Whiskies to Drink Neat: 20 Picks

Drinking whisky neat shows off its aroma and character best. This page lists the whiskies we recommend neat, starting with those that suit it best.

1. 1

   Ardbeg Corryvreckan

   Scotland / Islay / Single Malt / NAS / 57.1%

   A cask-strength Ardbeg named after the great whirlpool north of Islay. French oak brings dark fruit and tannin swirling with ferocious peat.

   SmokySpicyRichNeatWith water
2. 2

   Ardbeg Ten

   Scotland / Islay / Single Malt / 10 yrs / 46%

   Ardbeg's flagship, among the peatiest of Islay malts. Behind the intense smoke lie citrus and toffee sweetness.

   SmokyNeatWith waterHighball
3. 3

   Ardbeg Uigeadail

   Scotland / Islay / Single Malt / NAS / 54.2%

   Smoky Ardbeg married with the raisin sweetness of old sherry casks, at cask strength. Named World Whisky of the Year in 2009.

   SmokySweetRichNeatWith water
4. 4

   Ballantine's 17 Year Old

   Scotland / Blended / 17 yrs / 40%

   Ballantine's premium blend of 40+ malts and grains, all aged 17 years or more. Honey and dried fruit with a whisper of smoke.

   SweetNeatOn the rocksWith water
5. 5

   Bushmills 10 Year Old Single Malt

   Ireland / Northern Ireland / Single Malt / 10 yrs / 40%

   A benchmark Irish single malt: triple-distilled malt aged at least 10 years in bourbon and sherry casks. Smooth honey, vanilla and ripe fruit.

   FruityNeatOn the rocksHighball
6. 6

   Bushmills 16 Year Old Single Malt

   Ireland / Northern Ireland / Single Malt / 16 yrs / 40%

   A single malt combining whiskeys aged 16+ years in bourbon and sherry casks, then finished in port pipes. Rich dried fruit, berries and nuts.

   SweetFruityRichNeatWith water
7. 7

   Bushmills Black Bush

   Ireland / Blended / NAS / 40%

   A rich Irish blend with a very high malt content, matured in oloroso sherry casks. Dried-fruit sweetness and smooth depth.

   SweetNeatOn the rocksHighball
8. 8

   Glenmorangie The Original

   Scotland / Highlands / Single Malt / 10 yrs / 40%

   A delicate, fruity Highland malt from the tallest stills in Scotland. Citrus and peach softened by vanilla.

   FruityNeatHighballOn the rocks
9. 9

   Green Spot

   Ireland / County Cork / Single Pot Still / NAS / 40%

   A single pot still whiskey from Dublin wine merchants Mitchell & Son. Fresh green apple and pear with a light touch of spice.

   FruityNeatHighballOn the rocks
10. 10

    Hakushu 18 Year Old

    白州 18年

    Japan / Yamanashi / Single Malt / 18 yrs / 43%

    Hakushu made from malts aged 18+ years. Deep ripe-fruit aromas and gentle smoke, with complex richness and oak in harmony.

    SweetFruityRichNeatWith water
11. 11

    Hibiki 21 Year Old

    響 21年

    Japan / Blended / 21 yrs / 43%

    One of the pinnacles of Suntory blending: carefully selected malt and grain whiskies aged 21+ years. Ripe fruit and deep oak.

    SweetFruityRichNeatWith water
12. 12

    Hibiki Japanese Harmony

    響 JAPANESE HARMONY

    Japan / Blended / NAS / 43%

    Hibiki's no-age-statement blend, conceived to reflect Japan's seasons and sensibilities. Elegant and deep, soft on the palate, with a Mizunara finish.

    SweetNeatWith waterHighball
13. 13

    Highland Park 12 Year Old Viking Honour

    Scotland / Islands (Orkney) / Single Malt / 12 yrs / 40%

    The core expression from Highland Park on Orkney, one of Scotland's northernmost distilleries. Sherry-cask fruit and spice meet heathery peat smoke and honey.

    SweetNeatWith waterOn the rocks
14. 14

    Ichiro's Malt Double Distilleries

    イチローズモルト ダブルディスティラリーズ

    Japan / Blended Malt / NAS / 46.5%

    A pure malt marrying malts from Hanyu and Chichibu, two distilleries tied to Ichiro Akuto. Green apple and honey with Mizunara spice.

    FruityNeatWith waterHighball
15. 15

    Kavalan Classic

    Taiwan / Single Malt / NAS / 40%

    The flagship single malt from Kavalan in Yilan, Taiwan. Rapid subtropical maturation gives lush tropical fruit, vanilla and coconut.

    SweetFruityNeatOn the rocksHighball
16. 16

    Kilchoman Machir Bay

    Scotland / Islay / Single Malt / NAS / 46%

    The core expression from Kilchoman, Islay's farm distillery that grows, distils and bottles on site. Peat smoke with raisin, citrus and butterscotch.

    SmokyNeatHighballWith water
17. 17

    Kirin Fuji Single Blended Japanese Whisky

    キリン シングルブレンデッド 富士

    Japan / Shizuoka / Blended / NAS / 46%

    A rare "single blended" whisky: both malt and grain are made at Fuji Gotemba Distillery. Mount Fuji's spring water and diverse spirits create a harmonious blend.

    FruityNeatOn the rocksHighball
18. 18

    Kirin Fuji Single Grain Japanese Whisky

    キリン シングルグレーン 富士

    Japan / Shizuoka / Grain / NAS / 46%

    A single grain combining whiskies from three distillation methods at Fuji Gotemba. Poached pear and marmalade fruit with rye-like spice.

    SweetFruityNeatOn the rocksHighball
19. 19

    Lagavulin 16 Year Old

    Scotland / Islay / Single Malt / 16 yrs / 43%

    Islay's archetypal heavyweight smoky malt. Slow distillation and 16 years in cask give rich peat, dried-fruit sweetness and a deep finish.

    SmokyRichNeatWith water
20. 20

    Lagavulin 8 Year Old

    Scotland / Islay / Single Malt / 8 yrs / 48%

    Released for Lagavulin's 200th anniversary in 2016 and now a core expression. Youthful, vivid smoke and sweetness — a contrast to the 16.

    SmokyNeatHighballWith water

Order and flavour profiles are our editorial guide.