Good and cheap whiskeys: the best for less than 50 €
Excellent whiskeys up to 50 euros
Glenfiddich Fire & Cane
Glenfiddich is a distillery known for its fruity and delicate products, certainly not for the smokiness of its whiskeys that are not in contact with peat. Fire and Cane, on the other hand, is part of the Experimental series, which marks a series of experiments of the famous Dufftown distillery.
Fire & Cane is a peaty whiskey that ages in ex-bourbon casks and carries out the 3 months finish in rum barrels. It combines smokiness with sweet and spicy hints to which are added the classic fruity notes of Glenfiddich.
Buy it for € 49,80
Clynelish 14 years old
A delicate scotch whiskey, slightly subtle in the mouth, but also soft with round and welcoming flavors of caramel. The notes of peat dance on the palate - lively and bright - while everything evolves in a game between salty and fruity.A whiskey that changes, evolves as the minutes pass.
The finish is like the taste of sea water in the mouth, then a little smoke, black pepper and lemon zest. Excellent value for money. Buy it for € 48,20
Johnnie Walker Green Label
The only one whisky blended it could only be a Johnnie Walker, one of the best known whiskey brands in the world.
Johnnie Walker Green Label (green label), the nose shows this immediate smoke note that I compare to a Talisker with a touch of dark chocolate.
The palate embodies fruity notes that mix with peppery spice and vanilla that glides and disappears quickly, leaving you wanting more. Throughout there are hints of smoke without overpowering the essence of the whiskey.
Many would pay a lot more to get one balance and complexity in a whiskey. Overall, the Johnnie Walker Green Label offers great value for money at a very affordable price. Buy it for € 45,80
Glenkinchie 12 years old
One of the last single malts of the Scottish Lowlands region, it is characterized by a freshly smoky scent, honey and hints of citrus.
The addition of a few drops of water releases a large amount of lively and spicy lemon on the nose and palate. Buy it for € 45,60
Teeling Single Malt
Teeling is an Irish distillery, not just scotch whiskey therefore, there are also excellent Irish whiskeys (irish whiskeys) that you can buy for less than 50 euros, and this is a really great drink.
Teeling Irish Single Malt is a fantastic example of everything you should find in a good Irish Whiskey.
The nose denotes a complex and crunchy fruitiness, honey, dried red fruit, malty sweetness, caramel and banana. There's a light spice flowing underneath, but overall it's a nice, rich aroma that borders on butter.
When tasted, a soft warm malty sweetness reveals itself and banana melts and reminds of a banana cake. Layers of crunchy apples, honey and a touch of spices and dried fruit make the palate dynamic. Buy it for € 47,50
Cragganmore 12 years
Here is another single malt from Speyside, a small distillery compared to the giants Macallan, Glenfiddich and Glenlivet. Cragganmore, however, differs from the scotch of the great distilleries.
Cragganmore 12 is a whiskey light and "harmless". No smoke, no fruit, just one soft character of cereals and light hints of flowers and nuts. Slightly meaty, although the flavor profile is mostly balanced around nuts. Definitely worth the money, it's a contender for the "mid-range Speyside" spot of your closet, especially if you like nutty flavors instead of the more common honey, apple and heather style of Speyside whiskeys. Buy it for € 44,70
Ardbeg Ten
If you like peat you can't not consider this whiskey, on the contrary, if you've already tried something peaty and didn't like it, stay well away from Ardbeg 10.
Ardbeg Ten is wildly flavorful, the kind of whiskey that makes you realize why people like smoky flavors in scotch, and also reminds you that Scots have been perfecting this style for hundreds of years.
It's a scotch full-bodied. A hint of sweetness enhances the tongue, pure malted grains and woody vanilla. This sensation is quickly canceled by hay smoke, dry algae, slightly bitter coal and dense and woody peat. Although the flavors are intense, they are also very well balanced and tongue burn is minimal, considering its robust 46% alcohol. One could contemplate this smoky complexity for hours. Buy it for € 43,40
Glenfarclas 12 years
Speyside Scotch whiskey, although the company has chosen to bring back Highland on the label. Glenfarclas 12, as well as all the other single malts from the distillery, also comes aged in sherry barrels.
On the nose lemon and orange notes. Good balance. Deep, but not very complex. Very mild sherry influence. A rest in the glass reveals a deeper sweetness and a light hazelnut or nougat.
More citrus flavor than expected on the nose, light, fresh and refreshing. Buy it for € 42,00
Talisker Port Ruighe
Talisker Port Ruighe is a whiskey that has finished its aging in barrels that have previously housed Port wine. Syrupy body. Very hot at first, but slowly resolves into heavy notes of rhubarb, smoked salt, earthy peat and caramelized malt. The port is easily detected with red fruits and a slight acidity. Buy it for € 41,70
Caol Ila Moch
Caol Ila is a Scottish distillery that produces peaty whiskeys, not heavily peaty like Ardbeg or Laphroaig, excellent for those who want to start approaching this kind of whiskey or who simply love “delicate” peat.
Sniffing this Caol Ila Moch, dominates the peat, stained by the ocean and smoky. An undertone of vanilla and light honey perfectly balances the peat. Tasting it reveals a subtle body. Sweet at first, but the sweetness recedes and the peat pervades. Brackish, a hint of tobacco leaf and bonfire smoke are the main flavors. Buy it for € 43,15
