Top 10 Whiskies
May 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 May.
Adnams 9yo 2016 - World Cup Edition
English rye whisky
A striking single cask bottling from Adnams – one of our favourite English distilleries, making one of our favourite rye whiskies on the planet! Distilled in 2016 and matured in a French oak wine cask, we bottled this characterfully complex yet gluggable nine-year-old rye for our World Cup series.
"While I'm not exactly a football fan, I do love a rye, and Adnams were an early adopter of making English rye whisky. I remember visiting Southwold around 12 years ago and tasting casks in the warehouse. Rye and French Oak? Magnificent! I love the branding for these World Cup bottles too. It's Coming Home!"
Dave Worthington
Olive-fueled, affable & beardy award-winning whisky ambassador
Tasting notes
Creamy and spicy, woody and sweet, very appetising.
Tasty, textured, orange-cream, ginger, Victoria sponge, honey. Full of character and complexity but gluggable.
Complex but short, herby and spiced finish that demands another sip.
Shindo Experimental 01
Japanese single malt whisky
This first experimental release from Japan's Shindo distillery is unpeated. A vatting dominated by bourbon cask whisky, with a small but meaningful contributions from new mizunara, oloroso sherry, and refill Scotch casks, it shows exactly what the distillery is aiming for. Creamy, lactone-rich character, layered aromatics and a sense of precision well beyond its years. Under the guidance of Kenji Hosoi, Shindo favours flavour clarity, not shortcuts.
"Creamy, coconutty, a bit waxy... Delicious, and all built on detail rather than weight. A whisky that tastes like someone obsessed over flavour instead of just ticking cask boxes."
Adam O'Connell
Whisky nerd and certified mate of Ainsley Harriott
Tasting notes
Bright tropical fruit up front, then buttercream, soft vanilla and a distinctly milky sweetness.
Ripe fruit, gentle oak, sweet cereal notes and a restrained, elegant spice.
Milk fudge and soft oak, with a clean, composed fade rather than a grand finale.
Bruichladdich 27yo - The Kinship (Hunter Laing)
Scotch single malt, Islay region
A brilliant Bruichladdich, independently bottled by Hunter Laing for The Kinship collection. Aged in refill American oak hogsheads, 555 limited edition bottles were released at 50.2% ABV. It's part of a collection of six Islay whiskies selected by the legendary Jim McEwan and paying tribute to the opening of Ardnahoe distillery, their "new home on Islay, the Queen of the Hebrides".
"After the sad passing of Stewart Laing in April, I cast my mind back visiting his family's Ardnahoe distillery back in 2019. Jim McEwan took us through the stunning Kinship range – including this very one – which my notes remind me is 'muscular' and 'so floral', with gorgeous 'honey and lemon'. Overall: an 'absolutely cracking' whisky."
Jake Mountain
Resident doer of things, spirits buff & MoM OG
Tasting notes by producer
A moderate maritime saline drift clearly reveals its identity in this irresistible spirit. Soft fruits and Heather honey encapsulate in a cradle of mellow bourbon oak, and throughout the crisp toasted malted barley never fades bringing structure and balance to the oak. A gentle, sophisticated spirit.
Evan Williams bottled-in-Bond
Kentucky Straight Bourbon whiskey
A classic in every sense of the word, this Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey from Evan Williams is a favourite of back bars around the world. In accordance with Bottled-in-Bond regs, this is at least four years old, from a single season, and bottled at a higher ABV than the regular Evan Williams. Punching way above its price class, this is a favourite of ours, displaying immaculate balance with sweetness, black pepper and cinnamon spice.
"Is there a better bottled-in-bond bourbon whiskey that Evan Williams White Label? Having just tasted dozens blind at recent competition judging let me ensure that question is NOT rhetorical. This is it. And at 50% and under £40 in the UK it's obscene value."
Sam Simmons
Whiskevangelist, award-winning blender & guitar shredder
Tasting notes
Candied sweetness, with caramelised nuts, vanilla, cinnamon, and subtle oak.
Toasted cereal, cornbread, and peanut brittle join baking spices and vanilla. Rich rum and raisin develop in time, with chocolate and cracked black pepper.
Long and drying, with marzipan, fudge, peppery warmth, and sweet buttered corn.
Allt-a-Bhaine 20yo 2005 Infrequent Flyers
Scotch single malt whisky, Speyside region
Distilled at Allt-a-Bhaine in 2005, this single malt's 20 year maturation included a finishing period in a single Recioto della Valpolicella sweet Italian red wine cask (#805184) overseen by Alistair Walker, who released it as part of his Infrequent Flyers collection, just 324 tasty bottles were produced.
"As a lover of all things Italian (food, football and most importantly red wine) the sweet and spicy flavours of the Recioto Della Valpolicella really come through in this single cask from the rarely seen Allt-A-Bhainne distillery. Mama Mia!!!"
Chris Wood
Spirits buyer, spirits seller & spirits drinker (& also MoM OG)
Tasting notes by producer
Prominent tangy fruits - orange zest, cranberries and big red wine notes, with a serving of Weetabix.
Much happening. Cocoa combines with blood orange, apricots and pomegranate. Sweet barley sugars and Jaffa cakes. Emboldened by wonderful spices – cinnamon and star anise.
