Single Malt Scotch Whisky Online

Buying Single Malt Scotch Online: What to Know Before You Buy

There are a few things to understand before you add your favorite bottle to your online cart. Buying whiskey online is easy. But be sure to check shipping laws and the seller’s reputation, especially before giving out your card information.

Legal and Shipping Tips

The rules for shipping alcohol to the U.S. can vary. Federal law allows the sale of spirits online. But each state sets its own rules.

Some states allow out-of-state liquor vendors to ship liquor to your home. In some places, bottles can only come through a licensed state distributor. In some states, spirits delivery may be prohibited altogether.

When shopping online, look for a store that displays the bottles available in your delivery ZIP code.

Remember that in the United States, a signature from a person 21 years of age or older is required at the time of delivery.

If you will not be home during the day, choose to have the package shipped to a local courier pickup location. For example, UPS Access Point or FedEx Office can be used. This reduces the risk of missed deliveries. The bottle will also be protected from extreme heat or cold.

How to Check the Authenticity of an Online Vendor

The rise of online shopping has also led to a surge in the number of specialty liquor websites. Most of these businesses are legitimate. But it’s important to avoid overpriced or counterfeit bottles. This is especially important for expensive and vintage Scotch bottles.

Opt for reputable online stores, well-known physical retail networks, or vendors directly affiliated with the distillery.

Genuine websites have clear contact information. They also clearly state shipping fees. They also provide information about where the bottle came from.

Be wary if a website is offering an expensive bottle like an old Macallan or Pappy Van Winkle for a very low price. A price that is significantly below market value can be a sign of danger. Such an offer could be due to a scam or suspicious stock.

Our best single malt scotch bottles to order today

To avoid being overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices, we’ve selected six of the best single malt bottles. They offer the best quality in a variety of styles. There are options for different budgets and different flavour profiles.

1. Best Overall Choice: The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old

If you can only have one single malt bottle for the rest of your life, The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old is the perfect choice.

Craft Master David C. Stewart MBE popularized this method of wood flavoring. It remains a prime example of a balanced Speyside single malt today.

This whisky is first aged for 12 years in traditional American oak ex-bourbon barrels. It is then aged for another nine months in Spanish oak ex-sherry casks.

The first stage of maturation brings out soft vanilla, honeyed malted barley and a light oaky flavour.

The additional time in the sherry wood adds warm flavours of cinnamon, nutmeg and dried fruit.

This whisky is very smooth. It doesn’t feel too heavy either. It’s easy enough for new drinkers to drink. It also has plenty of depth for experienced drinkers.

2. Best Peated / Islay Classic: Laphroaig Quarter Cask

If you like a smoky whisky, the Laphroaig Quarter Cask is a great choice.

This bottle comes from the south coast of Islay. The area is known for its strong winds and strong flavours.

It has the typical medicinal and peaty flavour of Laphroaig. Its maturation is accelerated by using small historic style casks.

Quarter casks give the whisky more contact with the wood. This brings together the peat smoke and the sweet caramel of the wood.

The aroma is of fire smoke, iodine and sea breeze.

The taste is sweet coconut, vanilla and sharp black pepper. The finish is long, dry and smoky.

This is a strong whisky. It highlights the original strong taste of peat in Islay single malt scotch whisky.

3. Best Sherry-Cask Finished: The Macallan 12 Year Double Cask

When it comes to Sherry-flavored Scotch, The Macallan definitely comes to mind.

The Macallan pays special attention to the choice of wood. Its 12 Year Double Cask bottle is a good example of this work and is available at a reasonable price.

It uses two different types of wood. One is American oak, which is made for sherry. The other is traditional European oak sherry casks.

American oak brings out bright vanilla, soft butterscotch and fresh citrus flavors.

European oak brings out deeper flavors of fruit cake, ginger and clove.

The result is a smooth and balanced malt. It may taste like a sweet dessert, but it is not overly sweet.

4. Best High-Proof / Cask Strength: Aberlour A'bunadh

Aberlour A'bunadh means "original" in Scottish Gaelic. It's a popular choice among cask-strength enthusiasts.

This whisky is inspired by the late 19th century distillation style. It's bottled straight from the barrel. It's not chilled-filtered or has any added color.

