6 superb Scottish whiskies to set your sights on

Scotland’s greatest export and appreciated the world over, whisky is certainly one of the most complex spirits to tantalise the taste buds.

With its rich flavour map – these nuggets can vary from fruity to smoky, medicinal to oily – and influence of oak ageing shaping the aromas, taste and characteristics, not to mention the type of cask… it is little wonder these whiskies are worth the wait.

And with such a broad spectrum of styles, where to start? From signature drams to new releases, we’ve shortlisted some standout single malts to stir the senses…

1. Old Pulteney 12 Year Old, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, £34.25, 70cl, The Whisky Exchange

Hailing from Scotland’s northeast coast, and a long-time favourite with its coastal character, saline freshness and oily note, this is a lively, salty, maritime malt; the nose opens up with briny aromas, leading to waves of butterscotch, honey, spiced fruits, vanilla and salted toffee, with sweet oak on the finish from ageing in ex-bourbon casks.

2. Jura 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, £29.90 (was £34.90), 70cl, Master of Malt

Distilled in the Hebridean Isle of Jura, off Scotland’s west coast, this 12-year-old is matured in American white oak and ex-bourbon casks and marked by a lightly peated, gentle smoky note, with hints of milk chocolate; layers of bright orchard fruits unfold, with touches of peach, citrus, warm spice and faint smoke, with a lightly toasted nuttiness on the long-lasting finish.

3. Glenfiddich 15 Year Old Solera Single Malt Scotch Whisky, £59.95, 70cl, The Whisky Exchange

A limited edition box for the holiday season, you can’t go wrong with the world’s best-selling single malt from the heart of Speyside. Distinctively packaged in an eye-catching floral design with its signature stag adorned in petals, look forward to warming aromas of rich, honeyed fruit, vanilla fudge and baking spices. On the palate, layers of dark fruit, marzipan, ginger, cinnamon, spiced-sweet oak and sherry influence from ageing in bourbon, sherry and new oak casks.

4. The GlenAllachie Distillers, The GlenAllachie Sinteis Series Part II: 2015 Scottish Oak & Oloroso Cask Matured, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, £74.99, 70cl, The GlenAllachie

From award-winning, Speyside independent bottler GlenAllachie – its 12 Year Old was awarded the World’s Best Single Malt 2025 – this second chapter in the Sinteis series is bottled at cask strength 58.2% abv, and matured in Scottish virgin oak and oloroso sherry casks to create this complex single malt. The nose offers nuances of honeycomb, mocha, cinnamon and brown sugar; the warming palate is layered with honey, baking spice, ginger, orchard fruits and traces of vanilla cream, with a sweetish, woody complexity on the rich, lingering finish.

5. Glenmorangie A Tale of Spices Limited Edition, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, £76, 70cl, Glenmorangie

A trailblazer for wood finishes, this highlander is cited for being on the cutting edge of whisky innovation – and this new discovery is inspired by spice markets, ‘marrying four cask types for a mosaic of flavours’. Matured in a combination of Moroccan red wine, new charred oak, toasted red wine and pedro ximenez casks, it’s rich and exotic with floral notes of rose and jasmine; the spicy palate is packed with flavour, with hints of ginger, black pepper, chilli, anise, with sweet notes of sugar-coated almonds and eucalyptus riding on the lasting finish.

6. One Cask At A Time Chronograph Ben Nevis 2012, 11 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, £89, 70cl, One Cask At A Time

New on the whisky block, independent bottler One Cask At A Time has launched a library of six single-cask whiskies; with three ranges in the collection – Grandfather, Pendulum, and Chronograph – each representing different times with varying age statements. We’ve singled out its most accessibly priced Ben Nevis – bottled at cask strength, 56.1% abv – for its delightful fresh fruit aromas with hints of caramel; tasting smooth, fruity and peppery with a honeyed sweetness, notes of creamy caramel, wood and earthy oak coming into play. A highland malt worth seeking out.