Best Blended Scotch

If you are a Scotch drinker, then you would likely be considering either a single malt scotch or blended Scotch for your regular enjoyment. There is a lot of difference between these two Scotch whiskeys.

A single malt Scotch consists of malted barley and water and is produced in a single distillery. A blended scotch is a mixture of whiskeys from different distilleries and can be a mixture of single malt Scotch and grain whiskeys.

The mixing of various whiskeys plays a vital role in blended Scotch and must be done very carefully at the distillery. A great advantage of blended Scotch is that it tends to be relatively cheaper and readily available in the market.

Note that a blended scotch is not at all inferior in aroma or taste in comparison to single malt. Blended Scotch is, in fact, just as rich and vivacious. In this article, we list the best blended Scotches in detail, which will help in choosing from the wide variety that is available.

The Best Blended Scotches

#1. Monkey Shoulder Blended Scotch Whiskey

The Monkey Shoulder combines three different malt Scotches from a Speyside distillery, and the Scotch produces a fantastic aroma of nuts, cinnamon, dry apricot, and vanilla. The smooth, silky, delicious Monkey Shoulder Scotch has an ABV of 43 percent. It is one of the smoothest blended Scotches available.

#2. Sheep Dip Malt Whiskey

This whiskey is a combination of 16 different types of whiskey and is aged between 8 to 21 years. One will taste splendid, smooth notes of honey and toffee at the first sip. It is one of the best budget blended Scotch.

20 Best Blended Scotches

#3. Johnnie Walker Black Label

Johnnie Walker Black Label is one of the most well-known Scotches and is made by blending more than 36 different Scotches from distilleries in Scotland for a minimum of twelve years. One can taste notes of vanilla, glazed nuts, and raisins in the first sip. It has an ABV of 40 percent.

#4. Duncan Taylor The Big Smoke 46

The Island of Islay is just 240 square miles. Fewer than 4000 people reside here, but it has some famous distilleries for producing Scotch whiskey.

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The island has peats which creates a smoky flavor in whiskey. The Big Smoke 46 is made by combining Islay malt Scotch of different distilleries. The aroma is fabulous, and you will feel notes of vanilla, butter biscuits, cinnamon, honey, caramel, and sea salt. The Big Smoke 46 is perfect for those drinkers who love to have smoky flavor in their whiskey. It has an ABV of 46 percent.

#5. Chivas Regal 18 Year Old Scotch Whiskey

The Chivas Regal combines different grains and malt whiskeys that age for a minimum period of eighteen years. The distillers bottle the Chivas Regal with an ABV of 40 percent.

The Chivas Regal is an amber color when it is in the bottle. You may taste more than eighty-five different flavors in this whiskey. When you open the bottle, you can get the aroma of chocolate, dry fruits, burnt citrus, and caramel.

#6. Dewar’s 25 Year Scotch Whiskey

To prepare this Scotch, the master blender combines 40 different grains and single malt Scotch whiskeys and ages it for at least 25 years. Then the mixture is poured into an oak barrel for six months. The double aging produces a fantastic aroma of honey, grill nuts, dry fruit, and cream.

#7. Black Bottle Blended Scotch

The Black Bottle Blended Scotch has wonderful tasting notes of honey, canned pears, and sweet spice. It has an ABV of 40 percent.

#8. Ballantine’s 30-Year-Old Blended Scotch

For the Ballantine’s 30 Year Old, the master blender blends good quality and grain whiskeys and ages it for at least 30 years to produce this blended Scotch. It has an ABV of 40 percent and has tasting notes of toffee, sweet spice, and smoke.

#9. The Famous Grouse Blended Scotch

The Famous Grouse Blended Scotch is made by combining whiskeys aged in ex-bourbon barrels and ex-sherry barrels. This Scotch has an ABV of 40 percent, and one can taste notes of dry fruit, citrus, and vanilla in the first sip. Drinkers usually say that this Scotch is best for cocktails.

