20 Best Cheap Scotch Under 20 (2023 Updated)

Whisky wouldn’t be my first choice of alcoholic drink, as I find there is often a really nasty after-burn in the back of the throat. This one, however, is completely different. It smells amazing, rich and biscuitty, and is lovely and smooth, no burn at all.

My husband enjoyed it on the rocks (the bigger the ice cube the better as they melt slower and so don’t dilute it too much) and I made an amazing Manhattan cocktail by mixing 2 parts of it to one part of red vermouth and a dash of bitters.

Definitely recommended!! It comes in a beautiful teal coloured box as well so easy to wrap if you’re wanting to give it as a gift.

A friend of mine turned me on to this about 40 years ago, and it has been my drink of choice ever since, with ‘upgrades’ to 15, 18, 25, and 40 year old now in my home bar. One of my grandfathers used to drink Canadian Club exclusively, since he was Canadian.

One holiday season, I brought over a bottle of 12 YO as a gift. He was reluctant to try it, and we cajoled him to make the stretch. He took a sip, then another one. He looked at me, and with a wave of his hand said, “Smooth!”.

It became his drink of choice from that point.

Being drinking GLENLIVET SMS since my drinking legal age,this is my choice of Single malt for all occasions ,great variety,prices,quality standards and best never changing the original first impression taste.

I love must of all great single malts and never my little bar being without Glenlivet. My father gave my very first dram of single malt and it was a Glenlevit classic 12 years old bottle,back on June 1969 celebrating the landing of mankind on the moon.

Usually, I go into a grandiose introduction, and I give a history of the brand and background on the type of whisky. I’ll include some information, but today I’m exploring the best-selling Scotch whisky in the world: Johnnie Walker Red Label.

I want to skip the typical introduction because Red Label is the standard-bearer for bad Scotch if you listen to folks in social media groups. But, at the same time, it is the best-selling Scotch in the world.

While everyone’s palate is different, this is one of those things that you can’t have both ways. Either it is a terrible whisky, or it is drinkable. I would expect some back-peddling from the naysayers who will then suggest, Well, it is a mixer.

I’ll take that comment at face value because even Johnnie Walker’s website says, Made for Mixing. However, if you’ve followed me for some time, you’ll remember that I don’t do the mixer game.

Whisky has to stand on its own – good, bad, or ugly to rate on the Bottle, Bar, or Bust scale. And, for the record, there are perfectly drinkable made-for-mixing whiskies that require no accompaniments.

Let’s talk about Red Label. It is the entry-level Scotch under the Johnnie Walker brand and has been in production since 1909. It is a blend of 35 malt and grain whiskies sourced from various distilleries around Scotland.

It carries no age statement, and you can expect to pay about $22. 99 for a 750ml package. You can find this at pretty much every liquor, grocery, and convenience store – at least in the United States.

I’ve never had Red Label before. I snagged a 50ml for about $2. 99 at some random liquor store for the express purpose of a review. So, let’s #DrinkCurious and learn the truth about it. Appearance: Served neat in my Glencairn glass, Red Label was presented as golden, forming a medium-thin rim.

Fat, slow tears fell back into the pool. Nose: I smelled lemon zest, lime, and floral notes. The aroma was straightforward. When I drew the air into my mouth, there was no flavor I could identify, but it was decidedly dry.

I’ll say that’s something I’ve never experienced with a whisky. Palate: I didn’t expect the creamy texture; I figured it would be thin. There’s a lesson for you – expect nothing and keep an open mind.

Red Label had one of the most unusual palates I’ve experienced. The front was spicy and bold with freshly-cracked black pepper and cinnamon. Mid-palate offered flavors of pear, vanilla, and barley.

The back featured raisin, citrus, and mild oak. Finish: You might expect the finish to remain fruity. Instead, the spice from the front of the palate carried into the finish. Moreover, it was slightly smoky.

There was some citrus, but that was overwhelmed amongst the other flavors. The whole thing was long and lingering. Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Johnnie Walker Red Label is drinkable neat. Frankly, there’s nothing wrong with it.

It is a simple whisky that could work well in a cocktail with its spicy front and finish, and I’m not talking “and Coke. †Would I buy a 750ml for my whiskey library? No. For me, it lacks the depth and character I crave.

Would I refuse a pour from a friend? Also, no. Red Label earns a Bar rating; it is something that would work well for the Scotch curious but would likely bore the connoisseur. Cheers! My Simple, Easy to Understand Rating SystemBottle = Buy ItBar = Try ItBust = Leave It Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you do so responsibly.

