Drinking whisky has never been and never will be a cheap hobby. At today's prices, a decent bottle of malt will set you back, on average, about £30. Unsurprisingly the prices can rise exponentially from there but there are a few that are significantly less expensive. This post won't make whisky drinking cheap. Hopefully it will make the money you spend on whisky go much, much further.
My first major piece of advice is, with a few exceptions, don't drink whisky in pubs. Consider that a large part of the price of a bottle of whisky is due to the obscenely high levels of tax levied against it. Then add several layers of suppliers and distributors all needing to cover costs and make a profit before it gets to the bar. Suddenly it's unsurprising that buying a dram in a British pub won't leave you with too much change from a fiver. The exception is if you can find the holy grail of pubs; one that charges a flat rate for single malts (there are a few). In that case, tuck into the good stuff and don't stop until you have to be carried out. Probably best not to have anything planned for the next day if you do this!
Next; keep an eye on special offers. This applies across the board from supermarkets to local off-licences. If you see a good deal, snap it up. You don't have to drink it immediately. I have several good bottles I picked up on a good deal that I have saved to open on a special occasion.
Most of the time with these offers, you will only save a fiver or so but this will mount up. Occasionally you will hit it lucky and get an end of line sale where everything is massively reduced. I once got a £40 bottle for around £15 in one of these. A good day when they happen.
The best way to make your whisky budget go further is to think about how you will be consuming it and buy accordingly. I have already advocated having a bottle of cheap stuff for cooking. Own-brand plonk will usually fit the bill nicely here although maybe shy away from the white-label engine degreaser.
Careful choice can also be used for drinking whisky. I think it is well worth having a blend in stock (although maybe a step or two above the cooking stuff). It is perfect for occasions when you just want to taste whisky. Yes, puzzling out the intricacies of single malt is enormously fun and rewarding but ultimately, the taste of whisky is enjoyable in itself. It will also hit the spot perfectly at the end of a meal full of big flavours when your palette will already be clouded, or if you are planning on mixing it and making cocktails. Finally, if you are planning on using a hip flask, a blend is perfect. The small opening in a hip flask makes it almost impossible for the aromas to escape and be enjoyed. Therefore why not simply use a blend and save the malt for later?
As a final point, if you're squeamish about having blends on display and are willing to make a small investment; I strongly recommend purchasing a decanter. They can be bought cheaply in charity shops and on ebay. I can guarantee that they will add an air of decadence, novelty and ceremony to whatever drink you choose to put in it.
So there it is; my guide for making the money you spend on whisky go further. I'm off for a wee dram.
Sliante
TFB
My first major piece of advice is, with a few exceptions, don't drink whisky in pubs. Consider that a large part of the price of a bottle of whisky is due to the obscenely high levels of tax levied against it. Then add several layers of suppliers and distributors all needing to cover costs and make a profit before it gets to the bar. Suddenly it's unsurprising that buying a dram in a British pub won't leave you with too much change from a fiver. The exception is if you can find the holy grail of pubs; one that charges a flat rate for single malts (there are a few). In that case, tuck into the good stuff and don't stop until you have to be carried out. Probably best not to have anything planned for the next day if you do this!
Next; keep an eye on special offers. This applies across the board from supermarkets to local off-licences. If you see a good deal, snap it up. You don't have to drink it immediately. I have several good bottles I picked up on a good deal that I have saved to open on a special occasion.
Most of the time with these offers, you will only save a fiver or so but this will mount up. Occasionally you will hit it lucky and get an end of line sale where everything is massively reduced. I once got a £40 bottle for around £15 in one of these. A good day when they happen.
The best way to make your whisky budget go further is to think about how you will be consuming it and buy accordingly. I have already advocated having a bottle of cheap stuff for cooking. Own-brand plonk will usually fit the bill nicely here although maybe shy away from the white-label engine degreaser.
Careful choice can also be used for drinking whisky. I think it is well worth having a blend in stock (although maybe a step or two above the cooking stuff). It is perfect for occasions when you just want to taste whisky. Yes, puzzling out the intricacies of single malt is enormously fun and rewarding but ultimately, the taste of whisky is enjoyable in itself. It will also hit the spot perfectly at the end of a meal full of big flavours when your palette will already be clouded, or if you are planning on mixing it and making cocktails. Finally, if you are planning on using a hip flask, a blend is perfect. The small opening in a hip flask makes it almost impossible for the aromas to escape and be enjoyed. Therefore why not simply use a blend and save the malt for later?
As a final point, if you're squeamish about having blends on display and are willing to make a small investment; I strongly recommend purchasing a decanter. They can be bought cheaply in charity shops and on ebay. I can guarantee that they will add an air of decadence, novelty and ceremony to whatever drink you choose to put in it.
So there it is; my guide for making the money you spend on whisky go further. I'm off for a wee dram.
Sliante
TFB
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