Best Value Whiskies
This list, really, is remarkable - good whiskies for good price. Less than 15% of the whiskies I review make it to this page, while approximately 60% of the whiskies I review make it to the "highest rated" page.
This page is based 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.
This list is representative of Ontario, where Canadian whisky and bourbon are relatively cheap compared to other parts of the world, while Scotch is more expensive. Obviously, this changes depending on what prices are charged for a given whisky - thus, prices are listed below as well.
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
J.P. Wiser's Legacy (2015; $50)
J.P. Wiser's 35 Year Old (2017; $165)
Lot no. 40 (2015 Yellow Label; $40)
Forty Creek Copper Pot (2015; $30)
Forty Creek Heart of Gold (2013; $70)
93
Gooderham & Worts (2015; 2016; $45)
Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye (2015; $35)
Gibson's 18 Year Old (2013,$75)
92
Masterson's Rye (Batch 3; $110)
91
Alberta Premium 30 Year Old (2012; $50)
Lot no. 40 (2012&2014 Yellow Label; $40)
Forty Creek Copper Pot (2012; 2017; $30)
Ninety 20 Year Old (2014 & 2016; $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; $70)
89
Crown Royal Hand Selected Single Barrel (2016; 77$)
Lot No. 40 (2016 Yellow Label; $40)
87
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)
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; $47)
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (2014; $114)
86
George Dickel Barrel Select (2016; $60)
George Dickel No. 12 (2015; $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)
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 far!