Rating of the TOP 10 best brands of Scotch whiskey: taste, which one is better, reviews

Scotch whiskey, or simply scotch, is a worldwide strong grain drink and an object of British national pride. Production is strictly regulated by law: the composition must include selected malted barley, and the product must also mature in an oak barrel for at least 3 years.

This article will discuss the 10 best producers of blended whiskey that are in demand among Russian consumers. Let's compare their tasting characteristics, prices and select the best samples, as well as tell you what to look for when buying scotch tape in a store.

TOP 10 Scotch Whiskey Rating

After conducting market research and consumer feedback, we selected the 10 most popular three-year-old whiskey that can be purchased in Russian retail retailers.

Clan macgregor

Three-year-old scotch tape with a light golden hue. Produced from a blend of 15 malt and grain distillates from the Speyside Valley and highlands. It is characterized by balanced softness with hints of grain, fruit and floral aftertaste. The aroma is sweetish, rich herbaceous.

The drink bears the name of the oldest Scottish clan McGregor with the family crest on the label. Recommended for use as an afternoon digestif with ice cubes or neat, it works well as a base for cocktails.

Not a bad budget whiskey, which is quite drinkable in its pure form. Does not cause a hangover, does not hit the head, unlike Russian cognac. Considering the price, it has no negative qualities, you can take it.

William Lawson's

Whiskey of light golden straw color based on single malt and grain alcohols. Passes a preliminary stage of maturation in sherry barrels and is additionally aged in oak barrels. Used for the production of blends of whiskey distillery Macduff Distillery, located in Speyside. It has a bright and rich taste with nuances of fried grains, toffee, butter with a delicate fruity-floral finish. The aroma contains hints of baked apples.

Recommended for pure consumption, goes well with a cigar. Serving temperature: 18-20 ° C.

Quite good whiskey with good aging, has a rather mild taste and pleasant aroma. Does not cause disgust, strong average, but expensive — if you take on the stock, then no regrets.

Teacher's Highland Cream

Cold-filtered alpine tape from the Highland region, golden orange in color. Contains about 30 varieties of whiskey, 45% of which are single malt. Has a multifaceted malt flavor with peaty, licorice and creamy notes. The aroma is dominated by hints of nuts, smoke and honey.

It is used as a stand-alone digestif; for softness, you can dilute it a little with water or add a couple of ice cubes. It is recommended to serve chilled to a temperature of 18–21 ° С.

Great scotch tape, especially for its price range. If allowed to breathe, the taste opens from an unexpected side: notes of chocolate and prunes are felt on the tongue. The most interesting from the budget, the main thing is not to interfere with it with anything in order to feel it.

White horse

One of the most popular amber-colored blended blends. The drink is the result of a blending of 40 varieties of grain (70%) and malt (30%) scotch tapes from the Highland and Islay regions. It has a mild, slightly oily taste with hints of honey and peat. The aroma is complex and rich, earthy-peaty.

Often used as a base for cocktails, it can also be consumed on its own and with a cigar.

Unexpectedly good in pure form. But only if you drink in small sips, otherwise you can burn the taste buds. For those who are too sensitive, I recommend mixing it with cola.

Grant's Family Reserve

Light yellow scotch aged in oak barrels. Made from 25 varieties of whiskey using vacuum distillation technology to obtain the lightest alcohol. Has a harmonious, pronounced malt taste with vanilla-banana notes and a prolonged finish. The aroma contains sweet notes of ripe fruit.

The drink works well as a digestif with and without ice. Used to prepare various alcoholic cocktails.

Whiskey with a rich taste with hints of smoke and a pleasant distinctive aroma. No alcoholic aftertaste and intoxicates very mildly, the head does not hurt in the morning. An interesting find for its price segment.

Johnnie walker red label

The famous Scotch whiskey is reddish-orange in color. It is characterized by a bright, slightly sweetish taste with delicate notes of vanilla and expressive smoky malt in contrast. The aroma is fresh and multifaceted, with nuances similar to the taste.

Ideal as a base for cocktails, it goes well with cola, fruit juice or tonic. Recommended serving temperature: 18-21 ° C.

In my opinion, sturdier than “McGregor”, but inferior to “Jack Daniels”. For lovers of scotch tape, softer will work well. The taste is not bad, it will definitely find its lover.

Old smuggler

Golden-amber adhesive tape based on a blend of three cereal alcohols - barley, corn and wheat. It has a fairly balanced and emphasized soft taste with a multifaceted aroma of woody, flowers, creamy toffee and caramel.

