Last Updated on March 2, 2024 by Lydia Martin
The warming characteristics of smoky whiskies are just perfect for the cold months. If you enjoy sipping expressive and strong flavors, then you need to opt for smoky whisky.
You can enjoy a wide range of styles– from light to crisp to intense and heavy. If you’re not a peated whisky fan, you may haven’t tried the right one yet.
So here are the best smoky whiskey bottles and our longstanding favorites that will keep you coming back for more.
Top 10 Smoky Whiskies To Try
10. Ardbeg Uigeadail
Average Price: roughly $83/750ml (MSRP)
Alcohol Content: 54.2% ABV
Why We Like It: Ardbed Uigeadail, one of the Islay whiskies, is a heavily peated whisky.
The extreme smoky flavor, which Islay Distillery is known for, is evident in this spirit.
There is dried fruit and smoky notes with a bit of sweetness, which results from aging in Sherry butts.
For whisky drinkers looking for a challenging sip, Ardbeg Uigeadail surely fits the standard.
This is a much more desirable expression if you’ve tried the Compass Box Peat Monster.
9. Stauning Smoke
Average Price: roughly $100/750ml (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 47% ABV
Why We Like It: This is a lightly peated whisky. This peated single malt uses locally-sourced ingredients, which results in a soft, sweet, and refined smoky flavor.
This isn’t your typical spirit from the Speyside region of Islay Island; this is a Danish whisky that boasts smoke of the contemporary style– a great example of a thoroughbred terroir whisky.
8. Mackmyra Svensk Rök
Average Price: roughly $69/750ml (MSRP)
Alcohol Content: 46.1% ABV
Why We Like It: This Swedish single malt conveys that impressive smoky whisky isn’t just from Scotland.
The peat used in this expression is burnt, along with the local juniper twigs, creating a herbal and peaty smokiness.
The style of their malting process makes Mackmyra Svensk Rok an interesting whisky, especially for those looking for a bit quirky and unique expression to add to their liquor shelf.
7. Hakushu Distiller’s Reserve
Average Price: roughly $89/750ml (MSRP)
Alcohol Content: 43% ABV
Why We Like It: Honestly, we didn’t expect to find one of the excellent peated whiskies from a Japanese brand.
But this Hakushu Distiller’s Reserve is unique, which turns out to be one of the Hibiki Blends from the House of Suntory [1].
The herbal and peat smoke flavors bring out sophistication, and its luxurious refinement makes it an impressive spirit.
If you’re looking for a temporary shift beyond the peated spirit from the Scottish Island, we bet on this one. However, be ready for its price.
6. Ardmore Legacy
Average Price: roughly $35/750ml (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 40% ABV
Why We Like It: The distillery located in the east Highland of Scotland, at the highest point of an intermedia line between Inverness and Aberdeen, is known as Ardmore.
This is your unusual single malt Scotch whisky, and we use this to make the famous Teacher’s Blend experience the “delicate smoke” goodness.
Ardmore Legacy, which uses local peat that gives the soft and sweet smoky notes, is a great bargain for its price point.
5. Sabertooth “Smoky” Rye Whisky
Average Price: roughly $25/750ml (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 40% ABV
Why We Like It: This Canadian whisky surely fits anyone’s preference, especially for those looking for smoky whisky with the spice of rye.
Crafted from 100% Canadian rye and aged using next-generation aging techniques, this whisky provides an outstanding smoky profile.
The classic flavors of the Canadian Rye, mixed with the peat-like smoke, give a smooth finish with hints of butterscotch.
4. Benriach The Smoky Twelve Whisky
Average Price: roughly $64.99/750ml (MSRP)
Alcohol Content: 46% ABV
Why We Like It: This Benriach Smoky Twelve is a nice blend of fruit, malted barley, and oak, made from a combo of unpeated and peated malt and different casks matured in ex-sherry casks, bourbon barrels, and Marsala wine casks.
“Longer maturation brings more aromatic layers to our distinctive smoky style. For me it’s baked orange in a wonderful cake, fired over an open fire, with dark chocolate flavour.”
— Rachel Barrie, Master Blender
The resulting blend is creamy and smooth, with notes of sweet and spicy fruit and peat oak spice.
We like the rich smoke level, enhanced further by the orange-smoked finish.
3. Langs Full & Smoky Blended Scotch
Average Price: roughly $15/750ml (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 43% ABV
Why We Like It: In a sniff, you won’t think this is a bold, smoky whisky as it starts with a flowery and mild smoke on the nose.
But as soon it develops in your tongue, you’ll get the heather and peat flavors that are bold and deep.
This will surely surprise you, especially if you’re not accustomed to heavy peat flavors.
Imagine it blends the Highland Park and Islay peat, so what can you expect from its character? — a real smoky whisky, indeed.
2. Caol Ila 12 Years Old
Average Price: roughly $84/750ml (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 43% ABV
Why We Like It: Another great whisky from the Scottish Island of Islay is this Caol Ila 12.
We like how this single malt gives the malty and ashy notes of cookie oats, combined with an earthy flavor, bonfire embers, and honey notes. (We prefer this over Port Charlotte.)
This is simply fabulous yet underrated. Actually, this is one best smoky whiskies we’ve ever tried.
1. The Famous Grouse Smoky Black Scotch Whisky
Average Price: roughly $29/750ml (Drizly)
Alcohol Content: 40% ABV
Why We Like It: Our top favorite is this Smoky Black from The Famous Grouse, which is expertly blended to create a savory, sweet, yet smoky whisky.
Aromatic. Peaty. Smooth. That’s three words to describe this spirit. The finish is long-lasting with sweet and smoky notes.
