5 Whiskies That Are Already Contenders for My Bottle of the Year 2026

We are only halfway through 2026, and yet it already feels like the golden age of Scotch is showing no signs of slowing down. Despite a few wobbles from some of the bigger brands, the sheer volume of liquid gold hitting the shelves this year has been phenomenal.

So I wanted to pause and highlight five standout drams that have genuinely impressed me, each of them a serious contender for my whisky of the year. Grab a dram and join me as I run through them.

First up is the Symington’s 10, a blended Scotch that caught me completely off guard. Bottled at 46% ABV, natural colour and non-chill filtered, this is outrageous value at around thirty quid. Confirmed at 50% malt with cherry and bourbon matured whiskies inside, the nose offers musty honeycomb, blackcurrant jam tarts and a warm vanilla Coke float. There is a lovely funk on the palate too, with cereal, barley and minced pies. It is amazingly approachable and one of the best bangs for your buck out there.

Next is the Clynelish 10 Year Old Signatory 100 Proof, the first bottle of Clynelish to ever hit my shelf. Matured in refill oloroso and new oak hogsheads at 57.1% ABV, it is everything you want to see on a label. And yes, I am going to say waxy. That mysterious waxy character, believed to build up in the spirit receiver vessels, gives this dram a chewy, oily mouthfeel alongside lemon peel, green apple and buttery sweets. Just banging stuff.

I will admit a little bias with my third pick, the Benromach Champion Edition 2, the Friends of Benromach exclusive that happens to have my face on it. This 14 year old virgin oak single cask is bottled at cask strength, natural colour and non-chill filtered. It bursts with tropical fruits, wood spices, banana and citrus, yet somehow avoids being overly oaky. For a self-confessed virgin oak sceptic, that is no small achievement. A complex, deep, intense thinker of a whisky.

From the Willy Wonka land of whisky comes the Loch Lomond Distillery Edition 11, a 4 year old single grain made with unmalted and unpeated barley. At 59.6% ABV and just thirty-nine quid, it delivers kiwi, mango, apple pies and fizzy sweets. All 400 bottles vanished rapidly, and I am watching Loch Lomond even more closely now.

Finally, the Woodrow’s of Edinburgh Jane Street Collection, The Smoky One. A secret Islay single malt bottled at 48.5%, this is one of the most balanced peated whiskies I have had. Smoky blackberries, summer campfire warmth and an aromatic, welcoming smoke make it balanced but never boring.

These five have set a seriously high bar for the rest of the year. So which bottles do I need to grab to beat them, and what are your standouts so far?

To see the bottles themselves and hear my thoughts, check out my YouTube video.