Whisky – or whiskey if we’re talking about the Irish or American stuff – continues to enjoy widespread appeal. Whether you’re picking up a bottle for your scotch-loving relative’s birthday, restocking the home bar or looking for a couple of new nightcaps, the choice can be pretty overwhelming.
While scotch is arguably the most famous type of whisky, there’s quality and interest to be found far and wide, with premium distilleries doing exciting things in places such as India, Japan, the Nordic countries and beyond. The beauty of whisky-making is that so much expression comes from the landscape where the grain and water are sourced, together with the skill and preferences of the blender; so each whisky’s profile offers something different to be explored.
From smoothly sweet Speyside whiskies to the harmonious balance of the Japanese blends, all the way up to the seriously spendy aged single malts, tasting and trying is the only way to discover which whisky tickles your fancy beyond these loose geographic profile styles.
But, after carefully testing every whisky on this list against many more, I’m satisfied there is something here to please every palate. Spicy rye just asking to be made into a manhattan, silky bourbons to satisfy your inner Don Draper and a surprising English entry I can’t get enough of; these are my top whisky picks to buy right now.
I tasted each one neat – to get a clear comparison across the board, you understand – before mixing up any cocktails that the style particularly inspired, and I suggest you do the same. The fun’s all in the trying.
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The best whisky in 2025
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Best aged single malt
Glenmorangie 18-year-old the Infinita, 70cl
£123.95 at Master Of Malt £123.88 at Amazon
It’s easy to spend silly money on aged single malts, but this (almost) accessibly priced 18-year-old Glenmorangie is a safe bet for scotch fans. Its honeyed spice notes morph into burnt orange, jasmine and wood smoke for a deeply delicious dram for any whisky connoisseur. This tasted fantastic rounding off a special dinner as a celebratory digestif.
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Best sustainable whisky
Nc’nean organic single malt, 70cl
£51.75 at the Whisky Exchange £55 at Master of Malt
Made from organic barley on the wild west coast of Scotland, Nc’nean is single malt scotch – but not as you know it. Female-founded, B Corp-certified and the first UK whisky distillery to achieve net zero emissions, it tastes good and does good. It’s also a Great Taste Award winner. It’s fresh and lively with lemon and opens up to candied citrus sweets with a dash of tropicality. I found it divine in a highball with a sprig of fresh mint.
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Best unusual whisky
Rampur double cask single malt whisky, 70cl
£56 at Majestic £59.99 at Amazon
India may not be the first place you think of for whisky – but think of India you should. Rampur Distillery has been distilling for almost a century using Himalayan groundwater to add a uniquely Indian flavour. Extreme weather means the casked whisky matures rapidly, leading to deeper levels of flavour and complexity. Think heady cinnamon spice, salted caramel and all things nice in this must-try bottle.
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Best aged blended whisky
GlenAllachie White Heather 15-year-old, 70cl
£57.50 at Master of Malt £57.50 at the Whisky Exchange
White heather is a rare variant of the ubiquitous purple flower with rich symbolism in Scottish folklore; stumbling across a patch is said to bring luck, and brides often include a sprig in their bouquet. Lucky you to be trying this wonderful blend from GlenAllachie’s master distiller, I say. Single malts from across Scotland combine to create a heather-honeyed balance of oranges, mocha and a faint wisp of smoke – I found it dangerously drinkable.
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Best peated whisky
Tobermory Ledaig 10-year single malt scotch, 70cl
£40.75 at the Whiskey Exchange £38.95 at Amazon
Hailing from the Inner Hebridean Isle of Mull, this is a more approachable peated whisky than the famed neighbouring Islay styles. More freshness and minerality make for a more measured sip, yet it still retains that unmistakable smoky island character. Soft peat mingles with a medicinal nose that’s happily more peppery and vanilla-based on the palate, though the background of smoke persists. At this price, you can afford to try it even if you think island whiskies aren’t for you; you may just surprise yourself.
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Best Japanese whisky
The Matsui sakura cask whisky, 70cl
£165 at Selfridges £134.91 at Amazon
The Kurayoshi Distillery has been producing spirits since 1910, using fresh volcanic water from nearby Mount Daisen’s snowmelt. This single malt’s pale hue offers no hint of the richness within, which boasts a floral, spicy nose and bold bakery flavours, with pepper on the palate. The floweriness on the finish is a fitting nod to the Japanese cherry blossom sakura casks used to age the whisky. I found this opened up nicely with a drop of water.
