-fill casks which will mean even more color and flavors are picked up. After 12 years of aging, this single malt is bottled at 43% ABV with natural coloring. No caramel coloring is used.

The DoubleWood has become such an iconic bottling and was inspired by a whisky produced in the mid 80s by The Balvenie Malt Master David Stewart. That was the first time Mr. Stewart had used a wine barrel to finish his whisky — arguably, the first time anyone did. The Doublewood is aged for 12 years in 2nd or 3rd fill American barrels and then placed in 1st fill Oloroso Sherry butts for 9 months before bottling.

Monkey Shoulder Blended Malt Scotch Whisky takes its name from an injury once suffered by maltmen who turned barley by hand during the malting process, leaving one arm hanging like a “monkey shoulder.” Produced by William Grant & Sons, the whisky is composed primarily of Speyside single malts from the company’s distilleries, including Glenfiddich, The Balvenie, and Kininvie. Originally conceived as a marriage of three Speyside malts—a nod reflected in the three brass monkeys on the bottle—the whisky is married for several months before bottling and is commonly used in Scotch cocktails.

The Ardbeg 10 Year is the flagship bottling for the distillery. The peat level is on the higher end of the scale at 55 parts per million or ppm. It's aged a minimum of 10 years in ex-bourbon barrels and is bottled without chill-filtration at 92 proof.

Founded in 1830, Talisker is the oldest working distillery on the Isle of Skye. The peat level is a moderate 16-22 ppm (phenol parts per million). Aged a minimum of 10 years in American oak casks, the single malt is bottled at 45.8% ABV. Talisker 10 Year is one of the Classic Malts for its parent company Diageo.

Laphroaig 10 Year is the flagship bottling from the Islay distillery. The peated single malt is aged for a minimum of 10 years in ex-bourbon barrels, many sourced from Maker's Mark in Kentucky. Laphroaig is one of only a handful of distilleries in Scotland with its own malting floor used in part of its production. Using a peat kiln built in 1840, the malted barley is cold-smoked for 10-12 hours. Then it's fully dried using hot air. NOTE: Sold at 40% ABV or 43% ABV depending on your market.

Though not officially established until 1816, there are records of illicit distillation that date as far back as 1742. Located on the southeast coast of Islay, Lagavulin produces single malt whiskies made with peated malted barley sourced from neighboring Port Ellen Maltings. Aged in oak barrels for a minimum of 16 years, this is the flagship bottling from the distillery.