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Fifty Best Single Malt Scotch 10-12
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Best Single Malt Scotch, 10-12 Years Old
If a hierarchy of nobility were established for distilled spirits, then single malt scotch would certainly be the King. No other alcoholic beverage commands such loyalty, reverence and respect.
There are over 100 malt distilleries in Scotland producing malts that can be called “Scotch”. To bear that appellation, a whisky must be distilled and matured in oak barrels for at least three years in Scotland. The term “Scotch” is proprietary – but the term “Single-Malt Whisky” can be applied to malt whiskies produced in other countries. Single malt scotch is produced at one distillery, using only malted barley as the grain, and distilled in copper pot stills.
The wide range of subtleties and complexities can be attributed to the different regions in Scotland where the whiskies are produced. The result is a richly flavored whisky, highly individualistic in nature and diverse in taste. Speyside, situated on—or near—the Spey River boasts about half of Scotland’s distilleries, produces malts that are sweet, mellowed and fruity. Highlands whiskies tend to be quite varied, spicier with hints of smoke and peat. To the south, the Scottish Lowlands produce softer, lighter, maltier whiskies. Campbeltown malts tend to be briny, salty and lightly peated. Whiskies from the Scottish coastlines, Islay and the islands, are often briny, heavily peated and smoky.
The difference between single malt and blended scotch is that blends contain multiple combinations of single malts and neutral grain spirits. Although blended scotch is still dominant in volume, the current trend is towards single malt scotch, which has seen rapid growth in recent years.
The Tasting:
At Cigar Inn in NYC, 26 journalists, retailers and aficionados tasted 19 single malt scotch whiskies, aged 10-12 years. Strict tasting rules were implemented. The products were served "blindly", without distractions of brand names. The order of service was established beforehand by lottery. Each of the scotches were poured into fresh glasses from new sealed bottles, and immediately served at room temperature. Ice water and bar mix was available to cleanse the palate. Tasters were encouraged to add a few drops of water to the scotch, if desired. The judges wrote down their impressions of each product on score sheets.
The scoring was done on a 5-point system, with 5 as the best. After totaling up the scores, the single malts were ranked according to the total scores received. Ties are listed in alphabetical order. Double-Gold, Gold and Silver medals are awarded based on a set range of point scores.
The tasting notes that follow the rankings are a summary of the results, and all replicate commentary has been eliminated while contrasting opinions have been summarized. Prices quoted are for 750ml sizes, and may vary by state.
TASTING RESULTS:
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1. Cragganmore 12 - (Speyside) $50
Nose: Floral elements, hint of pineapple, easy vanilla, fruity, wood. Palate: Controlled wood, cedar, creamy, orange peel, dark fruit, dried fruit, citrus, hint of vanilla, toffee, cinnamon, cloves, some spice, hot orange, smoked pepper, floral, sherry, rich mouthfeel, well-balanced, very smooth, refined, easy to drink, very nice, excellent. Finish: Clean, smooth, dried fruit, oaky almond, creamy, sherry, spicy, lingering.
Double Gold Medal
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2. Laphroaig 10 - (Islay) $50
Nose: Peat, oak, nuts, orange. Palate: Caramel, vanilla, dried fruit, pear, off-lemon, cashews, toast, peaty, smoky, charcoal, woody, oak, leather, hint of sweetness, spicy, pepper, nice. Finish: Smooth, pepper, buttery, light treacle, smoky, nice, kind, even, long.
Double Gold Medal
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3. Three-Way Tie - Dalmore 12 - (Highlands) $50
Nose: Medium oak, citrus, caramel, light charred wood, dried berries, orange, earthy. Palate: Rich, caramel, trace of oak, sherry, vanilla, almond, Fourth of July pepper, tangerine, fruity, floral character, creamy, honey sweetness, hint of cinnamon, leathery, salty, slightly smoky, smooth, well-balanced, classic. Finish: Coffee, ginger, smooth, short, great, long.
Double Gold Medal
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Glenfarclas 12 - (Speyside) $50
Nose: Spicy, dried fruit, cherry. Palate: Caramel, vanilla, creamy, butter, toffee, almond, orange, sweet, some spice, herbs, woody, oak, smooth, beautiful, exceptional. Finish: Great, brilliant, balanced.
Double Gold Medal
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Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength
Batch 003 - (Islay) $72
Nose: Smoke, spearmint, caramel, butterscotch, bourbon, orange peel, spice, nutty, floral. Palate: Peaty, dark wood, coal, ash, woody, honey, cherry, spicy vanilla, dried fruit, ginger notes, peppermint, cinnamon, some spice, nutty, oily, full bodied, cask strength, tangy, chewy mouthfeel, opens with water, well rounded, smooth, aged, mellow. Finish: Strong, spicy, nice, long.
Double Gold Medal
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4. Tomintoul 12 Limited Edition
Oloroso Cask Finish - (Speyside) $70
Nose: Citrus into orange, butterscotch, honey, caramel, spice, pepper. Palate: Sweet, spicy, subtle, savory, sherry, molasses, brown sugar, burnt honey, caramel, toffee, oaky, nutty, salty, caraway, clove, orange peel, dark fruits, rustic, musky, oily, medicinal. Finish: Chocolate cake, salty, spicy, rum cask, nice, even, smooth, balanced.
Gold Medal
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5. Glenkinchie 12 - (Lowland) $50
Nose: Light smoke, citrus, honey. Palate: Peppery, spicy, oak, smoky almond, salty, hint of peat, malty, herbaceous, grassy, floral, cereal, clove, ginger, dried fruit, honey, caramel, treacle, toffee, raisin, lemon, citrus, sweet, oily, silky, smooth, elegant mouthfeel, well balanced. Finish: Nice, with honey and dark fruits.
