We Requested 17 Bartenders: What’s the Finest Scotch Beneath $50?

An costly bottle of Scotch tends to reach with an incredible story that justifies its price ticket. It might be 25-plus years previous. It might be uncommon or extremely allotted. It might have distinctive or unorthodox origins, like a mothballed distillery resurrecting and releasing 40-plus-year-old expressions.

Whereas it might be simple to due to this fact assume these dear gems outline the class, there are scores of fantastic Scotches priced beneath $50 to get pleasure from. They carry neither essentially the most distinctive tales nor exorbitant value tags. What they do possess is the power to carry happiness, whether or not it’s a fruit-forward type from Speyside or a cool, peaty beast from Islay. More often than not, that’s all that’s wanted.

What are a number of the greatest beneath $50 Scotch in the marketplace available nowadays? We requested 17 bartenders to search out out. Hopefully, their solutions will flip you towards one thing new or validate the sentiments you have already got for a private favourite.

The Finest Scotch Beneath $50, In keeping with Bartenders:

• Maclean’s Nostril Blended Scotch Whisky
• Ardbeg Wee Beastie
• Monkey Shoulder
• BenRiach The Authentic Ten
• Glenmorangie 10
• Glendronach 12
• Loch Lomond 12
• Smokehead Authentic Islay Whisky
• Aberfeldy 12
• Johnnie Walker Black Label
• Dewar’s 12
• Tomatin 12
• Jura 12

“Maclean’s Nostril Blended Scotch Whisky. By no means flip your nostril up at blended Scotch! This whisky affords a balanced and sophisticated taste profile with notes of recent and dried citrus peel, bonfire, and honeyed stone fruits, alongside hints of spice, hay, and iodine. With a 70 % malt content material, together with each peated and unpeated Ardnamurchan malts blended with Lowland grain whiskies, I don’t know of one other whisky in the marketplace with a greater bang in your buck. Seize a bottle of Maclean’s Nostril and uncover your new favourite reasonably priced, peated Scotch!” —Stuart Weaver, associate/basic supervisor, Woman Jane, Denver

“Ardbeg Wee Beastie is younger, daring, and filled with character. At simply 5 years previous and 94.8 proof, it delivers way over anticipated: resinous pine smoke, barbecued meat, cracked pepper, a contact of honey and sherry, and a vivid kiss of citrus. It’s fiery but surprisingly nuanced, punching effectively above its value level. This Islay expression is a standout and a everlasting fixture on my bar cart.” —Lance Bowman, bar supervisor, UMMO, Chicago

“Monkey Shoulder. It’s clean, slightly smoky, and doesn’t attempt too laborious — merely a strong, reliable pour. After an extended evening within the kitchen, I need one thing easygoing that also has taste and depth. This hits that mark each time — it’s additionally nice in a cocktail or straight up.” —Mike Lopez, director of meals & beverage/government chef, Elm Avenue Cask & Kitchen, Dallas

“The Scotch whisky I’d suggest for beneath $50 is the BenRiach The Authentic Ten. It’s from one of many oldest distilleries in Speyside, Scotland, and being a single malt, it’s one of the best bang in your buck in contrast to what’s obtainable available in the market. It’s matured in three oak barrels, and the flavour profile of orchard fruits, honey, and vanilla is right for each rookies and whisky aficionados.” —Lance Razon, director of meals & beverage, Beacon Grand, San Francisco

“Glenmorangie 10 Yr is a ravishing instance of a single malt that’s each accessible and sophisticated. It’s aged in ex-bourbon casks, which lend it gentle vanilla and honey notes, and there’s a fragile floral elevate that jogs my memory of heather fields within the Highlands. It’s elegant with out being showy.” —Mark Bystrom, supervisor, Salon Salon, New Orleans

“A typical of mine is GlenDronach 12. This solely PX and oloroso sherry bomb has all the time lifted means above its weight class, usually in comparison with the higher-priced premium marks obtainable. The flavour profile is strictly what you’re on the lookout for in a sherry end: deep fruits, darkish goodies, and spice. Approachable for these seeking to discover Scotch, and deep sufficient for these already deep of their appreciation.” —Sean Fitzmaurice, proprietor, Reserve 101, Houston

“Monkey Shoulder is a intelligent mix of Speyside single malts — [originally] Glenfiddich, The Balvenie, and Kininvie — and crafted with cocktails in thoughts, nevertheless it’s simply as pleasing by itself. At roughly $35 to $40, it’s a steal. Silky and creamy on the palate, with vivid orchard fruit, heat vanilla, and a contact of toasted oak. The end provides a mild spice and malty heat, making it equally at residence in a Rob Roy or Previous Customary. For a whisky that balances drinkability, mixability, and worth, Monkey Shoulder is tough to beat within the under-$50 class.” —Brittany McCarthy, nationwide beverage supervisor, Paradies Lagardère, Atlanta

“Loch Lomond 12 has change into each a reliable sipper and a flexible workhorse in cocktails for me. It opens with a gentle, silky mouthfeel and a fragile contact of smoke that shortly offers option to vivid notes of orange peel and stone fruit. Mid-palate, warming spices like cinnamon and clove emerge, main right into a end layered with brown sugar and delicate oak. There’s a mild funk and fruitiness all through that units it aside from extra conventional Highland malts, making it a wonderful alternative for these seeking to discover one thing off the crushed path, with out straying too far or spending an excessive amount of.” —Manny Lopez, bar lead, The Picket Pearl, Anaheim, Calif.

