5 Luxury Whiskies Under 200 pounds

It’s time to take a closer look at some luxurious whiskies. Which divine bottles under 200 pounds do we recommend and are truly worth cracking open?

Whisky comes in countless styles and flavor profiles. Still, plenty of people wonder which impressive sub-200 pounds bottle deserves a place on the table. Perhaps for a special evening or distinguished company. Here are a few picks guaranteed to make an impression.

We’re kicking off with a whisky from Glenmorangie. Does this Scottish distillery ever put a foot wrong? In the land of those towering giraffe-neck stills, they certainly know how to craft a beautiful whisky. Think back—have you ever had a Glenmorangie that wasn’t worth your while? One of their recent releases is Glenmorangie Infinita.

You’ll recognize it by aromas of honey, vanilla, narcissus, and jasmine. The list price is around 125 pounds. You may have to hunt a little to snag a bottle, but it’s worth the effort.

If you’re after something a little less prim than our first pick, try The Dalmore Cigar Malt, which sits in a similar price range. Expect to pay around Where does the name come from? Is it so smoky you’ll feel like you’re drinking a cigar?

Not at all. This whisky is lush and rounded, with tropical fruit on the palate, banana toffee, and hints of vanilla ice cream. It’s tailor-made for pairing with a fine cigar—though we’re not advocating smoking, for the record.

If you are looking for that one smoky whisky, here’s a heavyweight contender. How about Bruichladdich Octomore 16? It’s like a flavor bomb detonating in your mouth. Octomores are famously super-heavily peated. The 16.3, the third in this series, clocks in at 189.5 PPM, seriously smoky. Flavor-wise, think peat, vanilla, toffee, and oats.

With a hefty ABV of 61.6%, we definitely recommend using a dropper. While this mighty dram often retails north of €200, you can spot it for 195 pounds.

We’re living through a wave of Oloroso sherry casks in whisky, though trends always turn. If you want a luxurious Oloroso-cask whisky around 150 pounds, Tobermory has you covered. Expect a wonderfully fruity, spicy profile.

Look for berry and raspberry on the nose, followed by caramel, dry oak, and spices on the palate. And as if that weren’t enough, a little angel kisses your tongue in the finish with notes of bitter orange.

Finally, for those who enjoy experimenting with finishes: the cask a whisky rests in at the end. Here’s a special one. It’s not cheap, but in 2023 year Diageo released their Special Releases. Among them was a Lagavulin finished in tequila casks, delivering a surprising flavor profile: “spiced smoke, stewed plums, orange peel, and oaky spices.”

That wraps up our list of five luxurious whiskies under 200 pounds. Of course, there are many more gems to be found at this price point.

Let’s share the love—what sub-200 pound whisky would you recommend, and for what occasion?