Short answer: A single malt Scotch is made only from malted barley, in pot stills, at one single distillery. A blended Scotch mixes malt whisky with grain whisky (made from other cereals such as wheat or maize) from several distilleries. Single malts show the character of one place; blends are built for balance and consistency. Neither is automatically better: some of the most prized whiskies in the world are blends.
UK law (the Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009) defines five categories. Every Scotch must be distilled and matured in Scotland, in oak casks, for at least three years.
| Category | What it is | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Single Malt | 100% malted barley, pot stills, one distillery | Glenfiddich 12, Macallan 12 Double Cask, Lagavulin 16 |
| Single Grain | One distillery, may include other cereals, usually column stills | Lighter, often sweeter styles |
| Blended Malt | Single malts from more than one distillery, no grain whisky | Once called "vatted malt" |
| Blended Grain | Grain whiskies from more than one distillery | Rare on UK shelves |
| Blended Scotch | Malt and grain whiskies from several distilleries | Chivas Regal 12, Johnnie Walker Blue Label |
Blended Scotch accounts for the large majority of Scotch sold worldwide.
Single malts vary hugely by distillery, cask and region: honeyed and fruity from Speyside, rich and dried-fruit from sherry casks, or smoky and maritime from Islay. That variety is the appeal. See our guide to the whisky regions of Scotland.
Blends are usually smoother and rounder, because the master blender balances bold malts with lighter grain whisky. A young blend is easy-going in a highball; an old, premium blend like Johnnie Walker Blue Label or Chivas Regal 18 can be as complex as many single malts.
An age statement (12, 18, 25 years) is the age of the youngest whisky in the bottle, for single malts and blends alike. Some of the most expensive whiskies, including Johnnie Walker Blue Label, carry no age statement at all. Whisky stops ageing once it's bottled. Wondering if older is worth it? Read Macallan 12 vs 18.
We deliver single malts and blended Scotch across Greater London in 30–45 minutes, 24/7, and next day to mainland UK when you order by 4pm. Browse our whisky collection.
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