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Scotch Single Malt Whisky

Single malt Scotch whisky is Scotland's original whisky. It was traditionally made in the Highlands in the 18th and 19th century only from malted barley. In contrast, Lowland whisky was often made from other grains including oats, wheat, and later maize (corn). Until the Excise Act of 1823, much single malt Scotch whisky would have been made and sold illegally. The passing of this act paved the way for the commercialisation of the industry when famed illicit distilleries like George Smith's Glenlivet went legal.

This led to a boom in distillery building that continued until the 1890s. A series of regions emerged which produced whiskies in a distinct style: Islay, Island, Speyside (previously known as Glenlivet), Campbeltown, Highland and Lowland. Much of this character came from the fuel used for malting the barley. In the case of Islay, it would have been the island's plentiful peat, resulting in a smoky, medicinal taste, whereas Speyside's good railway connections would see it adopting anthracite, a kind of smokeless coal.

By the 1870s, however, most Scotch whisky for export would have been a blend of characterful Highland single malts and Lowland grains. These were pioneered, aged and marketed by shopkeepers like John Walker of Kilmarnock, Chivas Bros of Aberdeen and Arthur Bell & Sons of Perth. These merchants also imported rum, Port, sherry, Madeira and other wines, and had discovered that single malt Scotch whisky did something extraordinary when aged in seasoned wood. In whisky's illicit years, it would have been drunk unaged or even flavoured with herbs and spices but eventually whisky came to be generally regarded as an aged product. Since a court ruling of 1909, Scotch whisky, both malt and grain, has to be aged for a minimum for three years.

Now to be labelled as a single malt Scotch whisky, the spirit has to be made only from malted barley, batch-distilled in copper pot stills (usually twice though there are some triple-distilled single malt Scotch whiskies), aged for a minimum of three years in oak casks in Scotland, and bottled at no less than 40% ABV. The industry is governed by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA). Within these strict parameters, however, each distillery produces a unique style through differences in fermentation techniques, distillation, wood ageing etc. On the whole, the regional styles like Islay or Speyside owe more to tradition than anything intrinsic to where they are made.

While for much of the 20th century, Scotch whisky drinkers would have drunk blends, often mixed with soda water, single malts were highly prized by aficionados, though usually only seen as independent bottling from merchants like Gordon & MacPhail of Elgin. In the 1960s, however, Glenfiddich in Speyside began bottling and marketing its single malt Scotch whisky internationally. Its success led to others making this leap such as Glenfarclas, Macallan and Glenlivet. Single malt Scotch whisky as we know it had arrived.

Many of the distilleries built during the boom years of the 19th century have since closed down but in the 21st century Scotch whisky grew rapidly once more and there are now more than 130 malt distilleries in operation. These range from tiny farm operations to vast factories of whisky. Despite the global fame of single malt Scotch whisky, however, the majority of production is still used for blends which make up around 85% of global sales. The success of single malt Scotch whisky has inspired distillers all over the world with countries such as Taiwan, Japan, Australia and America all making single malts that, while distinctive, owe much to the original.

In the 19th century, characterful malt whiskies would have often been drunk mixed with hot water, honey and spices in the form of toddies. Nowadays, most are drunk neat or with a little water but we're starting to see a return to mixing with certain malt whisky cocktails like the Smokey Cokey, a blend of Lagavulin and Coca-Cola, gaining a cult following.

Intensity 10 Year Old

70cl, 50%
Intensity

Intensely elegant and immensely flavourful, Intensity celebrates the purity of the partnership between Speyside single malt and sherry cask maturation. This ten-year-old single malt is a real gem,…  More info

Intensity 10 Year Old
$45.79
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Seaweed & Aeons & Digging & Fire 10 Year Old

70cl, 40%
Seaweed & Aeons & Digging & Fire

This right here is a 10-year-old single malt from an undisclosed distillery on Islay, with 25% of it having been finished in first-fill oloroso sherry casks, and bestowed the decidedly descriptive…  More info

Seaweed & Aeons & Digging & Fire 10 Year Old
113
$34.58
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Wormtub 10 Year Old – Batch 2

