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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.

Aberfeldy 10 Year Old - Premier Barrel (Douglas Laing)

70cl, 46%
Aberfeldy

Joining the Premier Barrel collection from Douglas Laing, an impressive single malt from Aberfeldy which the independent bottler describes as a "Hyperbolically hearty Highland malt"! Matured for a…  More info

Aberfeldy 10 Year Old - Premier Barrel (Douglas Laing)
$76.40

Aberfeldy 12 Year Old

70cl, 40%
Aberfeldy

A classic Highland dram, Aberfeldy 12 Year Old single malt whisky is a creamy, sweet and gently smoky example of what the region produces. Bolstered by plenty of Aberfeldy's signature honeyed fruit…  More info

Aberfeldy 12 Year Old
199
$38.70

Aberfeldy 12 Year Old with Gold Bar Tin

70cl, 40%
Aberfeldy

Feast your eyes on this splendid set from Aberfeldy, including a bottle of its marvellous 12 Year Old single malt, accompanied by an extremely handsome tin, shaped like a gold bar! It'll make an ace…  More info

Aberfeldy 12 Year Old with Gold Bar Tin
$40.68

Aberfeldy 15 Year Old - Red Wine Cask Collection

70cl, 43%
Aberfeldy

A 15 year old single malt from Highland distillery Aberfeldy, part of its Red Wine Cask Collection. This limited edition bottling has been finished in cabernet sauvignon wine casks from the Napa…  More info

Aberfeldy 15 Year Old - Red Wine Cask Collection
1
$66.22
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Aberfeldy 16 Year Old

70cl, 40%
Aberfeldy

16-year-old single malt from the fantastic Aberfeldy distillery, which has been operating in the foothills of Scotland's central Highlands since 1898. This expression is finished in oloroso Sherry…  More info

Aberfeldy 16 Year Old
21
$61.07
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Aberfeldy 18 Year Old - Red Wine Cask Collection

70cl, 43%
Aberfeldy

Finished in red wine casks from Bolgheri in Tuscany, this single malt Scotch whisky from Aberfeldy was matured for 18 years. The red wine cask finish has lent plenty of rich, red fruit, and spicy oak…  More info

Aberfeldy 18 Year Old - Red Wine Cask Collection
$96.72

Aberfeldy 19 Year Old (cask 3076-78) - Exceptional Cask Series

70cl, 43%
Aberfeldy

Part of the Exceptional Cask Series, this Highland single malt Scotch whisky from Aberfeldy has been aged for 19 years. With an oloroso sherry finish, this small batch expression of 2,256 bottles was…  More info

Aberfeldy 19 Year Old (cask 3076-78) - Exceptional Cask Series
$152.75

Aberfeldy 21 Year Old

70cl, 40%
Aberfeldy

The Aberfeldy distillery is nestled in the foothills of the central Highlands, and has been in operation since it was founded in 1898. Matured for a generous 21 years, this single malt boasts classic…  More info

Aberfeldy 21 Year Old
39
$150.76

Aberfeldy 21 Year Old 1996 (cask 4713) - Rare Select (Montgomerie's)

70cl, 46%
Aberfeldy

A Montgomerie's Rare Select bottling of 21 year old single malt from the Aberfeldy distillery, drawn from a single bourbon cask which was laid down in July 1996 and cracked open in September 2017.  More info

Aberfeldy 21 Year Old 1996 (cask 4713) - Rare Select (Montgomerie's)
$178.21

Aberfeldy 27 Year Old (That Boutique-y Whisky Company)

50cl, 44.3%
Aberfeldy

A brilliantly golden single malt from Aberfeldy, independently bottled by That Boutique-y Whisky Company. Rather appropriately, the label features spirits expert and writer Ian Buxton striking gold…  More info

Aberfeldy 27 Year Old (That Boutique-y Whisky Company)
$237.30

Aberfeldy 7 Year Old 2015 (cask 499) - The Cooper's Choice (The Vintage Malt Whisky Co.)

70cl, 55.5%
Aberfeldy

Distilled in September 2015, this single cask, single malt from Aberfeldy matured for over seven years. Spending time in American oak before moving to a Beaumes de Venise sweet wine cask, it was…  More info

Aberfeldy 7 Year Old 2015 (cask 499) - The Cooper's Choice (The Vintage Malt Whisky Co.)
$79.41

Aberfeldy The Golden Dram Tasting Collection (3 x 20cl)

60cl, 40%
Aberfeldy

A tasty trio of tipples from the Aberfeldy Distillery! This tasting collection features a 20cl bottle of three different Aberfeldy single malts, including Aberfeldy 12 Year Old, Aberfeldy 16 Year…  More info

