“What does single malt mean?” is a frequently asked whisky question. The answer is pretty simple.

What Does Single Malt Mean?

Single malt whisky is malt whisky produced by one distillery, using barley as the sole grain in the mashbill.

The primary source of the confusion seems to come from the word “single.” “single” does not refer to coming from one batch, barrel or even kind. It exclusively refers to the distillery the whiskey is coming from, as opposed to its counterpart, blended whisky, which is the result of blending multiple whiskies from different distilleries.

Can Single Malt Whisky Only Come From Scotland?

Single malt whiskey is often considered synonymous with Scotland, thanks to the popularity of single malt scotch whisky.

However, there are no restrictions on where single malts can come from. The United States, for example, is home to multiple award-winning single malts. Single malts can be found all over the world.

Distilleries That Make Single Malt Whiskies Worth Purchasing

A simple Google search will bring up endless options for a good single malt. However, not all are created equal. Below are our top recommendations for single malt whiskeys from Texas to Islay.

Balcones

Balcones is an excellent example of a single malt whiskey made in the U.S.

This Texas single malt has won multiple awards for its numerous expressions, including a double-gold award from San Fransisco Spirits Competition for its inaugural whiskey. “A timeless style of malt whisky, Balcones ‘1’ Texas Single Malt breathes new life into centuries of distilling tradition with classic techniques and ingredients adapted for New World tastes, the brand says of the bottle.

Find Balcones Texas “1” Single Malt Whisky for $78 on ReserveBar.

Westward

Westward is an American whiskey brand from the Pacific Northwest. When the brand was launched in 2004, it was one of the few craft distilleries in the U.S. before the craft whiskey trend started to take off.

Westward has won multiple awards for its expressions. Some of its flagship offerings include Westward American Single Malt, Westward Oregon Stout Cask and Westward Pinot Noir Cask.

However, what makes the brand unique is not necessarily the whiskey or its history. The company offers a whiskey club membership, where consumers can have a bottle of a newly released whiskey from the distillery once every four months.

Find Westward American Single Malt Whiskey for $83 on ReserveBar.

Talisker

Talisker is a single malt scotch whisky brand that is highly esteemed among whisky connoisseurs. According to the website, Talisker is the oldest working distillery on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, specifically “on the shores of Loch Harport with dramatic views of the Cuillins.”

Find Talisker 10 Years Old for $78 on ReserveBar.

Springbank

Springbank whiskey can be dated all the way back to the 15th century. Today, Springbank is one of only three distilleries operating in the Campbeltown area and “is the oldest independent family-owned distillery in Scotland,” according to the distillery website.

Find Springbank 10 Year for $99.99 on Total Wine.

Ardbeg

Ardbeg is another single malt scotch brand that has been around for centuries. This is an Islay scotch, meaning it is made on Islay, one of the southernmost islands off the west coast of Scotland.

Ardbeg Scotch is known for its signature smokey flavored whiskies and even has an entire festival dedicated to its scotch called Ardbeg Day.

Find the Ardbeg Monsters of Smoke Gift Pack sampler, which features samples of three single malt whiskies, for $58.99 from ReserveBar.

Glengoyne

The Glengoyne Distillery produces several single malt whiskies aged 10-25 years. Unlike Ardbeg, however, Glengoyne scotch offers fruitier notes as opposed to the smoky flavors often associated with scotch.

Glengoyne also offers virtual tasting events, so even if you don’t live near the distillery, you can still try its whiskies from anywhere in the world.

Find Glengoyne’s 12-year single malt for $54.99 on ReserveBar.

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