There is some good whisky bottled below 46% but there isn't any great whisky! And when there is so much great whisky at 46% and above why would you bother with anything below? Maybe 43% at a push but nothing lower than that!
Thanks for adding your opinion to the comments! My spending habits are largely in tune with yours Adrian. It certainly takes a bit of extra convincing for me to buy a bottle under 46% but there are some worthy ones, not for the very best experience money can buy, but perhaps to experience a distillery that doesn't get released often as an Independent. Scapa 16 Year at 40% or Oban 14 Year at 43%. That sort of thing. Still, I'm far more likely to buy when it's at 46% or higher, much like you. Cheers Adrian 🥃
Great suggestion Ted! Old Pulteney would have made my top 10 easily if it had only been Scotch. It is a great dram and value. Russell's 10 has eluded me so far but I'm really wanting to try it soon! Thanks for suggesting those ones! Cheers 🥃
Those are some big hitter whiskies Rikard! I'll get to try the Bowmore 25 year tonight if I get off from work on time. Good to hear it's a great one! Cheers 🥃
Hi Matt. Very interesting video. Not many whiskytubers addresses this topic. Good list and i agree with you 100%. And like you for me point is: good whisky is a good whisky doesnt matter factors it has. Like you( i guess?) And many of us whisky lovers i started with cheap low abv supermarket shelves stuff and i enjoyed them because my palate was not trained . But after years sipping higher abv and many CS whiskies my palate developed and changed so most of 40% whiskies are too flat and watery for me. There are some exeptions i still like or have sentiment to them. My favourite lower than 46% are: Benromach 10&15 at 43%, Laphroaig 10 at 40% (uk), Old Pulteney 40%, AnCnoc 12 at 40%, HP 10%12 both at 40% and Edradour 10. Still like Laga 16. Im my opinion there should be two categories: 40% and 43%. Both egsist in big numbers of expressions and for me both are two different worlds. Im Scotch sucker so dont drink much other stuff but from time to time i try others when price is good but mostly looking for higher abv. I like Rye as well and at the moment enjoying 45% Sazerac. Its good stuff. Slainte 👍😁🥂🙋🏻♂️
I love this thoughtful response. Your sentiments are ringing as very familiar to me. Your suggestions are exceptional here. They all would have likely been on an expanded list, the world whiskies took up some room and I straight up forgot about Edradour 10, as that whisky along with Benromach inspired the list to begin with. Great whiskies. I think their might be a 2nd video at some point covering additions to the list through suggestions. From a fellow Scotch Sucker Thanks for the great comment. Cheers Peatbull 🥃
I have literally hundreds of bottles to choose from (although it is not straightforward separating those where the cask strength has dropped that low from those diluted, I think the latter come to at least 250 of 284 under 46%) and I have almost as many between 46% and 49.9% (if I were to include 50% that would cover 70% of my bottles). I do have some high proof whiskies (up to 69.7%), but I rarely find any correlation between strength and flavour, which a lot of 'enthusiasts' insist upon... I think back to my university days when visits to Indian restaurants often had macho challenges of "my tindaloo is hotter than your phal!" and am therefore wary of 'proof for proof's sake' in whisky. I've tried at least 3 that qualified as 'hazmat' and none of them had any redeeming features, no matter how much water I added (whereas the 69.7% ECBP was fine as poured only 0.4% lower than its unpleasant sibling). Sorry, I didn't mean for this rant to go on so long... and I was agreeing with you!
