2023 SFWSC Best Of Class Scotch Finalists

Embodying masterful whisky craftsmanship, Dewar’s Double Double 21-Year-Old undergoes a quartet maturation for unparalleled smoothness. Aged in seasoned Oloroso sherry casks, it unfolds flavors of cinnamon and ripe vine fruits, culminating in a silky, suave finish. It stands as a standalone nectar and a dynamic cocktail enhancer, marking an unforgettable, sublime experience.

Dewar’s Double Double 32 Year is a masterfully blended scotch, aged for over three decades in a unique four-stage process. Crafted by Stephanie Macleod, it harmoniously combines chimney smoke aromas, pectin-rich peach notes, balanced spice, and warm stone fruit flavors. The finish delights with a lingering memory of smoke and graceful white flowers.

An exquisite jewel in John Dewar & Son’s crown, Aberfeldy distillery, with roots tracing back to 1898, was birthed to ensure the continuous provision of single malt for the renowned Dewar’s White Label blend. Although integral to this blend, the Aberfeldy 12-Year-Old Highland Single Malt emerges as a solitary beacon of Scottish single malt excellence. This resplendent spirit teems with a flavor complexity seldom found in its age group, making it an obligatory exploration for every malt connoisseur.

Ardbeg’s late 2021 marvel, “For Discussion Committee Release 8 Year Old,” pays tribute to its precedent set in 2004, echoing the vibrancy of its nascent era. This exclusive brew, labeled once as ‘remarkably young,’ invites Ardbeg enthusiasts to sample this evolution in progress. Master Distiller Dr. Bill Lumsden, the maestro behind this experiment, entices with a tantalizing question for the Ardbeg faithful: Could this masterpiece have, in a parallel reality, usurped Ardbeg Ten’s status as the distillery’s signature aged expression?

Brimming with vibrancy, this single malt Scotch whisky, matured for 12 years in meticulously chosen, air-dried ex-bourbon casks, brilliantly fuses oceanic salinity with the mellowness of American oak. Old Pulteney’s expression, with its unparalleled amalgamation of sea breeze and careful cask selection, offers a radiant gold liquor that brims with approachable sophistication. This whisky is an exquisite point of embarkation on one’s Old Pulteney odyssey.

A meticulously crafted exclusive from Glen Scotia distillery, this 10-year-old Austrian edition, steeped in robustly charred American oak casks, is a treasured spectacle of only 493 bottles. It boasts an amber hue, offering an olfactory journey of sweet peat smoke, nuanced hints of citrus and caramel draped in vanilla. On the palate, it unravels a rich tapestry of peat smoke, ripe banana notes, and singed pineapple accents, underlined by oak spice, with a memorable finish.

The Balblair 12-Year-Old gracefully embodies the soft charisma of the Highlands, with its matured profile in American oak ex-bourbon and double-fired casks adding layers of refined complexity and warmth. Its radiant palate dances with notes of citrus, verdant apple and subtle spice, all softened by an undercurrent of vanilla. The Balblair collection’s multifaceted character includes capturing the essence of apricots, oranges, and green apples, along with leathery and nutty notes, for a delightfully full-bodied experience.

The BenRiach Marsala Finish 16 Year Old Single Malt emerges as an extraordinary display of Scotland’s craftsmanship. Boasting a robust 56.1%, it’s a symphony contained within a 700ml vessel. This superb Scotch, hailing from the prestigious BenRiach and christened with the 1997 – Cask #4435 vintage, unfurls the Marsala Finish’s distinct character, making it an epitome of whisky refinement.

Meticulously aged for 18 summers in superior oak sanctuaries, this award-honored malt reveals a full-bodied resonance and rich fruity temperament. The Loch Lomond 18-Year-Old, a sublime blend of saccharine warmth and subtle peat whispers, exudes an aura of single malt Scotch elegance, a symphony of rich complexities for the sophisticated palate.

Emerging from Scotland, The Glendronach’s 18-year-old Allardice Single Malt offers a harmonious symphony of sherry and time-honored notes. Its bold character unveils nuances of arid walnuts, fire-roasted coffee beans, and rich treacle, accentuated by the understated elegance of dark chocolate and orange rind. It leaves an indelible, lingering finish.

Craigellachie’s 17-year-old Single Malt Scotch emanates a deep complexity, carefully crafted through traditional distillation and oak cask maturation. The bouquet is an enthralling dance of honey, vanilla, and ripened orchard fruits, punctuated by the spirited whispers of oak and spice. On the palate, an orchestra of butterscotch, toffee, and baked apple sings amidst a subtle smoky backdrop, accented by the spice of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. A memorable finish unfolds, carrying a smoky warmth that invites repeated savoring.

The Aberlour 18-Year-Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch, a mature masterpiece, boasts a profound sherry influence that introduces tantalizing spiciness and a thrilling hint of licorice. With the patina of age, it manifests a robust body, evolving its unique fruitiness into a lush character of sun-dried raisins. This deeply sophisticated dram is a true testament to the passage of time and the art of whisky-making.

