Whiskey is one of the most popular and expensive spirits in the world, but there are also many affordable yet still decent options available for those looking for an inexpensive daily sipper or who are on a tight budget. For a lot of choice without having to break the bank, here’s my list of twelve of the cheapest whiskey brands in the world.
1. Auchentoshan
Auchentoshan has been producing whisky since the early 1800s. It uses only Scottish barley, water from Loch Katrine that’s known for its purity, and distills its whisky three times, not just two like many other Scotch whisky brands. Which is why it’s known for producing smoother and lighter whisky that has a more delicate flavor profile.
Auchentoshan’s range of expressions are complex and nuanced and some have won numerous awards, so we’re not talking cheap and bad tasting whisky here. The following table shows some of the whiskies in their core range and their approximate prices.
| Whisky | Price |
|---|---|
| Auchentoshan American Oak | $49 |
| Auchentoshan Bartender’s | $53 |
| Auchentoshan 12 Year Old | $60 |
| Auchentoshan Three Wood | $84 |
| Auchentoshan 18 Year Old | $153 |
| Auchentoshan 21 Year Old | $234 |
While you may be surprised to see prices of over $100 associated with a cheap whisky brand, keep in mind that’s for 18- and 21-year-old whiskies that are obviously much more expensive than their younger expressions. $60 for a 12-year-old whisky, however, is relatively cheap as is $50 for a no-age-statement whisky.
2. Glen Moray
A slightly younger brand, Glen Moray has been producing whisky since 1897 and also uses only locally-sourced barley and water (it’s near the River Lossie). The brand is known for its excellent craftsmanship and attention to detail and producing whisky that’s smooth and mellow. The following table shows some of the whiskies in their core range and their approximate prices.
| Whisky | Price |
|---|---|
| Glen Moray | $32 |
| Glen Moray Port Cask Finish | $37 |
| Glen Moray Sherry Cask Finish | $38 |
| Glen Moray Chardonnay Cask Finish | $37 |
| Glen Moray Cabernet Cask Finish | $38 |
| Glen Moray Peated Single Malt | $38 |
| Glen Moray 12 Year Old | $43 |
| Glen Moray 15 Year Old | $70 |
| Glen Moray 18 Year Old | $105 |
| Glen Moray 21 Year Old | $208 |
Once again the 18- and 21-year-old whiskies are over $100, but the 12- and 15-year-old expressions are much cheaper, and the no-age-statement whiskies are cheaper still. Having several cheaper no-age-statement whiskies is another advantage as it gives you several to choose from or alternatively, several different whiskies to try.
3. Tomintoul
Tomintoul is a very young whisky brand – its distillery was established in 1964, but while it may not have the long history of some other whisky brands, it has quickly gained a reputation for producing high-quality whiskies with a rich and complex flavor profile. This is due in part to its use of natural ingredients, long fermentation and slow distillation.
The following table shows some of the whiskies in the Tomintoul core range and their approximate prices.
| Whisky | Price |
|---|---|
| Tomintoul Tlàth | $36 |
| Tomintoul Peaty Tang | $50 |
| Tomintoul Cigar Malt | $147 |
| Tomintoul 10 Year Old | $49 |
| Tomintoul 12 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish | $80 |
| Tomintoul 14 Year Old | $80 |
| Tomintoul 15 Year Old Portwood Finish | $74 |
| Tomintoul 16 Year Old | $68 |
| Tomintoul 18 Year Old | $161 |
| Tomintoul 21 Year Old | $203 |
| Tomintoul 25 Year Old | $506 |
| Tomintoul 30 Year Old | $1,202 |
As you can see, Tomintoul produces some very expensive whiskies – one of which is over $1,000, but it also produces several relatively cheap whiskies too, namely the younger expressions and those with no-age-statement.
4. Dewar’s
Dewar’s is a brand of blended Scotch whisky that’s been around for over 150 years, but it quickly gained popularity for its smooth and delicious tasting whiskies and today is one of the best-selling whisky brands in the world. Being a brand that produces blended Scotches, it has developed expert blending techniques to create consistent tasting whiskies.
