Some of you have been asking for me to review and/or recommend whiskies that are really good values (and not just the really fancy expensive ones). Well, here are three new ones from Gordon & MacPhail. I don’t have time to conduct formal reviews, but I have tasted all three on multiple occasions and think they are good whiskies (I would rate them in the low to mid 80s) at a good price.
The MacPhails Collection (Distilled at Highland Park), 8 years old, 43%
The MacPhails Collection (Distilled at Glenrothes), 8 years old, 43%
The MacPhails Collection (Distilled at Tamdhu), 8 years old, 43%
The typical price range, according to the importer here in the U.S., will be $33-35. However, they also informed me that in some markets you might see them priced under $30. A good single malt for under $30? Now that’s value!
i’d like to point out also the Bowmore Legend (NAS). while it is a young malt (no age statement) , it’s a very enjoyable one. amazing finish, and great peat smoke ash taste. it’s a bargain and can be bought in the US for 20$ or so…
hard to beat for value per buck.
what say you?
People who don’t have much to money to spend tend not to take chances with products they don’t know about. As a result values in limited release (often independently bottled) whiskies often get missed by the people who need them most. So these are some nice recommendations.
How about adding a small simple section to this site to cover value whiskies?
Global recession or no recession, with so much to choose from, always looking for more bang for my buck. Thanks, John.
G&m has done a terrific job with this age and format in the past. I had the good fortune to taste a McPhails 8 yo Highland Park bottled sometime in 1970s and it was great! And if the cask quality of the older statements released a few years earlier for Glenrothes and Tamdhu (the 30 year olds) are any indication, these should be good as well.
My current bang-for-the-buck award goes to Finlaggan Old Reserve for $17.99. It tastes like Caol Ila. It is a good affordable dram.
These values are extraordinary, hope to see them in NYC soon and try them out! Wow.
Just tasted all of these yesterday afternoon. As you say John, they’re all good.
I think that rating a lower priced whisky is great. I have often wondered why more miniature bottles are not offered, the airplane size. I would rather pay five bucks for one than forty-fifty or maybe sixty and not like what I bought.