The term “single malt” is most closely associated with Scotch whisky. And while Scotland certainly does produce some world-class single malts, it’s not the only place on earth where this coveted style is made. Defined as whiskey—which, in the United States is spelled with an “e,” whereas in Scotland and Japan it’s “whisky”—made from malted barley in a single distillery, single malts are crafted all across the globe, including the rapidly growing category of American single malt.
These diverse single malts vary in flavor from light and fruity to dark and smoky, with aromas that range from sandalwood, incense and candied ginger to chestnut and lemon cream. What’s the right bottle for you? Unless you’re intimately familiar with the brand you’re buying, there’s a good chance you may be in for a major palate surprise. But that’s where we come in.
The selections that made it to Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100 Spirits of 2023 cover all the bases. There are heavily peated Scotch whiskys, nutty sherry cask-finished selections and best-in-class versions from the U.S. and Asia. These picks include this year’s most prestigious, top-scoring bottles, as well as a wider mix of picks that roused our tasters’ imaginations and taste buds.
Here are the top single malts of 2023.
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Best Splurge Single Malt
The Glenlivet 25 Years Old
Finished in PX sherry and Cognac casks, this single malt has a deep amber hue and toffee and red fruit aromas. The complex palate opens with dried cherry and oak. A splash of water unlocks chestnut, lemon cream and vanilla, teased by fleeting hints of peach, Muscat grape and violets. A puff of campfire smoke gathers on the exhale, along with drying hints of leather and black pepper. Part of the Sample Room Collection. 98 Points — Kara Newman
Best Scottish Island Single Malt
Jura 18 Years Old
This single malt was finished in Bordeaux casks, yielding an amber hue and rich toffee and oak aromas. The big, bold palate suggests caramel, sticky toffee pudding, dried dates and roasted nuts, finishing long with hints of allspice and peat smoke. A splash of water brings out milk-chocolate tones. Consider as a dessert pairing. 96 Points — K.N.
Best Speyside Single Malt
Best Highland Single Malt
Glenmorangie The Cadboll Estate 15 Years Old
It would be simplistic to say this single malt Scotch is a dead ringer for a bowl of Honey -Nut Cheerios. So we’ll deconstruct: dried apricot and almond aromas lead into a lively palate showing honey and toasted grain, along with hints of caramelized pineapple and toasted coconut. A splash of water draws out a puff of smoke into the long, rounded finish. Made with barley grown on Glenmorangie’s Cadboll Estate, and zero Cheerios. Third batch of limited-edition Cadboll Estate series. 2023 Edition. 95 Points — K.N.
Best Cask-Finished Single Malt
Old Pulteney Pineau des Charentes Wine Cask Matured
This is a non-age-statement single malt aged in casks that previously held Pineau des Charentes, a fortified wine from France’s Cognac region. The result is a complex, pleasing whisky layered with delicate peach, apple and marzipan tones, finishing with a floral hint and a waft of smoke. Part of the limited-edition Coastal Series. 95 Points — K.N.
Blackadder Black Snake Single Malt Scotch
Rich, nutty tones make it clear this is an oloroso sherry-finished bottling. The first sips open with concentrated butterscotch and oak, followed by mouthwatering roasted pecan, salted caramel and finally hints of smoke and black-pepper tingle. Ginger sparks enliven the finish. 95 Points — K.N.
Best Heavily Peated
Octomore 14.1
In this super-peated single malt from the iconic Bruichladdich distillery, look for a golden hue and mild vanilla and spearmint aromas. The palate opens with mouthwatering butterscotch and menthol, finishing long with a smoked maple-sugar effect, which ever so slowly tapers off. 95 Points — K.N.
Best Budget Single Malt
Tullibardine 500 Sherry Cask Finish
This is a non-age-statement single malt finished in oloroso and PX sherry casks. Look for a honey hue and baked-pear aromas, plus a faint smoky whiff. The palate unfurls a modest amount of smoke around a core of baked pear, vanilla and candied ginger, leading into a long, nuanced finish perfumed with white flowers and sandalwood incense. 94 Points — K.N.
Best American Single Malt
Courage & Conviction American Single Malt Sherry Cask
Aged a minimum of three years in ex-Sherry casks, this dessert-worthy whiskey offers fruitcake-like aromas. The palate opens with honey and golden raisin, while adding water softens the flavors to honey-drizzled apricot and grilled pineapple. It finishes long and rounded, with cinnamon glow. 95 Points — K.N.
Best Asian Single Malt
Rampur Select Single Malt. Special Release 2022
This pleasing, complex sipper has a honey hue and aromas that suggest red fruit and oak. The bold palate opens with sandalwood, incense and candied ginger, rounding into an elongated finish that echoes red fruit and warming baking spice, plus a fleeting floral hint on the exhale. 94 Points — K.N.
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All products featured here are independently selected by our team, which is comprised of experienced writers and wine tasters and overseen by editorial professionals at Wine Enthusiast headquarters. All ratings and reviews are performed blind in a controlled setting and reflect the parameters of our 100-point scale. Wine Enthusiast does not accept payment to conduct any product review, though we may earn a commission on purchases made through links on this site. Prices were accurate at the time of publication.
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