25 Must-Try Scotch Whiskies In 2026

In 2026, the whisky market feels very different from the frenzy of a few years ago. Bottles are easier to find, pricing has softened in many areas, and even with some distilleries pausing production this year, supply remains strong.

That makes 2026 an ideal time to explore. Whether you are new to whisky or looking to branch out into different regions and styles, this guide is organised by occasion, price point, and flavour profile. Here are 25 whiskies to try this year.

Beginner Bottles In 2026

1. Deanston 12 Year Old, 46.3%, £33/$40

I drifted away from Deanston over the last few years, and I am not entirely sure why. The whisky world feels saturated right now. Revisiting this recently, I was reminded just how good it is. 

An explosion of vanilla and texture, with plenty of waxiness to rival much bigger brands, and at a far more affordable price. If you want to dial up the bourbon influence even further, try the Virgin Oak release as well.

2. Lagavulin 8 Year Old, 48%, £48/$60

A little peat goes a long way. With Lagavulin 8 Year Old, the peat is subtle and easy to enjoy. It is still unmistakably Islay, but this is a dram that works in any season. There is weight in the smoke, balanced by a freshness that keeps it lively. 

Worth picking up older stock before the rebrand lands, especially if sale pricing appears.

3. Compass Box Orchard House, 46%, £42/$45

I buy a bottle of this every year because it is simply lovely. Compass Box excel at creative blends, eye-catching labels, and compelling stories. 

Orchard House is all about fruit, as the name suggests, with just a whisper of smoke on the finish to broaden the flavour. A perfect spring or summer pour, and a great showcase of the blending talent behind the brand.

4. Glencadam 10 Year Old, 46%, £40/$50

How else do you summarise this whisky other than, it is just really good. Clean, grassy, lightly fruity, with gentle straw notes. Glencadam handles different casks beautifully, but this ex-bourbon 10 Year Old is one of the best value single malts currently available from Scotland. An easy reach when choice feels overwhelming.

5. Benromach 10 Year Old, 43%, £37/$46

There is some bias here. I adore Benromach. The 15 Year Old is a constant on my shelf, but the 10 Year Old is ideal if you want a Speyside whisky with a bit more character. 

Peated to around 12ppm, you will notice the smoke, but it is very different from West Coast styles. Matured in first-fill bourbon and sherry casks, it consistently hits the mark.

Peated Bottles In 2026

1. Kilkerran Heavily Peated Batch 14, 58%, £45/$56

I stepped away from Kilkerran for a while. Perhaps it was whisky fatigue after 2022 and 2023. Speaking only for myself, of course. 

After trying Batch 13, I am firmly back on board. One of the few whiskies that genuinely improves with water. There is a huge depth of flavour to uncover here.

2. Clydeside Fortnight, 46%, £33/$41

I received a bottle of this through a PR programme towards the end of 2025. Had I tried it earlier, I would have happily bought it at full price. The distillery is releasing some impressive whisky right now, and this is a standout if you enjoy peat. 

Just six years old and matured solely in ex-bourbon casks, it delivers a clean, crisp, sweet profile. A genuine gem for 2026.

3. Bartel’s Ledaig 17 Year Old, 50.7%, £85/$115

Bartel’s was a new discovery for me in 2025. Hopefully, it will be on your radar in 2026. This Ledaig is one of the heaviest, thickest, smokiest, saltiest examples I have tried. 

Limited to just under 600 bottles, and still available at the time of writing, including in the US. An absolute powerhouse of a dram.

4. Glasgow 1770 Peated, 46%, £49/$60

The second Glasgow distillery on this list. Glasgow 1770 have been remarkably consistent over the past few years. You can now tour the facility, although spaces are limited. 

Their whisky is typically clean and crisp, but the peated release is dank, weighty, and loaded with sherry influence. A must-have if you have never tried the range.

5. Ardbeg 10 Year Old Cask Strength, 61.7%, £75/$100

It has finally arrived. A cask strength version of Ardbeg’s classic 10 Year Old, bottled at 61.7% ABV and released for the Ardbeg Committee from 24 February 2026. However, I have been lucky enough to sample the release ahead of launch. 

The surprise is how balanced it is. Expect lime, baked lemon, classic ashy smoke, roasted meats, savoury herbs, and a building chilli warmth.

Big, bold, peaty, but more nuanced and composed than many expected. A confident return to basics for Ardbeg.

Sherried Bottles In 2026

1. Macallan 12 Year Old 110 Proof, 55%, £125/$155

I do not usually recommend Macallan. It does not need the help, and the pricing can be steep. That said, every whisky drinker should try this and make up their own mind.

I think it tastes solid for what it is, though the price feels ambitious given the competition. Still, try it and see whether it speaks to you.

2. Tomatin 12 Year Old Sherry Cask, 40%, £45/$56

One of my surprises of 2025. Tomatin has a distinctive style, fruity with a slight funkiness. 

