Scotch Whisky can seem a bit mysterious to the new whisk(e)y drinker. Especially because whisky from Scotland is not a monolith by any stretch. There are single grain whiskies, single malt whiskies, blended malt whiskies, blended whiskies (a blend of grain and malt whiskies), peated, unpeated, double cask finishes, limited editions, sherry cask finishes, cask strength versions, and so much more. It’s a lot to take in. And, let’s not beat around the bush here — Scotch whisky is also typically far more expensive than your average American whiskeys like bourbon and rye.

That means that really getting into Scotch whisky includes a whole new vernacular and flavor profiles while dealing with higher price points. Naturally, we want to help with all of that. Below, I’m listing 100 Scotch whiskies (across all categories) that are all under $100 and generally easy enough to locate. These whiskies are the entry-point bottles that lead you to the really good stuff that even the most seasoned expert will love.

Before we dive in, I have to point out that while you should be able to find the lion’s share of these bottles anywhere in the U.S. (I purposefully left out things like U.K.-only releases), some of them will not be on every shelf. I have no idea what distribution is like in your region. Still, these are all quality whiskies that you should be able to find for under $100 generally speaking. Nothing in this life of ours is guaranteed, after all.

Looking at this list, it’s clear that more expensive (while staying below $100) does not always mean better. There are a lot of great Scotch whiskies in the $50-$70 price range that easily beat out bottles at $90 or $100. Part of that is supply and demand. There are simply more whiskies available at that lower price point. Another part of it is age statements. There are some 12 or 15-year-old Scotch whiskies that might cost $99 but simply aren’t as good as blended malts or blended whiskies that cost $60 (but get a higher price because of said age statement). Those single malts might be from big names, but an age statement doesn’t automatically mean high quality in scotch — nor does the price.

As you’ll see from my ranking, some of the best whiskies on this list aren’t the ones that bounce up against the $100 price point I’ve set. It’s all just about which ones are the most refined and well-built. Okay, let’s dive in and find you a great scotch to start your journey!

• The 50 Best Scotch Whiskies Of 2022, Ranked
• The Best Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whiskies Under $100, Ranked
• The Absolute Best Scotch Whisky Between $60-$70, Ranked
• Single Malt Whiskeys From Around The World, Blind Tasted And Ranked
• We Blind Tasted Single Malt Whiskies From All Over The World To Find A Champion

100. Copper Dog Speyside Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $25

The Whisky:

This is a release from Diageo that utilizes a lot of Speyside whiskies. Eight single malts are chosen for this blend to highlight the small region within the Scottish Highlands specifically.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This is classic Speyside from nose to finish with apple and honey dominating the whole way through.

Palate: The palate adds a warm oaty malt and spice next to a very slight nuttiness and maybe a touch of orange marmalade. Imagine an oatmeal-walnut scone with a dollop of that jam on top and you’ll be there.

Finish: The end is short, spicy warm, and slightly honeyed.

Bottom Line:

This is a very high-quality blend that’s perfect for highballs. It’s also the perfect place to start that illuminates my point above — yes, a $25 blended whisky can be good and worth your attention.

99. Clansman Blended Scotch Whisky

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $13

The Whisky:

This blended scotch from Loch Lomond is as bottom shelf as you can get in the U.S. That said, this blend takes barrels of grain and malt whiskies from the famed Loch Lomond distillery and aims them towards a fruity and sweet nature before proofing and blending.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: A slight note of bourbon vanilla shines through on the nose with hints of citrus, almonds, and watered-down honey — kind of like stirring honey into a tepid glass of tap water.

Palate: The palate has a mix of dried fruits — raisins, prunes, and maybe dates — with more watered-down honey syrup, a touch of Almond Joy, and a hint of mulled wine.

Finish: The end leans into the dried fruit and mulled wine spices with a final note of what feels like smoked honey.

Bottom Line:

This whisky won Double Gold at the famed San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2022. Does that make it the best whisky from Scotland, of course not. But big-name medals aren’t the only thing this whisky has going for it. It’s made from Loch Lomond whisky which will be featured heavily on this list (hint, hint, this is actually good at a crazy low price point).

