13 Best Scotch Whiskies Under $100 To Drink
Initially produced in Scotland, scotch whiskies are a popular drink enjoyed by various people across the globe. They are prepared from malted barley and matured in a barrel for a minimum of three years. However, when looking for the best scotch under $100, finding the right one for your palette can be challenging. A good scotch has a smooth, easy-drinking flavor that compliments your palette and gives you a good buzz as well. Some of the top scotch brands like Glenfiddich 12 and Dalwhinnie 15, both of which have honey, floral, and fruit notes are known for their premium quality that makes $100 worth of spending.
Related: Best Scotch Whiskies Under $50
Here’s a list of the best scotch under $100 that you need to try:
1. The Macallan 12-year
The Macallan 12-year scotch is an internationally recognized and well-respected single malt scotch that is matured for 12 years. It’s crafted from 100% barley malt and has a rich and subtle flavor character. The Macallan 12-year scotch contains fruit flavors like raisins and sultanas, as well as oak and spice undertones. It’s a “sipping” scotch, which means it’s best enjoyed neat or with a drop of water to open up the flavors. One of the best scotch under $100 that you can enjoy during celebrations and events.
Macallan 12-Year Average Price: $86
ABV: 43%
Size: 700ml
2. Dewar’s 15-Year-Old
Dewar’s 15-Year-Old is a top-class blended scotch whisky as known as “The Monarch.” A carefully crafted scotch created by Stephanie Macleod with a combination of single malts and grain whiskies. This scotch whisky has a rich and creamy texture, with notes of honey, vanilla, and toffee. The aging process also imparts a faint sense of smoke, giving it a distinct and smooth flavor. This Dewar’s scotch is a sipping scotch that goes well neat or with a handful of ice to bring out its unique aroma. It is famous for its ‘double-aged’ blend making it one of the top scotch whiskies under $100.
Dewar’s 15-Year-Old Average Price: $42.49
ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
3. Cardhu 12-Year-Old Single Malt
Cardhu 12-Year-Old Single Malt is a premium whisky crafted from 100% malted barley. Its distillery is located in the Speyside region of Scotland which produces this smooth and rich scotch. It has a delicate, smooth, and well-balanced flavor along with notes of honey-nut. The aging process of this scotch whisky also imparts a faint smokiness to the aroma, which adds depth to its texture. One of the best scotch whiskies that you can drink neat or with a handful of ice.
Cardhu 12-Year-Old Single Malt Average Price: $52
ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Suggested Read: Best Scotch Under $150 That You Must Try
4. Ledaig 10-Year-Old
Ledaig’s 10-year-old single malt scotch whisky is crafted at the Tobermory Distillery, located on the Isle of Mull in Scotland. This scotch is recognized for its peaty and smoky flavor that is created from 100% malted barley. The blend is matured in oak casks that impart aromas of sea salt as well as a hint of honey and fruits. Unlike other scotches in the market, Ledaig is a distinct and traditional scotch that has 43% ABV and is heavily peated. You can drink this scotch neat or with a good amount of ice in your glass to bring out the undernotes.
Ledaig 10-Year-Old Average Price: $56
ABV: 46.3%
Size: 700ml
5. Laphroaig 10-Year-Old
Laphroaig 10-Year-Old is a single malt Scotch whisky from the Scottish island of Islay. It is recognized for its smokey, peaty flavor profile, which results from the use of malted barley dried over peat fires. Laphroaig 10-Year-Old is matured in oak barrels for a minimum of 10 years, giving it a mellow, rich flavor. It has a high alcohol concentration of 40% ABV and is typically consumed neat or with a few cubes of ice to open up the flavors. It is one of Laphroaig’s most popular expressions and is regarded as a classic Islay whisky.
Laphroaig 10-Year-Old Average Price: $58
ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
6. Bunnahabhain 8-year
Bunnahabhain, unlike other Islay whiskies, is renowned for its gentler, more delicate flavor profile, with an emphasis on the natural sweetness of the barley. This scotch is aged in oak barrels for at least 8 years which gives it a rich, nuanced taste. It contains a 46.3% ABV and is generally consumed neat or with a handful of ice in the glass to bring out the real aroma. The feature that makes this scotch apart from others is that it’s a non-chill filtered single malt, which means it contains no extra ingredients. One of the best scotch whiskies under $100 that you should drink or add to your liquor cart.
Bunnahabhain 8-Year-Old Average Price: $60
ABV: 43%
Size: 700ml
Also Read: Best Scotch Under $200 For You To Drink
6. Caol Ila 12-Year-Old Single Malt
Caol Ila 12-Year-Old is a single-malt Scotch whisky from the Scottish island of Islay. It is recognized for its smokey, peaty flavors, which result from the use of barley malt dried over peat fires. Caol Ila’s 12-Year-Old is matured in oak barrels for a least of 12 years, giving it a smooth and rich taste with a mix of smoke, fruit, and salt. It has a high alcohol concentration (often around 43% ABV) and is typically consumed straight or with a few drops of water to open up the taste. It’s regarded as a quintessential Islay whisky, with a delicate balance of sweetness and salinity and a mild yet powerful smoky taste.
