When the calendar turns to autumn, if your first thought is to crack open a bottle of bourbon or rye, you’re missing out on one of the best fall whisk(e)y options. Single malt Scotch whisky is a great choice for autumnal drinking. There’s something for everyone, from peat-smoked expressions to soft, honey, and heather-centered bottles.
For those new to this type of whisky (only the U.S. and Ireland use the “e” in whiskey), single malt Scotch whisky (like bourbon) has a few rules and regulations. First, it must be made in Scotland (this seems fairly straightforward). It also must be distilled at a single distillery using pot still distillation. It must also be made from barley (hence single malt), matured in oak barrels for at least three years. There are a few more rules, but those are the most important for all Scotch whisky brands.
The best single malt Scotch whiskies to warm you up this fall
The main reason single malt Scotch whisky is a great choice for fall drinking is the fact that there are so many nuanced, complex bottles available. Whether you choose an expression from the Highlands, Lowlands, Speyside, Campbeltown, or Islay, there’s a bottle available to fit every palate. The key is finding them.
Fear not; we won’t make you spend an afternoon slowly meandering around your local liquor store with a confused look on your face in hopes that someone will help you. We did the work for you. Below, you’ll find the best single malt Scotch whiskies to warm you up this fall. We found a mix of great whiskies to keep you feeling cozy inside and out, through autumn and well into the holiday season.
Laphroaig 10
If you want to take a deep dive into everything that the sheep-filled island of Islay has to offer, you’ll grab a bottle of Laphroaig 10. The famed distillery’s flagship bottle gets its flavor from peat-smoked barley. Matured for at least 10 years in oak casks, it’s known for its bold kick of peaty smoke, as well as ocean brine, vanilla, caramel, and oak. It’s a complex, smoky sipper you’ll go back to again and again.
Ardbeg An Oa
Another classic Islay distillery, Ardbeg is well known for its smoky, peaty, sweet, balanced expressions. One of its best, most warming bottles is Ardbeg an Oa. Named for the Mull of Oa along the Kildaton Coast, this non-chill filtered single malt whisky is a vatted whisky made up of expressions aged in Pedro Ximenez, ex-bourbon, and virgin charred oak barrels. The result is a complex sipper with notes of dark chocolate, toffee, dried cherries, baking spices, and robust campfire smoke.
Aberlour A’Bunadh
When it comes to sherry matured or finished single malt Scotch whiskies, there are few as popular and well made as Aberlour A’Bunadh. The name translates to ‘the original’ from Gaelic. This sherry-matured whisky is bottled as a potent cask strength (although the alcohol content varies by batch). It’s known for its flavors of dried cherries, raisins, ginger, candied orange peels, dark chocolate, vanilla, and oaky wood.
Talisker Storm
With a name like Talisker Storm, you must have a pretty good idea that you’re in for a whisky swirling with flavors when you crack open one of these bottles. First released in 2013, this no-age-statement single malt Scotch whisky is known for its nose of caramel apples, oak, campfire smoke, and vanilla and a palate of oak, vanilla, peppery spice, dried fruits, and robust smoke. It’s a nice mix of sweetness, spice, and smoke.
Highland Park 18
Also known as Highland Park 18 Viking Pride, this popular expression is aged for at least eighteen years in a combination of first-fill sherry season European and American oak barrels. The result is a memorable whisky that begins with a nose of dried cherries, vanilla, oaky wood, and campfire smoke. Drinking it reveals a symphony of dark chocolate, sweet honey, candied orange peels, salted caramel, and gentle, rich smoke.
Aberfeldy 12
If you’re a fan of Dewar’s blended whiskies, you’ve enjoyed your fair share of Aberfeldy. This is because it’s the base for some of that brand’s most popular expressions. But it’s so great, it belongs on its own. Especially Aberfeldy 12. Known for its nose of sherry, raisins, honey, and vanilla. Drinking it brings forth notes of chocolate fudge, toasted vanilla beans, dried fruits, candied orange peels, oak, and light smoke at the very end.
Lagavulin 16
While some distilleries opt for a ten-year-old or a twelve-year-old as its flagship expression, Lagavulin decided a sixteen-year expression was a better choice. Matured for a minimum of sixteen years in oak casks, this award-winning sipper is known for its nose of iodine, peat smoke, oak, and vanilla and a palate of salted caramel, oak, vanilla, dried fruits, and bold peat smoke. There’s a reason it’s one of the most popular Islay single malts.
The GlenDronach 12
When it comes to sherried single malt Scotch whiskies, it’s tough to beat the appeal of GlenDronach 12. Also known as “The Original,” it’s aged for at least twelve years in a mixture of Spanish Pedro Ximenez and oloroso sherry casks. This creates a sweet, rich, highly complex sipping whisky. It all begins with a nose of ginger candy, vanilla, and orchard fruits before melding into a palate of oak, sweet sherry, dried cherries, vanilla, and cream.
Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or
If you want to go basic, you can grab a bottle of Glenmorangie The Original. This 10-year-old expression might be the best gateway bottle of Scotch available today. If you’re trying to up your fall sipping game, you’ll opt for Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or. This indulgent, dessert-like single malt whisky loaded with flavors of toffee, almond cookies, oak, and spices gets its flavor from being matured in a combination of ex-bourbon casks and Sauternes wine barrels.
Craigellachie 13
Often referred to as the “Bad boy of Speyside,” Craigellachie spent a long time as mostly a nameless whisky used in Dewar’s blend. In the last decade, it’s gained in popularity. Its 13-year-old expression is a great choice for a cool fall night. First matured in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry barrels before having half the batch finished in first-fill sherry casks, and the other half in first-fill bourbon barrels, it’s known for its bold, rich flavor profile featuring notes of caramel, toasted marshmallows, dried cherries, oak, and spices.
Bottom line
If you’ve never tried single malt Scotch whisky before, now is the time to get on the proverbial, whisky-soaked bandwagon. Single malt Scotch whisky is more than just a drink for fancy, bearded, tweed jacket-wearing gentlemen. It’s a warming, complex drink for everyone. Especially during the chilly autumn months.
