In this article, we are going to discuss the 22 best whiskeys under $50 in 2024. You can skip our detailed analysis of the global whiskey market, the dawn of the American single malt, and sustainability in the whiskey industry, and go directly to the 5 Best Whiskeys Under $50 in 2024.
Whether it's the sharp burn of single malt or the smooth, woody aroma of a blended Scotch, the scent of whiskey is enough to invigorate even the weariest of souls. Part of the popularity of the beloved golden tipple comes from the sheer amount of tradition that it has behind it. Making whiskey is an age-old craft, and one that goes back many centuries. Its origin began over a millennium ago, when distillation migrated from mainland Europe into Ireland and Scotland via traveling monks. The Scottish and Irish monasteries, lacking the vineyards and grapes of the continent, turned to fermenting grain mash, resulting in the first distillation of the modern whisky.
Global Whiskey Market:
Whiskey is one of theMost Consumed Alcohols in the World, with the global whiskey market valued at $64 billion in 2022 and expected to reach $91.3 billion by 2028, with a CAGR of 6% during the forecast period.
The consumption of alcohol is shifting away from beer and wine and millennials are more likely to experiment with other alcoholic beverages, resulting in the growth of a ‘cocktail culture’. As a result of this tendency, the use of whiskey as a premium ingredient has increased. Product innovations, such as flavored whiskeys, and organic and sustainable options are also some of the major factors propelling the market.
2022 was also a great year for Scotch whisky, and exports of Scotland’s native spirit hit $7.5 billion that year, the highest figures ever. Exports by volume rose substantially as well, with the number of 700 ml bottles shipped overseas up by 21%, to 1.67 billion.
Similarly, as we mentioned in our article – 25 Best Whiskeys in the World in 2024 – Bourbon is a $9 billion signature industry in Kentucky that generates more than 22,500 jobs. And if we’re looking at production and consumption, the state receives more than $286 million in tax revenue each year from its iconic whiskey.
The positive economic impact of the precious golden liquor is something we seldom consider when having a drink, but, given the facts, maybe it’s time we all raise a glass to it.
The Dawn of the American Single Malt:
Bourbon has long held the title of America’s national spirit, but the American single malt is now the fastest growing whiskey category in the United States. Although distillers in the U.S. have been producing single malt for only three decades, the category has already achieved a significant milestone – an imminent legal definition, furnished by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.
Today there are more than 200 different expressions of American single malt whiskey from more than 100 distilleries. In 2023, The Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B)-owned Jack Daniel’s also added the first American single malt to its ever-growing lineup of Tennessee whiskey, proof of just how far this still lesser known category has come. And last October, Jack just announced another version of it.
The initial single malt was called Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Twice Barreled Special Release American Single Malt – as the name indicates, it was a single barrel expression released in limited quantities as part of the Jack Daniel’s Special Release Collection. This new Jack Daniel’s American Single Malt joins the permanent lineup, despite it only being available at airports.
According to The Brown-Forman Corporation (NYSE:BF-B), a bottle of Jack Daniel’s Single Malt is priced at $100 for a 1 liter bottle, and while there are currently no plans to release it in domestic markets, that could change in the future.
The modern consumer has become increasingly aware of the climate emergency we unfortunately find ourselves in, and actively seeks out sustainable brands, even if it means paying extra. So, as whiskey makers find themselves in an increasingly competitive market, committing psychologically and economically to reducing their impact on the planet may also be the only means to make their businesses sustainable in the long run.
Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) announced in 2021 that it has opened its first carbon neutral distillery in Lebanon, KY, for its popular brand Bulleit Bourbon. The 72,000 square-foot facility has the capacity to produce up to 10 million proof gallons per year powered by 100% renewable electricity, and is expected to avoid more than 117,000 metric tons of carbon emissions annually. Bulleit is the first and lead brand being produced at the Lebanon Distillery that supplements existing production at the nearby Bulleit Distilling Co. in Shelbyville, KY, for which the spirits giant invested $115 million in 2017.
Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) announced a 10-year sustainability action plan in November 2020 – titled Society 2030: Spirit of Progress – which aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions across direct operations and a 20% reduction in water used to produce every drink, while also working with suppliers in order to reduce indirect carbon emissions by 50%..
With that said, here are the Top Whiskeys Under $50.
22 Best Whiskeys Under $50 in 2024
Methodology:
To collect data for this article, we have referred to a number of sources, such as Liquor, VinePair, Men’s Journal, Reddit etc., looking for the Best Affordable Whiskeys Under $50. To make sure we only give you the best of the best, we shortlisted whiskeys that appeared multiple times in the aforementioned sources, assigned them a score based on their number of appearances, and ranked them accordingly. When two or more whiskeys had the same score, we ranked them by the price (excluding tax) of their 750 ml bottles.
Note: Prices have been sourced primarily from Wine-Searcher. As liquor prices can vary greatly across the United States, we cannot guarantee their accuracy.
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22. Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey
Insider Monkey Score: 4
Price: $26
Tullamore D.E.W. prides itself on its complex yet approachable flavors, which it credits to its use of three types of grain, a triple distillation, and the blending of three types of Irish whiskey – single malt, single grain, and pot still.
Set in the heart of Ireland, the Tullamore distillery spans a whopping 58 acres where 11 million liters of whiskey are produced each year, making Tullamore D.E.W. one of the finest examples of Ireland’s whiskey renaissance.
21. The Singleton of Glendullan 12 Year Old
Insider Monkey Score: 5
Price: $41
This easy-to-drink single malt Scotch whisky is matured in a high proportion of American oak casks with a small portion of European oak casks to balance the liquid. Best served with laughter and good company.
Owned by Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO), The Singleton is the Best-Selling Single Malt Whisky in China.
20. Rittenhouse Rye Whisky
Insider Monkey Score: 5
Price: $30
Now produced in Kentucky from extra-aged barrels stored in prime warehouse locations, Heaven Hill Distillery keeps the historic Maryland mark alive with this award-winning six-year-old, 110 proof offering. For $30 a bottle, this affordable whiskey carries a distinct, spicy flavor, and is produced in the tradition of the classic rye expressions that once dominated the American whiskey industry.
19. Old Forester 86 Proof
Insider Monkey Score: 5
Price: $23
Created in 1870, Old Forester is the only Bourbon continuously distilled and marketed by the founding family before, during, and after Prohibition. At 86 proof, Old Forester delivers a genuine Bourbon experience, with rich, full flavor, and a smooth character that is ideal for sipping neat, on the rocks, with a splash of water, or in a classic cocktail.
OF 86 Proof sits among the Best Whiskeys Under $50 According to Reddit.
18. Angel’s Envy Kentucky Straight
Insider Monkey Score: 6
Price: $49.99
Handcrafted in small batches, Angel’s Envy is an award-winning Kentucky straight Bourbon finished in port wine barrels.
In 2022, the Kentucky-based craft distiller unveiled its completed $8.2 million Brand Home expansion at 500 E. Main St. in Louisville. The expansion, which adds 13,000 square feet to the facility, will allow Angel’s Envy to welcome an additional 64,000 visitors each year, doubling annual guest capacity.
17. Aberfeldy 12 Year Old
Insider Monkey Score: 6
Price: $46
A fruity, clean, and polished malt with a touch of honey and spice, Aberfeldy 12 Year Old is an excellent introduction to this Highland distillery, otherwise famous for its Dewar's blend. Founded in 1898 by the dynamic Dewar brothers, Aberfeldy is now owned by Bacardi Limited.
Evan Williams Single Barrel is the only vintage dated single barrel Bourbon on the market. Similar to the way vintage wines are selected, the company’s distillers hand-select individual barrels that meet the specifications they've established. Then each bottle is marked with the vintage date it was put into oak, along with the year it was bottled, and the exact barrel number of the single barrel that the Bourbon was drawn from.
15. Glenmorangie The Original 10 Year Old
Insider Monkey Score: 7
Price: $44
First released more than 175 years ago, this smooth whisky is made in giraffe-high stills, and then aged for 10 years in Bourbon casks to absorb all manner of delectable flavors.
