Our wine experts put the best champagnes to the test in order to find the best bottles – from supermarket bubbles to some fairly posh plonk, you're sure to find your new favourite fizz.
It’s the drink of parties and celebrations, of weddings and christenings, the drink that conjures up memories of special occasions and a touch of luxury. Champagne is no everyday drink so, when buying a bottle, it’s worth buying the best – so we’ve rounded up the best champagnes to buy so you can find the ultimate bottles to pop. There’s plenty of choice when it comes to fizz these days: from affordable prosecco and cava to unique English sparkling wines and even non-alcoholic sparkling options, but champagne remains the most decadent option. The strict rules limiting the region of the same name where it can be made in northern France, along with production rules, explain why its price tag is often higher as well as why it retains such a distinct character. Some champagne houses may be familiar names, such as Taittinger or Veuve Clicquot, but we’ve tested a range of lesser known, budget-friendly and even best supermarket champagnes, too, to find a brilliant affordable bottle of bubbly. Our selection varies from £14.99 to £50, for fizz to suit any budget. All champagnes have been tested by wine writers Henry Jeffreys and Jonathan Hatchman. Henry is a drinks and wine writer who writes for Master of Malt and his work has appeared in the The Guardian, The Spectator and The Financial Times. For more, visit our reviews section to find more than 400 practical buyer's guides, including taste tests of gin, vodka, rum and brandy, plus round-ups of the best rhubarb gins, pink gins and citrus gins. For regular wine deliveries direct to your door, discover our Good Food x Laithwaites partnership for discounts on exclusively curated wine cases chosen by experts and the Good Food team. Best champagnes at a glance Best grower champagne: Château de Bligny Grande Réserve, £27.99 Best Blanc de Blancs champagne: Laithwaite Brut Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs, £29 Best richly flavoured champagne: Champagne Gaston Declos 25th Anniversary Blanc de Noirs Brut NV, £39.99 Best fresh tasting champagne: Champagne Bruno Paillard Première Cuvée Extra Brut, £44 Best all-rounder champagne: Tesco Finest Premier Cru Brut NV, £26 Best of the big-name champagnes: Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut NV, £50 Best budget champagne: Veuve Monsigny Champagne NV, £15.49 Best blanc de noirs: Waitrose Blanc de Noirs Brut, £28 Best rose champagne: Taittinger Brut Prestige Rose NV, £49 Best unusual champagne: Barnaut Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru NV, £36.95 Jump to: What is the best champagne? Why is champagne so expensive? What makes a bad champagne? How we tested champagne? How to open champagne Champagne cocktail recipes What is the best champagne to buy in 2025? Château de Bligny Grande Réserve Available from Laithwaites (£34.99) Best grower champagne Star rating: 4.5/5 ABV: 12% Fun fact: Château de Bligny is the only house in champagne to benefit from the title of château. All of the estate’s winemaking stages are conducted on-site, from growing to fermenting and ageing. Dating back to the 18th century, it was taken over in 1999 and renovated. Comprising an equal blend of chardonnay and pinot noir, the Château de Bligny Grande Réserve is bottle-fermented and lees-aged, which gives the wine a remarkably toasty richness, joined by bold floral aromas, ripe pear, strawberry, peach and nectarine notes and just a touch of brioche. With dense structure, fine bubbles and lingering finish, it’s a complex and astonishingly well-balanced champagne. Available from: Laithwaites (£34.99) Laithwaite Brut Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs Available from Laithwaites (£32) Best Blanc de Blancs champagne Star rating: 4/5 ABV: 12.5% Produced exclusively for Laithwaites, from a prominent cellar in the village of Vertus, this Blanc de Blancs champagne is crafted using grapes sourced entirely from premier cru vineyards, undergoing a 30-month maturation (which is double the required minimum). With expected finesse and less weight than traditional champagne, this has plenty of butter and toasted brioche notes alongside crisp green apple, lemon and a delightful biscuit character on the complex, elegant finish. Available from: Laithwaites (£32) Champagne Gaston Declos 25th Anniversary Blanc de Noirs Brut NV Available from Virgin Wines (£39.99) Best richly flavoured champagne Star rating: 4/5 ABV: 12% Virgin Wines has partnered with Gyéjacquot Frères for the past 15 years, so to celebrate the wine merchants’ 25th anniversary, a collaborative cuvée has been launched. Founded in 1970 by brothers Daniel and Michel Gyéjacquot, the House of Gyéjacquot Frères is still family owned, with an estate of 19 hectares of vineyards spread across eight villages in the Côte des Bar. Exclusively produced from pinot noir, the house’s star grape, the Champagne Gaston Declos 25th Anniversary Blanc de Noirs Brut NV is aged for 22 months on its lees, expressive and rampant with apple, lemon, brioche and hazelnut notes, with pronounced freshness and delicacy. With layered richness, the champagne is great as a standalone, but also pairs incredibly well with food. Available from: Virgin Wines (£39.99) Champagne Bruno Paillard Première Cuvée Extra Brut Available from Wanderlust Wines (£48), Hedonism Wines (£44) Best fresh tasting champagne Star rating: 4.5/5 ABV: 12% Established in 1981, Bruno Paillard is an independent, family-owned champagne house with an aim of showcasing the northern and chalky character of champagne. An interpretation of the entire Champagne region, their flagship Bruno Paillard Première Cuvée features a blend of pinot noir, chardonnay and meunier from more than 30 crus from the most noble terroirs, with 20 per cent fermented in-barrel and aged for three years on lees. What’s also notable about this particular champagne is the extraordinarily low dosage, at fewer than five grams per litre, which provides outstanding finesse and purity. Ripe grapefruit, lime, redcurrant, cherry are all clear on the nose and on the palate, complete with bright acidity and a long, clean finish with a whisper of almond. Available from: Hedonism Wines (£44) Wanderlust Wines (£48) Tesco Finest Premier Cru Brut NV Available from Tesco (£26) Best all-rounder champagne Size: 75cl ABV: 12.5% Star rating: 4/5 This probably the best value champagne on the market and it’s one I buy regularly. With its notes of bruised apple, flakey pastry, toasted brioche and hazelnuts, it massively over-delivers for the money. Also, unlike many other supermarket champagnes, it’s consistently excellent so you can buy repeatedly with confidence. Available from: Tesco (£26) Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut NV Available from Waitrose (£50), Tesco (£50), Amazon (£48) Best of the big-name champagnes Size: 75cl ABV: 12.5% Star rating: 4/5 That orange label is so ubiquitous that it’s easy to overlook Veuve Clicquot. This would be a mistake because in the past few years it has become one of the best Grand Marque non vintages around. I loved its lemon sherbert vibrancy, creamy texture and long brioche finish. Absolutely superb and well worth the money, especially if you buy six bottles. Available from: Waitrose (£50) Tesco (£50) Amazon (£48) Veuve Monsigny Champagne Brut Available from Aldi (£15.49) Best budget champagne Size: 75cl ABV: 12.5% Star rating: 3.5/5 This is a crazy affordable price for champagne. It’s a name that attracts headlines all over the press for its supposed ability to rival the well-known champagne giants and while I don't think it's as good as all the hype would have you believe, it is much better than you would expect a £14.99 champagne to be. It is simple, clean and well balanced. Just the thing if you’re having a party. Available from: Aldi (£15.49) Waitrose Blanc de Noirs Brut Available from Waitrose (£28) Best blanc de noirs Size: 75cl ABV: 12.5% Star rating: 4/5 Another supermarket stalwart, this is made by Alexander Bonnet for Waitrose. The term ‘blanc de noirs’ means that it is made from black grapes only (pinot noir and meunier) and the result is rich and bold. If you like a fuller style of champagne, then you'll like this. Lots of complexity for around the £20 mark and often less when you buy six bottles or more. Available from: Waitrose (£27.99) Taittinger Brut Prestige Rose NV Available from Sainsbury's (£49), Waitrose Cellar (£49) Best rose champagne Size: 75cl ABV: 12.5% Star rating: 5/5 Champagne roses are usually made with a small addition of red wine (made from pinot noir) being added to the blend. Sometimes this is such a little amount that you can barely taste it. Not so with this rose champagne which is positively packed with dark cherry fruit. I loved its intense savoury finish. This would work well served alongside duck or other rich dishes. Available from: Sainsbury's (£49) Waitrose Cellar (£49) Latest Deals Barnaut Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru NV Available from Lea & Sandeman (£44.95) Best unusual champagne Size: 75cl ABV: 12.5% Up next, we have a bottle from a small grower based in Bouzy, which was, and to some extent still is, known as red wine country. Blanc de noirs means it’s only made from dark grapes which you can taste in the vivid, orangey fruit moving into marmalade flavours that have a real smokiness on the finish. Tangy and delicious. Available from: Lea & Sandeman (£44.95) Why is champagne so expensive? Champagne is a costly wine to produce. The raw materials (that is, the grapes) are the most expensive in France. Most champagne houses don’t own nearly enough vineyards to provide for their needs so they have to buy in grapes from small growers. This demand pushes up the price. The region Champagne has a climate very similar to southern England so these precious grapes don’t get terribly ripe. The resulting wines – low in alcohol and high in acidity – are not yet delicious but perfect for turning into sparkling wine. The process where base metals are turned into sparkling gold involves blending the still wines, usually from different vintages and vineyards all over the region, into a house style. The resulting blend is then bottled with a mixture of wine, yeast and sugar, sealed, and left to ferment a second time. The result is those magic bubbles of carbon dioxide. But this secondary fermentation also produces flavours of toast, nuts and yeast – the flavours we most associate with champagne. It’s left in this state for a minimum of 15 months (some are kept for decades like this). The yeast is then removed, the wine corked, and it is ready to sell, though the best wines are kept longer. All of this takes time and money. What makes a bad champagne? Disappointing champagnes – and there are many, sadly – will have been made from inferior grapes, matured for the minimum period and will result in a green acidity that has been merely masked with sugar. Wines like these are the reason many people think champagne is over-hyped. Those lovely toasty, bready notes take time to arrive and time is money. No wonder most of us just reach for one of the big names (though these can be a disappointment too). How we tested champagne We thought it would be interesting to try the best of the no-name champagnes. We sampled a range, from supermarket own-labels made by giant cooperatives to hand-crafted champagnes made by small growers who use only their own grapes, unusual in Champagne. The wines tried ranged from £10.99 to £50 though the majority were in the £20-30 sweet spot. Each champagne was tasted blind. Not surprisingly the more expensive bottles, on the whole, tasted better. The conclusion? Around £18 seems to be the minimum you should spend. Anything cheaper, you’d be much better going for something sparkling from Australia, New Zealand or Spain. This article is updated regularly to find the best champagnes to buy each year. How to open champagne When opening a bottle of fizz, remember it will behave far better and more predictably if it has been left to sit and chill for a few hours. Warmth and/or rough handling both make for an explosive cork situation and the likelihood of more mess and waste. Champagne should go into glasses, not onto ceilings. Make sure you have your glasses ready and within easy reach. Then, take your bottle and remove the foil; there should be a tag or perforation line to make this easy and neat. Once this is done, grip the neck of the bottle in one hand with your thumb over the top of the caged cork. From here on in, keep the bottle pointed away from yourself and anyone present, especially people's faces – about a 45 degree angle is good. With your other hand, untwirl the cage fastening. Uncover your thumb, lift off the cage and replace your thumb over the cork. If you can feel the cork pushing to leave the bottle already, get a glass ready. Otherwise, with the bottle gripped in one hand, slowly pull up the cork with the other. It may be quite stiff at first – if so, alternate pulling and twisting motions – but as you go you'll start to feel the pressure from within helping you out. Ease it up, always with your hand over the cork in a firm grip and, as you hear a pop, you know you've opened it. As to pouring champagne, if everything went smoothly, you have a bottle at 45 degrees, with a touch of vapour wafting out. Let that excess gas escape for a few seconds, then in smooth, gentle motions, pour a small amount - just a splash - into each glass in turn. Now return to the first glass and, tilting it also at around 45 degrees, top up slowly, until no more than two-thirds full. If the champagne is very lively and the mousse is rising to the top of the glass despite a slow pour, just move onto the next one and come back to it. That mousse is the fizz escaping, and in excess, leaves you with a flat drink, and nobody wants that. Don't over-fill the glass, as it will warm up far faster there than in the bottle, and warm champagne is a shame. If you have a bottle where the cork is straining to be free as soon as the cage is removed, then you will have to move fast. Once the cork is out, it will be followed by froth, which should go straight into that readied glass. Keep pouring off the excess into your glasses one by one until it subsides, then top up as before. Champagne cocktail recipes We’ve gathered the best champagne cocktail recipes for when you want to do more with your bottle. Classic champagne cocktails include buck’s fizz for a special brunch, or a fruity kir royale made with crème de cassis. For something a little more unique, try a champagne mojito or refreshing sgroppino (mixing champagne with vodka and lemon sorbet). Fans of an aperol spritz can put champagne to good use in a sparkling aperitivo spritz during summer. In the festive season, a spice 75 is a perfect Christmas party drink. Champagne recipes Champagne cocktails you can make in minutes Mimosa recipe Raspberry champagne cocktails More wine and drinks reviews Best wine gifts Best cava Best sloe gin Best bottles of gin to buy as gifts Best rum Best classic gin Best vodka Best tequila Best prosecco Best Pinot Grigio Best wine deals Best wine glasses Best champagne glasses Best whiskey glasses Best champagne deals Best cava deals Best prosecco deals
12 of the best English sparkling wines to buy, 2025
Discover the best English sparkling wine to buy, a growing genre of drink that can be enjoyed like champagne, prosecco or cava.
