The International Wine & Spirit Competition awarded scores of 93 points or higher to multiple 21-year-old whiskies in 2026, covering single malts and blends from across Scotland.
The Dalmore Concludes Cask Curation Series with $47k Madeira Cask Edition
READ THE STORYAt this age, whisky can command a considerable price, but the results include bottles at several different price points and from distilleries with very different house styles. From the gentle smoke of Benromach and tropical fruit of Tomintoul to the rich sherry influence of Ballantine’s and Madeira-finished Aberfeldy, these are my personal picks for 21-year-old whiskies that stood out at the IWSC 2026.
Benromach 21 Year Old, 43%, £150 / $200 – Spirit Gold 2026, 95 points
Matured in a combination of first-fill ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, this 21-year-old release has some considerable oak influence behind it. As some of you may know, Benromach also brings a gentle influence of peat to its core range.
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It is full of orange marmalade, dark chocolate, sweet smoke, and freshly charred oak that lingers throughout the finish. This is a wonderful example of Benromach’s style, showing how its gentle peat character can become more pronounced in an older release.
Chivas Brothers Royal Salute 21 Year Old, 40%, £190 / $250 – Spirit Gold 2026, 96 points
Originally released to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, Royal Salute remains a relevant and interesting blend more than 70 years later. As a blended Scotch whisky, it contains both single malt and single grain whiskies, with Speyside malts playing an important role in its profile.
The nose is packed with fresh fruit and moves towards the tropical side. The palate and finish become slightly darker, with notes of chocolate, hazelnut, and softly spiced fruit reminiscent of Christmas mince pies. It is a classic whisky that can sometimes be overlooked simply because it has been around for so long.
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Scapa 21 Year Old, 52.9%, £230 / $300 – Spirit Gold 2026, 95 points
Scapa relaunched its range last year to considerable acclaim, a good amount of it coming from me. Much of my attention was focused on the 10 Year Old, but the older bottlings also have plenty to show off.
The nose on this whisky is one of the most sublime things I have encountered. It brings to mind banana splits, melted chocolate, juicy cherries, apricot jam, nutmeg, and cinnamon. The palate and finish are driven by those enormous sweet notes, with a welcome spiciness that counteracts the richness of the cask influence.
This is a stunning older release from a distillery whose spirit has long played an important role in blending.
Tomintoul 21 Year Old, 40%, £180 / $240 – Spirit Gold 2026, 94 points
Speaking of tropical fruit, few distilleries do it better than Tomintoul. Many of its releases deliver prominent notes of mango and pineapple, while this particular expression also reminds me of grapefruit.
The finish is all about butter: buttery pastry, brown butter, sweet nuttiness, creamed toffee, and vanilla cream. Tomintoul has built its reputation on producing gentle but dependable single malt whiskies, and this well-aged release is a wonderful expression of that style.
Ballantine’s 21 Year Old, 40%, £135 / $178 – Spirit Silver 2026, 94 points
Another blend from Pernod Ricard, Ballantine’s 21 Year Old has not been around for quite as long as Royal Salute, but it has still established itself as an impressive aged blend.
Originally launched in 1993, the whisky relies heavily on Speyside single malts, some of which are reportedly matured well beyond the age statement on the bottle. The influence of European oak sherry casks gives the blend considerable body and weight, while the sweeter grain whisky contributes notes of toffee, honey, and coconut alongside the richer sherry character.
Tobermory 21 Year Old, 46.3%, £175 / $230 – Spirit Silver 2026, 93 points
A relatively recent addition to the whisky world, this unpeated spirit from Tobermory was matured in ex-bourbon casks before being finished in ex-Oloroso sherry casks.
Tobermory can produce some fascinating flavors that move between sweet and savory, and this older release does the same. It begins with rich red fruit, grilled pineapple, fudge, and treacle. The palate retains the pineapple while introducing more sticky toffee and a subtle coastal character.
The finish is rounded out by salted caramel fudge, juicy pineapple, and a touch of lime. It is a lovely, complex bottle of whisky.
Aberfeldy 21 Year Old Madeira Cask, 40%, £155 / $200 – Spirit Silver 2026, 93 points
When you take a honey-driven, naturally sweet whisky such as Aberfeldy and finish it for a year in sun-soaked Madeira wine casks, the results are likely to be interesting.
The nose offers plenty of figs and sweet Madeira wine, alongside notes of sticky toffee pudding, grilled fruit, orange zest, and Aberfeldy’s familiar honey character. The palate and finish are richer and more intense, with warm chocolate cake, vanilla custard, spiced orange, and roasted peanuts, all steeped in sweet Madeira wine.
It is absolutely delicious and unapologetically indulgent.
Are 21-Year-Old Whiskies Worth The Price?
Older whiskies have developed a reputation for being prohibitively expensive over the past decade, and prices have certainly climbed during that time. None of these bottles could reasonably be described as everyday purchases, but there is still a meaningful difference between a £135 blend and a £230 single malt.
For anyone looking for a special bottle, the IWSC results provide several strong options. Whether you prefer a malt or a blend, gentle smoke or tropical fruit, rich sherry influence or a sweeter wine-cask finish, these seven whiskies demonstrate just how much variety can exist beneath the same 21-year age statement.