This expression leans into beeswax and darker, more intense sherry notes, not just sweetness. A fun and affordable sherried whisky.

3. Edradour 10 Year Old, 46%, £41/$51

Finally bottled at 46%. A change many have been hoping for. Alongside the launch of Edradour’s second distillery, this release slipped under the radar late in 2025. 

I loved the 40% version. At 46%, expect deeper, syrupy, more intense sherried flavours.

4. Ardnamurchan Sherry Cask, 50%, £65/$75

Lightly peated, but this is really about the sherry. Ardnamurchan has been close to my heart for years. I bought the first release and have followed ever since, to the detriment of my wallet. 

Exciting, fresh, and consistently impressive. This sherry cask release is a powerhouse, almost opaque in the glass.

5. Signatory Glen Ord 2016 9 Year Old Edition #66, 57.1%, £47/$59

Grab this while you can. Many retailers have only a bottle or two left. Matured in first-fill Oloroso hogsheads and second-fill Oloroso butts, it is packed with orchard fruit and Glen Ord’s underrated funk. 

Tremendous value for a sherry-forward malt.

Great Value Bottles In 2026

1. Glen Scotia 12 Year Old, 46%, £44/$55

Campbeltown developed a reputation for being hard to find and overpriced at auction. Glen Scotia has helped change that perception. 

Launched in 2025, this 12 Year Old was an instant hit. Coastal salt, backed by generous tropical fruit. A superb and well-priced bottle.

2. Malt Riot Blended Malt, 40%, £28/$35

Featuring Glasgow 1770 unpeated single malt alongside others from across Scotland, this is a fruit-forward blend full of stone fruit, cherries, and apricots. 

Affordable and produced by a distillery that seems unable to put a foot wrong.

3. Turntable Unplugged Blended Whisky, 46%, £40/$50

I have been a fan of Turntable since their first Outrun release. They combine excellent liquid with a music-inspired theme, and it works. 

Unplugged is their core release, delicate and fruity with a touch of smoke. Great neat and equally good in a long drink. A brand worth your attention in 2026.

4. Thompson Brothers SRV5 Blended Malt, 48.5%, £31.25/$42

No value list is complete without the Thompson Brothers. This eight-year-old blended malt focuses on fruit and subtle dryness. I

 first tried it at The Pot Still in Glasgow and kept returning to it throughout the night. A genuine treat at a very fair price.

5. Living Souls 15 Year Old Blended Scotch, 46%, £44/$55

Living Souls have impressed me consistently. In the past two years, one of their releases has made my Top Five Whiskies of the Year. 

If you want sherried character without excessive oak, this 15 Year Old blend delivers. Oloroso sweetness, a hint of sherry vinegar bite, and savoury notes reminiscent of chorizo and tapas meats. A real journey in a glass.

Special Occasion Scotch Whiskies In 2026

1. Living Souls 40 Year Old Blend #3, 44.6%, £125/$155

I have tried all the 40 Year Old releases so far, and none have disappointed. A 40 Year Old blended whisky for under £150 is rare. 

Living Souls are excelling in flavour, price, and presentation. Hopefully there is more of this parcel to come.

2. Woodrow’s Arran 28 Year Old, 56.9%, £280/$350

I have been watching Woodrow’s of Edinburgh for some time. Shelf space is tight, but I sampled this via a whisky Secret Santa. Quite possibly the best old Arran I have tried. 

Matured in refill sherry, it shows lighter sherry influence, toffee, and raisin. At this strength and age, the flavours linger and evolve beautifully on the palate.

3. Brave New Spirits Invergordon 28 Year Old, 51.9%, £130/$162

Brave New Spirits continue to impress. As a fan of old grain whisky, this Invergordon stands out. Rich vanilla, treacle, coconut, and gentle cask char, with a sweetness that runs through the palate and finish. 

Invergordon is reliably consistent, and this bottling showcases that beautifully.

4. Finn Thomson Longmorn 34 Year Old, 53.7%, £445/$556

Finn Thomson may be new to many, but this Longmorn is exceptional. Drawn from ex-bourbon and ex-Pedro Ximenez casks, it highlights how well Longmorn ages across wood types. 

Rich, syrupy, dense, with aromas of toffee, honey, sandalwood, and tobacco. A true centrepiece bottle.

5. Murray McDavid King of Casks 35 Year Old, 49.5%, £195/$266

Exclusive to Aberdeen Whisky Shop, this release pays homage to the founders of the Doublewood programme at Balvenie in the early 1980s. A teaspooned malt distilled in 1989, matured primarily in ex-bourbon and finished in an Oloroso octave for three months. 

For the story, the age, and the price, this is one of the most compelling older Scottish malts currently available.

Verdict

25 Must-Try Scotch Whiskies In 2026 presents a competent offering that warrants consideration for those exploring the category.