Once considered a curiosity, English sparkling wine has now firmly established itself among the world’s finest fizz. Crafted using similar methods to Champagne, these English wines are typically made from classic grape varieties such as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. Thanks to England’s chalky soils and cool climate, they deliver remarkable freshness, delicate bubbles, and a distinctive crisp acidity that rivals their French counterparts. To help you find the very best bottles, our drinks experts taste-tested and rated a selection of the best English sparkling wines, from well-known big producers to up and coming boutique vineyards, ranging from £25 to £45 a bottle. Here, we reveal our top 12 picks — the bottles worth celebrating, whatever the occasion. Best English sparkling wine at a glance Best richly flavoured English sparkling wine: Wyfold Vineyard English Sparkling Brut 2017, £38 Best for food pairing: Harrow & Hope English Sparkling Blanc de Blancs 2020, £40 Best budget English sparkling wine: Laithwaites English Heritage Sparkling Rosé NV, £28 Best sustainable English sparkling wine: Virgin Wines 25th Anniversary Limited Edition English Sparkling Brut NV, £38.99 Best English Pet Nat: Good Day Pet Nat, £25.55 Best elegant English sparkling wine: Black Chalk Classic Cuvée 2022, £40 Best English sparkling rosé: Exton Park RB|23 Rosé NV, £39 Best own label brut: Candover Brook Brut NV, £38 Best organic English sparkling wine: Davenport Limney Estate 2014, £27 Best non-vintage English sparkling wine: Redfold Vineyard Ambriel Classic Cuvée NV, £33 Best with strawberries: Bolney Cuvée Rosé 2018, £39.95 Best rosé English sparkling wine: Everflyht Rosé de Saignée 2019, £45 Best English sparkling wine to buy 2025 Wyfold Vineyard English Sparkling Brut 2017 Available from Laithwaites (£38) Best richly flavoured English sparkling wine Rating: 4.5/5 ABV: 12% Wyfold is Barbara Laithwaite’s two-hectare Oxfordshire vineyard, high on a south-facing slope of flinty gravel and chalk in the Chilterns. Using a traditional blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, the grapes are sent off to Barbera’s son Henry’s Harrow & Hope winery, where they’re expertly crafted into great English sparkling wine. The 2017 Brut is lees-aged for five years, which gives the wine a particularly bold flavour, with remarkable richness. Typical apple and pastry aromas are joined by elegant mineral length, with lime juice, orange peel, sweet cherry, pear and soft peach notes on the palate, finished with bright acidity typical of the style. Best served only slightly chilled to let the flavours standout. JH Available from: Laithwaites (£38) Harrow & Hope English Sparkling Blanc de Blancs 2020 Available from Laithwaites (£40) Best for food pairing Rating: 4.5/5 ABV: 12% Winner of Gold in the International Wine Challenge 2025, the Blanc de Blancs 2020 from Harrow & Hope in Marlow is a fine example of an English sparkling wine. Using 100% Chardonnay grown in a single vineyard which sits on an ancient Thames gravel terrace, wild yeast fermentation in the barrel and minimal sulphur, the wine is lees aged for four years. Lemon, green apple and mineral aromas dominate the nose, while the palate is fruity with notes of lime, grapefruit, apple, peach, quince, nice pastry notes and a dry, acidic finish. JH Available from: Laithwaites (£40) Laithwaites English Heritage Sparkling Rosé NV Available from Laithwaites (£28) Best budget English sparkling wine Rating: 3.5/5 ABV: 12% Showcasing outstanding English sparkling wine and celebrating the global reputation it has gained, English Heritage has collaborated with Ridgeview Estate in Sussex for this sparkling rosé. Produced with a trio of high-quality Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier grapes, using the same traditional method as champagne with long lees ageing, the resulting wine has a gorgeous toasty complexity with bright summer berry, green apple and citrus notes, creamy mousse and an elegant finish with toasted brioche flavours. JH Available from: Laithwaites (£28) Virgin Wines 25th Anniversary Limited Edition English Sparkling Brut NV Available from Virgin Wines (£38.99) Best sustainable English sparkling wine Rating: 4/5 ABV: 11.5% To celebrate their 25th anniversary, Virgin Wines have launched a small-batch English sparkling brut, produced by one of their favourite English winemakers, Collette O’Leary, Head Winemaker at Henners in Sussex. Committed to sustainable vineyard and winery practices, Henners are a founding member of Sustainable Wines of Great Britain, led by a small team. This particular English sparkling wine is crafted in the traditional method and is particularly elegant with notes of marzipan joining green apple, lemon zest, buttery pastry and just a touch of subtle spiciness on the creamy, biscuity finish. JH Available from: Virgin Wines (£38.99) Good Day Pet Nat Available from Shop Cuvee (£25.55) Best English Pet Nat Rating: 5/5 ABV: 10.5% This English Pet Nat wine has been produced by Ben Walgate of Tillingham fame especially for London-based restaurant, wine shop and wholesaler Top Cuvée. It is an outstanding version of the style. Crafted with Sussex-grown Pinot Noir, Rondo, Phoenix and Seyval grapes, it’s a really vibrant and fruity wine, complex and well-balanced, with summer berry, strawberries and cream sweets a hint of vanilla and pronounced tartness with echoes of rhubarb that lingers on the finish. Best served chilled (slightly cooler than typical sparkling wines). JH Available from: Shop Cuvee (£25.55) Black Chalk Classic Cuvée 2022 Available from Black Chalk Wine (£40) Best elegant English sparkling wine Rating: 5/5 ABV: 12% Black Chalk Classic Cuvée 2022 is the latest release from the dynamic English wine producer based in Hampshire’s Test Valley. Since 2015, Black Chalk have become particularly renowned for their approach to winemaking: reflecting their chalk soils, using minimal intervention and producing with meticulous attention to detail. For the 2022 vintage, a blend of hand-harvested Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier grapes undergo whole bunch pressing for purity of flavour before being cool fermented with 10% fermented oak, then aged for at least 22 months on lees and a further six months on cork post-disgorgement. The result is an exceptionally crisp wine with fresh acidity, well-balanced with just a hint of oak richness, lovely creaminess from the long lees-aging and a long, vibrant finish. JH Available from: Black Chalk Wine (£40) Exton Park RB|23 Rosé NV Available from Exton Park (£39) Best English sparkling rosé Rating: 4/5 ABV: 11.5% Founded by Malcolm Isaac MBE, a UK salad industry pioneer, Exton Park’s first vines were planted in 2003 with the intent of becoming one of the leading English sparkling wine producers in the Hampshire Valley. The Exton Park RB|23 Rosé NV has since become the estate’s most popular wine, using hand-harvested grapes from their single vineyard, pressed plot-by-plot before being stored in their library of reserve wines. This particular blend is a delicate, dry rosé with balanced floral character, ripe peach, sweet cherry and apple notes alongside vibrant acidity and some feint burnt sugar on the long finish. JH Available from: Exton Park (£39) Candover Brook Brut NV Available from Candover Brook (£38) Best own label brut Rating: 4/5 ABV: 12% Crafted at the Sainsbury family’s regenerative farm estate in Hampshire, Candover Brook Brut NV is based on the 2019 harvest from the farm’s single vineyard. It is all hand-harvested, whole-bunch-pressed and vinified in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks. To produce this particular wine, base wines from the 2019 vintage are blended with reserve wines from a solera dating back to 2011, which gives the wine plenty of aromatic complexity. Aged for a minimum of 42 months on lees, the wine has bold floral and lively young fruit notes alongside some nutty overtones, creamy vanilla, orchard fruits and a long, mineral finish. JH Available from: Candover Brook (£38) Davenport Limney Estate 2014 Available from Corkk, £27 Best organic sparkling wine It’s not easy growing organic grapes in England’s damp climate, but Davenport manages it with style. The fruit is superb with notes of lemon peel and crunchy green apples. I imagine this would be incredible with shellfish. HJ Available from: Corkk (£27) Redfold Vineyard Ambriel Classic Cuvée NV Available from Corkk, £33 Best non-vintage A producer based in the South Downs in West Sussex. This wine smells of caramelised apple with a touch of yeast extract, take a sip and there’s firm lemony acidity with beautiful delicate little bubbles and a yeasty finish. HJ Available from: Corkk (£33) Bolney Cuvée Rosé 2018 Available from Slurp (£39.95) Best with strawberries Don’t be fooled by the pale colour, this is meaty wine. With its dark cherry flavours it tastes almost like a red wine. For the money, I’d rather drink this over most pink champagnes. HJ Available from: Slurp (£39.95) Everflyht Rosé de Saignée 2019 Available from Threshers (£45) Best rosé wine The name might be unusual but new brand Everflyt is doing some remarkable things. If you think rosés can be a bit boring then think again. This is bursting with raspberries with cranberries with oaky flavours and even a little tannin. It’s a little bit wild and all the better for it. HJ Available from: Threshers (£45) More drinks reviews The best champagne The best cava The best malbec The best prosecco The best classic whisky The best brandy Best rosé Best wine glasses Best pinot noir Best wine deals Best cava deals Best champagne deals Best prosecco deals This review was last updated in November 2025. If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk. Have you tried English sparkling wine? We'd love to hear your favourites below...
Discover the best non-alcoholic and low-alcohol wines for booze-free drinks options that are sophisticated and full of flavour, ideal for entertaining or special occasions
Drinking less and non-alcoholic options are on the rise, so we've delved into the world of booze-free wine to see what's worth trying. A word of warning: these wines are sweet, much sweeter than conventional wines. A normal off-dry white will have around 4-7 grams of residual sugar per litre, and many of these have the same amount per 100ml – not a great option if you’re trying to lose weight. They're too sweet to cook with, too. Low or alcohol-free wines are made by creating a normal wine, removing the alcohol by using a spinning cone, and sweetening the resulting liquid with sugar or grape juice to give it some body. Many have a small amount of added flavouring in them, too. This was definitely the least satisfying category. The two that worked best were the prosecco and German riesling, perhaps because both are based on originals that are sweet and low-alcohol. All the bottles below have been taste tested by wine writer Henry Jeffreys and food and drinks writer Miriam Nice. For more non-alcoholic advice, check out our review of the best non-alcoholic spirits or the best non-alcoholic champagnes and sparkling wines. Best non-alcoholic and low-alcohol wines at a glance Best non-alcoholic wine for prosecco lovers: Mille Bolle Alcohol Free Sparkling, £5.99 Best non-alcoholic wine for cava lovers: ¡H! Barcelona Hola Alcohol Free Sparkling, £4.99 Best eye-catching non-alcoholic wine: Von Buhl Zero Secco Alcohol-Free, £8.99 Best non-alcoholic sweet wine: De Bortoli The Very Cautious One gewurtz riesling, £5.50 Best full-bodied non-alcoholic red: De Bortoli The Very Cautious One shiraz, £5.50 Best non-alcoholic vegan red wine: Eisberg cabernet sauvignon, £19.50 (case of 6) Best non-alcoholic sauvignon blanc: Eisberg sauvignon blanc, £21 (case of 6) Best alcohol-free merlot: Eisberg alcohol-free merlot, £19.50 (case of 6) Best for making alcohol-free mulled wine: M&S alcohol-free merlot, £4 Best non-alcoholic German wine: Leitz Eins Zwei Zero riesling, £9.95 Best non-alcoholic wine for a spritzer: Torres Natureo muscat, £9.41 Best non-alcoholic rosé wine: Torres Natureo rosé, £6.20 Jump to: Best non-alcoholic and low-alcohol wines to buy in 2025 How we tested non-alcoholic wine How is non-alcoholic wine made? Best non-alcoholic and low-alcohol wines to buy in 2025 Mille Bolle Alcohol Free Sparkling Available from Laithwaites (£5.99) Best non-alcoholic wine for prosecco lovers Rating: 4.5/5 ABV: 0% Raised in the heart of prosecco country, Roberto Vanin founded Bolle with the intention of producing the finest zero-alcohol wine. Crafted with Chardonnay and Glera grapes, the wine is gently de-alcoholised using modern, environmentally friendly techniques, which aim to preserve more of the wine’s natural characteristics. Yeast and grape juice are added for a secondary fermentation which gives the alcohol-free wine more depth and rounded flavour with fruity notes of green apple, honeydew and peach, and its fine bubbles. JH Available from: Laithwaites (£5.99) ¡H! Barcelona Hola Alcohol Free Sparkling Available from Laithwaites (£4.99) Best non-alcoholic wine for cava lovers Rating: 4/5 ABV: 0% This wine is produced by Belgian entrepreneurs Christopher Heirwegh and Christel Weemaes, who moved to Barcelona with a dream of producing the world’s best cava. Just like cava, this non-alcoholic brut wine is produced with the region's local grapes, Macabeo, Parallado and Xarel-lo, then fermented and carbonated. It’s certainly reminiscent of cava, although with more sweetness and tropical fruit character alongside the vibrant bubbles, bright green apple and lime notes. JH Available from: Laithwaites (£4.99) Von Buhl Zero Secco Alcohol-Free Available from Laithwaites (£8.99) Best eye-catching non-alcoholic wine Rating: 3.5/5 0.5% A non-alcoholic take on their hugely popular Secco wine, Von Buhl Zero Secco Alcohol-Free comes from Germany’s historic Reichstrat Von Buhl winery, which was founded in 1849. The estate is known for having some of the most well located vineyards in the Pfalz region, more than 40% of which are classified as grand cru, as well as crafting innovative new wines such as this alcohol-free option. Bold fruit notes of grapefruit, lime, green apple, pear and apricot are joined by floral undertones and a mineral finish, all presented in