“The Ardbeg model is a cult favourite amongst Islay whisky fans, so when Ardbeg launched their eagerly anticipated Wee Beastie at a extra pleasant entry-level value level than their different iconic expressions, the spirits world rejoiced. Younger by Ardbeg requirements (therefore the “Wee”), this 5-year-old sees a while in oloroso sherry casks, however nonetheless maintains its brutish and smoky profile (therefore the “Beastie”). Complicated sufficient for informal sipping, and also you don’t really feel unhealthy mixing it into cocktails — the Bobby Burns cocktail is especially intriguing.” —Keith Christian Waldbauer, bar director, The Physician’s Workplace, Seattle

“Smokehead Authentic Islay Whisky. Smokehead is a brand new label produced at an unnamed Islay distillery, though there are lots of theories on the market as to who produces it. It’s a contemporary, in-your-face type, with notes of smoke, peat, caramel, honey, and seaweed. It may be loved within the conventional method (neat, with one half mineral water to 6 components Scotch), however I additionally prefer it as a Mule, with two components ginger beer to at least one half Scotch and a lime wedge garnish.” —Rob Van Leer, beverage director, Vino Venue, Dunwoody, Ga.

“We’re large followers of Aberfeldy 12-Yr-Previous at Seaworthy. It’s one of the approachable single malts beneath $50; superbly balanced with notes of honey, stone fruit, and a mild wisp of smoke. It drinks clean sufficient for rookies, however has sufficient depth to impress a seasoned Scotch drinker. We like it neat, in a basic Scotch highball, and even as the bottom for a extra artistic cocktail. It’s a hidden gem that delivers top-shelf high quality with out the top-shelf value.” —Joseph Allen, assistant basic supervisor, Seaworthy, New Orleans

“Johnnie Walker Black 12 yr. Probably the most ardent of whisky aficionados is perhaps clutching their pearls on the suggestion of a blended Scotch, however Mr. Walker has by no means carried out me improper. It’s accessible to a broad spectrum of drinkers. Inoffensive to novices, its rounded flavors and low burn hit all of the notes with out scaring off timid tasters. Extra skilled drinkers will recognize the vary of soppy honey and vanilla taking part in in tandem with the espresso and Islay smokiness. It delivers every thing you need from a Scotch when combined in a cocktail, however nonetheless has the chops to face by itself served neat. I like to think about Johnnie Walker Black as a biggest hits album for whisky. It could not have all of your favourite songs, however you’ll recognize what’s there and can nonetheless be singing alongside.” —Mark Miller, meals and beverage director, The Industrialist Resort, Pittsburgh

“Glenmorangie 10. This is without doubt one of the extra textbook Scotches in the marketplace. It comes with a lightweight, floral, honey palate and it’s a smidge on the sweeter aspect. Glenmorangie is a implausible golden shade, and, in my view, is the least intimidating Scotch on the market — particularly for individuals who are attempting to get into Scotch. It’s a nice starter into the rabbit gap that’s the Scotch world.” —Riley Hurst, bar supervisor, The Loutrel, Charleston

“Dewar’s 12 is an iconic blended whisky. Delicate, complicated, fruity, with a contact of dank smokiness, it hits all the correct locations for a 12-plus-year whisky beneath $50. And you may normally discover it for beneath $30!” —McLain Hedges, co-owner, Yacht Membership, Denver

“Monkey Shoulder. It’s a staple on our again bar and has been my go-to for years. It’s clean, approachable, and made for mixing in cocktails, nevertheless it’s additionally an incredible sipper. We love displaying friends that Scotch will be enjoyable, versatile, and far more approachable than most individuals assume, and Monkey Shoulder is an effective way to start out that dialog. We’ve discovered it really works greatest in each basic cocktails and fashionable classics like a Penicillin.” —Lu Lopez, bar director, Nocturno, Las Vegas

“I prefer to drink Scotch neat, and my go-to within the under-$50 class is Tomatin 12. This Highland single malt whisky is straightforward to drink with predominant notes of honey and plum, however earthy and subtly smoky. At first, your palate may establish it as a bourbon moderately than a Scotch, however as you retain sipping, the delicate smoke returns.” —Jairo Pastrana, meals & beverage supervisor, Sheraton Houston Brookhollow Resort, Houston

“I’ve to go together with Jura 12, as a result of the story behind it makes it unforgettable for me. It’s distilled on the distant island of Jura, simply off the Scottish coast. The island is residence to twenty,000 wild deer and solely 2,000 folks, most of whom are devoted to crafting this unimaginable spirit. Each sip appears like a style of that wild, windswept island.” —Jorgie Ramos, chef/proprietor, Cebada Rooftop, Coral Gables, Fla.