Rants are great Andrew, regardless of agreement! Honestly, your comments on a previous video inspired me to do this video as I agreed that we need a little check and balance every once and awhile to the constant "I don't buy anything under 46%" talk. I wanted to include bottles like Scapa 16 but felt there wasn't a point if they were unattainable. Those are some incredibly impressive bottle stats, what a collection. I've never found that I particularly enjoy Hazmat bottlings and usually find 47.5%-52% to be my preferred strength, whisky dependent of course. Cheers Andrew 🥃
Thanks Munzinc! I am so upset I forgot to include Edradour 10! It was one of the whiskies(along with Benromach) that got me thinking about this topic! Here we get the 40% version. Such a good suggestion! Thanks for that! Cheers 🥃
Hi Matt, very good video. But i dont agree with your list 100%. ... My favorites under 46% are: Laphroaig 10Y, Caol Ila 12Y, Talisker Port Ruighe (DE 2022, 10Y too), Oban Little Bay (14Y too), GlenDronach 12, Lagavulin 16Y too but the price :(
Hi Marcin! I'm actually thrilled that you don't agree. Under 46% is a category I explore less and less based on my own biases so I'm happy to get push back because I can learn about other whiskies from it. I nearly did include Laphroaig 10(43% version) as well as GlenDronach 12 but with only 6 options for Scotch it was very crowded. The Talisker DE is my favourite of the DE's so that's a great recommendation too. I'm thinking I might put together a second video highlighting people's recommendations as there have been some fantastic ones. Thanks again for the comment! Cheers 🥃
I know people will disagree but Laphroaig 10….. my guilty pleasure…. A bottle a year. Prefer it to the Quarter Cask simply because the juice is so much better than the QC. Of course the 10 cask strength is really where it’s at but i still like the weak 10. For the flask or on vanilla ice cream 😂 Another great 40% for me is Ancnoc 12 ❤
Ancnoc 12 is a really great shout for a list like this kiwigor! It as well as Old Pulteney 12 and Edradour 10 were hard not to place on the list. I'm actually with you and enjoy the standard Laphroaig 10 as well, though we get it at 43% in Canada which I think helps. But I didn't replace it simply because of the number of Cairdeas and 10CS bottles I had at home. Cheers 🥃
Hey Humphrey! Oh man, it has been a while since I had a non cask strength Finlaggan, I'll have to circle back to that one. Also have never had Tyrconell! Thanks for these suggestions! Cheers 🥃
I didn't include Benromach 10 because I already had the Benromach 15 at #1. However it feels like a big miss not to have the Ancnoc 12 on here. with the other regions represented it left only 6 spots for Scotch, but Ancnoc 12 certainly is good enough to get a mention. Thanks for these suggestions! Also, anytime you comment I get the "where in the world is Carmen San Diego" song stuck in my head haha. Cheers Carlos 🥃
What a great idea! I was wondering what your number one would be and Benromach just didn't occur to me. Shows you that we do ignore the core range but hell yeah it's a great dram!
Thanks man! It seems like we are all so in love with the Benromach cask strength editions that we forget about the core range. I can be so dismissive of whiskies below 46% that this video and the suggestions in the comments are a good reminder of some of the great bottles. I'll be trying the Benromach 21 soon but the 10 and 15 are top notch. Cheers Sertug 🥃
Going to throw my favourite sub-46% whisky out there with Balvenie 14 Year Old Caribbean Cask. Not at today's prices mind you. I was browsing emails and found one from August of 2021 - bought it for $80CAD a bottle back then. Ridiculous what it is now (-.-)
Sounds like I missed out on this one. I've come close to buying it in the past but rum finishes have never really grabbed me, even the recent SMWS "Trinidadian" Ardmore. They have worked well with Rye in the past for me though. Either way I'd buy it at $80 for sure. $150-$200CAD is another laughable price though. Cheers Hex 🥃
