We are constantly bombarded with whisky marketing. Influencers and top-ten lists tell us what to buy, what to hunt for, and what to avoid. It can feel overwhelming. My goal is to cut through that noise and help you buy better. This means identifying some genuinely overhyped bottles and suggesting alternatives that are cheaper, easier to find, or simply offer a superior drinking experience for your money.
Let’s start with a big dog: The Macallan. While the brand has done wonders for the whisky industry, many of its current offerings are massively overpriced. Take the Macallan 12 Year Old Double Cask. At around £75, you get a 40% ABV whisky that, for me, leans into a dry, sulphury profile. It’s not a bad whisky, but it’s not the quality benchmark the brand was built on. Instead, consider Edradour 10. Recently upgraded to 46% ABV, it is an absolute cherry banger at nearly half the price. It delivers a phenomenal sherry influence without the hefty price tag.
Another bottle that feels like a dagger in the heart is Lagavulin 16. This was a highlight of my own whisky journey, but silly price rises have made it difficult to justify. It has jumped nearly 30% in a couple of years. For a fantastic alternative from the same distillery, look no further than Lagavulin 8. It can often be found for a fraction of the price and its younger spirit and higher ABV give it more punch. If you want a truly deep and delightful Islay dram, Port Charlotte 10 is arguably the king of the island right now.
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READ THE STORYThis pattern of high prices for underwhelming liquid isn’t isolated. From the style-over-substance of Johnnie Walker Blue Label to the steep price increases that have made Redbreast 12 feel a bit wimpy in my books, consumers are often paying for a name, not the spirit in the bottle. The key is to look beyond the obvious choices. There are fantastic distilleries producing incredible, well-priced whisky that deserves our attention and our money.
Ultimately, this is not about criticising iconic brands for the sake of it. It is about demanding value and encouraging drinkers to explore the amazing variety that exists outside the most heavily marketed names. What are some of the overhyped whiskies you have decided to leave on the shelf?
To see more whiskies that you should leave on the shelf in 2026, and which ones to pick up instead, watch my YouTube video.
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