Glenfiddich 12 is part of the distillery's flagship collection and one of the Best Single Malt Whiskies Under $50. Aged for 12 years in American and European oak casks, this is a great choice for seasoned sippers or those who are new to whisky, with lots of light and fruity flavors.
Owned by William Grant & Sons, Glenfiddich had global sales of 1.6 million 9-liter cases in 2022, making it the world's second-best selling single malt.
13. Michter’s US★1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Insider Monkey Score: 8
Price: $49.99
Michter’s US★1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon is made from a carefully selected mashbill that features the highest quality American corn. It is then matured to the peak of perfection. Truly ‘small batch’, each batch of this iconic whiskey is batched in a holding tank sized to fit a maximum of twenty full barrels, leaving no margin for ‘blending out’ imperfection and thus necessitating excellence from every barrel.
Michter’s only became a brand in the 1990s but is now, despite deliberately keeping stocks low and releases in small batches, the fourth-fastest rising brand in the Bourbon market. Recently, a bottle of Michter’s 20-Year-Old Bourbon went for $27,500 at auction.
12. Jameson Black Barrel Irish Whiskey
Insider Monkey Score: 8
Price: $42
Here we have a triple distilled blend of small batch grain and single pot Irish whiskey. Matured in double charred barrels for up to 16 years, this full strength whiskey boasts sweet and spicy characteristics.
Since Irish Distillers joined Pernod Ricard in 1988, Jameson has spearheaded a complete rejuvenation of the Irish whiskey category, making it the most dynamic spirits segment globally.
Jameson is the most popular Irish whiskey in the world.
11. Elijah Craig Small Batch
Insider Monkey Score: 8
Price: $33
This small batch Bourbon is distilled, aged, and bottled in Kentucky from a traditional Bourbon mash bill of 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley, and then aged for 8 to 12 years in Level 3 charred oak barrels.
The EC Small Batch Bourbon is counted among the best whiskeys under $60.
10. Four Roses Single Barrel
Insider Monkey Score: 9
Price: $49
For someone who wants a more complex Bourbon experience, Four Roses Single Barrel is a 100-proof whiskey that embodies the uniqueness of an individual barrel which was hand selected by the company’s Master Distiller.
At $49 a bottle, FR Single Barrel is most definitely a Whiskey Worth the Money.
9. Monkey Shoulder Blended Scotch
Insider Monkey Score: 9
Price: $33
Produced by William Grant & Sons, Monkey Shoulder is a blend of three main single malt whiskies – Glenfiddich, Balvenie, and Kininvie - all from Speyside, the spiritual home of whisky. Back in 2018, the brand enlisted a truck topped with a giant shaker, called the ‘Monkey Mixer’, to drive around the 50 states with a mission to redefine Scotch’s role in the cocktail industry.
8. Glenlivet Double Oak 12 Year Old
Insider Monkey Score: 10
Price: $33
Representing The Glenlivet’s signature style, The Glenlivet 12 Year Old single malt Scotch whisky is first matured in traditional oak, before spending time in American oak casks that impart notes of vanilla and give the whisky its distinctive smoothness, putting it among the Best Affordable Whiskies to Drink Straight.
Part of the Pernod Ricard group since 2001, the brand is defining new ways to enjoy single malt for a new generation.
7. Johnnie Walker Double Black
Insider Monkey Score: 11
Price: $44
Johnnie Walker Double Black Whisky is the rebellious younger sibling of Johnnie Walker Black Label with a deep, brooding intensity. Derived from blending whiskies matured in heavily charred oak casks and specifically selected whiskies from the West Coast of Scotland with a naturally smoky flavor, this is a sibling of Johnnie Walker Black Label, but youthful, spikier, and more rebellious.
The art of making fine Bourbon first took place on the site of the Woodford Reserve Distillery, a National Historic Landmark, in 1812. The perfectly balanced taste of this Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey comprises more than 200 detectable flavor notes, from bold grain and wood, to sweet aromatics, spice, and fruit and floral notes.
Woodford Reserve ranks 6th in our list of Best Budget Whiskeys in 2024.