98. Dewar’s Aged 12 Years Blended Scotch Whisky

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $28

The Whisky:

Dewar’s blends malt and grain whiskies from over 40 distilleries with the famed Aberfeldy at its core. The whisky is blended and then aged for an additional six months in oak to marry all the flavors before proofing and bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: There’s a matrix of vanilla, oak, and caramel up top that leads towards malts and Christmas spices with an emphasis on nutmeg.

Palate: That vanilla gets very creamy and a sweet, almost peanut brittle edge arrives with a little dried fruit.

Finish: The mid-palate holds onto that sweetness as the maltiness and warmth come back for a fairly quick fade toward the finish.

Bottom Line:

This is edging toward “on the rocks” territory (which is crazy for this low price) but truly shines as a highball whisky with a real depth to it. That said, you can also take a shot of this with a beer back (preferably pale ale or bitter) and you’ll be all set.

97. Johnnie Walker Black Label Blended Scotch Whisky Aged 12 Years

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $33

The Whisky:

The classic Black Label is a blend of over 40 grain and single malt whiskies from three dozen distilleries in the Diageo stable, including powerhouses like Talisker and Lagavulin. The throughline is that all of the whiskies are at least 12 years old when married into this blend.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Citrus meets spicy Christmas cake and a bit of powdery white pepper on the nose.

Palate: Those wintery spices carry on through the taste as creamy maltiness, caramel sweetness, and dry herbs bounce on your tongue.

Finish: The oak comes in late with a dose of peaty smoke that’s cut by an orange zest flourish on the quick end.

Bottom Line:

This was Johnnie Walker’s entry-point sipper back in the days of on the rocks pours when there were a lot fewer options out there. Today, Johnnie Walker has repositioned this as a highball whisky. It works really well with good fizzy water and fun garnishes — think bitter citrus, dried florals, and savory herbs. And yes, it is actually really good for this price point.

95. Old Parr Blended Scotch Whiskey Aged 12 Years

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $33

The Whisky:

This old-school blend is built around Cragganmore and Glendullan single malts. The whiskies mellow for 12 years before they’re vatted and proofed for this bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: There are cinnamon apple cookies on the nose with a touch of honey, nuts, and dry malt.

Palate: The taste is very malty with a touch of cedar, tobacco spice, and more honey/apple/cinnamon.

Finish: The end is warm, malty, and slightly sweet thanks to the honey.

Bottom Line:

This is just nice and easygoing scotch. It definitely benefits best from fizzy water or cocktail applications but is surprisingly smooth for a $30 bottle of whisky.

94. Ballantine’s Blended Scotch Whisky Aged 12 Years

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $44

The Whisky:

Ballentine’s is a classic grocer-turned-whisky-maker, a tried and true Scottish tradition. In this case, the whisky in the bottle is built from 50 different grain and single malt whiskies that are at least 12 years old. Once those barrels are vatted, the whisky is proofed down to a very accessible 80 proof.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: There’s a nice mix of fresh honey and lush vanilla on the nose next to hints of sweet oak and soft malts.

Palate: The palate leans into the honey with a creamy edge as short hints of wildflowers balance against vanilla creaminess, a touch of holiday spice tied to the malts, and a nice dose of that sweet oak with a lightly charred sense.

Finish: The finish is short and sweet and balances that vanilla and honey cream against florals and lightly spiced malts.

Bottom Line:

This is classic blended scotch. The flavor profile is broad but offers real depth. That all said, this is all about mixing up a good cocktail more than sipping — though it’s fine on the rocks — you really can’t beat that versatility for $40.

93. Buchanan’s DeLuxe Blended Scotch Whisky Aged 12 Years

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $33

The Whisky:

Buchanan’s is making a big comeback. Part of that is due to this expression snagging a Double Gold from San Francisco World Spirit Competiton in 2020; another part is the quality Diageo whiskies in the blend.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The whiskey opens with a real sense of dark chocolate married to bright orange zest.

