We went beyond simply compiling a list of lesser-known yet delightful whiskies. This selection includes familiar Scotch varieties you may have heard of but haven’t had the chance to taste, as well as exciting newcomers that could be entirely unfamiliar to you. Tasting Table’s editors have personally tried every whisky on this list, and it takes into account not only taste but also value for money and availability. All of these whiskies should be fairly easy to acquire, so you can see this as a checklist and decide for yourself how highly rated they deserve to be.
- Johnnie Walker Red Label
- Monkey Shoulder
- Talisker Skye
- Lagavulin 8-Year
- Glenfiddich 12-Year
- Bunnahabhain Stiùireadair
- Tomatin 12-Year
- Kilkerran 12-Year
- Dewar’s 12-Year
- Clynelish 14-Year
- Ardbeg Wee Beastie
- Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14-Year
- Caol Ila 12-Year
- Laphroaig Quarter Cask
- Loch Lomond 12-Year
Kilkerran 12-Year
The world of Scotch is littered with distilleries that are sometimes over two centuries old. While new distilleries are rare, they can also be a source of new, fresh perspectives. That’s exactly what we get with Kilkerran, which started production in 2004. Due to this young age, it’s a distillery that often remains undiscovered by the broader whisky community. It continues to release excellent Scotch whiskies each year, but the 12-year is one of its best-ever expressions and is highly recommended for any Scotch lover looking for something away from the mainstream.
It has a notable nautical influence on the nose and a significant amount of peat smoke. Those are notes you’d commonly get with an island whisky, yet this Scotch comes from the Campbeltown region. Technically a part of the Scottish mainland, the Kintyre peninsula sits on the country’s west coast and is exposed to the sea air. Its unique location leads to whiskies with plenty of character, and we see this continuing to the palate, where you get subtle brine, fruits, and malt along with its smokiness. There are currently only three distilleries in the Campbeltown region, and the Kilkerran 12-year is a great place to start if you want to explore this lesser-known corner of the whisky world.
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, apple.news, Tasting Table
