There’s a misconception that Scotch whisky (specifically single-malt) isn’t affordable. And sure, there are plenty of long-aged, limited-release bottles that will set you back the equivalent of a mortgage payment. On the flip side, there are plenty of well-priced, accessible expressions just waiting to be added to your whisky collection.
It’s time to dive into what “affordable” means in the Scotch-whisky world. It doesn’t mean cheap, and it doesn’t mean bargain. It does mean that the bottle is reasonably inexpensive. To us, this means expressions that are less than $100.
But it’s never a good idea to grab a bottle of single-malt Scotch listed for $75 due to name recognition alone. While you might be pleasantly surprised by your purchase, you might also immediately regret your hasty decision. The key is to look for bottles that fit a good price-to-quality ratio.
And fear not, the work of finding these proverbial whisky-soaked diamonds in the rough has been done for you. Below, you’ll find some of the best, flavorful affordable Scotch whiskies available today.
Lagavulin 16
While many distilleries opt to have 10- or 12-year-old expressions as their flagship bottle, Lagavulin believes that 16 years is the sweet spot for a complex, balanced whisky. This classic Islay single-malt is made from peat-smoked barley. It’s matured for a minimum of 16 full years in oak casks. The result is a memorable sipping whisky loaded with notes of iodine, salted caramel, vanilla beans, oak, and robust peaty smoke. It’s the kind of whisky you’ll want to sip neat in a Glencairn glass on a cool evening.
Buy: $94.99
Johnnie Walker Black Label
Not all complex Scotch whiskies are single-malts. One of the best affordable blended Scotch whiskies is Johnnie Walker Black Label. This 12-year-old blended Scotch whisky is a marriage of malt and grain whiskies. Since Diageo owns Johnnie Walker, the blend includes the likes of Cardhu, Glenknichie, and even smoky Islay whisky Caol Ila. The result is a complex whisky featuring hints of candied orange peels, sticky toffee pudding, honey, sweet treacle, oak, and gentle peaty smoke that swirls throughout.
Buy: $31.99
The Balvenie Doublewood 12
The Balvenie Doublewood 12 tastes like it should be much more expensive. It gets its name because it’s matured in two different types of wood. First, it ages for 12 years in American oak barrels before being finished for another nine full months in European oak sherry casks. The result is a sublime, flavorful whisky loaded with notes of cinnamon, candied nuts, dried cherries, vanilla beans, sherry sweetness, and rich oaky wood.
Buy: $70.99
Aberfeldy 12
This popular single-malt whisky is distilled in copper pot stills before being matured for at least 12 years in handmade oak casks. It’s known for its nose of honey, oak, vanilla, and gentle wintry spices. Sipping it neat will leave you with flavors like candied nuts, toasted vanilla beans, sticky toffee pudding, chocolate fudge, and just a hint of light smoke at the finish.
Buy: $39.99
Craigellachie 13
Often referred to as the “bad boy of Speyside,” Craigellachie 13 is matured for thirteen years in a combination of ex-bourbon barrels and ex-sherry casks. This results in a multi-layered, complex sipping whisky with notes of toasted marshmallows, tropical fruits, vanilla beans, and gentle spices. It’s a non-chill filtered expression that deserves to be sipped neat on an unseasonably cool evening.
Buy: $64.99
Ardbeg Wee Beastie
Ardbeg is a big name in the peat-smoked whisky world. One of the most well-known distilleries on the Inner Hebrides island of Islay, it has a wide range of award-winning expressions. If you’re looking for a value bottle, look no further than Ardbeg Wee Beastie. This 47.4% ABV expression might have only been matured for five years in a mixture of ex-bourbon barrels and Oloroso sherry casks, but that hasn’t stopped this bad boy from having bold flavors like vanilla beans, chocolate, licorice, toffee, smoked bacon, and robust campfire smoke.
Buy: $49.99
Oban 14
Oban is a big name in the single malt Scotch world. If you’ve never tried it, Oban 14 is a good start. This easy-drinking, 43% ABV expression is matured for a full 14 years in ex-bourbon barrels. The use of lightly peated malt gives this expression a complex, memorable flavor profile featuring hints of figs, vanilla beans, treacle, toffee, and gentle peat smoke that swirls throughout.
Buy: $88.99
GlenDronach 12
If you only buy one affordable Scotch whisky on this list, make it GlenDronach 12. This unique expression has matured for 12 years in a combination of Spanish Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks. These casks create a nuanced, sweet-sipping whisky known for its palate of candied orange peel, sweet sherry, caramelized sugar, vanilla, dried cherries, chocolate, almonds, and baking spices. Sip this mellow, sweet single malt whisky on a chilly fall or winter evening. You’ll be very happy you did.
Buy: $55.99
