To mark the occasion, I’ve explored the top NAS single malts that triumphed in their respective Scottish whisky regions. From the maritime magic of Campbeltown to the smoky allure of Islay, this guide showcases the very best bottles to add to your collection—or savor straight away. Let’s dive into the details and discover what makes these whiskies true winners.
Glen Scotia Double Cask Rum Finish
Category: No Age Statement Single Malt Scotch
Region: Campbeltown
Tasting Notes: Cooked sugar, maritime sea spray, tropical fruits, molasses, coconut, banana, sweet peach, spice
BUY NOW: $50
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This expression, hailing from Glen Scotia Distillery in Campbeltown, is a tribute to the town’s history as a busy international shipping port. Located at the end of the Kintyre Peninsula, Campbeltown was a strategic hub of trade activity during the Victorian era. According to Glen Scotia: “Records as far back as 1815, before [the distillery’s] founding, show casks of rum present and for sale in the local town.”
The resulting single malt is rich with quintessential Campbeltown character with notes of sea spray and brine, with a tropical twist of fruits and spice.
Glenmorangie Signet Reserve
Category: No Age Statement Single Malt Scotch
Region: Highlands
Tasting Notes: Dark chocolate sponge cake, espresso, hazelnut cream, orange zest, muscovado sugar, truffles, toffee, treacle, cinnamon, orange oil, chocolate raisins, raspberry
BUY NOW: $412
Okay, so this one is not quite as affordable as you might expect from a no age statement scotch whisky. However, Glenmorangie stands firm in its belief that Glenmorangie Signet Reserve offers a rich and decadent tasting experience, constituting a step up from the standard Signet expression.
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Glenmorangie Signet Reserve is Signet elevated. Selected parcels of matured Glenmorangie Signet are selected by Dr. Bill Lumsden and the Whisky Creation Team for an additional 12-month aging period in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks. It is bottled at 46% ABV.
The original Signet, first released in 2008, was born of the Whisky Creation Team’s desire to explore the richer side of Glenmorangie’s profile. For one week each year, all other whisky production at Glenmorangie is paused and all attention is focused on Signet. The single malt scotch whisky is matured in bourbon, sherry, and virgin oak casks and then balanced by some of the distillery’s oldest stocks.
As such, although there is no age statement on the bottle, whisky fans can rest assured that Glenmorangie Signet Reserve contains some very rare Glenmorangie stock, and constitutes an elevated and complex whisky-drinking experience.
Arran The Bodega Sherry Cask
Category: No Age Statement Single Malt Scotch
Region: Islands (Non-Islay)
Tasting Notes: Toffee, sweet spice, fruit, ripe fig, cherries, dark chocolate, mandarins, ripe figs
BUY NOW: $57
This expression from Arran and the Lochranza Distillery is part of the brand’s core range, and aims to showcase the complexity of sherry cask maturation. According to Arran, this whisky is “the perfect choice for someone who enjoys their Single Malt with plenty of body and complexity.”
Matured exclusively in specially selected sherry casks from bodegas in Jerez, Spain, the whisky is bottled at natural cask strength. Arran also states that this maturation program is “a return to the style of some of the earliest Arran Single Malt, which was mostly matured in Sherry Casks.”
If you are not afraid of mixing your scotch, Arran suggests enjoying this stunning whisky in a Sherry Cask Smoother Single Malt Cocktail:
Ingredients:
- 40 ml Arran Sherry Cask “The Bodega”
- 20 ml Frangelico
- 20 ml Cherry Heering
Method:
- Add all ingredients to a mixing glass
- Stir all ingredients over ice
- Strain into a pre-chilled glass
- Garnish with a Maraschino cherry and enjoy
Ardbeg Corryvreckan
Category: No Age Statement Single Malt Scotch
Region: Islay
Tasting Notes: Tarry ropes, creosote, linseed oil, dark chocolate, blackcurrants, muscovado sugar, cherries, pine, brine, seaweed, smoky bacon, vanilla, cloves, blueberries, menthol, treacle, chilli sauce, peppered steak, espresso, dark fruits, almonds, star anise, hickory, violets.
