5 Good Whiskies That Don't Cost a Fortune

Someone’s asked for a whisky gift for their birthday, but you’ve got no idea where to start. Or maybe you’re new to whisky and wondering what to buy that won’t break the bank. So what’s the best whisky around 40 pounds? Here are our top picks to point you in the right direction.

Johnnie Walker Red Label, Ballantine’s, Four Roses, and Bushmills are all solid choices. But you can do better. Taste is subjective, of course. If you really want to delight someone with great value for money, meaning a quality whisky of around 30 pounds , these are your best bets.

The first blend on the list,and a very good one. This Scottish whisky, Monkey Shoulder, is made from three single malts: Glenfiddich, Balvenie, and Kininvie. Together they create a deliciously smooth, sweet whisky with unmistakable notes of vanilla and honey. It was the first so-called triple malt on the market. The bottle is a beauty too, with several little monkeys perched on the shoulder (no surprise: we love monkeys!), even if the story behind the name is a bit somber.

Back in the day, making whisky was hard physical work. Turning barley by hand was tough labor, and many workers developed a drooping arm, nicknamed “monkey shoulder.” Thankfully, modern methods have put that long behind us. You can often find this whisky on sale for under thirty euros, and it’s usually a bargain online. It was launched in 2005.

Another Scotch, and for years one of the most popular, perhaps even the best-selling, single malts in the world. No surprise there: it tastes fantastic. It’s smooth, with a touch more spice than The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve. Retailers describe “sweet notes of butterscotch and cream,” along with “hints of malt and oak.” You can often pick up a bottle on offer for around 28 euros.

Fun fact: the Glenfiddich distillery was founded in 1886 in the valley of the River Fiddich and “Fiddich” means deer. Look closely and you’ll spot a stag on the bottle’s neck.

Another single malt, this time from Speyside. Made the traditional way, with a low fermentation and slow distillation. The result is mild and smooth, yet fruity. On the nose, expect notes of nuts and vanilla. Much of that flavor comes from aging in European oak casks. The Dufftown distillery dates back to 1896. You’ll often find this bottle for around 33 pounds.

Here’s another single malt from Scotland, but crafted in a very different style from the whiskies above. This one is far sweeter. At times it almost tastes like a toffee melting on your tongue. Some angels really do know how to bless the palate. All jokes aside, it’s a superb buy, often on offer for just over twenty euros (especially online). The flavor comes from a finishing period in three types of sherry casks after its primary maturation in American oak. The distillery was founded in 1966.

A very light whisky: ideal for newcomers, and for seasoned drinkers who aren’t in the mood for something powerful. With The Glenlivet, you can’t go wrong; it’s like ordering your favorite pizza. It’s a Scotch, specifically a Speyside single malt.