25 Year Old Scotch: Memories in a Bottle, and Some Bargains Too

When it comes to a whisky for a special occasion, it’s hard to argue against a 25 year old scotch. That age statement is grand enough to thrill your guests after dinner, provide a special gift, or simply be the bottle you reach for to reward yourself after a good day. There are peated malts from Islay, sherried styles from Speyside, and luxuriously complex blends to choose from.

What you pay for a quarter-century-old scotch varies considerably. Astonishingly, for two whiskies made just eight miles apart and of the exact same proof, you can buy 17 bottles of the lowest-priced example for the same money it costs to own one bottle of the most expensive, and still get 30 bucks in change.

Due to supply squeezes of ultra-aged whiskies, distillers are more often releasing annual batch bottlings rather than permanent expressions, so not every bottling will be available all year round. A fair number of 25 year old scotches disappear from the shelves for good every year. All the whiskies shown here were distilled at the end of the 20th century, each one a sip of golden liquid to help lubricate the mind and unlock pleasant memories and reflections on the path of your own life over the past two and a half decades.

SPEYSIDE SINGLE MALT

95 Macallan 25 year old Sherry Oak, 43%, $2,750
Distilled at the former Macallan Distillery, closed when the modern facility began distilling in 2017, this was matured in sherry-seasoned American and European oak casks from Jerez, Spain.

Raisins, dates, citrus peel, burnt sugar, milk chocolate, seasoned oak

94 Benriach The Twenty Five, 46%, $370
A recipe of unpeated and peated Benriach matured in bourbon, sherry, virgin oak, and madeira casks. The mature whiskies are then married, drawing on the flavor contributions of the different casks.

Smoked almonds, dried apricots, licorice, milk chocolate, candied ginger

92 Glenlivet Sample Room Collection 25 year old, 43%, $630
Launched in 2022 to replace the oloroso sherry finished Glenlivet XXV, this expression is finished in first-fill Pedro Ximénez sherry casks and Tronçais oak cognac casks.

Jammy fruit, aromatic roasted spice, citrus peel, cedarwood, ground ginger, toasted oak

92 Glenrothes 25 year old, 43%, $750
A new 25 year old whisky from Laura Rampling, the new Glenrothes whisky maker, is created from whiskies matured in sherry-seasoned European and American oak casks, mostly first-fill.

Baked orange, raisin, beeswax, nougat, raisin bread, milk chocolate

92 Tomintoul 25 year old, 43%, $600
Master distiller Robert Fleming selects American oak casks to best demonstrate the soft fruit and floral notes of aged Tomintoul. It’s a shining example of letting the whisky speak for itself.

Rose Turkish delight, honeycomb, candied orange, vanilla, dried apple, Oreo cookies

91 Balvenie 25 year old Rare Marriages, 48%, $800
This series includes whiskies aged 25-60 years, making this the youngest in the range. Matured in American and European oak casks, this epitomizes the honey and vanilla profile of this distillery's whiskies.

Beeswax, milk chocolate, candied orange peel, caramel

90 Glenfarclas 25 year old, 43%, $160

Glenfarclas has a reputation of releasing age-statement sherry-matured whiskies at an affordable price, and the 25 year old, fully matured in oloroso sherry casks, is no exception.

Dry leaves, citrus, apple tart, Christmas cake, chocolate cake, winter spice

ISLAY SINGLE MALT

94 Ardbeg 25 year old, 46%, $1,400
Ardbeg was mothballed for much of the 1990s and little stock was laid down, so peat lovers will appreciate that the whisky drawn from these bourbon casks is rather precious.

Sea spray, lemon peel oil, pine needles, complex smoke, antiseptic, spiced toffee

94 Bowmore 25 year old, 43%, $560
This was distilled under the watch of master distiller Jim McEwan, who worked at Bowmore for 38 years, and is composed of whiskies matured in bourbon and Spanish sherry casks.

Sherry-soaked staves, allspice, damp peat smoke, tanned leather, baked citrus, hazelnut

93 Bunnahabhain 25 year old, 46.3%, $870
Much of Bunnahabhain’s whisky from this era was used for blending, so this cherished expression captures a moment in time on Islay, with its array of classic notes of Bunnahabhain matured in sherry casks.

Sherry fruit, almond nuttiness, snuff, fleshy plum, creamy caramel, brown butter

92 Laphroaig 25 year old, 51.4%, $600
A no-holds-barred Islay peat smoke experience, some releases are matured in bourbon barrels only, while others include oloroso sherry casks; regardless, these are always bottled at natural cask strength.

