8 Best Luxury Whisky Brands To Invest In

Discerning whisky connoisseurs know that on the spectrum of spirits, not every whisky is created equal. Some are delicious for an everyday dram, but when it comes to special occasions, only a luxury whisky will do. Investing in luxury whisky brands can become an expensive hobby, which is why we have created this guide to help you decipher which which luxury whisky brands are right for you.

In the world of high-end whiskies, some brands stand out above the rest. Run by artisans who are truly passionate about their work, these distilleries hit all the right marks. Quality ingredients, exceptionally pure water, and time-honoured processes come together to create a spirit that is brimming with character and taste — every sip is a rich sensory experience.

Behind every bottle of top-shelf whisky is a wealth of time, care, and expertise — and a price tag to match. These are whiskies worthy of celebration, so it’s helpful to look at each one as an investment and question which whisky is best. As you build your collection, stock your top shelf with bottles from these exceptional luxury brands.

Glenmorangie

For the Glenmorangie brand, distilling whisky is more than a job — it’s a hallowed calling. All of the brand’s whiskeys are made in the Scottish Highlands. In fact, the company is still located on the site where it was founded in 1843.

The Glenmorangie recipes are a closely guarded secret that’s known only to a small group of craftsmen. Lovingly dubbed “The Men of Tain”, these artisans work tirelessly to maintain and refine the process that has been passed down through the years. The brand’s stills are famous for being the tallest in all of Scotland, a feature that contributes to the signature complexity of each spirit. Luxury whiskey from Glenmorangie is then transferred to custom-made casks that are crafted by hand from American oak trees. Each tree is personally selected by one of the brand’s experts to ensure exceptional ageing.

While Glenmorangie offers a range of whisky options, the company’s luxury options are aged for decades. One of the most highly prized options is the Glenmorangie Grand Vintage 1990 Single Malt Whisky, which was distilled in a year where barley crops were rare and aged for an impressive 25 years. If you’re ready for a serious whisky investment, look to the oldest of the Glenmorangie whiskies: Pride 1974. The brand made just 503 bottles of this exceptional blend, which was made with water from Tarlogie Springs and matured for 41 years.

Bunnahabhain

Bunnahabhain is an Irish distillery that stands near the Margadale River and the Sound of Islay on Scotland’s Isle of Islay. In operation since 1883, this brand benefits from the backing of the Distell corporation.

In comparison to the other Islay distilleries, Bunnahabhain is known for its smoother, less-peaty taste. Although the brand does offer a few peated options in its Mòine line, most of its blends are distinctly unpeated. The secret to the brand’s famously light character is the pure, peat-free water that comes from the Margadale River. It’s combined with barley mash in one Scotland’s largest mash tuns, fermented in Oregon pine washback tubs, and distilled in two different stills.

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One of the hallmarks of a Bunnahabhain whisky is its remarkable layered taste. This comes from the casks; the company ages its whisky in red wine, sherry, and bourbon casts in a warehouse near the sea. The result is a thrilling combination of notes with a touch of sea brine.

A moderately priced investment from this brand is the Bunnahabhain Islay Single Malt 25 Year, which is deliciously sweet and smooth. It was aged for 25 years in an oak cask, so each sip is rich with oaky, nutty overtones. A higher-end option is the 1980 Canasta, which features vanilla and dark chocolate notes. Aged for 11 years in ex-sherry casks and finished off in Pedro Ximénez casks, this blend is known for its complexity and hint of coastal brine.

Talisker

Located in a remote corner of Scotland’s Isle of Skye, Talisker prides itself on distilling whiskeys for rugged adventurers. It’s known for creating spirits that are as wild and dramatic as the island’s landscapes, and just as distinctive. If you’re a fan of peaty, smoky whiskies, turn to Talisker for your whisky investment.

The secret behind the brand’s powerful blends is the production, which has been in development since the distillery was built in 1830. To power the malting process, Talisker’s distillers burn peat. The pungent flavour of the peat, combined with the intense smoke and the salty taste of the sea air, finds its way into the whisky. The result is a full body and strong profile — Talisker whiskies are not for the faint of heart. The first sip is just the beginning; each blend is rich in gentler notes of vanilla, fruit, or grains. Some burst with unexpected black pepper notes.

Talisker offers luxury with a distinctly bold edge. The Talisker 18 Year Old is a great place to start; it sits for 18 years in bourbon and sherry casks, which lend a distinct sweetness and spice to the classic Talisker peatiness. In comparison to other luxury whiskies, this is an affordable option.

The Balvenie

When it comes to sheer craftsmanship, The Balvenie stands out above the rest. This Scottish distillery, which has been in business since 1892, uses a handcrafted process that has been refined and perfected over the decades.

The Balvenie is unique in that it maintains complete control over every step of the whisky-making process: the “Five Rare Crafts.” The company grows its own barley right next to the distillery at Balvenie Mains using the same methods it employed in the 1800s. The harvested barley is soaked in local spring water and turned by hand on the malting floor — one of the last of its kind left in Scotland. Then, the signature Balvenie bell copper stills work their magic, after which the whisky is transferred to handmade toasted wooden casks. After 12 years, the experienced Malt Master, David Stewart, sends some casks on to the bottling process; he places others in oak casks for finishing and allows the finest blends to sit for an additional 10 or more years.

