Whiskey is big business. So is whisky.
For whatever reasons, different countries spell it differently: It’s whiskey in Ireland and the U.S. (with occasional exceptions) and whisky in Scotland, Canada, and (usually) Japan — a country whose versions of the spirit are now some of the most lauded, and expensive, examples in the world. (Whiskey — or whisky — is now made in at least 25 nations in all, including Finland, Germany, Taiwan, India, and Australia.)
However you spell the name of this heady and often complex grain-based liquor, the international market for it was valued at $57.96 billion in 2018. According to projections by the U.S.- and India-based firm Grand View Research, that number is expected to have increased by a compound annual growth rate of 6.4% by 2025. (It remains to be seen whether the pandemic will affect sales in one direction or another. Here are some ways the coronavirus is impacting what and how we drink.)
There are more than 500 major distilleries and countless smaller ones around the globe, and most of them produce numerous distinct bottlings. There are thus literally thousands of choices for the whisk(e)y-lover, and while preferences in style and origin are obviously a matter of taste, numerous spirits authorities and both consumer and professional organizations sample and rate examples of the spirit every year. (It’s not surprising that the owners of several top scotch, bourbon, and Irish brands are among the world’s 15 most valuable alcohol companies.)
Click here to see the best whiskeys under $50
One of the most respected competitions, for liquor of all kinds, is the annual Ultimate Spirits Challenge. This is a weeks-long multi-part event judged by panels including spirits writers, bartenders, consultants, and other experts in the field.
Fine whisk(e)y, especially the older examples, can be frighteningly expensive (a 64-year-old Macallan single malt scotch in a Lalique glass bottle sold for $460,000 last year). But very good ones can be found for much less. 24/7 Tempo recently analyzed the results of the 2020 Challenge to determine the 50 best examples of this well-loved alcoholic beverage priced under $50 for a standard 750 ml bottle. The list is ranked from lowest to highest score.
50. Alberta Premium Rye
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 93 — #152 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $21.81 — #414 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: Canada
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49. Jim Beam Double Oak
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 94 — #150 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $22.99 — #409 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: United States
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48. Canadian Club Classic 12 Years Old Blended
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 94 — #108 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $24.82 — #402 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: Canada
47. Buffalo Trace
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 96 — #58 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $24.99 — #391 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: United States
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46. Larceny
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 95 — #106 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $24.99 — #391 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: United States
45. Old Overholt Bonded 4 Years Old Straight Rye
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 94 — #148 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $24.99 — #391 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: United States
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44. Fistful of Bourbon
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 94 — #149 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $24.99 — #391 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: United States
43. BENDT No. 5 American Blended Whiskey
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 94 — #147 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $25.00 — #388 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: United States
42. Brain Brew Custom Whiskey Maple Wood
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 95 — #105 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $29.95 — #372 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: United States
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41. Redemption
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 96 — #57 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $29.99 — #357 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: United States
40. Bowman Brothers Small Batch Virginia
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 95 — #103 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $29.99 — #357 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: United States
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39. Evan Williams Single Barrel 2012
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 95 — #104 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $29.99 — #357 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: United States
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38. Jack Daniel’s Straight
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 96 — #56 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $30.00 — #352 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: United States
37. Buchanan’s DeLuxe 12 Years Old
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 94 — #146 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $31.00 — #351 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: Scotland
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36. Coopers’ Craft Barrel Reserve
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 94 — #145 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $32.99 — #347 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: United States
35. Brain Brew Custom Whiskey 200 Year Oak
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 95 — #102 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $34.95 — #341 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: United States
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34. Brain Brew Custom Whiskey 4 Wood
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 94 — #144 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $34.95 — #341 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: United States
33. Henry McKenna Single Barrel 10 Years Old Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 96 — #55 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $34.99 — #332 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: United States
32. Famous Grouse Ruby Cask
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 95 — #100 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $34.99 — #332 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: Scotland
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31. Suntory Toki
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 95 — #101 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $34.99 — #332 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: Japan
30. Cutty Sark Prohibition Edition
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 94 — #143 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for one liter: $34.99 — #332 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: Scotland
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29. Town Branch 7 Years Old Kentucky
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 94 — #142 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $35.00 — #324 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: United States
28. 1792 Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 94 — #141 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $35.99 — #323 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: United States
27. Dewar’s The Ancestor 12 Years Old
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 96 — #54 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $36.00 — #320 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: Scotland
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26. Weller 12 Years Old
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 95 — #99 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $36.99 — #319 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: United States
25. Four Roses Single Barrel
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 95 — #98 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $37.00 — #318 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: United States
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24. Yellow Rose
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 96 — #53 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $37.99 — #316 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: United States
23. Oak & Eden Rye & Spire Charred Oak
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 94 — #138 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $38.00 — #312 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: United States
22. Oak & Eden Bourbon & Spire Toasted Oak
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 94 — #139 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $38.00 — #312 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: United States
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21. Jane Walker by Johnnie Walker
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 94 — #140 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $38.00 — #312 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: Scotland
20. Noble Oak Double Oak
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 97 — #17 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $39.99 — #284 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: United States
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19. Templeton Rye 6 Years Old
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 95 — #95 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $39.99 — #284 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: United States
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18. Heaven Hill 7 Years Old Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 95 — #96 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $39.99 — #284 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: United States
17. Deanston Virgin Oak
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 95 — #97 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $39.99 — #284 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: Scotland
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16. Tamnavulin Double Cask
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 94 — #137 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for 700ml: $39.99 — #284 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: Scotland
15. Rough Rider Wilderness Hunter Single Cask
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 95 — #94 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $40.00 — #280 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: United States
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14. TX Texas
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 94 — #136 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $40.00 — #280 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: United States
13. Rock Town Four Grain Sour Mash Arkansas
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 95 — #92 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $44.99 — #258 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: United States
12. Kilbeggan
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 95 — #93 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $44.99 — #258 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: Ireland
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11. 77 Whiskey 100% Corn
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 94 — #134 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $45.00 — #251 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: United States
10. Old Pulteney 12 Years Old
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 94 — #135 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $45.00 — #251 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: Scotland
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9. Stagg Jr.
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 98 — #05 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $49.99 — #223 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: United States
8. 1792 12 Years Old
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 96 — #50 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $49.99 — #223 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: United States
7. Weller CYPB
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 96 — #51 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $49.99 — #223 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: United States
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6. Wemyss Malts Peat Chimney
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 96 — #52 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $49.99 — #223 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: Scotland
5. Pikesville
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 95 — #90 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $49.99 — #223 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: United States
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4. Glenmorangie Lasanta Sherry Cask Finish 12 Years Old
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 95 — #91 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $49.99 — #223 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: Scotland
3. Jura 12 Years Old
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 94 — #133 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for 700ml: $49.99 — #223 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: Scotland
2. Buchanan’s Master
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 94 — #131 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $50.00 — #214 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: Scotland
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1. Mortlach Wee Witchie 12 Years Old
> Ultimate spirits challenge score for 2020: 94 — #132 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Price for a fifth: $50.00 — #214 of 442 whiskey bottles
> Country of origin: Scotland
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