Best Speyside Scotch

Speyside whiskey is one of the most famous and acclaimed variations of scotch whiskeys. The Speyside region of Scotland is known for a number of renowned whiskeys, with more than 120 distilleries that produce some of the best single malt scotches. In this article, we review some of the very best Speyside Scotches available for you to try and enjoy.

Review of Best Speyside Scotches

#1. The Glenlivet

Glenlivet is one of the iconic, leading brands of single malt Speyside Scotch, and is possibly the first legal Speyside whiskey. The Glenlivet is made with a number of tropical fruits, including banana and pineapple. As an entry-level affordable whiskey that is generous with a complexity of flavors, it is a great one to try on any budget.

#2. Cragganmore 12 Year Old

Cragganmore 12 Year Old is a popular sherried Speyside whiskey that is aged in barrels and bottled with 40% ABV. It has a prominent floral aromatic flavor, as well as notes of fresh apples, melon, almonds, and other nuts.

The manufacturers have also mixed in natural sweeteners like syrup and honey to create an intelligent combination of sweet, sour, and spicy flavors that is certainly worth a try.

#3. BenRiach

BenRiach comes in an elegant bottle designed to attract your attention. The Smoky Ten, the Twelve, the Original Ten, the Smoky Twelve are some of the most accessible varieties.

BenRiach mainly uses virgin oak, ex-bourbon, ex-port, and ex-sherry barrels to mature. Best yet, it is quite affordable and makes for a great Speyside scotch for new enthusiasts.

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#4. Aberlour 16 Year Old

Aberlour comes next in this list of the best Speyside Scotches. It comes with various taste notes, including oak, spice, and caramel. The manufacturers predominantly use sherry and bourbon casks to mature this 16-year-old scotch. In terms of flavoring, it imparts an oaky taste with sweet vanilla notes from bourbon and the different spices and ripe fruits.

#5. Lagavulin 16 Years Old

The 16-year-old Lagavulin is a great crowd-pleaser. With a campfire smoky flavor, this scotch is certainly unique and tasteful. It is also very accessible, available from almost any liquor store or bar.

Review of Best Speyside Scotches

#6. Ardmore

The Ardmore is one of the other famous entry-level whiskeys in the Speyside Scotch genre. This brand uses quarter casks to mature the liquor. It comes with a robust, salty flavor that is a good mixture of famous cocktails.

#7. Glenfiddich 15 Year Old Solera

A list of the best Speyside Scotches would be incomplete without including Glenfiddich. Bottled at 40% ABV, the manufacturers use Portuguese Sherry and American bourbon oak casks to age this 15-year-old scotch.

The smooth sherry and bourbon flavors are noticeable with sipping. It also has rich citrus, earth, and grass notes surrounding a spicy aromatic flavor. It is widely available in most liquor stores, bars, and markets and comes in a stylish triangular-shaped bottle to make it look attractive.

#8. Mortlach

Mortlach is another famous and delicious single malt Speyside whiskey. The core of this scotch has been revitalized several times in the last few years, and it is available in both 25 and 18 year expressions.

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This brand mainly uses ex-bourbon and sherry casks to mature this scotch. The resulting flavor is a good combination of spice, vanilla, citrus, and various dried fruits. You can also visit their official website to learn about the distillation procedure in detail.

#9. Aberfeldy 12 Year Old

Aberfeldy 12 Year Old comes next on this list and comes in a stylish and attractive bottle. It has been widely popular since the 20th century and emphasizes strong syrup notes and vanilla honey. It is arguably the best single malt Speyside Scotch brand available between $30 – $40, making it a great scotch for regular use.

#10. Highland Park 18 Year Old Viking Pride

Highland Park 18 Year Old Viking Pride comes from the northern part of Scotland. The company uses Sherry Oak casks to gently mature this Speyside Scotch. The immense popularity of this whiskey is owed to it becoming the Best Spirit in the World in the leading Scottish journal.

Speyside Scotches

#11. Glen Moray

Glen Moray is another popular blended single malt whiskey and is an affordable one. It is aged in sherry and port casks, so it is a peatier scotch with great sweet notes. It is available in an attractive, cask-design bottle.

#12. The Macallan Sherry Oak

The Macallan Sherry Oak is another notable single malt Speyside Scotch that comes in an attractive bottle. This brand matures this whiskey for 25 long years. It boasts a strong aromatic flavor with notes of cherry, ripened fig, and chocolate.

#13. Speyburn

Speyburn may not be the most famous brand in the world of whiskeys but is no slouch and rounds off our list well. Aged over 10 years, it is a very light mixture of whiskey cocktails with citrus and sweet notes.

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Parting Words

Here ends our list of the best Speyside Scotches available. Most of these whiskeys come with a strong flavoring and good affordability, whilst being available in many of your favorite liquor stores and bars. We hope this list will help you towards making your next loved whiskey selections.