Great to see that list and lists are a personal thing. M y top 10 under £50 Talisker 10 - A real go to dram of mine over many years and often discounted to £30 a bottle. Benromach 10 - This is a very tasty whisky with an old time style. Love that dirty sherry note. Port Charlotte PC10 - The best quality/value age statement on Islay (for me). Ardbeg 10 - Has to be on the list. A classic but more expensive than PC10 and lower abv. Springbank 10 - A lovely whisky with a benchmark Campbelltown profile. Kilkerran 12 - Talking of benchmark Campbelltown style. As enjoyable as the Springbank. Bunnahabhain 12 - Often discounted below £40 and a classic non peated Islay. The Ileach - Mystery cask strength Islay NAS. (Is it really Lagavulin?) Good stuff. Glencadam 13 - Delightful finesse. A lovely stone fruit whisky and under the radar. Craigellachie 13 - Some similarities to the Glencadam but a far oiler mouth feel. A very personal list prone to changes and all 46% abv and above apart from the Benromach (43%). Quite difficult to pick just ten because there are many good ones off my list. The Bunnahabhain is the only one with any meaningful sherry. There are so many honourable mentions (special mention to Kilchoman but didn't want to become an Islay fanboy like you) that it makes me realise that we are in quite a good place. These are very good whiskies and it really makes me question some of the absurd prices we pay for stuff that is not that much better. In fact I'm loving my list and I truly believe that these whiskies have a quintessential 'whisky profile - mature enough to avoid feints and young enough to have some punchy tale to tell.
Like many others I will stump for Bunnahabain 12, insane complexity for how young and relatively affordable it is ($50 in Chicago, USA). Frosting, violets, roses, honey mustard, orchard fruits, white and milk chocolate, wax, months after opening it I was still finding new nuanced flavors in it. So much going on in such a balanced way.
Whisk(e)y loving folks, I present to you the quintessential, no-brainer reviewer on RU-vid. I know he was held hostage for a while on Islay, but that's not a bad place to be held hostage!
I consider it a huge compliment to own (and love) 7/10 from your list! A little surprised the Bunnahabhain 12 didn't make it on there, I think that will be the whisky I would suggest everyone to keep in their bar, absolutely delicious dram! The Laphroaig 10, Caol Ila 12, Ardbeg 10 and Talisker 10 are wonderful introductions to the big Islay names! Kilchoman Machir Bay and Port Charlotte 10 (Bruichladdich), I find a little similar save for the added complexity and heft of the PC10. I remember that Machir Bay being one of the 1st Islay drams I tried because it was on sale; boy did I enjoy that one - barbeque buffet! Super glad to finally see you making these top lists, hoping for many many more to come!! P.S. - Now the quest to find the Arran Bothy CS begins :)
Thanks for the suggestions. Talisker 10 is absolutely amazing with food. Maybe because it's both sweet and salty so it pairs well with a lot of different food
Great list, would personally remove the Caol Ila 12 & Balvenie 12 Double Wood. Add one of the following Ledaig 10, Bunnahabhain 12, Clynish 14 or Edradour 10.
No matter how big my collection grows and how many high end whiskys I have and try, I always have a sweet spot for the classics. The entry level whiskys that made me get into whisky always have to be stocked in my bar not just because of nostalgia but because they are also great casual sippers. Great video!!!
I love the lists, I have all ten of these, though some never opened yet. I was building my bar based on catagories, with the intention of doing head to head comparisons for myself. Last year I went looking for young Cask strengths like the Bothy, then I went for sherry bombs, then highland peat and then 18 year olds. Islay is always there as a standard thing on the shopping list. Anything new. This weekend I'm working on A'Bunadh and Tamdhu CS. These 2 are driving me crazy because they are almost identical.
Agree with some of them🤔...but I think I would take Glenallachie 12yo instead of Balvenie 12yo..... Bunnahabhain 12yo instead of Laphroaig 10yo...Kilkerran 12 instead of Talisker 10yo...and Deanston 12 instead of Kilchoman Machir Bay....just a personal opinion. But it would be quite nice to try your list🥂 cheers
Great list and all whiskies I’d recommend. In the case of the Bothy, NAS yes however Arran has stated that the Bothy is aged 7 years exbourbon + 2 in 1/4 casks. Now why they couldn’t just stick a 9 on it I don’t know, but at least it’s something to go by.
