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Best Whiskeys Under $50 in 2022

Best Whiskeys Under $50 in 2022

Whiskey (as it’s spelled in the U.S. and Ireland) or whisky (as it’s rendered in Scotland, Canada, and Japan) has become a big business. The size of the market is estimated to be $91.14 billion in 2022, according to Statista – a more than 14% increase from the previous year.

Whiskey, by either spelling, is a spirit distilled from fermented grain mash, and usually aged in wooden casks for varying amounts of time. It’s one of the most popular alcoholic beverages in the world. Scotland (for Scotch) and the U.S. (for Bourbon and rye) are the world’s main important exporters of the beverage, while Irish whiskey sales have been growing exponentially, to the point that some industry experts predict it will overtake Scotch in the American market by 2030. Japan and India have also become major producers of the product, and overall, at least 25 countries now distill it. (These are the 25 best bourbons in the U.S. right now.)

Whiskey’s growth is buoyed by various factors, such as increasing disposable income and shifting consumer preferences. The millennial generation’s tastes gravitate toward mixed drinks, often involving whiskey of one kind or another, and they are key consumers of the product. (These are the world’s 25 most popular cocktails.)

Even though it is considered a premium beverage, there are plenty of moderately priced and well-regarded whiskeys on the market. To determine the best whiskeys under $50 in 2022, 24/7 Tempo reviewed the results of the 2021 Ultimate Spirits Challenge, a weeks-long multi-part event covering a wide range of spirits, judged by panels including spirits writers, bartenders, consultants, and other experts in the field.

Our list includes all the whiskeys rated from 93 to 97 points (the highest score given) that were priced under $50 for a 750 ml bottle. (Prices were suggested retail prices as of mid-2021, and may have changed since the judging and may vary from state to state and in some cases from store to store.)

A number of the whiskeys listed are small productions from artisanal producers and may be hard to find – but they’re worth looking for. The list also includes some easy-to-find mass-produced examples that nonetheless score highly, including Jameson, Dewar’s, and Maker’s Mark.

Source: Courtesy of Bottlebuzz.com

Weller Wheated Bourbon Full Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon
> Score: 97
> ABV: 57%
> Price: $49.99

Source: Courtesy of Country Wine & Spirits

Ardbeg Wee Beastie 5-Year-Old Islay Single Malt Scotch
> Score: 97
> ABV: 54.80%
> Price: $46

Source: Courtesy of thewhiskyexchange.com

The Legendary Silkie Irish Blended Whiskey
> Score: 96
> ABV: 46%
> Price: $39.99

Source: kellyvandellen / Getty Images

Glenfiddich Bourbon Barrel Reserve 14-Year-Old Speyside Single Male Scotch
> Score: 96
> ABV: 43%
> Price: $49.99

Source: Courtesy of Bottlebuzz.com

Weller Single Barrel Wheated Bourbon Kentucky Straight Bourbon
> Score: 96
> ABV: 48.5
> Price: $49.99

Source: Courtesy of Bottlebuzz.com

1792 Full Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon
> Score: 95
> ABV: 62.50%
> Price: $44.99

Source: farehamwine / Flickr

Elijah Craig Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon
> Score: 95
> ABV: 47%
> Price: $29.99

Source: Pgiam / iStock via Getty Images

Dexter Straight Rye Whiskey Finished with Five Woods
> Score: 95
> ABV: 50.30%
> Price: $49.95

Source: Courtesy of Bottlebuzz.com

Larceny Barrel Proof Batch A121 Kentucky Straight Bourbon
> Score: 95
> ABV: 57.40%
> Price: $49.99

Source: Courtesy of Bottlebuzz.com

FEW Straight Rye Whiskey
> Score: 95
> ABV: 46.50%
> Price: $40

Source: Courtesy of Bottlebuzz.com

Bulleit 95 American Rye Whiskey
> Score: 95
> ABV: 45%
> Price: $24.99

Source: Courtesy of Bottlebuzz.com

Teeling Small Batch Irish Blended Whiskey
> Score: 95
> ABV: 46%
> Price: $39.99

Source: kellyvandellen / Getty Images

Deveron 12-Year-Old Highland Single Malt Scotch
> Score: 95
> ABV: 40%
> Price: $44.99

Source: Courtesy of Bottlebuzz.com

High West American Prairie Bourbon
> Score: 94
> ABV: 46%
> Price: $34.99

Source: Courtesy of Twin Oaks Wine & Spirits

Wild Turkey Rare Breed Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon
> Score: 94
> ABV: 58.40%
> Price: $46.99

Source: viennetta / iStock via Getty Images

Heaven Hill 7-Year-Old Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon
> Score: 94
> ABV: 50%
> Price: $39.99

Source: Courtesy of Bottlebuzz.com

Four Roses Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon
> Score: 94
> ABV: 45%
> Price: $32

Source: Thiago Santos / iStock via Getty Images

Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey
> Score: 94
> ABV: 55%
> Price: $49.99

