Single Malt Whisky

Love single malt whisky? Here’s what you’re missing…

Single malt is the whisky of choice for whisky lovers, collectors and connoisseurs. Meticulously distilled using only malted barley in a single distillery, single malt is synonymous with class and quality. And it’s an international affair: from the storied stills of places like Aberlour and Glenmorangie in Scotland to new-world trailblazers like the USA’s Westward and Lark in Australia, single malt is beloved across the globe. And we love it too. Join free to today to get single malt whisky from world's best distilleries that no one else can get their hands on.

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What is single malt whisky?

Single malt is one of the most celebrated and sought-after styles of whisky worldwide. Unlike blended whisky – which combines whiskies from multiple distilleries – single malt whisky must be made from 100% malted barley using a single distillery's craftsmanship, expertise, and unique production methods.

The process of making single malt whisky involves the following steps:

Malting: Barley grains are soaked in water to encourage germination, then dried in kilns to halt the process. This creates malted barley which is essential for whisky production.

Mashing: The malted barley is ground into a coarse powder called grist, then mixed with hot water in a mash tun. This process converts starches in the barley into fermentable sugars.

Fermentation: The sugary liquid, known as wort, is transferred to fermentation vessels where yeast is added. Yeast converts the sugars into alcohol, creating a liquid called wash, with low alcohol content.

Distillation: The wash is distilled, often in copper pot stills or sometimes in column stills, depending on the distillery's preference and the country’s regulations. This process concentrates the alcohol and separates undesirable components, producing a clear liquid known as ‘new make spirit’.

Maturation: The new make spirit is transferred to casks for aging and must mature for a minimum of three years (although some countries the minimum is two years) to become whisky. Many single malts are aged for much longer. During the time the whisky interacts with the cask’s wood, it will change in colour and texture, gaining complexity and a wide range of flavours. The treatment of wood (almost always Oak) and prior cask contents significantly impact the spectrum of flavours imparted on the whisky.

The flavour profile of single malt whisky can vary significantly depending on factors such as the type of barley, fermentation technique, the distillation process, the aging period, and the type of cask used for maturation. As a result, each single malt whisky carries a unique and distinct character that reflects the craftsmanship of the distillery and the natural influences of its location. At The Whisky Club we work closely with each distillery’s Master Blender to show off their unique and iconic traits in the form of our one-off, monthly whisky releases. Some are so rare or popular they sell out in minutes!

Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Single malt Scotch whisky is a specific type of whisky from Scotland, which follows strict government legislation known as Scotch Whisky Regulations. In summary, for whisky to be called ‘single malt Scotch’ it must be made in Scotland from malted barley, yeast, water, without the addition of any other cereals. It also must be distilled in pot stills and at a single distillery. The regulations were introduced to protect Scotch whisky from competition, as well as guarantee the quality of production for whisky lovers.

Five different types of whiskies defined by the Scotch Whisky Regulations include:

Single malt whisky — made at one distillery with malted barley in a pot still.

Single grain whisky — made at one distillery with any cereal grains in a continuous still.

Blended malt whisky — made by combining single malt whiskies from different distilleries.

Blended grain whisky — made by combining single grain whiskies from different distilleries.

Blended whisky — made by combining single grain whiskies and single malt whiskies from different distilleries.

What Are The Best Single Malt Whisky Brands?

Scotland is renown for its incredible single malt whisky from well-known brands who specialise in its creation... but the New World is catching up! From Australia to the USA, Scotland to Japan, here are some of the best distilleries creating single malt whisky today.

Aberlour The mighty Aberlour is one of the world’s most iconic whisky distilleries with its legacy of Sherry cask maturation and iconic Speyside palate. Aberlour remains a celebrated name in the world of whisky, known for its rich and complex expressions that delight connoisseurs.

Their first-ever limited edition collaboration was for The Whisky Club as Members' Whisky of the Month for May 2024, bottled at 48.0% ABV and exclusively available to Club Members for just $145.

The Aberlour 2010 Double Cask Matured, Created Exclusively for The Whisky Club picked up Double Gold with a near-perfect score of 99/100 at one of the world’s most prestigious spirits competitions.

Country: Scotland

Region: Speyside

Other popular releases: Aberlour 18 Year Old, Aberlour A’bunadh Alba, Aberlour 14 Year Old Double Cask

BenriachFamous for its incredibly wide range of whiskies, Benriach is overseen by the legendary Dr Rachel Barrie (who's also Master Blender of The GlenDronach and Glenglassaugh).

Thanks to the Club's long-standing friendship with Dr Rachel, we've collaborated with Benriach multiple times over the years to bring Members a luscious single malt, created exclusively for the Club. The latest is a one-off vintage triple Sherry threat: the Benriach 2013 Triple Sherry, Created Exclusively for The Whisky Club is Members' Whisky of the Month for April 2025, bottled at 48.4% ABV and only $125.

Country: Scotland

Region: Speyside

Other popular releases: Benriach 1966 Cask Aged 50 Years, Benriach 2010 First-Fill American Oak, Benriach Smoke Season

Old BushmillsWith over 400 years of whiskey-making heritage, Bushmills never compromises on quality to create its signature smooth single malts whiskeys.