Man! You just opened the pandora's box of whisky dilema. I love scotch, so leaving the other guys aside, my palate and wallet can be more tolerant to lower ABVs... geez where to start. I just made a comment in the last vPub in regards adding an ABV category to represent the best from 40-43, 46-50 and cask strength ones. I understand Roy's point no to extend the current categories, putting now these type of extra topic to the other good quality whiskytubers. So happy you had this ready! Again, pandora's box because there is a lot of snobbery, nonsense repetition from other whiskytubers and even hate, not just frustration, but direct hate against the big guys and I get it. Who wouldn't love to have a lovely dram of Oban 14 at the same 46% of a Clynelish, but sadly they have their commercial reasons and yes obscene one like bumping the prices of their old stock... ugh yeah frustrating. Nonetheless, there are good options from the 40 or 43 bottles, not better/excellent as another comment said though... I wish whiskytubers can help the ones with a lower budget to guide us to those good peaty, floral, sweet and why not, even complex bottles with videos like this one. Thanks Mat, and maybe there are more bottles to cover for a part 2 😁
Pandora's box, engage! Haha. I'm really glad to see this comment. This was kinda the gap I was seeing and certainly the balance I wanted to bring because I am that guy constantly bemoaning the under 46%, yada yada. Needed to attempt to balance that with some added perspective. I am considering a part 2 covering peoples recommendations because I missed so many I would have loved to include! For instance Edradour 10, Old Pulteney 12 and GlenDronach 12. Thanks again for the feedback! Cheers whsk0 🥃
You come by your love of Eagle Rare earnestly then being from Kentucky! ER10 is very much my go to anytime Bourbon. It's a great whisky that even a Scotch and Canadian focused whisky lover like myself can easily appreciate. Cheers Kyle 🥃
Matt these are terrific choices and I think this was a wonderful idea! I enjoy lovely whiskies that are distilled at a lower ABV than I might normally reach for! I do love single malts that are 46% ABV and above but there are many that are great that come in under this percentage. Yoichi is so enjoyable. I love my Hibiki 21 yo Oh do I ever?!!) but I enjoy it sparingly given the cost. A dram of Yoichi is always lovely. I would happily have any of these expressions and they are all on my bar! I'm thrilled that you chose Two Brewers. I do really like supporting Canadian whiskies if I can and particularly single malts. I have had each of these 3 expressions shown and I love them all. I admit the peated is my favourite! The Oban 14 is a terrific choice! I absolutely adore the Lagavulin 16!! Lagavulin 16 is actually a massive sentimental favourite and this delicious single malt introduced me to scotch and peated whisky and the journey has been spectacular ever since a friend offered me a dram! He was right on with the choice! Lag 16 brings immense pleasure and especially while kicking back and just wanting some nice quiet time to reflect after a long day. Lag 16 enhances that! It's absolutely my fave single malt that is a lower ABV!! 🙂I just bought the Talisker 10 Distiller's Edition today! I haven't tried it or the Talisker 10. I am looking forward to them both. The Benromach 15 is great! You really put together a great list! I have to add in that the Hakushu 12 year old at 43% ABV is a whisky that I really enjoy! I know it's difficult to get hold of. Cheers!
Thanks Christine, glad you enjoyed the topic! You have Hibiki 21!!! What an absolute treat that must be. Good call with the Hakushu 12! I have only had the NAS Hakushu but it showed promise. Despite alot of complaining I think Lagavulin 16 holds a place in many peoples hearts as a fundamental Islay Single Malt in their journey. I'm excited for you to try that Talisker DE, it's my favourite of the DE releases. I gotta catch up to you on my Two Brewers releases, I'm falling behind haha. Cheers Christine 🥃
Not whisky heresy, but shooting yourself in the foot. Benromach is small distillery. If it gets too much attention, it could well go the way of Springbank. So, I take some time to explain to folks that Benromach's core selection is weak and lacks integrity, its recent rebranding really sux, and its products are likely infested with faeries from Findhorn. I'm hoping that'll scare off enough to keep Benromach products available and reasonably priced for the hoi polloi like me. I'd appreciate it if reviewers would get on the bus....
Faeries from Findhorn sounds like a future Ardbeg special release so maybe not the way to keep people from buying it but point made! 😂 I do hope it doesn't go the same way in the future like Springbank does now. I kinda expected Edradour to go that way as well but I think pricing is keeping people from fully embracing them. Cheers Kelly.