70cl, 56.8%
Wormtub

First of all, no this bottle has nothing to do with wriggly little pink bugs. Wormtubs are classic bits of distilling equipment and the distinctive, heavy, robust flavours they create are prized…  More info

Wormtub 10 Year Old – Batch 2
17
$50.89
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Lagavulin 16 Year Old

70cl, 43%
Lagavulin

Lagavulin 16 Year Old was first released in the early 1990s, and was originally intended to be a limited edition bottling. However, due to its popularity, Lagavulin 16 Year Old has become a permanent…  More info

Lagavulin 16 Year Old
793
$83.07
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The Macallan 18 Year Old Sherry Oak (2022 Release)

70cl, 43%
The Macallan

Joining The Macallan's superb Sherry Oak range is the 2022 release of its immense 18 year old single malt! Following annual tradition, this expression has been matured in a series of hand-picked…  More info

The Macallan 18 Year Old Sherry Oak (2022 Release)
$382
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The Macallan 12 Year Old Sherry Oak

70cl, 40%
The Macallan

Released as part of Macallan’s ever-wonderful Sherry Oak range comes this 12 Year Old. It has spent its entire maturation in sherry-seasoned oak casks from Jerez, and is bottled at 40% ABV after its…  More info

The Macallan 12 Year Old Sherry Oak
125
$76.35
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Edradour 10 Year Old

70cl, 40%
Edradour

Edradour is one of Scotland's smallest distilleries and at the heart of the range, this 10 year old Eastern Highlander is a rather unique single malt, a decidedly rum-like dram with a thick…  More info

Edradour 10 Year Old
94
$45.27
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Seaweed & Aeons & Digging & Fire & Sherry Casks & Cask Strength 10 Year Old (Batch 03)

70cl, 56.4%
Seaweed & Aeons & Digging & Fire

A superb single malt from the Seaweed & Aeons & Digging & Fire range, but this time, there are a few more ampersands in the mix. Y'see, this edition features the same smoky 10 year old Islay whisky…  More info

Seaweed & Aeons & Digging & Fire & Sherry Casks & Cask Strength 10 Year Old (Batch 03)
4
$81.45

Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old

70cl, 46.3%
Bunnahabhain

This entry level Bunnahabhain bottling comes in a redesigned bottle. This 12 year old single malt Scotch whisky is a light, fresh dram, bottled at the higher strength of 46.3% - for more complexity…  More info

Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old
225
$45.79
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The GlenDronach 21 Year Old - Parliament

70cl, 48%
GlenDronach

A 21 year old Glendronach released in 2011, and aged in a mix of sherry casks (Oloroso and sweet Pedro Ximenez dessert sherry). The result is really very good indeed. Interestingly enough, this…  More info

The GlenDronach 21 Year Old - Parliament
84
$178.26
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Glenmorangie Signet

70cl, 46%
Glenmorangie

This superb Glenmorangie was created with a marriage of whiskies produced from two unique types of malted barley: a single estate Cadboll variety and malted chocolate barley, which is better known as…  More info

Glenmorangie Signet
122
$188.46
Price Drop

The Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask

70cl, 40%
The Macallan

An exciting new age statement single malt Scotch whisky from Macallan that's matured in a combination of American and European Sherry oak for a minimum of 12 years. Here, the proportion of American…  More info

The Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask
51
$70.24
$69.53
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Balvenie 21 Year Old PortWood Finish

70cl, 40%
Balvenie

Here we have the flagship single malt from Balvenie's series of Port Wood whiskies. This 21 year old expression, a marriage of rare Balvenie, was impressively finished in 30 year old port pipes.…  More info

Balvenie 21 Year Old PortWood Finish
99
$201.70
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Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old Cask Strength - 2022 Edition

70cl, 56.6%
Bunnahabhain

Back for a second year, Bunnahabhain's annual 12 Year Old Cask Strength is here, bottled at a robust 56.6% ABV. The expression takes inspiration from the tasting experience offered to visitors of the…  More info

Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old Cask Strength - 2022 Edition
6
$75.37

Seaweed & Aeons & Digging & Fire 18 Year Old

70cl, 40%
Seaweed & Aeons & Digging & Fire

The follow-up (in age terms) to the hugely popular Seaweed & Aeons & Digging & Fire collection has been treated to a longer maturation – 18 years in total! With a good portion of sherry casks in the…  More info

