The Best Scotch Whiskies Under $100

Although it was later to the whisky game than the likes of its quasi-rival Ireland, Scotland now lays claim to some of the most revered distilleries on the planet. Likewise, over the last couple hundred years, single malt Scotch whisky has gotten a reputation as the highest quality of liquor available. Because of this, Scotch has a reputation for being expensive. However, if you know where to look, you can find quality single malts and blended malt options that are quite affordable, and even downright inexpensive. We’re here to help you out with our guide to the best Scotch whiskies under $100.

While certain bottles will be locked away behind glass at your local liquor store, most of the options in this guide will be readily available. It’s also important to note that we will only be featuring Scotch whisky that’s either classified as a single malt or blended malt, simply because those types of Scotch tend to be superior. 

Single Malt Vs. Blended Malt

To understand the difference between single malt and blended malt, you must also be aware of something called “single grain” whisky. While single malt Scotch exclusively uses malted barley in its mashbill and must come from a single distillery, single grain can use the likes of rye, corn, or wheat in the mashbill (although there must always be malted barley present as well).

Now, when it comes to blended batches, it’s easy to get “blended” and “blended malt” mixed up. Where blended refers to combining single malt whiskies with other types of grain whisky, often to cut costs, thus resulting in a lesser flavor, blended malt Scotch refers to the meticulous blending of different single malt batches to result in something that would perhaps taste even better. Simply put, blended malt is the blending of single malt whisky from different distilleries.

Monkey Shoulder

Best Cheap Blended Malt: At first glance, Monkey Shoulder looks and sounds more like a rum than a Scotch. However, the offshoot of William Grant & Sons is now one of the best-selling whiskies around the world, blending three different single malts from the Speyside region. Referring to a once-common injury that afflicted distillers who would hand-turn malt grain all day, Monkey Shoulder was introduced in 2003 and became an early proponent of Scotch cocktails towards the beginning of this modern rise of mixology. Whether you’re sipping neat or mixing into a drink, this bottle is a must-have for any home bar.

The Glenlivet 12 Year

Best Cheap Single Malt: Perhaps no label is more synonymous with value than the Glenlivet. A staple of bars and liquor stores across the globe, this Speyside distillery is celebrating 200 years of existence next year and its award-winning 12-year-old single malt is among the best around, punching much higher than both its age statement and price point. Utilizing a double oak method of aging, the whisky spends over a decade in a combination of European and American oak barrels, which impart to it a creamy palate filled with vanilla, pineapple, and pear.

Jura 10 Year

Best for Cocktails: When discussing the whisky-making regions of Scotland, the island of Jura seldom gets discussed, perhaps because it only contains a singular, eponymous distillery. Despite its provenance claiming to date back to 1810, the current iteration wasn’t active until 1963. Since then, the brand has expanded nicely, conceiving this flagship single malt which spent 10 years in a combination of American white oak and ex-bourbon barrels, after which it matured for a second time in Oloroso sherry casks, imparting a nice sweetness and smokiness to the palate, along with dark chocolate and vanilla. 

Laphroaig 10 Year

Best Islay Single Malt: You won’t see a lot of 10-year-old single malts at the top of most lists. However, Laphroaig is a clear exception. For the distillery, it’s not as much about aging as it is the whisky-making process. Synonymous with the smoky standards of the Islay region, this Scotch gets its signature characteristics from cold-smoking its malted barley and then drying it over a fire made by burning locally-sourced peat. The result is something unforgettable, with a big and nuanced smoky profile containing hints of seaweed, sweetness, and nuttiness.

Johnnie Walker Green Label

Best Blended Malt: If you’re trying to save some shekels, opt for Johnnie Walker’s Green Label over the Gold Label Reserve, which is slightly pricier. While the former is an explicit blend of at least 15-year-old whiskies, the latter holds no age statement, although it’s likely around the same. The biggest blended Scotch brand in the world, Johnnie Walker marries whiskies from multiple distilleries across Scotland. Being its only expression that exclusively uses single malts (i.e., no grain whisky is used), Green Label is earthier than its other bottles, such as Black or Blue, with hints of fruity and floral notes.

The Macallan 12 Year Double Cask

Best Overall: We’ve all heard of the legendary price tags that certain bottles from the Macallan have earned at auction houses across the globe. But that doesn’t mean the Highland distillery can’t have some affordable offerings as well. A case in point is this 12-year-old single malt that showcases the brand’s knack for blending and maximizing the potential of the liquid. This Double Cask expression marries whisky aged in European and American oak barrels — both of which were seasoned with sherry wine — to get a flavor, filled with honey, citrus, and ginger.

Glen Garioch 12 Year

Best Hidden Gem: Not as mainstream as some of its compatriots, Glen Garioch is a hidden gem of the Scotch world, even though it’s been in operation since 1797. Making its single malts exclusively in small batches, the Highland distillery is Scotland’s easternmost facility. An excellent sipping Scotch, this flagship expression was aged for 12 years in ex-bourbon barrels, imparting a forthcoming and unique profile of creme brulee, banana, pear, and some light fruit, with a long, creamy finish, which is on full display at the slightly above-average 48% ABV.

Glenfiddich 15 Year

Best High Age Statement: From the Speyside region comes Glenfiddich, one of the industry’s most consistent brands in terms of quality and depth of range. In operation since 1886, the distillery was also one of the few that saw growth during Prohibition. Today, its 15 Year single malt is one of its most prized possessions, undergoing a fastidious journey prior to bottling. Benefitting from the unique characteristics derived from its proprietary oak-built Solera Vat — which is used to “harmonize” some of the liquid after it matures and hasn’t been fully emptied since 1998 — the whisky is first aged for 15 years in a combination of ex-sherry and ex-bourbon oak barrels. The result is something special, with a smooth, layered profile filled with marzipan, cinnamon, ginger, and subtle spice.

Lagavulin 16 Year

Best Top-Shelf Islay: Another staple of highly-peated single malts from the Islay region, Lagavulin 16 is like the big brother to Laphroaig 10. Dating back nearly 300 years, Lagavulin wasn’t sanctioned until 1816 but has since been perfecting the art of heavily-peated whisky. From the appointed “King of Islay,” this flagship 16-year-old Scotch isn’t for everyone, but its fans are loyal and its profile is unforgettable. Once you get past the initial hit of intense peat smoke, you’ll be treated to a liquid that’s quite complex, with a balance of sweet and salty filling out the palate, giving way to a long peaty finish. 

Ardbeg Uigeadail

Best Smoke Bomb: While not as globally recognized as fellow Islay distilleries Laphroaig and Lagavulin, Ardbeg has one of the widest ranges of expressions and one of the most loyal fanbases. As such, several of its bottles could have been featured in this guide. However, the Uigeadail makes the cut for its unabashed tenacity and uniqueness. Some have said that Uigeadail — Scottish Gaelic for “dark and mysterious place” — smells like Christmas in a bottle, giving way to some of the smokiest peat you’ll ever taste, as well as brown sugar, tobacco, smoked brisket, and espresso. This whisky was aged in ex-sherry casks before being bottled at cask strength.

The Best Scotch Whiskies Under $200

If your liquor budget’s a bit higher, you can head over to our guide to the best Scotch whiskies under $200.