@@whiskyonthewestcoast We'll, I personally tend to think that it is the faeries who are responsible for the superb flavor profiles, I actually like the rebranding, and I think the 43% ABV keeps a lot of overly righteous whisky nerds away from their core offerings. And Ardbeg? You do know that Findhorn is just a couple of clicks down the road from the Benromach distillery, while Ardbeg is across the entire country and far, far away from Findhorn?
I'm a fan of the rebranding too, it's clean and clear and I like the colour scheme matching the smoke stack and distillery. Very familiar with how far away Ardbeg is from Benroamch(and in turn, Findhorn) as I visited Islay this summer. It was more of a cheeky dig at Ardbeg's marketing like their latest "The Harpies Tale." And while Harpies aren't Faeries I consider them mythologically adjacent lol.
@@whiskyonthewestcoast Hey, I just caught your trailer of your shipment from Alba. Keep that up!! Keep pushing the Ardnamurchan. Divert attention away from the work of the faeries. 8^D}
Really good topic to talk about. Currently loving a bottle of Glentauchers 25 year old that was bottled at 40% ABV. Great mouthfeel, and concentrated fruits in the palate and jasmine flower in the very long finish.
Thanks Whisky Journey! Fruity and floral 25 year old sounds great to me! I currently only have Independently bottled Glentauchers so I'll have to take a closer look at their Official bottlings! Cheers 🥃
@@whiskyjourney175 No worries! I'm not surprised to hear it's a great bottle at all as Thompson Brothers seem to be killing it with awesome bottlings. Nice one to have on the shelf 👍
Unfortunately...this list could be a lot longer. Great choices though. I do personally prefer 46%, non chill, natural colour, etc and while many distillers are moving in that direction, especially new / craft style distilleries there are many great whiskies on the market that are sub 46%. Lots listed in the comments but my addition would Mortlach 16.
So much longer! It started as a top 5 and then my list became 30 Scotch whiskies. I think I'm going to put together a video highlighting peoples suggestions as a follow up because from Edradour to Old Pulteney 12 and Mortlach 16 it was ridiculous to only include 6 Single Malt Scotch Whiskies. I reviewed the Mortlach 16 and enjoyed it enough to happily still have a bottle on my shelf. It seems to be the sweet spot in their range. Great suggestion coach! Cheers 🥃
I like couple of those bottles on your under 46% list Matt. Some distilleries and some of their releases seem to offer their best pitch at a lower proof. My analogy on this is like when you are young and just learned to drive and you buy a beater car, as you goto work, gain more knowledge about cars, you save up some money and buy a better maybe faster car. There is always demand for lower proofed whiskies. If you throw in Macallan's in the mix, you have some extremely high priced whiskies that are not ideally proofed for many but that's just the way it is. Enjoy what you like whatever the proof of the whisk(e)y is, it is yours to savor. Cheers!
I'd agree that some distilleries seem to put their best casks into the proofed down core range, maybe a putting your best foot forward sort of thing. I'd certainly rather they be a little less enthusiastic with the water haha. I think your analogy is an apt one and works well in this instance. Macallan is a great representative of one of these distilleries, sadly as I'm sure we'd all love to see it given a bit more respect. But you hit the nail on the head for why I did this video, people enjoy the whisky they enjoy regardless of proof. I had to give a bit of love to those who enjoy lower proof as I'm so obviously biased the other way. Cheer Rohit, hope you're well 🥃
Thanks Sheldon! I have a sample of Glengoyne 12 I really need to revisit soon to remind me how good it is. And the Miyagikyo is such a pretty whisky, it certainly deserves mention. Great suggestions for additions! Thanks for all of the support, I really do appreciate it. Cheers 🥃
And you are right to do so Andrew! I tried not to talk about pricing in this video because I never shut up about it, but Oban 14, Talisker 10 and Lagavulin 16 are all priced horrendously in my market, hence why I didn't have those bottles in person. I think those are decent whiskies, and yet I refuse to pay $180 for Lagavulin 16 or $130 for Talisker 10. They can stuff them. I've purchased one Diageo product this year and it was a Jazz Festival bottling of Lagavulin at the distillery. Probably won't pick up another. Cheers Andrew 🥃
First of all, for some reason, some scotch whiskies that are presented at 40% ABV around the world, are coming at 43% in North America. A few examples that come to mind: Laphroaig 10, Highland Park 12, Ancnoc 12, all Macallans. And that’s great!😊 And every one of them would make a good candidate for your list. However, for the last year or so I’ve been really enjoying the Arran Barrel Reserve. Comes at 43%ABV, it’s natural colored and, probably most importantly, it’s an Arran! It’s an absolutely delicious whisky!
