Scotch - best bang for your buck

Fedorgasm

Steel Belt
@Steel
Joined
Sep 18, 2008
Messages
28,190
Reaction score
35,740
Below is an average rating of all the types of Scotch that had at least 10 reviews on a popular Scotch forum.

I did not create the list, but I was curious as to which one was the best bang for your buck, so I looked up the price of each one that I could find online, and then added a column for "rating points per dollar"

Now I tried really hard to post or embed a spreadsheet and either sherdog doesn't allow it or I'm too dumb to figure it out. So if you're really curious about playing with the list in excel, then I've pasted it below in CSV format so you can copy it, save as a CSV, then open it with excel and it should work right.

But if that's too much work then allow me to give you the highlights.

The highest rated Scotch is Glenfarclas 40, with a rating of 95.2. But with a near thousand-dollar price tag, it's definitely NOT the best bang for your buck.

For the highest rated reasonably priced one we go to the 6th highest rated Scotch with a 92.6 rating, which is Ardbeg Uigeadail for $60 per bottle.

The best bang for your buck goes to Famous Grouse. It has a "rating points per dollar" of 4.13. Keep in mind that it's not the best bang for your buck because it's good, but rather because it's so darn cheap. It's rated a 74.8 and yet only costs $18.

If you want the best bang for your buck but you refuse to lower your standards below a rating of 85, then you'll want to seek out Finlaggen Old Reserve and Laphroaig 10 year, for $35 and $36 respectively.

The one to avoid would be anything from Johnnie Walker. The red label received the lowest rating by far, and even as you move up to the more expensive black, double black, green, gold, and blue labels, they all consistently rate lower than other Scotches in their respective price range, and only two of them even manage to get an average rating over 80 (and it's not even the most expensive blue label, it's the green and gold label!)

