5 Affordable Whiskies 2022
You can pay a little or a lot for whisky. There are cheap, $40 blends that are really just for mixing, or there are aged, rare and specialty whiskies for hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.
Although many of the costly whiskies may be worth the money, there are also some very drinkable, affordable drams for under $75. I’m going to take you through five of my favourite bang-for-buck whiskies that won’t break the bank.
The Glenlivet Founders Reserve
Starting with a classic Scotch, this distillery is in the Speyside region of Scotland and was first licenced in 1824. It has been a mainstay of the single malt whisky industry ever since. It has a long history that I’ll probably do a video on at some point.
The Founders Reserve is a no age statement whisky aged in a combination of traditional oak casks and American first fill casks.
Appearance: Pale gold
Nose: Citrus fruit and sweet orange
Palate: Zesty fruit, toffee apples, creamy sweetness
Finish: Long and sweet
I like having this on hand because it is a good example of a Scottish single malt, very easy drinking, especially for someone not used to whisky, and it’s not bad on ice in summer.
You can pick this up from Dan Murphy’s for $73, but if you keep your eye out it’s often on special. I picked this up for under $60.
Bushmills 10yo
I wanted to give you an Irish option, and again we’re going traditional with Bushmills. Officially licenced 1608, they are literally the longest-running distillery in the world, and still making a good tipple.
The ten year old single malt is aged in a combination of Oloroso sherry casks and American bourbon barrels.
Appearance: Light gold
Nose: Honey, fruit and vanilla
Palate: Apple tart, white chocolate, malted barley and honey
Finish: Creamy sweetness
You can pick this up from Dan Murphy’s for $71, they usually have it in stock at all stores, and again, keep your eye out for discounted pricing.
Glen Moray Port Cask Finish
Heading back to Scotland, I have another Speyside whisky, this time from Glen Moray. This distillery is known for having an affordable selection and they definitely punch above their price point.
While you can easily enjoy their classic single malt, sherry cask and even 12 year old for under $70, I have the Classic Port Cask Finish here. It has been primarily aged in American Oak barrels and then finished for 8 months in port pipes.
Appearance: Rose gold from the port
Nose: Toasted vanilla, light oak and rich dried nuts
Palate: Spice and citrus lemon tang. Caramelised sweetness with cinnamon
Finish: Mellow wine and toasted oak flavours, smooth and balanced
I do love a port aged whisky so I like having this around as a starting point. There are some really good ones out there, but you do have to pay higher prices.
You can pick this up from Dan Murphy’s for $58. For a pretty well-balanced port aged single malt, that is a great price
Monkey Shoulder
I wanted to throw a blend in the mix, and Monkey Shoulder is a great one to work with. While some of your more budget blends won’t really have any distinct flavours because they’re a combination of several other whiskies, the original Monkey Shoulder is made with only three single malts, from Glenfiddich, Balvenie and Kininvie. I may not be pronouncing that right.
The result is a blend that was made for mixing in cocktails, but is still pretty easy drinking neat or on the rocks.
Appearance: Golden
Nose: Orange, vanilla, honey, oak and a bit of sherry
Palate: Sweet nut, citrus, mint, orange peel and vanilla flavours, cooking spices
Finish: A little short
I love having this on hand because you can drink it neat, but you don’t feel guilty mixing it in a cocktail.
Dan Murphy’s has this for $64.
Starward Twofold
I didn’t want to finish this list without showing you an Australian whisky. I love supporting the Australian whisky industry, but the price point of locally-made whiskies can make that difficult.
Starward is an Australian distillery in Melbourne that has some award-winning, limited edition single malts, but they also maintain a permanently available, affordable whisky: the Starward Twofold. This is a double grain whisky, made with malted barley and Australian wheat, and aged in a combination of Australian wine barrels that have held shiraz, cabernet and pinot noir.
Appearance: Gold to rose gold due to a hint of red
Nose: Red berries and buttery vanilla spice
Palate: Combination of caramel and tropical fruit
Finish: Long, dry finish with fading sweetness
I keep this on the shelf because it’s an approachable Aussie dram you can afford to keep on hand, and while you can drink it neat, like the monkey shoulder, you don’t feel guilty throwing it in a cocktail.
You’ll always find it in Dan Murphy’s, retailing at $75.
That’s my pick for a selection of bang-for-buck whiskies. They may not be what you’re going to break out for a celebration, but they’re all affordable enough to keep on hand, and enjoyable to be your go to, everyday dram.