Lemon drizzle cake, smoked bacon fat, soft fruit, white chocolate, licorice, smoked fish

93 Port Askaig 25 year old, 45.8%, $475
Elixir Distillers created this whisky from casks from an undisclosed Islay distillery that suited the Port Askaig style of rich smoke and soft sweet fruit, then bottled it at natural color with no chill filtering

Sweet lemon, smoked kippers, freshly laid asphalt, honey throat lozenges, mango sorbet, aniseed

HIGHLAND SINGLE MALT

94 Balblair 25 year old, 46%, $900
Run off the stills in the compact stillroom of this traditional distillery, this non-chill filtered whisky was finished in Spanish oak butts after an initial bourbon cask maturation, giving it a stunning natural copper color.

Baked apple, forest honey, pecan, earthy, cognac-like, Fisherman’s Friends

94 Dalmore 25 year old, 42%, $2,500
After an initial maturation in bourbon barrels, the whisky is divided into first-fill bourbon barrels and Palomino fino sherry butts for a secondary maturation, before being married together and finished in tawny port pipes.

Dried cherry, nutmeg, tobacco leaf, inky fruits, orange peel, raisin

93 Glencadam 25 year old, 46%, $550
Upsloping lyne arms create a mellow, delicate spirit that is the oldest in the core range from this traditional scotch whisky distillery, and is non-chill filtered and bottled with no added color.

Barley, toasted English muffin, marmalade, lush tropical fruits, hazelnut, pepper

93 Glengoyne 25 year old, 48%, $800
Unpeated, this extracted a real depth of flavor from the European oak sherry casks. The absence of finishing offers an unfettered taste of how Glengoyne matures in the warehouse over time.

Peppercorn, damson, leather, unlit cigar, stewed apple, marmalade, clove, milk chocolate

93 Old Pulteney 25 year old, 46%, $625
The flavors of this Old Pulteney were shaped by distillation through their distinctive flat-topped still and worm tub condenser, before being matured by the sea in bourbon barrels and finished in Spanish oak sherry casks.

Sherry notes, treacle, walnut, maple syrup, salted caramel, cacao

ISLANDS SINGLE MALT

95 Highland Park 25 year old, 46%, $900
Composed of 12 casks laid down in 1995 or earlier; two first-fill sherry-seasoned American oak casks, five first-fill sherry-seasoned European oak hogsheads, and five new American oak hogsheads.

Intensely honeyed, coconut cupcakes, vanilla buttercream, sweet citrus, summer berries, smoky finish

94 Talisker 25 year old, 45.8%, $680
The whisky is matured in bourbon hogsheads and European refill casks, and is one of the most consistently available whiskies at this age statement since its debut in the Diageo Special Releases in 2001.

Saltiness, peat smoke, citrus, clove, dried apricot, white chocolate

93 Arran 25 year old, 46%, $790
Currently the oldest release in the core range. Bottled non-chill filtered and at natural color, this Arran is a limited annual release and was composed from whiskies matured in sherry and bourbon casks.

Wood spices, crème caramel, nutmeg, crystallized ginger, Seville orange peel, sponge candy

LOWLAND SINGLE MALT

91 Bladnoch 25 year old Talia, 43.2%, $500
Shuttered in the 1990s until production was permitted again in 2000, well-aged Bladnoch is scarce. Talia brings together stocks matured in bourbon, sherry, and refill casks, then finished in new American oak casks.

Tangerine, lime peel, soft kiwi, lemon bonbon, poached pear, gingerbread

CAMPBELTOWN SINGLE MALT

95 Glen Scotia 25 year old, 48.8%, $600
Refill American oak casks mature this before the final liquid is finished in fresh bourbon barrels, helping to preserve the flavor characteristics developed over time without any risk of the wood influence becoming too dominant.

Salted caramel, sea spray, burlap, heather honey, red apple, ginger spices

Blended Scotch

94 Chivas Regal 25 year old, 40%, $430
Chivas Brothers brought back this luxury blend in 2007, selected from its inventory of rare aged stocks to maintain the rich, smooth profile in every batch.

Concentrated citrus, milk chocolate, layered oak, date, red apple, subtle smoke

93 Dewar's 25 year old The Signature, 40%, $325
Dewar's is known for its double-aging process, but this one has an extra twist. After the blend is created and left to marry, it is finished in Royal Brackla single malt whisky casks.

Honey, vanilla, dried apricot, creamy chocolate, hazelnut, exotic spices

94 Isle of Skye 25 year old, 40%, $210
First created on Skye in 1933, this immaculate blend from Ian Macleod Distillers is rich in Island and Speyside malts.

Cola, Earl Grey and black teas, red apple, clove, gingerbread, dark toffee, peaty embers