World’s Best Single Malt Scotch by the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Whisky’s origins are shrouded in mystery, with speculations that date back to around the year 1000, but one thing is certain: we’re living in a golden age of whiskey, with distilleries around the world churning out stunning bottles that redefine the increasingly popular spirit.

But this abundance presents a problem for drinkers: where should they look if they want the very best in whiskey? While many point to the burgeoning American bourbon industry and booming Japanese whiskey market as the pinnacle of whiskey distillation, no country does the art of distilling quite like Scotland.

Ireland is one of the birthplaces of whiskey, and another. Irish distillers use centuries of experience to produce outstanding Scotch that continues to turn heads. Nowhere is that mastery more evident than in a well-made single malt Scotch. Originating in the rugged Scottish Highlands, these Scotches are typically produced by small, family-run distilleries, and each one is a work of art.

The whiskey is distilled in a pot still from a mash of malted barley and aged in oak barrels for a minimum of three years at a single distillery, giving it a distinctive regional flavour profile. Its limited production and long maturation period have made it a legendary unicorn in the whiskey world, with some bottles selling for six-figure prices.

To help you find the best bottles currently available on the market, we turned to the venerable San Francisco World Spirits Competition. As one of the world’s premier spirits competitions, a panel of blind tasting judges selects the best bottles on the planet each year. The competition has announced the finalist list for its coveted Best in Class Scotch award, with the winners to be announced in October. You can find all of the bottles that were selected in the Single Malt Scotch category here; we’ve already covered the finalists in the Blended Scotch category.

Single Malt Scotch – No age statement

Old Pulteney Huddart

Huddart Expression pays tribute to Old Pulteney’s maritime tradition of maturing whisky on the northeast coast of Scotland, and is smooth and smoky with notes of vanilla and honey.

Smokehead Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

This single malt from Islay, famous for its Scotch, is bold and dynamic, with the judges describing the tasting notes as “rich and fruity”.

Arran Single Malt Sherry Cask Finish

Bottled at 55.8% ABV, this Scotch is aged in sherry casks, resulting in a full-bodied whisky with flavors of dried fruit, nuts and spice.

Glenglassow Sunend

A truly memorable and multi-acclaimed single malt, Glenglassaugh Sund pays homage to its roots, drawing inspiration from the beaches near the distillery. It was aged in bourbon, sherry and manzanilla casks to create a Scotch with vibrant tropical flavours.

Loch Lomond Classic

Loch Lomond Classic is the perfect introduction to single malt, offering a complex flavour profile with fresh fruit, vanilla and a hint of smokiness at an affordable price.

Single Malt Scotch – up to 12 years

Aberlour 12 year single malt scotch whisky

This smooth Scotch from Speyside has fruity, gingerbread aromas, followed by apple and chocolate notes on the palate and a sweet, lingering finish.

Arran Single Malt 10 Year

Hailing from the Isle of Arran off the west coast of Scotland, this smooth Scotch has floral notes on the nose followed by flavors of dried prunes, sherry and dark fruit on the palate.

Port Askaig 8 years

One of the newer distilleries in the single malt world, Port Askaig was founded in 2009 and is turning heads with its new products. Their 8-Year Aged Single Malt is a smoky Scotch with tropical notes on the nose and palate, and a sweet, smoky finish.

Benromach 10 years

Founded in 1898, Benromach is a traditional Speyside distillery dedicated to producing single malt whiskies of true character. The 10 Year Old is a robust, creamy Scotch with dark fruit and sherry flavours on the nose and palate, and lingering oak flavours.

Tobermory 12 years

Tobermory, on the windswept Isle of Mull, can trace its history back to the 18th century and has been gaining fame in recent years. The 12 Year Old is a well-balanced Scotch with malty aromas followed by floral and dried fruit notes on the palate.

Single Malt Scotch – 13 to 19 years

Glendronach Allardyce 18 Year Old

For nearly 200 years, drinkers have been blessed with fine bottles of Glendronach single malt Scotch. The company’s Allardy’s 18 Year Old is a well-balanced Scotch with well-integrated oak flavors, malty and fruit aromas and texture, and a flavorful, sweet finish.

Longmorn 18 Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky

This limited release bottle is a rich Speyside Scotch with aromas and mouthfeel of toffee, apricot and dried fruit, and a sweet, chocolatey finish.

Tomatin 18 years

Tomatin 18 Year Old from Northern Scotland is a rich Scotch with a floral and dried fruit aroma. On the palate, it has sweet malt, light smokiness, peppery flavors, and a long, sweet, slightly dry finish.

Aberlour 2010 Vintage Double Cask

This Single Cask Edition Scotch from Aberlour is packed with flavour – aromas of apple, vanilla and plum on the nose, followed by berry, oak and caramel on the palate, resulting in an elegant Scotch with a creamy finish.

Highland Park 15 Year Single Malt Scotch

Originating from the remote Orkney Islands, an archipelago off the northeast coast of Scotland surrounded by the frigid North Sea, this Scotch is unique in its taste: each flavor has notes of cinnamon, vanilla and tropical fruit on the nose, a subtle smoky flavor on the palate and a smooth, flavorful finish.

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Single Malt Scotch – 20+ Years

Glendronach Parliament 21 Year

Named after the flock of crows that have nested near the Glendronach distillery for nearly 200 years, the Scotch is aged for at least 21 years in Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. The final liquid is rich and has “pipe and tobacco aromas,” judges said.

Tomatin, 45 years old

This rare and highly sought-after single malt Scotch is priced from $8,500 and is the perfect addition to any whiskey lover’s collection. Only 250 bottles were produced, and judges said it had “fresh smoky notes and pairs well with cigars.”

Tomintoul Distillery 21 Year Old

Tomintoul Distillery’s 21-Year Single Malt is a well-priced scotch that has been winning awards for years, typically priced around $300. It’s a complex Scotch that beautifully balances fresh citrus notes with sweet toffee flavors and a spicy finish.

Glenfiddich 23 Year Grand Cru

One of the whisky world’s most legendary distilleries, Glenfiddich has been producing memorable whiskies for over a century. Their 23 Year Old Grand Cru is aged in American and European oak barrels before being finished in French Cuvée casks. The result is a Scotch with the perfect balance of fruitiness, oak and subtle sweetness.

Talisker 45 Year Old

Talisker 45 Year Old is a rare gem that highlights the skill and excellence that Skye’s distillers consistently demonstrate in each bottling, offering a beautiful balance of both the smokiness and fruitiness for which Talisker is world-renowned.