The Best Unpeated Single Malt Scotch Whiskies

Bruichladdich The Classic Laddie is the Islay distillery's flagship single malt. It is unpeated and made from 100% Scottish barley with some barley sourced from Islay. As for the exact recipe of the whisky, this changes from batch to batch with the brand using different barley types from various Scottish farms. Furthermore, various barrel types are used to mature the whisky and this too will vary with each batch with ex-sherry, ex-bourbon, and ex-wine casks among them. That said, since 2016 the brand has a recipe code on each bottle. You can view their website to have your recipe revealed. Bottled at 50% ABV without chill-filtration or added color.

Glenfarclas--meaning "glen of the green grassland"-- has been independently-owned and operated by the Grant family since the day they hung the "Open for Business" sign in 1865. This 15 year-old single malt is aged in European oak ex-oloroso sherry casks with a majority being 1st and 2nd fill casks. Bottled at 92 proof.

Another fine bottling from the triple wood maturation this whisky sees. Two types of wood, American and European, previously containing sherry and American ex-bourbon barrels are used to age this series.

This is a new addition to the brand's permanent line. Officially known as the 14 Year Old Bourbon Barrel Reserve, it's aged for a full 14 years in typical ex-bourbon casks used in the Scotch industry. It's then transferred to be finished in new heavily-charred American oak barrels from Louisville's prominent Kelvin Cooperage, with the intention of imparting more of those deep bourbon qualities into a single malt.

The name "Glenlivet" had become synonymous with "quality" and would be used by others producing whisky despite how far away from the Livet Glen. In fact, the owner had to apply for sole rights to the name which were finally granted in 1884. To this day, the name crops up on other independent bottlings, but must be hyphenated. No other whisky can be called "The Glenlivet", however. This 18 year bottling is aged in a combination of both American and European oak. Note: Pronounced [glen liv-it]

Yes, you've read that name correctly, this does indeed come from one barrel. The bottle you buy will only have 300 or so exact duplicates. Their Malt Master have chosen a distinct style as a benchmark and then select other like barrels to bottle as such. Aged in one 2nd fill American oak barrel, this is hand numbered and bottled at 47.8% abv.

The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve is an aromatic, full-bodied expression intended to be paired with fine cigars. It is produced at the centuries old Dalmore Distillery located on the northern shores of the Firth of Cromarty, deep in the Scottish Highlands. Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve is a beautiful marriage of single malt stocks aged in American white oak ex-bourbon casks, 30 year old Matusalem oloroso sherry butts and premier cru Cabernet Sauvignon wine barrique before being bottled at 88 proof.

Aberlour Distillery was founded in 1879 by James Flemming and this sherry matured single malt is made in homage to him. The name A’Bunadh [a-BOON-arh] means “original” in Gaelic and the single malt was designed as a replica to a whisky produced at this distillery in the late 1800s. A’Bunadh is matured exclusively in Spanish oloroso sherry casks and it’s bottled at cask strength.

This bottling is a departure from their Extra Matured line which use The Original as a base before finishing in a wine cask. The 18 Year is aged for 15 years in ex-bourbon casks, then a third of this is finished in ex sherry casks while the remaining continue to mature in their barrels until all of the whisky is at least 18 years old.

This fine single malt is produced at the Aberlour distillery that sits where the rivers Lour and Spey meet in the Spey region of the Highlands. Aberlour, which has been producing whisky since 1812, is known for their use of both American oak barrels and Sherry butts for their “double cask mature” whiskies and their seductive single malts and this 18-year is no different. It has rested in first fill ex-bourbon barrels and oloroso Sherry butts before being bottled at 86 proof.