Hey MrMBBM! Yeah the same happens in Canada too! We get Laphroaig 10, HP 12, Glenmo 10, and others at 43% which goes a long way toward helping them shine. Now the Arran Barrel Reserve is something that I haven't tried because for most of the last 2 years I could get Arran 10 for the same price of just under $50 CAD. Arran 10 seems to be selling a bit higher so this might be the time for me to try out that Barrel Reserve. Thanks for the great suggestion! Cheers 🥃
Starward Left-Field Australian single malt at 40% really surprised me. Great whisky for the price! Also enjoy Oban DE at 43% 👌 Oban always an old favourite.
Really interesting to hear the suggestion for Starward! I haven't had much australian Single Malt so I neglected to include them but that is an awesome suggestion! The whiskies we get from Oban are really solid. I think it would be a more popular distillery in Canada if the 14 year wasn't $150+. Cheers eh! 🥃
It is more about chill filtering than the ABV. I have seen a few NCF under 46% ABV. Water it down for increase profit but please don't chill filter. Must admit that I do enjoy the RB, Hibiki, Nikka, Eagle Rare, Tamdhu, and Talisker 10. Not buying Laga 16 anymore!
I've actually been able to try chill-filtered versus NCF versions of otherwise identical whiskies twice: both times I preferred the chill-filtered one...
@@DileepB Not exactly: they were 2 Aberlours and 2 Bunnahabhains, but not at the distilleries themselves (I know people who know people, but I'm not sure how much I would be allowed to divulge...).
@DileepB I'm with you on the chill filtering part. It seems reasonable to believe that removing oils or lipids from the whisky would change the texture or flavour. Can I prove this with empirical data? No, so we'll all probably having this discussion 10 years from now but my sense is that it makes a difference, and not a positive one. I'm also on your wavelength regarding Lagavulin/Diageo pricing but I took this video off of complaining about price, figured people might be tired of my complaining about it haha. Always good to hear from you. Cheers 🥃
@andrewbutler That is a really unique opportunity you got to do side by side comparisons of the same whisky pre and post CF. Really runs counter to the prevailing zeitgeist. I'd love to see some enterprising company attempt a large scale experiment on this. However you came into the whisky it is very cool to hear your experience with them. Cheers Andrew 🥃
@@whiskyonthewestcoast I do like OP12, but it has no integrity whatsoever. Step up to their 15. It is NOT good to see Benromach at "number 1'. Number 1 is a crappy place to be in the whisky world. Just look at Springbank or Pappy van Winkle. Please don't wish your curse on my favorite whisky.
Nothing wrong with this topic. I enjoy a few on your list. One bottle that I keep on my shelf, more as a lure to those who haven't had much experience with Scotch, is the Glenmo 10. Fruity, gentle and unlike the peaty bottles that many unfamiliar with Scotch think that all expressions taste like. At 43% it isn't challenging or complex, but works.
GlenMo 10 at 43% is probably the go to intro to Scotch bottle over Glenfiddich and Glenlivet. It was that for me over 15 years ago. I do find it a tad boring these days but really it isn't for me, I'm not its intended audience. Very interesting suggestion. Like Peatbull I don't think I'd enjoy it as much reduced a further 3%. Thanks for the comment! Happy Trails, Cheers 🥃