Hope this helps anyone who's just getting into Scotch and doesn't want to waste money before your palette is developed.
rating,name,Price per 750ml,rating points per dollar
95.2,Glenfarclas 40,$997.24 ,0.1
94.7,Highland Park 30,$807.82 ,0.12
93.9,Laphroaig 25 Cask Strength 2008,$462.41 ,0.2
93.8,Laphroaig Càirdeas Portwood,could not find price,#DIV/0!
93.3,Bruichladdich Octomore 4.2_167 Comus,could not find price,#DIV/0!
92.6,Ardbeg Uigeadail,$60.11 ,1.54
92.5,Balvenie Tun 1401 Batch #3,could not find price,#DIV/0!
92.1,GlenDronach Cask Strength,$70.14 ,1.31
91.9,Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength,$82.40 ,1.12
91.9,Springbank 21,"$1,225.65 ",0.07
91.6,Lagavulin 12,$122.57 ,0.75
91.3,Bruichladdich Port Charlotte 7,could not find price,#DIV/0!
91.3,Macallan Sherry Cask Strength,could not find price,#DIV/0!
91.1,Talisker 25,$306.41 ,0.3
91.1,Highland Park 25,$444.58 ,0.2
91,Amrut Cask Strength,$74.60 ,1.22
90.9,Ardbeg Corryvreckan,$73.48 ,1.24
90.9,Glenlivet 25,$349.99 ,0.26
90.8,Bruichladdich Octomore 5.1,could not find price,#DIV/0!
90.6,Glenmorangie Ealanta,$557.12 ,0.16
90.5,Laphroaig 18,$194.99 ,0.46
90.4,Balvenie 17 Peated Cask,$501.40 ,0.18
90.2,Laphroaig Quarter Cask,$40.06 ,2.25
90.2,Amrut Peated Cask Strength,$89.42 ,1.01
90.2,Macallan 18 Sherry,$333.16 ,0.27
90.1,Springbank 18,$189.99 ,0.47
90.1,Aberlour A'bunadh batch #40,could not find price,#DIV/0!
90.1,Aberlour 12 NCF,could not find price,#DIV/0!
89.9,Balvenie 17 Madeira Cask,$557.12 ,0.16
89.8,Aberlour A'bunadh,$89.08 ,1.01
89.8,Macallan 25 Sherry,"$1,671.35 ",0.05
89.8,Port Ellen 32 year old 12th Release,"$3,064.14 ",0.03
89.6,Bunnahabhain 18,$128.14 ,0.7
89.6,Ardbeg Ardbog,$278.56 ,0.32
89.6,Lagavulin 1991 Distillers Edition,$501.40 ,0.18
89.5,Glenlivet 21 Archive,$209.48 ,0.43
89.5,Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength,could not find price,#DIV/0!
89.4,Old Pulteney 21,$169.99 ,0.53
89.3,Oban 18,$132.99 ,0.67
89.2,Glenmorangie Astar,$83.51 ,1.07
89.2,Talisker 18,$89.08 ,1
89.1,Ardbeg Galileo,$444.58 ,0.2
89.1,Ardbeg Alligator,$557.12 ,0.16
89,Springbank 12 Cask Strength,could not find price,#DIV/0!
88.9,Laphroaig Càirdeas Origin 2012,could not find price,#DIV/0!
88.8,Bruichladdich Black Art 2,could not find price,#DIV/0!
88.7,Lagavulin 16,$60.11 ,1.48
88.6,Glenfarclas 25,$139.28 ,0.64
88.6,Balvenie 21 Portwood,$161.56 ,0.55
88.6,Highland Park 15 Loki,could not find price,#DIV/0!
88.6,Glenmorangie Artein,could not find price,#DIV/0!
88.5,Laphroaig PX Cask Travel Retail,could not find price,#DIV/0!
88.5,Macallan 15 Fine Oak,could not find price,#DIV/0!
88.4,GlenDronach 15 Revival,$71.26 ,1.24
88.4,Kilchoman Loch Gorm,could not find price,#DIV/0!
88.4,Bruichladdich Port Charlotte 10,could not find price,#DIV/0!
88.1,Tobermory 15,$169.99 ,0.52
88.1,Caol Ila Distiller's Edition,could not find price,#DIV/0!
88.1,Balvenie 15 Single Barrel,could not find price,#DIV/0!
87.9,Highland Park 18,$139.28 ,0.63
87.9,Aberlour A'bunadh batch #39,could not find price,#DIV/0!
87.8,GlenDronach 21 Parliament,$153.76 ,0.57
87.4,Talisker 10,$40.61 ,2.15
87.3,Laphroaig Triplewood,$62.90 ,1.39
87.3,Glenmorangie 18,$91.31 ,0.96
87.3,Alberta Premium Dark Horse,could not find price,#DIV/0!
87.1,Glenfarclas 17,$116.99 ,0.74
87,Kilchoman Machir Bay,$50.08 ,1.74
87,Amrut Fusion,$60.11 ,1.45
87,Aberlour 18,$109.00 ,0.8
87,Bruichladdich The Laddie Ten,could not find price,#DIV/0!
86.8,Balvenie 17 Doublewood,$99.11 ,0.88
86.7,Aberlour 16,$65.00 ,1.33
86.6,Glenfarclas 21,$132.99 ,0.65
86.4,Glenlivet 16 Nadurra,$89.99 ,0.96
86.3,Highland Park 15,$94.65 ,0.91
86.1,Bunnahabhain 12,$44.51 ,1.93
86.1,Springbank 15,$129.99 ,0.66
86,Talisker 57° North,$77.94 ,1.1