Aberfeldy The Golden Dram Tasting Collection (3 x 20cl)
1
$67.17

Aberlour 14 Year Old Double Cask Matured

70cl, 40%
Aberlour

A 14 year old single malt from the awesome Aberlour Distillery up in Scotland's prolific Speyside region. This expression has enjoyed its maturation in a combination of Oloroso sherry casks and…  More info

Aberlour 14 Year Old Double Cask Matured
2
$60.06

Aberlour 16 Year Old Double Cask Matured

70cl, 40%
Aberlour

Matured in two types of casks, the traditional oak and sherry oak casks and bottled at a slightly lower abv of 40% than previous editions, this 16 year old Aberlour is bursting with lush plum, raisin…  More info

Aberlour 16 Year Old Double Cask Matured
34
$106.96

Aberlour 18 Year Old

50cl, 43%
Aberlour

18 year old single malt from Aberlour up in Speyside. A well-matured, heavily sherried expression, the perfect thing for a late evening dram.  More info

Aberlour 18 Year Old
14
$137.51

Aberlour 21 Year Old 1996 (cask 900053) - Rare Select (Montgomerie's)

70cl, 46%
Aberlour

A 21 year old single malt from the Aberlour Distillery, independently bottled by Montgomerie's as part of the Rare Select series. This one was distilled back in February 1996 and filled into a single…  More info

Aberlour 21 Year Old 1996 (cask 900053) - Rare Select (Montgomerie's)
$161.82

Aberlour 6 Year Old 2012 (Master of Malt)

70cl, 46.9%
Aberlour

Our own Master of Malt bottle of Aberlour single malt, distilled in November 2012 and matured for six years in a refill hogshead. Brimming with vibrant, zesty fruit and oily, nutty malt, there are…  More info

Aberlour 6 Year Old 2012 (Master of Malt)
$45.79

Aberlour 6 Year Old (That Boutique-y Whisky Company)

50cl, 49.9%
Aberlour

A youthful single malt from Aberlour, which has been independently bottled by That Boutique-y Whisky Company. The eight Boutique-y batch from this Speyside-based distillery was aged for 6 years and…  More info

Aberlour 6 Year Old (That Boutique-y Whisky Company)
1
$61.07
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Aberlour 9 Year Old (That Boutique-y Whisky Company)

50cl, 49.7%
Aberlour

This right here is the sixth batch of single malt from the Aberlour distillery to be independently bottled by That Boutique-y Whisky Company! We're no none the wiser as to why the chap in the top…  More info

Aberlour 9 Year Old (That Boutique-y Whisky Company)
$76.35
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Aberlour A'Bunadh Alba

70cl, 62.7%
Aberlour

Aberlour's immensely popular A'Bunadh has grown with the introduction of A'Bunadh Alba! The name is a reference to Quercus Alba, which is the name of the American white oak which is used to age this…  More info

Aberlour A'Bunadh Alba
1
$92.44

Aerolite Lyndsay 10 Year Old - The Character of Islay Whisky Company

70cl, 46%
The Character of Islay Whisky Company

From The Character of Islay Whisky Company comes a mysterious Islay single malt that goes by the name Aerolite Lyndsay. The peaty whisky has been sourced from an undisclosed distillery on the island,…  More info

Aerolite Lyndsay 10 Year Old - The Character of Islay Whisky Company
50
$71.25
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Aerstone 10 Year Old Land Cask

70cl, 40%
William Grant

Here we have the counterpart to William Grant's Aerstone Sea Cask, it's Land Cask! As you can probably deduce, if Sea Cask was matured in warehouses on the coast, this variant is aged in warehouses…  More info

Aerstone 10 Year Old Land Cask
34
$29.44

Aerstone 10 Year Old Sea Cask

70cl, 40%
William Grant

From William Grant comes Aerstone Sea Cask, a 10 year old single malt hailing from the Ailsa Bay Distillery. Its decade of maturation wasn't spent quite in the sea, though those maritime notes were…  More info

Aerstone 10 Year Old Sea Cask
49
$29.44

Ailsa Bay Release 1.2 Sweet Smoke

70cl, 48.9%
Ailsa Bay

Ailsa Bay's whisky has had a bit of a redesign from its first release - in both the bottle and the whisky itself! For release 1.2, the smoky single malt made on the same site as Girvan is now smokier…  More info

Ailsa Bay Release 1.2 Sweet Smoke
8
$55.92
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Ailsa Bay Release 1.2 Sweet Smoke Gift Pack with Glass

70cl, 48.9%
Ailsa Bay

This charming gift pack from Ailsa Bay includes a bottle of its stunning Ailsa Bay Release 1.2 Sweet Smoke, accompanied by a rather handsome glass with some lovely geometric angles in its design –…  More info

Ailsa Bay Release 1.2 Sweet Smoke Gift Pack with Glass
$55.92

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