Many consider single malt whiskey superior to blended whiskey, but neither one is necessarily better than the other; it's just a matter of personal preference.

Single malt whiskey is distilled at a single distillery and uses a single type of grain. Blended whiskey, on the other hand, can come from various distilleries and various grains.

A blend of various whiskeys aged in different barrels can still technically be single grain, as long as there is only one type of grain and one distillery.

American blended whiskey must have at least 20% whiskey, but some high-quality brands make 100% whiskey blends. You may have to search a little for a good blended whiskey.

Blended whiskey is smoother with a milder flavor profile, while single malt has a pronounced, uniform flavor. Of course, complexity and flavors may vary from bottle to bottle.

Blended whiskey tends to be smooth with a mild flavor profile. It sometimes has sweet notes, like cherry or chocolate, or even leathery and smoky flavors.

Meanwhile, single malt whiskeys carry a strong oaky flavor from the barrel along with notes of caramel, vanilla, and nut, and they impart a wider variety and depth of flavors.