Best Value Whiskies
This list, really, is remarkable - good whiskies for good price. I originally based this upon the value score, developed in this blog post and further discussed here. Basically, it evaluates the value of a whisky based on its price and its rating. This is a terrific scheme because it doesn't mean "cheapest" - it really means beast bang for your buck based on other whiskies you could be buying with the same amount of money. However, I’ve now transitioned to a more subjective discussion where I can discuss value (the previous score, at its core, was based on market and a subjective score).
This is based on taste, not on scarcity or other categories. Basically, for that class of taste experience, is it a good price?
And yes, yes, Canadian whiskies are better value than Scotch and American - partly due to markets (I am in Ontario), and partially because Scotch and American are in higher demand and actually sell for more. But, in terms of how high they score relative to price, Canadians rule the world as far as I have evaluated...
Canadian Whisky
100
Alberta Premium 25 Year Old (2007; $30)
99
Forty Creek Evolution (2014, $70)
Forty Creek Confederation Oak (Batch A & Batch B; $70)
Crown Royal Hand Selected Single Barrel (2015; 77$)
98
J.P. Wiser's Legacy (2012; $50)
Lot no. 40 12 y.o. Cask Strength (First Edition; $70)
97
Danfield's 21 Year Old (2013; $45)
J.P. Wiser's Legacy (2016; $50)
96
Masterson's Rye (Batch 1; $110)
94
Forty Creek Copper Pot (2015; $30)
Forty Creek Heart of Gold (2013; $70)
Gooderham & Worts Eleven Souls (2018; $100)
J.P. Wiser's Legacy (2015; $50)
J.P. Wiser's 35 Year Old (2017; $165)
Lot no. 40 (2015 Yellow Label; $40)
93
Gooderham & Worts (2015; 2016; $45)
Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye (2015; $35)
Gibson's 18 Year Old (2013,$75)
J.P. Wiser’s Wendel Clark (NHL Alumni Series 2018; $45)
92
Masterson's Rye (Batch 3; $110)
Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye (2017; $36)
91
Alberta Premium 30 Year Old (2012; $50)
Crown Royal Bourbon Mash 13 Year Old (2018; $83)
Lot no. 40 (2012&2014 Yellow Label; $40)
Forty Creek Copper Pot (2012 & 2017; $30)
Ninety 20 Year Old (2014, 2016 & 2017; $50)
J.P. Wiser's Dissertation (2016; $65)
J.P. Wiser's Triple Barrel (2017; $32)
90
Canadian Rockies 21 Year Old (Batch 001; $68)
Crown Royal Wine Barrel Finish (2017; $70)
89
Canadian Club Chairman’s Select 100% Rye (2017; $29)
Canadian Club Classic 12 Years Old (2017; $30)
Crown Royal Hand Selected Single Barrel (2016; 77$)
Lot No. 40 (2016 Yellow Label; $40)
87
Crown Royal Bourbon (Blender's) Mash (2018; $35)
Stalk & Barrel #Canada150 Blend (2017; $45)
86
Century Reserve 21 Year Old (2013; $48)
Lot no. 40 (2016 Green Label; $40)
Highwood Stampede 100th Anniversary 25 Year Old (2012; $60)
Last Mountain 100% Wheat (2016; $50)
85
Century Reserve Lot 15/25 (2013; $33)
Lot no. 40 Cask Strength (2018; $100)
American Whiskey
99
Four Roses Private Selection Single Barrel OESF (2015; $80)
96
Four Roses Private Selection Single Barrel OBSK (2015; $53)
94
Four Roses Private Selection Single Barrel OESV (2015; $53)
93
Four Roses Private Selection Single Barrel OESK (2014; $71)
W.L. Weller 12 Y.O. (2016; $45)
92
Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye (2011; $150)
90
Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch (2013; $80)
Old Weller Antique 107 (2015; $35)
89
John E. Fitzgerald Larceny (2015; $38)
Four Roses Small Batch (2014; $40)
Jim Beam Devil's Cut (2013; $31)
88
Old Weller Antique 107 (2016; $35)
87
Four Roses Single Barrel (2014; $46)
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve (2013; $57)
Knob Creek Small Batch (2013; $47)
Rittenhouse Bottled-in-Bond (2014; 2017; $47)
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (2014; $114)
86
George Dickel Barrel Select (2016; $60)
George Dickel No. 12 (2015; 2017; $30)
Old Charter 10 Year Old (2013; $32)
85
Four Roses Private Selection Single Barrel OBSO (2015; $53)
Scotch Whisky
96
95
Laphroaig 10 Year Old Cask Strength (2016; $76)
90
Lagavulin 12 Y.O. (2012; $140)
89
Laphroaig Quater Cask (2012,2014; $75)
86
Longmorn 16 Year Old (2014, $100)
85
Lagavulin 8 Year Old (2016; $100)
Laphroaig Cairdeas 200th Anniversary (2015; $100)
Indian Whisky
93
Amrut Peated Cask Strength (Batch 12; $107)
89
Amrut Peated Cask Strength (Batch 28; $107)
Irish Whiskey
87
Bushmills Black Bush (2015; 2017; $37)
Japanese Whisky
Too expensive to merit high enough marks, so far!
South African Whisky
85
Three Ships 5 Year Old (2013; $35)
Taiwanese Whisky
Too expensive to merit high enough marks, so fa