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Top 10 Whiskies
SEPTEMBER 2026
A lot of people ask us what the 'best whisky' is, and we usually explain that there is no universal 'best whisky' because it's such an individual thing – there's only the best whisky for you. It's like asking someone what the 'best film' is. You're going to get a lot of strongly held yet wildly different answers.
But nobody is ever satisfied by that, so each month we hold a battle royale an earnest and civilised* debate among the expert Master of Malt team to narrow it down to their 10 favourite whiskies that month – here are our picks for September.
Tormore 12 Year Old
Scotch single malt whisky, Speyside region
A luscious Speyside single malt from Tormore, laden with orchard fruit, oaken vanilla, and nutty malt. This whisky spent a dozen years maturing in a combo of first-fill bourbon, cream sherry, and toasted, charred new American white oak casks.
"Christopher Walken wants More Cowbell. I want More Tormore. The distillery is giving its peachy spirit a real chance, finally. The 12yo is the highlight so far. It’s like pear custard. Defo a thing."
Adam O'Connell
Whisky nerd and certified mate of Ainsley Harriott
Tasting notes
Orange, pear and a dry smokiness. Fruit salad.
Patisserie sweet, baked goods and baked goodness!
Long and fruity with Manuka honey with subtle smokiness.
Benromach 12 Year Old
Scotch single malt whisky, Speyside region
Benromach 12 Year Old claims the spot as the flagship whisky from the Speyside-based distillery. This single malt is exclusively matured in first-fill sherry casks, bringing rich, fruity depth to join a touch of signature smoke at its heart. Expect generous layers of fruit cake, zesty raspberry and orange, and balanced peat here.
If you're a huge fan of Benromach 10, like me, then you'll love this. Added flavours of raspberry jam and zesty orange on the palate, and that subtle peat on the finish. Great value.
Chris Wood
Spirits buyer, spirits seller & spirits drinker (& also MoM OG)
Tasting notes
Spiced cinnamon buns and stewed raisins with ginger, butterscotch and hints of citrus and cocoa.
Rich fruitcake with vibrant raspberry and orange, followed by cracked pepper and gentle smoke.
Spicy with lingering blackcurrant, subtle menthol and a touch of smoke.
Willowbank 18 Year Old (Master of Malt)
New Zealand Blended Whisky
A rather rare batch of New Zealand blended whisky indendently bottled by us here at Master of Malt. This 18-year-old blend hails from the Willowbank distillery, based on New Zealand's South Island until it sadly ceased operation in 1997. Matured in a red wine barrel, it's heaving with layers of jammy berries and balanced tannic oak. A release of 349 bottles.
"Dunedin? Lammerlaw? Milford? Wilsons? Prestons? Willowbank isn't short of an alias or two. I always remember taking a New Zealand Whisky Company (there's another) bottling to Dramboree (RIP), which captured the imagination of the group. This one's more like a rich cocktail, and an increasingly rare remaining example from a lost generation of NZ whisky."
Jake Mountain
Resident doer of things, spirits buff & MoM OG
Tasting notes
Jammy stewed blackcurrants, freeze-dried raspberries, a hint of cigar box, and leather furniture, with a delicate dusting of baking spice.
Robust notes of stewed red fruit, berry compote, dark cherry chocolate, and burnt sugar. Dried goji berries and a hint of woody rosemary, tannic oak spice, pepper, and old oak.
Red fruits and drying oak linger in an almost Port-like fashion, joined by woody notes of clove and tobacco, berry shrub, cracked black pepper, and a touch of balsamic.
Maclean’s Nose
Scotch blended whisky
This impressive blended Scotch whisky is brought to us by Adelphi, celebrating Charles Maclean, whisky expert, mentor, and Adelphi's official Chief Nose. Created under his guidance and giving a nod to the landmark on the Ardnamurchan Peninsula, nearby to the Ardnamurchan distillery, this blend consists of 70% malt, with a high proportion drawn from sherry casks. Designed to showcase a classic west coast character, it's brimming with salted citrus, praline, and oily smoke.
