The Most Reviewed Single Malts Last Week

GlenDronach was founded in 1826 in the Highlands of Scotland. Although the distillery originally used direct coal fire to heat the stills, in 2005 this distillery finally changed to an indirect heat source (steam). Today, Dr. Rachel Barrie is the brand’s master blender. GlenDronach Original 12 Year is a sherry matured single malt made using both oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. Note: The brand has updated its name and packaging to GlenDronach 12 Year Sherry Cask Matured .Look for that separate listing.

Produced at Balvenie Distillery in Dufftown, Speyside, Caribbean Cask is aged 14 years in traditional American oak before finishing in rum casks seasoned by the distillery itself. To create these casks, Former Malt Master David C. Stewart MBE selected a blend of West Indian rums to season new American oak barrels, into which the matured whisky was then transferred for its finishing period. Part of Balvenie's core Cask Finishes Range, it is bottled at 86 proof.

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.

Launched in 1999, Aberfeldy 12 Year is produced at a distillery that is one of two single malt distilleries that comprise the Dewar's Blended Scotch line of whiskies. Less than 1% of the single malt produced here is bottled as such.

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.

Deanston, a former cotton mill, now a distillery is located in the Highland region in Scotland. This single malt is aged in American oak ex-bourbon barrels. Bottled without chill filtration at 46.3% ABV.

Dalwhinnie has been crafting whisky in the remote Drumochter Hills since 1898, sitting at the highest and coldest point of any working distillery in Scotland. Its water comes exclusively from Lochan na Doire-uaine, a high-altitude gathering of snowmelt and rainwater that no other distillery is permitted to use. One of the original six in Diageo's Classic Malts range, Dalwhinnie sees relatively few official bottlings. The 15 Year is lightly peated, though the peat is subtle enough that some may not detect it.

Aberlour Distillery was founded in 1879 by James Fleming. This 12 year-old bottling is a core single malt in the brand's portfolio. It's aged in a combination of American oak ex bourbon barrels and ex sherry casks.

Cauldron of the speckled sea (aka Corryvreckan) is a whirlpool, the 2nd largest in the world, located between the Isles of Islay and Jura. It is also the name of this whisky. Here are some more facts for you, kid. It is, at its base, Ardbeg 10 with whisky added that spent its life exclusively in French Limousin Virgin Casks. At least it did until it was married with the 10 year old and into your bottle.

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.