86,Glenfiddich 21 Gran Reserva,$189.00 ,0.46
85.9,AnCnoc 16,could not find price,#DIV/0!
85.9,Angel's Envy,could not find price,#DIV/0!
85.7,Ardbeg 10,$46.74 ,1.83
85.7,Balvenie 14 Caribbean Cask,$60.11 ,1.43
85.6,Glenfarclas 12,$43.18 ,1.98
85.4,Glen Garioch Founder's Reserve,$38.94 ,2.19
85.4,Glenfiddich 18,$75.71 ,1.13
85.3,Caol Ila 12,$48.97 ,1.74
85.2,Glenfarclas 15,$57.88 ,1.47
85.2,Hazelburn 12,could not find price,#DIV/0!
85.2,Bruichladdich Port Charlotte An Turas Mor,could not find price,#DIV/0!
85.1,Laphroaig 10,$36.71 ,2.32
85.1,Highland Park 12,$44.51 ,1.91
85,Finlaggan Old Reserve,$35.60 ,2.39
85,Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban,$55.66 ,1.53
84.7,AnCnoc 12,$32.26 ,2.63
84.5,Springbank 10,$47.86 ,1.77
84.4,Benromach 10,$32.27 ,2.62
84.3,Aberlour 12 Double Cask Matured,$44.51 ,1.89
84.1,Arran 10,$41.17 ,2.04
84.1,Auchentoshan Valinch,$159.99 ,0.53
84,Big Peat,$45.96 ,1.83
83.9,Glen Garioch 12,$43.40 ,1.93
83.9,GlenDronach 12,$46.74 ,1.8
83.9,Arran 14,$73.99 ,1.13
83.7,Glenfiddich 15,$42.29 ,1.98
83.6,Auchentoshan Three Wood,$48.97 ,1.71
83.6,Oban 14,$50.64 ,1.65
83.6,Glenmorangie Nectar D'Or,$58.44 ,1.43
83.5,Johnnie Walker Green Label,$46.52 ,1.79
83.3,Talisker Storm,$43.40 ,1.92
83.3,Bruichladdich Rocks,could not find price,#DIV/0!
83,Glenlivet 18,$89.08 ,0.93
82.8,Macallan 12 Sherry,$77.94 ,1.06
82.7,Old Pulteney 12,$35.60 ,2.32
82.7,Dalwhinnie 15,$40.61 ,2.04
82.5,Edradour 10,$44.51 ,1.85
82.5,Scapa 16,$256.27 ,0.32
82.5,Baker's 107,could not find price,#DIV/0!
82.4,GlenDronach 12 Original,$46.74 ,1.76
82.3,Compass Box Spice Tree,$103.01 ,0.8
82,Glengoyne 17,could not find price,#DIV/0!
81.8,Sheep Dip,$32.26 ,2.54
81.8,Clynelish 12,could not find price,#DIV/0!
81.7,Glenmorangie 10 Original,$37.83 ,2.16
81.7,Compass Box Peat Monster,$51.76 ,1.58
81.7,Dalmore 15,$72.37 ,1.13
81.7,Jura 16,$74.99 ,1.09
81.6,Balvenie 12 Doublewood,$39.50 ,2.07
81.5,Macallan 10 Fine Oak,$46.99 ,1.73
81.5,Ledaig 7 peated sherry cask,could not find price,#DIV/0!
81.4,Tobermory 10,$55.66 ,1.46
81.4,Compass Box Hedonism,$74.37 ,1.09
81.3,Johnnie Walker Gold Label,$44.51 ,1.83
80.9,Glen Grant 10,$33.37 ,2.42
80.8,Glenlivet 15 French Oak Reserve,$60.11 ,1.34
80.7,Ledaig 10,$44.51 ,1.81
80.7,Aberlour 12 Sherry Cask Matured,$62.99 ,1.28
80.6,Bowmore 18,$89.08 ,0.9
80.5,Basil Hayden,$44.51 ,1.81
80,Cragganmore 12,$40.61 ,1.97
79.9,Glenfarclas 10,$36.71 ,2.18
79.6,Ancient Ancient Age 10 Star,could not find price,#DIV/0!
79.5,Ardmore Traditional Cask Peated,$39.99 ,1.99
79.5,Compass Box Oak Cross,$49.86 ,1.59
79.3,Auchentoshan 12,$36.71 ,2.16
78.7,Glenkinchie 12,$44.51 ,1.77
78.7,Jura Superstition,could not find price,#DIV/0!
78.6,Aberlour 10,$37.83 ,2.08
78.5,Speyburn 10,$33.37 ,2.35
78.5,Aberfeldy 12,$41.17 ,1.91
78.4,Johnnie Walker Black Label,$33.71 ,2.33
78.4,Johnnie Walker Double Black,$36.49 ,2.15
78,Dalmore 12,$46.18 ,1.69
77.7,Johnnie Walker Blue Label,$150.42 ,0.52
77.6,Kirkland Signature 12 Blended Scotch Whisky,$22.73 ,3.41
77.5,Glenmorangie Lasanta,$50.08 ,1.55
77.3,Monkey Shoulder,$30.03 ,2.57
77.1,Pig's Nose,$24.23 ,3.18
77,Singleton of Glendullan 12,$32.99 ,2.33
77,Bowmore 12,$33.37 ,2.31
77,Glenfiddich 12,$33.37 ,2.31
77,Tomatin 12,$48.97 ,1.57
76.9,Bowmore 15 Darkest,$81.99 ,0.94
76.8,Black Bottle,$21.11 ,3.64
76.7,Glenlivet 12,$40.39 ,1.9
76.3,Johnnie Walker Platinum Label,$89.99 ,0.85
76.2,Teacher's Highland Cream,$19.78 ,3.85
76.2,Cardhu 12,$43.40 ,1.76
75.6,Jura 10,$38.94 ,1.94
75.6,Compass Box Asyla,$49.97 ,1.51
74.8,Famous Grouse,$18.11 ,4.13
70.2,Glengoyne 10,$38.94 ,1.8
69.6,Chivas Regal 12,$22.23 ,3.13
60.8,Dewar's White Label,$22.56 ,2.69
49.2,Johnnie Walker Red Label,$23.12 ,2.13
 
