Whisky Guide > Buying Guide > WLA Best Whiskies Under $100
WLA Best Whiskies Under $100
In Whisky Lovers Australia (our place for talking about whisky), the group constantly gets asked, 'what are the best whiskies under $100'. So we took a poll and here are the results!
GlenDronach 12 Year Old - Single Malt Scotch Whisky
It's no secret that we're big fans of GlenDronach, but we're far from unique in that regard, as a lot of 'serious' whisky drinkers already know it's some of the best (value and balance) sherried whisky out there.
Aged for 12 years in ex-Pedro Ximenez (sweet) and Ex-Oloroso (dry) Sherry casks, bottled at 43% ABV without colouring or chill-filtration, the GlenDronach 12 is a perfect introduction to Sherry cask single malts (one of our broad categories for single malts) or to premium whisky in general.
It has a great balance of the 3 major contributions to the overall flavour of a whisky (the spirit, the cask, and the liquid that was aged in the cask before the spirit was put in to it), in that it's young enough to still contain the malty flavour of the spirit (think sweet grains), old enough for the oak influence to take shape and aged in Sherry casks where the influence is prevalent but now overpowering (think hints of raisins and savoury, dessert spices).
For all that it comes with an RRP of $99 and is commonly available from $80!
Nose: Surprisingly fruity (just like us!) with mild citrus notes, ripe pears, dark honey, lathered in rich Christmas cake dried fruits.
Palate: Rich dark fruits again with hints of toffee apple, old dusty library. Christmas in all the right ways (fruit cake, peels, sherry). Throw in some butter and chocolate and we’re there!
// Heath Lawrence - The Whisky List
Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old - Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Made on Islay as a predominantly unpeated spirit, Bunnahabhain has established a rabid following in some sectors of the whisky community. One of the key differences (at least by the distilleries reckoning) is the fresh spring water source they use which has no peat content.
Ther 12 year old bottling, having been originally launched in 1979 (happy 40th!) means that older versions are still floating around but we're talking about (and drinking too much of) the most recent iteration bottled at 46.3%. The 12 year old is double matured in ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry casks for a minimum combined total of 12 years (as the name suggests), is non chill filtered and has no colouring added.
Nose: Salted caramel drizzled over fresh, tart red apples. Dried fruits (as mix of dark and light). Very enticing (made me drool slighty)
Palate: Have yet to come across a whisky drinker who doesn't like this dram (but a lot who won't shut up about it). Super delicate smoke and salt, wood, creamy vanilla fudge and lightly caramel coated popcorn, entwined around dried fruit notes. A subtle hint of sulfur (although it might not be so sublte for others as I am partly sulfur blind).
// Heath Lawrence - The Whisky List
Ardbeg 10 Year Old - Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Located on the south coast of the isle of Islay, this distillery sits amongst some true titans of whisky holding its own for over 200 years. Though it may be divisive, with its polarising mix of sweet swamp and smoky sea, Ardbeg 10 is a beloved mainstay on many people’s shelves. Ardbeg, as with most Islay whiskies, is an acquired taste but if you come to enjoy it you will praise its gifts – as many know, all it takes is a single glass of the 10 to be coerced into the Cult of Ardbeg.
Aged for 10 years in ex-bourbon barrels, this single malt is bottled at 46% abv, is non-chill filtered, all-natural colour, and presents at a respectable 55 ppm. This beast is a perfect example of what peat can be – so grab a bottle and cut your teeth with this peated monster. Colour: Light, faint yellow, almost straw.
Nose: Smouldering beach campfire, stormy sea air, lime zest, charcoal, wet eucalyptus leaves, white wine, soft vanilla. This is a deep, soggy, briny assault with some contrasting high notes.
Palate: Peat, nectarines, grapes, fresh grainy pear, saltwater, vanilla, some barley notes, black pepper, liquorice root, faint caramel chews.
Finish: Long and smoky, thins but lasts. Aniseed and pear, menthol, slivered almonds, and traces of soft barley, falling to just wet grassy/leafy notes and continued smoke.
// Jacob Hosking - Whisky Lover
Ledaig 10 Year Old - Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Anybody who knows me knows I LOVE Ledaig (and not just because of the fact I can nab a bottle for under $100!). Ledaig is made on the oft-forgotten Isle of Mull, just north of Islay. As the one and only distillery on the island, they make both peated and unpeated styles of whisky there. Ledaig is the name given to their heavily peated malt, but despite its heavy peat it is an incredibly creamy and quaffable dram.
Their unpeated malt, Tobermory, is also a standout whisky but it’s Ledaig that has found itself with a hardcore underground fanbase amongst the whisky community. The characteristics in the unaged spirit lend themselves perfectly to both bourbon and sherry maturation and the core range 10yr old is no exception.
…Did I mention how much I love this whisky?
NOSE: salted Chantilly cream, hot sandy beaches, and an atmosphere of a mechanics shop – metallic, warm and oily
PALATE: sizzling sauna rocks, lemon curd, true happiness and a touch of lanolin
// Emma Cookson - Bartender, Whisky & Alement
Talisker 10 Year Old - Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Considered one of the “King o’ Drinks” by the famous writer Robert Louis Stevenson, this dram from the Isle of Skye is one of the most recognizable whiskies in the world. Situated on the inlet of Loch Harport the coastal atmosphere plays a big role in the flavour profile of Talisker, highlighting the importance of terroir on whisky. The gentle peating process used at Talisker makes it an incredibly approachable peated whisky, especially for those wanting to dip their toes into the daunting waters of heavily peated whiskies.
