Blended whisky still makes up most of the whisky sold across the world. It is one of the foundations on which the industry is built. So, for those who still look down on blends, for whatever reason, we’ve listed six blended Scotch whiskies and blended malts below that offer wonderful flavors and have some incredible stories behind them. All of these whiskies were recently honored at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2026.
As a reminder of how they are made, this list includes both blended Scotch whiskies and blended malt whiskies. A blended Scotch whisky is a combination of single malt whisky and single grain whisky, typically sourced from two or more distilleries. A blended malt whisky is made only from single malts sourced from more than one distillery. No grain whisky is included.
Isle of Skye 21 Year Old Blended Whisky, 40%, £120/$160 – Double Gold Medal
Put together by the folks at Ian Macleod, Isle of Skye blended whisky does have components from the island itself, but also includes whisky from the Scottish mainland. Finding a blended Scotch whisky of this age at a contextually affordable price is quite remarkable, especially once you get to taste it.
What Will Whisky Look Like in 2027? Voices from Whisky Live Paris
READ THE STORYThe smokiness is not the driving force here. Instead, beautiful notes of mango and banana lead the adventure. The smoke is there, but it plays a supporting role in a well-balanced flavor profile. A great celebratory purchase.
Noble Rebel Hazelnut Harmony Blended Malt, 46%, £40/$53 – Double Gold Medal
Our first blended malt, now.
This is a bottle of whisky for those of you who enjoy a flavor challenge. When I first tried this, it certainly came across as a sweet, nutty, toasted style of blended malt. Underneath all of those toasty notes, there are exotic and tart flavors of grapefruit, lemon zest, almond frangipane, and browned butter.
Trending Content
It’s a complex and interesting whisky that offers a lot for the money.
Chivas Regal 18 Year Old Blended Whisky, 40%, £58/$77 – Gold Medal
A massive classic here. I don’t talk about Chivas Regal a lot, and I’m not sure why, but the 18 year old is a bottle I have always enjoyed.
It is arguably the best of the Chivas Regal range when it comes to flavor versus price, and it has this incredible caramel note that always shines through. That is not rare in whisky, but it just works. It is delicious and has all of the classic characteristics of a gentle, well-loved blend that so many people reach for across the world.
MacNair’s Lum Reek 12 Year Old Blended Malt, 46%, £59/$79 – Double Gold Medal
Another blended malt. A combination of GlenAllachie single malt whiskies and other peated whiskies sourced from across Scotland, this blended malt is aged in a selection of ex-bourbon, ex-Pedro Ximénez sherry, and ex-red wine casks.
It has everything you could want from a rich, smoky, sticky style of Scotch whisky. Notes of mocha coffee, heather honey, peat smoke, chewy raisins, and waves of butterscotch make this a true delight when it comes to blended malt whiskies. If you like Billy Walker products and are yet to try this, add it to the list.
Dewar’s 16 Year Old Blended Whisky, 40%, £75/$100 – Double Gold Medal
This Dewar’s release brings together two distinct sides of Scotch whisky through a double maturation process. One half of the liquid is finished in ex-Oloroso sherry casks, while the other half is finished in ex-Islay peated whisky casks.
As a result, there is a subdued, manageable smokiness that does not overpower anything. It simply adds depth to the whisky. The rest is all about honey, cinnamon, vanilla, and notes of Irish coffee. A different style of Dewar’s, but one that works really well.
CRN57 18 Year Old Blended Malt, 43%, £80/$107 – Double Gold Medal
A final blended malt. You get an incredible twin approach to this product. Not only has it been put together by the minds at Gordon & MacPhail, but it is also part of the story of what whiskies from The Cairn Distillery may taste like in the future.
Using numerous single malts from the G&M back catalogue, they have combined malts from across Scotland to help put this together. The nose is all about big fruits, with lots of raspberry and strawberry. The palate brings in milk chocolate, dried banana, and lime. The finish is citrus-driven, with a little spice that pulls some of those other citrus flavors through.
Give Blended Scotch Its Due
There are some incredible blends and blended malts available to all of us, and no matter what the whisky is labeled as, it deserves a chance to impress you.
These whiskies have been put together by some of the best people to have ever worked under the Scotch whisky umbrella. So, if you do have any reservations about blends or blended malts, let these change your mind.