Palate: The palate builds on that adding hints of vanilla pudding and dark spices next to a cedar woodiness and a little bit of spicy/ chewy tobacco.

Finish: A whisper of peat arrives late and far in the background as the chocolate orange throughline lasts the longest on the fade.

Bottom Line:

This whisky has a long history as a classic “on the rocks” whisky. It’s perfectly suited for cocktails or highballs with good resonance. It’s also one of those that you can pour over some rocks and be content.

92. Johnnie Walker High Rye Blended Scotch Whisky

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $37

The Whisky:

The blend of this new-ish Walker blend is 40% single malts from Diageo’s stable of distilleries — particularly Cardhu, Glenkinchie, and Caol Ila — and 60% Scottish rye whisky aged in American oak. Those whiskies are vatted, proofed down, and bottled with a look toward the American whiskey palate.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose feels like the best of both worlds as a twinge of rye spiciness mingles with sweet smoky notes cut with orchard fruit and a hint of vanilla.

Palate: The fruit drives the palate with tart apples spiked with clove and anise as a buttery caramel sweetens the sip.

Finish: The finish moves on from that sweet note towards a dry sense of woody spices and a touch of dried and smoked apple slices.

Bottom Line:

This is a great gateway whisky for any American whiskey drinker looking to dip their toe into subtle and approachable Scotch whisky. This is so easygoing and enjoyable as a simple on-the-rocks sipper or straightforward cocktail base. The addition of that rye helps this rise above a lot of pours (even more expensive ones) as a stand-out that looks towards the future.

91. Chivas Regal Blended Scotch Whisky Aged 12 Years

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $29

The Whiskey:

Chivas Regal is one of the biggest whiskies in the world, but that’s mostly outside of the U.S. The juice is a classic blend that is specifically built to hit a flavor profile that’s been a hit for generations now.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This feels like a classic blended Scotch whisky from the jump with a nose full of floral honey, caramel, banana bread, and winter spice.

Palate: The palate leans into the creamier side of vanilla with a lush mid-palate full of black pepper, nuts, and dried dark fruits.

Finish: The end calms down considerably with only whispers of that creamy vanilla, winter spice, and malt fading out pretty quickly.

Bottom Line:

This is good whisky, period. Yes, it’s more of a highball/cocktail whisky than a straight sipper. But who cares when it tastes this good for only $30?

90. Compass Box Artist Blend Scotch Whisky

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $35

The Whiskey:

The lion’s share of this blend — 45% — comes from a single grain whisky aged in ex-bourbon from Cameronbridge Distillery. 22% is a single malt aged in ex-bourbon that comes from Linkwood Distillery. The rest is a mix of French oak and ex-bourbon single malts and blended malts from the Highlands, Clyneilish, Linkwood, and Balmenach. Those whiskies are vatted and then proofed down before bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This opens with a very clear and concise note of apple candy with a hint of salted caramel ice cream cut with a touch of eggnog spices.

Palate: There’s a nice maltiness that leans into a creamy vanilla, soft holiday spice mix, butter toffee, and a hint of milk chocolate near the end.

Finish: The finish is warming with a whisper of tobacco next to a woody apple, spice candies (maybe ginger), and a final hint of cocoa and caramel.

Bottom Line:

This is a great cocktail base, especially for a citrus-forward cocktail. It also works really well on the rocks as an everyday, table scotch.

We’re only 10 whiskies in and we already have 10 really tasty and award-winning whiskies that anyone can enjoy. You gotta love Scotch whisky, folks!

89. Speyburn Arranta Casks Single Malt Scotch Whisky

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $45

The Whisky:

Arranta translates to “bold” and this whisky leans into that. The hot juice is aged for an undisclosed amount of time in first-fill ex-bourbon casks (that means this whisky was the first thing to go into those casks after they were emptied of bourbon). Those barrels were then vatted, proofed, and bottled without filtration.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Pear candy and honey lead the way on the nose toward woody spices, light leather, and a hint of sour apple skins and stems.