"Whisky's favourite Maclean is publishing a book about blended scotch whisky this month and I thought I'd revisit the blend inspired by his nose. I'm certain that I've got that partially if not entirely wrong, but this indie blend gets so much right; bright, salty, fruity, citrusy and gently smoky, Scotland's diverse whisky universe in a glass."
Sam Simmons
Whiskevangelist, award-winning blender & real-life Canadian
Tasting notes
Flamed orange peel, salted lemons, and charred driftwood, with stone fruits, sawdust, and a touch of smoky tar.
Creamy notes of macadamia nuts, Caramac, and rice pudding with a burnt top. Zesty citrus follows, with floral malt and earthy smoke.
Oily tar and smoky ash join toasted hazelnuts and creamy praline.
Glen Elgin 11yo Wormtub Single Cask
Scotch single malt whisky, Speyside region
The wonders of the worm tub condenser are showcased majestically in this Glen Elgin single malt. Brought to us by the gang at Wormtub Whisky as part of a limited edition Single Cask collection, shining a light on the handful of Scotch distilleries that still use the marvellous, and rather old-school bit of kit, this single malt spent 11 years maturing in a Pedro Ximénez sherry hogshead, yielding an outturn of 386 cask-strength bottles.
Worm tubs are prized for the distinctive, heavy, robust flavour profiles they can achieve, and this single malt showcases a generous medley of Parma ham, blueberry muffins, melted chocolate, and tingling spice.
"Whenever I'm asked what my favourite whisky is, my standard response is 'Usually the next one'. However, ask me what my favourite distilleries are, and Glen Elgin is one of them. If I see a bottle of Glen Elgin on a back bar, that's the first dram sorted. Like dogs, they can do no wrong."
Dave Worthington
Olive-fueled, affable & beardy award-winning whisky ambassador
Tasting notes
Big and fruity, orchard fruits open the way alongside notes of honeyed melon. Robust oak, orange peels, rich malt and hints of Parma ham lead to sweeter notes of syrupy porridge, Madeleine cakes, blueberry muffins, and chocolate-coated Malted Milk biscuits.
Bold, rich, sweet, and spicy. Custardy layers of vanilla tangle with warming clove and ginger, chewy malt and baked apple join runny caramel and earthy candied walnuts. Funky distillate brings more tropical fruit beneath.
Fruitcake and sticky toffee pudding arrive for the finish. Heavy and dense, with creamy malt, tingling spices, hearty oak, melted chocolate, and moreish, juicy fruits.
Strathearn Single Malt Batch 03
Scotch single malt whisky, Highland region
The third batch of single malt from Strathearn, one of Scotland’s smallest distilleries. Owned by independent bottler Douglas Laing, Strathearn produces its Highland whisky in tiny quantities. Batch 03 brings together 31 bourbon, virgin oak, and sherry casks, with a greater emphasis on sherry influence than its predecessor. It's bottled at 50% ABV without added colouring or chill filtration.
"What's next for Strathearn? Batch 3 of their tiny production of course! And it doesn't disappoint. The standout feature here for me was that lingering chocolate, honey and spice finish."
Michael Monte
Spirits buyer, but in French (& sometimes Mandarin)
Tasting notes
Toasted malt, barley sugar, and dark honey, joined by cinnamon, nutmeg, and dried fruit.
Buttery biscuits and rich malt, with layers of chocolate, chewy toffee, raisins, and warming oak spice.
Long and gently drying, with cocoa, seasoned oak, soft leather, and lingering dark honey.
Mortlach 12 Year Old
Scotch single malt whisky, Speyside region
This is a 12 year old single malt produced at the Mortlach distillery in Speyside, unveiled in 2018 as part of a trio (including a 16 Year Old and a 20 Year Old). This particular expression features the subtitle The Wee Witchie, which comes from the name of the tiny still that distils a portion of the whisky. It's drawn from bourbon and sherry casks, and packs a hearty punch of meaty Mortlach-y malt at its core, supported by dried fruit and toffee notes.
