Best whisky bang for your buck
- dramtastic
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Best whisky bang for your buck
The whiskys/whiskeys chosen all cost around USD$32 or GBP22 or less here in Australia. Please add your own if not on this list. This may help those of us who can't always afford to spend a s**t load on whiskys.
I have tried to use what are generally considered well regarded whiskys that are currently available at those prices. Please try not to use Specials or one off discounts.
Cheers
I have tried to use what are generally considered well regarded whiskys that are currently available at those prices. Please try not to use Specials or one off discounts.
Cheers
Last edited by dramtastic on Fri Jan 30, 2009 9:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- The Third Dram
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Re: Best whisky bang for your buck
Difficult for me to choose between Aberlour 10YO, Glenlivet 12YO or Johnnie Walker Black Label from your list (the Glenmorangie is quite a bit more expensive in my neck of the woods), so I haven't. It all depends on exactly what sort of flavour profile you're looking for. But if you ever come across any remaining bottles of Longmorn 15YO (even at a modest price premium), then that malt would win hands down.
Re: Best whisky bang for your buck
You can get BNJ and Glen Moray NAS for $30 to $35 AUD so if we're talking BFYB then for me it's one of these two (the others are $40+ as far as I’ve ever found).
I voted for BNJ
I like the GM but I need to be in the mood for a young malt to drink it where as the BNJ really surprised me. It is not an amazing - batter your senses kind of whisky, but it's one of the few I’ve found that is an easy every day drink but also challenging enough for analysis and rewarding enough to bother doing so.
Just be prepared to give it time, I didn't get it until I was half way into the bottle (then again I can be a bit slow sometimes).
Not sure about Chivas 12 being The Pinch though, I thought The Pinch was Haig Whisky/Dimple.
I voted for BNJ

I like the GM but I need to be in the mood for a young malt to drink it where as the BNJ really surprised me. It is not an amazing - batter your senses kind of whisky, but it's one of the few I’ve found that is an easy every day drink but also challenging enough for analysis and rewarding enough to bother doing so.
Just be prepared to give it time, I didn't get it until I was half way into the bottle (then again I can be a bit slow sometimes).
Not sure about Chivas 12 being The Pinch though, I thought The Pinch was Haig Whisky/Dimple.
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Re: Best whisky bang for your buck
Now, if it's smoky you want, then how about this?
I bought a bottle of the Islay blend "Black Bottle" on offer for a little over £10!! To this base, to which i add a mere splash of Ardbeg 10 or any Laphroaig.
bingo! Bang for buck!
I bought a bottle of the Islay blend "Black Bottle" on offer for a little over £10!! To this base, to which i add a mere splash of Ardbeg 10 or any Laphroaig.
bingo! Bang for buck!
- LagaDrinker
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Re: Best whisky bang for your buck
I got the Black bottle for aound £10 too. For the money its great
Re: Best whisky bang for your buck
I'm probably gonna get razzed, but I voted for the 'Fiddich - a nice, solid, underrated easy drinker. I like the Aberlour, too, but I can usually find the 'Fiddich for a few $$ less, hence my vote.