This one is a crowd-pleaser that peat-heads and those new to the category can both enjoy.
NOSE: nori dried seaweed, fresh baked bread and stone fruits
PALATE: salt licks and sea spray, hot heather flowers, ironbark honey on damper bread
// Emma Cookson - Bartender, Whisky & Alement
Redbreast 12 Year Old - Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
Redbreast 12 is the whiskey that really opened our eyes (and palates, wallets and minds) to Irish Whiskey as a serious option for a good sipping whiskey. Made traditionally like most Irish Whiskey from a mix of malted and green (un-malted) barley, in a copper pot still (not traditional, but extra points) and then aged a minimum of 12 years in a mix of ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks, Redbreast 12 ticks all the boxes and then some.
Nose: One of the best Irish Whiskies to nose. Creaming Soda, White pepper, rye bread and and a ‘fruit tray’ aroma.
Palate: Dried fruit (apricots and sultanas), liquorice on the back, malty toffee and sherry everywhere else. Unctuous, oily and big in all the right ways.
// Heath Lawrence - The Whisky List
Clynelish 14 Year Old - Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Clynelish 14yr Tucked away on the north-eastern coast of the Highlands, Clynelish boasts a unique waxy characteristic partially due to the naturally occuring oils that they keep in their stills. When Clynelish was initially founded it was only available to private customers and was known as "the highest priced of any Scotch Whisky".
Nowadays it's a much more accessible dram for all whisky lovers! The 14yr expression is a classic vatting of Sherry and Bourbon casking, and the lightly peated malt gives this whisky a beautiful balance to it's sweetness.
NOSE: scotch-finger biscuits, honeydew melon and a touch of volcanic minerality
PALATE: chewy honeycomb wax with bright orange zest and oaky, earthy vanilla beans. A sumptuously sweet sipper without the sugar rush!
// Emma Cookson - Bartender, Whisky & Alement
Lagavulin 8 Year Old - Single Malt Scotch Whisky
It’s tasty. Drink it neat, with ice or Ollie’s pick - frozen Maccas coke on a hot summers day. Game. Over.
Makes everything it touch smokier.
Seriously though, Lagavulin has a huge cult following and for good reason. It's damn tasty. Unlike other distilleries, they seem to be doing a reverse age statement race. The Laga 16 year old has been around forever, then they released a cask strength 12 year old. The Laga 8 was originally launched as a limited edition bottling to celebrate Lagavulin's 200th (bicentenary) anniversary, but has since been added to the distillery's core range. Which is cause for celebration as it's damn tasty and easily the whisky I regularly reach for under $100. Would guess this is entirely from ex-bourbon casks.
Nose: Unmistakably a bold Lagavulin on the nose, lots of smoke with the welcomed addition of salted popcorn, white pepper, fresh hay and refined sea-spray.
Palate: Fresh, sweet and smokey (add couple drops of water to make it sweeter to taste), dry wood, burnt brown sugars, hint of citrus and juicy vanilla, kelp, and spice on the finish, medium length.
// Oliver Maruda - The Whisky List
Kilkerran 12 Year Old - Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distilled at the Glengyle distillery in Campeltown which was resurrected in the early 2000’s by the the modern day owners of Springbank, J & A Mitchell & Company.
The Kilkerran 12 is the first core release from Kilkrerran, and it continues the J & A Mitchell & Company philosophy of non-chill filtering and natural colour. Lightly peated in makeup and aged in a combination of bourbon and sherry (70/30 respectively). Reminds us of Highland Park 18 in all the good ways, but at a much sharper price point (and very much its own beast)
Nose: Quintessential Campbeltown goodness - soot, toasted marshmallows, tiger balm, Christmas pudding and a lot of damp oak.
Palate: Marmalade toast up front, honeycomb (wax included) and McVitties biscuits with a dollop of vanilla syrup. Marshmallows on the nose have morphed into a salty lemon meringue by the end.
// Heath Lawrence - The Whisky List
Bruichladdich Port Charlotte 10 Year Old - Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Arguably the most difficult to pronounce distillery on Islay, this distillery is best known for their three different products, lightly peated Bruichladdich, heavily peated Port Charlotte, and insanely peated Octomore (reigning champion of peatiest whisky in the world).
The Port Charlotte 10yr took over from the previous core expression, Port Charlotte Islay Barley, and quickly found itself as one of the most popular Islay drams, most recently winning Whisky of the Year from the illustrious Whisky Exchange. Bruichladdich distillery prides itself on their community spirit and they are currently the largest employer on the small island, with almost all their barley farmers, distillation team, and admin team being locals. And if that’s not a wholesome legacy to get behind, I don’t know what is!
Nose: smoked brie cheese, nutmeg and glacé lemon wheels with a hint of ash
Palate: spiced custard, lemon balm, oyster shells and beach walks
// Emma Cookson - Bartender, Whisky & Alement
WLA Best
"twl/WLA Best Under $100"
TWL Top 10
"twl/Top 10 $100"
User Top Rated
"over 10 reviews" "from $75 to $125" "sort by rating descending"