Best Scotches

Aberlour 12

Region

Speyside

Cost

$

Best Scotch for those New to Scotch:

“For someone who wants to add a bit of sweetness.”

- Highland Stillhouse, Kaleb Coleus, Bar Manager

Best Scotch for the Money:

“Right now Dalmore 12, Aberlour 12, Bowmore 12, and Laphroaig 10 are very good value.”

- Duke of Perth, Colin Cameron, Owner

“Lagavulin 16yr, Aberlour 12yr, and Ardbeg 10yr are all very commonly requested scotches and are definitely a bang for your buck!”

- Nicholson’s, Caden Doyle, Assistant General Manager

Aberlour Casg Annamh

Region

Speyside

Cost

$

Best Scotch for the Money:

“Fragrant nose, beautifully balanced, long finish, and is quite dangerous as I can never seem to put it down! It's not a bottom shelf whisky, but it's not going to break the bank either. This is the best bottle under $70 I've ever had.”

- Valkyrie, Stewart Ellis, General Manager

Ardbeg Distillery

Region

Islay

Best Scotch for those who love Peat:

“For peat you can never go wrong with Laphroaig or any of the Ardbeg and Talisker lineup.”

- The Gladly, Kurtis Williams, Beverage Director

“My favorite distillery is Ardbeg and I could talk about everything they do any day of the week. ”

- Valkyrie, Stewart Ellis, General Manager

Ardbeg 10

Region

Islay

Cost

$

Best Scotch for those New to Scotch:

“For someone who wants some peat and smoke.”

- Highland Stillhouse, Kaleb Coleus, Bar Manager

Best Scotch for the Money:

“If you want to get cheaper, you can never go wrong with Ardbeg 10 year for around ~$60 a bottle.”

- Highland Stillhouse, Kaleb Coleus, Bar Manager

“Lagavulin 16yr, Aberlour 12yr, and Ardbeg 10yr are all very commonly requested scotches and are definitely a bang for your buck!”

- Nicholson’s, Caden Doyle, Assistant General Manager

The Balvenie Distillery

Region

Speyside

Best Scotch for those New to Scotch:

“We have had good luck introducing people through sherry cask malts; The Balvenie is an excellent place to start the journey.”

- Duke of Perth, Colin Cameron, Owner

“For someone that is new to Scotch we would recommend anything from... The Balvenie.”

- Bull & Bush Brewery, Erik Peterson, Minister of Progress

The Balvenie Doublewood 12

Region

Speyside

Cost

$

Best Scotch for those New to Scotch:

“Beginners to seasoned Scotch fans, all appreciate this single malt.”

- Two Fools Tavern, Russell Reid, General Manager

The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14

Region

Speyside

Cost

$

Best Scotch for those New to Scotch:

“Balvenie 14 Caribbean Cask for beginners to the whiskey category.”

- Doyle's Public House, Russ Heaton, Owner

“Those with a sweet tooth might enjoy a rum cask finished Speyside. Balvenie 14 for those who will always order creme brulee.”

- Lucky Day Whiskey Bar, Frank Moynihan, General Manager

Bowmore 12

Region

Islay

Cost

$

Best Scotch for those New to Scotch:

“The process of scotch making creates a wide variety of flavors but people enjoy their tastes. Barbecue lovers might be drawn to an element of peat... Bowmore 12 for the barbecue lovers. ”

- Lucky Day Whiskey Bar, Frank Moynihan, General Manager

Best Scotch for the Money:

“Right now Dalmore 12, Aberlour 12, Bowmore 12, and Laphroaig 10 are very good value.”

- Duke of Perth, Colin Cameron, Owner

Bruichladdich Distillery

Region

Islay

Best Scotch for those who love Peat:

“If you want to find something new and exciting, I always love showing people the Bruichladdich lineup.”

- The Gladly, Kurtis Williams, Beverage Director

Bruichladdich Octomore

Region

Islay

Cost

$$

Best Scotch for those who love Peat:

“Octomore for sure, but that's on the extreme side.”

- Barrel Proof

Craigellachie 13

Region

Speyside

Cost

$

Best Scotch for those New to Scotch:

“For people new to scotch coming from whiskey.”

- Doyle's Public House, Russ Heaton, Owner

The Dalmore 12

Region

Highlands

Cost

$

Best Scotch for the Money:

“Right now Dalmore 12, Aberlour 12, Bowmore 12, and Laphroaig 10 are very good value.”

- Duke of Perth, Colin Cameron, Owner

The Dalmore King Alexander III

Region

Highlands

Cost

$$

Best Scotch for the Money:

“Now the Dalmore King Alexander III, is not cheap whisky at about $250 a bottle but knocks the socks off whiskies that are 2x or more cost.”

- Two Fools Tavern, Russell Reid, General Manager

The GlenDronach 12

Region

Highlands

Cost

$

Best Scotch for those who love Sherry Cask:

“A sherry cask that I have open on my own shelves is the GlenDronach 12 which is absolutely delightful.”