Below is an average rating of all the types of Scotch that had at least 10 reviews on a popular Scotch forum.

I did not create the list, but I was curious as to which one was the best bang for your buck, so I looked up the price of each one that I could find online, and then added a column for "rating points per dollar"

Now I tried really hard to post or embed a spreadsheet and either sherdog doesn't allow it or I'm too dumb to figure it out. So if you're really curious about playing with the list in excel, then I've pasted it below in CSV format so you can copy it, save as a CSV, then open it with excel and it should work right.

But if that's too much work then allow me to give you the highlights.

The highest rated Scotch is Glenfarclas 40, with a rating of 95.2. But with a near thousand-dollar price tag, it's definitely NOT the best bang for your buck.

For the highest rated reasonably priced one we go to the 6th highest rated Scotch with a 92.6 rating, which is Ardbeg Uigeadail for $60 per bottle.

The best bang for your buck goes to Famous Grouse. It has a "rating points per dollar" of 4.13. Keep in mind that it's not the best bang for your buck because it's good, but rather because it's so darn cheap. It's rated a 74.8 and yet only costs $18.

If you want the best bang for your buck but you refuse to lower your standards below a rating of 85, then you'll want to seek out Finlaggen Old Reserve and Laphroaig 10 year, for $35 and $36 respectively.

The one to avoid would be anything from Johnnie Walker. The red label received the lowest rating by far, and even as you move up to the more expensive black, double black, green, gold, and blue labels, they all consistently rate lower than other Scotches in their respective price range, and only two of them even manage to get an average rating over 80 (and it's not even the most expensive blue label, it's the green and gold label!)

Hope this helps anyone who's just getting into Scotch and doesn't want to waste money before your palette is developed.
I love Scotch, but I drink it a lot so I can't be buying the expensive stuff.
Johnnie Walker Red and Famous Grouse are both good budget whiskys, definitely the best for value.

Do you ever drink Laphroaig or any Islay Scotches? That's one hell of an acquired taste.
I love a peaty drink but it took me a long time to get used to that antiseptic taste off them.

Also

Can you do this all again but in £ please? You know, real money
 
It all tastes like garbage paint thinner. $5 or $500
 
Why would you want to go by someone’s else’s evaluation of spirits, TS

Lots of good Whiskey in the world find out what you like start with the Speysides and work towards the Islays.

Start watching this dudes whiskey reviews



And don’t forget it’s OK to love Bourbon also
 
This is pretty interesting.

One thing I will say is that price is often driven by hype and rarity and so can bare no relation to the quality, especially some of the more expensive stuff.

Nice to see Glenfarclas up there. I visited the distillery last week and they have sone great stuff.

Also good to see a lot of Islays on the list. I was out there for a week last November and visited everywhere apart from Coal Ila which was sadly closed. They had their whisk available at Lagavulin though.

My favourite distillery is Ardbeg. Good to see the Uigeadail up there, at that price point o think it's great value.
 
It all tastes like garbage paint thinner. $5 or $500

Yeah I have to agree with this statement. I can generally drink most types of common liquors straight if need be, but I usually prefer to add a little soda or tonic to cut the bite. My father fucking loves drinking Scotch straight and I've tried a few glasses with him. Every single Scotch he's had me try tastes like straight up paint thinner or gasoline.

Scotch is only good to people who've burned out their taste buds.
 
My dad has a bottle of Glenfarclas 40 I'm sure. Will need to check next time I'm round there.
 
Yeah I have to agree with this statement. I can generally drink most types of common liquors straight if need be, but I usually prefer to add a little soda or tonic to cut the bite. My father fucking loves drinking Scotch straight and I've tried a few glasses with him. Every single Scotch he's had me try tastes like straight up paint thinner or gasoline.

