Rich, Full-Bodied Whiskies: 20 Picks

Whiskies with weight and depth — often from long ageing, sherry casks or a higher strength. Expect a mouth-filling texture and a long finish. Here are the whiskies we rate 4 or more out of 5 for richness.

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 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
3. 3

   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
4. 4

   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
5. 5

   Nikka From the Barrel

   ニッカ フロム・ザ・バレル

   Japan / Blended / NAS / 51.4%

   Launched in 1985 and known for its square bottle — "a small block of whisky". Rich and mellow thanks to 51.4% ABV and a post-blending marriage in cask.

   RichOn the rocksNeatHighball
6. 6

   Redbreast 15 Year Old

   Ireland / County Cork / Single Pot Still / 15 yrs / 46%

   An older, richer step up from the 12, bottled at 46% and non-chill filtered. Berry fruit and ripe plum meet spice and toasted oak.

   SweetFruitySpicyRichNeatWith water
7. 7

   Yamazaki 18 Year Old

   山崎 18年

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

   A full-bodied Yamazaki built around sherry (Spanish oak) cask whisky aged 18+ years. Dried fruit and chocolate with the depth of Mizunara oak.

   SweetFruityRichNeatWith water
8. 8

   Yoichi Single Malt 10 Year Old

   シングルモルト余市 10年

   Japan / Hokkaido / Single Malt / 10 yrs / 45%

   A powerful, weighty single malt from coal-fired Yoichi, aged at least 10 years. Ripe banana and pear meet smoky peat.

   SmokyRichNeatWith waterHighball
9. 9

   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
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

    Laphroaig Quarter Cask

    Scotland / Islay / Single Malt / NAS / 48%

    Laphroaig given extra time in small casks about a quarter the usual size. More wood contact adds coconut and banana sweetness to the intense peat.

    SmokyRichNeatWith waterHighball
12. 12

    Longrow

    Scotland / Campbeltown / Single Malt / NAS / 46%

    The heavily peated single malt from Springbank in Campbeltown. Rich smoke with an oily texture, sweet fruit and spice.

    SmokyRichNeatWith water
13. 13

    Midleton Very Rare

    Ireland / County Cork / Blended / NAS / 40%

    Released as a new vintage every year since 1984, widely regarded as the pinnacle of Irish whiskey. Each year has its own character, and every bottle is individually numbered.

    SweetRichNeat
14. 14

    Nikka Frontier

    ニッカ フロンティア

    Japan / Blended / NAS / 48%

    A malt-led blend (51%+ malt) keyed on Yoichi's heavily peated malt. Non-chill filtered at 48%, weighty and smoky.

    SmokyRichHighballOn the rocksNeat
15. 15

    Port Charlotte 10

    Scotland / Islay / Single Malt / 10 yrs / 50%

    A heavily peated (40ppm) Islay malt from Bruichladdich, made from 100% Scottish barley. Barbecue-like smoke balanced with heather.

    SmokyRichNeatWith waterHighball
16. 16

    Powers John's Lane 12 Year Old

    Ireland / County Cork / Single Pot Still / 12 yrs / 46%

    A single pot still named after the old Powers distillery in Dublin. Toffee and brown sugar give way to bold ginger and nutmeg spice.

    SpicyRichNeatWith water
17. 17

    Redbreast 12 Year Old

    Ireland / County Cork / Single Pot Still / 12 yrs / 40%

    The benchmark single pot still Irish whiskey. Sherry-cask dried fruit and pot still spice come together in a mellow, rounded dram.

    SweetFruityRichNeatWith waterOn the rocks
18. 18

    Single Malt Yoichi

    シングルモルト余市

    Japan / Single Malt / NAS / 45%

    The no-age-statement single malt from Yoichi in Hokkaido, made by coal-fired direct distillation. Soft oak and fruit with powerful peat and a smoky finish.

    RichNeatHighballWith water
19. 19

    Springbank 10 Year Old

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

    The core expression of Springbank in Campbeltown, which does everything from malting to bottling on site. Citrus, pear and light smoke with Springbank's salty tang.

    RichNeatWith water
20. 20

    Taketsuru Pure Malt

    竹鶴ピュアモルト

    Japan / Blended Malt / NAS / 43%

    Nikka's pure malt, marrying malts from Yoichi and Miyagikyo. Soft oak and fruit, rich malt and a gentle touch of peat.

    RichNeatOn the rocksHighball

Order and flavour profiles are our editorial guide.