Nikka Coffey Malt Whisky
Japanese malt whisky (coffey still)
While most distilleries use their Coffey stills only to make grain whisky, Nikka also use the two Coffey stills at their Miyagikyo distillery for batches of 100% malted barley spirit too! The Nikka Coffey Malt Whisky was introduced to their selection of expressions in 2014. Plenty rich and flavoursome, it's a wonderful addition to Nikka's fantastic range.
"When the sun comes out, it can only mean one thing: highball season is back. I picked this up after reading our customer reviews, and Keith summed it up best: “Mmmmmmmmmmmm!” He wasn’t wrong."
Thomas Burton
CS alumnus, translator to the dev team & MoM OG
Tasting notes
Creamy with oaken vanilla and sweet, milky cocoa, hints of melon and mandarin, with a touch of liquorice in tow.
Chocolate fondant, creamy malt, syrupy sweetness. Honeyed apple, candied almonds and chocolate-coated caramel follow.
Layers of creamy vanilla and chocolate linger, with a flash of woody spice toward the finish.
Scallywag 18yo Pedro Ximénez Finish
Scotch single malt whisky, Speyside region
A very special edition of Douglas Laing's Scallywag, bottled at 18 glorious years of age! This edition of the much-adored blended Speyside malt spent its final years in a host of Pedro Ximénez sherry casks from Jerez, resulting in a decadent profile, laden with layers of dark chocolate, cherries, treacle toffee, and coffee.
"I love the lavish dark chocolate notes, with dried fruit, and rich sweetness layered with warming spices. It’s a full-bodied whisky that delivers everything you’d expect – and more – from a PX cask finish."
Michael Monte
Spirits buyer, but in French (& sometimes Mandarin)
Tasting notes by Producer
Expect opulent notes of dark chocolate truffles, spiced orange peel and toasted walnuts, unfolding into treacle toffee, black cherries, and a whisper of cinnamon. A lingering warmth of oak spice, espresso, and dried figs completes the experience.
Balmenach 24yo Wormtub Single Cask
Scotch single malt whisky, Speyside region
The endangered species that is the worm tub condenser is celebrated here in all its glory! This single malt from Speyside's Balmenach joins the limited-edition Single Cask series from Wormtub Whisky, celebrating the handful of Scotch distilleries that still use the rather old-school (and rather brilliant) bit of kit. The whisky spent 24 years maturing in an oloroso sherry butt, yielding an outturn of 309 cask-strength bottles. Worm tubs are prized for the distinctive, heavy, robust flavour profiles they can achieve. Coupled with generous ageing, as we see here, truly wonderful things happen.
"Wild and wonderful worm tub whisky. This stands out in any crowd, and for all the right reasons. Intense, robust, funky, fruity, estery, there's more to explore every time I sip it."
Emma Symons
Whisky word-engine, rum nut, imperial stout maven & MoM OG
Tasting notes by the Producer
Green apples, condensed milk, and creamy grist, with notes of browned butter and vanilla fudge in tow. Mellow oak and drying hay bring depth and complexity, with rice pudding, and robust, tangy candied fruit.
Superbly characterful and vibrant, with juicy, creamy malt, tangerine, and caramelised tropical fruits, toffee popcorn, and elegant old oak. Estery fruit leads to delicate pepper and nutmeg warmth.
Sweet toffee and barley sugar tangle with notes of peppercorn salami, with plum jam and perhaps even a touch of mature cheese, while caramel, milk chocolate, and charred oak stand firm.
Paul John Classic Select Cask
Indian single malt whisky
The Paul John Classic Select Cask is an unpeated single malt whisky produced by John Distilleries in Goa. It has been matured in ex-bourbon barrels and bottled without chill-filtration at cask strength.
"This has sat neglected in my cabinet, overshadowed by my obsession with the legendary Cask #1906. Revisiting it recently was a revelation. Superb quality, complexity, and depth. It deserves to be back in my regular rotation."
Dave Worthington
Olive-fueled, affable & beardy award-winning whisky ambassador
Tasting notes
A big, meaty nose. Stewed apples and pears, freshly-baked sponge cake, golden barley and a pinch of salt.
Lots of honey on the palate, joined by deft spicy notes of cinnamon and cracked black pepper. Glimmers of fruit and dark chocolate.
Juicy fruits and a hint of oak.
Cooper King Port-Bound Spring 2026
English single malt whisky
Yorkshire's Cooper King distillery bottled this single malt for its Expedition Series in 2026, though originally it was intended to be a Christmas release. Turns out, the little fresh tawny Port casks used to finish the whisky refused to be rushed! Four more months of maturation allowed breathing space, unlocking indulgent layers of dark sugar, dried fruit, and coffee. A release of 924 bottles.
"Was meant to be a Christmas drop. Missed the deadline. Stayed in cask. Got better. Dark fruit, coffee, sticky sweetness, but still vibrant. Patience beats planning here."
Adam O'Connell
Whisky nerd and certified mate of Ainsley Harriott
Tasting notes
Sticky layers of prunes, maple syrup, and rum and raisin ice cream.
Dark brown sugar, candied orange, rootsy liquorice, creamy coffee, and vanilla.
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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