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Best small-batch whisky
Holyrood Distillery Ambir single malt, 70cl
£58.25 at the Whisky Exchange £63.95 at Royal Mile Whiskies
Fresh from winning gold in the small-batch category at the World Whiskies Awards, Ambir is the third iteration of single malts from newcomer Holyrood Distillery. Using four speciality malts chosen for their dessert-style textures and flavours, Ambir is perfect for enjoying as an after-dinner drink. The tempting tastes of Scottish tablet, buttery fudge and jammy cornflake tart abound, with a subtle leathery savouriness taking it back from the brink of being too simplistic. Enjoy with – or as – pudding.
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Best experimental whisky
Noble Rebel Hazelnut Harmony, 70cl
£37 at Master of Malt £39.95 at the Whisky Exchange
Go nuts for this boldly experimental blended whisky from Loch Lomond Distillery, where toasted hazelnuts, almonds and oak are expertly layered with indulgent vanilla and honeycomb flavours and more than a touch of pear crumble. Using fine single malts from across the country, this is a mouthwatering marriage of grains if you like your whiskies sweet, sticky and smoke-free.
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Best bourbon
Woodford Reserve Kentucky bourbon, 70cl
£37.50 at Morrisons £39 at the Whisky Shop
This universally popular super-smooth bourbon is as good as a gift as it is for drinking yourself. Kentucky’s favourite straight, Woodford Reserve is harmoniously balanced, with warming aromas, dried fruit and a creamy finish. Best enjoyed neat – although it’s also my go-to for a Don Draper-worthy old fashioned.
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Best Speyside whisky
Benromach Contrasts Organic Speyside single malt, 70cl
£51.75 at the Whisky Exchange £51.75 at Master of Malt
This is the whisky that first made me fall in love with whisky. Impossibly smooth, with unexpected but harmonious flavours of banana split, a hit of pepper and tons of malt, Benromach Contrasts Organic is typically Speyside in terms of its sweetness and light, but with a cocoa richness, aged maturity and interest that its price tag suggests. It’s also the world’s first Soil Association-accredited organic scotch. Drinks like a dream in a hip flask on a cold country walk.
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Best Islay whisky selection
Smokehead whisky skull gift tin, 3 x 5cl
£24.95 at Royal Mile Whiskies £18.45 at Amazon
Fans of Islay scotch will enjoy making their way through this Smokehead selection flight. There are three single malts laden with seaweed, fiery peat and sweetness to be explored: original; High Voltage 58%; and Rum Rebel, which is matured in Caribbean rum casks for a tropical explosion alongside the signature sea spray and smoke.
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Best whisky gift set
Isle of Raasay scotch gift set, 70cl
£69.99 at Selfridges
The rugged Hebridean island of Raasay (population 194) is home to Raasay Distillery, which produces this lightly peated single malt. Matured in rye, oak and bordeaux casks, this is a complex drop with flavours of wild dark fruit, toffee, spice and smoke. Take this smartly boxed set next time you need a dinner party gift for a whisky-drinking host: two beautiful Glencairn tasting glasses are included alongside the decanter-style bottle for sharing.
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Best sherry-led whisky
The Lakes Whiskymaker’s Reserve No 7, 70cl
£83.75 at the Whisky Exchange £84.50 at Amazon
The Lakes Distillery has quickly made a name for itself in new world whisky, and with expressions like this one, I can see why. The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No 7 is a single malt made in the image of whiskies like Dalmore; sherry-led, matured in oloroso and pedro ximénez casks, plus a few red wine casks thrown in for good measure. The result is richly fruited with warming spices and layers of woodiness, complex, clever and evocative of long Lake District walks. While it’s not the most affordable whisky on this list, you won’t regret putting your hand in your pocket for a little treat this tempting.
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Joanne Gould is a food, drink and lifestyle writer with a decade of experience. As well as enthusiastically eating her way through London’s best bars and restaurants, she’s also a keen home cook and can often be found trying a new recipe or kitchen gadget, while taste-testing anything from South African wines to speciality coffee or scotch. Luckily, she also enjoys walking, running and keeping fit and healthy in her spare time – for balance
• This article was originally published on 17 December 2024. Reviews published in the Filter may be periodically updated to reflect new products and at the editor’s discretion. The date of an article’s most recent update can be found in the timestamp at the top of the page. This article was amended on 15 August 2025; three more whiskies were added.