Genuinely, don’t understand how this gets such high marks. When I drank this, it waylaid me with this absolutely invasive burnt rubber/plastic taste. Kept thinking I was licking tires off of asphalt.

I cant pick out anything else cause this flavor is just way too pervasive. Not only that, it left a lasting bitterness that really made it hard to go back for more. Since this was my first scotch, I had assumed it was just the profile of scotch, but I’ve since had Glenfiddich 12, which blasted away these assumptions.

I’ve had a scot tell me that Johnnie Walker (and blended scotch in general) isn’t what the locals drink, and to stick to single malts. Personally, I still have faith that a blended scotch could wow me and hit all the right buttons for me, but I absolutely won’t be looking for those in Johnnie Walker anymore.

I like the range of Johnny Walker whisky. It is an excellent libation in whatever colour iteration you Prefer. However, my comment is regarding its presentation. The new Red Label labelling is atrocious.

My first impression was that Waitrose had provided me with an imitation brand. It looks cheap and very unappealing; so much so that I cannot place it on the drinks cabinet for all to see, but inside where it can remain hidden.

It looks like a bottle of ‘pop’. If the next bottle I order is the same, I shall switch to anther brand.

So I’ve been taken onto a different path in my Whiskey Journey and it lead me to this conclusion (for now at least). Johnny Walker never pretends to be anything other than what it says on the label (or in the marketing).

It’s a drink for the masses and it has a following that is strongly based on this one true fact: Most people couldn’t care less. Hence the popularity of the brand. Red Label plays beautifully into that stereotype.

For the price, it isn’t bad. But as a product, it’s not that great either. Enjoy over ice or with some ginger ale as a mixer. I wont go any further than that.

This is all the proof you need to show that blended malts can be every bit as good as single malts (and in many cases – better). This is 100% 12 year old aged (as a minimum) and I’m a great fan of it.

Definitely a Whisky to be tasted for itself. Of course it will go well in cocktails but why add anything except maybe a drop of water or an ice cube. This is for Whisky lovers. The box design make it suitable as a present (always welcome here).

Chevas is not a “single malt” which gives the expert blenders their head to create. Recommended.

Nose: Banana ester, fruit bubble gum, dry hay, sweet vanilla with light toffee at the bottom Palate: Smoky in the front, then sweet like maple syrup, peppery spice with some mild heat Finish: The heat cools down very quickly with a modest burst of soft fruit richness.

Dry and apple lingers. Comment: Very well crafted blended whisky with nicely balanced layers. Judging by the color and experience, one can reckon some whisky with longer time staying on copper as the base of this blend.

But there is some delicate earthy surprise that may come from shorter fermentation camp. Overall this is a fragrant and fruity sweet whisky with depths. To be picky, I didn’t like the bubble gum aroma, but it’s still worth 5 stars given the price tag.

Anyone looking for a good but cheap scotch, blende or single malt, could start with this product. Will take this over JW Black Label (the most popular blended 12 Yrs scotch, arguably) any time of the day.

Great nose smell of vanilla and bubble gum, palate starts with light hint of smoke and peat that are quickly enveloped by floral and syrup sweetness as well as pleasant oak wood taste, finishes with some more fruitiness and dry.

The taste combines all elements of various production zones in Scotland, but does not have the bitter and tongue-burning “cracking of spices and black pepper” and “heavy smoke” that JW Black Label boasts about.

The taste could rival some single-malt scotch that are 2-3 times its price.

Let me preface this by saying that I do not have the kind of disposable income that spending $100+ on a bottle of whisky is a regular thing, more of an occasional treat. However, I have been privileged enough to have owned and/or sampled MANY higher end whiskies, bourbons, cognacs and other spirits.

The Glenlivet 18 can hold its own with anything in the $300 and under category, and I actually prefer it to the elder Glenlivet whiskies I have tried (21 & 25 year). To me, 18 year whiskies have the most complete balance of flavor and smoothness and in my opinion, this is the embodiment of single malt Speyside perfection.

Slightly viscous on the tongue, flavors of warm fruit, vanilla and spice complimented and balanced by just the right amount of dryness from the layers of oak. Here’s what sets it apart though. 5-10 seconds after going down the hatch, the finish is like pure, fresh honey straight off of the comb and lingers for minutes.

