The Best Scotch Whiskies You Can Buy Under $200

As far as spirits are concerned, Scotch whisky is one such liquor that has always set itself apart from the fray. Drinkers either love or hate it, with very little middle ground, simply because a good Scotch isn’t here for mass appeal. As drinkers, we’re a loyal bunch, either finding our preferred region and sticking to it or keeping a decanter of our favorite vintage on the bar cart. Call us proud, stubborn, or elitist — we don’t care. Because deep down we know what’s in our glass far outweighs what’s getting consumed by those with less-refined taste buds.

And just like the various tiers of booze available out there, Scotch hosts vintages and price points suited for specific occasions. There are the inexpensive, casual pours for simple enjoyment, the more pronounced pours for drinking with close friends, celebration-worthy single malts to toast the lives of others, and the private stash reserved for yearly indulgence. Here, we’re entertaining the celebratory tier of Scotch out there: the sub-$200 price point. And while there’s plenty to choose from in the world of whisky, we figured we could narrow things down a bit. So go ahead, take a scroll, and pick up some bottles of the best Scotch whiskies under $200. Because life is worth celebrating.

Single Malt Vs. Blended Scotch

The list of whiskies below consists of both single malt and blended Scotch (albeit only one of the latter). These terms are worth knowing if you’re scouring for top-shelf spirits from Scotland. First off, single malt refers to whisky made entirely from malted barley, with the “single” referring to a single distillery. This contrasts the uncommon “single grain” whisky, which uses other cereal grains, either with or instead of malted barley (e.g., corn, rye, and/or wheat).

On the other hand, blended Scotch combines single grains and single malt whiskies from various distilleries. This differs from blended malt, which only combines different single malt whiskies from different distilleries.

Tomatin Single Malt 18 Year

Best Low-End Single Malt: Despite many of its whiskies being used for blends, either in-house or elsewhere, Tomatin’s 18 Year is one of the most popular Scotch whiskies for a reason — and at a fair price. Right in the middle of its core range, this Highland single malt was aged in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks for nearly two decades before being bottled at 46% ABV. On brand for the distillery, the highly-decorated expression boasts a dynamic palate filled with honey, dark chocolate, and apple to go along with the prominent oak and spice profile. 

The Glenlivet 18 Year

Best Mainstream Single Malt: CThe Glenlivet really doesn’t have any whiskies that aren’t worth a mention in any guide. Famously the first licensed distillery in Scotland, the Speyside favorite has a history of doing things the right way, with almost 200 years of provenance and uniquely shaped stills that offer a pleasant end product. At a potent 86 proof, this 18 Year is right in the middle of the distillery’s illustrious range, and just 6 years older than its flagship “budget” expression. Flavors of honey and caramel apple carry it through to the chocolate and floral notes on the back end.

Old Pulteney 18 Year

Best Highland Single Malt: Formerly the herring capital of Europe, Pulteneytown once had so many sailors residing in town that the government decided to enact a prohibition on the sale of alcohol for over two decades before ending in 1951. Distilled at the most northern mainland distillery in Scotland, Old Pulteney’s 18 Year truly benefits from the crisp coastal climate. Aged in ex-bourbon and Spanish oak barrels, the Highland single malt offers a beautiful profile of chocolate, vanilla, honey, and apple, with floral notes that will leave you craving that next sip before you even set your glass down.

Craigellachie 17 Year

Best Cult Favorite: Next-door neighbors to the Macallan, Craigellachie has been perfecting its craft since 1891. This Speyside staple has had a sort of cult following for years, but its single malt expressions were quite difficult to track down since they rarely got releases. However, in recent years things have changed for the better and now even the most casual Scotch drinker is able to experience the brand’s unbelievable range. This 17 Year expression is the distillery’s flagship, with a profile that comes from several directions, giving you meaty, fruity, and smoky notes all at once, and even dashes of vanilla and honey here and there. 

Bowmore 18

Best from Islay: This award-winning single malt from the oldest distillery in the Islay region was aged nearly two decades before it was capped. Bowmore is an icon for its whisky-making history and continued success nearly 250 years later. The brand’s flagship 18 Year is another that should be picked up no matter what your bankroll is looking like. Less smoky than a traditional Islay single malt, the expression features a nice, balanced profile with decadent layers of fruit like mango and peach to go along with chocolate notes and a well-managed peatiness.

The Macallan 15 Year Double Cask

Best Overall: Next year will mark the Macallan’s 200th anniversary. In that time, the Speyside staple has managed to make the most coveted whiskies in history. While several of its historic bottles have gone for upwards of $1 million, the distillery has some accessible options as well, while still getting a taste of why those rarities are so sought after. Exemplary of the brand’s trademark profiles, this 15 Year Double Cask is modestly aged in a combination of sherry casks from the United States and Spain. In the glass, this whisky features a combination of fruity notes from cranberry to orange peel to apricot, while butterscotch, vanilla, and cinnamon round out the flavor.

Oban 18 Year 

Runner-Up: The Western Highland district of the Highlands region is notable for its proximity to the Islay region, and whiskies from this area are said to possess some of the latter’s smokiness while still sharing in the balanced sweetness of the mainland. Emblematic of that nuance, Oban’s 18 Year is the oldest in the distillery’s current age statement whiskies. It’s a single malt expression that walks that fruit-smoke tightrope perfectly, with some added wood spice, giving way to a long finish with dark chocolate and salted caramel notes.

Lagavulin 12 Year 2022 Special Release

Best Peated Single Malt: Each year the King of Islay comes out with an annual Special Release expression. And each year it nearly overshadows everything else that debuts around it from other distilleries. While a tad bit younger than the distillery’s flagship 16-year-old single malt, Lagavulin’s 12-year-old whisky, which bears a phoenix on the bottle’s label, is even smokier. Bottled at cask strength at nearly 115 proof, it combines the brand’s smokiest reserve casks with some virgin oak liquid and — voila! — you have a whisky that’s super savory, with a lemony sweetness and resilient char smoke. 

Highland Park 18 Year

Best for Special Guests: Highland Park’s flagship 18 Year single malt — also called Viking Pride — is among the most revered whiskies in the nation, regardless of price. The Orkney Islands distillery is among the farthest north, so you’re getting a colder-climate coastal profile. Ripe floral notes and honeyed fruits hit the nose upon introduction, while fruit preserves mixed with wintery spices like cinnamon and allspice wrap themselves around the palate during that first sip. And with a long-lasting and sugared finish, this Highland Park isn’t something you’ll let out of your sight that easily.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label

Best Blended: The king of blended Scotch, Johnnie Walker’s Blue Label holds no age statement, yet sheer reputation and acclaim allow it to be worthy of nearly two C-notes — a lofty price for blended whisky of any other name. In the 19th century, long before you could get nearly any bottle of whisky with the click of a button, Johnnie Walker sourced and aggregated the best spirits available at the time. Better than even some top-tier single malts, this premium Blue Label debuted in the ‘90s in order to recreate the brand’s legendary early batches that made them so famous.

The Best Scotch Whiskies Under $100

If you’re working with a slightly smaller budget, head over to our guide to the best Scotch whiskies under $100.