Best Scotch in 2026

How to Choose the Best Scotch?

With so many flavour profiles to explore, finding the best Scotch can be a challenge, especially given the sheer number of options available. While older, pricier Scotch often gets the praise, younger, carefully crafted whiskies can be just as enjoyable and full of character.

It all comes down to choosing a bottle that suits your taste, strength and age preference. Once you know what you enjoy, picking the best Scotch becomes much easier. Our guides, including this one and our guide on Single Malt Scotch, can help narrow down the choices and point you to the most rewarding drams.

Best Scotch for Cocktails

Scotch is best enjoyed on its own rather than in cocktails. Any Scotch Whisky enthusiast will tell you that it is a dram wasted if mixed with anything. The careful craftsmanship, ageing, and quality of ingredients in Scotch Whisky deserve to be savoured straight.

If you do wish to pair it with something, chocolate, fruit, and cheese make excellent companions to a glass of Scotch Whisky.

Best Scotch for Drinking Straight

Since Scotch Whisky is best enjoyed on its own, you’ll find plenty of options perfect for sipping neat. Pay attention to the alcohol strength, so each sip hits just the way you like it.

From there, explore the flavour profiles that catch your fancy. Whether it’s notes of caramel, a whisper of smoke, or the layered mix of dried fruit and spice, every dram keeps you reaching for another taste.

How Much Does Scotch Cost?

A good Scotch relies on top-quality ingredients and skilled craftsmanship. This naturally makes it more expensive than many other spirits, but a fine Scotch can still be enjoyed at a reasonable price for what you get.

On average, a 750ml bottle of Scotch will cost between £35 and £200, with the whiskies featured in our guide priced at around £60 per bottle. In pubs and restaurants, expect to pay between £15 and £40 for a single serving.