Best Scotch Whisky For The Average Wido

Mar 21, 2024 · 5 mins read

Test Welcome, widos. Are you looking for “the best Scotch whisky?” Need to buy a gift for your ma, or some other wide whisky lover? Cannae spend $1,000 on an unattainable 18-Year-Old Yamazaki that’s rarer than a wild haggis stalking the banks of the Clyde?

Well, you are in luck!

At Wisky Wido, we have a the internet’s #1, most solid list of the best Scotch whiskies you can actually buy. Unlike a lot shite SEO sites (Men’s Journal: 50 Best Wiskey’s For Asshats is tissue for tossers), we’re making this list for our new internet mates.

Who’s this list of Best Scotch Whisky’s for?

You’re new to whisky
You’re buying a gift from someone who likes whisky and your on a budget

Here are the best whiskies for average folks, the ones most likely to be searching for “best whisky.” Honest to god, hand on heart, every whisky on this is list is fantastic, some of the best.

How did we come up with list?

A simple system, we ask people who have experience, like a mother, father, or sister-in law, people who work in the Sctottish spirit industry and we sample everything we write about.

And who am I you ask? I’m just a guy who likes whisky. A lot.

Where you drunk when you wrote this list?

Nosy cow.

What’s Scotch Whisky

It’s whisky made in Scotland, no where else can call it Scotch. But most folks will just say malt or whisky.

1. The Best Whisky: Highland Park 12 Viking’s Honor ($55)

Malt Companion Score: 90 Wido Score: 95

Highland Park is distilled on the Orkney archipelago. Fun Orkney facts: It’s very far north. Hot weather is about 60 F.

I doubt there are any parks, but it’s definitely the highlands. I can only assume they stunning malt to stop from bashing their heads in during the 360 cold, miserable, grey days. Also, they have a weird thing about Vikings, even though those cheeky Scandi chancers kept taking the Scots gear and kicking off.

What does Highland Park Taste Like

It’s the best flavors and scents of Scotland distilled into a bottle: light peaty smoke, a bit of heather and sweet malts. You’ll get light smoke, maybe heather if you’ve eaten or smelled it, malt, and sherry sweetness (cuz Scots go to Spain whenever they get a chance).

What the Expert Tasters Say

Nose

Smoky, ‘garden bonfire’ sweetness, Heathery, malty and a hint of sherry

Palate

Succulent. Smoky dryness, heather-honey sweetness and maltiness

Finish

Teasing, heathery and delicious

Wide Words

Smooth as a wane’s arse. Smokey as your mum’s breath. Sweet as your sister’s fanny. Weird thing for Scandys. Nice untempered. Add water, always a good dram.

2. Glenmorangie The Original 10 Years Old

Malt Companion Score: 81 Wido Score: 85

Glenmorangie is mega. They produce lighter-bodied and delicate whiskies. Whisky expert, Micheal Jackson, describes the house style as, “Creamy, leafy. Restorative or with dessert.” Their 18-Year-Old Extremely Rare is a personal favorite, but it’s not cheap.

The head wido in charge of distillation and maturation is bloke named Bill Lumsden, he’s a big deal. What sets his style apart from other distilleries is a partnership with Blue Grass Cooperage in Louisville Kentucky, where widos on the other side of the Atlantic make whisky with corn. They also use a lot casks from Spain, and even send whisky to Spain to mature there. It’s odd. Old angry people don’t like it. I do.

Like Highland Park, Glenmorangie is also in the Highlands, but the warmer, balmy NorthEast coast of Scotland, famous for sun and flowers and endless joy. /s It’s why their number 2 on this list.

Nose

Floral, with fresh fruits, butterscotch, and toffee.

Palate

Nutty, with fresh oranges, and lemons. Medium length, progressively spicier, with ginger.

Finish

Creamy, leafy.

Wide Words

Like waking up in the bushes outside a sweetie shop, facedown in a Terry’s Orange bar and bag of nuts. Makes purists angry. Lol.

3. Talisker 10

Talisker 10 year old 45.80% 90 Flowery, pungent, smoke-accented and rounded Smoky and malty sweet, with sourness and a very big pepperiness developing. Very peppery. Huge and long Diageo Highlands Skye Volcanic. A winter warmer.

4. Lagavulin 12 year old

56% 90 Diageo Islay Shouth Shore

Nose

Lemon sponge cake, spicy vanilla, new lether, medicinal peat smoke and sea salt

Palate

Oily, with spicy orange, dark chocolate, black pepper and lingering peat

Finish

relatively lengthy and notably spicy (ginger and chilli) plus brine

5. Laphroaig Tripple Wood

48% 91 Brine, iodine, subtle dry peat, sultanas, maraschina cherries and vanilla Initial vanilla and sherry notes gives way to iodine, peat, sea salt and black pepper Lengthy, with spice, autumn berries and smoky oak Beam Suntory Islay South Shore Medicinal. Nightcap