Palate: The palate is sweet and malty with a drive from pear flesh to pit, skin, and tree with floral honey and wet coconut leading to a hint of creamy vanilla sauce dusted with cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.

Finish: The end leans into pears soaked in honey and nutmeg with a hint of old porch wicker and worn leather gloves on the finish.

Bottom Line:

This is a nice, fruity whisky that leans ever-so-slightly toward mild bourbon notes, making this a good bridge between the two styles. Still, you’re going to want to focus this on cocktails.

88. The Singleton Single Malt Scotch Whisky 12 Years Old

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $45

The Whisky:

This single malt from Diageo is a great gateway to good single malt. The juice is aged for 12 years — mostly in ex-bourbon barrels and a few ex-sherry cask-matured whiskies — before it’s cut with that iconic Speyside water and bottled.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This is a delicate sip of whisky that leans into notes of dried florals and sweet fruits counterpointed by spicy oak and worn leather.

Palate: The palate lets the spice amp up a bit while the fruit touches on both orange oils and orange blossoms with whispers of bourbon vanilla, dried fruits, and fresh honey.

Finish: The end really holds onto that lightness while fading fairly quickly, leaving you with a cedary leather, more of that sweet fruit, and almost creamy vanilla.

Bottom Line:

This is soft and graceful with a bright and fruity disposition. Overall, this works best in cocktails like a Penicillin. Basically, if you’re looking for a perfect and affordable cocktail scotch, this is it.

87. Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch Whisky Aged 12 Years

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $39

The Whisky:

Old Pulteney is all about sea vibes. Their entry-point spirit is aged for 12 years in second-fill bourbon casks before it’s batched, proofed, and bottled.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: There’s a clear sense of creamed honey with a touch of sea spray on the nose.

Palate: The taste really holds onto that creamy honey while notes of wildflowers and oaky spice mingle with malts.

Finish: The end is fairly short and leaves you with a sense of that creamed honey and a touch of spicy warmth.

Bottom Line:

This is a solid and unique single malt that blended sweet honey with seaside vibes, which feels very Scotland. It’s pretty fire on the rocks but really shines in cocktails more. It’s also an essential stepping stone to the wider world of Old Pulteney’s amazing single malts at higher age statements.

86. Johnnie Walker Double Black Blended Scotch Whisky

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $41

The Whisky:

This is Johnnie Walker Black — a slightly peaty blend of over 40 whiskies from around Scotland — that’s been casked again in deeply charred oak barrels for a final maturation. The idea is to maximize that peat and amp up the Islay and Island whiskies’ smokiness.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Clove-forward spice and billows of softwood smoke — think cherry and apple — greet you on the nose.

Palate: The palate has a vanilla creaminess that’s punctuated by bright apples, dried fruit, and more peat that leans more towards an old beach campfire than a chimney stack.

Finish: The spice kicks back in late, warming things up as the smoke carries through the end with a nice dose of oakiness, fruitiness, and sweet vanilla creaminess.

Bottom Line:

This is a nice yet easy peated whisky over a lot of ice. The peat is dialed back a bit but does have a distinct ashiness to it. That means that if you’re peat-curious, then try this. You might be pleasantly surprised!

85. Aberfeldy Single Malt Scotch Whisky 12 Years Old

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $39

The Whisky:

This Highland malt is the cornerstone of the much-beloved Dewar’s Blended Scotch. This whisky is a very accessible single malt that spends 12 years resting in various casks before it’s married and proofed down and bottled.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The heart of the nose is in the mingling of pear and honey with a hint of Christmas spice, especially nutmeg.

Palate: The palate expands on that with a lush maltiness, creamy vanilla, mild spice, and more of that honey and orchard fruit.

Finish: The end gets slightly nutty and bitter with a little water as the honey, fruit, and spice linger on the senses.