an eye-catching ceramic bottle. JH Available from: Laithwaites (£8.99) De Bortoli The Very Cautious One gewurtz riesling Available from Ocado (£5.50) Best non-alcoholic sweet wine ABV: 0.0% Rating: 5/5 Part of the De Bortoli Wines portfolio based in Australia, this wine has heady aromas of lychee and beeswax. It's unsurprisingly sweet with lots of rose petals, peaches and overripe nectarines on the palate. You might detect a touch of minerality at the end which adds interest and stops it tasting too sickly and soapy. We advise serving well chilled. MN Available from: Ocado (£5.50) De Bortoli The Very Cautious One shiraz Available from Ocado (£5.50) Best full-bodied non-alcoholic red ABV: 0.0% Rating: 5/5 This pours as a dark ruby red. It is nuanced and complex with floral notes of rose, honeysuckle and sweet pea blooms on the nose, which then move into dark fruits, raspberries and blueberries on the palate, leaving you with red apple skin tannins and tobacco. It's another great Australian entry to the list. MN Available from: Ocado (£5.50) Eisberg cabernet sauvignon Available from Morrisons (£3.25), Amazon (£3.50) Best non-alcoholic vegan red wine ABV: 0.0% Rating: 4.5/5 Aromas of cooked cherries and jammy strawberries appear along with a touch of green peppers, juicy blackcurrants and blackberry. There is a touch of acidity on the palate but this gives way to a smooth, rounded mouthfeel, lots more fresh cherry flavour and a touch of tannic astringency providing a moreish finish. Serve at room temperature, but, as with all these wines, keep chilled the rest of the time once opened. They don’t keep more than a day or two without the preservative qualities of alcohol. MN Available from: Morrisons (£3.25) Amazon (£3.50) Eisberg sauvignon blanc Latest Deals Best non-alcoholic sauvignon blanc ABV: 0.0% Rating: 4/5 This has delightfully tempting fresh floral aromas of elderflower with hints of green apple. The flavour is supported by lots of juicy ripe pear, peach and more elderflower with a touch of melon. We suggest serving this very well chilled or in a spritz to keep the sweetness in balance – as a helpful reminder to serve this cool, 'eisberg' is the German word for iceberg. MN Latest Deals Eisberg alcohol-free merlot Available from Ocado (£3.50) Best alcohol-free merlot ABV: 0.0% Rating: 4/5 Raspberries, blackberries and a hint of a woody aroma appear here along with a dash of clove and vanilla. On tasting you’ll find rich, juicy black cherry skins and soft blackberries. As the flavour develops on your palate, the dry and tannic qualities appear before leaving you with a lingering gentle return of cloves and a touch of cocoa. MN Available from: Ocado (£3.50) M&S alcohol-free merlot Available from Ocado (£4) Best for making alcohol free mulled wine ABV: 0.05% Rating: 4/5 On the nose you’ll find black cherries and stewed plums. The tastes evokes a light mulled wine there’s a lot of warming festive spices, baked orange and more slow cooked stone fruits. The tannins and the dry finish keeps the sweetness in check for what is an accessible and easy drinking merlot. MN Available from: Ocado (£4) Leitz Eins Zwei Zero riesling Available from Amazon (£9.95) Best non-alcoholic German wine ABV: 0.0% This wine has some earthy notes on the nose to begin with, but on the palate it tastes like a German riesling with peachy fruit, blending sweetness and acidity. This actually made me want another glass. MN Available from: Amazon (£9.95) Torres Natureo muscat Available from DryDrinker (£9.41) Best non-alcoholic wine for a spritzer ABV: 0.0% The Natureo range from Torres, one of Spain’s biggest producers, is probably the best widely available low-alcohol wine. This muscat is unashamedly sweet with notes of honey and flowers. It tasted best in a spritzer with ice and sparkling water. MN Available from: DryDrinker (£9.41) Torres Natureo rosé Available from Ocado (£6.20) Best non-alcoholic rosé wine ABV: 0.0% This rosé from Torres is also pretty good. Again, there's no doubt that it's sweet (2.6g sugar per 100ml) but the sweetness suits it and the finish isn't at all cloying. If you like Mateus rosé (for those under 40, ask your parents), you’ll enjoy this. MN Available from: Ocado (£6.20) How we tested non-alcoholic wine All wines were stored and served at the temperatures suggested by the producer. Each one was tasted in the same style of glass for the first taste, and then in a wine glass best suited to the grape variety. We were looking for bottles that accurately evoked the characteristics of the wines they were emulating, but more importantly, seeking flavour and complexity that would please both drinkers and non-drinkers alike. How is non-alcoholic wine made? Non-alcoholic wine can be made in a few different ways. A common method is vacuum distillation. This lowers air pressure in order to be able to reduce boiling temperature, before wine is boiled. This means alcohol is boiled off the liquid at a much lower temperature, which is far less destructive to the delicate flavours and aromas of the wine. Other methods of making non-alcoholic wine include using mechanical filtration or a process called a ‘spinning cone’ which separates the wine in order to isolate and remove the alcohol. Non-alcoholic drinks inspiration Best non-alcoholic champagnes and sparkling wines Non-alcoholic drinks recipes Mocktail recipes Top 10 non-alcoholic drinks ideas Non-alcoholic Christmas drinks ideas If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk. We’d love to hear about your favourite non-alcoholic wine. Share your suggestions in the comments below.
Best port to buy for Christmas and beyond
Discover the best ports to buy. From ruby and tawny to vintage, there's a port to suit your taste and budget. See how our wine expert, Henry Jeffreys, rated them during our taste test
Port is made by taking very ripe grapes grown in the Douro Valley, crushing them to extract as much colour and flavour as possible, and leaving them to ferment. While there is still lots of sugar, brandy is added to kill the yeasts and stop fermentation, leaving a wine of about 20% alcohol that’s intensely sweet, fruity and bold. The cheapest ruby ports spend a couple of years in wood before being bottled. At the top of the tree sit vintage ports, which are only made in the best years. Ideally they need around 15-20 years minimum in bottle before being ready to drink. There are also single quinta ports, which come from a particular year but mature quicker, and late bottled vintage (LBV), matured in large wooden vats for six years before bottling ready to drink. There are also tawny ports, which aged in barrels with oxygen contact like sherry, until they lose their colour and take on a nutty quality. They can be superb, and sold ready to drink with no need to decant. Finally, you can buy white ports that make great aperitifs, especially when mixed with sherry. Keep an eye out for offers around Christmas time – sometimes you can pick up some bargains from larger retailers. Some say port should just be drunk in December, but it can be enjoyed year-round. Tawnies, in particular, are surprisingly versatile and pair well with any season. Read on to find which ports are best. For more, visit our review section and find over 400 buyers' guides, including taste tests of gin, whisky, vodka, rum, brandy and more. Best port to buy at a glance Best budget port: António José Da Silva Tawny Port, £14.99 Best ruby port: Andresen Fine Ruby Port NV, £15.99 Best port for beginners: Taylor’s 10 Year Old Tawny Port, £20 Best complex port: Alta No. 10 Tawny Port, £23 Best port for a light, nutty finish: Waitrose No.1 Reserve Tawny Port, £16 Best port for cocktails: Graham’s Blend No 5 White Port, £26.95 Best value port: Tesco Finest 10-year-old tawny port, £14.50 Best tawny port: Sandeman 20-year-old tawny port, £42.25 Best port to buy 2025 António José Da Silva Tawny Port Available from Laithwaites (£14.99) Best budget port Rating: 3.5/5 ABV: 18% Master of fine port Álvaro van Zeller has collaborated with Laithwaites for a very special, limited-edition tawny port, produced exclusively from aged wines selected from Álvaro’s cellar’s best barrels. With each barrel bringing something completely different to the blend, this tawny port is complex and silky with profoundly rich depth, with walnut, dried fruit, caramel and fig flavours alongside some baking spice presence. Great with roasted chestnuts, Christmas cake or hard cheeses. JH Available from: Laithwaites (£14.99) Andresen Fine Ruby Port NV Available from Laithwaites (£15.99) Best ruby port Rating: 4/5 ABV: 19.5% One of the last remaining family-owned and run port houses, Andresen have been producing remarkable ports since 1849. Particularly renowned for using a strictly curated grape selection, the extensive cellars house a vast collection of aged ports resting in barrel, ready to be expertly blended. This young port is eminently fruity with jammy forest fruit notes, hints of chocolate and a lengthy, juicy finish. JH Available from: Laithwaites (£15.99) Taylor’s 10 Year Old Tawny Port Available from Ocado (£30.50) Best port for beginners Rating: 4/5 ABV: 20% While better known for its vintage ports, Taylor’s 10 Year Old Tawny port is an exemplary version of the style. Fully matured in seasoned oak casks and blended from extensive reserves of old cask-aged ports, this port is elegant and complex with rich fruit notes of ripe berry, fig and prune, plus mellow chocolate and oak notes alongside a long, jammy finish. JH Available from: Ocado (£30.50) Quinta Da Pedra Alta No. 10 Ten Year Old Tawny Port Available from The Wine Society (£23) Best complex port Rating: 4.5/5 ABV: 19% Aged in granite lagars, Alta No. 10 comprises a blend of various aged parcels, with differing levels of sweetness and acidity, as well as a small portion of especially old barrels, aged for at least 40 years. The aim here is to produce a port where sweetness takes a back seat, with the acidity providing more of the focus. Bold dried fruit aromas are joined by toffee and caramel, continuing on the palate with expected tawny complexity and velvety texture, while the finish is refreshing and fruity. Best enjoyed slightly chilled. JH Available from: The Wine Society (£23) Waitrose No.1 Reserve Tawny Port Available from Waitrose (£16) Best port for a light, nutty finish ABV: 20% This is made by the Symingtons, the family that owns Grahams port. You’ll find candied fruit on the nose while the palate is sweet and light, with an earthy finish, like biting into a Brazil nut. HJ Available from: Waitrose (£16) Graham’s Blend No 5 white port Available from Amazon (£26.95), Waitrose (£26.50) Best port for cocktails Rating: 4/5 ABV: 19% A modern take on white port made with two grape varieties, Malvasia Fina and Moscatel Gallega which are cold-fermented and sold unaged to preserve primary fruit. It’s intensely aromatic with floral, honey and citrus fruits, and makes a cracking alternative to gin when mixed with tonic. HJ Available from: Amazon (£26.95) Waitrose (£26.50) Tesco Finest 10-year-old tawny port Available from Tesco (£14.50) Best value port Rating: 4/5 ABV: 20% Made by one of Porto's great families, the Symingtons, this is another wine that offers great value. It's a blend of wines with an average age of 10 years, giving it the ripe strawberry fruitiness of young wines but with the nuttiness of older ones. One to give people who think they don't like port. HJ Available from: Tesco (£14.50) Sandeman 20-year-old tawny port Available from Amazon (£42.25) Best tawny port Rating: 5/5 ABV: 20% The complexity is astounding with orange peel, tobacco and masses of candied fruit. And just when you think it's over, a wave of walnuts hits you and goes on for a good 15 minutes. I don’t think you will find so much pleasure anywhere for the money. Blimey! HJ Read our full review of Sandeman 20-year-old tawny Available from: Amazon (£42.25) How to store port once opened? Ruby and vintage ports should ideally be drunk within five days of opening. After that period, while still alcoholic and drinkable, they will start to lose freshness and taste raisin-y. Don’t leave your port in a decanter for months. Put the cork back in the bottle or stopper the decanter, and keep it somewhere cool and dark like a cupboard. Tawny ports are different because they are aged with oxygen contact and will only deteriorate very slowly. Once opened a tawny port will last for a month or more. It’s a style that suits chilling so why not keep the bottle in the fridge? How to drink port? To decant or not to decant, that is the question. The ageing process will leave sediment in vintage port. To remove this, stand the bottle up overnight and then carefully pour into a glass jug or decanter with a light or candle shining at the neck of the bottle, when you start to see a heavy sediment, stop pouring. You’ll probably lose about half a glass of port (which is handy for putting in gravy.) Most ports won’t need decanting, however. Tawny ports are very nice chilled whereas other types suit being served cool but not cold. Too hot and they will taste too alcoholic. Port is deceptively strong, 20%, so it’s worth serving it in smaller glasses. Something like a sherry copita works best. What to eat with port? In Britain, we tend to associate vintage port with stilton but it also goes brilliantly with hard cheeses like mature cheddar and comte. While there’s nothing better with Welsh Rarebit than a tawny port, saucisson sec and cured ham are also a good fit with this style. Meanwhile young vintage or LBV have an affinity with chocolate - try them with these Melting Chocolate Puddings. Don’t be afraid to mix your port: white port is great with tonic, and ruby and cheaper tawnies can be used in cocktails in place of vermouth. And finally you don’t have to serve port with anything, a glass of chilled tawny makes a fine aperitif. Related reviews Best champagne Best prosecco Best cava Best rosé wine Best gin to buy as gifts Best bourbon Best craft whiskies Best Pinot Noir Best wine deals If you have any questions or suggestions for future reviews, or spot anything that has changed in price or availability, please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk. For information on alcohol guidelines, read our guide to drinking responsibly.
