Our Favorite Scotch Whiskies for Hot Toddies

In 1824, farmer George Smith was one of the first to obtain a distiller’s license. Neighbors hiding illicit stills from the law resented Smith's new freedom. They reacted by threatening to burn down Smith’s distillery – with him in it. Smith retaliated by openly carrying two pistols. The neighbors cowered and he got busy creating the iconic Glenlivet whisky. This new expression is a tribute to Smith and the techniques he used to produce whisky. Master Distiller, Alan Winchester, distills his spirits using the same lantern shaped stills designed by Smith. Whiskies aged in traditional oak casks and first-fill American oak casks are blended based on flavor for this NAS whisky.

You might be surprised to learn that the Glendullan distillery produces almost 4 million liters of whisky per year. Most of the whisky is used in blends such as Old Parr and, until 2007 when they were reintroduced as a single malt by Diageo that was their only function. The Singleton distilleries will vary throughout the world so if you order a Singleton in Asia, you'll get whisky from Glen Ord and in Europe you'll be poured Dufftown.

Created in 1820 under the name "Old Special Highland Whisky", Johnnie Walker Black was so named in 1909 as their customers had started to order their bottles by the label's color. Comprised of a blend of over three dozen distilleries, the malts in the whisky are largely comprised of peated distilleries such as Talisker and Lagavulin but also the unsung hero Cardhu. All of the whiskies included in the blend are aged a minimum of 12 years. (SRP $29.99-34.99 for 750ml)

Also known as Dewar's 12 Year Double Aged, The Ancestor is comprised of whiskies from over 40 malt and grain distilleries. The heart of the malt component hails from Aberfeldy, the distillery Dewar's built back in 1896. Dewar's states on their bottles that the blend goes through a double aging. After the blend has been made, it then spends more time, around 6 months or so, in oak barrels to properly marry the blend together. Note: As of autumn 2022, Dewar's 12 Year has been reformulated and packaged with updated labels and a clear glass bottle.

Glenmorangie, founded in 1843, is home to the tallest stills in Scotland. Aged 10 years in American oak barrels, The Original serves as the flagship for the distillery. The casks used for the single malt are only ever used twice. The Original also serves as the base for their Extra Matured whiskies that spend 2 more years in a variety of wine barrels such as Sauternes and Port.

Introduced in September 2018, The Glenrothes 10 Year is a single malt from the brand's Soleo Collection. This collection ages entirely in sherry seasoned oak and is 100% natural color. Named for the process for drying grapes when making some sherry styles like Pedro Ximenez, this collection replaces all existing Glenrothes expressions. Bottled at 80 proof.

The name Monkey Shoulder originates from an injury that the maltmen (those that hand turn the grain in a malthouse) would get as it would leave one arm hanging. This blended malt whisky is comprised of three single malt distilleries: Kininvie, Glenfiddich, and The Balvenie. The trio gets acquainted in a tun for three to six months before being bottled on site.

Glenfiddich is a family-owned distillery, and despite their 10 million liters produced annually, they warehouse all whisky on site. Additionally, they have both their own cooperage and their own bottling plant for their distinctive three cornered bottles. The 12 Year expression is a benchmark, not only for Glenfiddich, but for Speyside single malt whiskies in general. Both ex-bourbon and sherry casks are used in its maturation.

Hitting the market in May 2014, Auchentoshan American Oak, a triple distilled single malt, is aged in 1st fill American oak ex-bourbon barrels. As such, this would be an excellent stepping stone for bourbon drinkers who would like to give scotch a try. This will be a permanent bottling to the brand's line-up and will replace Auchentoshan Classic as the entry level whisky in their portfolio.

Compass Box's Great King Street line of blended whiskies has a new addition with the Glasgow Blend. Created to highlight a more robust and smoky whisky as, according to some, historically Glaswegians preferred this style, they have succeeded in doing just that. A blend with a large (67%) malt base, Compass Box uses a combination of barrels for aging: 1st fill sherry, 1st and refill ex-bourbon, and a small amount of new French oak barrels.