6 Rules to Finding an Amazing Single Malt Whisky on a Budget
Written by Menswear Style
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Food & Drink
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4th June 2025
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t actually have to spend a lot of money on a good bottle of whisky. There are plenty of affordable options out there, but the trick is knowing where to find them. If you ignore the most in-demand bottles, which are bound to be more expensive because of their sheer popularity, you can find some amazing underrated single malts that’ll have you wowing your friends and family at parties. Here are six rules to follow when looking for your new favourite tipple.
1. Check out underrated distilleries
First of all, it’s essential that you broaden your horizons when it comes to choosing a single malt whisky. Brands like Lagavulin or Macallan are well known and are therefore likely to inflate their prices as they know people will still buy from them. However, if you’re looking for a budget-friendly bottle, go for a lesser known name. Their single malts are often just as good (or even better!) and you’ll get the added benefit of less demand meaning you can buy as many bottles as you want. If you find a really good option, make sure you buy a few before the price goes up!
2. Don’t discount flagship bottles
While this is going against our first point, we also recommend not ignoring flagship bottles altogether. Some of the most obvious whisky brands are a good place to start if you’re looking for an affordable single malt. While they’ll often have a more luxury bottle that’ll be considered the fan favourite, they’ll most likely have more budget-friendly options, too. For example, Talisker has the 18 as its luxury buy, but its 10 Year Old is still affordable and very yummy. Just because well-known brands have expensive popular products doesn’t mean that they don’t offer good value alternatives, too.
3. Head to North America
Okay, so this might be a little on the dramatic side, but if you have the means or ever find yourself in North America, make sure you check out their single malt selection. With so many more distilleries than the rest of the world, American single malts are usually charged much less than other countries. You can get one of the country’s favourite bottles for just $50! This is much cheaper than Scotland or Australia’s offerings, so if you’re in the market for a bargain, it’s time to start planning your next vacation!
4. Take a chance on strange-sounding brands
Not all great single malts have good identities yet, but that doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t be enjoyed by the masses! If you’re looking for a fab flavour without so much stress on the identity, check out strange-sounding brands. ‘Fishky’, ‘Monkey Shoulder’, and ‘Never Say Die’ are just a few of our favourite single malt whiskies that exceed all expectations set out by their unique names. Just like you should never judge a book by its cover, you should never judge a whisky by its name!
5. Don’t obsess over the age statement
We get it, we’ve been told over and over again that the older whiskies are the best. However, this isn’t strictly true. While age can impact flavour and character, it’s not the be-all-and-end all. In fact, many distilleries are now putting out younger whiskies (think 8 to 12 years), that punch well above their weight, thanks to modern distillation techniques and creative cask management. Also, don’t shy away from non-age-statement (NAS) whiskies, too. These are blended malts of different ages, often delivering a surprising amount of complexity and richness at a fraction of the price of their older siblings. What’s not to love?
6. Join whisky communities and watch for sales
One of the best ways to find budget-friendly single malts is through word of mouth, including whisky forums, social media groups, local tasting clubs, and more. Here you’ll be able to get advice from more seasoned whisky drinkers and maybe even spot local deals where you can get bottles for cheaper. One of the best things about a community is how you can all help each other out and share the love of cheaper, more unheard of whiskies!
Find your new favourite single malt today!
Amazing single malt whiskies don’t have to cost a fortune, but it can sometimes feel like that when the most common are higher in price thanks to their sheer popularity. If you’re willing to put a little more time and effort into searching the market, you can definitely find the best single malt whiskies on a budget. Check out The Whisky Club for amazing deals on lesser known single malts as well as blends. You can also get some incredible advice and fun facts there, so you can wow your friends at your next tasting. Enjoy!