Re: Best whisky bang for your buck
pkt77242 wrote:I voted for Jameson 12 a great smooth sherried whiskey. Though out here Laph 10 and Highland Park 12 are both great for under $40.
Sean
my vote also went for jameson 12 yr. very smooth and a little less sweet than the regular bottling. also, my son's name is jameson, so i may be a little biased...
Re: Best whisky bang for your buck
I voted for Glenlivet 12.
However, one of the best bangs for the buck in my opinion is Finlaggen Islay, which I was recently introduced to: well under $20 US, though not sure if it's available in your area.
Cheers!
However, one of the best bangs for the buck in my opinion is Finlaggen Islay, which I was recently introduced to: well under $20 US, though not sure if it's available in your area.
Cheers!
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Re: Best whisky bang for your buck
I would add Highland Park 12 to this list, as it's widely available at a very good price, and certainly within your price parameters...
Andrew
Andrew
- dramtastic
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Re: Best whisky bang for your buck
Hi Bone Ranger,
My criteria was whisky AUD$55 or under at the time of writing (my conversion rate is from xe.com), so if you can get HP12 for that price it is certainly a contender.
My criteria was whisky AUD$55 or under at the time of writing (my conversion rate is from xe.com), so if you can get HP12 for that price it is certainly a contender.
Re: Best whisky bang for your buck
For the extra $20 above the BNJ or Moray you can get HP 12, Old Pultney 12 or Glenmorangie 10 which are probably your best options at $55 AUD. Not sure where you are in Oz but Dan Murphy seems to have the cheapest prices for standard bottling like these in the Melb Metro area.
You can also get Black Bush for $55 which is a fantastic whiskey to seriously consider.
Glenfarclas 8 is also available at this price but it's too unusual to recommend unless you're a real Glenfarclas fan.
You can also get Black Bush for $55 which is a fantastic whiskey to seriously consider.
Glenfarclas 8 is also available at this price but it's too unusual to recommend unless you're a real Glenfarclas fan.
- lohssanami
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Re: Best whisky bang for your buck
Willie JJ wrote:Knolly wrote:I voted for Glenlivet 12.
However, one of the best bangs for the buck in my opinion is Finlaggen Islay, which I was recently introduced to: well under $20 US, though not sure if it's available in your area.
Cheers!
$20![]()
If you can find it at that kind of price it's definitely worth a try.
Is there a reason you have avoided peated whisky? Some folks have mentioned Black Bottle which is worth a go, but for a single malt Ardbeg 10, or Laphroaig 10 have to be worth a shot. I just have no idea what they cost in your neck of the woods.
I voted for Aberlour, but Old Pulteney 12yo and An Cnoc 12yo would have made the choice much harder if they had been on the list.
Cheers
I chose Aberlour 10, but I would pick Finlaggan (Old Reserve) if it was on the list as it is $17.99 here. In fact, I took one to a poker game last night, and the bottle is almost gone.
Re: Best whisky bang for your buck
I voted for the Glenlivet 12 but as an added note I just got a HP12 for $25 and from Balvenie the DW $32 and 10 yr at $30. I would buy these over your list.
Re: Best whisky bang for your buck
I voted Aberlour 10. Glenmorangie doesn't belong on this list, at least not in my case, as it's around $67 in Ontario.
Actually my favourite budget dram is still probably Famous Grouse 12 pure malt.
Actually my favourite budget dram is still probably Famous Grouse 12 pure malt.
Re: Best whisky bang for your buck
Ganga wrote:It is hard for me to guess what qualifies because the pricing can be quite different. My choice is for the Glenfiddich 12. I find it a very fine malt once it has opened up a bit.
Funny thing is Macallan 12 ($36-45) is cheaper than Glenmorangie Original ($40-50) in these parts. Others that are very good bang for the buck are Damore 12 (<$30), Laphroaig 10 ($30-35), Bowmore Legend (<$30), Balvenie 12 DW ($33-40), Auchentoshan Select (<$35). But I don't know how these fair in your place of residency.
The Macallan 12 is $82 here!
The Balvenie Doublewood just went up to $59.
Dalmore 12 is $65.
Laphroaig Quarter Cask goes for $63. No 10yo available.
In Ontario there are only a handful of malts under $50: Glenfiddich 12, The Glenlivet 12, Aberlour 10, Dun Bheagan Islay 1999, McClelland's Speyside and Islay, Bowmore 12, The Robert Burns Single Malt, Glen Parker...I think that's about it.
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Re: Best whisky bang for your buck
fabulous value for your dollar....Aberlour 10!
Re: Best whisky bang for your buck
I chose Glenlivet 12. Here in PA, it is rather inexpensive. It is easy to drink, and I think it is okay. It isn't the most complex, but it doesn't completely lack character either, especially for the price.
Re: Best whisky bang for your buck
Even though its not on your list, Old Pulteney 12 is my favorite bang for your buck.
Off your list, Jameson 12 gets my vote with 'Fiddich 12 close behind
Off your list, Jameson 12 gets my vote with 'Fiddich 12 close behind
Re: Best whisky bang for your buck
Heh, Chivas 12 is the worst whisky bang for my buck I have ever had. Quite awful stuff. Which is the best? That's a hard question and I'm not sure at this stage. Maybe Black Bottle, although I haven't tried it yet, because it's not available in my area for the present.
- Novice Scotch Fan
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Re: Best whisky bang for your buck
I voted for Glenfiddich 12.
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Re: Best whisky bang for your buck
I didn't vote because my bottle wasn't on the list. I would have voted for either the Ardbeg 10 or Lagavulin 16. Both can be found here for under 40.00 euros! This may seem like a lot to some but considering the quality of whisky it is, in my opinion, great value or "bank for the buck". When I was in the States not too long ago I found the Laphroaig 10yo CS for under $50.00. This also would go on my list, again, because of the quality of the whisky.
Re: Best whisky bang for your buck
Laphroaig 10 in South africa.
- Muskrat Portage
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Re: Best whisky bang for your buck
I wish Frodo was around to address this thread, he is always able to winkle out the best prices going in the Toronto area - the "Frodo Factor".
The best bang for bucks was the Longmorn 15yo that used to be stocked at the LC for around $54.00 Can but it hasn't been around for a while now. Right now it looks to be Bowmore 12 yo at $43.85 including taxes.
Muskrat Portage
The best bang for bucks was the Longmorn 15yo that used to be stocked at the LC for around $54.00 Can but it hasn't been around for a while now. Right now it looks to be Bowmore 12 yo at $43.85 including taxes.
Muskrat Portage
- irishwhiskeychaser
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Re: Best whisky bang for your buck
For me it has to be the Jameson 12 and it is cheaper than most of the listed single Malts here in Ireland. 