Gold Medal
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6. Three-Way Tie - Aberfeldy 12 - (Highlands) $45
Nose: Light, vanilla, fruity, caramel. Palate: Peaty, nutty, baked cloves, rich layers, some spice, nutmeg, acorn, honey, vanilla, caramel, sweet to semi-sweet, fruity, orange notes, citrus oil, oak, light cedar, oily, light on smoke, well-balanced, very good, very smooth, excellent. Light bodied. Finish: Woody, nutty, toffee, pepper, medium.
Gold Medal
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Benromach 10- (Speyside) $45
Nose: Orange, caramel, oak. Palate: Peaty, chocolate, charcoal, caramel, vanilla, smoke, smoky oak with spice, woody, leather, salty, bacon, dark roasted coffee bean, cereal, malty, hints of berries, dark fruits, apricot, orange peel, smooth, medium bodied, interesting. Finish: Spicy, pure, velvety, medium-to-long.
Gold Medal
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Old Pulteney 12- (Highlands) $40
Nose: Vanilla, orange, citrus, almond, creamy, malty. Palate: Woody, peppery, smoky, creamy, vanilla, butterscotch, caramel, hint of toffee, orange peel, dried fruit, cinnamon, apples, fruity, almond cedar, sweet, spicy, salty, floral, mossy, tannic, smooth, delicious. Light bodied. Mild heat. Finish: Even with leather, toffee, notes of citrus and some spice.
Gold Medal
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7. Two-Way Tie - Arran 10 - (Isle of Arran) $50
Nose: Smoke, spearmint, caramel, butterscotch, bourbon, orange peel, spice, nutty, floral. Palate: Fruity, tannic, spiced, husky melon into chocolate, right amount of peat, hint of smoke, woody, nutty, toffee, caramel, dark fruits, citrus, floral notes, creamy, light, smooth, pleasant. Light bodied. Finish: Lovely almond, ginger, vanilla.
Gold Medal
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The Balvenie 12 DoubleWood - (Speyside) $52
Nose: Mild, robust, orange peel, brown sugar, butterscotch. Palate: Caramel, citrus, mandarin orange, orange, dried fruit, nuts, almond, peppermint, creamy, buttery, vanilla, honey, sweet, salty, spice, some smoke, woody, touch of peat, balanced, smooth, elegant, classic. Finish: Soft, long, complex, spicy, nutty.
Gold Medal
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8. Two-Way Tie - Ardbeg 10 - (Islay) $57
Nose: Sweet, toasty oats, caramel, almond, woody, moss, peaty. Palate: Peaty, smoky, sweet, mild spice, smooth, creamy body, citrus tones, honey, vanilla, butter, pepper, leather, charcoal, medicinal, cedar, light bodied, balanced, water releases floral notes, toasty notes and wood (oak) on back of palate. Finish: Complex, sweet, lingering, with a hint of cloves.
Gold Medal
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Tomatin 12- (Highlands) $36
Nose: Peaty, floral, vanilla, brandied cherries. Palate: Citrus, lemon/orange, creamy, vanilla, caramel, burnt sugar, toffee, coffee beans, fruity, almond, ginger, sweet, rich, spicy, pepper, tannic, peaty, oak, cedar, medium smoke, hint of sherry, medicinal, smooth. Finish: Great, smooth, coffee, toffee, pleasant bite.
Gold Medal
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9. Talisker 10 - (Isle of Skye) $60
Nose: Rich, light oak, fruity, citrus, vague vanilla, caramel, raisin. Palate: Caramel, vanilla, light smoke, tanic, slight oak, cereal, toasty, toffee, dried fruit, cinnamon, mild citrus, floral, fruity, sherry, sweet, spicy, pepper, musky, oily. Full mouthfeel. Medium bodied. Finish: Smooth, slightly spicy, peppery, coffee, lingering.
Silver Medal
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10. Speyburn 10 - (Highlands) $27
Nose: Lemon, cedar, lightly sweet, fruity, flowery, rosebuds. Palate: Smoky, woody character, toffee, vanilla, butter, caramel, clove, almond, coconut, tropical notes, raisins, ginger, floral, sweet, nutty, oak, hints of pepper, some spice, sherry, creamy, smooth. Finish: Nice, smooth, light pepper, hint of lime, strong.
Silver Medal
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11. - Jura 10 - (Isle of Jura) $42
Nose: Herbal, vegetal, floral, light oak, cedar, butter, vanilla, cinnamon. Palate: Herbal, vegetal, floral, heather, oak, butter, vanilla, caramel, orange, mango, citrus fruit, tropical fruit, fruity, raisin, light chocolate, sweet, surprising pepper, slightly peaty, leather, smoke, oily. Finish: Long, spicy, malt, hot, nice bite.
Silver Medal
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12. Glengoyne 10- (Highlands) $45
Nose: Salty, maritime, light citrus, burnt caramel, lightly floral. Palate: Strong pepper start, herbaceous, grassy, floral, woody, oak heat, cereal, toast, saltines, dark chocolate, vanilla, sweet, spicy, smoky, musty, tangy. Finish: Complex, sweet, oak, espresso, strong, harsh, short.
Silver Medal
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13. - Caol Ila 12 - (Islay) $60
Nose: Smoky, peaty, butter, vanilla, citrus. Palate: Heavy peat, toasty, bread, mild smoke, cedar, iodine, oaky, peppery, fruity, nutty, salty, briny, oily, charcoal, citrus, tropical flowers, tulip, honey, toffee, vanilla, mediocre, disappointing. Finish: Weak, smooth, creamy, smoky, ashy, rough.
Silver Medal
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