You can intensify and extend it by lightly breathing in with lips puckered like you are whistling, only in reverse (you’re welcome;)). Definitely in my top 3 whiskies.

Bold and brassy, but smooth, with a gentle, smoky nose. Each sip begins with the freshness of exotic fruits, and then lingers with undertones of Far Eastern spices. Very appropriate for a celebration, a gift, or to salute life, itself.

Enjoy with two jiggers and a teaspoon of room temperature water in a double old fashioned glass, or a large snifter.

This beautiful single malt 18 year old glenlivet scotch is smooth yet present. I am enjoying a good cigar And a nice cool evening it melts away all your stresses. She greets you with a warm malt and lingers like a sweet honey esense you didn’t expect.

She is also useful when filling your taxes. She give you a want embrace that reaffirms that everything will balance out regardless of the numbers.

An Oa was my first introduction to an Islay scotch many years ago. At the time, it felt like a blast of smoke, peat, oily mouthfeel, medicinal, campfire, and general “heaviness”. Later on as my experiences with Islays deepened, I stepped away from An Oa in favor of the Other core range Ardbeg, Laphroaig, Lagavulin etc… This is the first An Oa I have had in quite a while.

I absolutely LOVE it!!!!!! An Oa gets unfairly criticized for being too light and way outside the Ardbeg flavor profile. To a certain extent that is true. An Oa is very different from the rest of the core line.

That’s not a bad thing. The nose is an intoxicating array of salt, brine, sea spray, peat (subtle), PX sherry, and sweetness. The palate is rich, oily, sweet, smokey, dark chocolate, dried fruits, anise, subtle tobacco, and iodine.

The finish lasts FOREVER! This is where the peat comes back into play more prominently. All the notes of the palate linger on as well. An Oa is the perfect middle ground among all of the core range of Ardbeg.

I can taste the Corryvreckan notes, some of the Ten notes, and some of the Uigeadail notes as well. Yes, these are subtle hints of what the rest of the line brings. Very subtle but definitely there. Think of the An Oa as a “greatest hits” Ardbeg.

Still, it stands alone in that it’s very smooth and easy to sip. You still feel the 46% ABV but it’s so flavorful and dynamic. This scotch retails for $60. That’s a very fair price for what it offers.

I cannot recommend Ardbeg An Oa more fervently to ANYONE that enjoys Islay scotch.

Smell: A buttery brine, peat and smoke. And almost a toffee or butterscotch to it. Taste: Very much like the smell. Buttery, almost like a toffee, butterscotch, or vanilla in the mouth. Brine, peat and smoke on the way down.

Lingers with an intense peat smoke and brine. Some of my friends (that aren’t primarily whiskey drinkers) describe the taste as shoe polish or permanent marker. I am not necessarily a big fan of Islay scotches in general (if I was this might be close to a 5/5).

This one, I find a bit more complex and enjoyable than a Laphroiag 10 though (tasted back to back. ) Much like other Islays, I enjoy this when I need a break from other scotch flavor profiles such as fruit, vanilla, oak, spice, nut, and etc.

Great on the rocks with barbeque (yum!). A nice slap in the face neat. Mixed? Not the best for that. If buy this bottle, you need to enjoy intense peat, smoke, and brine flavors. Do NOT give this to someone new to whiskey nor scotches.

Do introduce this to someone that loves smoky scotches.

If you’re like me and most of your experience with Scotch is the mellower, fruitier Speysides & Highlands, or blended Scotches, you’re in for a very different experience. This whisky is a symphony of smoke and salinity.

The nose reminds me of new leather, and bacon cooked on a campfire, a really intense smoky and savory aroma. Palate is salty, briny, meaty, something bitter earthy, ashy, the smoke is present but not overpowering or unpleasant.

It perfectly complements the other flavors. Finish is quite dry and leathery. At 46% ABV it has body, depth, richness, but is still very smooth. I typically prefer sweet, dark fruity, sherried Scotch, but I have to say this is really good stuff, and absolutely worth trying if you’re open to enjoying the smokier style of Scotch whisky.

A stonking bargain at £20 bottle (Caution: can vary, up to £32). Matured exclusively in first-fill ex-bourbon American Oak. Auchentoshan say they select casks from both the top and bottom of their warehouse and marry them together to create American Oak.

Nose: Vanilla and raw barley. Notes are very similar to Irish blended whisky. Light brown sugar and freshly-cut hardwood. A slight overripe banana note underlies the rest and becomes more prominent as the dram rests.