Re: Best whisky bang for your buck
My vote goes to the Glenmorangie.
Where I live, Talisker 10 also has great value for 35 euro. Furthermore, sometimes I can get a Laphroaig 10 for 30 euro
And I agree with the Black Bottle, but I like the 10 years much over the regular Black Bottle. The Black Bottle 10 is around 20 euro's in my town.
Where I live, Talisker 10 also has great value for 35 euro. Furthermore, sometimes I can get a Laphroaig 10 for 30 euro

And I agree with the Black Bottle, but I like the 10 years much over the regular Black Bottle. The Black Bottle 10 is around 20 euro's in my town.
Re: Best whisky bang for your buck
irishwhiskeychaser wrote:For me it has to be the Jameson 12 and it is cheaper than most of the listed single Malts here in Ireland.
Seconded

Re: Best whisky bang for your buck
For me it would be either Aberlour, Glenmorangie or the Glenlivet.
I have being thinking about it for several minutes now I cant really decide which of the three I would choose. Maybe the Aberlour 10, good value for money.
I have being thinking about it for several minutes now I cant really decide which of the three I would choose. Maybe the Aberlour 10, good value for money.
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Re: Best whisky bang for your buck
Aberlour would also be my choice. I last bought a bottle in 2007 for £14.66 and even recently it has ben as low as £18. Its a nice sherry alternative to the Macallan 10 ( which i also like ) 

Re: Best whisky bang for your buck
I agree with some that a HP 12 should be on the list. And call me strange but black grouse is not a bad blend a very cheap. 

Re: Best whisky bang for your buck
I find the Aberlour harsh, too woody and hot.
For me it would be Bowmore 12 or HP 12 but from as these aren't listed i'll go for Glenmorangie 10 yo.
For me it would be Bowmore 12 or HP 12 but from as these aren't listed i'll go for Glenmorangie 10 yo.
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Re: Best whisky bang for your buck
I am going to vote for Laph 10.it's $41 USD here in Texas..only $5 more than Glenlivet 12 ..etc. Also HP12 at around $40.
Re: Best whisky bang for your buck
Glen Moray.
Not the most complex of drinks, but bought last night at the local Co-op for £12.99 for 70cl..
Good value me thinks.....
Not the most complex of drinks, but bought last night at the local Co-op for £12.99 for 70cl..
Good value me thinks.....
- Liechtenstein
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Re: Best whisky bang for your buck
For around US$32, Red Breast 12.
Good value for the price.
Good value for the price.
Re: Best whisky bang for your buck
I thought Glen Moray is a fantastic bargain for its "ease of drinking", taste and overall enjoyment! 
As we say out here " It's a damn good sippin' whisky that won't break the bank!"

As we say out here " It's a damn good sippin' whisky that won't break the bank!"
Re: Best whisky bang for your buck
Correction to an earlier reply,
Not the most complex of drinks, but bought last night at the local Co-op for £12.99 for 70cl..
****Should be 1 Litre***** Even better value!
Not the most complex of drinks, but bought last night at the local Co-op for £12.99 for 70cl..
****Should be 1 Litre***** Even better value!
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