Best Single Malt for under $30?

@Wodha Its not a single malt but have you tried Bailie Nicol Jarvie. It's a really good blend and is only £15 here in the UK

Talisker Skye. It is not half as bad as it is judged by many. It just isn't a Talisker.

I don't think there is a 700-750 cc bottle of single malt that can be purchased in Ontario, or maybe any part of Canada, that I would even consider buying, that would come under $30.

A few years ago I heard someone bought Laphroaig Quarter Cask in Calgary for about $50, tax included. That is as close as we could get, I'm afraid.

The only options that come to mind are Talisker Storm, Oban Little Bay, Loch Lomond 12, and whatever Speyburn is selling these days.

I'd go with the Loch Lomond!

The least expensive single malts I enjoy are Arran 10 ($55 ish) and Tomatin 12 ($60-$65 depending on the day). I’ve yet to try Deanston Virgin Oak which is usually about $50 ish....

The cheapest Single Malt I got at the KGBO that I liked was probably Benromach 10 YO when it was $60 a couple of years ago. I'm currently still enjoying (though not today) a Bowmore Tempest batch 5 which I opened in December 2017, which cost me $82.

There is absolutely nothing in BC that is $30 or less. Even that McClelland's crap is $40+tax. Standard issue blends are over $30 once you add tax.

Actually, I now see that the original question was asked 9 years ago. This is no longer remotely relevant. Under $50 might be more appropriate now.

@BlueNote, McClellend's doesn't count, since it's not actually whisky.

@MadSingleMalt Haha. Point taken.

Yeah, that was 9 years ago. Nowadays in Seattle just state liquor fees and taxes equate to $30 per bottle in addition to it’s retail price. It’s enough to cause a drunkard to quit drinking. Now with Trump’s ‘War on Happiness’ horseshit Scotch tariffs it’s even worse.

Yeah, I need a new hobby.

@Wodha Canadian Whisky beckons....

@Nozinan only if he travels to Canada. They don't sell Wiser's 35 year old in Seattle.

True, but it isn't a long way to go from Seattle to get to Vancouver.

You know he won't get anywhere with Canadian top tier stuff unless he has allies helping him in Vancouver, Victoria, or wherever. A network must first be established. He would be very foolish to just drive up there in the hope that he arrives at just the right time to get something good. He needs the machinery to be oiled in advance.

@MadSingleMalt Hey... I kinda liked McClelland’s Islay and Speyside. But then there isn’t much I won’t drink if it’s free. Even if it’s Lambertus

@OdysseusUnbound Yah, you looked REAL enthused about the lambertus when you tried it... Waiting for your review.

@Nozinan I said “I’ll drink anything if it’s free”. I said nothing about enjoyment.

@OdysseusUnbound You are a better man than I am. I only drink things I like unless I'm trying something new...no matter how free it is.

Best single malt under $30 is Tomatin Legacy. Best value for money is Talisker 10 yo. Or Bulleit rye ( if you are a patient man) Maybe the worst value for money nowadays is Bowmore 25 yo according to Serge Valentin.

@NamBeist That makes sense. Doesn't 25 years take us back to the weird period in Bowmore history when the infamous "lavender note" dominated the malt?

@OdysseusUnbound According to Serge Valentin Bowmore 25 yo tastes a bit like cheap perfume. I don't have the guts to taste it. It only costs €286 in the Netherlands. I would even not try a sample. Tomatin Legacy costs €20 in my country. It is quite nice. I wrote a review about it.

@NamBeist Lavender, perfume, yes I remember that now. I'm a big fan of Tomatin. I haven't tried the Legacy as it's usually priced very close to the 12 Year Old expression, which I really enjoy. The Legacy mentions virgin oak casks and that's not always a winning combo with malt whisky. I'll check out your review.

EDIT: I went to find your review and it appears that I've already read it (and commented on it). Perhaps I should just get a bottle already.

Serge, and others, referred to that overriding characteristic of Bowmore as FWP (French Whores’ Perfume). It was bloody awful.

@NamBeist Wow 20 euro is an incredible price. It's generally $50 NZD (30 euro) here. I've become a big fan of Deanston 12 as a high quality 'budget malt' but it costs a bit more than that

@Hewie I wish Deanston 12 was in the "budget" category here in Ontario. It runs about $90-$95 whereas most "budget" offerings (Bowmore 12, Tomatin Legacy, Glenfiddich 12, etc) tend to run $50-$60.

@OdysseusUnbound ouch. That's a shame. It still seems to be very much under the radar here

Gentlemen, Talisker 10 yo costs €32,00 in some liquor stores in the Netherlands. I guess this is the best whisky around €30,00. I wish that the folks in Canada would have easy access to Dutch liquor stores .