Which are the 7 best scotch whiskies quality-price in 2023?
Whisky -as well as classical music, literature and art – thanks to its quality, has run through the time challenge, fashion and tasting, turning every moment into a memorable flavour, but how do we know which is the best scotch whisky?
To select the best scotch whisky could be an overwhelming task, there are too many characteristics of uniqueness to consider when it comes to selecting the appropriate bottle for your occasion and taste.
The main features, which may be listed or not on the label, depending on the brand, are:
- Type of whisky
- Region
- Age statement
- Taste, smell and the proper way to serve it
In this article, you will find a selection of the best scotch whiskies with the best quality-price ratio, that are supposed to be a great purchase, the best affordable whiskies, the best-blended whiskies and, of course, good whiskies.
If you want to enjoy an excellent whisky but your budget is too tight, check out our article about the best cheap whisky you will find on the market in 2023.
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Which is the best peated smoked scotch whisky in 2023?
Lagavulin 16 Single Malt Scotch Whisky: The best value smoked whisky
Lagavulin is a 16-year-old Single Malt Scotch Whisky born in a roaring bonfire from the coast of Islay. It is the best single malt whisky of the Lagavulin Distillery at a reasonable price.
Aged in oak casks for at least sixteen years, it has the peated smoked flavour typical of southern Islay and the dry that turns it into a fascinating spirit beverage.
It has a deep amber-gold appearance, on the nose, the peat smoke with iodine and seaweed with a little touch of sweetness is immediately appreciated
Also offers a rich body, in the palate, you could sense it is dry, peated and smoked. It also has a strong sweetness followed by intense sea and salt flavours with touches of smoky wood.
It is elegant, with a strong and long finish, Lagavulin 16-year-old demands to be served in a traditional whisky glass, neat or diluted with a few drops of water.
Recommended with blue cheese like Gorgonzola and Roquefort or Stilton. For a whisky cocktail, I strongly recommend the Angus Collins.
More reviews about this whisky here.
Which is the best-blended scotch whisky in 2023?
Johnnie Walker Blue Label Blended Scotch Whisky: Best whisky for old fashioned
The Johnnie Walker Blue Label whisky was born from the combination of Scotland’s rarest and most exceptional whiskies. You could say this is a masterpiece. There are some who think it is Johnnie´s best scotch whisky.
It combines rare casks from the Speyside and Highland distilleries like Cardhu and Clynelish. Only one in every ten thousand casks has the elusive quality character and flavour to be selected.
The nose is extremely mellow and you could appreciate the dry smokiness mixed with the sweetness of raisins.
The palate is velvety with a combination of vanilla, honey and rose petals. It also has notes of hazelnut, sherry and dark chocolate.
The finishing is rich and luxuriously long. You definitely will sense Johnnie Walker’s smokiness characteristic.
As a bartender, I highly recommend drinking it neat or on the rocks. I also recommend whisky cocktails like the Whisky Scotch Highball or the Whisky Old Fashioned.
If you are a beginner, you should probably start with a cheaper one before you try this one.
More reviews about this whisky here.
Which is the best malt whisky in 2023?
Dalmore 12 Single Malt Scotch Whisky: best whisky under 50
Dalmore´s best single malt whisky, as many users have said, the Dalmore 12 single malt scotch whisky is matured for at least 12 years in American white oaks casks that used to contain Bourbon.
One half is then transferred to Matusalem Oloroso Sherry casks.
It has the aroma of citrus fruits, chocolate and notes of aromatic spices.
The flavour reminds oranges from Seville, dried fruits and hints of vanilla pod. The finishing notes are roasted coffee and dark chocolate.
It is a good whisky, but not a fantastic option. It is ideal for those who love strong flavours.
I highly recommend serving it on the rocks or with some drops of mineral water. Also, you should try it in a whisky cocktail like the Ginger Scotch.
More reviews about this whisky here.
Which is the best 12-year-old single malt whisky in 2023?
Macallan 12 Double Cask Scotch Whisky: best value whisky
Triple cask combination that includes European and American sherry seasoned oak casks.
The colour is rich straw, in the nose is complex, it smells like vanilla with hints of melon and lemon zest.