Bottom Line:

If you’re making a penicillin, use this. If not, pour this over some rocks and enjoy an easy sipping experience. And if you want to spend more, buy two. This is classic unpeated cocktail malt.

84. Compass Box Glasgow Blend Scotch Whisky

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $40

The Whisky:

This expression is a marrying of whiskies from all over Scotland. 65% of the blend comes from single malts from a “distillery near the town of Aberlour,” Laphroaig, and Clynelish. The rest is part Highland malt blend (from the Glen Moray, Tomatin, and Balmenach distilleries) and a grain whisky from Cameronbridge distillery. Those whiskies were barreled in sherry and bourbon casks with a French oak barrel thrown in too.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose draws you in with this subtle peaty malt that feels more kissed by a hint of smoke than drowned in it in a malting room with a hint of stewed stone fruit.

Palate: The first sip is “malty scotch!” That then leads to dry straw, very mild plum, the memory of opening up a bag of charcoal, and almond shells.

Finish: You’re left with a slightly sweet straw and a buzzing maltiness that is more reminiscent of a cleaned-out fireplace than “smoke.”

Bottom Line:

This is just good. It works as a solid mixer or on the rocks pour. It’s also a very lightly peated whisky that might just get you hooked on the style.

83. Chivas Regal Extra Blended Scotch Whisky Aged 13 Years

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $35

The Whisky:

This expression from Chivas is all about single-barrel aging. The hot juice goes into Oloroso sherry casks for 13 long years. Once those barrels hit the right flavor profile, they’re batched, proofed, and bottled.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose opens with a nice mix of vanilla, caramel, and fresh pear with a thin line of dried apricot and maybe some old vanilla pods.

Palate: The palate stews those pears in very sweet syrup while the malts lean into sharp cinnamon with a hint of roasted almond and maybe even some toasted coconut.

Finish: The end amps up the pear vibes as vanilla and cinnamon combine on a pretty short end.

Bottom Line:

Chivas is the classic “on the rocks” whisky. Still, this has a sweeter edge that speaks to subtle cocktail mixing a bit more than sipping. But again, no one is going to stop you from enjoying this over a glass full of ice cubes.

82. The Glenrothes Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky Whisky Maker’s Cut

ABV: 48.8%

Average Price: $85

The Whisky:

The bulbous bottle from The Glenrothes is all about the sherry. The expression spends an undisclosed amount of years in first-fill sherry casks. When those barrels are just right, the whisky is then batched and vatted before being proofed down only slightly.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: You’re met with candied orange peel spiked with hints of eggnog spices and a touch of gooey pine resin on the nose.

Palate: The taste holds on tightly to that candied orange while adding in a velvety vanilla cream generously dusted with those eggnog spices and a softer touch of almost sweet wood.

Finish: The finish zeroes in on the orange and nutmeg as the vanilla and oak fade away on the slow end.

Bottom Line:

This is a good spot if you’re looking for a bridge between bourbon sweetness and Scotch whisky’s spicy malt. Overall, this is a good on-the-rocks pour that works well in cocktails with a bitter bite. That all said, this is the scotch you buy when you want to get a bourbon drinker hooked on the single malt.

81. Jura Single Malt Scotch Whisky Seven Wood

ABV: 42%

Average Price: $80

The Whisky:

The juice from Jura is aged in ex-bourbon for an undisclosed amount of years. The whisky is then re-casked in seven barrels: first-fill ex-bourbon from the U.S. and Vosges, Bertranges, Jupilles, Allier, Tronçais, and Limousin barrels from France. The ripple here is that all of those French barrels were new (never held wine) when the whisky went in.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: You get a burnt coffee note next to a dark chocolate bar cut with candied ginger and, maybe, a hint of strawberry on the nose.

Palate: Black licorice arrives with a note of burnt orange peels and grilled peaches with a drop of honey next to a wisp of beach campfire smoke.

Finish: The end lingers for just the right amount of time as the distant smoke fades, leaving a hint of sea spray, cacao, and burnt fruit.

