Ten standout award-winning Scotch whiskies to discover
You don’t have to break the bank to find great quality Scotch whiskies – and many of these award-winning drams offer great value for money.
There is so much choice when it comes to Scotch whisky, from sweeter, caramel, cereal-forward grain styles and fruity, spicy Sherry cask-matured liquid, to bold, rich and round editions, and smoky, meaty profiles.
So, where to begin when choosing your next pour?
The Scotch Whisky Masters annual blind-tasting, part of The Global Spirits Masters Competitions (GSMC), is a great indication of quality. All brand prejudice is removed and entrants are judged purely on the liquid in the glass.
These high-scoring Master and Gold medallists made a lasting impression on the judges – and several can be snapped up for under £50 (US$68).
Keep scrolling to discover our pick of 10 award-winning Scotch whiskies.
Eden Mill St Andrews Sherry Cask
Independent Scottish distiller Eden Mill unveiled a single cask series towards the end of last year, beginning with a whisky fully matured in a Pedro Ximénez cask.
After nine years of maturation, the whisky was bottled at its cask strength of 58.3% ABV. Only 252 bottles were created, each priced at RRP £110 (US$139).
The whisky won a top Master medal in the Single Malt: Lowlands – Super-Premium flight. The judges were full of praise for the whisky, noting it was “almost Riesling-oily” on the nose. “The Riesling-esque notes reveal themselves on the palate as intense Amontillado Sherry and it is absolutely fabulous: juicy, aromatic, just a sheer pleasure to enjoy.” Additional tasting notes included baked peach, roasted apricot and oven-baked apples over pastry.”
The Singleton Glen Ord Warm Reunion 16 Years Old
Hailing from the Highlands of Scotland, this whisky was launched in Asia Pacific and went down a storm among The GSMC judges. The small batch whisky was matured in deep charred casks for 16 years before it was bottled at 40% ABV.
The patient wait paid off, as the whisky collected a Master medal in The Scotch Whisky Masters 2025. The judges praised the liquid for its “rich and fruity aroma: raisins, caramelised apple, buttery pastry, and a delicate floral hint”. The palate was “fruity and round, with a dryness towards the finish – moreish.”
Arran Single Malt Sherry Cask ‘The Bodega’
The Bodega was released in 2019, coinciding with the unveiling of Isle of Arran’s redesign of its core single malt range. Typically retailing online for around £55 (US$75), the product offered heaps of flavour for the price.
Notes of “rich, dried fruit and plenty of spice; vanilla custard and nutty notes on the finish” propelled the whisky to Master-medal status.
The Bodega was distilled at Arran’s Lochranza site and matured for seven years in first-fill Sherry hogsheads. It has an ABV of 55.8%.
Buchanan’s Special Reserve 18 Years Old
Showcasing the brilliance of blended Scotch whisky during the blind tasting was Master-winning Buchanan’s Special Reserve 18 Years Old. The judges celebrated the whisky for being “very pretty”.
“Honeysuckle, acacia honey, heather, a bit of grass and wheat bran,” the judges noted. “This would hold itself in whisky cocktails and stand up to dilution.”
The mix of grain and single malt whiskies were aged for a minimum of 18 years in Sherry casks. The whisky clocks in at 40% ABV and retails for around £85 (US$115) a bottle.
Turntable Track 5 – Harder Better Faster Stronger
Glasgow-based whisky blender Turntable prides itself on holding transparency and authenticity as its core values when it comes to blending. Each release from the brand is bottled without chill filtration or caramel colouring, and at a minimum ABV of 46%.
For Harder Better Faster Stronger, part of Turntable’s music-inspired series, the team cranked up the ABV to 59.1% – but kept the balance on point, resulting in a Gold medal for the whisky. It combines Tamdhu aged in oloroso Sherry butts, Dalmunach from first-fill Bourbon barrels, Mannochmore from first-fill Bourbon barrels, Girvan from first-fill Bourbon barrels, and Girvan from ex-Marsala barrels. (The full percentage splits are available on Turntable’s website).
Tasting notes discovered by the judges included “Werther’s Original, lots of toffee and soft fruits, a nutty complexity – it opens up even more with water”. The whisky is priced at just under £74 (US$100) on the brand’s website.
Port Askaig 8 Years Old
Created by Elixir Distillers, this eight-year-old whisky launched as part of a brand refresh in late 2023. Sitting at 45.8% ABV, the whisky carries an RRP of £49.95 (US$61).
Port Askaig 8 Years Old secured a Gold medal in the Single Malt: Islay – Premium heat of The Scotch Whisky Masters.
Tasting notes included “wilted florals and custard doughnuts” on the nose, leading to “an enjoyable malty, savoury biscuit note. Richly fruity, plenty of peaches, green apple and green almonds, the sweet ashy smoke balances remarkably well. There’s a lot to like here.”
Ballantine’s Finest
As its name suggests, this is blending at its finest – and proof yet again that high-quality Scotch whisky can be found at incredibly accessible prices. (This whisky currently retails on The Whisky Exchange for £23.75/US$32 a bottle).
Ballantine’s blends together more than 50 single malts and four single grain whiskies for its Finest bottling. Clocking in at 40% ABV, the judges described this as a “characterful whisky – hints of malt, baked apple, wood spice, and exciting nose”. When sipped, the whisky revealed “fruity flavours, toffee, caramel, spice and maltiness”.
GreatDrams Founders’ Choice Blended Scotch
This blended Scotch whisky was bottled to mark 10 years of GreatDrams, an independent bottling company co-founded by husband-and-wife team Greg and Kirsty Dillon.
The whisky shone in the blind tasting, collecting a coveted Gold medal. One judge commented: “Earthy, herbaceous aroma; lovely soft mouthfeel with rounded fruit and indulgent toffee.” The judges also picked up a whisper of smoke and enjoyed the whisky’s lingering finish.
Founders’ Choice sits at 48.2% ABV and is available for £45 (US$60) via the brand’s website.
The Glenturret 15 Years Old (2025 Release)
Lalique Group is the owner of The Glenturret Distillery – and the 2025 edition of its 15-year-old whisky took home a coveted Master medal this year. The award was given in the Single Malt: Speyside – Single Cask flight for the whisky’s “rich profile with complex roasted nuts, and rich sweetness”.
The Highland whisky is bottled at 46.5% ABV and retails for around £160 (US$216) online. It demonstrates the interplay of European and American oak in maturation. The distillery said the long maturation period in European oak enhanced fruitcake and spicy flavours, while the American oak brought some sweeter hints of honey and vanilla.
Old Parr 18 Years Old
Each batch of Old Parr 18 Years Old is created from malts hailing from Cragganmore distillery. The whisky sits at 40% ABV and secured a Gold medal in The Scotch Whisky Masters.
The judges described the liquid as having “lovely depth, mellowness and lovely balance”. Additional tasting notes include nuts, apple, vanilla and a little peppery spice.
This whisky can be hard to come by, but typically retails for around £175 (US$236) a bottle.
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