Whisky is booming, and the Scotch category in particular is expected to grow at an exponential rate in 2023 for casual drinkers and collectors alike.
There's an increasing amount of interest in high-end and rare scotches as alternative investment assets, and the value of rare whisky increased by 9% at the end of 2022 with plenty of additional growth expected in the future, according to Forbes.
But what makes a scotch high-end? Is it rarity? Demand? Scores from critics?
We asked Whiskey Raiders spirits critic Jay West, who has personally reviewed nearly 2,000 whiskies, to pick the best scotch whiskies he's ever tasted. West ranked all of these bottles 9 or above on the t8ke scale, which is no small feat.
Benrinnes 23 Year was part of Diageo's special release collection in 2009, with a grand total of 6,000 bottles making their way out into the world. This limited-edition, heavily sherried Speyside single malt scotch was distilled in 1985.
Bottled at cask strength, Benrinnes 23 Year hosts a 58.8% ABV and hits that sweet spot between "sherry bomb" and high-proof whisky.
The Benrinnes distillery was built in 1826 by Peter MacKenzie and destroyed by a flood just three years later. Though its early years were rocky, the property achieved recognition for creating potent whiskies that were celebrated for their intensity. The most famous owner was Alexander Edward, a partner at The Craigellachie distillery, which was also celebrated for its similarly muscular expressions of scotch. Benrinnes changed hands multiple times throughout the course of its long history and is currently owned by Diageo.
Benrinnes' signature touch is finishing its scotches in sherry casks, and the distillery is one of the few left that uses worm tubs to cool the spirit vapors from the running stills. Worm tubs yield meatier, more powerful whiskies, and this 23-year expression is no exception.
West describes the Benrinnes 23 Year as being lusciously textured, thick and syrupy. Though the whisky is heavily influenced by the sherry cask, it's meaty with plenty of tobacco notes. The finish is described as "pungent, rich and a far cry from cloying."
He considers it an "excellent frontrunner to show that not all old sherry bombs need the Glendronach effect - powerful sweetness."
The Bruichladdich Cuvee 407 is the quintessential offering for sherry lovers.
This distillery makes its whiskies without peat in an effort to showcase the barley used in its spirits, setting it apart from the majority of its contemporaries on Islay, a region known for its smoky, peaty whiskies. The property underwent a resurgence in 2001 after being mothballed multiple times throughout its lifespan and still operates out of its original 1881 layout.
The Bruichladdich Cuvee 407 is part of a set and was released alongside a Bordeaux Sauternes and Cognac cask-finished release. This dark and intense spirit was finished in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks and aged for 21 years, clocking in at 46% ABV.
West describes this offering as "a sherry master class" because it has all the rich syrupiness one would expect of a sherry-cask-aged spirit without being overly sweet and fruity. This is an impressive feat considering the typically opulent, dessert-like characteristics of Pedro Ximénez.
A "dark and brooding" expression with an ashy quality due to the Islay maturation, the Bruichladdich Cuvee 407 has loads of dark cherry, sherry and currant aromas with plenty of balance. The Bruichladdich Cuvee has a long finish that gives way to cereal and malt, in accordance with the distillery's signature style.
This Oloroso-aged offering from Bruichladdich's Port Charlotte collection is pure power in a bottle. If peaty, earthy and briny scotches sound heavenly to you, the Bruichladdich Port Charlotte 14 Year Single Cask Nation 2002 Oloroso is definitely a spirit that should be on your radar.
The liquid was matured in first-fill oloroso casks and bottled unfiltered at cask strength. The Bruichladdich Port Charlotte 14 Year Single Cask Nation 2002 Oloroso's nose is pungent and earthy, with the signature soapstone and brine qualities that are often associated with Islay scotches.
This spirit clocks in at a relatively high ABV of 60.2%, but that higher percentage doesn't add too much heat to the liquid. West says the Bruichladdich Port Charlotte 14 Year Single Cask Nation 2002 Oloroso has plenty of balanced red fruit characteristics, with aromas of figs, dates and a light toffee note.
With plenty of structure, the Bruichladdich Port Charlotte 14 Year Single Cask Nation 2002 Oloroso is the perfect balance between peat and fruit - while packing quite the peaty punch!
The Glendronach 27 Year Single Cask 1993 #7102 Oloroso was distilled in 1993 and bottled in 2020. It was aged in a combination of Oloroso and wine puncheons prior to being bottled at cask-strength 51.4% ABV.
This bottle fetches a pretty penny at $600 and was released exclusively in the U.S.
With loads of sherry aromas and an incredibly vinous quality, this fruity, malty and elegant scotch is perfect for oenophiles looking to get into the premium scotch game.
West describes the spirit as an "absolutely incredible bottling that pits excellent oak integration against pungent old wine character in a union that's nothing short of amazing."
The Glendronach hosts a long history and was opened by James Allardice in 1826. It was the second distillery after The Glenlivet to be licensed under the 1823 Excise Act. After a period of being mothballed in 1996, the property re-opened in 2002 and was acquired by Brown-Forman, the same company that owns Jack Daniel's. The distillery is known for creating powerful and potent Highland Scotches, with a signature sherry finish from Spanish oak casks.
If you have an extra $1,000 to spare, the Laphroaig 32 Year is an excellent Islay scotch West describes as "magnificent in every way."
Just 5,880 bottles were made of this expression, which was bottled in 2015 to commemorate the distillery's 200th anniversary.
The liquid clocks in at 59.8% ABV and was matured in first-fill Oloroso sherry casks.
Laphroaig has a long history that dates back to 1815 and is a favorite of King Charles III, who crowned the Scottish distillery his favorite and called it the "finest whisky in the world," according to The Belfast Telegraph.
This rare find is sweet, jammy, and a bit lighter on the peat than the average bottle of Laphroaig. The Laphroaig 32 Year still has the distillery's signature smoky character amidst all the stone fruit aromas. "It's incredible how much complexity and flavor reside without a monster ABV," West said in his review.
He concluded his review of the Laphroaig 32 Year as "amazing what 32 years in sherry can do, although it doesn't hide the incredible character that Laphroaig base malt can deliver, presenting incredible balance."
This is the only whisky on our list that received a perfect 10 from West, who describes the Clynelish 29 year SMWS 26.105 Bumblebees by the Sea as "a perfect whisky."
The 29-Year-Old spirit hosts a relatively modest 57.6% ABV and was matured in ex-sherry butts.
The Clynelish 29 Year SMWS 26.106 Bumblebees by the Sea hosts an aroma of honey, dough and buttercream coupled with waxy orchard fruit. The mouthfeel is rich and oily, without a lot of heat from the spirit's proof. West described Clynelish's 29-year offering as dessert-like, with plenty of balance and a faint whisp of pepper. Clynelish 29 Year SMWS 26.105 concludes with a long finish that has "waxy fruit and toffee for days."
Clynelish Distillery has a long history that dates back to 1819, and the distillery is considered one of the "Four Corners" of Scotland by the legendary Johnnie Walker brand. It earned this moniker because the Highland scotch producer distills some of the whiskies that go into Johnnie Walker's blended scotches.
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