The flavour is properly balanced with lemon citrus, vanilla and light toasted oak and nutmeg. At the finish is lingering with melon, papaya, fresh oak and oak spice.
As a bartender, I strongly recommend trying it neat, with some drops of mineral water or with an ice ball that will melt slowly.
More reviews about this whisky here.
Which is the best 21-year-old blended scotch whisky in 2023?
Chivas Royal Salute 21 Years Old Blended Scotch Whisky: Best whisky gift
It is considered as Chivas´ best-blended whisky for most people.
It was created more than 50 years ago from the rarest Scotch whiskies to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
The range features whiskies that have been aged for a minimum of 21 years in oak casks before bottling in a handcrafted porcelain flagon.
You will taste notes of chocolate, dried fruit, caramel and toasted oak. The finishing offers a subtle taste of white raisins and cherry blossoms.
More reviews about this whisky here.
Which is the best 15-year-old single malt whisky in 2023?
Dalwhinnie 15 Years Old Whisky Single Malt Scotch: Best sipping whisky
The main features of this single malt are intensity and smoothness.
It is an aromatic and sweet single malt with a malty note. It has a gold appearance; the smell mesmerizes like honey and vanilla with hints of heather.
It can be served neat or with still water but could be better with an ice ball that will melt slowly in the glass.
The flavour is extremely malty with notes of honey, vanilla and lemon. The finishing is smoky and earthy.
Which is the best Japanese whisky in 2023?
Suntory Toki & Hibiki Japanese Harmony: best affordable whisky
There is no age declaration, visually is amber gold with aromas like roses, sandalwood, a hint of rosemary and mature woodiness. Best whiskey under 50.
It has been aged in 5 different oak casks, including American White Oak, Mizunara Oak and Sherry barrels. Delicious whiskies around the $50
On the palate is extremely sweet with honey flavour and a touch of bitterness, some palates can sense white chocolate flavour and candied orange peel.
The finish is a subtle, tender long finish, leaving wood flavour. You can drink it in a classic whisky glass with an ice ball or mineral water, it helps to liberate new aromas and tastes.
More reviews about this whisky here.
Buying guide for the best scotch whiskey
As I mentioned before, when you are choosing the best scotch whisky, you always must consider the year, the type, how it was aged, the bottle´s presentation, the smell, and of course, the taste.
Whisky´s origins
There are too many opinions regarding its origin, but a lot of people firmly think that whisky, as we know it, is only from Scotland and is known as Scotch Whisky.
The most sophisticated users prefer Scotch Whisky. Many of the most famous distilleries were born in Scotland.
Some of the most renowned brand names are Lagavulin, Cardhu, Macallan and Glenfiddich.
You will find two different spellings: Whiskey (Scottish form) and Whisky (Irish form). It does not matter, but you must know that the latter corresponds to a bottle aged in the United States or Ireland.
Whisky is produced all over the world. There are countries that have gained a very good reputation for producing quality whisky. You will find great whiskies in Canada, Japan, England, the United States, Ireland and even countries like Taiwan and Indonesia.
Types of whiskies
There are at least 10 types of whiskies. I shall explain the most common so you will always be able to identify them when reading the label:
- Blended Whisky: It was created from the blend of diverse barrels from different distilleries which gives a subtler profile to whisky. It was the first type of whisky that was merchandised around the world.
- Single Malt Whisky: It has only malted barley grain, from only one distillery. It should be noted that the whisky could be aged in different casks.
- Pure Malt or Vatted Malt Whisky: It is a blend; it only contains malted barley grain from different distilleries. You usually will see “Malt” on the bottle´s label.
Ageing
The Scottish law says that all Scotch Whisky must be aged in oak barrels for at least three years.
So, if there is no aged declaration in the bottle´s label, it means the whisky is at least three years old.
When the age is declared, it means that the youngest barrel has at least the age mentioned. That is why you see different prices whether it is identified on the label or not.
If you are a beginner and you are starting in the world of whisky, I strongly recommend you to begin with young single malts that have no aged declaration.
They are subtler, easier to drink, you even should sense fruit flavours in some of them. By comparison, those that have been aged are more complex; the time they spend in barrels give them way more aromas and flavours.
