Top 10 Whiskies
June 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 June.
Bunnahabhain 15yo An Cuan Garbh No. 1
Scotch single malt whisky, Islay region
Bunnahabhain 15 Year Old An Cuan Garbh – Westering Home is a 15-year-old unpeated Islay single malt finished in White Port casks from Portugal’s Douro Valley. Bottled at 51.6% ABV, non-chill filtered and natural colour, this limited release of 7,571 bottles combines coastal maturation with sweet wine cask influence.
"I was not sure what the white Port casks would bring to the whisky, but I was really impressed by the soft orchard fruit character. Notes of citrus and tangerine are layered with gentle spice, alongside the subtle maritime salinity that is so characteristic of Bunnahabhain."
Michael Monte
Spirits buyer, but in French (& sometimes Mandarin)
Tasting notes by the Producer
Honeysuckle, elderflower, orchard fruit, candied citrus, honey warmth.
Peach, apricot candied lemon zest, honeyed almonds, toasted malt, ginger spice.
Lingering nutty warmth with sweet candied fruit.
Boann 4yo 2021 - The Heart Cut #23
Irish single pot still whiskey
A gloriously bold single pot still whiskey from Boann Distillery, fully matured in a Moscatel de Setúbal cask. Distilled in 2021 and bottled in 2025 at a thunderous 61.7% ABV, this single cask release from The Heart Cut piles dessert wine richness on top of a creamy, spicy pot still mash bill.
"The Moscatel de Setúbal casks from Portugal turn this single pot still Irish whiskey into a Raspberry Danish. Give a great bottler whiskey from a great distillery and you get this. It’s simple maths."
Adam O'Connell
Whisky nerd and certified mate of Ainsley Harriott
Tasting notes
Raspberry jam, redcurrant jelly, orange blossom honey, and warm apple pie, with buttery biscuit sweetness.
Booze-soaked sultanas, baked orchard fruit, rich tea biscuits, cinnamon, and creamy pot still spice.
Lingering berry sweetness, pastry notes, and gentle baking spice.
Inchmurrin 12 Year Old
Scotch single malt whisky, Highland region
From Loch Lomond distillery, and rebranded in 2015 as part of the Inchmurrin 'Islands Collection'. Which is rather apt, as Inchmurrin is the largest freshwater island in the British Isles, and it sits in Loch Lomond! This wonderfully creamy single malt was produced on Loch Lomond's unique straight-neck stills and aged in three types of American oak cask to showcase the fruity, sweet elements of the distillery's signature style.
"Can one distillery be making five of the best whiskies in Scotland right now? Not rhetorical, the answer is YES. Always charmed by this single distillery that produces more than a dozen distinct styles of whisky, in this case it's their peachy, orchard fruit-forward, ruby red grapefruit in a glass Inchmurrin; absolute stand-out distillate matured and married with near peerless expertise."
Sam Simmons
Whiskevangelist, award-winning blender & guitar shredder
Tasting notes
Creamy sweet cereals and allspice. Hints of toffee apples and pear drops. A little caramel and furniture polish.
Smooth, rich palate entry with barley malt and salt caramel. Dried herbs, candied peels and allspice.
Medium-long finish. Spicy.
Starward Single Red Wine Barrel (P&S)
Australian single malt
Originally bottled for our Pour & Sip whisky subscription club back in 2021, this Australian single malt was distilled in 2017 and matured in a single American oak ex-red wine barrel (number #10361), producing just 396 bottles.
"I won't lie, I chose my whisky this month for Jackson Irvine: by far the coolest footballer going to the World Cup, with drip for days, yet also a man of the people. What a guy. Born in Melbourne, just like Starward, the distillery's Left-Field would definitely have been an appropriate choice too, but something limited edition felt right. Plus, Pour & Sip is my club."
Jake Mountain
Resident doer of things, spirits buff & MoM OG
Tasting notes
Heaps of melted dark chocolate richness, followed by stewed red fruits and juicy red grape.
Red grape-forward again, now with fresh raspberry tartness and plum skin, gentle vanilla, and strawberry jam sweetness in tow.
A dusting of cocoa and berry coulis on a bold finish.
Ardbeg Dolce
Scotch single malt whisky, Islay region
Landing in time for Fèis Ìle with the distillery doing what it does best, taking its unmistakable Islay character and pushing it somewhere a little unexpected. This limited edition single malt is matured in a combination of classic bourbon casks and Marsala dolce casks, bringing a richer, more decadent edge to the house style bottled at 47.8% ABV. It balances peat, salinity, and citrus brightness with layers of dark chocolate, dried fruit, and nuttiness.
"The latest Ardbeg Day release combines signature Ardbeg peat with the sweetest style of Sicilian fortified wine. Intense coastal smoke meets rich, fruity sweetness for a taste of La Dolce Vita."
Chris Wood
Spirits buyer, spirits seller & spirits drinker (& also MoM OG)
Tasting notes
Bonfire smoke and sea spray meet orange marmalade, dried apricot, and a drizzle of honey. There’s a nutty, slightly savoury note in there too, think toasted almonds and a touch of olive oil, alongside dark chocolate and a flicker of herbal bitterness.
