Most gentlemen and a great many gentleladies appreciate good scotch, and not just the selections they find in bars and restaurants, but the really good stuff which is not available at commercial establishments. When the scotch is really rare, it becomes even more of a luxury.
How Did We Select the Best Scotches in Canada?
When it comes to scotch, my choices go well beyond price and availability; I’m concerned with taste and complexity, and I’d be lying if I said the distiller’s history played no part in my decisions. When considering the best scotch whiskeys in the world, connoisseurs will likely only concern themselves with single malts from Islay, Highland, and Speyside regions of Scotland, and in that respect you’ll find my choices accommodating but also a little surprising. Let’s make it clear, my recommendations are for dyed-in-the-wool scotch lovers enjoying high quality spirits with friends. These libations are to be sipped after meals while relaxing at home, or at the cottage. Pour a scotch, and light a good cigar. All five recommendations are from distilleries in Scotland, and are all available at the LCBO. So drink well and enjoy!
The Balvenie 26 YO Dark Barley Single Malt (LCBO $1,698.55)
The Balvenie launched the Stories Range in 2019, truly inspiring single malts. For this recommended release the story revolves around the arrival at the distillery of a batch of dark roasted malted barley. So look for the malty notes, with vanilla, toffee, honey and a bit of spiciness on the nose, and toffee, vanilla, citrus, and some smokiness on the palate.
Tomatin 36 YO (LCBO $1,499.95)
Tomatin has seen its fair share of ups and a few downs. It has moved on from being a producer for blends to single malts. The 36-year-old is matured in a combination of Bourbon barrels and Oloroso Sherry Butts. The latest is batch 5. But when I tasted batch 4 back in November it had tropical fruit notes on the nose, notes of dried fruit, tobacco, and leather on the palate.
Laphroaig 25 YO Cask Strength (LCBO $639.70)
Fans of peated whisky are no stranger to Laphroaig. At an age of 25 years, this whisky is described as marriage of sherried, oaky flavours from second fill European Oak Oloroso sherry casks. There are sweet vanilla notes from American white oak bourbon barrels, bottled at casks strength. On the nose you’ll note sweet vanilla, smoke, bacon, and dried fruit. On the palate you get some pepper, spice, iodine, saline and smokiness. One of the best scotches out there.
Bunnahabhain 1997 Palo Cortado Cask Islay (LCBO $624.70)
Not all whiskies from Islay are peated. I found an interesting quote attributed to master blender Ian MacMillan. “Bunnahabhain was peaty until the early 1960s and only changed because they didn’t need smoky [whisky] for their blends,” he says. This delectable Bunnahabhain spent 19 years slowly mellowing by the sea in traditional oak whisky casks. Then it was finished for almost two more years in rare Palo Cortado sherry casks. The nose is fresh berries and cream, pecan and walnuts, and rich oak with vanilla. There are hints of dried fruit with sweet dried fruit, rich oak, roasted nuts, subtle hints of cocoa on the palate.
Auchentoshan 1988 (LCBO $749.35)
If you’re not familiar with Auchentoshan, it is a lowland whisky that is triple distilled. This release is described as being matured for 29 years in Spanish Oak Butts and seasoned in Pedro Ximenez Sherry casks. The nose is described as cooked nectarine, sweet and oily. There are hints of maraschino cherry liqueur, rich toffee and caramel, rose petals, cinnamon and a hint of scented wood and tannic rioja. Taste is grapes, rich dark chocolate with Seville oranges.
Gerald is a whisky and spirits connoisseur who has been writing, educating, and championing the industry’s finest for many years. His dedication to the whisky industry inspires international travel to historic locations, like Scotland and Ireland, where he attends exclusive events, private tastings at renowned whisky distilleries and festivals.
Passionate about luxury, Gerald enjoys whiling away the hours at the world’s leading art galleries and occasionally engaging in a rousing game of squash.
