Scotch Whisky Brands

Ahh, whisky, water of life. These are not my words or definition for whisky. According to the Gaelic word 'usquebaugh', whisky means 'Water of Life' (I'm sure my husband will be very happy to learn this piece of information). As the name suggests, Scotch whisky is made in Scotland. Now I am not a huge Scotch fan, so perhaps I may sound a bit technical here in my writing about the brands (just overlook that part). I always thought that Scotch whisky came in only one kind. But to my surprise, there are actually 5 different categories that you can divide it up in: single malt Scotch whisky, blended (pure malt) malt, blended Scotch whisky, blended grain Scotch whisky, and single grain Scotch whisky. Fascinating, isn't it?

Traditionally, Scotch is available in various grains, flavors, price, smell, etc. It can be called Scotch if it is exclusively made in Scotland or adjoining islands. There are a lot of companies who have distilleries to make smooth, excellent, and famous Scotch whisky. However, we are not here to take a history lesson about its origin or how whisky is made. Our purpose behind this article is to see which are the best Scotch brands available in market today.

Brands of Scotch Whisky

Since there are various whisky types a devotee may be searching for, we have made the task a bit simpler for you. Now I am not going to just give you a list of top 10 Scotch whisky brands and end the article midway. There are so many brands and types of Scotch whisky that if I failed to mention them, it might just look like an insult. So let this article be a guide for you to reach to your 'Water of Life'.

Famous Brands
Scotch whisky is made from water and malted barley; fermented by adding yeast, which has a strength of less than 94.8% retaining the taste of the raw materials used in them, and has been matured in predetermined volume oak casks in the Scotland excise for over 3 years at least. Let's start with famous Irish Scotch whisky.

• Bushmills 1608
• Bushmills 21 Year
• Midleton Very Rare
• Jameson Rarest Vintage
• Connemara Cask Strength Peated Single Malt
• Greenore Single Grain
• Jameson 18 Year
• Red Breast 12 Year
• The Tyrconnell 10 Year Single Malt

Single Malt Brands

• The Dalmore 12 Year, Single Highland Malt Whisky
• The Dalmore 15 Year, Single Highland Malt Whisky
• The Macallan 12 Year, Single Malt Whisky
• The Glenlivet 12 Year, Single Malt Whisky
• The Balvenie 12 Year, Single Malt Whisky
• Oban 14 Year, Single Malt Whisky
• Lagavulin 16 Year, Single Malt Whisky

Premium Brands
A quick fact about premium Scotch whiskys before we get to the list. Did you know that a premium blend of Scotch whisky can have 60 or more individual malt whiskys that needs to be mixed in while making it? Quite technical; now, on with the brands.

Ardberg Bowmore Bruichladdich Glendronach Highland Park Old Pulteney Scapa Glenfarclas Highland Park Macallan Springbank The Glenrothes Aberfeldy Aberlour Allt-A-Bhainne Ardbeg Ardmore Arran Auchentoshan Auchroisk Aultmore Balblair Balmenach The Balvenie Bell's & Sons Banff Ben Nevis BenRiach Benrinnes Benromach Bladnoch Blair Athol Bowmore Brackla Braeval Brora Bruichladdich Bunnahabhain Caol Ila Caperdonich Cardhu Clynelish anCnoc Coleburn Convalmore Cragganmore

Craigellachie Dailuaine Dallas Dhu The Dalmore Dalwhinnie Deanston Drumguish Dufftown Edradour Fettercairn Glen Albyn Glenallachie Glenburgie Glencadam Glen Deveron Glendronach Glendullan Glen Elgin Glenesk Glenfarclas Glenfiddich Glen Flagler Glen Garioch Glenglassaugh Glengoyne Glen Grant Glen Keith Glenkinchie TheGlenlivet Glenlochy Glenlossie Glen Mhor Glenmorangie Glen Moray Glen Ord Glenrothes Glen Scotia Glen Spey Glentauchers Glenturret Glen Turner Glenugie Glenury Royal Highland Park Imperial Inchgower

Inverleven Isle of Jura Kilchoman Kinclaith Knockdhu Knockando Ladyburn Lagavulin Laphroaig Ledaig Linkwood Littlemill Loch Lomond Longmorn The Macallan Mannochmore McClelland Millburn Miltonduff Mortlach North Port Oban Pittyvaich Port Askaig Port Ellen Port Charlotte Old Pulteney Royal Brackla Royal Lochnagar Rosebank St Magdalene Scapa The Singleton Speyburn Springbank Strathisla Strathmill Tamdhu Tamnavulin Teaninich Tobermory Tomatin Tomintoul Tormore Tullibardine William Grant & Sons

Blended Brands
A blended Scotch whisky usually contains a combination of 40-50 whiskys of different grain and malt distilleries. The ratio in a blended Scotch whisky usually is 60% grain and 40% malt.

Chivas Compass Box Hedonism Wild Scotsman Ballantine's Chivas Regal Johnnie Walker Blue Kings Crest The Antiquary Bailie Nicol Jarvie Ballantine's Bell's Black & White Black Bottle Buchanan's Chivas Regal Cutty Sark Dewar's Dimple The Famous Grouse Gran Old Parr Grand Macnish Grants Haig

Hankey Bannister Hunter's Glen Johnnie Walker J&B Long John Sandy Mac Old Scotch Whisky Monkey Shoulder Morriston Gold Old Inverness Old Smuggler Pinch Passport Scotch Royal Salute Whisky Queen Anne Something Special Stewart's Cream of the Barley Teacher's Highland Cream Tè Bheag Vat 69 William Lawson's White Horse Whyte & Mackay Lotay Whisky

Now that you the complete information on various Scotch whisky brands, you can open a bottle or two for when things get sophisticated. Don't you agree?