Are you a whisky enthusiast on a budget? We empathise, we relate, and we are here to help.
Below are ten great whiskies, all of them coming in under £35*. These selections provide excellent flavour and offer a range of styles, ensuring there’s something for every palate at an affordable price.
Enjoy discovering these budget-friendly drams!
Top 10: whiskies that won’t hurt your wallet
Maker’s Mark Whiskey 70cl (£26.45)
A smooth and easy-drinking bourbon from a great distillery with rich flavours of vanilla, oak char, and a hint of spice. It’s ideal for both sipping and cocktails.
Glen Moray Elgin Classic Whisky 70cl (£23.79)
A light and fruity Speyside single malt with notes of apple, pear, and a touch of toffee. It’s equally at home sipped neat or in all manner of cocktails.
Fercullen Falls Small Batch Blended Irish Whiskey 70cl (£29.27)
Irish whiskey produced by the Powerscourt Distillery, full of sweet and creamy vanilla and citrus notes. In the biz, we call this an approachable or accessible whiskey. The term used to be ‘breakfast whisky’. You can probably guess why that went out of fashion.
The Ardmore Legacy Whisky 70cl (£25.94)
Ardmore whisky is very underrated. Its single malt has a light, peaty character complemented by flavours of honey, vanilla, and spice. It’s a good entry point for those interested in exploring peated whiskies.
Paul John Nirvana Whisky 70cl (£29.99)
If you haven’t had any Indian whisky yet, this is the best value way to broaden your horizons. Nirvana has a malty, butterscotchy, pineappley goodness to it that we think you’ll really enjoy.
Jura 12 Year Old Whisky 70cl (£33.95)
A light and fruity Island single malt, Jura 12 Year Old Whisky offers flavours of orchard fruits, chocolate fudge, and a touch of malt. It’s a refreshing sipper, best enjoyed by the seaside. Go on and take advantage of that nice weather we’re having.
Bankhall Distiller’s Cut Whisky 70cl (£30.36)
Bankhall’s Distiller’s Cut is a really handy, versatile little bar-back whisky. The kind you can throw into any cocktail and it will do a job, with a fruity, sweet, and slightly rich profile that pairs well with a number of different flavours and a good bottling strength (46% ABV) so it stands up to mixing.
Laphroaig Oak Select Whisky 70cl (£28.99)
A great introduction to peated whiskies, Laphroaig Select has smoky, peaty notes balanced by a hint of sweetness and spice. It’s a boldly flavoured choice for those looking to explore Islay whiskies.
Maple Syrup & Toasted Oats & Orange Zest & Vanilla 8 Year Old Whisky 70cl (£29.95)
A big name but one that describes what to expect from this Canadian corn whisky. Lots of lovely flavours at a very reasonable price. Can’t argue with that.
Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Year Old Whisky 70cl (£24.99)
The whisky you always need in your home bar. Johnnie Walker’s ultimate crowd-pleasing blended Scotch has a deep, complex flavour of dark fruits, vanilla, and a smoky finish. It’s a versatile whisky that’s great for sipping or mixing.
*Prices are correct at the time of writing.
