Ardbeg Wee Beastie 5 Year Old
Tasting Notes: Herbs, vanilla, pear, Turkish coffee, pine, honey-glazed ham, fennel, aniseed, green apple, leather, smoke, black pepper, chocolate, creosote, tar, eucalyptus, savory meats, salty, cocoa, fudge
BUY NOW: From $55
Don’t underestimate this five-year-old. Ardbeg Wee Beastie took Gold at the 2023 International Whisky Competition for Best Scotch Under 10 Years Old, and for good reason.
Distilled on Islay at the historic Ardbeg Distillery, known for its intense, smoky malts, Wee Beastie was designed to be bold and affordable. It’s widely available in both the UK and U.S. and priced well under $60. For fans of peated whisky, it’s a standout.
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Ardbeg 10 Year Old
Tasting Notes: Lemon, lime, peat, dark chocolate, menthol, black pepper, smoked fish, bacon, bell peppers, pineapple, pear, pine, vanilla, cinnamon, almond coffee, toffee, brine, buttermilk, banana, currants, toasted marshmallows, espresso, liquorice root
BUY NOW: From $63
Ardbeg 10 is a modern classic and a go-to for lovers of smoky scotch. In 2023, it won Gold at the International Whisky Competition for Best 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch.
Matured entirely in ex-bourbon casks and bottled at 46% ABV, it’s non-chill filtered to retain its bold character. Expect notes of citrus, espresso, brine, and a deep, earthy peat smoke.
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READ THE STORYArdbeg 10 helped relaunch the distillery brand after its 1990s revival. It is now a staple in whisky shops across the UK and U.S., and still one of the best values in peated scotch.
Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 Year Old
Tasting Notes: Peppermint, dark chocolate, fruit, walnut, black pepper, Mandarin orange, melted marshmallow
BUY NOW: From $65
Quinta Ruban 14 is Glenmorangie’s boldest core release, and in 2023, it won Gold at the International Whisky Competition for Best 13–14 Year Old Scotch.
It starts in ex-bourbon casks before a two-year finish in ruby Port pipes from Portugal’s Douro Valley. Bottled at 46% ABV and non-chill filtered, it’s full of dark chocolate, orange zest, and cooling mint. Glenmorangie describes the drinking experience as “like stepping into a chocolate-minty-orange unknown, the journey is as delicious as the destination.”
Produced in the Highlands at Glenmorangie’s Tain distillery, known for its tall stills and elegant spirit, Quinta Ruban offers layered richness with a smooth finish. It’s widely stocked in both the UK and the U.S. and delivers luxury flavor at an everyday price.
Benromach 15 Year Old
Tasting Notes: Cracked pepper, charred oak, apples, dark chocolate, forest fruits, sherry, a touch of smoke
BUY NOW: From $75
Benromach 15 has quietly become one of Speyside’s best-kept secrets. It took Gold at the 2023 International Whisky Competition and earned a Platinum Medal at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Matured in first-fill bourbon and sherry casks, and bottled at 43% ABV, it offers notes of dark chocolate, dried fruit, and a wisp of smoke. A nod to Benromach’s lightly peated style.
Made in Forres by the independent Gordon & MacPhail-owned distillery, it’s crafted with a deliberately traditional approach. It’s available in the UK and through specialist U.S. retailers, offering serious depth for the price.
Glenglassaugh Sandend
Tasting Notes: Buttery vanilla ice cream, tropical fruit, chocolate, sea salt, salted caramel, pineapple, cherry, grapefruit
BUY NOW: From $59
Named Whisky Advocate’s 2023 Whisky of the Year, Glenglassaugh Sandend is a coastal Highland malt with a bright, tropical twist.
Matured in a mix of bourbon and Manzanilla sherry casks and bottled at 50.5% ABV, it balances creamy vanilla, sea breeze salinity, and ripe fruit.
Revived in recent years after decades of silence, Glenglassaugh now produces small-batch whiskies by the sea in Aberdeenshire. Sandend is part of its relaunched core range and remains available in the UK and at select US retailers. A hidden gem, now firmly in the spotlight.
Sanded was also shortlisted for The Whisky Exchange’s Whisky of the Year 2024.
Arran Sherry Cask
Tasting Notes: Toffee, sweet spice, fruit, ripe fig, cherries, dark chocolate, Mandarins
BUY NOW: From $57
This cask strength release from the Isle of Arran Distillery delivers serious impact. It earned a Double Gold medal at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and was also shortlisted for The Whisky Exchange’s Whisky of the Year 2024.
Fully matured in sherry hogsheads and bottled at 55.8% ABV without chill filtration, it’s rich with notes of dried fruit, dark chocolate, and baking spice.
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