While the booming popularity of a good dram has sent the price of premium, age-statement bottles into the stratosphere, you don’t need to remortgage your house for a decent pour. The best supermarket whiskeys now include some genuinely excellent bottles at prices that won’t make you wince.
Whether you’re searching for a gift that doesn’t look like a last-minute petrol station panic-buy, or just want to restock your own drinks cabinet, we’ve consulted the experts to separate the bargain whiskeys from the dregs. For those after even more budget-friendly drinks, we’ve also asked our experts to recommend the best supermarket wines and champagnes.
While price can often signal quality, affordable supermarket whiskies can be just as impressive. In fact, three of Aldi’s expressions have been ranked among the best in the world, and Lidl has previously taken home gold at the World Whisky Awards. “You can find great whisky available at almost every price point,” says Billy Abbott, author of a Philosophy of Whisky. “While more affordable whiskies will often not have the bells and whistles of more expensive bottles, you can find great quality wherever you look.”
Whiskey has shed its stuffy reputation in recent years, thanks to a booming cocktail culture and a new generation discovering the joys of a well-made old fashioned. This surge in mainstream appeal has pushed supermarkets to up their game, meaning the bottles you chuck in your trolley alongside the weekly shop are now better than ever.
And it’s not just whisky enjoying a renaissance. Whether you’re after a standout wine for less or a prosecco that won’t stretch your budget, supermarkets such as Aldi, Waitrose and Tesco now offer impressive options for savvy shoppers – if you know where to look.
Broadly speaking, there are five main types of whisky: Scottish scotch, Irish whiskey, American whisky, Canadian whisky and Japanese whisky. Production methods differ by region, offering single malts, blends, cask-strength, and peated varieties. Blended and Irish whiskeys are widely enjoyed for their smoothness, while American bourbon has surged in popularity recently, with its sweeter flavour making it an accessible choice for newcomers.
Read more: Best supermarket wines, chosen by experts and sommeliers
Meet the experts
Joanne Gould is a journalist with a decade of experience writing about food and drink. She’s written about every type of whisky there is for dozens of publications, from scotch and single malt to blended and bourbon.
Jonathan Hatchman is a whisky expert with years under his belt reviewing the best spirits, with tests of the best Japanese whiskies, bourbon, and rye.
Aidy Smith is an award-winning TV presenter, broadcaster and journalist. He is the presenter of Amazon Prime’s award-winning drinks-themed travel series The Three Drinkers and is frequently heard across TV and radio.
Bankhall single malt
ABV: 40%
Described as a “bold, youthful whisky bursting with personality” by Smith, this spirit is crafted in Blackpool but inspired by American styles. It’s made with English barley and aged for just over three years, in charred virgin oak. “This small-batch gem delivers vibrant notes of orange marmalade, vanilla, dried fruits, and mint, with a dash of cinnamon and dark chocolate,” Smith describes. “Triple-distilled and matured in ex-bourbon, ex-sherry and virgin oak casks, it’s rich, versatile, and equally at home sipped over ice on sunny days as it is by the fire on winter evenings.” Though it usually costs £26, it’s even cheaper with a Nectar loyalty card, which takes the price down to £18.
Buy now £26.05, Ocado.com
Glenmorangie the original 12 years old single malt whisky
ABV: 40%
“This 12-year-old single malt is good value at full price as an approachably smooth and silky dram with lots of stone fruit and sweetness,” Gould says. As for how to drink it, while it’s “great for a nightcap on its own, it pairs nicely with gingery mixers,” she explains.
Buy now £41.5, Waitrose.com
Laphroaig 10 Year Old
ABV: 40%
Hatchman says he’s always got a bottle of Laphroaig 10-year-old on the go at home, as “it’s just such an exemplary Islay single malt with unapologetically bold character, with a punch of medicinal peat smoke, iodine and just a whisper of seaweed.” But what really sets this one apart is the “10-year-old’s consistency and maturity, with some of the harsher edges rounded off and a more complex finish,” says Hatchman, adding that “the no-age-statement expression is also great.”
Buy now £44, Waitrosecellar.com
Smokeshead Islay single malt scotch whisky
ABV: 40%
“Islay fans who like their whiskies super smokey should head to Morrisons where Smokehead Islay Single Malt is currently in stock,” Gould advises. “Not for the fainthearted, this uber-peaty, woody whisky has a slight sherried style and is just waiting for autumn to draw in.”
Buy now £41, Morrisons.com
Michter's small batch Kentucky straight bourbon whisky
ABV: 45.7%
“Michter’s is one of my favourite distilleries, producing some truly incredible bourbon, rye and sour mash American whiskeys,” Hatchman says. His favourite? Michter’s US 1 Small Batch Kentucky straight bourbon from the core range. “It’s an absolute benchmark of both the style and the distillery’s approach to whiskey production.” Though great for cocktails, this is definitely a bourbon to drink neat, or with a couple of ice cubes at most, Hatchman suggests. “The whiskey has gorgeous vanilla and corn notes, as are typical of bourbon, plus a really nice richness alongside slight caramel notes.”
Buy now £56.99, Amazon.co.uk
Redbreast 12-year-old
ABV: 40%
“Although the 15- and 21-year-old expressions are particularly celebrated, the 12-year-old is often overlooked,” Hatchman explains. “It’s an excellent introduction to great Irish whiskey, matured in a combination of American oak barrels and Spanish oak Oloroso sherry butts.” Despite having “all of the smoothness associated with Irish whiskey, it’s also bold with loads of baking spice character and a delicious, buttery finish that lingers.”
Buy now £65, Waitrose.com
Buffalo Trace Kentucky straight bourbon
ABV: 40%
“Carrying the pioneering spirit of early American settlers, this bourbon is crafted at one of the country’s oldest distilleries, where the liquor is aged to perfection, using the region’s rich grains and pure limestone water,” Smith explains. “This deep amber bourbon delights with a complex nose of vanilla, mint, and molasses, while the palate offers a harmonious blend of brown sugar, spice, and a smooth sweetness.” Perfect for fans of an old-fashioned and bourbon lovers, it’s also won plenty of awards.
Buy now £27.5, Tesco.com
What are the best supermarket whiskeys for 2026?
Whether you’re looking to delve into American distilleries or stay closer to home with a Scottish single-malt, there’s plenty of choice when it comes to supermarket whiskeys. For less than £30, Bankhall Single Malt Whisky impresses thanks to its harmonious blend of herbaceous woods, warming toasted spices and a touch of fruit, while Glenmorangie the original 12-year-old single malt whisky at Waitrose, is a must-try for its silky-smooth texture.
Find more bargain bottles in our expert guide to the best supermarket wines