Drinks experts Henry Jeffreys and Jonathan Hatchman share their best Malbec to buy, from Argentina and beyond. We've got wines for any budget, with blowout bottles and plenty under £10
A wine merchant once let me into a secret about ordering from an unfamiliar wine list: go for the Rioja or the Malbec, and you can’t go wrong. Malbec is one of the very few grape varieties, like Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay, that has become a brand name familiar to non-wine buffs. What’s all the more remarkable is that 25 years ago the word ‘Malbec’ was almost unknown. In its home in south west France where it went into an often rather tough wine called Cahors, it was called Cot. In Bordeaux, however, it was known as Malbec but there was very little of it. Once an important variety, it had largely been superseded by Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc, and Merlot. But there were acres and acres of the stuff in Argentina, where it was brought by French immigrants in the 19th century. In the 1990s Argentinian producers managed to harness all that sunshine to transform this often awkward grape into something that people loved, full-bodied but with smooth tannins, lushly fruity and perfumed with violets. A new wine style was born, Argentinian Malbec. It’s become such a success that in south west France, they now call the grape Malbec instead of Cot, and it is generally made in a fruitier, more friendly style than in the past. Most Malbec on the shelves comes from Argentina or France, but we have included a couple from other countries too. Read on to discover the pick of the best Malbec wines, ranging from under £10 to £30 a bottle. For more unbiased expert buyer's guides and taste tests, visit our review section to find 400+ round-ups of everything from the best English wine and prosecco to rosé. To learn more about wine, explore our complete wine varieties guide and discover all you need to know about Chenin Blanc, Garganega, Vermentino and much more. For regular wine deliveries direct to your door, discover our Good Food x Laithwaites partnership for discounts on exclusively curated wine cases chosen by experts and the Good Food team. Best Malbec at a glance Best overall Malbec: Zuccardi Concreto Malbec 2021, £30 Best Malbec for pairing with food: Opi Malbec Reserve 2023, £16.99 Best Malbec for Bordeaux lovers: HJ Fabre Barrel Selection Patagonia Malbec 2023, £17.99 Best fusion Malbec: Domaine Bousquet’s Finca Lalande Malbec 2024, £13 Best value Argentinian Malbec: Definition Uco Valley Malbec 2022, £13.50 Best Malbec under £10: by Amazon Our Selection Mendoza Argentinian Malbec, £8.49 Best Australian Malbec: Felix Noctua Malbec 2024, £13.99 Best value French Malbec: Tesco Finest Malbec Cahors, £8.75 Best French Malbec: Georges Vigouroux Malbec Le Grand Retour, £12 Best Malbec with steak: Trivento Golden Reserve Malbec, £16 Best Malbec to buy in 2025 Zuccardi Concreto Malbec 2021 Available from Laithwaites (£30) Best overall Malbec Star rating: 5/5 ABV: 14% From one of Argentina’s most revered wine producers, the Zuccardi Concreto Malbec 2021 is produced using grapes grown in the chalky soils of the estate’s own vineyards in Paraje Altamira. The chalky character of the soil is highlighted by fermenting and ageing the wine in concrete vessels, hence the 'Concreto' name. It's this unique ageing process that gives the wine the purity, precision and elegance it has become so well renowned for. Fresh and floral on the nose with some herbal aromas, the palate is characterised by berry fruitiness with chalky tannins, a hint of black pepper and a bold floral finish. An absolutely exemplary Argentinian Malbec. Available from: Laithwaites (£30) Opi Malbec Reserve 2023 Available from Laithwaites (£16.99) Best Malbec for pairing with food Star rating: 4/5 ABV: 14% Made by Rodolfo Sadler, chief winemaker at Andean Vineyards in Argentina, this uses grapes from older, higher altitude vineyards in the Maipu region of Mendoza. It was aged for 15 months in new French and American Oak barrels for rounded tannins and greater depth of flavour. With intense black fruit notes of plum, mulberry and blackcurrant, this is a particularly juicy Argentinian Malbec with some gorgeous vanilla and spice notes lingering on the finish. It’s an elegant bottle that is great for pairing with food, especially steak, roast beef and game. Available from: Laithwaites (£16.99) HJ Fabre Barrel Selection Patagonia Malbec 2023 Available from Laithwaites (£17.99) Best Malbec for Bordeaux lovers Star rating: 4/5 ABV: 14.5% Bordeaux-born Hervé Fabre moved to Argentina during the 1990s and soon fell in love with old-vine Malbec. Since then, the winemaker has bought estates in Mendoza and Patagonia, where he runs his winery like a Bordeaux Château, with barrel cellars at each. This particular wine is made like a fine claret, using grapes from 30-year-old vines in Patagonia’s Río Negro, aged for a year in French oak barriques. The result is a powerful, elegant Malbec with velvety tannins, a hint of oak, blackcurrant, spice and a medium to full body with a well-balanced finish. Top tip: ideally decant for at least an hour to experience this wine at its best. Available from: Laithwaites (£17.99) Domaine Bousquet’s Finca Lalande Malbec 2024 Available from Waitrose (£12) Best fusion Malbec Star rating: 4/5 ABV: 13% The Bousquet family fell in love with the Gualtallary Valley, which occupies the highest extremes of Mendoza’s viticultural limits. It is here that the family planted vines to nurture organically-grown wines with their dream terroir, a perfect blend between France and South America. The results blend French winemaking with Argentinian terroir. Really showcasing the Gualtallary soil, the Finca Lalande Malbec’s 2024 vintage is bursting with red and black fruit notes, including plum, blueberry, blackberry and fig alongside soft tannins and an elegant, well-balanced finish. Available from: Waitrose (£12) Definition Uco Valley Malbec 2022 Available from Majestic (£13.50) Best value Argentinian Malbec Star rating: 4/5 ABV: 14% Crafted exclusively for Majestic, the Definition Uco Valley Malbec is a more accessible wine from Zuccardi, the producers of the Concreto Malbec above. Using grapes from vineyards which range between 800-to-1400 metres above sea level, half of the wine is aged in French oak for 10 months while the other portion is aged in concrete egg vats, like Zuccardi’s other exceptional wines. This protects the fruit and terroir. In this edition, jammy notes of blackberry, plum, blackcurrant and black cherry are joined by some oak and vanilla hints, plus some very feint tobacco alongside smooth tannins and moderate acidity. Available from: Majestic (£13.50) By Amazon Our Selection Mendoza Argentinian Malbec Available from Amazon (£8.49) Best Malbec under £10 Star rating: 3.5/5 ABV: 13.5% From Amazon’s own curated range of high quality food and drink, the By Amazon Malbec showcases grapes from 25-year-old vines in the Agrelo district of Mendoza in Argentina. A pure, classic example of Argentinian Malbec, the wine is bold with violet, redcurrant and blackcurrant notes alongside a silky smooth finish. Although not quite as complex as other options, the By Amazon Malbec is far greater than its price suggests, great for pairing with food. Available from: Amazon (£8.49) Felix Noctua Malbec 2024 Available from Virgin Wines (£13.99) Best Australian Malbec Star rating: 4/5 ABV: 13.2% Sun-kissed, perfectly ripe Australian Malbec grapes are showcased in this Felix Noctua Malbec, known for their pronounced jammy fruit flavours. Produced by the expert team at Felix Noctua in South-Eastern Australia, this particular wine reminds us of the nation’s red wine credentials, which is a slight step away from the better known French and Argentinian Malbecs. Offering plenty of depth without excess, the jammy dark fruit presence is balanced by some subtle spice and a touch of earthiness, framed by silky tannins and a long fruity finish. Available from: Virgin Wines (£13.99) Tesco Finest Malbec Cahors Available from Tesco (£8.75) Best value French Malbec Star rating: 3/5 ABV: 13% Cahors, the original home of Malbec, tends to produce wines with more tannin than Argentina. That is the case here, but it’s also supported by acres of fresh ripe damson fruit so it’s not going to frighten the horses. Available from: Tesco (£8.75) Georges Vigouroux Malbec Le Grand Retour Available from Majestic (£12) Best French Malbec Rating: 4/5 ABV: 13.5% Another wine from Cahors, this is more traditional than the Tesco version. There’s a smell like old leather with dark fruit and violets. It’s robust on the palate with dark fruit and grippy leather, but with freshness and fragrance too. Try this with cassoulet. Available from: Majestic (£12) Trivento Malbec Golden Reserve Available from Tesco (£16) Best Malbec with steak Rating: 4/5 ABV: 14% Trivento makes a huge range of wines (including some tasty supermarket own labels) but I’ve gone for a more upmarket version which is worth the extra money. It’s very spicy with violets, plums and the kind of furry tannins that love a nice bit of rare steak. Available from: Tesco (£16) More drinks reviews Best champagne Best prosecco Best rosé Best classic whisky Best brandy Best pinot grigio Related reviews Best wine glasses Best champagne glasses Best whiskey glasses Best Pinot Noir Best red wines for cooking This review was last updated in October 2025. If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk. What do you think of our selection of best Malbec wines? Do you have a favourite bottle to recommend? We'd love to hear your product suggestions in the comments below...
From classic scotch to innovative bottles from Taiwan, Australia and India, discover the best single malt whisky to buy
When single malt whisky is mentioned, most people think of Scotland, which is widely recognised as its historic and spiritual home. However, distilleries around the world are now getting involved in the production of truly outstanding single malts. Not governed by the same strict criteria as Scotland, prominent distilleries in Japan, India, Taiwan, Ireland, the US and beyond are now producing world-class single malt whisky and earning global acclaim, even among whisky purists. To put it simply, single malt whisky must be made from 100 per cent malted barley and distilled at one single distillery. Single malt whiskies can differ significantly from region to region, even if produced in the same country. Scotch single malt is a typical example of this, with widely varying flavours across different regions, from peaty and powerful, to light and floral. Many Indian single malt whiskies have bold, tropical flavours thanks to the fast-aging climate, while Japan is renowned for elegance and precision, producing whiskies that are often light and oaky. Distilleries in the US and wider Europe tend to produce innovative takes on the style that are inspired by Scotch single malt icons. Some single malt whiskies work well in cocktails, but the general consensus is that they are best enjoyed either neat or with a splash of high-quality spring water to open up the flavours, especially in higher-ABV expressions. Here, drinks expert Jonathan Hatchman has selected the best single malt whisky to buy, covering a range of styles and prices, from under £35-70+. Read on for our in-depth reviews, and for over 400 buyer’s guides, visit our reviews section to find taste tests of gin, vodka, tequila, rum and much more. Jump to: What is a single malt whisky? How to choose a single malt whisky Best single malt whisky to buy 2025 How we tested single malt whisky Best single malt whisky to buy at a glance Best ‘new world’ single malt whisky: Copperworks Release 046 single malt whiskey, £68.95 Best exotic scotch single malt whisky: Fettercairn 16-year-old, £71 Best sustainable single malt whisky: Nc’nean Organic single malt whisky, £51.75 Best introduction to Japanese single malt whisky: Nikka Miyagikyo single malt whisky, £63.56 Best for tropical smoothness: Kavalan classic single malt whisky, £73.50 Best Indian single malt whisky: Amrut single malt whisky, £45.50 Best for peated whisky lovers on a budget: That Boutique-y Whisky Company Islay eight-year-old single malt whisky, £44.95 Best for bourbon drinkers exploring single malt: Yellowstone American single malt whiskey, £69.50 Best budget single malt whisky: The Busker single malt Irish whiskey, £35.25 Best for wine-cask complexity: Starward Left-Field single malt whisky, £33.95 What is a single malt whisky? The criteria for a spirit to be defined as single malt whisky is fairly consistent throughout the world, although Scotland’s regulations are the gold standard. Single malt scotch whisky must be: made exclusively from malted barley be produced at a single distillery be distilled in pots, then matured in oak casks for a minimum of three years bottled at 40 per cent ABV or higher Global single malts follow a similar definition, although pot-still distillation isn’t always a legal requirement, nor is aging for more than three years, though this is still very common. Flavour profiles vary greatly from region to region, even within the same country, but some of the most typical tell-tale flavour notes