#10. Cutty Sark

Cutty Sark is quite a popular blended Scotch in the US, and it is affordable too. It is a light whiskey with floral flavors. It mainly consists of grainy whiskey and nearly 40 different single malt Scotches like Highland Park, Macallan, and other types.

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#12. Cluny Blended Scotch

Cluny Blended Scotch is one of the best cheap blended Scotches with an ABV of 40 percent. It is sweet and fruity to taste. One will notice notes of banana and toffee nuts in the first sip.

#13. Rock Oyster Blended Malt Scotch Whiskey

The Rock Oyster combines single malt whiskeys from small islands in Scotland and grain whiskeys from Islay and Arran. It is a bit salty on the nose, and one can taste black pepper, campfire, and ash in the first sip.

The Best Blended Scotches

#14. Pig’s Nose Blended Scotch Whiskey

This whiskey is relatively smooth, and combines Speyside, Lowland, and Islay malt Scotches along with grain whiskeys. One can taste notes of peach, roasted almonds, and hints of toffee.

#15. Great King Street Artist’s Blend

The Great King Street Artist’s Blend is a mixture of different whiskeys like Lowland grain whiskey, Highland, and Speyside malt whiskey. Each of these whiskeys age in a different barrel.

For instance, the low grain whiskeys are aged in charred oak barrels, and Highland whiskeys are aged in either ex-sherry barrels or bourbon barrels. When all these whiskeys are mixed, they produce a pleasant aroma. The Great King Street Artist’s Blend has flavors of orange, apple rose, and white pepper, and is fantastic to taste.

#16. Compass Box Hedonism

This is one of the best whiskeys for sipping. The Compass Box Hedonism has an ABV of 43 percent.

This whiskey contains grain whiskey, which is aged in an ex-bourbon barrel. It produces notes of vanilla, graphite, pepper, and various others while sipping.

#17. Johnnie Walker Red label

This is one of the best inexpensive blended Scotches. It is obtained by combining thirty-five different whiskeys from reputed distilleries of Scotland. This is great for mixing in a cocktail. You can taste notes of cedar, honey, and butterscotch in your first sip.

#18. Big Peat

Big Peat is a combination of different malt Scotches from Islay Island. It does not contain grain whiskey. If you want to smoke blended Scotch, then you can try Big Peat.

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#19. Grant’s Family Reserve

Grant’s family reserve is quite a popular blended Scotch. It has an aroma quite similar to Glenfiddich.

#20. Bank Note 5 Year Blended Scotch Whiskey

This whiskey comprises 40 percent from single malt Scotch of Highlands and 60 percent from grain whiskeys from Lowlands. Each whiskey used in this blended Scotch ages for a minimum of 5 years and produces excellent vanilla, lemon, and oak aromas.

The Best Blended Scotches to Buy

Frequently Answered Questions

#1. Why does blended whiskey tend to be less expensive?

Blended whiskey consists of single malt scotch and grain whiskeys. Therefore, cheaper grains are used here, like corn, wheat, and rye. They also do not age in casks for a long time, and the blending process does not take too long, further reducing costs.

#2. What is the best-selling Scotch in the World?

Red Label by Johnnie Walker is one of the best-selling scotch whiskeys in the world. It contains 35 aged single malt scotches and grain whiskeys.

#3. How do you drink blended Scotch?

You can mix your blended Scotch with little water to open up the flavor. One may also prefer adding ice cubes to their blended whiskey.

#4. Is Scotch good for my health?

Yes, Scotch in careful moderation can be beneficial to your health in a few ways. It lowers the risk of heart attack and may help to reduce the risks of some cancers.

Parting Words

Blended Scotch is a combination of grain and malt whiskey, and is aged for a minimum of 3 years. When different whiskeys combine, they produce a pleasing aroma.

It usually contains cheaper grains like rye and wheat, which is why it tends to be less expensive than single malt Scotch. However, this makes it so that any Scotch drinker can afford it and enjoy its taste.

In this article, we have listed the best blended Scotches for you, and we hope it will serve as a good starting point for your exploration into blended Scotches.

Happy Drinking!