The following table shows some of the whiskies in their core range and their approximate prices.
| Whisky | Price |
|---|---|
| Dewar’s White Label | $19 |
| Dewar’s Caribbean Smooth Aged 8 Years | $26 |
| Dewar’s 12 Year Old | $33 |
| Dewar’s 15 Year Old | $45 |
| Dewar’s 18 Year Old | $77 |
| Dewar’s 25 Year Old | $251 |
| Dewar’s Double Double Series Aged 21 Years | $109 |
| Dewar’s Double Double Series Aged 27 Years | $123 |
| Dewar’s Double Double Series Aged 32 Years | $150 |
As you can see, as well as producing older and more expensive whiskies, Dewar’s also produce some of the cheapest whiskies out there. Its main expression is under $20, and its 15 and 18 year old whiskies are, relatively speaking, pretty cheap too.
5. Chivas Regal
Chivas Regal is also one of the best-selling blended Scotch whisky brands in the world, although it’s older than Dewars being established over 200 years ago. Today, it’s one of the most recognizable whisky brands in the world and is known for producing high quality blended Scotches that are both smooth and relatively complex with a unique flavor profile.
The following table shows the whiskies in their core range and their approximate prices.
| Whisky | Price |
|---|---|
| Chivas Regal 12 Year Old | $35 |
| Chivas Regal Extra 13 Sherry Cask | $46 |
| Chivas Regal Mizunara | $50 |
| Chivas Regal XV | $55 |
| Chivas Regal 18 Year Old | $83 |
| Chivas Regal Ultis | $190 |
| Chivas Regal 25 Years | $363 |
With 12-, 13-, 15- and 18-year-old expressions that cost between $35 and $83, Chivas Regal is definitely a cheap whisky brand. However, cheap in this case does not mean bad as I discovered when I did a detailed review of the whiskies in their core range. To find out more about that see the article I wrote about whether Chivas Regal whiskies are good, which you can find here.
6. Jura
Interestingly, Jura was founded over 200 years ago in 1810, but production was sporadic, and the distillery changed hands many times over the years. It wasn’t until 1963 that the distillery was rebuilt, and production resumed on a regular basis. Today, Jura produces a range of single malt whiskies, each with its own distinctive character and flavor profile.
The following table shows some of the whiskies in the Jura core range and their approximate prices.
| Whisky | Price |
|---|---|
| Jura Journey | $35 |
| Jura 10 Year Old | $49 |
| Jura 12 Year Old | $57 |
| Jura Seven Wood | $83 |
| Jura 18 Year Old | $135 |
| Jura Aged 21 Years – Tide | $197 |
As you can see, Jura produces several cheaper whiskies. The price of the Seven Wood is understandable considering that it’s aged in seven different casks, the 10- and 12-Year-Old expressions are decently priced for their age and the Jura Journey is about the right price for an entry-level, easy to drink whisky.
7. Johnnie Walker
Johnnie Walker is a world-renowned brand of blended Scotch whisky that was established in 1820. Unlike most whisky brands, it’s not a distillery that makes its own whisky but a brand that blends different types of whiskies, from different distilleries, from all over Scotland to make their own expressions.
The following table shows the whiskies in their core range and their approximate prices.
| Whisky | Price |
|---|---|
| Johnnie Walker Red Label | $22 |
| Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Years | $40 |
| Johnnie Walker Double Black | $48 |
| Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 Years | $67 |
| Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve | $80 |
| Johnnie Walker Aged 18 Years | $95 |
| Johnnie Walker Blue Label | $244 |
With the exception of the Blue Label, Johnnie Walker whiskies are cheap for what they are. This is especially true of the Green Label that’s a 15-year-old, 43%ABV blended malt whisky (blended whiskies contain both malt and grain whiskies but blended malt whiskies contain only single malt whiskies).
On the flip side, Johnnie Walker has also produced several limited and rare expressions that are actually very expensive indeed – we’re talking in the tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars. To find out more, see this more detailed article I wrote about the most expensive Johnnie Walker whiskies, which you can find here.
8. Jameson
Jameson was founded in 1780 so it’s over 250 years old! Today, Jameson is one of the most popular and well-known whiskey brands in the world, with a well-deserved reputation for quality and consistency. In fact, it’s the third best-selling whiskey brand in the world and the best-selling Irish whiskey brand in the world.
The following table shows the whiskeys in their core range and their approximate prices.
| Whiskey | Price |
|---|---|
| Jameson Irish Whiskey | $30 |
| Jameson Black Barrel | $41 |
| Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition | $35 |
| Jameson Caskmates IPA Edition | $35 |
| Jameson Whiskey Makers Series – Distiller’s Safe | $74 |
| Jameson Whiskey Makers Series – Cooper’s Croze | $72 |
| Jameson Whiskey Makers Series – Blender’s Dog | $71 |
| Jameson 18 Years | $156 |
| Jameson Bow Street 18 Years | $180 |
Although the 18-Year-Old expressions are expensive, the other Jameson whiskeys are not. The expressions of the Whiskey Makers Series are relatively cheap for whiskeys created to highlight specific parts of the whiskey making process, as are the Caskmates Editions that are aged in barrels that were previously used to age beer – which prior to that were used to age Jameson whiskey.
