The best craft whiskies taste tested

Made halfway between Dallas and Austin in a town called Waco, Balcones Distillery has gone from a craft distillery housed in a small unit on the edge of town to an uber-cool central location, and is now the flag for distilling in the oil-rich state. Its Texas Single Malt has flavours as big as Texas itself: rich oak, vanilla and malty goodness.

Method And Madness Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey

Best Irish whiskey

Irish whiskey is going through a real renaissance at the moment. From only four distilleries originally producing whiskey to over 20 in under a decade, there’s a huge amount of personality to choose from. Method And Madness is produced by the Midleton distillery in Cork (famed for producing Jameson) which has recently opened a small craft distillery on the same site to produce future M&M expressions. This is an unusual single pot still whiskey, in that it's part-matured in French chestnut casks (as opposed to oak). Expect rich spices, hints of tropical fruit and dark chocolate.

Starward New World Malt Whisky

Best alternative craft whisky

Australian single malt whisky. Yes, you read that correctly: Australian single malt whisky. It's simply out of this world. Starward started making single malt a decade ago and today, from their base in Melbourne, they produce a product that draws fruity flavours from maturation in Australian fortified wine casks. This beautiful whisky comes in a stunning bottle – and at a price which makes trying it a no-brainer.

Eden Mill Single Malt Whisky Hipflask Series No 7

Best Scottish craft whisky

Based in St Andrews, Eden Mill is one of a new wave of craft distilleries that are popping up all over Scotland. With a portfolio that boasts award-winning gin, beer and now single malt Scotch whisky, their very first releases are just out of the starting blocks and showcase a fantastic three-year-old spirit, matured in a variety of casks. Try the flavoursome ex-sherry cask and join their whisky journey at the very beginning.

Buy from Eden Mill (£25)

Paul John Brilliance Indian Single Malt Whisky

Best with food

This single malt, made in Goa, is packed with flavour due to the use of six-row Himalayan barley. Matured in ex-American whiskey casks, it gives plenty of malty, vanilla notes and hints of spice. As such, it pairs wonderfully alongside robust foods – including sweet treats (particularly dark chocolate) as well as savoury spiced meat dishes.

Whisky-Me subscription service

Best whisky by post

Can’t decide on just one bottle of whisky for yourself or for a gift? Try signing up to Whisky-Me. Each month, the team behind this surprisingly fun and really well-researched club select a top-notch whisky, a sample of which is sent in pouches direct to your door. The pouches are so slim that they fit through the letterbox – meaning you won’t even have to share them with your neighbour!

Available from Whisky-Me (prices starting from £7 a month)

Compass Box Hedonism Blended Grain Scotch Whisky

Best creative Scotch whisky

The creative minds at Compass Box Whisky draw on stocks of Scotch to develop some of the most interesting bottlings on the market today. Hedonism brings together grain whisky, naturally lighter than malt, from Scotland and the result is a tropical fruit bomb of a whisky. As always with Compass Box, the label is as stunning as the whisky inside.

Gordon & MacPhail: Discovery Series Miltonduff 10 Year Old

Best whisky for after dinner

If there’s one thing that independent Scotch whisky company Gordon & MacPhail knows, it’s how to introduce whisky drinkers to new distilleries. In fact, they’ve been doing this for nearly 125 years now from their base in Elgin. The company’s Discovery Series has recently been relaunched, with each one pursuing a particular flavour style from different cask types: sherry, bourbon, or smoky-style in profile. This 10-year-old Miltonduff is a deliciously sweet, rich masterpiece, perfect for after-dinner sipping: dark chocolate, tangy marmalade, stewed raisins and baked apple notes all develop, thanks to the high-quality sherry casks which G&M use to mature it.

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10 ways to cook with whisky
Best whisky subscriptions and clubs

This review was last updated in January 2020. 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.

Do you have a favourite bottle of whisky? Let us know if you think we’ve missed something off our list…