There are too many good whiskies that have no aged declaration. Although it is an important feature to consider, is not always the most important.
Bottle´s Presentation
The standard-sized bottles are 500 ml, 700 ml or 1-litre, depending on the edition.
There are wonderful versions that whisky collectors track down for their collections. Others want to keep the bottle after finishing the whisky.
If you want to go further with the basic features, consider if you want your bottle to be the main attraction at your gathering or in your private cellar.
Smell and taste
Maybe this is the most important topic that we are going to deal with, everybody has different tastes and likes. Most of them come from the time the whisky spends ageing in the oak barrels. It also could be pointed out that young whiskies have a flavour focused on the distillation process.
On the other hand, the whiskies that have been aged for years, have touched the wood more time than young whiskies; hence they have more intense aromas and flavours that could not be reached only with distillation.
You will probably sense smokiness or fruitiness in some of these whiskies. You must also take into consideration whether you add drops of water, ice or another beverage because the taste will change. At the end of the day, you will decide how to drink it and enjoy it.
How to drink the best whiskey?
There is something to make something clear, there is no right or wrong way to drink the best whisky. You will be the one who will drink it and who will enjoy it, that is what matters, although you can follow some recommendations to make the experience more pleasant.
For a better experience visit our article on how whiskey is served.
The best scotch whisky
Pour some whisky in a glass, hold it by the base and inhale it gently, take the time to enjoy the aroma.
Then take a sip and savour it, let it run along the palate for a few seconds.
The whisky will bring to your mind memories and flavours already experienced, everyone perceives different flavours, but some persons tend to feel the same.
Share it with other people so you can experience the fun of tasting whisky.
It is also advisable to clean the palate with cold water before drinking whisky, although the simplest way to drink it is pure.
You will have a wonderful experience looking and tasting for the best whisky; at the end of the day is a personal choice because we are all different with different tastes.
Remember that the key is to experiment, the best way to do it is to drink it. Always with responsibility.
Comparative tables between best scotch whiskies in 2023
 Lagavulin 16 Whisky |  Johnnie Walker Blue Label |  Dalmore 12 Whisky |  The Macallan 12 Whisky |  Chivas Royal Salute 21 whisky |  Dalwhinnie 15 Whisky |  Suntory Toki Hibiki Japanese Whisky | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | 16 Years | No age declaration | 12 Years | 12 Years | 21 Years | 15 Years | No age declaration |
| Type of whisky | Single Malt Scotch Whisky | Blended Scotch Whisky | Single Malt Scotch Whisky | Single Malt Scotch Whisky | Blended Scotch Whisky | Single Malt Scotch Whisky | Blended Japanese Whisky |
| Smell and taste | Peat, smoke, sea salt, sweet, wood, sea algae, iodine | Dried fruits, citrus smoke, notes of honey, sweet spice and vanilla | Seville oranges, dried fruits and hints of vanilla pod | sweet, honeyed and rounded | notes of chocolate, dried fruit, caramel and toasted oak | Cereals, honey, vanilla, lemon | notes of orange peel and white chocolate |
| Summary | Intense, rich, smoky | Velvety smooth and vibrant | ts intricate aromas and flavours, is recognised as a whisky with character far beyond its age | Perfect balance of European and American oak maturation to create a distinctive American oak style | Smooth and flavourful experience | Intense, supple, warm | Delicately balanced, smooth and subtly sweet |
| Price | Price | Price | Price | Price | Price | Price | Price |
Where to buy the best scotch whisky?
In order to find the Bestselling whisky, best selling Japanese whisky, whisky price, buy whisky online, you may click on any of the whisky links and it will redirect you to Amazon.
Amazon offers cheap whisky, good cheap whiskey and sometimes to buy whisky online free delivery.
If needed you can also find a whisky gift set, the perfect gift to a whisky lover.
There’s no way johnnie walker blue, lagavulin 16, or any macallan make a “best value” scotch. Those are all scotches that have inflated prices due to branding. Meanwhile, laphroaig 10 and talisker 10 are still ~$45 in some areas, and are highly regarded as well above average scotches.