My Single Malt Scotch Whisky Ratings and Notes

-The Orkney Islands, of the Highlands-

Highland Park 12- My all-time favorite Malt. Hailing from the Orkney Islands, it acquires a great blend of Mainland and Island qualities. As Scotland's northern most distillery, Highland Park is a bit rough, but is extremely well rounded in all facets- nose, body, palate and finish. SCORE: 93

Highland Park 15- I was a bit dissappointed with trying the older HPs with my love for the 12 year. I would definitively state that the 12 is the best year in the House. The 15 is really balanced, though, and definitely worth a gander. SCORE: 90

Highland Park 18- Very good, but not worth the price compared to HPs younger Malts. SCORE: 91

Scapa 14- Not what I expected being an Orkney Islander, but for the price I was happy with the purchase. A rather light taste that fades quicker than expected, but suits the palate. Intiguing. SCORE: 82


-Speyside, of the Highlands-

Longmorn 15- This is the one of the best Speysides I've ever had. Very smooth and round, with an almost big body, a clean palate and a orange-ish finish, followed by a very long bite. SCORE: 92

Glenfarclas 12- A great Speyside, with all the qualities you look for in a Single Malt. SCORE: 87

Glenfarclas 105- Great cask strength, but pricey. The nose is a lot like Aberlour's a'bunadh.. raisin like and lightly sweet with a toughness to it. Full bodied, honeyish palate and finishes with a long maltiness. There are better, cheaper Cask Streengths availab le. SCORE: 92

Dalwhinnie 15- Another Diageo Speyside, hardly worth $45. SCORE: 83

As a Single Malt drinker outside of Scotland, I owe homage to Glenfiddich for putting their distillery on the line, just to spread the greatness of Single Malt with the world.

Glenfiddich Special Reserve 12- My first, along with many others as well, Single Malt. It's a great starting point for a new palate, and may be the reason I developed a strong allegiance and liking to the Speyside Region. SCORE: 83

Glenfiddich Caoran Reserve 12- Toffee, on the lighter side, oily, white chocolate, creamy. SCORE: 85

Glenfiddich Solera Reserve 15- Toasty, almost chocolatey on the nose. Very smooth, light and silky. Hints of white chocolate, pear, and ginger. SCORE: 86

Glenlivet 12- Maybe the most famous of Single Malts, this distillery knows how to produce quality Malts. SCORE: 82

Glenlivet 12 French Oak Finish- Floral on the nose, soft and rounded in the body, and firm/ apple-ness/honey in the finish. SCORE: 86

Glenlivet 15- Light but firm, dried apple, nutty and floral. Not the best of of the famous House, but decent. SCORE: 83

Glenlivet 16 Nadura Cask Strength- Fantastic example of a Cask Strength. In a category all of its own. Strong, tough but delicate, oaky, nutty, very spicy. I get a mint chocolate chip nose and finish. Almost cookie like in its out-breath of the finish. In all honesty, I am not a big Livet fan, but this here is one of the best Malts I've ever had. Delicious. SCORE: 94

Glenlivet 18- Not worth the price, but definitely a great malt. Very floral. A firm body for its elderly age, followed by a rather long finish for Livet, or an 18 year old. SCORE: 91

Balvenie 10- Balvenie are the best, in my opinion, at introducing/messing with new cask ideas. Their youngest Malt, the 10, is a pretty damn good one. I would imagine that this is their typical taste, away from the different cask combination that the House uses down the line... Sherry, Islay, Port, Oak, Bourbon, Single Barrell, Double Barrell, Vintage, etc. SCORE: 84

Balvenie Double Wood 12- Its first two fills are from American Bourbon Oak, and finished in a Oloroso Sherry Cask, making a completely unique taste. As a Speyside, it holds its Region's qualities, and balances sweet and firm notes. Excellent. SCORE: 89

Balvenie 15- A different taste of the Balvenie House Style, but nonetheless a great Speyside Malt. I'd say that it has a more typicle Speyside-esque than the usual unique Balvenie style. Woody and Citrusy. SCORE: 87