Its curated limited-edition Causeway Collection has spurred thousands of whiskey lovers into collecting these rare cask finished editions. Luckily for Club Members, we've collaborated with Bushmills several times to bring Club-exclusive collaborations into Australia just for them.

The latest, Bushmills 2010 Double Moscatel Cask, was created just for Members, bottled at 49.1% ABV and only $140. It was shortlisted for Best Irish Single Malt and crowned The Whisky Club's Whisky of the Year 2024!

Country: Northern Ireland

Other popular releases: Bushmills 25 Year Old, Bushmills 2012 Burgundy Cask, Bushmills 2006 Marsala Cask

FujiGotemba Overseen by Jota Tanaka, Icons Of Whisky award-winning Master Blender of the Year, the craftmanship of Fuji Gotemba distillery's single malts is second to none.

The Club has been truly honoured to partner with Fuji in celebration of their 50th birthday to bring the first release of Fuji Single Malt Japanese Whisky to Australia, launched exclusively to Members. Captured at 46.0% ABV and just $140 a bottle, this was awarded gold at the International Spirits Challenge 2023.

Country: Japan

Other popular releases: Fuji 2022 Masterpiece, Fuji 50th Anniversary Edition

The GlenDronach Widely credited as making some of the world’s finest examples of 100% sherry matured whisky, The GlenDronach is synonymous with big, heavily sherried, old-style single malt whisky.

It's one of only a very small number of Scotch distilleries truly specialising in traditional Sherry cask maturation and, exclusively for the Club, it created The GlenDronach 1993 Oloroso Single Cask. Worth $1,100 each, this whopping 28 year old was bottled at 52.8% ABV.

Country: Scotland

Region: Highland

Other popular releases: GlenDronach Cask Strength Batch 11, GlenDronach 2007 Pedro Ximenez Cask, GlenDronach Revival 15 Year Old

Lagavulin Pinnacle of Islay single malt whiskymakers, Lagavulin creates peated whiskies which smoulder in intensity. Its smoky characteristics has secured the distillery an army of avid collectors around the globe.

Famously, it collaborated with Nick Offerman of Parks and Recreation fame on a limited-edition, sold-out series. The first in the series, the Lagavulin Offerman Edition, came to Club Members exclusively in Australia as their Whisky of the Month for November 2019 for only $120.

Country: Scotland

Region: Islay

Other popular releases: Lagavulin Offerman Edition Caribbean Rum Cask Finish, Lagavulin 26 Year Old The Lion's Jewel

LarkEstablished by Bill and Lyn Lark (AKA the Godparents of Tasmanian whisky), Lark is the Australian distillery that kickstarted our country's entire modern whisky industry.

We're so thankful this talented couple single-handedly put this nation on the map with Lark's wonderful single malts and, from one Tasmanian brand to another, there's been many a Club x Lark collaboration over the years. Perhaps one of the finest is the Lark 30th Anniversary Edition, Created Exclusively for The Whisky Club for $220 at a hefty 52.5% ABV. Bill himself proclaimed this limited edition release as being "Tasmanian single malt at its best."

Country: Australia

Other popular releases: Lark Rare Seppeltsfield Tawny Cask, Lark Head Distiller's Release, Lark Private Cask Aged 9 Years

Overeem One of the founding whisky families of Aussie craft distilling, Overeem is an absolute tried-and-true favourite.

The Club's groundbreaking Australian Decade Series (a feature of extremely limited 10 year old single casks from the very best local distilleries) included an exclusive and very special single cask from Overeem: their first ever 10 year old whisky.

Released in August 2024 exclusively to Club Members, Overeem 10 Year Old Lightly Peated Sherry Cask was a big 59.5% ABV for $425, and sold out within a day.

Country: Australia

Other popular releases: Overeem Tokay Cask, Overeem Pedro Ximenez Cask, Overeem Sherry Matured & Sherry Finished

Westward Making single malt whiskeys in the heart of the American Northwest, Westward has wowed international judges and won Club Members' hearts over and over again.

After taking out Club-voted Whisky of the Year in 2021 with their rum matured single malt, Westward collaborated with multi-award-winning Rutherglen Muscat in the Westward Vintage Muscat Cask, Created Exclusively for the Club which later itself won a Gold at the International Whisky and Spirits Competiton. Bottled at a gooey 52.5% ABV, this was Members' Whisky of the Month for December 2023 for only $145.

Country: United States

Other popular releases: Westward Single Malt Rum Cask, Westward Tempranillo Single Barrel, Westward Oregon Pinot Noir Cask

There’s much to experience in the world of whisky, and the exploration, tasting new whiskies, trying a different finishes or perhaps your first peated whisky, and building a collection of favourite bottles is all part of the fun! After all, that’s what the Club is all about - the love of whisky.

In being a part of the Club you’ll get tons of information about the whisky, tasting notes and the distillery with every monthly bottle you order, and there’s a great community of whisky lovers online and at Club events.

So what’ll it be – a fruit-forward Japanese from Fuji Gotemba, a super peaty Lagavulin, butter and berry from Bushmills, or caramel goodness from Lark? Join the Club today, and try them all!