Source: Courtesy of Bottlebuzz.com

Crown Royal Northern Harvest Canadian Rye Whiskey
> Score: 94
> ABV: 45%
> Price: $32.79

Source: Courtesy of Country Wine & Spirits

The Busker Single Malt Irish Whiskey
> Score: 94
> ABV: 44.30%
> Price: $29.99

Source: cagkansayin / iStock via Getty Images

Tom Bullock’s Burnt Orange Bourbon
> Score: 94
> ABV: 41%
> Price: $49.99

Source: Courtesy of Bottlebuzz.com

Elijah Craig Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
> Score: 94
> ABV: 47%
> Price: $29.99

Source: Courtesy of Bottlebuzz.com

Knob Creek Small Batch Straight Rye Whiskey
> Score: 94
> ABV: 50%
> Price: $40

Source: barmalini / iStock via Getty Images

Templeton 6-Year-Old Rye Whiskey
> Score: 94
> ABV: 45.75%
> Price: $39.99

Source: farehamwine / Flickr

High West Double Rye! Rye Whiskey
> Score: 94
> ABV: 46%
> Price: $34.99

Source: Courtesy of Country Wine & Spirits

Dewar’s 15-Year-Old Blended Scotch
> Score: 94
> ABV: 40%
> Price: $44

Source: Courtesy of Bottlebuzz.com

Stagg Jr. Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon
> Score: 94
> ABV: 65.55%
> Price: $49.99

Source: igorr1 / iStock via Getty Images

Noble Oak Double Oak Bourbon
> Score: 94
> ABV: 45%
> Price: $34.99

Source: Courtesy of Drizly.com

John J. Bowman Single Barrel Virginia Straight Bourbon
> Score: 94
> ABV: 50%
> Price: $49.99

Source: Courtesy of Onlineliquor.com

1792 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon
> Score: 94
> ABV: 46.85%
> Price: $29.99

Source: Courtesy of thebourboncentral.com

George Dickel Bottled-in-Bond Fall of 2008 11-Year-Old Tennessee Whiskey
> Score: 94
> ABV: 50%
> Price: $39.99

Source: ipopba / Getty Images

Bendt No. 5 American Blended Whiskey
> Score: 93
> ABV: 41.50%
> Price: $24.99

Source: Courtesy of Bottlebuzz.com

1792 12-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon
> Score: 93
> ABV: 48.30%
> Price: $49.99

Source: kmk-vova / Getty Images

Benchmark Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon
> Score: 93
> ABV: 50%
> Price: $19.99

Source: nanpalmero / Flickr

TX Texas Straight Bourbon
> Score: 93
> ABV: 45%
> Price: $39.99

Source: OlegEvseev / Getty Images

Cooper’s Craft Barrel Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon
> Score: 93
> ABV: 50%
> Price: $31.99

Source: Courtesy of vsliquor.com

1792 Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon
> Score: 93
> ABV: 49.30%
> Price: $39.99

Source: Courtesy of Bottlebuzz.com

Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Sour Mash Kentucky Straight Bourbon
> Score: 93
> ABV: 45%
> Price: $39.99

Source: Courtesy of Country Wine & Spirits

Old Overholt Bottled-in-Bond 4-Year-Old Straight Rye Whiskey
> Score: 93
> ABV: 50%
> Price: $26.99

Source: ipopba / Getty Images

Collingwood Canadian Blended Whiskey
> Score: 93
> ABV: 40%
> Price: $29.99

Source: LeMusique / iStock via Getty Images

Grace O’Malley Blended Irish Whiskey
> Score: 93
> ABV: 40%
> Price: $36.99

Source: Courtesy of Country Wine & Spirits

Glen Grant 12-Year-Old Speyside Single Malt Scotch
> Score: 93
> ABV: 43%
> Price: $46.99

Source: Courtesy of Bottlebuzz.com

FEW Straight Bourbon
> Score: 93
> ABV: 46.50%
> Price: $40

Source: Courtesy of Country Wine & Spirits

Jura Red Wine Cask Finish Single Malt Scotch
> Score: 93
> ABV: 40%
> Price: $35

Source: FocusEye / Getty Images

Maker’s Mark 1010 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon
> Score: 93
> ABV: 50.50%
> Price: $35.99

Source: ArtistGNDphotography / E+ via Getty Images

Dexter Straight Wheat Whiskey Finished with 200-Year Oak and Cherry Wood
> Score: 93
> ABV: 50.30%
> Price: $49.95

Source: Stephan Schulz / Wikimedia Commons

Jameson Crested Irish Blended Whiskey
> Score: 93
> ABV: 40%
> Price: $37

Source: Courtesy of reservebar.com

Jameson Black Barrel Irish Blended Whiskey
> Score: 93
> ABV: 40%
> Price: $49

Source: Courtesy of Bottlebuzz.com

Weller Antique 107 Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon
> Score: 93
> ABV: 53.50%
> Price: $49.99

Source: kellyvandellen / Getty Images

Brain Brew Private Stock American Oak Small Batch Bourbon
> Score: 93
> ABV: 45%
> Price: $29.94

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