Seaweed & Aeons & Digging & Fire 18 Year Old
3
$66.17

Craigellachie 11 Year Old 2011 Single Cask (Master of Malt)

70cl, 65.4%
Craigellachie

Imagine cracking open a cask of Craigellachie single malt after 11 long years. You've had a little taste, and things are looking good, but how many bottles will that cask yield? It's always the last…  More info

Craigellachie 11 Year Old 2011 Single Cask (Master of Malt)
5
$50.89

Kilchoman Sanaig

70cl, 46%
Kilchoman

A handsome release from Islay's newest distillery, Kilchoman Sanaig is an enjoyably peaty single malt which has been vatted from both bourbon and Sherry casks. It's named after a small, rocky creek…  More info

Kilchoman Sanaig
40
$52.92
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Wormtub 12 Year Old Single Cask

70cl, 58.3%
Wormtub

Something special for fans of Wormtub here. A single cask expression of the full flavoured whisky, matured for 12 years and finished in a first-fill oloroso sherry hogshead. Old-school condensers…  More info

Wormtub 12 Year Old Single Cask
1
$76.35

GlenAllachie 10 Year Old Cask Strength - Batch 9

70cl, 58.1%
GlenAllachie

Back with a ninth batch, it's the magnificent 10 Year Old Cask Strength from GlenAllachie, highlighting the passion for perfection, and expertise in wood management of legendary head distiller, Billy…  More info

GlenAllachie 10 Year Old Cask Strength - Batch 9
$70.28
Price Drop

Balvenie 14 Year Old Caribbean Cask

70cl, 43%
Balvenie

A terrific single malt from The Balvenie. This Speysider was initially aged in traditional oak casks before it was finished in casks which previously held Caribbean rum, imparting some extra…  More info

Balvenie 14 Year Old Caribbean Cask
259
$71.25
$67.17
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Glenfarclas 15 Year Old Gift Set

80cl, 46.7%
Glenfarclas

The Glenfarclas Distillery in Speyside has put together a cracking gift set right here! It contains a 70cl bottle of a brilliant Glenfarclas 15 Year Old, alongside a 50ml miniature of the Glenfarclas…  More info

Glenfarclas 15 Year Old Gift Set
2
$69.22

Lagavulin Distillers Edition - 2022 Collection

70cl, 43%
Lagavulin

The 2022 Lagavulin Distillers Edition, which has been double matured in Pedro Ximénez seasoned American oak casks, complimenting the coastal smoke at the core of this classic Islay single malt and…  More info

Lagavulin Distillers Edition - 2022 Collection
2
$91.67

Tobermory 12 Year Old

70cl, 46.3%
Tobermory

Released in early 2019, this 12 year old single malt from Tobermory was launched in celebration of the distillery returning to life after a two year break! This expression slumbered peacefully in…  More info

Tobermory 12 Year Old
46
$47.83
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Filthy Smoke 10 Year Old

50cl, 42.8%
Filthy Smoke

Different people like a lot of different qualities in their whisky. Perhaps you know someone who likes honeyed Speysiders, or grassy Lowland single malts. However, what you've done here is click on a…  More info

Filthy Smoke 10 Year Old
20
$35.61

Ardbeg Uigeadail

70cl, 54.2%
Ardbeg

This stunning expression from Islay's Ardbeg distillery on the Kildalton Coast is named after a nearby loch (pronounced "Oog-a-dal"). It's the perfect example of how sweet and savoury notes can work…  More info

Ardbeg Uigeadail
282
$59.08

Roasting Chestnuts & Peat Fire Embers & Mince Pies & Hygge 10 Year Old

70cl, 48%
Roasting Chestnuts & Peat Fire Embers & Mince Pies & Hygge

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, and the look of ampersands on a label. It makes us feel all warm and fuzzy, because it means the &Whisky folk have been up to their usual, delicious tricks. Here,…  More info

Roasting Chestnuts & Peat Fire Embers & Mince Pies & Hygge 10 Year Old
7
$50.89

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