Aberlour 10- For a youngster, this Malt is fabulous. Complex and firm, this Speyside is a great representation of the Region, and very underpriced. SCORE 89

Aberlour a'bunadh, Cask Strength- Phenomenal. With or without a splash of water, this Cask Strength Malt is top notch. Side sticking, layered and textured. I get a raisin like nose. Hints of cherries or sharp fruit, and even a little toffee mint. SCORE: 92

Aberlour 15 Sherry Wood Finish- A great switch for Aberlour. I enjoy the Bourbon Sherry. It has a nice anise finish, almost earthy, rooty licorice. SCORE: 88

Cragganmore 12- The face of Speyside from the production giant, Diageo, it may have the most complex and fragrant nose of any Malt. Its raisin fruit-like finish goes well with its "freshly cut grass" and herb nose. It's priced right where it belongs, which is very rare for Diageo, and has a nice finish. SCORE: 89

Macallan 10 Fine Oak- A really big surprise. I even prefer to its elder brothers. Vanilla Oak. Call me crazy, but it's my favorite of the house. Tender, overly mature. SCORE: 93

Macallan 12- This Speyside lives up to its maker's fame- the Edrington Group knows how to produce great Malts. SCORE 88

Macallan 15- Much softer and lighter than most Macallans. It's a bit too light for my taste. SCORE: 89

Macallan 15 Fine Oak- I am a huge fan of Macallan's Fine Oak line. SCORE: 91

Speyburn 10- This rough, but honey-like, Speyside is a steal for its price. When I'm broke, or trying to get drunk, I pick this up. It's very rough around the edges, but that is what makes it intriguing. Its floral and honey tones in the nose, body and finish need a bite to bring them out. SCORE: 80

Singleton 12 (Glendullan)- Decent for the price, but a rather blah Malt, missing something big. A little too grainy, almost vodka-like. SCORE: 78

Tamdhu 10 Year- Refined smoke on the nose, soft. Oaty and citrusy, not a bad Malt. SCORE: 83

Glenrothes Special Reserve Vatted Single Malt- Pretty good, but a little overpriced. My only exposure to the house. A firm nose and body, with a finish that fades rather quickly. I would've liked it to hang around a bit longer. SCORE: 86

Glen Moray- A very weak Malt, a bit too level to find any real notes. Almost like a typical blend. SCORE: 77

Murray-McDavid (Independent bottling of:) Auchroisk 1992 (bottled on Islay at Bruichladdich)- Simply amazing. The nose is the most fruity I've ever smelled, strawberries and cream. Potent but not overbearing, phenomenal. Medium throughout, nice bite at the end. SCORE: 97

-Isle of Islay-

Bruichladdich 10- A very light representation of Islay, but a very complicated body and palate. Purely stated, it's a fantastic Malt! Shifting from fruit to sea-like tastes, I cannote it to prosciutto wrapped cantaloupe. Sweet and salty. SCORE: 94

Bruichladdich 15- I prefer the 10, but still a great Malt. Very similar to the 10, just a bit weaker. SCORE: 91

Bruichladdich 16 Links- Much too weak for an already light Islay. SCORE: 86

Caol Ila 12- A really, really unique Islay, but pricey. It tends to give me a slight headache, almost a hangover if I meddle with it too much in one night. Its flavor is expressive, different and laden with quality. SCORE: 88

Bunnahabhain 12- Very light for an Islay, and very well rounded. A great choice for a little bite, but without compromising the palate and flavor. I often describe it as a lesser Highland Park. SCORE: 85

Ardbeg 10- A fantastic Islay, this youngster hits like a light-heavyweight and is a tough drink. If you aren't an iodine/salty-seaweed/peat fan- stay away..... but check back in soon enough to give it a try. I get a lot of sweetness from the nose, deep. And its overall taste and finish is accompanied with an ashy likeness. Tasty, not chalky. SCORE: 93