Its strength is typically around 60% ABV. That's about 120 proof.

This whisky is typically matured in first-fill Spanish oloroso sherry casks. That's why it's called a powerful "sherry bomb."

It's a deep mahogany amber color. It forms thick, layered lines when poured into the glass.

The first sip offers flavors of dark chocolate, raisins, orange zest, and toasted nuts. There's also a hint of the heat of the higher-proof alcohol.

Adding a little room temperature spring water brings out its hidden flavors. Cherry liqueur and sweet baking spices also come through more clearly.

5. Best under $60: Glenmorangie The Original 10 Year Old

A good single malt scotch whisky doesn’t always have to be expensive. Glenmorangie The Original is a good example of this.

This is a light and elegant whisky. It is made in Highland stills. Its stills are said to be as tall as a full-grown giraffe.

This whisky is matured for 10 years in first-fill and second-fill American white oak bourbon casks.

Glenmorangie 10 is a great everyday dram.

It has lemon zest, fresh peaches, creamy vanilla and light floral flavors.

It has no peat smoke at all. Instead, it has a clean, bright and light malt flavor.

It can be drunk neat. It also tastes good with a large ice cube. It can also be used in a high-quality Highball.

It is a great choice in the current market in terms of price and quality.

6. Best expensive bottle: Oban 14 Year Old

The small coastal town of Oban is home to an old and small distillery. It is located near the Scottish Highlands and the Hebridean islands.

The Oban 14 Year Old is a great value bottle despite its high price.

It is like a bridge between the light fruity flavors of the Highlands and the smoky maritime flavors of the Islands.

Oban uses small lantern-shaped copper pot stills. It also uses wooden worm tubs located outside.

This method creates a heavy and oily texture. This texture absorbs flavors well.

The 14-year maturation produces salted caramel, dried figs, orange peel and light wood smoke.

It has a distinctive salty maritime brine flavor in the end. That is why it is considered one of the world's finest sipping whiskies.

How to choose the right bottle for your taste

Buying a single malt online can be daunting, especially when you can’t taste the whisky first.

It’s helpful to understand the bottle label and learn about the flavors of different regions. This will give you an idea of what the bottle will taste like when it arrives.

SCOTTISH REGIONS & FLAVORS

• ISLAY → Intense Peat Smoke, Sea Salt, Medicinal
• SPEYSIDE → Honey, Dried Fruit, Sherry Fruit
• HIGHLANDS → Green Apple, Heather Honey, Vanilla, Coastal Salt

Understand Flavor Profiles by Region

Scotland is traditionally divided into different whisky regions. Each region has its own unique style.

Speyside:

Home to more than half of Scotland’s distilleries. The whisky here is smooth, sweet and easy to drink. It has flavors of red apple, honey, vanilla and dry sherry spices.

Islay:

Known for its strong and phenolic single malts. If you like campfire smoke, charred wood, sea salt and leather, then Islay is for you.

Highlands:

This is the largest geographical whisky region. There are a variety of flavours here. Light, floral and honeyed malts are found in the north. Rich, coastal and slightly smoky drams are also found near the coast.

Lowlands:

This region is known for triple-distilled, light and grassy spirits. They can have flavours of toasted grain, lemon rind and honeysuckle.

Campbeltown:

This is a historic region that is making a comeback. It produces oily, funky and briny malts. They can also have a light smoke and wet stone flavour.

What are Age Statements and NAS?

If an age statement on a bottle is 12, 15 or 18 years, it refers to the age of the youngest whisky in the bottle.

Aged whisky usually takes on more of the wood flavour. This softens the sharp raw grain flavour. Deep wood sugars, tannins and complex oxidation notes are also produced.

But more age is not always better.

Many modern distilleries also make excellent NAS (No Age Statement) whiskies. In NAS bottles, master blenders can blend whiskies of different ages. They blend young and fresh spirit with old and complex whisky.

The aim is not simply to age. The real aim is to create a specific flavour profile.

So don’t dismiss a bottle just because it doesn’t have an age number on the label. NAS whiskies like Aberlour A’bunadh can compete with the best spirits in the world.