"A distillery that I'd be confident picking out blindfolded. Mortlach is just uniquely delicious in that estery, funky, meaty sort of way that seems to suit my palate to perfection. It helped take my appreciation of whisky to new heights."
Emma Symons
Whisky word-engine, rum nut, imperial stout maven & MoM OG
Tasting notes
Damson, toasted almond, cinder toffee and heavy barley.
Warming oak and soft raisins, with a bit of olive oil salinity mixed in.
A bit jammy, a bit nutty, some lingering citrus oils cutting through.
Brother's Bond Regenerative Grain
North Carolina straight bourbon
Made exclusively using grains cultivated through regenerative farming, and said to be a world first! It's a blend of three-year-old bourbon and six-year-old wheated bourbon (the overall mash bill is 73% corn, 10% rye, 8% wheat, and 9% malted barley), aged in oak barrels treated with custom toast and char methods. A sophisticated, sustainable sipper, packed with notes of popcorn, vanilla, and toasted oak from actors turned true whiskey-zealots Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley off of The Vampire Diaries.
Maia told us at the end of August that this is one she's found herself regularly reaching for lately, and we totally understand why! The award-winning Brother's Bond range is chock-full of great whiskeys, in fact.
Maia Berney
Our erstwhile Maverick Cocktail Queen in the North
Tasting notes
Honeyed corn bread, toasted cereal, floral vanilla, browned butter, and brown sugar.
Toffee popcorn and sweet baked goods join toasty notes of floral oak, butterscotch, and vanilla, backed by savoury hints of roasted peanuts.
Mellow sweetness lingers, with oaken vanilla, a touch of ginger, and buttery fudge.
Local Heros Big Smoke
Scotch Blended malt whisky
Brought to us by The Distillery at Coleburn team, Big Smoke is one of three blended whiskies to kick off the Local Heros collection. Described as the boldest of the trio, this blend opens with notes of cherry and vanilla, layered with lemon zest and coastal peat.
"Something cool is happening at Coleburn. But Local Heroes is more than a 'while we wait' range, though. There’s spirit from Glenlossie, Mannochmore, and Linkwood. It’s all natural colour, no chill-filtration, 46% ABV, £50-55. Big Smoke does what it says on the tin. Nice tin too, now you mention it."
Adam O'Connell
Whisky nerd and certified mate of Ainsley Harriott
Tasting notes by Producer
Cherry, vanilla and lemon, with coastal notes, plum pudding and toffee, all underpinned by elegant smokiness.
Medicinal and estery, with banana, sea salt and a hint of tobacco carried on balanced smoke.
Long and smoky.
Bruichladdich 16yo 2008 Micro Provenance
Scotch single malt whisky, Islay region
A Master of Malt exclusive single cask Islay single malt from Bruichladdich’s Micro Provenance series. The collection examines how individual elements of whisky production, including barley variety, cask type, maturation length and warehouse location, shape the final spirit.
Each Micro Provenance release is selected by head distiller Adam Hannett and matured and bottled entirely on Islay. As every bottling comes from an individual cask, its precise combination of spirit and maturation cannot be repeated. It was bottled at natural colour and without chill filtration at a robust 59.2% ABV.
A well loved distillery (you voted it winner of our Whisky Championships for a fourth time in six years recently!), we were lucky enough to get our hands on this exclusive Micro Provenance cask. Bourbon matured, with spiced apple and pear notes. Real tasty stuff.
Chris Wood
Spirits buyer, spirits seller & spirits drinker (& also MoM OG)
Tasting notes
Lemon peel, green apple, malted barley, vanilla custard, and sea spray, with touches of white pepper and toasted oak.
Honeyed cereal, ripe pear, citrus oil, and vanilla fudge. Warming spice builds alongside salted caramel, oak char, and a gentle mineral note.
Lingering barley sweetness, peppery oak, and a final coastal salinity.
*No humans were harmed this month during the 'debate'**
**Okay, relatively few were harmed***
***Fine, many were seriously injured, but the local A&E department was perfectly able to cope and they appreciated us sharing our samples with them.
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