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Best whisky subscription service in Australia: Whisky Loot
How did we pick this list?
For this list, we picked whiskies based on actual customer reviews and ratings on Amazon, Dan Murphy's and First Choice Liquor. For every category, we carefully chose parameters based on our research and determined products with the highest review score within those parameters.
Our pick for the best overall whisky is Glenfiddich's 12-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky. It has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars from over 3,000 reviews on Amazon and Dan Murphy's.
Glenfiddich's 12-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky is matured in Oloroso sherry and bourbon casks for 12 years. It also features notes of green apples, pears, butterscotch, cream and oak. This whisky won awards at the Global Spirit Masters Awards 2017 and Whisky Masters 2019. It has a 40% ABV as well.
Customers gave positive feedback on the whisky's affordable price tag, stylish bottle design and fantastic flavour profile. It's got an intoxicating scent, featuring hints of sweet and malty flavours. Reviewers said that it is medium-bodied with a smooth aftertaste, perfect for drinking on the rocks. According to customers, it's a great introductory whisky for newbies, but it doesn't have the complexities of more premium options.
With a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars on Dan Murphy's, we selected the Laphroaig 10-Year-Old Single Malt as the best single malt option.
Laphroaig's 10-Year-Old Single Malt is the brand's signature malt, featuring rich smoke and seaweed character with hints of sweetness. The whisky also has a rich palate with layers of salt, peat, spice and vanilla, ending with a dry yet crisp finish.
The general sentiment is that this single malt whisky is a complex yet subtle spirit that is great as a mixer or on the rocks. Customers said that it starts with some smoky and creamy flavours that are smooth and crisp. They also loved its dry yet intense finish, leaving a savoury aftertaste. However, it has a rubbery scent that may be off-putting for some. But for loyal customers, this isn't really a huge deal.
For the best blended Scotch whisky, we recommend Chivas Regal's 18-Year-Old Blended Scotch Whisky. On Amazon and Dan Murphy's, it has an average rating of 4.65 out of 5 stars.
Chivas Regal's 18-Year-Old Blended Scotch Whisky is created using whiskies matured for at least 18 years. It is blended with more than 20 of Scotland's rarest single malt Scotch whiskies. Each drop also features 85 flavour notes, including hints of buttery toffee, dark chocolate and dried fruit. Additionally, it has hints of spices and smoke to produce a long, warm finish.
According to reviews, this whisky is a great option for beginners wanting to delve into the world of Scotch blends. It offers a well-balanced mixture of various single-malt whiskies, creating a crisp mouthfeel. Several others added that it's a great base for the penicillin and a mean Scotch sour. One critic said that its aftertaste is too fiery, leaving an intense burning sensation. But this seems to be an isolated issue.
If you're looking for Irish whisky, we recommend the Connemara Original Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey as the best one available online. It has a rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars from more than 4,000 reviews on Amazon and Dan Murphy's.
Connemara's Original Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey is inspired by ancient Irish distilling traditions. It offers a peaty flavour and aroma that is smooth, smoky and sweet. It is also the only Irish peated single malt whiskey widely available today. It has received over 20 medals in spirit competitions since 2012 as well.
Customers gave positive feedback on the whisky's smooth taste, sweet aroma and warm aftertaste. It offers a creamy flavour with hints of smoke, malt, peat and spice. It's great sipping whisky, but customers wouldn't recommend it as a cocktail mixer. It also has an aromatic scent of sweet barley and oak that is intoxicating, leaving you wanting another sip. However, it has more dominant peaty flavours compared to other Irish whiskies.
Hibiki's Harmony Whisky is our pick for the best Japanese whisky. It has an average rating of 4.65 out of 5 stars on Dan Murphy's and First Choice Liquor.
First introduced in 1989, Hibiki offers a harmonious blend of malt and grain whiskies, creating a full orchestra of flavours and aroma. It is made from more than 10 malts from the Yamazaki and Hakushu distilleries and 3 grain whiskies from the Chita distillery. These are then drawn from different types of casks, including American white oak casks, sherry casks and Mizunara oak casks. One 700ml has an alcohol content of 43% for 23.7 standard drinks.
The general sentiment is that this Japanese whisky is a pricey yet worthwhile option for connoisseurs. It has an inviting aroma with notes of berries, green apple and honey. Customers said it has a rich taste that is the perfect balance of melted butter, dates and chocolate. It also leaves a clean aftertaste without any burning sensation, according to several others.
The Starward Two-Fold Double Grain Australian Whisky is our choice for the best Australian option. On Amazon, Dan Murphy's and First Choice Liquor, it has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars.
Starward's Two-Fold Double Grain Australian Whisky combines 2 iconic Australian grains – wheat and malted barley – to create a spirit fully matured in Australian red wine barrels. According to the company, it has soft aromas of red fruit and vanilla spice. It also has a well-balanced palate with tropical flavours. A single 700ml bottle has 40% ABV for 22 standard drinks.
Despite being affordable, this 2-fold whisky offers some of the complexities higher-end options possess. It has a lightly toasted oak mouthfeel and a subtle dry finish with a tannic aftertaste. Customers loved drinking it on the rocks or as part of their favourite cocktail. However, it's not the best whisky for drinking neat. Others also found its aftertaste too bitter for their liking.
For the best American whisky, we recommend Jack Daniel's Old No.7 Tennessee Whiskey. On Dan Murphy's, it has a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars from over 200 reviews.
Jack Daniel's Old No.7 Tennessee Whiskey is made using sugar maple charcoal and matured in American oak barrels. Each batch is also created using 170 barrels from all levels of the brand's barrel houses in Lynchburg, Tennessee.