From the ethereal Highlands of Scotland, the Tomatin 36-Year-Old is a boutique release, having been meticulously nurtured in an elegant assembly of prime Spanish Oloroso Sherry butts and time-honored oak casks. This intricately aged potion reflects an exquisite fusion of traditional heritage and distinguished craftsmanship.

Hailing from Scotland, the Talisker 30-Year-Old Single Malt presents a distinguished spectacle, unadulterated and robust at 49.6%. This untouched elixir encapsulates the brand’s iconic whispers of pepper and smoke, now unveiled in a more refined, understated mien, radiating with unpretentious elegance and intricate complexity.

Highland Park’s 21 Year Old Single Malt emanates an illustrious matrimony of three casks, harmonizing at 46% to promise a voluptuous finish. It teases the palate with vibrant ginger and citrus, invigorated by sherry-laden European oak, whilst ex-bourbon casks weave tendrils of vanilla cream, sweetened by a honey drizzle. The prudent inclusion of refill casks imparts a subtle toastiness, mellowing the whisky’s smoky intrigue.

Glen Scotia’s 25 Year Single Malt, curated by the adept hand of Michael Henry, matures nobly in American oak before a final repose in first-fill bourbon casks. Delivered at 48.8% abv, untouched by chill-filtration or coloring, it embodies a refined Campbeltown spirit with a tantalizing texture. The scent unveils a bold maritime essence while the palate explores an orchard of apples and orange zest, swathed in vanilla and caramel. Lingering sea salt and zesty ginger persist in the finale.

‘The Bodega’ by Arran, a resplendent addition to their core collection of single malts, is a cask-strength marvel, matured entirely in sherry casks. This lavish and sophisticated offering caters splendidly to those yearning for a single malt teeming with complexity and vitality. Its profound body and intricate character make it a compelling choice for the discerning palate.

‘The Bodega’ by Arran, a resplendent addition to their core collection of single malts, is a cask-strength marvel, matured entirely in sherry casks. This lavish and sophisticated offering caters splendidly to those yearning for a single malt teeming with complexity and vitality. Its profound body and intricate character make it a compelling choice for the discerning palate.

GlenDronach unveils another magnificent single malt, endowed with the unique essence of Port casks. Initially nurtured in Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks, this exquisite libation undergoes a triennial sojourn in Port pipes hailing from Portugal’s revered Douro valley, culminating in a decade-long maturation. Its resulting character is both complex and delightful, a testament to masterful craftsmanship.

Ian Macleod presents Smokehead Blast, an Islay single malt of extraordinary vigor and complexity. Defined as ‘Fruitful & Intense, Spicy & Silken,’ it is masterfully finished in Oloroso sherry casks. Its composition reveals a voluptuous, intricate, and noticeably smoky spirit, signifying an embodiment of refined craftsmanship and evocative flavors.

Cask No. 4.346 by The Scotch Malt Whisky Society unfurls a mélange of tradition and audacity. The bouquet intertwines charred festive cake and singed raisins, tinged with a maritime tang akin to a tugboat’s emissions. The palate dances with the dichotomy of Madeira wine, intertwining salty accents of olives and roasted almonds with the sugary serenade of chocolate crumpets. This intoxicating symphony crescendos into an explosion of incense smoke, cinder toffee, and pain au raisin. A twenty-four-year sojourn in an ex-bourbon hogshead yields to a second fill Madeira hogshead, elevating this whisky to new realms of sophistication.

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society unveils Cask No. 95.72 – a singular fusion of the aristocratic and the rustic. The aroma diffuses an ethereal incense of ‘Kyara Kongo’, the prized aloeswood revered in Japan’s ancient imperial courts as ‘Diamond Kyara’. On the palate, a paradoxical balance: substantial yet sprightly, akin to the grand spectacle of Andalusian horses dancing in rhythm to Spanish tunes at the Royal School in Jerez. A dash of water uncovers an effervescent grace, reminiscent of a hummingbird’s delicate, fluttering wings – an effortless ballet of playful elegance. A celestial indulgence that lingers in memory. After a twenty-nine-year maturation in an ex-oloroso cask, it found a new home in a first-fill PX butt, thereby reaching unparalleled magnificence.

The Naked Malt manifests as a symphony of sublime single malts, culminating in a blend of unparalleled harmony. This spirit partakes in a six-month sojourn in pristine, “Naked” Oloroso sherry casks – virginal vessels untainted by whisky’s touch before. This journey through time and oak has earned this exquisite libation an enviable constellation of top-tier accolades.

Dewar’s Double Double 37-year-old, a limited-edition blended malt whisky, embodies Dewar’s legacy of double aging and relentless innovation. Crafted by Master Blender Stephanie Macleod, this remarkable creation celebrates our unique four-stage aging process. Finished in Oloroso sherry casks once holding Speyside’s Aultmore single malt, it captivates with aromas of cinnamon and vanilla, while offering a balanced, creamy complexity of ripe peaches, heather honey, and orange peel.