The blend owes its name to 19th century smugglers who risked their lives to deliver the illegal drink to their customers. Recommended to be consumed with ice or neat, tasting in small sips. Serving temperature: 18-20 ° С.

A pleasant budget whiskey with a mild taste, goes well neat and with cherry juice. A worthy alternative to budget Russian cognacs, does not cause hangovers and headaches.

Ballantine's Finest

One of the most famous Scottish blends of light golden hue, based on 50 malt and 4 grain whiskeys. Has a refined sweetish taste with balanced nuances of vanilla, ripe apples and milk chocolate. The aroma has spicy, honey and citrus notes.

Good as a digestif, with the addition of a little water and ice cubes, can be used as a cocktail base. It is recommended to cool to 18-20 ° C before serving.

Good quality scotch tape for a reasonable price, very fragrant. I drank clean, the girl liked it in combination with cola. The head did not hurt in the morning.

Bell's Original

The UK's best selling scotch tape in deep amber color with golden highlights. Made with 35 malt and grain whiskeys from the plains, islands and highlands of Scotland. It has a bright and rich taste with hints of woody, spice and nut butter with a smoky finish. In a complex bouquet of aromas, you can catch the nuances of herbs, almonds, ginger and honey.

Good as an aperitif or digestif in combination with ice and without, can be used to make cocktails. Recommended for serving when brought to a temperature of 18-20 ° C.

Decent and inexpensive mass market whiskey, good value for money. In combination with cola, it will go very well, it's hard for me personally to drink in its pure form.

Hankey Bannister Original

Blended scotch tape of golden brown color after three years of maturation in oak barrels. The character of the drink has hints of honey and spices, has a prolonged sweetish aftertaste. Possesses a refined bouquet with nuances of herbs and spices.

It is good to consume on its own with ice or without any additives. Optimum serving temperature: 18-20 ° C.

Quite good whiskey without frills, justifies its price. Drinking is easy enough, does not cause rejection. The aroma is pleasant, at the same time light and unobtrusive. Pleasant blend with a long finish.

Best Product Lists

All studied samples of blended whiskey from Scotland have an ABV of 40% and a three-year aging in oak barrels. Let's summarize and select Review Leaders in three different categories.

Grant's Family Reserve - value for money

There were several contenders for leadership in this category, but, according to our subjective assessment, it is Grant's that deserves a victory in this nomination. There are several reasons for this: a democratic price, a high tasting rating, a surprisingly harmonious aroma and the absence of fuzziness. Many users emphasize that this is one of the most worthy options from the mass market, the cost of which does not exceed a thousand rubles, and the pleasure of the drink is more likely to get than from many more expensive counterparts.

Johnnie Walker Red Label - the best base for cocktails

One of the world's most famous blended blends, it excels as a base for making cocktails. Why not as a standalone drink? The fact is that the red “Johnny Walker” is not very expressive and calm enough, there is no special zest in it that should be appreciated by real connoisseurs of good scotch tape. But as a basis for "Old Fashion" will suit perfectly well - this blend is very successfully combined with various fruit ingredients, without interrupting the tastes, but as if harmoniously merging with them.

Teacher's Highland Cream - the best digestive

This is perhaps the most interesting specimen on our list for taste buds.Scotch made from high-altitude whiskeys, 45% of which are single malt, the highest among blended Scotch whiskeys. It has a rich and multifaceted taste, rich aroma and long-lasting aftertaste. This whiskey is good as an independent drink, which should be drunk slowly in small sips, savoring and discovering all the new shades.

Tips for choosing a Scotch whiskey in the store

Being an amateur, it is easy to get hooked on a beautiful bottle, the contents of which can be so disappointing that at best you will not touch it after the first sip, and at worst - the drink will undermine your health. Before buying whiskey, you should pay attention to the following details:

• The price often depends on the type of scotch: single malt will almost always cost more than blended. It is made at one distillery, is not diluted with anything and is kept in specially designated barrels. Among the blends, you can also find very good options. Pay attention to aging: it must be at least three years. However, this rule does not apply for bourbon - it takes 2 years to ripen.
• The longer the aging period in the barrel, the richer the taste, and, accordingly, the higher the cost. Elite varieties ripen from five years and more. The calculation takes into account only the residence time of the liquid in the oak barrel, excluding the time after bottling.
• Correctly read information on the label will help you make the right choice. The inscription “Single Malt” means that in front of you is single malt scotch, “Blended” is blended. Pay attention to rare bottles labeled “Blended Malt” - these are blends of exclusively single malt varieties. “Single Grain” is a malt or grain drink made at a single distillery, “Blended Grain” is a grain blended. He, as a rule, the most budgetary and not too outstanding in terms of taste.