The 10 Best Whiskies for Beginners to Buy

Whisky is really just like coffee and later, like any other form of alcohol. You simply have to learn to drink it. Your first comforting cup of coffee or fancy glass of wine probably tasted like sewer water, but over time you likely grew to enjoy it. You learned how to drink it. Today we’re presenting the 10 best whiskies for beginners, curated by us.

Once, a young woman who wasn’t a whisky drinker tried a sip from her boyfriend’s glass and then texted: “It tastes like an ashtray with some rainwater in it.” Haha, exactly! The problem is that the whisky she was talking about isn’t exactly the kind you start with. It was the Caol Ila, a peaty, smoky whisky.

There are different types of whisky, countless brands, endless bottles, from all over the world. Our advice: start out with something soft and gentle. We’ve lined up the 10 best whiskies for beginners.

No, this whisky has nothing to do with Whisky Monkeys, but it sure is tasty. Monkey Shoulder is a blended Scotch. Blended simply means the bottle contains a mix of several whiskies; in this case, that’s Glenfiddich, Balvenie, and Kininvie. Monkey Shoulder is very smooth, which you’ll notice from the very first sip.

Your palate meets vanilla, citrus, and honey wrapped in toasted oak. You’ll almost certainly pick up the vanilla. The finish is gentle, too. Fortunately, Monkey Shoulder won’t break the bank. You’ll find it on the shelf for between 28 and 35 euros.

With this list, we’re trying not to roll out the usual suspects like Jameson, Red Label, Famous Grouse, and the like. The whisky landscape is huge and there’s so much good stuff to discover. How about Jura Bourbon Cask? A very approachable whisky for under thirty euros.

Open the bottle and notes of coconut and vanilla drift up to greet you. Then you’ll quickly taste a gentle sweetness reminiscent of pear and toffee. We wrote about Jura Bourbon Cask before: “It almost makes you want to book a ticket to Curaçao for a sunny escape.” That tropical thread runs right through this whisky, which makes it a great choice for beginners. So if you know someone who enjoys the occasional dram or wants to get to know the nectar of the gods, this is a great pick.

Another very approachable and budget-friendly bottle is Tamnavulin. This is a single malt Scotch with a very accessible, mellow taste. Expect a combination of chocolate, toffee, and perhaps a touch of honey or apple. It leans fairly sweet, thanks to a finishing step in sherry casks after maturation in American oak. That final flourish is the proverbial cherry on top! The finish brings a hint of spice. You can find this bottle for around twenty euros.

Another highly approachable whisky and a brand you’ll often find in the liquor sections of supermarkets is Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve. A gem for its price! While it’s less sweet than Tamnavulin, Glenlivet, also a single malt Scotch, is wonderfully smooth and welcoming. It’s more floral and fruity, though you’ll catch some caramel notes as well.

You can often pick up this bottle for around 25 euros. If your budget stretches about eight euros more, switch it up with The Glenlivet 12 Years Double Oak. It’s at least as smooth and you’ll distinctly taste pear!

From a lineup of soft, mellow whiskies, we move to the first cereal-forward bottle on the list: Glenfiddich. Like Jameson, it comes in a green bottle, and you’ll often find it in supermarket-adjacent liquor stores. The flavor has a little more punch than the first few whiskies we mentioned, but it’s still fairly gentle.

DrankDozijn notes flavors of butterscotch, along with cream and hints of malt and oak. It’s a Scotch single malt that’s best enjoyed once you’ve tried a few of the other whiskies on this list. A change of taste is good for the soulor should we say, for the glass?

While Johnnie Walker might make you think of Red Label first, we say: forget that. Mix that one with cola if you must, but spend a few euros more. Then you’ll have Johnnie Walker Black Label: a whisky with far more depth. Black Label is smooth, yet carries a subtle briny note.

It’s a blended whisky crafted from more than 30 whiskies. The result is a bright, refreshing character that makes it incredibly approachable. Great for beginners, perfect alongside a meal, or even as a refined mixer now and then.

Now we arrive at the first Japanese bottle on the list: Nikka from the Barrel. This little miracle from the Land of the Rising Sun tends to be a bit pricier, so the price jumps up with Nikka from the Barrel. Expect to pay around forty euros on average (often less at online shops), and for that you get a wonderfully smooth blended whisky.

With flavors of chocolate and vanilla, it’s sweet as can be: you’ll almost forget you’re drinking whisky. It might be just a bit too expensive as a very first dram, but if you’ve had whisky before and want a delightful burst of flavor, absolutely give this Japanese whisky a try. You might even spot it at your local bar!

If you’re after something a little less conventional and want to taste something exotic, Amrut is the way to go. Amrut Fusion is an Indian single malt with serious flavor. It’s also a whisky where two cultures meet. As Drankgigant explains: “Scottish and Indian barley are brought together after maturation in both old and new oak casks, then left to rest further in bourbon barrels.” What you get is a mildly spicy whisky with notes of chocolate and coffee. The finish has a touch of heat. But trust us: this is an excellent choice for a beginner.

We’ve already mentioned a Glenlivet on this list with a hint of pear. If you’re looking for another whisky with a standout fruit profile, go for Glenmorangie The Original 10 Years. This Scottish single malt is bursting with flavor (your nose will be in heaven, too). Expect notes of caramel, raisin, almond, and above all orange, delicious. The finish is fruit-forward with a playful touch of pepper. Every budding whisky drinker should try this one sooner or later.

Finally, we come to the most expensive bottle on the list. Not one to “just” pick up for your very first taste of whisky: it’s simply too pricey for that. But it’s a whisky to keep in mind when visiting a whisky-loving friend, heading to a whisky festival, or dropping by a whisky bar. We’re talking about Hibiki: a bottle you’ll rarely find for under a hundred euros.

Hibiki Japanese Harmony is a blended Japanese whisky from the house of Suntory’s distillery and, much like Nikka from the Barrel, it almost drinks like cordial, so to speak. From the first sip you’ll taste chocolate and orange: a true treat for the palate. The finish is beautifully gentle, with a distinct note of Mizunara (Japanese oak).

That wraps up our list of tips. Taste is subjective, of course, so be sure to share your recommendations with us!

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