When building a selection of whiskies at home—whether for yourself or to entertain guests—variety is an important consideration. If your budget is more limited and you’re just starting out with spirits, this list offers a wide range of options to help you explore different styles from around the world.
After extensive research, I believe I’ve put together a fantastic selection of whiskies that you can mix and match for around $100. Some choices might push you slightly over budget, but let’s get on with it!
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Scotch Whiskies
Glenmorangie 10 Year Old
BUY NOW: $34
A classic! The Glenmorangie 10 Year Old has technically been replaced by a 12 year old offering, but the two taste almost identical and are priced the same. If you come across a 10 year old bottle in the wild, don’t hesitate to pick it up—it will likely cost less than the listed price.
Glenmorangie is all about delicate flavors, with notes of caramel, pineapple, toffee, and a hint of coconut. It’s a smooth, easy-drinking Highland single malt with no peat. As a brand, Glenmorangie offers a wide range of cask-finished expressions, making it a great way to explore how different cask types influence a well-made base spirit.
The Glenlivet Caribbean Reserve
BUY NOW: $30
Another brand with a vast range of whiskies to explore. The Glenlivet is one of the “big three” in Scottish whisky, alongside Glenfiddich and The Macallan. While The Glenlivet has long been known for its age-stated expressions, its non-age-stated (NAS) single malts have also received widespread praise from whisky lovers around the world.
If you have a sweet tooth, this rum cask-finished Speyside whisky is a great choice. It’s packed with notes of brown sugar, tropical fruits, and gentle molasses, all complementing The Glenlivet’s naturally sweet, green apple character.
Glen Moray Peated Cask
BUY NOW: $28
The biggest challenge when working within a budget was finding a solid peated option. You could always go for a bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label or a similarly peated blended scotch whisky. However, if you prefer to stick with single malts, these options stand out as the most affordable by quite a margin. Of course, you can always balance your budget by spending more on one bottle and less on another.
This Glen Moray isn’t made with peated spirit; instead, it has been finished in barrels that previously held peated whisky. The result is a subtle and approachable peat influence—perfect for dipping your toe into the style without overwhelming intensity.
Irish Whiskeys
Jameson’s Blended Whiskey
BUY NOW: $19
I talk about Jameson a lot—and for good reason. When a whiskey sells in huge quantities worldwide, it’s usually because it’s approachable, affordable, and easy to drink. Complexity and challenges don’t necessarily make a whiskey great.
That said, this is a sweet and highly accessible whiskey that works just as well neat as it does in mixed drinks or cocktails. I always have a bottle at home, and that’s never going to change.
The Busker Single Pot Still Whiskey
BUY NOW: $25
For something a little different, the team at The Royal Oak Distillery offers an impressive Single Pot Still whiskey at a very affordable price. Made with both malted and unmalted barley, this classic Irish whiskey style delivers a richer, bolder flavor profile with noticeable sherry cask influences.
Redbreast is the most famous example of this style, but if you don’t want to stretch your budget that far, this is an excellent alternative. Named The Busker, it’s an intriguing choice of name—the distillery sees the range as being able to adapt to the crowd that gathers around it. One of the better-named modern whiskey releases.
American Whiskeys
Wild Turkey 101
BUY NOW: $22
Another bottle I never stop talking about. I’ve written plenty about Wild Turkey 101 on The Whiskey Wash, so feel free to check out my more in-depth reviews there.
Simply put, this is arguably one of the top five best-value spirits in the entire drinks world. It’s rich, easy-drinking, powerful, and incredibly versatile—delivering exceptional quality for a modest price. Once you’ve tried it, you’ll understand why I keep going on about it.
Old Grand Dad 100
BUY NOW: $22
When it comes to American whiskey at lower price points, you get far more bang for your buck—and this is one of the best examples. Bottled at 100 proof, this much-loved Bottled-in-Bond bourbon from Jim Beam delivers both history and flavor in abundance.
This is the definition of a bourbon’s bourbon—if that makes sense. It’s packed with caramel, peanuts, toffee, vanilla, and rich oak notes that make for an incredibly comforting pour. I only wish it were available in the UK, but unfortunately, it’s not.
Larceny Wheated Bourbon
BUY NOW: $19
If you’re looking for a bourbon without rye and prefer something richer, creamier, and more chocolatey, Larceny is an outstanding choice from the team at Heaven Hill. By replacing rye with wheat, this whiskey allows the natural sweetness of corn to shine even more compared to rye-forward bourbons.
Every glass of Larceny reminds me of chocolate truffles, creamed barley, coconut, and sweet caramel. It’s a fantastic bourbon to keep at home, especially if you’re not a fan of rye’s spiciness.
Old Forester Rye 100 Proof
BUY NOW: $24
On the other hand, if you’re looking for something that coats your palate with spice, mint, clove, and cinnamon—welcome to the world of rye! As I’ve mentioned before, rye whiskey can be divisive. You’ll either love it or hate it at first, but your tastes may evolve over time.
Old Forester offers excellent value across its entire range, but the rye has been a personal favorite ever since I first tried it at their distillery in Louisville. Whiskey just tastes better where it’s made—I don’t know why, but it just does.
Canadian Whiskies
Canadian Club
BUY NOW: $14
I suppose you could say I’m a fan of affordable whisky. Canadian Club Standard isn’t as easy to find in the UK as it once was, but whenever I come across a bottle, I don’t hesitate—especially at this price point.
It’s a sweet, easy-to-mix whisky that won’t break the bank. The perfect pour-and-play whisky, it doesn’t demand much thought—just something you can enjoy casually. Whether you’re sipping it in private company or pouring it at a party, it’s a great choice that won’t leave you worrying about the cost of replacing the bottle.
Crown Royal
BUY NOW: $23
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A little pricier, but you get plenty of presentation for your money. Packaged in its iconic decanter and wrapped in a suede drawstring bag, Crown Royal has earned its place as a favorite across much of North America.
This is a caramel- and toffee-driven style of Canadian whisky, known for its smooth, approachable character. It also comes in a wide range of flavored variations, including peach, apple, toffee, and vanilla—perfect if you want to keep a liqueur option on your back bar.
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