# Recommend a Scotch or Irish Whiskey for around $40 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** liquor-alcohol\ **Created:** [January 21, 2020, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-scotch-or-irish-whiskey-for-around-40/846770 "2020-01-21T20:28:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2020, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-scotch-or-irish-whiskey-for-around-40/846770/1 "2020-01-21T20:28:32Z")
For the past few years, my friend and I have chosen a sporting event on which to wager a bottle of whiskey of the winner’s choice, to be consumed together during our annual Baseball Trip. He always chooses a bourbon and usually goes with something familiar, while I go more for Scotch and like to try new ones. Our price point is around the $40 range, though it’s not chiseled in stone. This year, thanks to the 49ers’ win over the Packers in the NFC Championship game, I have won the bet! I’m starting to think about what bottle I will choose. My tastes tend toward the right two-thirds of [this chart](https://forwhiskeylovers.com/sites/default/files/user/20168/photos/Scotch%20chart.jpg). Don’t much care for peaty or smoky; Highland is usually right in my wheelhouse, and I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed anything from Islay. I’ve also been trying and appreciating Irish whiskeys of late, so I’m putting those on the table as well. So what say you? ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2020, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-scotch-or-irish-whiskey-for-around-40/846770/2 "2020-01-21T20:50:37Z")
I see now there’s a very similar thread going already (asking for Scotches under $100), with some good advice therein. However, I’m looking for a bit lower price point, so even though there may be some overlap, I’m hoping to get some unique responses here. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Gordon\_Urquhart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/db5fbb/32.png) [@Gordon\_Urquhart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gordon_Urquhart)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2020, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-scotch-or-irish-whiskey-for-around-40/846770/3 "2020-01-21T22:42:44Z")
I strongly recommend Highland Park 12 – if I could have only one single malt for the rest of my days, that’d be the one. It hits all the right notes for me, and well. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2020, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-scotch-or-irish-whiskey-for-around-40/846770/4 "2020-01-21T22:46:46Z")
I liked Bushmills. Smooth and not so peaty (too much peat ruins it for me). ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2020, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-scotch-or-irish-whiskey-for-around-40/846770/5 "2020-01-21T23:37:30Z")
For Irish, I can get Redbreast 12 yr for $43.99, and Green Spot for $49.99. Green Spot is the preferred. We did a tasting at the Jameson distillery and Green Spot won hands down even among those in our group who are not aficionados of spirits. But if you are really price driven, then Bushmills, or Teeling Small Batch, would do the trick. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2020, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-scotch-or-irish-whiskey-for-around-40/846770/6 "2020-01-21T23:49:34Z")
Try The Dubliner for Irish. I like it better than Green Spot, and I adore Green Spot. For a Scotch, I’m going to throw a curve ball at you: Bunnahabhain 12. It’s an Islay, but a more atypical Islay you will never find. Tasty stuff. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-scotch-or-irish-whiskey-for-around-40/846770/7 "2020-01-22T00:21:10Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Try The Dubliner for Irish. I like it better than Green Spot, and I adore Green Spot. > > For a Scotch, I’m going to throw a curve ball at you: Bunnahabhain 12. It’s an Islay, but a more atypical Islay you will never find. Tasty stuff. Good one. I would definitely second that rec. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-scotch-or-irish-whiskey-for-around-40/846770/8 "2020-01-22T00:44:05Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Try The Dubliner for Irish. I like it better than Green Spot, and I adore Green Spot. > > For a Scotch, I’m going to throw a curve ball at you: Bunnahabhain 12. It’s an Islay, but a more atypical Islay you will never find. Tasty stuff. Adding to my shopping list… ---
**Author:** ![Saturn\_Dreams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Saturn\_Dreams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saturn_Dreams)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-scotch-or-irish-whiskey-for-around-40/846770/9 "2020-01-22T01:21:16Z")
> [@Gordon\_Urquhart](#): > > I strongly recommend Highland Park 12 – if I could have only one single malt for the rest of my days, that’d be the one. It hits all the right notes for me, and well. This, or Speyburn 15 would be my suggestion. Both are Highlands and the quality to price ratio of these whiskeys is very high. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-scotch-or-irish-whiskey-for-around-40/846770/10 "2020-01-22T02:36:16Z")
Not sure what the prices are in America, but for the price range you cite, give Johnnie Walker Double Black a try. It’s not single malt, but in a blind taste test you’d probably think it was. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-scotch-or-irish-whiskey-for-around-40/846770/11 "2020-01-22T03:17:29Z")
> [@Horatio\_Hellpop](#): > > Not sure what the prices are in America, but for the price range you cite, give Johnnie Walker Double Black a try. It’s not single malt, but in a blind taste test you’d probably think it was. Yeah, I get $35-$45 here for that one. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-scotch-or-irish-whiskey-for-around-40/846770/12 "2020-01-22T18:12:38Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > For a Scotch, I’m going to throw a curve ball at you: Bunnahabhain 12. It’s an Islay, but a more atypical Islay you will never find. Tasty stuff. I’m all for trying new things, but I already know I don’t like heavy peat and smoke. Laphroaig is very highly regarded and I can’t stand the stuff. How does Bunnahabhain differ? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-scotch-or-irish-whiskey-for-around-40/846770/13 "2020-01-22T18:17:15Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > I’m all for trying new things, but I already know I don’t like heavy peat and smoke. Laphroaig is very highly regarded and I can’t stand the stuff. > How does Bunnhabhaim differ? It is completely unpeated, so no peat or smoke flavors. Lots of sherry notes in the taste and the color, too. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-scotch-or-irish-whiskey-for-around-40/846770/14 "2020-01-22T18:22:40Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > It is completely unpeated, so no peat or smoke flavors. Lots of sherry notes in the taste and the color, too. I’m intrigued! Great suggestions so far; I’m sure whatever random liquor store we wander into will offer at least a few of these options. And I’m definitely putting some on my personal shopping list as well. Keep 'em coming! ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-scotch-or-irish-whiskey-for-around-40/846770/15 "2020-01-22T18:36:45Z")
Glenmorangie is about $42 at my local store. A very good bang for the buck, IMHO. Bushmills Malt 10 year is the first whiskey I got into and is quite nice. Its unpeated. Jameson Black Barrel was, to me, surprisingly smooth. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-scotch-or-irish-whiskey-for-around-40/846770/16 "2020-01-22T19:47:09Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > I see now there’s a very similar thread going already (asking for Scotches under $100), with some good advice therein. > However, I’m looking for a bit lower price point, so even though there may be some overlap, I’m hoping to get some unique responses here. Thanks! The Monkey Shoulder mentioned in that thread is an example of a very nice blend. I, personally, would prefer a Bunnahabhain 12, but that one is closer to $50 where I’m at. A Monkey Shoulder is $30 and a surprisingly pleasant mix of Speyside malts. Not very peaty. Supposedly, one of the three malts it’s blended with is peated, but it’s very light on the peat. I barely notice it (so much so that I would swear it was not peated–though they do have a peated blend called Smokey Monkey)-- it’s more sweet, vanilla, floral type flavors I get from it. ---
**Author:** ![snowmaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@snowmaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowmaster)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2020, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-scotch-or-irish-whiskey-for-around-40/846770/17 "2020-01-22T21:00:51Z")
Second vote for Bunnahabhain. It’s the Islay that isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![BMax](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bmax/32/4267_2.png) [@BMax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMax)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2020, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-scotch-or-irish-whiskey-for-around-40/846770/18 "2020-01-30T21:24:12Z")
I’ve been into Bushmill’s Black Bush for the last couple years. Nice Irish with a more full flavor than regular Bushmills.