Oily peat smoke rolls in first, quickly wrapped up in sweet layers of caramel, fig, and raisin. The Marsala casks do their thing with notes of chocolate-covered orange, roasted nuts, and a hint of coffee, while Ardbeg’s citrusy zip and salty edge keep it from tipping into dessert territory. A gentle spice builds, with clove and cracked black pepper adding bite.
Sweet spice, cocoa, and lingering dried fruit fade slowly into ashy peat, brine, and a final twist of bitter orange peel.
Sagamore Spirit Double Oak Rye
American Rye Whiskey
Sagamore, but treated to a secondary four month stint in new toasted oak barrels. Hence the name, Double Oak! The toasty, caramel notes from the new oak work wonderfully alongside the sweeter, Maryland-style rye whiskey.
"Another unbelievable rye from the folks at Sagamore; this boasts an extra layer of toasty oak. Rich, unctuous, spicy, this dram has a gorgeous amalgamation of maple, brown sugar, praline, sweet baking spices, and orange oil."
Maia Berney
Maverick cocktail Queen in the North
Tasting notes
Sweet, spicy grain, with brown sugar, cinnamon butter and oily orange peel.
Apple crumble with a good helping of cinnamon, with dark chocolate praline, a crack of black pepper and creamy ground almond.
Lingering rich sweetness of pecan pie.
Ben Nevis 27yo 1998 - World Cup Edition
Scotch single malt whisky, Highland region
2026 sees Scotland back in the World Cup for the first time since 1998, and we've bottled up this special single malt from Ben Nevis to celebrate! Drawn from one of the most precious casks in our warehouse, this 1998 vintage single malt finished its 27-year maturation in a Pedro Ximénez sherry cask. Lucious and complex.
"'Tropical fruit, ice cream, and waffles'? I'm in. From one of the most precious casks in our warehouse, and it's a stunner. If you're treating yourself to a special bottle, then snap up one of these!"
Emma Symons
Whisky word-engine, rum nut, imperial stout maven & MoM OG
Tasting notes
Layered, mature with luscious oak, spice and herbal notes.
Tropical, textured, melon rind, molasses, ice cream and waffles.
Complex, graceful, and elegant.
The Story Of The Roggenwolf Rye
American rye whiskey
This big, bold rye whiskey was distilled in Kentucky from a mash bill of 95% rye, 5% malted barley, and matured for exactly six years, seven months, and 18 days before bottling at cask strength, a muscley 63.7% ABV. Just 198 bottles exist, brimming with layers of charred oak, baking spices, eucalyptus, dark fruit, and hints of mint.
"Yes, of course, I spend most of my free time seeking out delicious Rye Whiskey to tell you about! This is a classic 95/5 mashbill, but this hails from Kentucky and has been picked by a man with seriously good taste!"
Dave Worthington
Olive-fueled, affable & beardy award-winning whisky ambassador
Tasting notes
Toasted spices and oak char, dark fruits backed by menthol and eucalyptus.
Rich dark caramel and berries, zesty citrus peels, and a touch of garden mint.
Oak char, black pepper, burnt caramel.
Benriach 31 Year Old - Shades Of Smoke
Scotch single malt whisky, Speyside region
Benriach partnered with generative digital artist Stefano Contiero to create this limited edition single malt – the first in the distillery's Shades of Smoke collection. This Speysider was laid down in spring and summer 1994 – the same year that Benriach leaned into producing higher volumes of its sweeter style of smoky whisky. After a mighty 31-year maturation, this whisky has developed an elegantly indulgent profile, layered with lucious fruit, chocolate, and caramel, with a gentle whisper of sophisticated Speyside smoke.
"This release truly lives up to its name. Beneath the complex layers of mandarin and orange, intertwined with notes of caramel and chocolate, the smoke gradually builds and lingers on the palate, leading to a long, flavourful finish."
Michael Monte
Spirits buyer, but in French (& sometimes Mandarin)
Tasting notes
Bright, sharp yuzu, forest honey sweetness, a delicate curl of juniper smoke, hints of dark chocolate and floral hibiscus. Spiced orange peel and a soft, caramelised edge.
The chocolate turns silkier here, laced with tangy hibiscus and spiced orange caramel. The smoke builds gently, wild honey and charred mandarin.
Lemon and ginger, soft peach, and wisps of smoke fade.
Ledaig Castaway
Scotch single malt whisky, Islands
A limited edition peated single malt from Tobermory Distillery, matured in a combination of Caribbean rum casks and Tequila casks. What a combo! There are just 6,428 bottles of this Ledaig being released globally. Bold island peat with tropical and agave-driven influences.
"Smoky whisky in Caribbean rum casks and Mexican Tequila casks, bottled at 61.1% ABV, non-chill filtered and natural colour. Too much? Nope. It’s sweet, tropical, limey, briney, and boss."
Adam O'Connell
Whisky nerd and certified mate of Ainsley Harriott
Tasting notes by the producer
Coastal peat smoke with caramelised banana, lime zest and vanilla. Green apple, white pepper and a hint of sea spray.
Bold smoky spice leads, balanced by grilled pineapple, brine and herbal agave. Black pepper, charred citrus and rich toffee develop through the mid-palate.
Long and warming – smouldering peat embers, demerara sweetness, chilli heat and a final twist of lime.More silky, rich coffee, jammy cherries and dark chocolate, with leathery oak beneath.
*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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