Laphroiag 10- A phenomenal Malt. Laphroiag boasts that it is the most richly flavored of all Scotch... I'd concur. Way ahead of its age, a great sweet-peat, medicinal Malt. SCORE: 91

Laphroiag Quarter Cask- Strong, potent, delicious. Ironically I went to this Malt throughout the Summer quite frequently, as I discovered it then. I'd recommend having it in the Winter, on a cold night. SCORE: 93

Laphroiag 15- This medicinal, phenol, seaweedy Malt is what one looks for in a middle aged Islay. SCORE: 94

Bowmore Legend- Confusing in its peatiness and palate. I wasn't a big fan at all, initially. But, I did first try it blindly to the Islay Malts years ago. I've since had it and was a bit more pleased. I regularly pick up a bottle now. Supposedly, the super cheap American marketed McClellend's Islay is the Legend. It does very much resemble it. And Bowmore owns the company along with the two other supposed malts disguised as McClellend's. I detect a notso regular batch, but nonetheless at about $5 cheaper than Legend it may be worth it to some. SCORE: 85

Lagavulin 16- The best Malt I've ever tasted. Not too salty, not too sweet for an Islay. Rough then delicate in body and finish, starts off with a complex and stiff bouquet. SCORE: 97


-The Highlands-

Ardmore Traditional Cask (Quarter Cask 92 Proof)- Technically a Speyside, but they don't promote it as one, so it's in the Highland category for here. Great, VERY unique malt. It's the only Highland that is fully peated, and has such an island taste. It's peat and smoke is up there in strength, but nothing like Laphroaig or Ardbeg. Very fruity, subtle notes plunge deep into a nice sweet peat. A very nice change of pace in my drinking habits. SCORE: 92

Glenmorangie 10- I often crave this unique Northern Highlander's creamy, buttery and even banana notes. I get a lot of Hazelnut from the nose and body- very complex for a youngster. SCORE: 89

Glenmorangie 15- A good all around Speyside. Smooth, with a hint of syrupy viscosity. A great balance between creamy and floral. Its finish has a touch of spiciness. SCORE: 86

Glenmorangie Port Wood Finish- Wine-like, fruity, with some butterscotch-cream notes. SCORE- 91

Glenmorangie Sherry Wood Finish- Nutty, soft but big and long. Liquorice. SCORE: 88

Glenmorangie Madeira Wood Finish- Sweet, spices, soft and very buttery. Nutty, cinnamon. SCORE: 89

Glen Garioch 8 or No Age Statement- For its very young age, this Eastern Highland Malt is a steal. A little insider information, that I just was enlightened with- Glen Garioch is also the Highland of super cheap McClelland's line of Single Malts that you can find for $17 or so. SCORE: 78

Glen Garioch 10- A very sweet, oat like nose. Smooth bodied, creamy yet a clean palate, with an abrupt finish. SCORE: 81

Oban 14- Good, but Diageo's Western Highlander isn't worth $65. Beautiful presentation, and worth having a bottle once in your life. SCORE: 85

Dalmore 12- A great selection at its pricepoint. Very deceiving in its nose and body. A great, fruity finish. SCORE: 84

Dalmore 12 Cigar Malt- Eh, nothing like the original recipe. A bit too pungent, with no real finish. I'd like to see this in a quarter or even a full cask edition. SCORE: 79

Tomatin 12- I'm indifferent as to if Tomatin is worth the weak price of $30. It's not poor, but is lacking something. Its nose deceived me at first. Olive like initially, but now I get a carmel esque undertone. Its 86 proof is definitely needed for some umph and bite, as the flavor is a bit weak. Vanilla-ish and carmel-ish in finish, and mellow in body. SCORE: 79

Clynelish 14 Coastal Highland- A really unique Malt. Probably where Ardmore got the idea. A nice medium bodied and tempered Highland tone finished with some peaty/seaweedy notes of Islay. Great finish, long. SCORE: 92

