Best Scotch Under $50

A fitting tribute to a great name. Lagavulin is one of those classic Scottish single malts every true Whisky buff has to try. The story began in 1816 on the windy island of Islay, when John Jonston and Archibald Campbell first opened the distillery. They’re famous for their extra-long, “low and slow” distillation, which produces exceptionally smooth and flavorful Whisky. The thing with Lagavulin is, you most probably either love it or you hate it. The strong peat flavor tends to divide opinion. But we can almost guarantee - if you like your malts smoky, you’re gonna adore Lagavulin.  The Lagavulin 8 Year Old definitely possesses that full-on Lagavulin taste. We would even argue it’s even peatier and more intense than the classic 16 YO flagship. Inspiration for the bottling came from Alfred Barnard, renowned historian and Whisky explorer, who tried a similar 8 YO Lagavulin back in 1880 and described it as “exceptionally fine.” We must say, we agree with Mr. Barnard. The Whisky is matured in ex-Bourbon casks and bottled at 48% alcohol. It’s a beautiful example of the amount of depth a relatively young Whisky can achieve with master distilling and casking. Last but not least – Lagavulin at this price point? It’s a no-brainer, really.  

In what could be our favorite Single Malt limited release from The Glenlivet without the risk of jail-time. George Smith was running an illegal still on the estate of the Duke of Gordon in the wee early 1800’s — to whom he covertly supplied the occasional dram. The Duke sponsored legislation in 1823 that made whiskey distilling legal in the UK, it just so happens that George Smith was the first one granted a license. Total coincidence. Today The Glenlivet is one of the “Big Three” Single Malt producers. Their Whiskies are Speyside in both location and character and the water for the mash comes famously from “Josie’s Well” nearby. The Glenlivet produces a wide variety of Single Malt agings and cask combinations, with the remaining spirit serving as an indispensable component in some of the most famous blends. When Glenlivet decided to try to recapture the flavor and feel of George Smith’s original Single Malt — you know, the one that may or may not have been distilled in secret — they could have decided to name the limited edition “bootlegger,” scofflaw,” “tax dodger,” or “fugitive.” But they ultimately chose a different direction. The Glenlivet 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky is fundamentally the classic Single malt we all love. But it’s been aged a full twelve years and bottled at a stunning 48% ABV without chill-filtration so it tastes even more Glenlivet-y, more Speyside-ery and definitely more legal-ish.

All hail to the Monarch. It all started in 1846 when John Dewar Sr. laid the foundations for this famous brand. While he was known as a pretty good Whisky blender, the actual breakthrough happened after the company passed on to his sons. Not to exaggerate, but they truly turned out to be a duo of impressively fruitful apples that took the legacy of their father’s company to the very top of the ladder. How? With propelling the brand into the global market, a brilliant marketing strategy, a meticulous attention to detail, and by just casually pioneering the concept of “marrying” — assembling a blend and then returning it to the cask to homogenize together. Today the brand lies in the hands of Bacardi, but their logo still remains a Celtic truth knot, made out of three D’s that symbolize the legacy of John Dewar and his two sons — John Alexander Dewar and Tommy Dewar. Their 15-Year-Old blended Scotch is the first one that was created by the Master Blender Stephanie Macleod. It’s a wonderfully balanced expression that’s matured in Sherry and Bourbon casks before getting blended together— and you how it goes... first comes the blend, then comes marriage in selected oak casks, then comes an exceptionally smooth Whisky. And, fitting to its regal name, this Monarch surrounded itself with some of that bling-bling as well, winning a gold medal for two consecutive years at the International Spirits Challenge for the best Blended Scotch between 12 and 20 years old.

A ticket into the wonderful world of Aberfeldy. Aberfeldy Distillery was founded by John Dewar & Sons, Ltd. in 1896, they opened their doors in 1898. It sits on the eastern outskirts of Aberfeldy, on the southern bank of the upper Tay. Aberfeldy sources its water from the Pitilie Burn, which runs alongside the distillery and is rich in alluvial gold. You won't find any nuggets in the bottle, but it is at least known to be exceptionally pure. Needless to say, these laddies make a pretty damn decent drink. Oh, and they are partnered with local beekeepers as well, raising awareness one hot toddy at a time. The Aberfeldy 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky comes from the Last Great Malts series and is a great showcase as well as the perfect entry point into the lineup. It's a Highland Single Malt made from 100% malted barley that has spent its dozen years in American oak ― some ex-Bourbon, some ex-Sherry. Fruity & creamy, full-bodied, and well balanced, it's a treat for the senses that is bound to make you want to delve deeper into Aberfeldy. 

There’s just something special about a Sherry finished Highland Single Malt.   If we set out to find the oldest brewing and distilling spot in Scotland, Tullibardine would definitely be in the running. Back in the 15th century, King James IV — a young, strapping man — stopped in to the local brewery here on the way to his coronation. The old brewery was transformed into a distillery back in 1946 and has become a solid maker of Single Malt Whisky. They produce their signature Whisky, several finished "double-wood" Whiskies, and some older limited editions. Tullibardine has a unique naming system for their finished wood Scotch Whiskies. They call their standard single malt "Sovereign" and is a marriage of young and older Whiskies. The finished wood products are aged one more year in various barrel types and named for the size of the finishing barrel. Tullibardine 500 Sherry Finish is so-called because the Sherry casks are traditionally 500 liters in size. And if you don’t mind us saying, there’s just something special about a Sherry finished Highland Single Malt. In 2019, it was one of the most liked expressions in our community, earning it a 2020 Flaviar Award. Smartass Corner: The name Tullibardine means "vantage point" in Gaelic and originates from the name given to a little medieval chapel on a hill near the distillery that dates back to 1446.