If you want a really complex blend, this is it. But it’s very approachable, though. So beginners to these whiskies won’t be “that much” intimidated.
Note: Other must-try whiskies that didn’t get on the list include:
- Compass Box Peat Monster
- Port Charlotte 10 Years Old
- Laphroaig Lore
- Laphroaig 10 Years Old Sherry Cask Islay Malt
- Johnnie Walker Double Black
- Teeling Blackpitts
What’s A Smoky Whisky?
A whisky that’s “smoky” is anything combustible. The main ingredient that makes a whisky smoky is “peat.”
After drying the malted barley with peat, the grains are laid on a mesh floor with a fire underneath.
As the smoke rises, it kills the grains and creates compounds locked into the barley, such as phenol, that we smell and taste in whisky.
Is Peated Whisky Smoky?
Peated whisky is smoky due to the compound released by peat fires used to dry the barley.
How long a spirit is exposed to peat smoke, and the characteristic of peat determines its flavor strength.
Islay distillery, Highland Park distillery, and Speyside distillery are known to produce peat whiskies, usually matured in Sherry butts [2].
What’s the Difference Between Peaty & Smoky Whisky?
The difference between smoky and peaty whisky is their characteristics.
Just an overview, peat is a fossil fuel [3]. It is made up of decayed organic matter, which burns well and is used to dry grains. Coming from the ground, peaty is more soil-like, with grassy and earthy tones.
Smoky whisky [4], on the other hand, gives a bonfire-like smoke– very ashy and thick. Also, it has a slight drying quality.
Are There Smoky Whiskies Other Than Scotch?
Yes, there are other smoky whiskies other than Scotch. This include:
- Japan – Hakushu Distillery produces smoky malts like the Hukushu Distiller’s Reserve.
- Ireland – Irish whiskeys like Redbreast Pure Pot Still and Connemara Cask Strength Peated are samples of refined smoked whiskeys.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are all Scotch whiskies smoky?
No. Scotch whiskies aren’t all smoky. The lowland and Speyside whiskies are quite gentle and have little to no smoke in their flavor or nose.
What’s the best smoky whisky for beginners?
The best smoky whiskey for beginners is The Famous Grouse Smoky Black due to its very approachable character. Second to that is the Stauning Smoke, a Danish lightly peated expression.
What is the best whiskey to smoke?
For enthusiasts seeking a whiskey to pair with smoking, the peaty and smoky profile of Islay Scotch whiskies, like Laphroaig or Lagavulin, often complements the complex aromas of a cigar, creating a harmonious and robust tasting experience.
Which whiskeys have a smoky flavor?
Several whiskeys are renowned for their distinct smoky flavor, often derived from the use of peat during the malting process. Islay Scotch whiskies, such as Ardbeg, Laphroaig, and Lagavulin, are celebrated for their intensely smoky and peaty characteristics, providing a memorable tasting experience.
Is Glenfiddich a smoky whiskey?
Glenfiddich is not typically known for its smoky flavor. As a Speyside Scotch whisky, Glenfiddich often showcases a fruitier and maltier profile, distinct from the peaty and smoky notes associated with whiskies from Islay or other regions with peat-heavy traditions.
What is the best smoky whiskey cocktail?
The best smoky whiskey cocktail is subjective, but the “Penicillin” is a notable choice. This cocktail combines smoky Islay Scotch, honey-ginger syrup, and lemon juice, creating a well-balanced drink with a hint of peat, sweetness, and citrus, offering a delightful and complex flavor profile.
Is Johnnie Walker a smoky Scotch?
Johnnie Walker offers a range of Scotch whiskies, and while some expressions, like Johnnie Walker Black Label or Double Black, have a moderate level of smokiness, they are not as intensely peaty as some Islay whiskies. The smokiness in Johnnie Walker Scotch whiskies is often a balanced component amid a diverse range of flavors, appealing to a broad spectrum of palates.
Is Jack Daniel’s smoked whiskey?
Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey is not smoked in the traditional sense; it undergoes a unique charcoal mellowing process called the Lincoln County Process, imparting smoothness and character, but it doesn’t have the pronounced smokiness associated with whiskies from regions like Islay.
Is Johnnie Walker Black smoky?
Johnnie Walker Black Label exhibits a moderate level of smokiness, attributed to whiskies from distilleries like Caol Ila and Talisker in its blend; the smoky notes in Black Label are balanced with a range of flavors, providing a nuanced and approachable profile.
How do you know if whiskey is smoky?
The smokiness in whiskey is often detected through the nose and palate; a smoky whiskey, particularly those from regions like Islay in Scotland, will have distinct aromas of peat, ash, or maritime elements, with the taste reflecting these characteristics, offering a robust and often intense smoky experience.
What is a very smoky Scotch?
Islay Scotch whiskies are renowned for their intense smokiness, and Laphroaig is considered one of the very smoky Scotch whiskies; with a distinctive peaty profile, Laphroaig delivers bold smoky notes, seaweed undertones, and a complex flavor profile that captivates enthusiasts seeking a powerful smoky experience.
Is Chivas Regal Scotch smoky?
Chivas Regal Scotch whiskies, particularly the core expressions like Chivas Regal 12-Year-Old, are not known for being smoky. Instead, they emphasize a rich and smooth character with notes of honey, fruit, and malt, making them accessible to a wide range of whisky enthusiasts who prefer a more mellow and less smoky profile.
Final Verdict: Best Smoky Whiskey
Not all the best smoky whiskies are found in Scotland– there are Canada, Denmark, and Japan.
If you’re looking for a challenging sipper or a great mix for cocktails, this list will be useful.
These spirits aren’t just good bottles to sit on your shelf but excellent expressions to enjoy, regardless of the occasion.
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