Bottom Line:

This is a deep whisky that’s somehow familiar and comforting, thanks to a very easygoing vibe. Overall, I’d mix this into a cocktail where I wanted the whisky to shine.

80. Highland Park Single Malt Scotch Whisky 12 Years Old

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $49

The Whisky:

This is a pretty unique whisky. The distillery is located in Scotland’s far north Orkney Islands. The whisky in the bottle is a classic peaty single malt that spends 12 years maturing in European and American oak, both of which were seasoned with sherry. The whiskies are then married and proofed down to a very accessible 40%.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: There’s a real sense of rich and almost rummy holiday cake full of dark spices, dried fruits, candied citrus, and nuts with a hint of smoke.

Palate: A touch of fragrant honey arrives to smooth out the texture while adding sweetness.

Finish: That smoke pops back in on the finish but it’s more like a chimney smoke from a house a few doors down on a snowy day than a funky peaty smoke from a bog.

Bottom Line:

This is a lovely blend of deeper fruit/citrus flavors with dark peatiness. There’s a sweetness that ties it all together and makes this a great whisky to have on hand for cocktails or sipping over some rocks. It’s also a crucial stepping stone into Highland Park’s higher age statements and deeper blends.

79. Glengoyne Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 10 Years

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $56

The Whisky:

Glengoyne uses unpeated Highland barley that they airdry themselves before fermentation. The uniqueness of this whisky doesn’t end there. They also season their own American and European oak barrels with sherry for six years before filling them with their juice. After ten years of maturation, those barrels are vatted, proofed, and bottled for this expression.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This starts off fairly familiar for a sweet Highland malt with notes of apple candies, butter toffee, and a few chocolate-covered almonds.

Palate: The taste leans back into the apple but it’s more tart and juicy now as minor notes of anise and wet cedar bark lead to a little bit of warm cream sitting on top of a shot of espresso and a hint more of those almonds.

Finish: The finish lets the malts sweeten with a hint of orange marmalade on toast rounding things out.

Bottom Line:

This is another unpeated whisky that’s really going to make your highball shine. It works well in a Scotch old fashioned too.

78. Laphroaig Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky Select

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $56

The Whisky:

Master Distiller John Campbell created this whisky to highlight the diversity of the casking process behind Laphroaig’s classic expressions. The juice is a blend of four casks. Their quarter, Pedro Ximénez, triple wood, and ten-year-old casks are married to create a deeply satisfying bottle of whisky.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The whisky draws you in with hints of red fruit, plums, nuts, and a bit of peated maltiness.

Palate: The fruit leads the way on the palate while the wood leans mildly spicy with a bit of alcohol warmth, Ace bandages, smoked salts, and more of that malt.

Finish: The end lingers as the fruit and wood come together with an ever-so-distant wisp of smoke and Band-Aid.

Bottom Line:

This is an acquired taste that really grew on me. I tend to like this in a penicillin or highball, but it does work as an on-the-rocks sipper if you’re into heavily medicinal peated scotch.

77. Kingsbarns Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky Doocot

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $44

The Whisky:

This whisky is from a new(ish) Lowland distillery in Scotland. The whisky in the bottle is a single malt that was aged in ex-bourbon and ex-red wine barriques (a slightly bigger barrel by a few gallons). Those barrels were vatted and proofed with Lowland water before bottling.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The light nose opens with a sense of banana bread, pineapple skins, and floral honey with a moment of wet brown sugar and pancake batter.

Palate: That pineapple gets sweet on the palate with a sense of winter spice and dark red berries dipped in vanilla-chocolate sauce.

Finish: The fruitiness builds at the end toward more pineapple, mango skins, and kiwi while the spice leans into some soft wood.

Bottom Line:

Again, this is a perfectly good cocktail/highball whisky. It’s also new. The Lowlands have the least amount of distilleries and this new blood is helping reshape the entire scene down there.

76. X by Glenmorangie Single Malt Scotch Whisky

ABV: 40%

Average Price: $29

The Whisky:

This single malt from the famed Highland d