Underrated Speyside Single Malts to Try

The Glenrothes 15 Year Single Malt is a permanent expression in the distillery’s portfolio. Matured exclusively in European oak casks seasoned with sherry in Spain to the brand’s specifications, this Speyside single malt is selected by Master Whisky Maker Laura Rampling and bottled at 43% ABV. Founded in 1879, The Glenrothes introduced this 15 Year expression to the U.S. market in 2025.

Craigellachie 13 Year Single Malt was introduced in 2014 as a permanent addition to the distillery’s official range. Bottled at 46% ABV, non-chill filtered, and free from added coloring, this Speyside single malt is matured in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, with portions further finished in first-fill bourbon and first-fill sherry casks. Founded in 1891 and designed by Charles Doig, Craigellachie has long served as an important component in Dewar’s blends while maintaining a distinctive, robust house style shaped in part by its traditional worm tub condensers.

Tamnavulin Sherry Cask Edition is a no-age-statement Speyside single malt from the Tamnavulin Distillery. Initially matured in American oak ex-bourbon casks, the whisky is then finished in selected seasoned sherry casks sourced from cooperages in southern Spain. Bottled at 40% ABV, this expression is a core part of the distillery’s portfolio and was first released in 2019.

Speyburn 10 Year Single Malt is produced at the Speyburn Distillery, located in a secluded glen near Rothes in Scotland’s Speyside region. Founded in 1897 by John Hopkins, who also established Tobermory Distillery, Speyburn draws its water from the Granty Burn. Matured for over 10 years in hand-selected American oak casks and bottled at 40% ABV, this expression remains one of the core whiskies in the distillery’s portfolio and received a packaging update in 2024.

Tomintoul Cigar Malt was created by Master Distiller Robert Fleming on the occasion of his 30th year as manager of the distillery. Select rare vintages of single malt were selected for the bottling including some rare peated single malt. The whiskies were either aged entirely or were finished in oloroso sherry butts. This bottling is also referred to as Tomintoul Cigar Malt Parejo (partner) because it was created to pair with the best cigars in the world. It is bottled at 43% ABV.

Glen Grant 15 Year Single Malt is matured exclusively in hand-selected first-fill ex-bourbon casks for 15 years. Bottled at 50% ABV and non-chill filtered, this Speyside single malt was first introduced in 2018 as a U.S. and travel retail exclusive before later expanding to wider markets. It remains a permanent expression in Glen Grant’s core portfolio.

First introduced in 2018 under Master Distiller Billy Walker, GlenAllachie’s 15 Year is crafted from single malts matured in a mix of Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry puncheons and hogsheads. Non-chill-filtered and bottled at 46% ABV with no added color, this core expression received a packaging refresh in 2024.

Mortlach 12 Year Wee Witchie was introduced in 2018 as part of a revamped core range for the Speyside distillery. Matured in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, this single malt is bottled at 43.4% ABV. Produced using Mortlach’s distinctive 2.81-times distillation process, known as “The Way,” the whisky reflects a production method first developed in 1896 and remains central to the distillery’s character.

Tamdhu 12 Year Single Malt was introduced in 2018, replacing the distillery’s previous 10 Year expression. Matured exclusively in a combination of first-fill and refill American and European oak casks seasoned with Oloroso sherry from Jerez, Spain, this Speyside single malt is bottled at 43% ABV. Following a brief distillery closure in 2010, Tamdhu was revived by Ian Macleod Distillers in 2012.

This Glen Moray 15 Year is part of the distillery’s Heritage Collection. Matured for 15 years using a 50:50 combination of American oak and oloroso sherry casks, this Speyside single malt is bottled at 40% ABV. Produced at Glen Moray’s Elgin distillery, the brand’s whisky-making history dates back to 1897.

Benromach 15 Year Single Malt was introduced in 2015 as a permanent addition to the distillery’s core portfolio. Made with lightly peated barley in a traditional Speyside style, this whisky is matured in a combination of first-fill bourbon and sherry casks. Bottled at 43% ABV, it reflects Benromach’s focus on pre-1960s Speyside production methods.

Benriach The Smoky Ten is a peated Speyside single malt introduced in 2020 as part of Master Blender Rachel Barrie’s revamped core range for the distillery. Crafted from a combination of unpeated and Highland peat-smoked spirit, the whisky is matured for at least 10 years in bourbon barrels, Jamaican rum casks, and toasted virgin oak before being married together. Bottled at 46% ABV with natural color, this expression reflects Benriach’s continuation of a peated distilling style the distillery revived in the 1970s.