Whisky: what’s the best single malt for £40

Suppose you’re looking for an excellent single malt whisky for £40. Why else would you click on this blog? Well, that’s what we’ve got here. And we really tried very hard to stick to that budget. Most of these whiskies are £39.95 at the time of writing. One is £40 on the dot. I was really pleased with that. Thank you, Ledaig. You’re always there for me. 

These options provide a range of flavours and styles, from smoky and peaty to sweet and fruity, ensuring you can find a high-quality whisky that suits your taste within your budget.

Whisky: what’s the best single malt for £40

Solara Sherried Whisky 70cl

Straight from outta space side… ahem, sorry – Speyside, comes Solara, a superbly sherried and generously aged single malt. A play on the traditional solera system, often used to age sherry, while evoking the astrological means this whisky stands out on any shelf. More importantly, the well-aged single malt was treated to a generous finish in oloroso sherry octaves and is properly tasty. 

Nose: Fresh apples and juicy pears with buttery pastry and oily barley in tow. Soft peach and creamy vanilla join in time, with raisin-studded fudge and mellow oak.

Palate: Superbly soft with unctuous layers of sticky sweet sherried oak. Creamy caramel and cooked orchard fruits are followed by a touch of drying baking spice.

Finish: Tannic, leathery oak brings a drying touch to the finish, with clove and root ginger, cinder toffee, and chocolate-coated cranberries.

Seaweed & Aeons & Digging & Fire 10 Year Old Whisky 70cl

The decidedly descriptive Seaweed & Aeons & Digging & Fire is a 10-year-old single malt from an undisclosed distillery on Islay, with 25% of it having been finished in first-fill oloroso sherry casks. This is a proper sherried Islay single malt: it’s smoky, coastal, sweet, rich, and darkly delicious.

Nose: Rich, powerful sherry with a well-integrated core of peat. Solid.

Palate: Well-balanced but extremely forceful on delivery. The sherry makes itself known in a really good way.

Finish: Red apple sweetness gives way to oaken-vanilla goodness and fades elegantly into the embers of a chargrilled well-aged steak.

Indri Trini Three Wood Indian Single Malt Whisky 70cl

An Indian single malt whisky here, aged in a trio of top casks: first-fill bourbon, French wine, and Pedro Ximénez sherry. Aided by maturation in an extreme climate on the foothills of the Himalayas, this complex blend of barrels each brings their signature flavour to the fore in a richly rewarding treat. 

Nose: Tinned peaches, golden syrup, aromatic oak, and baking spice.

Palate: Creamy and fruity, with pineapple, apricot yoghurt, and lychee among nutmeg and toasted almonds.

Finish: Tropical fruit and caramel lingers with pepper and cinnamon.

Ledaig Rioja Cask Finish – Sinclair Series Whisky 70cl

A fantastically flavoursome Ledaig single malt from Tobermory, which enjoyed a finishing period in Rioja wine casks! Expect plenty of peaty notes alongside the ripe red fruit sweetness, tobacco, and aromatic spice imparted by the Rioja casks. A sublime evening dram, this.

Nose: Red grapes, cinnamon, rose petal jelly, and a wave of coastal smoke.

Palate: Grassy peat, stewed plum, raspberry, almond, dark chocolate.

Finish: Salted caramel, cherry, clove.

Highland Coo 10 Year Old Whisky 70cl

When you travel through the Scottish Highlands, you’ll see plenty of Highland cows, or coos, and likely a few distilleries too! This 10-year-old single malt celebrates both! A Highland single malt, 50% of the whisky was finished in first-fill oloroso sherry casks, imparting rich sweetness and biscuity spice to the fruity malt at its core. You’ve got to love that label too. That is one one cool-looking Highland cow, donning reflective shades, and a most stylishly coiffured cow lick quiff!

Nose: Green apples, creamy grist and a touch of peppery barley, zesty notes of gooseberry.

Palate: Mouthfulls of soft oak and buttery malt, delicate fudge sweetness and soft layers of poached apricot. White chocolate buttons join in time, with a beautiful balance of vanilla and soft, biscuity spice beneath.

Finish: Mellow oak char, buttered popcorn, peach, soft, woody malt, vanilla cream.

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