Brilliant list and shows so many great drama under £50. Especially the brilliant PC10 which punches well above the cost. About 5% of my whisky herd was more than £50 and you can really find great bargains if you hunt hard enough, cheers.
Hey man, I just wanted to say that I really enjoyed the video and have added it to my whisky playlist, so that I can refer back to it when buying a new whisky.
Great list! Even though any mention of Laphroaig 10 @ 40% does (and will probably always) grind my gears :-) Crime against humanity.... Am I right in thinking that bottle has been on your shelf for a while? I think new ones now say "ONE OF the most richly flavoured of all Scotch whiskies" I think your other 40% picks are great though. OP12 and Glendronach 12 in particular have flavour profiles that I think do surprisingly well at low strength. Great value. And all of your peaty picks are superb. Cheers!
for all the islays on the list you left out bunnahabhain 12? no campbeltown? a must have for me is clynelish 14. in the end a list of all classics are classics for a reason, cheers!
Nice list. Just saw that they are now selling 2 versions of the Glendronach 12 in my online store. The original non chilled filtered for €45 and the new version for €34. This is in Holland.
Long time lover of whisky, recently found your channel. So far I'm impressed with not just your knowlage, but also production quality and pleasant and relaxed way you talk. I loathe whisky snobism. Yes, there is a lot to learn but there is no need to make whisky an "upper class" nerd fest or even worst, something people collect but don't drink. Looking at the background I feel like you need to make a video about your whisky collection. Best wishes from finland, have you tried any finnish whisky? Slainte! PS. PC10 is such a hidden treasure for sure!
Hope you’re having a great Sunday. Mine is shaping up to be spectacular. Why? Cuz my man is dropping the absolute quintessential cheap expensive must have on the bar need to get scotch list. No brainer. Naturally. 🥃 Solid list. Got all but the Arran, so in its place I would put the Classic Laddie… why leave Islay? 😀
Nice list. But no Bunnahabhain 12? To me its the quintessential value whisky. 46%, 12 year age statement, no chill filtration, and no artificial color.
All of these Whiskys are very good for the price! Very good list👌 But: Talisker is no longer the only distillery on Skye. You forgot Torabhaig, the second Distillery on the island. 😉
Yes , there are still good age stated whiskies out there at good prices ,basically great list (haven’t had the bothy though)and an enjoyable video. Nice one and Slàinte
Fantastic video. Thanks for putting in the time to research prices. Next year I’m focusing on trying more scotch but… will be more selective when I spend my cash. This list gave me some great options. Cheers brother 🥃
I would have one of those on my list, although I don't really like peaty whisky and typically avoid things bottled at 40%. No Bunnahabhain 12, Bruichladdich The Classic Laddie, Glencadam 10 or Deanston 12? I'd probably recommend the Arran 10 over the QC too.
A great list, even if it is peat-heavy. Your pricing was spot on for a couple, while the rest tended to be just above your limit in my area (which I attribute to idiosnycratic stocking and pricing policies of the state regulatory agency) and the Arran Bothy QC came in just under $100 US.
There are no whiskey better than glen garioch 12 yo around the world... I don't think that you had it before, it's simply full of everything Price around 45€
Not hot 🔥 on the Balvenie or Glendronach (new bottling admittedly), would consider a Glen Scotia bottling, Springbank 10, Bunna 12, Arran 10 instead of Bothy, Glenallachie 12, Ardnamurchan bottling, Strathmill F&F 12, the list goes on. It’s a piece of string isn’t it 😆😆
I stay away from the big brands as they are poor experience at 40 abv.Most of the expressions are chill filtered and coloured. I would choose ledaig 10 as my smoky whisky.
Lately, I have had absolutely great Port Charlotte 10 yo bottles. If you are Islay fan, take a look Port Charlotte. I have had it with Ardbeg and Laphroaig standard bottless, higher production volume, lower quality. So simple and sad.
You're absolutely right. PCs are killing it right now. And it's thanks to Adam Hannet (the new master distiller) who is doing some seriously good work.
Yeah, your US prices are all about $15 lower than our prices here. That's a year down the line and I'm from a former blue law state. Although beer and wine are sold in food markets, spirits are controlled and sold in state liquor stores only. The state commission determines what is sold, for how much, where in the state. Recently, a commissioner stepped down in the wake of a Pappy Van Winkle scandal. Who knows, maybe they're diverting all the Springbank into elite hands, too?