Best Single Malt for Under $50 US

[Miandi]

Recently, I was able to purchase a bottle of Highland Park 18 on sale for $60 US. I've typically seen the bottle priced at $80 US.

Until I win the lottery I will need to spend my money wisely when purchasing single malts.

That said, what is the best value that I can get without spending more that $60 US? For those not in the US, let's limit the values to 50 euros, 35 pounds, or $70 CAN.

Thanks

[Choochoo]

Many malts float a little above or a little below the $50 range. Those in the list below should just about always be below $50 (often below $40 as well), and are bottles I enjoy and find to be high quality.

Laphroaig 10yo
Glenfarclas 12yo
Dalmore 12yo
Bunnahabhain 12yo
Aberlour 10yo

[Jan]

I do not know the pricelevels at your side of the pond, but some good malts that are reasonable priced here (and I presume also in the US, but I could wrong), are:

Ardbeg 10
Balvenie 12yo "Doublewood"
Laphroaig 10
Laphroaig Quarter Cask
Glenmorangie 10yo (the standard bottling)
Highland Park 12yo
Scapa 14yo

All of the above I feel are good value for money.

Cheers
Jan

[Miandi]

I've gotten the following at reasonable prices, Clynelish 14yr for $37, Glenmorangie Portwood for $32, Cragganmore 12yr for $34, and the Balvenie 12yr Doublewood for $34.

The Laphroig 10yr is readily available for $30. That's one of the best values that I've seen for the price.

I don't want to limit my purchases to $30-$40 and get something mediocre when for a little bit more I can get something that's really good.

[Mr Ellen]

These are all (in my opinion) very good whiskies and also very good value for money. These bottles always stand in my cabinet and I always replace them when finishing a bottle.
I don't know the prices overseas but shown prices are approx. prices in the U.K.

Aberlour A'Bunadh - £32.00
Ardbeg Ten - £29.00
Balvenie 15y. - £39.00
Benriach 16y. - £32.00
Benriach Curiositas - £25.00
Bruichladdich 10y. - £25.00
Clynelish 14y. - £28.00
Cragganmore 12y. - £26.00
Glenfarclas 105 - £36.00
Glengoyne 17y. - £38.00
Highland Park 12y. - £26.00
Lagavulin 16y. - £37.00
Lagavulin Distillers Edition - £42.00
Laphroaig 10y - £22.00
Laphroaig Quarter Cask OB - £25.00
Scapa 14y. - £26.00
Strathisla 12y. - £22.00
Talisker 10y. - £29.00
Talisker 18y. - £37.00

Of course, several others could be mentioned. Good luck with whatever you choose...

Cheers
___________________
Anders

[DramMeister]

Recently, I was able to purchase a bottle of Highland Park 18 on sale for $60 US. I've typically seen the bottle priced at $80 US.

Until I win the lottery I will need to spend my money wisely when purchasing single malts.

That said, what is the best value that I can get without spending more that $60 US? For those not in the US, let's limit the values to 50 euros, 35 pounds, or $70 CAN.

Thanks

I'm sorry but I did pick up a HP 18 in a french supermarket for £35 (about $50). How much is the plane fare?

[Aidan]

I'd say Black Bowmore, if you can get it for under $60.

[Virginia Gentleman]

This is what I usually pay for malts in Washington, DC:

Aberlour 10 $33.99
Ardbeg 10 $38.99
Cragganmore 12 $36.99
Glen Garioch 15 $39.99
Glenmorangie 10 $36.99
Macallan 12 $38.99
Talisker 10 $44.99

[Lord_Pfaffin]

Everyone has forgotten one of the best bargains for a most underrated whisky, the Dalwhinnie 15yo. The Longmorn 15 also falls into this category.

[Di Blasi]

Are you limiting yourself to single malt Scotch?? There are lots of really good whiskies/bourbons out there worth a try for under 50$
Jim Beam Rye, about 14.99$
Black Bottle 10y blended Scotch, under 50$
Bulleit Bourbon, around 20$
Knob Creek, Maker's Mark 20-30$
At those prices, you should be able to experiment and taste some new things if you're not already familiar with them.

Each mood has a whisky! Enjoy tasting!

[Miandi]

Thanks to All.

I've been reading this forum since the beginning of the year and have generated a list of single malts to acquire. I've added a few new suggestions to the list and will look for them as I build up my stock.

Also, Di Blasi, you've been reading my mind!

I have been looking at some other whiskies and bourbons to try. I bought some minis this evening. I recently tried a Jameson 12yr because it was on sale, and it was a great value for the price. I've added Bush's Black based on some of the recommendations from this forum.

I'll let you all know what think of the minis when I'm done with them.

[Di Blasi]

Hey Miandi! Glad to hear!
I started out drinking Ardbeg Ten, and because I fell in love with it and the style, the Islay characteristics, I was afraid to venture out. But when I began tasting more whisky, it became even more exciting! There's a lot out there, and affordable, have fun!

[Deactivated Member]

Ben Nevis 10, without any hesitation.

[Deactivated Member]

You've gotten some good suggestions here--the point is, there is no "best" at any one price point. The fun of this is the amazing variety to be had. I'd say you can't go wrong with what has been suggested here, but even if you hit on something that isn't to your taste, don't be discouraged--put it aside and try something else, and come back to that later. If possible, don't buy one bottle at a time, finish it, and then buy another; try to build up a "library", even if it's only three or four bottles, so you can see how different things taste in different situations. Have at least a peaty Islay (Ardbeg, Laphroaig), a sherried Speysider (Macallan, Aberlour) and another good Speysider or Highlander or two (Balvenie, Glenmorangie, Clynelish). When you start to think that you don't have nearly enough bottles, you'll be in deep trouble, like the rest of us!

[Deactivated Member]

Am really glad to see somebody threw some American whiskeys in there. I attended that other whisky magazine's WhiskyFest in Chicago last week and enjoyed several very fine single malts -- none of which I can afford to buy. I have an accumulation of about 8-10 Scotches which I enjoy periodically, all under $50 -- Highland Park 12yo, The Dalmore 12, Glen Moray 12, et al.
But you have to really splurge to find a bourbon, for example, ABOVE $50. I have more than 125 different American whiskeys, and I suspect not more than a dozen topped that mark.
Now, go ahead -- make all the references you want about 'cheap' bourbon. I'll just chuckle, shake my head, and have another.