With the price of the most in-demand Scotch whiskies going up and up, we’ve gathered together some bottles that over deliver for the money. Yes, you can find good whisky without having to take out another mortgage. Here are our top ten Scotch whisky bargains. Or comparative bargains, anyway.
You may have noticed that certain age statement single malts have become very expensive recently. It’s sad, but reflects the demand for these famous whiskies. Producers charge what they think people will pay. But that doesn’t mean you have to either cough up or take a quality cut, there are dozens of Scotch whiskies that offer excellent value for money. These might be blends which despite often being of superb quality don’t have the cache of single malts, they might be from obscure distilleries, have young age statements or for no good reason just be underpriced.
These are the kind of whiskies that the staff at Master of Malt buy and drink regularly. So we had a little chat in the office and came up with our top ten Scotch whisky bargains. It was very hard to narrow the list and ended up leaving out the incredible value ten year old bottlings from distilleries including Glen Grant, Benromach, Glenfarclas, Glengoyne, and Speyburn.
There are light and fruity whiskies here, smoky peated ones, sherry bombs, and ones that aren’t easy to categorise. Here are some under the radar whiskies which offer a lot of magic for not very much money. Do let us which distilleries we have foolishly left out in the comments or on social.
Glencadam 10 Year Old
The name isn’t going to get whisky lovers all hot and bothered but that’s all to the good as it means this 10 year old Highland malt comes in at under £40. Furthermore it’s bottled at 46% ABV with not colour or chill-filtering. Check out all those awards and five star customer ratings.
How does it taste?
Aromatic and fresh. Hay, fruit, gentle wood influence with light vanilla, orchard fruit and spice all backed up by a powerful seam of alcohol.
anCnoc 12 Year Old
Why doesn’t anCnoc, the single malt from Knockdhu, get more attention? It could be because it’s not obvious how to pronounce, it’s ‘a knock’, or it could be because owners Inver House concentrate on Old Pulteney and Balblair when handing out the marketing money. Whatever it is, it’s worth getting acquainted with its deliciously fruity single malts.
How does it taste?
Aromatic and quite robust with honeysuckle, fresh flowers, cereals, barley with richer notes of Madeira, winter spices, mocha, crème de cacao, and toasted granary bread.
Glenkinchie 12 Year Old
Another oft-overlooked distillery but that might change now that it has been designated as one of Diageo’s Four Corners of Scotland. The whisky here is very much the epitome of the Lowland single malt, floral, sweet and fruity, but with surprising depths. As well as nice sipped neat, this is a great mixer especially in a Highball.
How does it taste?
On the nose there’s barley malt, almonds, hazelnuts and manuka honey/beeswax with a very fruity palate, stewed fruits, dessert wine, apple peels and honey.
Clynelish 14 Year Old
Clynelish is a very special single malt because the distillery was designed to replicate the unique waxy taste of Brora, now one of the most expensive single malts out there. And the two really do taste quite similar. So you’re getting some of the magic of a £2,000 single malt for under £50.
How does it taste?
You’ll find that waxy apple peel note on the nose. The palate combines toffee with tropical fruit, peaches, orange peel and a nice punchy ABV.
Craigellachie 13 Year Old
There’s no single malt quite like Craigellachie with its whiff of sulphur and smoke, and thick, oily texture. It’s well worth reading Adam’s visit to discover how it tastes as it does but to cut a long story short, it all begins with a unique malted barley and there’s some wormtubs in there somewhere. Truly one of Scotland’s most distinctive whiskies.
How does it taste?
It smells meaty with a slightly burnt popcorn note, take a sip and it’s thick and oily with pineapple, summer berries, pine nuts and almonds.
Edradour 10 Year Old
Edradour is one of Scotland’s smallest distilleries and single cask versions tend to sell out like that. Don’t ignore the flagship though, the 10 year old. It’s aged in a combination of Oloroso sherry and bourbon casks to produce a sweet almost rum-like dram that’s perfect for those long winter nights that will be here before you know it.
How does it taste?
Big rich sherried dram with spiced fruitcake, custard, barley, toasted almonds and yes, a distinct taste of long-aged rum. An unusual malt.
Tamdhu 12 Year Old
If you love a rich sherried dram, then you should get acquainted with Tamdhu. Over the years it’s quietly developed a cult following for its expert use of sherry casks and reasonable pricing. This superb entry level malt is first-fill and refill Oloroso sherry casks for 12 years. Cigars at the ready!
How does it taste?
Lots of plum, juicy raisin, fried banana, raspberry jam doughnuts and oak spice with chocolate fudge and baking spices on the finish.
Bowmore 15 Year Old
Do you like smoke? Do you like sherry? Then you’ll love Bowmore 15 Year Old. It’s an effortlessly delicious mixture of the sweet and nutty with layers of quite subtle smoke. Despite Bowmore releasing some of the world’s most expensive whiskies, for some reason this one remains around £50 a bottle. But for how much longer?
How does it taste?
Dark and full with sweet date, raisin and toffee notes mingling harmoniously with gentle woodsmoke, punchy spices and a lingering aroma of tobacco.
Seaweed & Aeons & Digging & Fire 10 Year Old
Another one that balances sherry with smoke. It’s a 10 year old single malt from an undisclosed distillery on Islay, with 25% of it having been finished in first-fill Oloroso sherry octaves. It’s fair to say that it’s gone down a storm with Master of Malt customers.
How does it taste?
Red apple sweetness gives way to oaken-vanilla goodness and fades elegantly into the embers of a chargrilled well-aged steak. Mmmmm, steak.
Green Isle Whisky
And finally, if you love the taste of Islay but shrink from the ever-increasing price of single malts from the island, then why not try a smoky blend like Green Isle? The core is Islay malt, alongside Speyside malt and Lowland grain whiskies to create blend. An approachable, beautifully balanced blend, boasting smoky depth as well as light fruit and fragrant spice.
How does it taste?
Vanilla pod earthiness builds on the palate, paired with coastal peat, pear drops and crushed peppercorns, and on the finish dry smoke and buttery biscuits.
Lionel Crisp 
Andy L 