An apparent oak character and a malty sweetness. Palate: Light bodied, but with a slight “simple syrup” texture. Melted vanilla ice cream, some oaky tannins, and mild toasted barley. Finish: Short. Slightly bitter.

With Water: I take mine with a splash and reduce the alcohol content to about 35% ABV. Overall: A value malt. The added oak character is well-executed. There is a banana note which some find pleasant (I do): some don’t.

£20is a very fair price for this light, straightforward unpeated malt.

Glasgow isn’t for visitors so much as for real Scots. I hoped that Auchentoshan, distilled in that area, would be equivalent. At the outset, let me say that I began exploring scotch many years ago with highland and speyside malts.

In the last 10 or 15 years I’ve developed a distinct preference for the peated Islay malts such as Ardbeg and Laphroaig. But I really want to have a favorite lowland, so I keep exploring. The nose is delightful and delicate.

Citrus (lime and orange) with a tad of toffee or liquorice and a hint of floral. It’s bright and consistent, not overpowering and I could sniff it all day! A lot of other reviewers–not on this site–have described the palette as bitter.

I would say that it’s more an issue of untamed alcohol–like drinking a blend that hasn’t aged enough and is too medicinal. Perhaps also the fact that it is dry–which I don’t mind at all. If whiskey were stereo music, I’d say that great whiskey has a thunderous bass note.

With the Auch 12 I get mostly midrange on the palette. There is a hint of ginger. I really don’t how this happens with 12 years of aging but it seems to me more like a very young whiskey. I’m going out on a limb here but I’m going to guess that, perhaps, the wood may have given all it had to previous batches.

It’s finished in oak and sherry. The finish fades to leave just the first impression–not at all bad but not memorable. The finish is drying. This is a good but not a great whiskey. It is priced correctly in the market.

The reviewer who says it competes with the great speyside 12s has a palette quite different from mine.

I don’t normally drink whisky but I had this come up as a free sample! So I thought it was rude not to try! It was actually the best whisky I have had the pleasure of trying! Definitely going to be purchasing a bottle in the future.

I may even try some others in the range!! Compared to other whiskeys this is by far the best and most definitely makes you want to enjoy more and more. I will recommend to my family and friends in the future! Go buy now! Don’t hesitate! Adam.

I’ve had belvenie, Glenlivet, and jonnie Walker. This is my first Islay. Smells of burnt plastic. Tastes like the smell of baindaids. I don’t get any oak or clove or ximinez/raisin sherry or campfire or anything pleasurable.

I’ve watched many whiskey reviews where they rave about ardbeg but I don’t see how anyone could enjoy this. The smell of permanent marker is better than this. I would only recommend this as a punishment drink for someone that loses a drinking game or maybe during a cruel game of truth or dare.

I’m not sure I can even find anyone to give this away to.

Walk to the garden section of your local home depot. Specifically by the garden hoses. Now place a campfire there. That is precisely what this whisky smells like. On the palate, It hits you immediately with an incredibly strong peat smoke flavor that will take a little getting used to.

But after swallowing, the intensity will quickly leave and you’ll be left with a mouth full of heavily salty and smokey barbecue. Is this whiskey good? As a fan of barbecue, campfires, and maybe even the garden section of home depot yes! I think this is fantastic! But if none of those are your thing you might want to stay away.

This was my answer to save a $125 plus. It’s pricey enough, but oh my!!! Yes I prefer single malt over blend. Blue was what got me into the expensive scotch. I used to hate the stuff. Oban 14 is every bit as good as JW blue.

For the price, way better imo. Again, it’s pricey and one day I will buy again. It’s easily one of the best scotches I have tried. If you don’t mind the price get it!!!! I am not going through what it tastes like and tasting notes.

Read other reviews for that. If you like scotch and especially single malt you will thank me!.

OK, so I have had some really good Scotch, Whiskeys and Bourbons in my life! And this Oban 14 yr, my friends has the best balance/flavors/finish. Absolutely lovely. Well crafted! This in my opinion has the best value for money, quality and drinkability.

Stunning beauty of a single malt Scotch! Grab it from Costco or Total Wines if you can!!! :).

Oban 14 has great depth and body. It is not overpowering, too smokey, or harsh. A perfect sipping scotch. It strikes a perfect balance. It holds its own. I have tried quite a few single malt varieties/brands and keep coming back to Oban 14.