And of course, the signature Jameson expression is also pretty cheap.
And once again, there are also several limited and rare Jameson whiskeys that are actually very expensive indeed. To find out more, see this more detailed article I wrote about the most expensive Jameson whiskeys, which you can find here.
9. Singleton of Dufftown
The Singleton of Dufftown brand is named after the town of Dufftown in the Speyside region of Scotland, which is known for its rich history of whisky production. The distillery itself was founded in 1896 by Peter Mackie, a prominent whisky merchant of the time.
One of the unique features of Singleton of Dufftown whisky is the use of worm tubs during the distillation process. Worm tubs are a traditional type of condenser that cools the hot vapor produced during distillation. This gives Singleton of Dufftown whisky a distinctive character and flavor.
The following table shows some of their whiskies and their approximate prices.
| Whisky | Price |
|---|---|
| The Singleton 12 Year Old | $41 |
| The Singleton 15 Year Old | $63 |
| The Singleton 18 Year Old | $93 |
With even their 18-Year-Old expression under $100, their 15-Year-Old expression only around $63 and their 12 Year Old expression only about $41, the Singleton of Dufftown is definitely one of the cheapest whisky brands out there.
10. Speyburn
Speyburn was founded by John Hopkins in 1897, and he produced its first whisky that year so it could bear that date and mark Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.
Hopkins built the distillery in a secluded valley near a freshwater tributary of the River Spey. He knew that its exceptionally pure water would produce a remarkable whisky with a naturally refreshing character. The distillery also has a pagoda ventilator which allows for a constant current of air to flow over the grains.
The following table shows some of the whiskies in their core range and their approximate prices.
| Whisky | Price |
|---|---|
| Speyburn Bradan Orach | $28 |
| Speyburn Arranta Casks | $45 |
| Speyburn 10 Year Old | $33 |
| Speyburn 15 Year Old | $70 |
| Speyburn 18 Year Old | $143 |
As you can see, with the exception of the 18-Year-Old expression, the 10, 15 and no-age-statement whiskies are quite cheap for a high-quality single malt Scotch whisky.
11. Lismore
The Lismore whisky brand is based on the tiny Island of Lismore, which is one of the Inner Hebrides islands around the perimeter of the Scottish mainland. The brand was first created in 1974 by the Lundie family who were successful whisky brokers, so they had access to some amazing cask stocks. Eventually they decided to siphon off some of the very best casks and bottle them under their own brand.
The following table shows the whiskies in the Lismore core range and their approximate prices.
| Whisky | Price |
|---|---|
| Lismore | $26 |
| Lismore 15 Year Old | $53 |
| Lismore 18 Year Old | $68 |
| Lismore 21 Year Old | $114 |
As you can see, all the Lismore whiskies are cheap. $53 is cheap for a 15-Year-Old whisky, $68 is cheap for an 18 Year Old whisky and $114 is cheap for a 21 Year Old whisky.
12. The Famous Grouse
The Famous Grouse (named after the famous red grouse bird which is native to Scotland) whiskies are made from a blend of the finest malt whiskies from Scotland’s most famous distilleries – including The Macallan, Highland Park, and Glenrothes, and high-quality grain whiskies. They have a smooth and rich flavor profile and are popular around the world.
The following table shows the whiskies in their core range and their approximate prices.
| Whisky | Price |
|---|---|
| The Famous Grouse | $24 |
| The Famous Grouse Smoky Black | $29 |
| The Famous Grouse Bourbon Cask | $21 |
| The Famous Grouse Ruby Cask | $28 |
| The Famous Grouse Winter Reserve | $30 |
| The Famous Grouse 10 Year Old | $23 |
| The Famous Grouse 12 Year Old | $42 |
| The Famous Grouse 18 Year Old | $68 |
With their signature expression costing only $24, several no-age-statement whiskies costing between $20 – $30 and their 10-, 12- and 18-Year-Old expressions costing only $23, $42 and $68 respectively, The Famous Grouse is clearly one of the cheapest whisky brands in the world.