BUY NOW: $85
Ah, the Ardbeg Corryvreckan. This classic expression is, by Ardbeg’s admission “not for the faint-hearted”. And yet, this single malt scotch has garnered fans across the globe and was even named ‘World’s Best Single Malt’ in 2010.
Distilled from 100% Scottish malted barley, this whisky is matured in ex-bourbon and French oak casks for an unspecified time, adding to the mysterious intrigue surrounding this expression. The expression is named after the Corryvreckan whirlpool, a swirling maelstrom that lies north of Islay in the Gulf of Corryvreckan.
The dark and alluring whirlpool is reflected in the profile of this whisky, which is deep, rich, and powerful.
Corryvreckan is a firm Ardbeg fan favorite, and has been called an “Ardbeggian icon”. In June 2024, Ardbeg revived the legend of Corryvreckan with the release of The Abyss – an extension of the original Corryvreckan which was released in 2008.
Holyrood Distillery Embra
Category: No Age Statement Single Malt Scotch
Region: Lowlands
Tasting Notes: Lemon zest, horse chestnut pith, peppermint, hickory smoke, wafter biscuits, dark chocolate mousse, earthy peat smoke, stewed pears
BUY NOW: $78
Embra, from Holyrood Distillery in the Scottish Lowlands, takes its name from a colloquial term for Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital and Holyrood’s home. This is the second single malt release from Holyrood, preceded by Arrival and followed by Ambir.
Holyrood Distillery prides itself on doing something different with each expression. The idea for Embra was to produce a dram that is “a wee bit smoky” but still accessible to beginner whisky drinkers.
According to Calum Rae, Distillery Manager: “The mindset for Embra was to set the stage for an exploration into peated whisky. Edinburgh is the gateway to Scotland for many people and this is the idea at the heart of this spirit.
“We wanted to find the perfect balance of bold smoky flavours and textures of peated whisky while still being accessible to a new whisky drinker. When someone says they don’t like peated whisky, this is the whisky to hand to them. That doesn’t mean there isn’t something for the seasoned peated drinkers as we have all of the hallmark flavours and textures of a great whisky.”
Holyrood is also extremely open about every component that goes into its whisky, even going as far as to name every yeast strain used in fermentation (there are quite a few, you can find the full list here).
Embra is matured in a combination of majority first-fill bourbon with peated Islay quarter casks and new American oak in supporting roles.
Glen Moray Phoenix Rising
Category: No Age Statement Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Region: Speyside
Tasting Notes: Caramel, ginger, milk chocolate, pepper, light oak, nuts, malt
BUY NOW: $39
Launched in late 2023, Glen Moray Phoenix Rising paid tribute to the phoenix – a mythical bird that is reborn from its ashes once it dies. Phoenix Rising was finished in virgin oak charred casks – a rarity for the scotch whisky industry.
At the time of release Glen Moray’s Global Brand Ambassador, Iain Allan, said: “Glen Moray Phoenix Rising is our sweet and spicy tribute to the phoenix. Rather like that mythical bird, our new charred oak casks are scorched by fire. And just as the phoenix is reborn from its ashes, these casks bring a whole new spectrum of flavour to life. With inviting notes of caramel, ginger, and milk chocolate, this single malt makes the perfect gift for any whisky fan.”
This expression was exclusively available at the Glen Moray Distillery and select global markets. As a limited edition, it has now been discontinued, and can only be sourced through the secondary market. According to the World Whiskies Awards, though, the search is definitely worth it.
The World Whiskies Awards 2025
The winners of the World Whiskies Awards Scotland will advance to compete against victors from categories representing France, Ireland, Canada, Japan, the U.S.A., and the Rest of the World. The ultimate winners of the 2025 World’s Best awards will be unveiled in March. These regional heats allow brands from across the world to enter their spirits for rigorous tasting and judging.
As usual, we will be keeping you updated on the results of these competitions on our Best Whiskies page. Let’s see what more fascinating competition results (and incredible whiskies) 2025 has to offer!
