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Top 10 best value for money Scotch whiskies

The Scotch whisky category is flying high, with exports finally returning to growth in 2016. From single grain to Islay single malt, SB presents the best value for money expressions on the market.

The Spirits Business held its annual Scotch Whisky Masters last month, where an experienced panel of judges recognised the best bottlings in the business.

Looking across multiple categories, from single grain to blended malts and regional single malts, a wide range of Scotch whiskies were awarded the top accolades of Master and Gold medals for their quality.

The individual scores of each entrant have not been revealed, however these are 10 of the highest rated medalists in the competition, in no particular order.

While some expressions are not standard priced, our judges have given each Scotch whisky listed here the seal of approval for offering excellent quality within their respective price categories.

Click through to the following pages to view the top 10 best value for money Scotch whiskies of 2017.

Aberlour A’Bunadh Batch 57

Price: £49

Bottled at 60.7% abv, Aberlour A’Bunadh is one of two expressions to claim a Master medal in a bumper flight of Speyside – No Age Statement. Made with whisky drawn from Spanish oloroso Sherry butts and bottled at cask strength, the bottling is described as having “fruit and nut” flavours with layers of “chocolate and Christmas spices”.

Balbair 1990

Price: £102

Moving into Scotland’s Highlands and Islands single malts, Balblair 1990, the only expression in the Ultra Premium category was deemed a Master. One judge described it as having “a lot of layers, and a lot going on” without being “unbalanced”. Distilled in 1990, it was set aside to mature in ex-Bourbon casks, then 21 years later, the whisky was moved over to oloroso Sherry butts for the last two years of maturation.

Port Ellen 33 Year Old (That Boutique-y Whisky Company)

Price: £999.95

Bottled at 47.5% abv, Port Ellen 33 Year Old is the sixth batch of Port Ellen independently bottled by That Boutique-y Whisky Company, and the first to boast an age statement on its label from the closed Islay distillery. Described as “tremendously good” by one judge, the bottle’s label features Jon Beach of Fiddler’s Whisky Bar, looking out to sea with his filling pipe by his side.

Dewar’s Signature

Price: £180

Moving on to the Blended: Ultra Premium flight, a Master was awarded to Dewar’s Signature, which was praised for its “creamy” mouthfeel, sweet/floral palate and tremendous balance. Dewar’s Signature is crafted by blending together “the rarest of rare whiskies from across Scotland”. The backbone of the whisky is a 27-year-old single malt whisky crafted at Aberfeldy Distillery.

Chivas Regal Ultis

Price: £165

One of two expressions to grab a Master in the Blended Malt: Ultra Premium flight, Chivas Regal’s first blended malt Scotch whisky contains liquid from five Speyside distilleries – Tormore, Longmorn, Strathisla, Allt A’Bhainne and Braeval. The Chivas Brothers-owned brand claims less than 1% of its casks are individually selected by Chivas Regal’s blending team to create Ultis.

The Glenlivet 18 Years Old

 

Price: £63

Deemed “exquisite” and “honey and golden syrup­-led” by our expert judging panel, The Glenlivet 18 Years Old grabbed a Master in the Speyside: Aged 13­-18 Years category. The classic Speyside dram is described as “full and rich” with notes of “manuka honey and walnut”. The expression goes through a combination of cask types, including both first and second-fill American oak and ex-Sherry oak.

Glenfiddich 12 Year Old

Price: £25

Bottled at 40% abv, Glenfiddich 12 Year Old is carefully matured in American oak and European oak Sherry casks for at least 12 years, then mellowed in oak marrying tuns to create “sweet and subtle oak” flavours. It certainly didn’t disappoint the judging panel who proclaimed it a Master in the Speyside: Aged up to 12 Years flight.

Benromach 35 Years Old

Price: £450

Described as an “exceptional” whisky and “very high quality”, Benromach 35 Years Old is matured in first-fill Sherry oaks and has notes of “cinnamon and beeswax polish, stewed pear and a delicate charred Oak edge”. The whisky was crafted at the distillery before the Urquhart family, owners of leading whisky specialist Gordon & MacPhail, revived it in 1998.

The Balvenie PortWood 21 Year Old

Price: £136

Bottled at 40% abv, The Balvenie PortWood 21 year old single malt whisky is a blend of rare Balvenie transferred to Port casks, or pipes, which have held fine Port wines. On the nose, it is described as a “perfume of fruity and ripe raisin notes, backed by a nutty dryness”, while on the palate it is “creamy and silky with fruit, honey and spice notes”.

Oak Cross

Price: £43.99

Winning a Master medal in the Blended Malt: Super Premium flight was Compass Box’s Oak Cross. One judge said: “A lot of care has been put into the blending – it felt deliberate”. The name Oak Cross comes from the use of both American and French oak in the maturation of this whisky. Bottled at 43% abv, the “refined, rich” whisky has notes of “baked apple or pears, complemented by a rich, toasty oak character”.

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