Recent news in the whisky world has focused on the premium side of the business. Expensive, rare or old bottlings are the current hot topic as brands bid to outdo one another with their latest releases. Add in the recent Distillers One of One charity auction – where three lots went for over £300k – and you can see the attraction.

But these aren’t the whiskies most of us actually buy. It’s the core range that drives sales and keeps distilleries afloat. These everyday releases are easy to overlook when the latest limited edition or antique expression steals the spotlight, but there’s plenty of quality hiding in plain sight.

Here are 12 of the best affordable options that deliver real value without denting your overdraft — all priced below £50.

Ardbeg An Oa

This peated monster from the cult Islay distillery delivers a great smoky hit for the money. Four cask types – first fill and re-fill bourbon, Pedro Ximenez sherry and charred new American oak – are married in a huge wooden vat at the Ardbeg distillery for three months prior to bottling.

Expect vanilla, toffee, baking spices and bonfire embers. A full-on yet delicious single malt that is peaty perfection.

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Bushmills 12 Years Old

This recent addition to the core range of the world’s oldest licensed distillery is a real cracker. The triple-distilled Bushmills spirit has undergone initial maturation in bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks, followed by a six-month finishing period in luscious Marsala wine casks from Sicily.

Notes of vanilla ice cream, fresh apricot and creamy milk chocolate combine with hints of candied lime and hazelnut praline.

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Cragganmore 12 Years Old

The distillery of Cragganmore has represented the Speyside region in Diageo’s Classic Malts since the collection’s inception in the late 1980s. Cragganmore offers something different for a Speysider, though – it is bold, robust with a hint of mild peat smoke.

Notes of golden syrup and baked apple tart lead the way, supported by sultana, malted biscuits and a wisp of smoke. A true underrated gem.

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Filey Bay Flagship

Yorkshire has become something of a hotbed for craft English whisky, and Spirit of Yorkshire were the first to ever distil the spirit in God’s Own County.

Flagship is the cornerstone of their Filey Bay single malt range, named after a local beauty spot. This is a true field-to-bottle whisky – they grow all their barley for production on a local farm.

Expect plenty of vibrant freshness with green apple, honey and malt.

Buy now at The Whisky Exchange

Glen Scotia 12 Years Old

A recent addition to the Campbeltown distillery’s core range, Glen Scotia always offers good bang for your buck. This 12-year-old has been fully matured in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels.

The nose is full of vanilla sweetness, while the palate offers plenty of ripe tropical fruits – think of pineapple, papaya and a hint of dried banana. Gentle peat smoke sits in the background and binds everything together.

Buy now at House Of Malt

Johnnie Walker Black Ruby

The world’s biggest-selling Scotch whisky brand has a new member in its line-up. Black Ruby is a complex blend with single malt from Diageo’s Roseisle distillery at its heart.

Four casks are used for maturation: bourbon, Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry, and red wine. Perfect sipped neat or over ice, but especially good when mixed into a classic whisky cocktail.

A sure-fire hit that does not disappoint.

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Lochlea Orchard & Oak

Another field-to-bottle distillery, this time from the Lowland region of Scotland. Lochlea Farm is not only home to the distillery and grows every grain of barley used in production, but was once owned by the legendary wordsmith and poet Robert Burns.

This new entry to the core range accentuates the distinct fruity style of Lochlea’s spirit by part-maturing in ex-Calvados apple brandy casks from northern France.

Buy now at The Whisky Exchange

Longrow Peated

Another Campbeltown classic, but this time with more smoke. Longrow is produced for short periods each year at the iconic Springbank distillery in the town.

Powerful sooty and ashy peat smoke combines superbly with sweet toffee, brown sugar and vanilla custard. Further notes of green apple, candied lemon and toasted marshmallow are also evident. But that peaty kick is never far away.

Buy now at House Of Malt

Stauning HØST

This Danish double malt features a marriage of single malt and rye whiskies, matured in ex-bourbon, heavily charred virgin American oak and ex-Port barriques.

HØST means ‘harvest’ in Danish, and this expression kicks off the Stauning range. It’s malty and spicy, with notes of milk chocolate, maraschino cherry and marzipan mixing with candied orange, cinnamon and cookie dough.

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The Antiquary 15 Years Old

This venerable old blend has quietly slipped back into favour. First registered in 1888 and named after Sir Walter Scott’s gothic novel The Antiquary, it enjoyed its golden years in the 1970s and 80s before fading into the background — only to be rediscovered by a new generation of whisky drinkers.

Matured in bourbon and sherry oak casks before a lengthy finishing period in ex-Claret red wine casks from the Bordeaux region of France. Excellent value and with bags of flavour.

Buy now at Master Of Malt

Teeling Small Batch

The Teeling family were at the forefront of Ireland’s whisky renaissance, and their Dublin distillery was the first to operate in the capital for over 50 years.

This small-batch blend forms the cornerstone of their range and features a high single malt-to-grain whisky ratio. It is also finished in ex-rum casks for extra flavour.

Expect vanilla, pear and toffee with a distinct note of ripe, sweet tropical fruits. Great value.

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Togouchi Premium Blend

This Japanese blended whisky is consistently one of the most affordable on the market. Part of the reason for this is that it also includes Scotch single malt and Canadian grain whiskies. A true world blend if ever there was one.

Togouchi is full-bodied, rich and sweet with a faint touch of smoke. Notes of milk chocolate and honey mingle nicely with vanilla pod and white pepper. It will make you want to pour another glass.

Buy now at Amazon