Bought for my husband at Christmas. Wanted to get him a smokey, strong, memorable taste experience. Also, something beautiful to open, a special gift and enjoyable to drink. Great price while on offer.

Gorgeous box and bottle but of course its the contents that counts! Husband who is not an expert but no pleb when it comes to whiskey and other spirits is enjoying it next to a snoozing me on a lazy Boxing day afternoon.

watching the cads drink and read their paper in their London club while Fred Astaire taps away is ‘Top Hat’. Perfect! He is enjoying the warmth and smoky comforting taste. Spicy overtone and golden colour.

I had a taste. Flipping heck I’m awake now! Sparks in my mouth like a firecracker leaving smoke and brown sugar notes. Mmmmmm really enjoyable.

As Bob suggests, the first reviewer either somehow got a bad bottle or is on something. Talisker 18 is a must for a serious Scotch Whisky collection, and it’s a favorite of mine. It’s more poetic than a list of tasting notes–though the edge of peaty smoke, the sea salt, fruity undertones, and Talisker’s signature pepper (worn mild with enriching time) are all there.

But it’s the essence of the first warm morning in spring when the storms of winter have stopped breaking over the rocky seashore. It’s the rocks the waves can’t break, the crisp air that remembers the gale that saturated the wind with rain and sea salt but now has made peace with the sunlight.

It’s the old friend stepping off a boat. It doesn’t beg for your attention because it knows what it is. It waits for the wise and the intrepid to sit still and let it work its magic.

Talisker 18 has been my favorite 18-year-old single malt scotch, and this bottle did not disappoint. It has the perfect balance of Peat, maritime sea salt some pepper plus citrus flavors all working together in beautiful layers and then with a wonderful long finish that melts in your mouth.

I highly recommend the Talisker 18 and you won’t find a better price in the US for it.

For many years, maybe going back to the ‘Northwest Airlines’ era, Glenlivet was on the drinks trolly on flights from Boston to Amsterdam and back. Then, the exact time escapes me, 4-5 years ago, the Glenlivet disappeared from the flights now on Delta that acquired NWA in 2009.

The single malt onboard, the Macallan, is only available in Business Class. As a Million Miler, I request and usually get a dram or two. Still miss the Glenlivet. Thanks.

This is the Rolls-Royce, the gold standard, the benchmark of fine peated scotch. Even at $100, it’s underpriced. The peat is just strong enough to embolden this whiskey without masking or overshadowing the other flavors.

The scent of the peat, brine, and dusty malted barley sail you away to the shores of Scotland, followed by a darker, almost coffee tone. The taste starts with a combination of sweet prunes or raisins, immediately replaced by brine, peat, and medicinal notes of iodine and rubber bandage.

The finish then takes over for miles, fully-rounded with a fantastic dark chocolate and coffee. This lasts so long you can enjoy a couple ounces of this whiskey for an hour. Peated scotches aren’t typically my thing, but every whiskey aficionado should have one in their bar, and this is the one to have.

If you spot one on the shelf, don’t think about it, just buy it. You, and anyone who loves peated scotch, will be impressed, and if you’re so inclined to share it, be blown away. What an adventure.

This is an exceptionally balanced and lightly-nuanced, tasty Islay. It drinks expensive. It’s very approachable for a heavily peated malt. It embodies ALMOST everything great about Islay scotch – the sweet, incredible smooth, full-bodied profile, the rich oily mouthfeel, the charred meats and charred molasses, the heavy black Latakia tobacco and campfire smoke throughout – except for one notable detractor.

the proof. She’s a light and tender 86 proof, sadly. If only she were cask strength! After a bottle of an unabashed masher like the formidable cask-strength Ardbeg Uigeadail, then going to the gentle Lagavulin 16, you’ll wonder who the heck already melted two ice cubes in your scotch before you got there! I love the Laga 16, and she’s more quaffable and approachable than an Ardbeg or Laphroaig cask-strength offerings, the but I found myself wanting a bit more power and panache in the body of the thing.

Lagavulin, please bless us with a cask-strength offering of this fine, smokey nectar ASAP!!!! Somewhere in the 100 to 115 proof range, PLEASE. I’d LOVE to know what this fine concoction tastes like straight out of the keg, before she was cut down sadly with more than 30 percent tap water.

Still highly recommended if you love your peated scotches but don’t want them to own you or pummel you into submission.

