There’s never been a better time to get into drinking a dram, and our list here shows off some of the world’s best whisky, taste tested over the course of years.
It can be an intimidating liquid to get into — but with more variety of expressions from distilleries all over the world than ever before, there’s something to suit all tastes and budgets, whether you’re looking for a classic Scotch or a unique Japanese bottle.
We won’t get into it too much but whisky is typically from Scotland while others - spelled whiskey with an "e" - are from elsewhere, namely Ireland and America. However, you’ll see some exceptions like Maker’s Mark and Old Forester.
But we’re not worried about how it’s spelled, we’re all about the taste...
The key is to experiment and enjoy yourself — whatever you like has value. Our team of experts have personally taste tested each bottle below, and we’ve enjoyed each and every drink listed here, offering up our personal tasting notes to give you an idea of what to expect before you buy a bottle yourself.
You’ll find a wide variety of options from all over the globe represented here. We've got peated whiskies, Scotch, Irish, Japanese, single barrel, small batch, and most importantly, a range of ages, casks, and flavours.
Additional taste testing: Hermione Blandford, Marc Chacksfield, Gerald Lynch and Danielle de Wolfe
UPDATE: We have added in all our favoruite new releases and long-time go-tos for Summer 2025.
Best Whisky: The best whisky taste tested by our experts revealed
- These are the best gins from around the world
- If you are after American whiskey, then this is our best bourbon list
5 Whisky Tasting Tips: this is how to drink whisky
“There is only one way to properly drink whisky,” says Richard Foster, the founder of The English Whisky Society, is whatever way you enjoy it.
“If you want to mix Coke or Soda water with it, or slosh in tonnes of ice, be my guest. However, years of hard work have gone into making great whisky, so if you want to first experience what the distiller and blender intended, follow these easy steps to taste, before you waste:
1. Take a look at the colour in your glass
“It's surprisingly revealing looking at the viscosity, colour & darkness of a dram before you've nosed or sipped it. Over time you can start to tell things like age and cask type just by looking at a Whisky - or, if you're like me, you just enjoy swirling it dramatically a few times before step two…
2. Carefully nose the glass
“Don't thrust your sniffer straight in there - remember this is high-alcohol booze and all you're going to do is burn your olfactory senses with alcohol vapour. Rather, waft the glass across your nose from a few centimetres away and gradually bring it closer until you hit the sweet (or sour / smokey) spot. Different parts of your nose also pick up different scents so keep moving the glass for a full olfactory experience.”
3. Take a sip
“Don't be shy, get a good glug of the liquid and swoosh it round your mouth. Again you'll taste different flavours across your tongue. When you do swallow, take your time and savour the 'finish' at the end, some drams keep providing warmth and flavour well beyond this moment, so don't rush onto the next sip too quickly (and always drink responsibly!).”
4. Make up your own tasting notes
“You may have read about sun-charred leather chaps on a rodeo cowboys boots, or strange combinations of fruits, kids sweets or even unsavory descriptors used to describe the smell or taste of whisky. Don't worry, everyone's receptors are different and no two people smell alike (unless twins do, who knows) - the point is, most tasting notes are made-up anyway. It's fun trying to discern some of the components of the scent / taste or finish, but if all you get is ‘whisky’ - as long as you're enjoying it, don't worry too much with this dark art. As with anything, practise makes perfect (again with the responsible drinking!).
5. Time to add that mixer…
...just don't let me see - unless it's a Smokey Coke with a heavily peated whisky and a premium cola, in which case, make me one too!
How To Buy Whisky: A ShortList Guide
What you should look out for when buying and drinking whisky...
What makes a good whisky?
A simple enough question, though perhaps one without a simple answer. It all comes down to your personal preferences. There are certain preconceptions around whisky - Scotch, in particular - that it always has overwhelming flavours of smoke, oak and tobacco. And, while you’ll definitely find these notes in many whiskies - especially in those from the Islay region of Scotland - many Scotch also have flavours of citrus, vanilla and toffee.
The Scottish Lowlands are where you’ll find fantastic flavours of grapefruit, while Speyside whiskies are full of fruity notes such as apples and pears. If you have a sweeter tooth, Bourbons might be more your thing, with many having notes of vanilla, chocolate and honey.
How much should I spend on a bottle?
The price of whisky varies anywhere from £20 to the hundreds and thousands, so it can be hard to know what’s worth paying for and what isn’t. In general terms though, the longer a whisky has been ageing, the more it’s probably going to cost. This is simply because of how many hours distilleries have put into them, and how long they have to wait for the whisky to age. Most of these whiskies are left in barrels for over 20 years, so it can become a very time-consuming process - something the price often reflects.
For a younger 10 or 12 year Scotch expect to pay anywhere between £25-£45, while you can easily pay upwards of £100 once you’re looking at whiskies that have been aged for 15 years or more. Blended, Irish and Bourbon Whiskies tend to be slightly cheaper, and you’ll easily find a decent bottle around the £30 mark. If you’re planning to mix your drink, one of these is your best bet. The single malt and aged whiskies are best enjoyed neat or with one single ice cube.
Should I add ice?
There are plenty of traditional whisky drinkers who frown upon adding ice to your whisky. In fact, ice can be a great way of diluting whiskies and making it a bit more palatable. We’d suggest adding one large ice cube to your dram of whisky for the best results. These Ticent ice cube trays are a great size for these sort of ice cubes, and they even do spheres if you want to make your whisky extra special.
If you’d prefer not to add a whole ice cube to your whisky, we’d suggest experimenting with adding a couple of drops of water into your drink. That may make some scotch drinkers balk but adding a small amount of water has been found to ‘open up’ the whisky bringing out completely different notes from your typical dram.
If you’re partial to a splash of Scotch every now and then, we’d also suggest getting your hands on some whisky stones. These Sagaform Whiskey Stones are cut from recycled granite and are designed to cool down your drink without diluting it. They’re reusable so you simply wash them each time after use and then place them back in the freezer ready for your next drink.
What Is best to mix with whisky?
If you’d prefer to drink your blended or Irish whiskey with a mixer. There are a couple of options for you to consider. Ginger ale, cola and soda water are the most common pairings, though there are more bespoke mixers coming into the market including Sekforde Botanical Mixer. This sparkling water mixer has been created specifically to complement the flavours of whisky with flavours of Scilian orange, rosemary and spicy oak.
London Essence Ginger Ale is also a fantastic option if you like whiskies with a bit of a kick. Irish Whiskey and Ginger Ale is a classic pairing because the mixer adds sweetness while still bringing out the spicier notes in the whiskey. Soda Water is also fantastic if you prefer a longer drink. Double Dutch Soda Water is an award-winning brand that uses natural spring water from the North of England. Soda water still has a bitterness (as opposed to tonic water, which is sweeter) so it pairs well with all blended and Irish Whiskies as well as Bourbon.
The final option is a cola - the pairing you most likely had as a newly-turned 18-year-old. We would avoid the cheap 30p cola you were probably drinking then, but there are some more premium brands - such as Fentiman’s Curiosity Cola - that are great for mixing with blended whiskies. It’s a small batch cola and has a more herbaceous flavour than most big name brands. A great option if your whiskey has the sweeter notes of honey, vanilla and caramel.
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