The Best Cheap Whiskey from Every Region in the World

We recently did a piece on the best under-$30 bourbons to drink, but we stopped and realized that perhaps you all would be interested in exploring the concept of “cheap” whiskeys from elsewhere in the world; regions and styles that maybe wouldn’t have enough options to warrant an entire article, but could be aggregated together. Knowing which bottles punch way above their price ranges is important, not just for finding quality whiskey when options are limited but when it comes to building up your home bar.

Most, if not all, of these options can satisfy the palate when both drinking neat and mixing into cocktails — and we implore you to do both! So, without further ado, we present to you the best cheap whiskeys from every major region around the world (with a couple of surprise bonus picks as well).

Knob Creek 9 Year Small Batch

Best Cheap Bourbon: When Jim Beam’s Knob Creek debuted in 1992, few ever thought that it would or could be considered an “affordable” bourbon. But some 30 years later and now the entry-level small batch icon still gives people a taste of the high life for a much lower price than the competition — and with an impressive profile in its own right. This 9 Year expression is such a reliable choice when you’re entertaining guests but won’t be wasted on your enemies either. At 100 proof, the Kentucky whiskey stands out perfectly in mixed drinks but sits perfectly well in your main decanter too.

Old Forester Rye 100

Best Cheap American Rye: Cheap rye whiskey is no novel concept, but it doesn’t mean we don’t love to see it, especially when it’s as good as Old Forester’s flagship 100-proof option. This straight rye is a remarkable choice regardless of the price tag, and a favorite across the board when it comes to mixing an old fashioned cocktail for its higher ABV and prominent cinnamon and clove notes. The expression also features a relatively high 20% malted barley count in the mashbill, imparting floral and fruity flavors for an overall balanced and easy-to-sip whiskey.

Alberta Premium Rye Dark Batch

Best Cheap Canadian Whisky: Canadian whiskey is one of the more intriguing categories for its relatively laxed standards. From the number-one rye producer in North America, Alberta Premium’s Rye Dark Batch is the case in point. While a lot of its contemporaries are being finished in wine barrels, this expression puts actual wine into the whiskey itself for a totally unique tasting experience with notes of stone fruit, vanilla, and baking spice pinging around on your tongue. Of course, the distillery doesn’t use too much wine — just 1% of the liquid is sherry, with 91% rye and 8% bourbon rounding out the blend. 

The Sexton 

Best Cheap Irish Whiskey: Irish whiskey might be the only regional category where you can have your pick of single malt expressions on a budget, likely due to the lack of reputation of a spirit that was all but extinct at one point not 50 years ago. The tides are turning, however, and whiskey from Ireland — the nation that basically invented the stuff — is finally starting to find its place in the sun. For now, we get to enjoy sub-$30 single malts such as The Sexton, a fairly new distillery with one sole expression that’s been aged four years in ex-Oloroso sherry casks.

Suntory Toki

Best Cheap Japanese Whisky: If we’re being honest, it’s extremely difficult to find cheap Japanese whisky. The past decade has seen such an awareness of the spirit that it’s now extremely beloved — and yet still much more difficult to obtain here in the States compared to its European counterparts. Suntory’s Toki is about as affordable as you can get, high-quality or otherwise. Don’t let the “blended” label fool you; this whisky is masterfully crafted. It combines American and Spanish oak-aged single malts from the beloved Yamazaki distillery with single malt from Hakushu and grain whisky from Chita. The result strikes a perfect balance of malt and grain in a way most inferior blended batches can accomplish.

Monkey Shoulder

Best Cheap Blended Malt Scotch: Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Monkey Shoulder has grown to become a mainstay for any bar. The brand was an advocate for mixing Scotch into cocktails during the nascent days of the current cocktail renaissance — at a time when many considered “toying” with Scotch a big no-no. A marriage of three different Speyside single malts, this whisky is a blended malt (not to be confused with a standard blended which uses some grain whisky as well) that features marvelous notes of apricot, honey, and butterscotch. Not to mention, the price tag almost undermines that this is among the best blended malts around, full stop.

The Glenlivet 12

Best Cheap Single Malt Scotch: Now, it might be difficult to fathom, but there are actually some good Scotch whiskies that can be obtained for around $30. And while we had to go a few dollars over our soft ceiling, no one should balk at spending the extra money for something as fantastic as the Glenlivet’s 12 Year — you’d be compromising spending even $20 for a single malt. As versatile as any Scotch can be, this Speyside legend spends over a decade in a combination of American and European oak casks. It can be sipped neat or used in a rusty nail — and you can find it at nearly any bar, liquor store, or airport around the world.

Starward Two-Fold Whisky

Best Cheap Australian Whisky: It’s easy to get caught up with the “Big Five regions” of the whisk(e)y world, but when it comes to the lesser-known regions, Australia continues to impress. One of the most prominent distilleries in the nation is Starward, whose Two-Fold has garnered plenty of recognition for its unique profile and blending technique. This is a double-grain expression that marries wheat and malted barley whisky, each of which has been aged for three years in local red wine barrels (Australia is one of the most preeminent wine regions in the world). For something this exotic, you’ll typically have to pay a premium, but the award-winning Two-Fold isn’t just accessible for the palate but the wallet as well.

The Best Scotch Whiskies Under $200

If you want to add some top-shelf options to your bar cart, check out our guide to the best Scotch whiskies under $200.