Caol Ila 12-Year-Old Single Malt Average Price: $68
ABV: 43%
Size: 700ml
7. The Glenlivet 12-Year-Old Single Malt
The Glenlivet 12-Year-Old is a single-malt Scotch whisky that is one of Scotland’s most well-known and respected branded scotch. It is famous for its smooth, floral, and fruity flavor profile, which is crafted with the use of high-quality barley and a unique distillation technique. This scotch is matured in oak barrels for a minimum of 12 years, giving it a rich, nuanced flavor with overtones of fruit and spice. It has a 40% ABV which gives you a good buzz and can be sipped neat along with ice. A great scotch under $100 that you should try when going liquor shopping.
The Glenlivet 12-Year-Old Single Malt Average Price: $49
ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
8. Talisker 10-Year-Old Single Malt
One of the best scotch under $100 that you should try is Talisker 10-Year-Old, an award-winning single-malt Scotch. It is well-known for its smokey, peaty flavor, with salt and pepper undertones and a warming finish. It is matured in wood casks for a minimum of ten years, which gives it its particular flavor and texture. It’s a popular choice among whisky connoisseurs and is frequently used in making exotic cocktails.
Talisker 10-Year-Old Single Malt Average Price: $70
ABV: 45.8%
Size: 700ml
9. Chivas Regal XV Old Blended
Chivas Regal XV is an iconic blended Scotch whisky that’s crafted in the finest cognac casks. This limited edition scotch is made up of 15 different single malt and grain whiskies that have all been matured for at least 15 years. The mix is then aged for a further three months in Grande Champagne Cognac casks to give it a distinct and luxurious flavor profile. The finished scotch is smooth and complex, with notes of dark chocolate, dried fruits, and a hint of spice. It is a premium mix that is meant to be consumed neat or on the rocks. Enjoy this on special occasions with your friends and family and you’ll not be disappointed.
Chivas Regal XV Old Blended Average Price: $52
ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
10. Johnnie Walker Green Label
One of the most popular scotch whiskies across the globe, Johnnie Walker Green Label is a premium range blended Scotch whisky with a combination of single malts from four distilleries: Talisker, Linkwood, Cragganmore, and Caol Ila. The Green Label range from Johnnie Walker is a pure malt blend unlike other blends in the Johnnie Walker lineup. This blend is aged for at least 15 years, giving it a rich and complex flavor profile that includes hints of peat smoke, fruit, and spice. It is a premium mix that you can enjoy best neat or on the rocks.
Johnnie Walker Green Label Average Price: $66
ABV: 43%
Size: 700ml
Also Read: Best Scotch Under $300 That You Must Try
11. Dalwhinnie 15-Year-Old
Dalwhinnie 15-year-old is a single malt Scotch popular for its delicate, creamy, and honeyed flavor, with notes of heather, fruit, and a smidgeon of peat smoke. This scotch is aged in oak casks for at least 15 years which gives it a rich and smooth texture. It has a crisp honey flavor profile and is frequently consumed neat or on with a handful of ice cubes. Another great scotch under $100 that you must add to your liquor list.
Dalwhinnie 15-Year-Old Average Price: $77
ABV: 43%
Size: 700ml
12. Lagavulin 16-Year-Old
Lagavulin 16-year-old is a single malt Scotch whisky with a deep, peaty and smokey flavor. It has hints of sea salt, iodine, and sweetness giving it a rich flavor. This whisky is matured in oak casks for a minimum of 16 years, giving it a distinct and complex flavor profile. It is regarded as a premium single malt and is frequently consumed neat or on the rocks. Many whisky connoisseurs regard it as one of the best Islay whiskies available.
Lagavulin 16-Year-Old Average Price: $100
ABV: 43%
Size: 700ml
13. Highland Park 12-Year-Old
Highland Park 12-year-old, often known as Viking Honour, is a must-try single malt whisky. This popular whisky from Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands has been redesigned and repackaged in 2018. It has been aged for twelve years in European and American sherry-season oak barrels. As a result, the whisky has aromas of candied orange peels, cinnamon sugar, heather, honey, dried fruits, vanilla, and faint wood smoke. It’s a well-known bargaining expression for a reason. It’s well-balanced and one of the best scotch under $100 that you must try.
Highland Park 12-Year-Old Average Price: $57
ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Also Read: Your Guide To Heineken Beer Calories & Nutrition Facts
We hope you had fun exploring these best scotch whiskies for under $100. Cheers!
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