- Highland Stillhouse, Kaleb Coleus, Bar Manager

The GlenDronach 15

Region

Highlands

Cost

$

Best Scotch for those who love Sherry Cask:

“The GlenDronach 15 is a lovely whiskey many are not familiar with”

- Doyle's Public House, Russ Heaton, Owner

Glenfarclas Distillery

Region

Speyside

Best Scotch for the Money:

“It's definitely beating a dead horse, but the dollar-for-dollar winner of the value game is Glenfarclas.”

- The Brandy Library, Liam Thibeault

“Right now I love the whole Glenfarclas line. I think they have a great product for the price!”

- The Gladly, Kurtis Williams, Beverage Director

Best Scotch for those who love Sherry Cask:

“I generally recommend Glenfarclas for the Sherry cask lover”

- Opal Divine's Austin Grill, Michael Parker, Owner

Glenfiddich 15

Region

Speyside

Cost

$

Best Scotch for those New to Scotch:

“For people new to scotch coming from whiskey Glenfiddich 15.”

- Doyle's Public House, Russ Heaton, Owner

The Glenlivet 18

Region

Speyside

Cost

$$

Best Scotch for the Money:

“Dollar for dollar the Glenlivet 18 is hard to beat.”

- The MacMillan Whiskey Room

Glenmorangie Distillery

Region

Highlands

Best Scotch for those New to Scotch:

“For someone that is new to Scotch we would recommend anything from Glenmorangie.”

- Bull & Bush Brewery, Erik Peterson, Minister of Progress

Glenmorangie Lasanta

Region

Highlands

Cost

$

Best Scotch for those who love Sherry Cask:

“Glenmorangie Lasanta which is finished aging in sherry wine casks.”

- Nicholson’s, Caden Doyle, Assistant General Manager

Glenmorangie Nectar D'Or

Region

Highlands

Cost

$

Best Scotch for those New to Scotch:

“We recommend the Glenmorangie Nectar D'Or, a smooth scotch finished in a sauternes cask for a little sweetness, at a good price.”

- The MacMillan Whiskey Room

“Glenmorangie Nectar D'Or for beginners to the whiskey category.”

- Doyle's Public House, Russ Heaton, Owner

“For the new drinkers out there, start with something approachable. Glenmorangie Nectar D'Or is my go to for introducing people to scotch. The sauternes cask finish on this whisky provides a soft, fruity, semi-herbal and quite complex experience that any palate can appreciate!”

- Valkyrie, Stewart Ellis, General Manager

Glenmorangie 10

Region

Highlands

Cost

$

Best Scotch for those New to Scotch:

“For someone who wants simple and pleasant.”

- Highland Stillhouse, Kaleb Coleus, Bar Manager

Glen Moray Sherry Cask Finish

Region

Speyside

Cost

$

Best Scotch for the Money:

“The best value for the money is the Glen Moray Sherry Cask.”

- Bull & Bush Brewery, Erik Peterson, Minister of Progress

Highland Park 12

Region

Islands

Cost

$

Best Scotch for those New to Scotch:

“Most bourbon drinkers will find something to like in it. As the “Greatest all rounder” it has good Highland flavors of heather, citrus and honey and it also has a bit of “sea spray” and a hint of peat smoke.”

- Opal Divine's Austin Grill, Michael Parker, Owner

Jura Distillery

Region

Islands

Best Scotch for the Money:

“Jura is very affordable compared to other single malts, and is a good representation of the diverse flavor profiles in Scotland.”

- Barrel Proof

Kilchoman Distillery

Region

Islay

Best Scotch for those who love Peat:

“If you are looking for something a little more under the radar, Kilchoman is a family owned distillery on a farm in the northwest region of Islay. They have a great lineup that is readily available and they also have special cask finishes that you don't want to miss out on.”

- Valkyrie, Stewart Ellis, General Manager

Lagavulin Distillery 16

Region

Islay

Best Scotch for the Money:

“Lagavulin 16yr, Aberlour 12yr, and Ardbeg 10yr are all very commonly requested scotches and are definitely a bang for your buck!”

- Nicholson’s, Caden Doyle, Assistant General Manager

Laphroaig Distillery

Region

Islay

Best Scotch for those New to Scotch:

“The Lagavulins and Laphroaigs we have are good suggestions for classics for people that are new to Scottish single malt.”

- Barrel Proof

Best Scotch for those who love Peat:

“For peat you can never go wrong with Laphroaig or any of the Ardbeg and Talisker lineup[s].”

- The Gladly, Kurtis Williams, Beverage Director

Laphroaig 10

Region

Islay

Cost

$

Best Scotch for the Money:

“Right now Dalmore 12, Aberlour 12, Bowmore 12, and Laphroaig 10 are very good value.”

- Duke of Perth, Colin Cameron, Owner

Best Scotch for those who love Peat:

“Easy answer Laphroaig 10 year, this is our highest volume single malt.”

- Two Fools Tavern, Russell Reid, General Manager

Talisker Distillery

Region

Islands

Best Scotch for those who love Peat:

“For peat you can never go wrong with Laphroaig or any of the Ardbeg and Talisker lineup[s].”

- The Gladly, Kurtis Williams, Beverage Director