Scotch is only good to people who've burned out their taste buds.
This could be true, I've been eating hella spicy food for years, so it's possible I don't know what I'm drinking

There isn't a liquor alive that has made me make a whisky face so far. Except some 80 proof Rum that was like drinking a throat infection in a bottle
 
I only drink talisker and macallan sherry cask and we scored 91


I do enjoy Japanese whiskey and some good old bourbon and rye too
 
I only drink talisker and macallan sherry cask and we scored 91


I do enjoy Japanese whiskey and some good old bourbon and rye too

You're a man of wealth and taste;)

Macallan is my second favourite Whiskey after Glenfiddich:cool:
 
I think some of those prices reflect out of production or limited run whiskeys that retailed cheaper when they were in production. I had a bottle of Balvenie 17 Peated cask, I got it as a gift retailing for around $140, well shy of the 500 they’re getting for it now.

Under $100, I like lagavulin 16, laphroaig 10 cask strength, Ardbeg Uigeadail, Glenlivet 18, Balvenie 17 doublewood, Talisker 18.

Best bang for your buck overall on that list I’d say is Balvenie 12 doublewood, it’s gonna seem a little one note if you have it after a 25 year old macallan, but stands alone very nicely. Good for any occasion.

I think some of the ones with unavailable prices are made for the duty free market. Those shop walls are lined with weird cask finished scotches with no age statements.
 
I only drink talisker and macallan sherry cask and we scored 91


I do enjoy Japanese whiskey and some good old bourbon and rye too

Japanese whiskey is intended to trick whites, as Japanese drink Canadian rye.

Below is an average rating of all the types of Scotch that had at least 10 reviews on a popular Scotch forum.

I did not create the list, but I was curious as to which one was the best bang for your buck, so I looked up the price of each one that I could find online, and then added a column for "rating points per dollar"

Now I tried really hard to post or embed a spreadsheet and either sherdog doesn't allow it or I'm too dumb to figure it out. So if you're really curious about playing with the list in excel, then I've pasted it below in CSV format so you can copy it, save as a CSV, then open it with excel and it should work right.

But if that's too much work then allow me to give you the highlights.

The highest rated Scotch is Glenfarclas 40, with a rating of 95.2. But with a near thousand-dollar price tag, it's definitely NOT the best bang for your buck.

For the highest rated reasonably priced one we go to the 6th highest rated Scotch with a 92.6 rating, which is Ardbeg Uigeadail for $60 per bottle.

The best bang for your buck goes to Famous Grouse. It has a "rating points per dollar" of 4.13. Keep in mind that it's not the best bang for your buck because it's good, but rather because it's so darn cheap. It's rated a 74.8 and yet only costs $18.

If you want the best bang for your buck but you refuse to lower your standards below a rating of 85, then you'll want to seek out Finlaggen Old Reserve and Laphroaig 10 year, for $35 and $36 respectively.

The one to avoid would be anything from Johnnie Walker. The red label received the lowest rating by far, and even as you move up to the more expensive black, double black, green, gold, and blue labels, they all consistently rate lower than other Scotches in their respective price range, and only two of them even manage to get an average rating over 80 (and it's not even the most expensive blue label, it's the green and gold label!)

Hope this helps anyone who's just getting into Scotch and doesn't want to waste money before your palette is developed.

My fav Oban is way down that list lol.

Walker Black is really good, though its $500 CND so there's that.
 
Japanese whiskey is intended to trick whites, as Japanese drink Canadian rye.



My fav Oban is way down that list lol.

Walker Black is really good, though its $500 CND so there's that.


th


If so then keep on with the trickery
 
Highland Park 12 is my favorite. It has the right balance of peat and caramel notes. Other Islays like Ardbeg 10 or Lagavulin 16 are just too peaty for me.
 
You're a man of wealth and taste;)

Macallan is my second favourite Whiskey after Glenfiddich:cool:
Macallan and glenfiddich is what I drink.

My bro in law gave me a bottle of the dalmore 15 a few yrs ago, it was pretty good too.
 
Taste them for yourself. Scotch forums are full of try hard American drink elitists who think anything blended is bad by default. Hence the hate for Johnnie Walker.

Johnnie Walker have some seriously good tasting blended whiskies. Black label being a personal favourite of mine.
 
Last edited:

Forum statistics

Threads
1,234,871
Messages
55,313,431
Members
174,733
Latest member
Bob Gnuheart
Back
Top