2025's Best New Scotch Whisky, The Council Of Whisky Masters

A tasting of single malt Scotch whisky paired with original Scottish cheese

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The Council of Whisky Masters is a global body of the world’s leading whisky experts devoted to raising the bar for whisky knowledge and professional tasting standards. Its three dozen or so members include master blenders, master distillers, Keepers of the Quaich, educators, authors, and long-time competition judges. These individuals help set the conversation around fine whisky worldwide.

For this feature, we asked these experts a deceptively simple question: What’s the most exciting new whisky you tasted in 2025? Their answers span sherry-bomb single malts, higher-proof re-imaginations of classic age statements, Marsala cask experiments, single-farm Islay peat, and rare single-cask Speyside malts from lost distilleries. Taken together, they form a curated short list of bottles that the world’s top whisky minds believe every serious whisky lover should seek out.

The Glendronach, Master’s Anthology, Ode to the Dark, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 50.8% ABV, 700 ml. $100

Dr. Rachel Barrie, Brown-Forman Master Blender for Glendronach, Benriach, and Glenglassaugh, is one of Scotland’s most influential master blenders, known as “The First Lady of Scotch,” and responsible for award-winning sherry-forward whiskies.

Her pick for best Scotch whisky of 2025 was one of her own, she remarked, “I am excited for whisky fans to savor the ‘sherry powerhouse,’ the richest and most indulgent expression in the ‘Master’s Anthology’ series.”

Glengoyne, White Oak, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 48% ABV, 700 ml. $90

Monique Huston, Keeper of the Quaich, Whisky Educator & Portfolio Director, is a noted whisky judge and educator with deep experience across global single malts and independent bottlings.

She described the Glengoyne expression as “amazing, punchy, higher proof drams celebrating American oak at its finest. I could drink both daily, and thankfully, it’s super affordable too.”

The Macallan, 12-Year Sherry Oak, 110 Proof Edition, Single malt Scotch Whisky, 55% ABV, 750 ml. $120

The Macallan Sherry Oak, 110 Proof Edition was a popular choice. Three members of the Council of Whisky Masters picked this expression as the best new Scotch whisky of 2025.

Nik Kosobucki, Master of Whisky, is an acclaimed spirits educator and sensory expert specializing in cask influence and distillery character.

In describing The Macallan, he noted that “The higher proof of the whisky serves as a conduit allowing for big aroma and flavors coming from the sherry finish to really take center stage and shine.”

Andy Westley, Master of Whisky, is a long-time whisky educator known for guiding advanced sensory training and highlighting production variation.

He described The Macallan as “rich and round, the higher ABV seems to create a much more harmonious mouth feel than anything I have tasted from Macallan in years.”

Adam Edmonson, Director of Education, Spirits Expert, is a specialist in global whisky styles, production science, and curriculum development.

He notes that The Macallan expression is “a refreshing reminder of what the distillery is capable of creating at a price befitting a drinker rather than a collector.”

Manufacturing and visitor center building at Isle de Raasay Distillery, Isle of Raasay, Scotland, UK

gettyIsle of Raasay, Marsala Cask Finish, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 52% ABV, 700 ml. $115

The Isle of Raasay, Marsala Cask Finish was another popular choice, with three members of the Council of Whisky Masters picking it as their best new Scotch whisky of 2025.

Steve Beal, the world’s first Master of Whisky, Keeper of the Quaich, and one of America’s most recognized whisky ambassadors, is a long-time judge, educator, and Hall of Fame inductee.

He described the whisky as “venturing into the world of more exotic dessert wine casks… creamy sweetness like Oloroso and PX but tweaked with a whiff of affumicato.”

Alasdair Day, Co-founder & Master Distiller, Isle of Raasay, is the architect of Raasay’s innovative dual-maturation program and the father of this whisky expression. He is one of Scotland’s leading new-generation distillers.

He notes that “the casks… have been seasoned with bone-dry Marsala wine for up to 30 years. This adds beautiful layers of dried fruit, toasted nuts, and oxidative depth.”

Joseph V Micallef, Keeper of the Quaich, author, whisky historian, international spirits judge, and sensory analysis expert, also picked the Isle of Raasay, describing it as “an incredibly powerful yet balanced and well-integrated whisky, delivering a layered, nuanced complexity featuring successive waves of flavor”.

Kilchoman, Ex-Sherry Butt 20th Anniversary Edition, 14-Year-Old, 50%-52% ABV, 700 ml.

Mark Griffith, Master of Whisky, is a specialist in independent bottlings and single-farm expressions, noted for in-depth peat and cask analysis.

He described the Kilchoman as featuring “layers of smoke, dark fruit and silky custard that fold endlessly in on themselves. Kilchoman at its confident best.”

John Wabeck, Master of Whisky and veteran whisky educator with deep experience in single-farm distillation philosophies and terroir, also recommended the Kilchoman, noting, “This 20th anniversary bottling really shines.”

Glenmorangie, A Tale of Spices, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 46% ABV, 700 ml. $120

Dan Crowell, Master of Whisky, Keeper of the Quaich, is an industry educator and technical consultant with decades of experience in Scotch maturation and flavor science.

He described the Glenmorangie as “One of the most exciting releases of the year.”

Saltire Rare Malts Craigellachie, 17 YO, Single Cask, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 54%-58% ABV, Depending on Cask, 700 ml. $300

Hans Offringa, Keeper of the Quaich, is an international whisky writer and historian, renowned for Scotch scholarship and a tasting authority.

He described the whisky as “Sugared orange slices, cedarwood, tobacco, and leather… like walking into your grandfather’s study.”

Saltire Rare Malts Speyside Cigar Malt 18, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 50%-54% ABV, Depending on Cask, 700 ml. $250

Rebecca Offringa, Keeper of the Quaich, whisky writer, and sensory specialist with a focus on single casks and lost distilleries, also picked a Saltire expression.

She described the Speyside Cigar Malt as “From a now lost distillery… perfect for cigar lovers who enjoy a full and spicy dram.”

Maclean’s Nose, Blended Scotch Whisky, 46% ABV, 700 ml. $30

Charlie MacLean, MBE, Master of the Quaich, is widely regarded as Scotland’s leading whisky writer and one of the world’s foremost authorities on Scotch. His “whisky of the year,” Maclean’s Nose—a high-malt blend created with Adelphi and Ardnamurchan—was named Best Blended Scotch at the Global Online Whisky Awards, a consumer-voted competition

He described the whisky as “an affordable blended Scotch whisky from Adelphi and Ardnamurchan Distillery, featuring a high 70% malt content with notes of citrus, smoke, brine, and orchard fruits, delivering value and complex character.”

Taken individually, each of these recommendations offers insight into a distillery, a cask type, or a style that’s capturing expert attention in 2025. Seen together, they form a snapshot of where fine whisky is headed: bolder flavors, more transparent cask stories, a renewed respect for sherry and dessert wine finishes, and a growing fascination with field-to-glass provenance.

The Council of Whisky Masters was established to promote disciplined tasting standards and thorough educational rigor. These choices embody that same ethos in bottle form. Whether you prefer sherry-soaked Highland malts, coastal peat, innovative cask finishes, or study-worthy single casks, this list of 2025’s top new whiskies provides a focused, expert-guided roadmap. You may not see every bottle on your local shelf—but if you do, these are the drams that the professionals themselves are reaching for.

2025’s Best New Scotch Whisky, The Council Of Whisky Masters

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