I’ve never been a scotch drinker: I tried Dewar’s over 20 years ago, hated it, and never tried another one. It turns out the Dewar’s I tried was a lower end scotch. My boyfriend had Lagavulin 16yr and asked me to try it.

I thoroughly enjoyed it and drank so much of his that I bought him another bottle. Tips: Open the bottle and let it breathe, pour a small amount over one ice cube, sip a few drops at a time and feel it in your mouth.

There’s an incredible smokiness. This is a sipping scotch and should be drank neat. If you do mix it, try it with a little Gosling’s Ginger beer, tastes like an elixer.

I really enjoyed this whisky – it’s very smooth to drink and similar to other lowland whiskies. It’s very much an easy drink (certainly crowd pleaser) with no harsh after taste or burn. In terms of tasting notes, you can taste subtle notes of vanilla and caramel.

Personally, this is my 2nd favourite to the 12 year in the Auchentoshan range but this is a lot cheaper and for this saving, there is certainly no compromise on taste I received this as part of a free sample but will certainly purchase again and would recommend to others!.

I found this scotch to be true to the label. Not overly peat forward (something I’m not a huge fan of) and nuanced flavor profile. With 1 or two ice cubes, it becomes dangerously smooth and opens up to a different flavor profile.

I’ll certainly be buying some more in the future.

My family and I do tastings whenever we have family gatherings, comparing the subtle features of different distilleries from different regions has become a serious passion over the years. My father recently bought me a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue as a gift for a big promotion at work and I’m only partially joking when I say that it ruined all other Scotches for me.

This spirit is so complex and smooth that my 14, 15, and 18 year single malts and blends get shelved when this bottle is out because it makes them taste relatively simple and cheap. Blue Label has now found a permanent home in my cabinet, but because of the price tag it only graces our pallets on special occasions… This scotch is very well balanced with notes of vanilla, caramel, light hints of pepper and peet.

Food pairings are something I plan on exploring more in time, so far we have only tried a small selection of cheeses. The very fragrant Schlosskranz played up roasted caramel. Sharp white cheddar was rounded off bringing out a really rich creamy flavor from both cheese and scotch.

A lot of older reviews say the blend has changed, which I get what they don’t like about the new blend, their saying it feels like an entry level scotch with how mellow it is. I find the flavor to be very supple, and a blend of 27 whiskeys giving it a wide variety of flavor where I can’t taste one rising above the rest like the Smokey flavor of black label does, however it’s so much smoother than black label, which is my favorite scotch.

I bought a 200 ml bottle, tastes great, so I bought a 750. The box it comes in is so ugly and I’m going to prank my dad on his birthday by putting his present inside. The blue bottle itself looks kind of weird, even though brown and blue are opposite on the color wheel and therefore it should be the most visually appealing bottle, it reminds me of a toilet bowl of diarrhea with some toilet bowl cleaner in there.

I ironically like to drink this stuff out of a blue glass to stay on theme. It’s true that it’s artificially expensive by becoming intentionally rare, I don’t think 1/10K casks stand out so much that it’s the only one worthy of being in the blue blend.

With the one in 10K worthiness rating, it’s obvious they wanted to make a cheaper replica of sorts that’s more accessible to the general population in blends like Gold and Green. A lot of people who drink gold and green have also tried blue, many say they’re on par with eachother and it likely comes down to the 1/10K cask artificial rarity vs all the other casks that were equally as delicious but didn’t make the narrow cut, probably got turned into gold and Green.

I love black and it tastes like a totally different product, I love both of these, but the research tells me, I’d you like this blue label, Green and Gold are worthy maidens who won’t slurp the money out your wallet.

I occasionally buy this bottle because I like to have an “alternative” mild smoky scotch in my collection that is perfect when I want to drink something with a good balance, “conversational” without missing quality and complexity.

I have to say that I always had a good experience considering what I was expecting, thanks to the equilibrium between the smokiness, fruitiness, and creaminess that this spirit was delivering. I was appreciating the complex and dynamic changes from tropical fruity notes at the beginning, progressively going toward more darker tones at mid palate.

Even if the experience was ending with a short finish, the spirit was always leaving with the desire to drink more from the bottle, witch was a winner point. On the other hands, I feel this new bottle ( remarkably increased in price), delivers a very different experience toward a cheaper and unsophisticated direction.

The aroma at the nose it is still wonderful and it is probably the only positive side of it, and even if bottled at 40% abv it taste bolder and heavier than the previous bottles I owned, but again not in a positive way as I will explain.