-The Midlands/ Southern Highlands-

Edradour 10- Extremely thin, even watery, yet appealing. This Malt is definately not worth the $50 range it's in, but worth trying. Often, it's labeled as a "Midland," which is a rather good visual for its taste, as it's somewhere in between a Highland and a Lowland in its qualities, as well as its geography. SCORE: 84


-The Lowlands-

Auchentoshan Select- A great Malt, extremelty underpriced. Light, toasty, malty, lemon-grass and vanilla-esque. Its nose often has an olive-like quality to it. SCORE: 81

Auchentoshan 10- I'm not typically a fan of the Lowland Malts, but this one is a great Summer Malt. Hints of Lemon-grass and Vanilla throughout the nose, body, palate and finish. Lowlands typically are fully void of any peat, making them the lightest among the Regions. SCORE: 85

Glenkinchie 10- Light, soft and melony. Edinburgh's Malt, but overpriced likely so. Worth a try if the Lowlands fancy you and your palate. SCORE: 82

-Campbelltown-

Springbank 10- Campbeltown's lone Malt, this is one of the finest Malts that I've ever had. So unique that you want to beg the re-openings of other Campbeltown Distilleries. Perfectly peated with a touch of pear. Its taste is a lot like bacon-wrapped canteloupe... you'd never think the two together would work, but they do. SCORE: 93

-Skye-

Talisker 10- The face of the Skye Region of Scotland, this Islander is a great malt, but is heavier in terms of peat and saltiness. As I've matured as a Single Malt drinker, this Malt gets better and better. Sea-air, the beginning of a storm. SCORE: 96

-Island of Mull-

Tobermory 10- A little off, in that something is missing from this rather cheaply priced Malt. Its finish is too quick, you're waiting for further developments that never come around. I let a bit of the dram hang out for close to a year, and recently retried it... much better. SCORE: 82 (sitting for a year- SCORE: 87)

-Japanese Single Malt-

Suntory Yamazaki 12- WOW. Expressive, different. I loved this Malt from the first snifter. Honeyish, floral and bold. SCORE: 94

-Blended Malts-

Usquaebach Highland Blend- I was given a 1/2 pint jar of this malt. It appears to be bottled in the 60s, maybe earlier. Made for the Twelve Stone Flagons Ltd. Very minty, almost candy like. The dram's condition wasn't great, and evaporation had set in, so it was extremely unique. SCORE: 84

Usquaebach 15- VERY minty, almost chocolate-ish. The only blend that I regularly order when at a Scotch bar. Fantastic for the price, as well. SCORE: 86

Johnny Walker Red- Bitey, immature for its age and abrasive. SCORE: 68

Johnny Walker Black 12- A pretty good blend, but way overpriced. SCORE: 74

Johnny Walker Green- Gross. They were trying for way too much here. I'd like to revisit it sometime, but it hasn't been worth the money at this point.They used way too many different vmalts from different backgrounds in this Vatted Malt. SCORE: 73

Johnny Walker Gold 18- Easily the best Walker has to offer. Very overpriced compared to much better Singles in its price range, but 1/3 the price of Walker Blue. SCORE: 85

Johnny Walker Blue- EXTREMELY overpriced and completely unworthy of even 1/4 of its price. SCORE: 83

Famous Grouse 12- Out of all the blends that you can typically find at a so-so to decent bar, I prefer Grouse. Rather a vatted malt, than a blended one, it uses Macallan and Highland Park along with its own malts. SCORE: 76

Teachers Highland Cream- I was given a bottle of a rather old Teachers Cream, and really enjoyed its creamy mint flavors. I have not tried a new bottling of any of the distillery's malts. SCORE: 74

Chivas Regal- Eh... way too Canadian for my liking. SCORE: 69

Cutty Sark- Eww. Very grainy, even Vodka like. Weak at times and bitter. SCORE: 59

Dimple Pinch- Pretty harsh, but a solid blend. SCORE 75

Pinch 15- It flatlines out from body to finish with no real indication of where one starts and ends. A good flavor, though. Strong, taut. SCORE: 78

J&B- Not worth writing anything further. SCORE: 56