of a single malt whisky include maltiness, orchard fruits, oak, floral and/or herbal notes and subtle spiciness, dependent on the cask type. Given the need for 100 per cent malted barley, single malt whisky differs quite significantly from other popular styles such as blended whisky, bourbon, rye and single grain. How to choose a single malt whisky Regardless of origin, there’s generally something to suit everybody when it comes to single malt whisky, given the category’s great flavour diversity. When buying a bottle of single malt whisky, it’s best to start by looking for flavours that you appreciate. If you enjoy fruity wines or smoky mezcal, for instance, look for similar notes in whisky. It’s also worth paying attention to age statements, which make a huge difference to overall flavour; alcohol by volume, as a higher ABV generally promises a more intense flavour; cask type and whether the whisky is peated (smoky) or unpeated. Best single malt whisky to buy 2025 Copperworks Release 046 single malt whiskey Available from The Whisky Exchange (£68.95) Best ‘new world’ single malt whisky Rating: 4.5/5 ABV: 50% Copperworks Distilling Company in Seattle, US, produces a range of spirits – including American single malt whiskey – by distilling high-quality, unhopped craft beer into whiskey. Run by former brewers Jason Parker and Micah Nutt, the pair utilise their beer knowledge to create truly mesmerising spirits that are distilled in traditional copper stills specifically created in Scotland for this purpose. Showcasing a dedication to terroir and craftsmanship, Copperworks Release 046 single malt whiskey is produced using Genie barley from a single farm in Oregon, which undergoes a long fermentation followed by maturation in new American oak casks. The resulting spirit is extremely vibrant, with bold lemon zest, straw, vanilla and peach aromas that are joined by notes of rose water, raspberry and caramel on the palate and finished with a faint hum of chocolate. An outstanding, well-balanced American single malt that will leave you wanting another sip. Available from: The Whisky Exchange (£68.95) Fettercairn 16-year-old Available from Selfridges (£81.99), The Whisky Shop (£92), The Tipple Cellar (£71) Best exotic scotch single malt whisky Rating: 4.5/5 ABV: 46.4% Located in the heart of Aberdeenshire, Fettercairn Distillery has a progressive approach to scotch single malt whisky production. Since 1824, Fettercairn has been distilling outstanding whiskies, with its copper cooling ring lending a unique house style to its bottles. Pure mountain water is a key ingredient – the stills are drenched in it from the outside, which cools the copper and allows only the finest vapours to rise, resulting in a light spirit with bold, tropical fruit notes. This unique house style is showcased by Fettercairn 16-year-old, which has joined the distillery’s core range. Deep grilled pineapple, passion fruit and mango notes are joined by vanilla, which gives way to honey, almond, soft baking spices and rose, plus mandarin, pear and cacao on the finish. Available from: Selfridges (£81.99) The Whisky Shop (£92) The Tipple Cellar (£71) Nc’nean Organic single malt whisky Available from The Whisky Exchange (£51.75), Waitrose (£55), Master of Malt (£67.94) Best sustainable single malt whisky Rating: 4.5/5 ABV: 46% Since its inception in 2017, Nc’nean has strived to do things differently. The primarily female-run distillery is based on the west coast of Scotland and uses longer mashing times, slow fermentation and experiments with uncommon yeasts to create new flavours in whisky. In 2021, Nc’nean also achieved verified net-zero status for carbon emissions from its own operations, making it the first UK whisky distillery to be classified as such for scopes one and two. It also achieved B Corp accreditation in 2022. Produced using 100 per cent organic Scottish barley, the distillery’s flagship single malt whisky is an elegant and fruity expression, with bright lemon oil, nectarine and fudge flavours joined by grass, wine gums, candied pineapple, a hint of buttered toast and rich spice that lingers on the finish. An extremely well-balanced whisky from a distillery intent on doing its bit for the planet. Available from: The Whisky Exchange (£51.75) Waitrose (£55) Master of Malt (£67.94) Nikka Miyagikyo single malt whisky Available from Master of Malt (£72.99), The Whisky Exchange (£77.25), Spiritly (£63.56) Best introduction to Japanese single malt whisky Rating: 4/5 ABV: 45% Founded in 1934 by Masataka Taketsuru – often regarded as the 'father of Japanese whisky' – Nikka whisky has long been inspired by traditional Scotch whisky, using traditional production techniques combined with Japanese precision and attention to detail. It has two distilleries: Yokchi and Miyagiko. Produced at the Miyagikyo distillery near Sendai in northern Japan, Nikka Miyagikyo single malt is a complex, fruity Japanese single malt whisky. Bold floral and soft fruit aromas give way to a rich palate, with roasted nut, ripe fruit, chocolate and honey flavours. Fruity and floral notes dominate the well-balanced finish, alongside a touch of oak and baking spices. This fruitier expression from Nikka is perfect for fans of Speyside whiskies, but also a great introduction to Japanese single malt whisky. Available from: Master of Malt (£72.99) The Whisky Exchange (£77.25) Spiritly (£63.56) Kavalan Classic single malt whisky Available from The Whisky Exchange (£73.75), Master of Malt (£73.50), Spiritly (£64.21) Best for tropical smoothness Rating: 4.5/5 ABV: 40% As is typical of whisky from countries with warm climates, Taiwanese whisky matures much faster than those aged in temperate areas, meaning the style is often exceptionally smooth. Founded in 2005, Kavalan is Taiwan’s first whisky distillery, mastering tropical aging to create a sophisticated portfolio of whiskies. As well as the maturation benefits, Kavalan’s distillery site was especially chosen for the abundance of pure spring water available from the Snowy Mountain range, which also has a notable effect on the resulting whisky’s complex flavours. Coconut, tropical fruit and honey notes dominate Kavalan’s Classic single malt whisky, with ripe mango, spiced honey cake, apple and bold citrus notes, which develop further on the palate. A great example of masterful tropical aging, with a bold, fruit-forward flavour profile. Available from: The Whisky Exchange (£73.75) Master of Malt (£73.50) Spiritly (£64.21) Amrut single malt whisky Available from The Whisky Exchange (£45.50), Master of Malt (£47.45) Best Indian single malt whisky Rating: 4/5 ABV: 46% Established in 1948, Amrut has been producing some of India’s best whisky for decades, with its first single malt whisky introduced in 1982, inspired by the Scotch whisky introduced to the country during the British colonisation. Unlike Scotch whisky, Amrut single malt whisky is distilled with heritage Indian barley grown in the foothills of the Himalayas. India’s warm climate rapidly increases the speed of maturation – it's said that one year of cask maturation in India is equivalent to approximately three years of aging in Scotland. A downside of this, however, is the amount of liquid lost to evaporation, meaning older age statements are incredibly rare from Indian distilleries. What’s most noticeable about Amrut single malt whisky is the flavour imparted by the use of six-row barley, which adds different flavour and texture to that typical of scotch whisky. Honey and vanilla are prominent on the nose, alongside lemon and orange peel, caramel and baking spices, while a slightly tart barley note is joined by further orange, vanilla and honey on the palate. Overall, it’s rich albeit not overly complex given its relative youth, with gorgeous stone fruit flavours and dark chocolate that lingers on the medium-light finish. Available from: The Whisky Exchange (£45.50) Master of Malt (£47.45) That Boutique-y Whisky Company Islay eight-year-old single malt whisky Available from Master of Malt (£44.95) Best for peated whisky lovers on a budget Rating: 4/5 ABV: 45.8% Having started life in 2012 as an independent bottler, renowned for its extensive collection of rare releases, That Boutique-y Whisky Company has more recently began to add to its award-winning core range – a selection of bottles considered to be some of the finest in their field, according to the experts behind the brand. From the core range, That Boutique-y Whisky Company’s Islay eight-year-old single malt whisky encapsulates the spirit of the Scottish island. Crafted in small batches of 1,000 litres, the whisky is sourced from an undisclosed distillery, finished in both ex-bourbon hogsheads and ex-sherry octaves and bottled without chill filtration or additional colouring. Boldly peated with a distinct earthiness alongside citrus, oak, fudge and dried fruit notes, the whisky has plenty of dry peat presence on the palate, with juicy fruit flavours and warm vanilla, and more earthy smokiness on the finish. It’s a very well-balanced, competitively priced option, perfect for peated scotch whisky lovers. Available from: Master of Malt (£44.95) Yellowstone American single malt whiskey Available from Master of Malt (£69.50) Best for bourbon drinkers exploring single malt whisky Rating: 4/5 ABV: 54% Especially renowned for Yellowstone Select bourbon, a new American single malt expression has been added to the brand’s portfolio, produced at the Limestone Branch Distillery in Kentucky. Like scotch single malt, the Yellowstone American single malt whiskey is produced from 100 per cent malted barley and aged in oak using new charred American oak barrels, in which the liquid is matured for four years. Typical single malt notes of cereal and honey are joined by hints of pear, stone fruit, date, vanilla and barrel spice notes, complete with pepper and spiciness evocative of rye whiskey, plus further vanilla on the mellow finish. A good introduction to American single malt whiskey, building excitement for an expression with a greater age statement. Available from: Master of Malt (£69.50) The Busker single malt Irish whiskey Available from The Whisky Exchange (£35.25) Best budget single malt whisky Rating: 3.5/5 ABV: 44.3% A contemporary Irish whiskey brand, The Busker is a relative newcomer, launched in 2020. Operating from the Royal Oak Distillery, The Busker is proud to be the sole Irish whiskey brand to produce all styles under one roof, with a portfolio containing pot still, single malt and grain whiskeys that strive to balance tradition with innovation, using only locally sourced raw materials. Moreover, the distillery fully reclaims waste from cereal distillation and fermentation for animal feed, totalling over 20 million litres of liquid waste and 2,000 tonnes of solid waste. Distilled in large copper stills and matured in American oak bourbon and oloroso sherry casks, The Busker single malt has stewed fruit, pine, malt biscuit and rich chocolate notes, plus a sweet and creamy lingering finish that nicely showcases the spirit’s richness. Starward Left-Field single malt whisky Available from The Whisky Exchange (£38.25) Best for wine-cask complexity Rating: 3.5/5 ABV: 40% Based in Melbourne, Australia, Starward was founded with the goal to create a whisky reflective of Australia’s unique character, using ingredients sourced from within a day’s drive of the distillery and innovative production methods, including some processes inspired by craft brewing. From the distillery’s core range, Starward Left-Field single malt whisky is matured in 100 percent French oak casks that previously held wine from Australia’s Barossa Valley region, best known for shiraz. Tannic, fruity notes are joined by a hint of apple skin, apricot jam and dried fruits, plus whispers of almond, maple syrup, cacao and baking spices like nutmeg and ginger. Ginger cake flavours also prevail on the palate, alongside a bold vinous character with woody notes and a suggestion of oaky vanilla, rye bread, dark chocolate and liquorice. A bold, complex whisky with some tropical notes on the finish and a soft tannic structure. Available from: The Whisky Exchange (£38.25) How we tested single malt whisky When tasting single malt whisky, there are a few key components to consider: the aroma (which is often the most complex part of the whisky), flavours with a specific focus on balance, texture or mouthfeel, finish and the overall value of the whisky, taking various aspects of the production and finesse into consideration. Given the many different flavour profiles and personal preferences, it’s important to consider that a good single malt whisky will have a prominent aroma that’s not dominated by the smell of alcohol and well-balanced flavour regardless of whether it’s powerful or more subtle, and it will ultimately leave you reaching for another sip. All of the featured whiskies were blind-tasted neat, then again with a drop of spring water to open up the aromas and flavours for a more nuanced tasting experience. 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The best Irish whiskey to buy 2025, taste tested
Read our expert review of the best Irish whiskey to buy. Find grain, single malt and single pot still varieties in our list of top buys.