This new bottling of JW blue tastes remarkably oily and mono-dimensional, missing the dynamic changes I remember from the beginning to the end, living you with an overall “cheap and flat/boring” taste starting in a way and not developing.

it doesn’t taste bad, but it is really boring. It almost looks like they added too much grain whisky (inexpensive ) maybe to create more creaminess and to save money, completely overriding the magic rollercoaster experience of dynamic complexity provided by the old blends used that I remember.

The overall result it still remains pleasant, but it doesn’t keep your interest alive enough to ask for more, and especially doesn’t justify this price point. For me it is absolutely a no. I would rather buy for half of the price a great single malt blend like Mackinlay’s rare old or stick to the way cheaper Johnnie walker green for about 1/4 of the price, with a splash of water in the glass to open up the flavor and smoothen up the experience.

i always try to compare within the price range and not even within 12 year single malts. and even there it falls a bit short. it’s not bad. it’s just not good either. it’s thinner than i usually like and the flavors that are there are not overly impressive.

compass box artist blend is $3 more expensive and while it’s a blended scotch it’s way better. for $10 more you can get a highland park 12. what this scotch reminds me of is ballantines finest. which is a $17 blended scotch with a large grain content.

this is better than ballantines but it’s eerily similar. they say this is a huge component of dewars blends but i will say this. dewars 12 at $22 is much much better.

This scotch is certainly not for the experienced. However, it is decent for the price. It has the typical 12 yr aged front of the mouth taste, but on the back end (after swallowing) has more of a bourbon taste.

Again, for the price, it’s decent. But, for a couple bucks extra, you could get something more on-the-money. Glenfiddich, and their higher-priced comparator, Macallan offer more typical single-malt experiences.

At $37 or so how can anyone ding this Scotch? It out punches its weight class with every pour. Like these Aberfeldy Cats know what they are doing. If we could ever get the rest of the brand in stock I would step up to sample their heavy hitters.

Seriously, if you want a really lovely little Scotch thats like putting on your favorite slippers by the fire, this one is that and then some. For a GREAT PRICE for what it is too boot.

Subdued sherried Scotch held back by low ABV This Speyside Scotch whiskey is a bit of a rarity: a solera-blended single malt. The solera process is traditionally used with aged rum to combine differently aged expressions of the same rum to consistently match the flavor (and production cost) desired by the distillery.

In this case, the solera process seems to be used to combine Glenfiddich single malts of the same age, but aged in different types of wooden barrels: ex-sherry, ex-bourbon, and new oak. The result is a smooth Scotch with just a little more than a hint of sherry sweetness and that rosy sherried color.

This would be a great second step for someone on their Scotch journey: the next frontier after you’ve gotten comfortable with the entry-level Glenfiddich, Glenmorangie, and so on. However, more experienced scotch aficionados will find something wanting in the thin mouthfeel and relatively shallow flavor profile.

This is a whiskey that would have benefitted from being bottled at around 45 ABV, instead of the 40 that we end up with. Nevertheless, a worthy purchase, or gift, for a budding Scotch drinker.

Today I have the pleasure of sharing my review of 15 year Glenfidditch Single Malt Scotch (Solara Reserve). Having recently reviewed 12 year Glenfidditch Single Malt Scotch, I thought to myself. I’m not going to be able to discern such a subtle difference in the same type of Scotch from the same distiller.

So I set myself up with a blind taste test using two identical glasses with a tag on the bottom and shuffled them around. To my COMPLETE surprise, I identified the 15 year Solara 3 out of 3 times. Since the Solara Reserve is a bit more Amber-ish in color, I didn’t look either.

The taste is extremely close and almost indistinguishable, except for the mild difference in rich-ness, and a very faint sherry-like taste in the background. It can be served neat or on the rocks a bit better than the 12.

I was very excited to be in this campaign since I really enjoy good whiskey! Glenfiddich 15 Year Old Solera Single Malt had been around on the shelf of liquor store for as long as I remember but I usually would get the 12 year old bottle, so it was interesting to gab the 15, a little more mature and little more expensive sister.

I love the the box the bottle came in and the rich golden amber color but it is really about the liquor itself. I like whisky neat so i feel like i really get pure and true taste. I find Glendfiddich to be smooth and velvety and therefore very approachable to serve neat.

Personally, I thought it performed well in Old Fashion but was slightly too gentle for other coctails and with additions of mixers.