Don’t Count Out Lesser-Known Distilleries

When talking about whisky, you’ll all likely have heard of names like Lagavulin, Glenmorangie, Macallan, Dalmore, and Johnnie Walker. These are established brands and established distilleries in the whisky biz. As a result, many of their expressions come with a price tag to match.

Don’t get me wrong, these are all exceptional producers but many of their whiskies can be pretty pricey. If you’re on a budget, it’s definitely worth checking out some lesser-known distilleries. 

Distilleries which are lesser known tend to offer more affordable whiskies as there is less demand. This is nothing to do with the quality, it’s just that they’ve not yet been discovered on a large scale. I’ve tried whiskies from smaller distilleries that have been every bit as nice, if not better, than those from established distilleries. Best of all, they were far more affordable. 

Don’t Shy Away from Blended Whisky

Often, you’ll find that blended whiskies are more affordable than single malt whiskies. There are numerous reasons for this, but primarily it’s due to the fact that blended drams contain grain whiskies, which are cheaper to produce. 

There are heaps of blended whiskies out there which cost considerably less than single malts. Johnnie Walker Black Label for example, is an award-winning blended whisky that is beloved all over the globe. Prices vary, but typically it costs between twenty and thirty quid a bottle. At that price and that quality, you really can’t grumble. 

Take a Look at Flagship Bottlings

While I might be contradicting myself a bit here, as I previously advised you to avoid brand names to keep costs low, flagship bottlings from established distilleries can save you a considerable amount of money. 

Flagship bottlings are tried and tested, established whiskies that are both popular and affordable. Often referred to as ‘entry-level expressions’, these whiskies may not be as luxurious and decadent as other whiskies in the distillery’s ranges, but they’re still very popular and more importantly in this instance, very affordable. 

Again, using Johnnie Walker as an example, their Red Label is considered their flagship bottle, which can be picked up for between £15 and £25 on average. 

Don’t Be Put Off by Younger Whiskies

Usually, not always, but usually, you’ll find that older whiskies tend to be more expensive than younger whiskies. A 25-year-old single malt for example, will likely be more expensive than a 7-year-old dram. Because of this, people often assume that older whiskies are always going to be superior. That is not always the case. 

When choosing a whisky on a budget, don’t discount a younger whisky, just because it hasn’t been aged for as long as other, more expensive whiskies you’ve had your eye on. Sometimes, younger whiskies taste just as good, if not better, than much older, more matured whiskies. NAS (Non-Age Statement) whiskies should also not be ruled out for these very same reasons. 

Keep An Eye Out for Sales

Finally, if you’ve been eying up a whisky for a while but have been put off by the price, keep an eye out for any sales or deals that may be running. 

Check regularly to see whether or not the whisky you’ve been considering is on sale. If it is, if it’s within your price range, go ahead and snatch it up before the deal ends. 

If you’d like to learn more about your favourite whiskies, or simply treat yourself to a dram or two in the process, head on over to GreatDrams.com and be sure to take a look at what we have to offer. 

With an impressive selection of limited-edition, rare, affordable, and award-winning whisky, as well as heaps of whisky info on our blog, it’s the perfect spot for any whisky lovers out there.