There are currently a huge swathe of Irish whiskies out there reinventing, challenging, subverting, defying or simply exceeding the stereotype of the spirit only being suitable as a shot or chaser. Irish whiskey has had a turbulent history of highs and lows, but today the Irish whiskey industry is undoubtedly exciting. From big Irish whiskey brands such as Bushmills to small new distilleries, drinks expert Richard Davies has taste tested and reviewed the best Irish whiskies on the market in-depth in order to find the best whiskies to buy for you. The classic flavours and qualities associated with Irish whiskey are of a light, smooth spirit that still retains complexity and depth. You will often find fruit, especially apple, banana and pear. Vanilla, cinnamon, black pepper and nutmeg all pop up amongst the spicy edges. The sweetness can vary from very light to rich and dark. Quite often the whiskey will have a mouth-coating oiliness far greater than the spirit’s heft might suggest. The one thing you will very rarely find in Irish whiskey is smoke or peat. Connemara is a notable exception, and other distilleries have put out peated whiskies, but it is not a common feature. Our drinks expert Richard Davies is a writer, barman and brewer with roots in home-brewing. With Miriam Nice, he co-wrote The Art of Drinking Sober. When he's not making his own beer and cocktails, he works at award-winning micro pub The Beer Shop. The perfect bottle of Irish whiskey is excellent sipped neat, but we’ve got plenty of whiskey recipes to help you use it up too. Try a classic old fashioned or Irish coffee, stir up decadent homemade Irish cream with plenty of dulce de leche or shake a quirky Brown Derby with grapefruit juice and honey. For more, visit our reviews section to find more than 400 practical buyer's guides, including taste tests of the best gin, vodka, rum and brandy, plus round-ups of the best whiskies from around the world including best English whiskies, best Japanese whiskies or best American bourbon. We’ve also tested the best whisky subscriptions and found the best whiskies to buy as gifts. Best Irish whiskey at a glance Best introduction to Irish whiskey: Redbreast 12-year-old single pot still Irish whiskey, £55.99 Best blended Irish whiskey for mixed drinks: Lambay Small Batch Blend, £39.47 Best peated Irish whiskey: Two Stacks Smoke & Mirrors whiskey, £39.95 Best vintage single pot under £75: Powers John’s Lane, £60.95 Best experimental Irish whiskey: Waterford The Cuvée, £66.50 Best Irish whiskey for Bourbon devotees: Glendalough Double Barrel Irish whiskey, £31.25 Best Irish whiskey for Scotch single malt fans: That Boutique-y Whisky Company Irish single malt #1, £58.95 Best Irish single malt under £50: Bushmills 10-year-old single malt whiskey, £39.50 Best vintage single pot still Irish whiskey under £100: Redbreast 15-year-old single still whiskey, £99.95 Best Irish whiskey for lovers of big sherried finishes: Egan's Fortitude single malt, £45.74 Best Irish whiskey for rum lovers: Teelings Small Batch whiskey, £36.25 Best Irish whiskey under £50: Green Spot single pot still whiskey, £47.75 Jump to: Best Irish whiskey to buy How we tested Irish whiskey Whisky and whiskey: what’s the difference? A history of Irish whiskey What is Irish whiskey made from? How to drink Irish whiskey? Irish whiskey cocktail recipes Best Irish whiskey to buy 2025 Redbreast 12-year-old single pot still Irish whiskey Available from Waitrose Cellar (£57), The Whisky Exchange (£62.50), Master of Malt (£55.99) Best introduction to Irish whiskey Star rating: 4.5/5 Size: 70cl ABV: 40% Although the Redbreast 15-year-old, 21-year-old and those aged for even longer are particularly well-renowned amongst critics and afficionados, the flagship Redbreast 12-year-old is comparatively overlooked. With written records dating back to 1912 (although the whiskey was almost definitely available much earlier), the Redbreast 12-year-old is the oldest expression from the brand, produced at the famous Midleton Distillery, distilled from malted and un-malted barley then matured in a combination of American oak bourbon barrels and Spanish oak Oloroso sherry butts. While Redbreast 12-year-old still has a premium price tag, it’s an absolute perfect introduction to Irish whiskey, epitomising the spirit of single pot still Irish whiskey. Baking spices such as clove and cinnamon are prominent on the nose, joined by some typical vanilla from the oak and soft hints of toffee and almond. Vanilla continues slightly on the palate, which gives the whiskey a slight bourbon character, although joined by more of those warming baking spice notes, dried fruit, just a whisper of chocolate and some sherry character which contribute to a flavour redolent of Christmas cake. Alongside the rich, oily mouthfeel from the single pot still, what’s particularly notable is the smooth, buttery finish that lingers and begs you to take another sip. Available from: Waitrose Cellar (£57) The Whisky Exchange (£62.50) Master of Malt (£55.99) Lambay Small Batch Blend Available from The Whisky Exchange (£40.95), Master of Malt (£39.47) Best blended Irish whiskey for mixed drinks Star rating: 3.5/5 Size: 70cl ABV: 40% Lambay launched as an Irish whiskey brand in 2017. Like many newer outfits in Irish whiskey, Lambay do not currently distil their own spirit, instead sourcing it from other Irish distilleries. The Small Batch Blend caught our attention. The Small Batch Blend is intriguing, as although it hits many of the archetypal Irish whiskey touchpoints with a light, smooth and sweet framework, the balance of flavours veer a little out of what I would expect. The impact of the cognac finish and the sea air (Lambay is the largest island off Ireland) is restrained, but still give this Lambay something a little unusual. On the nose, it comes across light and delicate and on the palate, it is again light: the sweetness of very pale malt and a hint of marshmallow, baked fruit, the spiciness of vanilla and pepper. The finish runs with the sweetness, and as it fades out some of that spiciness remains, bracketed with a hint of salt and the nuttiness going over to a light woody dryness. Read our full review of the Lambay Small Batch Blend Whiskey. Available from: The Whisky Exchange (£40.95) Master of Malt (£39.47) Two Stacks Smoke & Mirrors whiskey Available from The Whisky Exchange (£39.95), Master of Malt (£39.95) Best peated Irish whiskey Star rating: 4.5/5 Size: 70cl ABV: 40% As a new operation, Two Stacks act as blenders, with a keen eye to what finishing in an unexpected cask can do to an already aged whiskey. The Smoke & Mirrors whiskey shines a light on peat, which is under-represented in Irish whiskey. The whiskey is a lighter gold than a turn in a stout barrel might suggest. On the nose, there’s a good hit of peat and roast coffee, then a softer chocolate note. To drink, the smoke and roasty side are more delicate than expected, the creaminess allies with the chocolate, as the fruit tends toward baked and luscious while vanilla, clove and cinnamon spicing add interest. The finish is more smooth chocolate, coffee roastiness and dark dried fruit as the smoke lingers on awhile. Highly enjoyable, this is a delightful Irish whiskey with enough depth to marry happily to a goodly peat side and have neither side lose out. Read our full review of Two Stacks Smoke & Mirrors Whiskey. Available from: The Whisky Exchange (£39.95) Master of Malt (£39.95) Powers John’s Lane Available from The Whisky Exchange (£60.95) Best vintage single pot still under £75 Star rating: 4.5/5 Size: 70cl ABV: 40% Powers is one of the great historic names in Irish whiskey, established in Dublin in 1791 and as synonymous in its day with the spirit as Jamesons is now. The John’s Lane is a twelve year old single pot still whiskey. Just by its very name – the address of their old Dublin distillery – the John’s Lane evokes heritage. It pours a pleasing rich, coppery gold in the glass. On the nose, it’s all classic pot still signifiers - smooth honeyed malt, rich apple and banana, vanilla, some cinnamon and then a little tobacco and fruit cake. On the palate, it builds from the nose, with more dried fruit, intense honeyed sweetness, hints of coffee and a full, oily mouthfeel. The finish continues awhile, the spice and sweetness letting in more coffee, and then a little wood tannin at the end. This is an excellent example of what a classic single pot still whiskey can do. For a perfect serve, take it as is and give time to experience the flavours. Read the full review of Powers John's Lane whiskey. Available from: The Whisky Exchange (£60.95) Waterford The Cuvée Available from The Great Wine Co (£66.50) Best experimental Irish whisky Star rating: 4.5/5 Size: 70cl ABV: 50% Waterford Distillery launched in 2015 with a focus on proving the impact of terroir on creating exceptional whiskies. Founder Mark Reynier recruited nearly a hundred barley farmers across South-East Ireland to build up a patchwork of varying terroir, barley varieties and cultivation methods. The Cuvées are built from the breadth of whiskies now available to Waterford, in the manner of winemakers. As it stands it is both a very fine, complex whisky and also a window into the shape of releases to come. There is definitely still a slightly young spirit character to The Cuvée, but even so there is much to enjoy. On the nose you get lots of spice - ginger, vanilla and pepper, a light barley character, floral notes and a touch of lemon. The palate brings in fresh mint, lots of pepper and then some chocolate notes, biscuity sweetness and ginger on an oily mouthfeel. There’s an intensity to the finish, with pepper and then some oak drying out the floral honeyed sweetness leaving the original cereal note. Read our full review of Waterford the Cuvée. Available from: The Great Wine Co (£66.50) Glendalough Double Barrel Irish whiskey Available from The Whisky Exchange (£31.25), Master of Malt (£31.25), Hard to Find Whisky (£34.95) Best Irish whiskey for Bourbon devotees Star rating: 4/5 Size: 70cl ABV: 42% While this hits a lot of the notes you’d expect from an Irish whiskey, there’s a real kinship with American whiskies to the Double Barrel, and as such it strikes us a perfect introduction to Irish whiskey for a fan of bourbon. The nose has vanilla, and creamy smoothness, almost chocolatey at the end. That creamy element continues into the palate, with more vanilla, dried fruit and a little coffee note all contributing to the full body and a touch of brown sugar sweetness as well. Read our full Glendalough Double Barrel review. Available from: The Whisky Exchange (£31.25) Master of Malt (£31.25) Hard to Find Whisky (£34.95) That Boutique-y Whisky Company Irish single malt #1 Available from Master of Malt (£58.95) Best Irish whiskey for Scotch single malt fans Star rating: 4.5/5 Size: 50cl ABV: 47/6% Packaging by That Boutique-y Whisky Company is always eye-catching, but this nod to Father Ted takes it to another level. Novelty packaging aside, this is a company dedicated to sourcing great whiskies that you might not be able to find elsewhere, such as ones from overlooked or now-closed distilleries. This particular batch comes from an unnamed distillery. Expect a full body and smoothness. It's fruity on the nose, which carries through to the palate, with hints of melon. Read our full That Boutique-y Whisky Company Irish single malt review. Available from: Master of Malt (£58.95) Bushmills 10-year-old single malt whiskey undefined Best Irish Single Malt under £50 Star rating: 4/5 Size: 70cl ABV: 40% A solid whiskey from a heritage brand, this is keenly priced for a spirit of this vintage. While it's a light whiskey, there's plenty going on in the flavour and aroma stakes. Expect a light-bodied sweetness and fudgey undertones, plus juicy fruits and a hint of sherry. Its lightness means it lends itself well to being used in whisky cocktails. Read our full Bushmills 10-year-old single malt whiskey review. undefined Redbreast 15-year-old single still whiskey undefined Best vintage single pot still Irish whiskey under £100 Star rating: 5/5 Size: 70cl ABV: 46% Redbreast is a respected brand in Irish whiskey and is now the biggest-selling single pot still whiskey in the world. Their 15-year-old is a pure pot still whiskey which, on the eye, is a rich deep copper. On the nose, it has a full, almost viscous air, with honeyed malt, intense spices, dried fruit and gentle woody notes that fade into creamy vanilla. On the palate, the interplay of honey, spice, fruit and wood notes carry on. A touch of water in the glass opens it up. Read our full Redbreast 15-year-old whiskey review. undefined Egan's Fortitude single malt Available from Master of Malt (£45.74) Best Irish whiskey for lovers of big sherried finishes Star rating: 4/5 Size: 70cl ABV: 46% A single malt whiskey with no age statement, Fortitude has been aged exclusively in Pedro Ximenéz barrels – a bold statement. It would be hard to pretend this was anything other than a bit of a beast, and as such it won’t be to everyone’s taste. That said, if you want a big, brooding whiskey that can really make itself felt, this is a pleasing change. For a perfect serve, this just needs a single ice cube to give you a few different aspects to consider as you sip it slowly. The whiskey has a full gold colour to it and a swirl of the glass present legs that almost refuse to form, a hint of how full this whiskey is. The nose is immense. On the palate, it continues as a big, hefty beast. There’s a lot going on, with wood, fruity tannins, more leather and savoury notes over a smooth, incredibly oily consistency with a redolence of dark chocolate. Again, the more traditional Irish characteristics take a while to emerge, but are still there. It finishes long, with the honey sweetness asserting itself. Adding some water dials the intensity down and allows the apple, light honey and spice of the whiskey more time to shine, should that be your preference. Read our full Egan's Fortitude whiskey review. Available from: Master of Malt (£45.74) Teelings Small Batch whiskey undefined Best Irish whiskey for rum lovers Star rating: 4/5 Size: 70cl ABV: 46% Like rum? This complex whiskey has flavour notes that will feel familiar thanks to the spirit spending six months aging in Central American rum casks. The aroma features vanilla, soft fudge, toffee and brown sugar, the finish has a woody note that keeps all that sweetness in check. This one is a great contender for serving in a classic Irish coffee. Read our full Teelings Small Batch review. undefined Green Spot single pot still whiskey undefined Best Irish Whiskey under £50 Star rating: 5/5 Size: 70cl ABV: 40% Green Spot is a classic single pot still whiskey, lacking an age statement but believed to be comprised of seven-to-10-year-old whiskies. The colour is a pale gold, and the nose is light but rich. There's sweet barley and a vanilla creaminess to the aroma, with a pleasing viscosity on the palate. This is a delightful introduction to single pot still whiskey, coming at the lower end of the price scale to its peers, without sacrificing either complexity or drinking pleasure. Read our full Green Spot single pot still whiskey review. undefined How we tested Irish whiskey All our best Irish whiskies were carefully taste tested to assess the aroma, taste, mouthfeel and finish. Whilst Irish whiskey has a stereotypical reputation for being "smooth", there is a huge amount more to them than this and we wanted to highlight the complexity and nuance of some bottles, as well as those whiskies pushing against being pigeonholed by such terms. In addition, we look at whiskies across a broad range and considered how they would best be drunk - what is ideal for a vivacious highball may not be ideal for a contemplative sipper. Whiskey vs whisky: what’s the difference? There are two parts to the differences between Irish and Scotch whiskies. The first part is the differing spellings of "whiskey" and "whisky" – caused by different translations in Scotalnd and Ireland from the root word in Gaelic. The 'e' in whiskey is also a relic of the 19th century, when Irish