This legendary process makes The Balvenie one of the best whisky brands on the market. Every bottle reflects the care and knowledge that was passed down through generations. A great starter bottle is The Balvenie PortWood, which was aged for 21 years and finished in port wine casks to create a distinctive fruity flavour. For serious luxury, look for The Balvenie Fifty. Blended from four different casks, each aged for 50 years, this is an exceptionally rich, deep whisky with a spicy finish.

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The Macallan

Tucked into the Scottish hills overlooking the River Spey, The Macallan distillery has been delivering exceptional whiskies since 1824. Known for its fine, full-bodied single malts, Macallan offers both everyday and luxury options.

The magic of Macallan starts in its stills. Known for their unusually small size and distinctive shape, these copper stills start the development of the brand’s well-known rich and fruity whisky. To ensure that each bottle is perfectly flavoured, Macallan uses an exceptionally selective cutting process to ensure the clarity and robust flavour.

The true depth of a Macallan whisky comes from the oak casks. Each tree is hand-picked from forests in Spain, hand-crafted, and painstakingly seasoned to ensure maximum flavour. The company uses only the best oak, which has a significant impact on the final product. When you survey the many luxury whiskies from Macallan, you’ll notice that this brand never adds artificial coloring; all spirits are bottled with the natural colours they derive from the oak.

Macallan offers a wide variety of high-end whiskies. An affordable option is the Macallan Fine Oak Triple Cask Matured 18 year. Aged in oak cases seasoned with European sherry, American sherry, and American bourbon, this spirit is exotic and smooth. If your budget can handle a splurge, look to the Macallan 25 Year for a stunning combination of fruit, spice, and irresistible wood smoke.

Glenfiddich

Backed by a proud family tradition, Glenfiddich is a Scottish brand that got its start in 1886. In addition to its exceptional everyday spirits, it produces high-end luxury single-malt whiskies that are the perfect investment pieces for your home bar.

When you sip Glenfiddich, you’re tasting the culmination of generations of hard work and dedication that started with the Grant family. The original distillery was built by hand, thanks to a lone mason and all of the Grant children. In fact, this brand is one of the few in the world that has always been completely family-owned. The trade secrets, the proprietary processes, and the distillery itself have passed down through generations, ensuring that each bottle is of the highest quality.

Many of the original features established by the Grants remain today. Each whisky is made with Robbie Dhu spring water and heated to the same cut point that was first chosen by William Grant in the 1880s. From there, it goes into copper stills that are identical to the originals and painstakingly maintained by an in-house artisan. Finally, it heads to casks that were produced and charred in Glenfiddich’s onsite cooperage using the tradition that’s been passed down from the first craftsmen. While the whisky ages, it’s tended to by the watchmen and monitored by the Malt Master to ensure quality. This process results in exceptional single-malts that are known for their clean and fruity character.

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When it comes to Glenfiddich luxury whisky, there are plenty of options at a variety of price points. A fantastic starter option is the Glenfiiddich 21 Year, which is aged in rum casks and finished in Gran Reserva barrels. This process delivers a pleasantly complex flavour with a distinctive rum finish. For a truly remarkable option, try the Glenfiddich Excellence 26 Year Old, which was aged for 26 years in bourbon casks made from American oak. This special bottle was created to honour the family tradition that’s alive and well at the distillery.

Johnnie Walker

You probably know Johnnie Walker from its affordably priced whiskies in your local liquor store. This brand, which was established in the mid-1860s in Kilmarnock, Scotland, also offers a selection of luxury blends.

The Johnnie Walker story begins with Walker himself, who was a grocer-turned-distiller. After his death, his descendants established the brand as a leader in the production of blended Scotch whiskeys.

Today, the original Kilmarnock distillery is no more; instead, Johnnie Walker is owned by Diageo and uses whisky from a variety of distilleries. In fact, some of the company’s investment bottles are blends that include whiskies from a variety of locations.

As you’re considering different Johnnie Walker bottles, the Blue Label Ghost and Rare line is a fascinating place to start. Each limited edition is a blend that features a whisky from a closed distillery — a “ghost” distillery — and/or one that’s exceedingly rare and difficult to find. The Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Glenury Royal, for example, uses a single-malt from the Glenury Royal distillery. The Blue Label Ghost and Rare Brora is blended with three ghost whiskies. For a more modest investment, the Johnnie Walker Blue Label is a delicious choice.

Kavalan

When it comes to whisky, most luxury brands originate in Scotland. One important outlier is Kavalan, a distillery that’s based in Taiwan. Although this company has only been in operation since 2005, it’s already making a splash in the world of fine spirits.

Kavalan whisky is made from the snowmelt that travels from the summit of Snow Mountain. Then, it’s distilled using a two-stage process and aged in Taiwan’s exceptionally hot and humid lowlands. This climate results in fast maturing and exceptional flavours, which means that you can enjoy a luxury drink in less time.

With its unique process and atypical origin, Kavalan whisky is the perfect complement to your traditional collection. The Kavalan Whisky Vinho Barrique, which is aged in toasted American oak wine barrels, offers a charming combination of mango and kiwi. Alternatively, the exceptional Kavalan Solist Amontillado Sherry Single Cask Strength makes a dry, toasty option to pull out for special celebrations.

Which Luxury Whisky Brands Are Right For You?

As you’re building your collection of fine spirits, start with these whisky brands. Most offer options that cater to a variety of tastes and price points, ensuring that there’s a bottle for everyone. Which is the best whisky will depend on personal preference so it’s best to explore a variety of whiskies when investing in an expensive bottle.