This whisky offers a smooth aroma with mellow, sweet and woody flavours. It has a rich, full-bodied texture, ending with a smooth, crisp finish. It also has a sweet aftertaste with notes of caramel and vanilla. According to customers, it's the perfect whisky for making old fashioneds and whiskey sours. However, this whisky is too harsh for drinking neat, according to others.
With an average rating of 4.35 out of 5 stars on Amazon and Dan Murphy's, we picked the Johnnie Walker Double Black Label Scotch Whisky as the best cheap whisky.
Inspired by the flavours of Johnnie Walker's Black Label, the Double Black Label whisky has an intense, full-bodied texture with flavours of peat smoke, apples, raisins, pears and citrus. It then softens, revealing hints of sweetness and spiciness. It finishes off with the warmth of oak tannins.
The general sentiment is that this whisky is a budget-friendly option that offers heaps of complexities, gaining a place on our list of the best cheap alcohols available in Australia right now. Customers enjoyed its crisp mouthfeel, adding that it's best for drinking neat or on the rocks. However, it has an overpowering peaty flavour and intense smokiness that may not suit some preferences.
The Chivas Regal 25-Year-Old Scotch Whisky is our choice for the best high-end whisky. It has an average rating of 4.76 out of 5 stars on Amazon, Dan Murphy's and First Choice Liquor.
With an invigorating aroma of sweet orange and peach, Chivas Regal's 25-Year-Old Scotch Whisky is a hidden gem in the brand's portfolio, offering a luxurious blend of the finest malt and grain whiskies aged in oak casks for at least 25 years. Each 700ml bottle contains a complex profile with notes of marzipan, nuts and milk chocolate. It also has a 40% ABV.
Customers gave positive feedback on the spirit's versatility, smoothness and complex profile. It is perfect for drinking neat, straight up and on the rocks. Others also said it makes for a fantastic cocktail mixer. It offers a rich, elegant texture that is smooth, bursting with subtle hints of toffee and butter. Several customers said it's too sweet and rich for their liking but added that it's still a great high-end option for both beginners and connoisseurs.
Whisky Loot's subscription service is all class. Presented with tasting notes in a purpose-built box – and contained in 3 lots of thick 60ml glass – it looks and feels expensive. The subscription club sources hard-to-find malts you are unlikely to come across in your daily travels, allowing you to get a taste of what can be found off the beaten path all around the world. It can be purchased as a long-running monthly subscription, in individual tasting packs or by the bottle. Members often get discounts and there are frequent specials and sales, too.
However, it's very much for the connoisseur. The 60ml bottles are too small to share with a good friend and feel too pricey if bought in one-off packs. That said, the yearly subscription model reduces the price significantly to make it a much more enticing proposition. This is currently at $649/year ($55 per 3 samples).
My sample pack had around $30 worth of booze in it. But then when you add delivery costs and the chance to sample 3 different rare whiskies – each of which were delicious in my experience – alongside tasting videos and notes, that price becomes more reasonable. Personally, I would see this as a great group present for a friend's milestone birthday.
Amazon prices last updated on 4 December, 2023 at 06:02 ameBay prices last updated on 4 December, 2023 at 08:18 am
Methodology
33 Brands considered
105 Products compared
10 Best products chosen
We compared over 100 whiskies from 33 brands.
We then assessed hundreds of customer reviews and ratings on Amazon, Dan Murphy’s and First Choice Liquor.
The products on this list are chosen by our editorial team and are not selected based on commercial relationships.
Why you can trust our picks
We considered the following brands of whiskies:
Ballantine’s
Bearded Lady
Buffalo Trace
Chivas Regal
Connemara
Dalwhinnie
Dimple
Fireball
Glenfiddich
Hibiki
Jack Daniel’s
Johnnie Walker
Laphroaig
Lark
Lyre
Makers Mark
Mars
McConnel’s
Monkey Shoulder
Nikka
Old Smoke
Rittenhouse
Starward
Suntory
Teeling
Tenjaku
The Balvenie
The Glenlivet Founder’s
The Gospel
The Macallan
The Shinobu
The Whistler
Wild Turkey
For this list, we carefully picked products with the highest customer ratings on Amazon, Dan Murphy's and First Choice Liquor. We ended up with a total of 103 whiskies to compare.
We then researched each product and its features. We also considered ratings and customer reviews on Amazon, Dan Murphy's and First Choice Liquor (as of August 2021). We came up with what we believe are the 10 best whiskies you can get in Australia right now.
We value our editorial independence, basing our comparison results, content and reviews on objective analysis without bias. However, Finder may receive compensation when you click some links on our site. Learn more about how we make money from our partners and why you can trust our guides.
Frequently asked questions
Brandy is made from fermented fruit juice or wine, while whisky is crafted using fermented grain mash. Brandy is usually aged up to 10 years before being sold. Whisky is aged in barrels between 5 and 20 years. In terms of taste, brandy is lighter and sweeter. Whisky has a more complex profile, with notes of oak, tobacco and even malt.
A single shot of whisky has about 71 calories. It is also low on sugar at just 0.1g per 100ml.
For shots, you should pour 30ml per glass. For a neat on the rocks drink, 59ml should be enough.
Ericka Pingol is a writer for Finder specialising in best guides. Using tested methodology, Ericka has been helping Australians choose the right product across hundreds of categories since 2020. Ericka has a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of the East, Manila. As well as being passionate about helping people save money when shopping for their latest purchases, Ericka has a background in writing about property investment, personal finance and health. When not writing best guides, you can find her lost in the pages of a good book or experimenting with watercolour painting.
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