whiskey was a far larger and more reputable product than Scotch whisky, so the 'e' was a way to signal to drinkers all which country's spirit you were getting. The second difference is in the regulations and traditions that define what may call itself an Irish whiskey or a Scotch whisky. Obviously, Irish whiskey must be made and aged in Ireland (both the Republic and Northern Ireland), with a minimum of three years spent in wooden casks. It is common - but not required - that Irish whiskey be distilled three times, which lightens and smooths the spirit. The slight contrast here is that the Scotch regulations specify oak as the wood for their casks, and double distillation is the norm. Peated barley (barley malted over peat, imparting a smoky flavour) is also more a familiar aspect of the flavour profile in Scotch, especially those from Islay. Lastly, while a single malt whisky is the archetypal form for Scotch, the Irish focus on Single Pot Still, which makes a virtue of the mixture of malted and unmalted barley that goes into it. A history of Irish whiskey Irish whiskey, despite having been a more popular and prestigious spirit in its golden age than Scotch whisky, did not have the best time of the mid-20th century. Now though, there are a profusion of both invigorated old brands and exciting new entrants to the market, all seeking to rectify our ignorance of what its adherents claim is the original whisk(e)y. Firstly, the Irish claim to have been making whiskey before everyone else. This is based on a note dating to 1405 in the Annals of Clonmacnoise, about the head of a clan who died after ‘taking a surfeit of aqua vitae’ at Christmas. The earliest Scottish record of distilled spirits apparently dates to a tardy 1494. Hibernian-Caledonian bragging rights aside, this is of less interest than the fact that Irish whiskey was, by the late nineteenth century, absolutely massive. Like with beer, whiskey scaled well to the possibilities of the industrial revolution and it was the Irish who ruled the roost. In 1823 a 31,618-gallon pot still was commissioned for the Midleton Distillery in County Cork, and was so large that it required the room to be built around it. The largest pot still currently in operation today that we could find reference to is a ‘mere’ 16,498 gallons. As the Victorian era waxed, the five main distilleries in Dublin alone could produce up to 10 million gallons of spirit a year between them. The Irish whiskey boom was not just a question of scale, but also of prestige. There’s a fuller explanation in our guide to whiskey and whisky, but the fact is that the Irish didn’t want their product confused with the more parochial product from across the North Sea, adding an ‘e’ to differentiate themselves and keep the association with quality for the Irish product. Things got rather dicier in the 20th Century, however. There was the steady encroachment of lighter-bodied spirits made from column stills, which were both to the public’s taste and also more efficient to run. The post-Independence situation in the 1920s restricted access to the United Kingdom and Commonwealth, which had been a huge market for Irish whiskey. Prohibition in the United States wiped out another massive export destination for a decade, and then the Great Depression hampered things everywhere. Distilleries consolidated and merged, and by the late 1960s, you only had Irish Distillers (Jameson, Powers and Cork Distillers) based in the Republic, and Bushmills in Northern Ireland. In 1972, Bushmills joined Irish Distillers. Things perked up slowly – in the late 1980s the new, independent Cooley’s distillery opened and drinks giant Pernod Ricard picked up Irish Distillers, prompting more interest and advocacy for this august spirit and some of its surviving brands. This process has accelerated in the last two decades, with 25 operating distilleries now in Ireland (2019 figure), and more planned, as the appetite for Irish whiskey worldwide is claimed to be growing by over 15 per cent a year. What is Irish whiskey made from? What makes an Irish whiskey, and why should you be interested? Firstly, some clear legal requirements: it must be made and matured in either the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland. The maturation must be in wooden casks, and for a minimum duration of three years. These requirements are similar to Scotch, although it is not oak casks that are specified, simply wood – allowing for more experimentation. Irish whiskey can come as familiar grain or single malt whiskey, but the category that is unique to the Irish is Single Pot Still. This specifies that the spirit must be made in a pot still, rather than any other type, like a column still. To qualify for the ‘single’ part, the spirit must all be made on the same site. This can be confusing when talking about a Single Grain whiskey, which doesn’t mean it only contains one grain, just that it was made entirely on one site. Irish whiskey is usually thought of as triple-distilled, but this is not mandated by law and offers another point of variance for distillers. Irish whiskey is made from a variety of ingredients, depending on the type, but is most closely associated with the Pot Still-type, which comprises a mixture of malted and unmalted barley. As with Scotch whisky, malted barley is key, but it is the unmalted barley that sets Pot Still whiskey apart from a Single Malt. Single Pot Still whiskey is always a blend of malted and unmalted barley, with a minimum of 30% of both in the grist, and no more than 5% of any other grain included. How to drink Irish whiskey? As with all drinks, how you drink an Irish whiskey is a matter of personal preference and may change from brand to brand. Enjoy sipping your whiskey neat, or try adding a few drops of water, which can lighten the spirit and allow new subtleties to emerge. While ice might not be ‘necessary’ for very good whiskies, it is again a matter of preference whatever the bottle. When pouring over ice, use large cubes to melt more slowly in your drink. Irish whiskey makes for an interesting alternative to bourbon, rye and brandy in a lot of classic cocktails, so don't be afraid to experiment! Irish whiskey cocktail recipes When mixing, Irish whiskey is often easier to use in cocktails and long drinks than Scotch, so why not try mixing up a classic Irish coffee, a Brown Derby (/recipes/brown-derby), or an Irish Whiskey Old Fashioned. For something decadent, try making your own homemade Irish cream – a great Christmas gift. More on whiskey Whisky or whiskey – what's the difference? Our best ever whiskey cocktails Top 10 ways to cook with whiskey Best whiskey glasses Related reviews The best Irish whiskey The best Scotch The best whisky from around the world The best bourbon The best rosé The best craft whiskies All our gin taste tests The best mezcal The best rum Best whisky subscriptions and clubs What Irish whiskey do you love? Share your product suggestions with us below... This review was last updated in April 2025. If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.
The best Scotch whisky for Burns Night and beyond
Read our expert guide to the best whisky Scotland has to offer for every occasion, from Burns Night to first footing. Whether it’s supermarket bargains or the best of independent distilleries, our Scotch taste tests include single malts and more
The world of Scotch whisky is varied and occasionally intimidating, ranging from the light and heathery to the smoky and medicinal, with a huge gamut in-between. While a lot of distilleries were closed down or mothballed in the 1980s and 1990s, there has been a recent Scotch whisky revival. Some exciting new entrants are rubbing shoulders with distilleries centuries old to produce this illustrious spirit drink, rivalled only by fine wine for depth. Here is an introductory stroll through our choice of the best Scottish whisky – perfect for drinking with your haggis, neeps and tatties on Burns Night. We’ve included a range of price points from £30-80 a bottle, as well as styles, so whether you’re new to the world of Scotch or know exactly what you like, we’ve got a regional spirit for everybody. All the Scotch whiskies below have been chosen and tested by our drinks expert Richard Davie. Richard is a writer, barman and brewer with roots in home-brewing. He co-wrote The Art of Drinking Sober with Miriam Nice. When he’s not making his own beer and cocktails, Richard works at award-winning micro pub The Beer Shop. He has previously written round-ups of the best Irish whiskey and best Japanese whisky for Good Food. For more drinks product reviews, see our buyer’s guides to craft whisky, classic whisky, bourbon and much more in our dedicated reviews section with over 400 expert reviews. Jump to: What is Scotch whisky? What is the difference between Irish and Scotch whisky? Best Scotch whisky to buy 2025 Best Scotch whisky to buy at a glance Best gentle Scotch: Glenkinchie 12 year old, £45.75 Best sherry cask aged Scotch: The Dalmore 12 Year Old Sherry Cask Select, £79.99 Best young Scotch: Wolfburn Northland, £46.90 Best peat Scotch: Highland Park 12 year old, £45.61 Best classic Scotch: Benromach 10 year old, £41.95 Best smoky whisky: Ardbeg 10 year old, £48 Best long aged whisky: Lagavulin 16 year old, £83.50 Best independent whisky: Gordon & MacPhail Discovery Miltonduff 10 year old, £49.50 Best Scotch whisky for beginners: Caol Ila 12 year old, £53.95 Best Scotch whisky for an accessible Speyside: GlenAllachie 15 Year Old, £78.99 What is scotch whisky? With roots tracing back to 15th-century tax records, Scotch whisky is a type of whisky produced in Scotland, distilled from malted barley or grain and aged in oak barrels for a minimum of three years. Alongside its ageing process, Scottish whisky differs from other styles in terms of ingredients (made primarily from malted barley or a mix of grains), the production process and flavour profiles. Many regional influences contribute to a huge difference in flavour profiles for Scotch whiskey, from heavily smoked, peaty expressions through to rich, sherried styles or significantly lighter tasting options more synonymous with the lowlands. Although especially popular in Scotland and the United Kingdom, Scottish whisky also has a very strong global presence, with some of its largest export markets including the United States, France, Spain, India, China and Japan – where Scotch whisky is so popular, it became the benchmark model for Japanese whisky. What is the difference between Irish whiskey and Scotch whisky? Both Irish whiskey and Scotch whisky have been popular for centuries. Believed to date back to the sixth-century monks who distilled spirits for medicinal use, Irish Whiskey was the world’s most popular by the 1800s, yet prohibition in the United States caused a huge decline in popularity. Scotch whisky is comparatively younger, but today it’s arguably the most respected style of whisky on a global scale, especially renowned for its regional diversity. Although Irish whiskey and Scotch whisky are both distilled in the UK and have long, rich histories, the styles are quite different. Scotch whisky is predominantly twice distilled with malted barley or a mixture of grains, while Irish whiskey often features a blend of malted and un-malted barley, triple distilled for smoothness. Once distilled, both are aged for at least three years in oak barrels. As a result of differing production techniques, Scotch whisky is typically bold, complex and smoky if peated, while Irish whiskey is generally much smoother with lighter, fruitier notes on the palate. The best Scotch whisky to buy 2025 Glenkinchie 12 year old Available from The Whisky Exchange (£45.75) Best gentle Scotch ABV: 43% Glenkinchie, owned by Diageo, is based just a few miles outside Edinburgh and is one of the lightest of the Lowland whiskies, a region given to gentle, delicate drams. There are only a few distilleries left in the area, but Glenkinchie, a stalwart producer of whisky even during World War II, is now Diageo’s sole representative from the region. The nose is light and gentle, with flavours of barley and grain, fresh hay and lemon coming across the pale malt sweetness. It drinks very easily, with a prickle of heat, ginger and cinnamon, and comes to an easy finish, still with lemon notes and a little dryness. This is a very gentle Scotch with a couple of touches that keep it interesting. For a spirit so light, it responds well to a little water to ease the heat and open up the lemon notes. Available from:n The Whisky Exchange (£45.75) The Dalmore 12 Year Old Sherry Cask Select Available from Amazon (£79.99) Best sherry cask-aged Scotch whisky Rating: 4.5/5 ABV: 43% For over 180 years, The Dalmore has been reimagining what it takes to create exceptional single malt whisky on the shores of the Cromarty Firth in the Scottish Highlands. Specially selected rare casks from the world’s finest bodegas and wineries are especially prized, as they’re used to age the distillery’s whiskies. The Dalmore 12 Year Old Sherry Cask is a particularly elegant dram, initially matured in American white oak ex-bourbon barrels, followed by a full finish in a bespoke sherry assemblage, including an exclusive blend of nutty oloroso and sweet pedro ximénez. The result is a decadent, benchmark Highland single malt. On top of the chocolate, orange and warming spice notes typical of The Dalmore’s signature house style, indulgent aromas of caramelised orange, ginger and sultanas are omnipresent on the nose. The palate is delightfully smooth, intricately layered with dark chocolate, cinnamon, very lightly smoked almond and ripe mango savours which develop further on the lingering, sophisticated finish. JH Available from: Amazon (£79.99) Wolfburn Northland Available from Master of Malt (£46.90) Best young Scotch ABV: 46% Wolfburn claims to be the most northerly distillery on the mainland. Young whiskies are often fiery. The Northland manages that tendency magnificently, with a far greater smoothness and complexity than you’d expect for its age. Elsewhere in the range, there’s no age statement on Wolfburn Aurora, but it certainly has the feel of a young whisky, with a fresh, light nose giving off a touch of green apple and grass, a little smoke and sea air. It drinks light and dry, with a restrained complexity. Grounded by nut and a chocolate/coffee hint nestling under the fresh flavours that roll on from the aroma, the lightness and youth is balanced by a hint of fudge and grape. A gentle finish accentuates the smoke, while revealing a quiet sweetness. If you want to lean into the smoke, Wolfburn Morven is lightly peated, without losing the relatively youthful freshness. Available from: Master of Malt (£46.90) Highland Park 12 year old Available from Master of Malt (£45.61), The Great Wine Co (£47) <p">Best peat Scotch ABV: 40% With a greater northerliness than even Wolfburn, Highland Park comes from Orkney and claims a history dating back to 1798. The distillery still has its own floor malting (a traditional process where the grain germinates on a concrete floor) and uses local peat, which gives its whiskies part of the character for which it’s famous. The 12-year-old is the mainstay of the range, and the nose is balanced and medium bodied. There’s an apple note redolent of calvados, with raisins, a suggestion of leather and vanilla-led spices to fill it out. Light smokiness and a hint of briney air intermingle. To drink, it continues to be balanced, dryish with the smoke and brine covering a malt sweetness that emerges at the end, and a slight nuttiness under the bonfire notes on the short finish. Beautifully balanced and a great introduction to peat Scotch, this is tremendous whisky, even before you get to the competitive price. Available from: Master of Malt (£45.61) The Great Wine Co (£47) Benromach 10 year old Available from Master of Malt (£45.48), The Whisky Exchange (£41.95) Best classic Scotch ABV: 43% Mothballed for long stretches by one of Diageo’s precursors, before being reopened by independent bottlers Gordon & MacPhail in 1998, Benromach has expanded in the last twenty years from just two distillers to a small team today. It currently pitches itself as reviving the authentic taste of Speyside by bringing a light and, it is claimed, historically accurate peat note, to the refined spirits of the region. A slightly buttery malt nose, with toffee, touches of green apple and liquorice with a light waft of smoke. The Benromach 10 year old drinks deceptively easily, with spicy pepper, light sweet malt and more toffee notes, the bonfire air restrained and entwined with cardamom. The higher peat levels are a joyous union with Speyside's traditional refinement. If you’re looking for extra oomph, the Benromach 100° Proof has a ‘more is more’ approach, which, interestingly, brings down the smoke notes. Available from: Master of Malt (£45.48) The Whisky Exchange (£41.95) Ardbeg 10 year old Latest Deals Best smoky whisky ABV: 46% While Ardbeg is another distillery that’s seen a few ups and downs in its 200-year history, it’s hard to believe that its doors were closed as recently as the 1990s. Along with Highland Park, this is an iconic Scotch whisky, and the Ardbeg 10 year old is a great, if bracing, introduction to the distinctive peat and sea air characteristics of Islay whiskies. A peat nose verges towards coal smoke, with softening vanilla and some citrus. Pepper and even soap tuck in among them. To drink, the body is rich and smooth – a soft, light caramel malt sweetness before that peat barrels in. The vanilla adds a counterpoint and keeps it from pure liquid smoke, even as the soft malt reveals layers of coffee, liquorice root and pepper. A rich mouthfeel contributes to a long finish, with more of that savoury smoke, plus a hint of toasted sugar. Latest Deals Lagavulin 16 year old undefined Best long-aged whisky ABV: 43% Another iconic Islay whisky, and one that doesn’t stint on the peat smoke heft, the Lagavulin 16 year old has a large and very devoted following. While an 8 year old has recently been added to the permanent range (and is very good), the additional body and refinement of the 16 makes it the Lagavulin to start with. As with the Ardbeg, it has a big peat smoke nose and is just as intense, but here it pushes lapsang souchong and brine, while throttling back the bonfire. Vanilla adds a creamy note, along with bay leaf, even as the smoke and brine swirls around it. As you sip it, that peat comes straight onto the tongue, with the sweetness the smokes brings sitting alongside a slightly salty iodine. A full malt body slowly reveals itself, as well as a woody dryness and more spice. A long, spicy, sweet smoke finish revives the lapsang souchong air. undefined Gordon & MacPhail Discovery Miltonduff 10 year old Available from The Whisky Exchange (£49.50) Best independent whisky ABV: 43% Beyond the big distilleries is a thriving group of independent bottlers (to muddy the waters, some of them have distilleries, but still), whose skill lies in buying new-make spirits directly from distilleries, then ageing and bottling themselves. Some, like Gordon & MacPhail, even send their own carefully considered casks to be filled at the distillery. Done well, independent bottlings offer quality, value, and the unexpected from distilleries you thought you knew. This particular bottling is from Miltonduff, a distillery that mainly goes into Ballantines’ blends and is rarely regarded as a single malt. The nose is very rich. Soft cocoa, stewed raisins, spicy rum, sweet malt and a nutty hint at the edges. When you drink it, there’s a little aggression at the beginning, but that richness quickly reasserts itself, with fruitcake notes, more of the sherry, oaky vanilla and fig. It finishes with nut, oak woodiness and cinnamon spice, adding complexity and dryness to a whisky that might otherwise tip into excessive opulence. Available from: The Whisky Exchange (£56.75) Caol Ila 12 year old Available from Master of Malt (£55), The Whisky Exchange (£53.95) Best Scotch whisky for beginners ABV: 43% Caol Ila has spent a large part of its history largely producing fodder for blending, though its owners Diageo spotted an opportunity and started releasing under its own name in 2002. Although the measurable peat quantities are as high as Lagavulin, it’s an easier-going Islay, one to help you get your head around all that smoke and salt aficionados so enjoy. A sniff reveals both full and delicate peat smoke, with sweetness and a light element of brine, possibly even samphire. On drinking, there’s an oiliness too, which follows along. There’s a lovely full, clean mouthfeel, guiding the sweetness, while the peat smoke follows after, filling out the space. Fruity notes with a melon juiciness bring variety to the sweetness, and that strangely easy, oily body fades into a long smoky finish and longer sweet edge. An Islay that doesn’t overwhelm may seem like faint praise, but not everyone is after a bruiser, and when the elements are as well arranged as this, why deny the appeal? Available from: Master of Malt (£55) The Whisky Exchange (£53.95) The GlenAllachie 15 Year Old Available from Master of Malt (£78.99) Best Scotch whisky for an accessible Speyside ABV: 46% While the The GlenAllachie, built in the late 1960s, lacks the heritage of some of its older Speyside neighbours, the distillery has seen a revival in the last few years. Taken on by the feted master distiller and blender Billy Walker in 2017, it has started putting out a fuller, fruitier spirit than before, with the 15 year old a great example. Bottled at 46%, with no chill filtering, it has a rich chestnut glow in the glass. The nose is full and complex, without being heavy – dried fruit, honey, baked quince, cinnamon, nutmeg and a hint of frangipane. On the palate, dried figs, chocolate and vanilla emerge on a full mouthfeel, as well as a dark sugar sweetness that avoids being sticky. It finishes lightly, a whisper of smoke and the spices and fruit lingering for a few seconds. Available from: Master of Malt (£78.99) More on whisky The best craft whisky The best Japanese whisky The best bourbon The best classic whisky The best brandy Best whiskey glasses Whisky or whiskey, what's the difference? The best sustainable spirits to buy Popular whisk(e)y recipes Whiskey sour Whiskey sour mocktail Whiskey highball Whisky cream sauce Marmalade and whisky bread and butter pudding This review was last updated in April 2025. If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk. What do you think of our selection of best Scotch whisky? Do you have a favourite bottle to recommend? We'd love to hear your product suggestions in the comments below...
The best rye whiskey – an expert taste test
Have you tried rye whiskey? This American spirit is well worth exploring. Read our expert buyer's guide to find some of our best bottles of rye whiskey and serving suggestions
Rye whiskey is an American staple, although they aren’t the only ones whipping up the spicy tipple. The history of rye whiskey in North America dates back to the 18th century – by 1808, farmers in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania were distilling so much rye that they were selling half a barrel for each head in the country. So, what makes a rye whiskey? Quite simply, it has to be mostly made of rye – the mashbill (the recipe) must contain no less than 51 per cent rye grain – making it a close cousin of bourbon which must contain no less than 51 per cent corn. Although, rye is a much spicier style of whiskey than bourbon. It is best described as a beautiful ball of peppery fruit that melts away into oaky caramel. If you fancy a tipple with a bit more of a kick, this is the style of whiskey for you. Read on for our best rye whiskey to buy. For over 400 buyer’s guides, visit our reviews section and find taste tests of gin, vodka, tequila, rum, whisky and much more. The best rye whisky at a glance Best unorthodox rye whiskey: FEW Immortal rye whiskey, £60.95 Best high-strength rye whiskey: Pikesville six-year-old 110 proof straight rye, £78.49 Best traditional rye whiskey: Colonel E.H. Taylor small batch straight rye, £81.95 Best affordable rye whiskey: Bulleit 95 rye, £38.50 Best for cocktails: Sazerac, £35.75 Best gentle rye whiskey: Knob Creek straight rye whiskey, £48.53 Best cult favourite: Michter’s US*1 straight rye, £60.25 Best rye whiskey from beyond America: Kyrö rye whiskey, £49.95 Best after dinner whiskey: Rittenhouse straight rye 100 proof, £42.25 Best complex rye whiskey: WhistlePig 10-year-old small batch rye, £89.99 Best well-known rye whiskey: Jack Daniel's single barrel rye, £63.75 What is rye whiskey? While bourbon is the United States’ most popular whiskey style, it looks as though rye whiskey slowly catching up, having gained far more popularity in recent years. Two main styles of rye whiskey are available today, American and Canadian, but to be labelled American rye whiskey the spirit needs to be produced from a mashbill containing more than 51 per cent rye. Bourbon, for instance, must be made with a mash bill of more than 51 per cent corn. But while Bourbon is characteristically sweet, rye whiskey is typically spicier, bolder and arguably more complex in terms of flavour. Having fallen out of favour during the Second World War, rye whiskey has experienced a renewed increase in popularity during recent years, primarily led by bartenders showcasing classic cocktails traditionally featuring American rye whiskey (think a manhattan or sazerac), and is now becoming far more popular both nationwide and across Canada, Europe and Japan. The best rye whiskey to buy in 2025: taste tested by experts FEW Immortal Rye Whiskey Available from The Whisky Exchange (£60.95), Master of Malt (£65.95) Best unorthodox rye whiskey ABV: 46.5% The Chicago suburb of Evanston was once considered “the seat of Prohibition”, as well as the established headquarters of the temperance movement, continuing to ban alcohol until 1972. Today, Evanston is home to one of Illinois’ most exciting distilleries, FEW Spirits, which focuses on an impressive range of craft distilled whiskeys. Using the distillery’s cask strength rye as a base, FEW Immortal rye whiskey is brought down to bottling strength with cold-extracted Eight Immortals oolong tea, which lends some pleasing floral notes to the whiskey and provides enhanced smoothness. Aromas of typical rye spiciness, some pine resin, faint lemongrass, red grape and a grassy quality. The tea element is a little more nuanced on the palate, with the addition of pink peppercorn, star anise and some gorgeous fruity notes of ripe plum, peach and dragon fruit which continue on the long, warm finish. It’s a great, unusual take on a classic style without ever becoming gimmicky. JH Available from: The Whisky Exchange (£60.95) Master of Malt (£65.95) Pikesville six-year-old 110 proof straight rye Available from The Bottle Club (£78.49) Best high strength rye whiskey ABV: 55% Read our full review of Pikesville straight rye A ‘Liquid Gold’ whiskey. Pikesville was the last standing rye in Maryland when prohibition was repealed and we’re over the moon it made it. This classic rye comes with a bit of extra oomph – it takes a typical rye character of spice and caramel and bombards it with buttery and tropical flavours. A must try. Available from: The Bottle Club (£78.49) Colonel E.H. Taylor small batch straight rye Available from The Whisky Exchange (£81.95), Master of Malt (£81.95) Best traditional rye whiskey ABV: 50% Read our full review of Colonel E.H. Taylor straight rye Jim Murray’s Liquid Gold award says it all, twice. This much-venerated whiskey from Colonel E.H. Taylor is a benchmark of the rye style. Tantalisingly slick and syrupy rye is stretched out and wrapped around a goodie bag of fruits and fairground treats, with popcorn and butterscotch at the fore. Available from: The Whisky Exchange (£81.95) Master of Malt (£81.95) Bulleit 95 rye Available from The Whisky Exchange (£38.50), Master of Malt (£38.50) Best affordable whiskey ABV: 45% Read our full review of Bulleit rye whiskey A much revered and decorated rye whiskey from one of America’s most-loved distilleries. Vanilla and tobacco oppose each other with deep red berries, white pepper and orchard fruits providing the glue in the middle of the pair. A complex but well-balanced whiskey that’s impossible to put down. undefined Sazerac straight rye Available from The Whisky Exchange (£35.75), Waitrose Cellar (£47) Best for cocktails ABV: 45% Read our full review of Sazerac straight rye whiskey A whiskey with a well-earned place in history. This legendary rye was the base for America’s first ever branded cocktail. Hailing from the swinging streets of New Orleans, Sazerac is a decadent, syrupy and spicy whiskey that calls on you to indulge and waste a few hours. Available from: The Whisky Exchange (£35.75) Waitrose Cellar (£47) Knob Creek rye whiskey undefined Best gentle rye whiskey ABV: 50% Read our full review of Knob Creek rye whiskey Knob Creek knows its way around a whiskey. The brand is part of the Jim Beam family and is well-famed for its bourbon. Knob Creek’s rye expression has proved a resounding success since its launch in 2012. This whiskey does the basics beautifully, marrying caramel and pepper with precision for an encompassing, smooth mouthful. undefined Michter’s US*1 straight rye Available from The Whisky Exchange (£60.25), Available from Master of Malt (£49.95) Master of Malt (£68) Best cult favourite ABV: 42.4% Read our full review of Michter's US*1 straight rye whiskey Michter’s traces its ancestry all the way back to the first ever whiskey company in the United States. Famed for its unique small-batch offerings, this has a cult following. The straight rye expression brings freshly squeezed citrus together with burnt oak and cracked black pepper. Well balanced and undemanding, this is easy to sip all night long. undefined Kyrö rye whiskey Available from Master of Malt (£49.95) Best rye whiskey from beyond America ABV: 47.2% Read our full review of Kyrö single malt rye whiskey Kyrö is one of the funnest distilleries around. This Finnish company produces spirits with the motto ‘in rye we trust’. Its commitment to the grain has produced some spectacular spirits, and the whiskey is no exception. This bottle is slick with honey and vanilla with the right amount of dry pepper to keep you honest. Available from: Master of Malt (£49.95) Rittenhouse straight rye 100 proof Latest Deals Best after dinner whiskey ABV: 50% Read our review of Rittenhouse straight rye whiskey A ‘bottled-in-bond’ whiskey from the much respected Heaven Hill Distillery, this distinctively Pensylvannian bottle is thick with chocolate orange and baking spices dominating. One to sip and savour as an after dinner treat. undefined WhistlePig 10-year-old straight rye Latest Deals Best complex rye whiskey ABV: 50% Read our full review of WhistlePig 10-year-old rye whiskey A much respected rye whiskey from one of North America’s youngest top distilleries. This tipple is complex, drawing on every inch of your tastebuds, taking you from buttery marzipan to black pepper and cloves and everywhere in between. Spicy, sweet and eminently sippable. Jack Daniel’s single barrel rye Available from The Whisky Exchange (£63.75), Master of Malt (£63.75) Best well-known rye whiskey ABV: 45% Read our full review of Jack Daniel's single barrel rye whiskey You know the name but not like this. This single barrel rye is Jack Daniel's’ first new grain whiskey in 150 years. This special edition offering is dry, sweet, spicy and fruity, with each polarising flavour profile married in perfect harmony. A straightforward easy sipper. Available from: The Whisky Exchange (£63.75) Master of Malt (£63.75) Rye whiskey cocktails Put your bottle of rye whiskey to good use in one of our classic cocktail recipes. Sazerac Sweet manhattan New York sour The best whisky cocktail recipes More whisky reviews The best Japanese whisky The best whisky to buy as a gift The best bourbon whiskey The best craft whisky The best Scotch whisky The best Irish whiskey Best whiskey glasses Are you a fan of rye whiskey? Share your product suggestions below... This review was last updated in April 2025. If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.