Our Favorite Cask Strength Scotch Single Malt Under $100

Benromach prides itself for producing "traditional" Speyside Scotch with a touch of peat. Historically, pre-1960s, the region was known for smokier styles but since then, unpeated whiskies have mostly prevailed. The spring water used in the whiskey comes from the Romach Hills. This is a cask strength single malt release distilled in 2003, that only spends time in one type of barrel as opposed to the brand's signature sherry finishes.

The Arran Distillery opened in 1995 in the village of Lochranza on the Isle of Arran, located off the southwest coast of the mainland, just below Campbeltown. Recognized in 2007 as “Scottish Distiller of the Year”, Arran is known for their quality single malt whiskies. Their Cask Strength is comprised of 12 year old whiskies from five 1st-fill sherry butts, thirteen 2nd-fill sherry hogsheads, and thirty-one ex-bourbon barrels that were married and bottled at a cask strength of 107.8 proof.

The Glenlivet Nàdurra First Fill Selection is named after the Gaelic word for "natural." This non-chill-filtered single malt is bottled at cask strength from first fill American white oak casks. It is also non chill-filtered.

Aberlour Distillery was founded in 1879 by James Flemming and this sherry matured single malt is made in homage to him. The name A’Bunadh [a-BOON-arh] means “original” in Gaelic and the single malt was designed as a replica to a whisky produced at this distillery in the late 1800s. A’Bunadh is matured exclusively in Spanish oloroso sherry casks and it’s bottled at cask strength.

Glengoyne is proud to say that they have the slowest distillation process because they feel that time is the key to producing great whiskies. This distillery is also known for regularly producing quality whiskies with a clear sherry cask influence profile. Typically, their core range is made of aged stated whiskies, from 10 to 25 years, but this Cask Strength is their second batch of a non-aged statement released without addition of water. At 58.9%, we can expect quite a sense of spirit.

In 1968, Glenfarclas was the first to release a cask strength single malt whisky. This bottling was re-named to 105, the British alcohol proof equivalent for 60% alcohol by volume. We all refer to this now as "120 proof" ,which is simply double the abv, as opposed to "105 degrees proof" or 7/4th times the alcohol by volume. It's also much simpler than lighting gunpowder in the whisky to establish proof.

This Speyside single malt Scotch whisky is the second batch strength release from Tamdhu. It carries no age statement and was matured exclusively in sherry oak casks, most of which were first-filled. Non-chill filtered without any additives, it is bottled at 58.5% ABV.

First launched in 2003, Ardbeg Uigeadail [Oog-a-dal] is a marriage of some young and some very old oloroso sherry aged single malt along with Ardbeg aged in ex-bourbon barrels. The name Uigeadail means "a dark, mysterious place." Fun to say and even more fun to drink. It is also the name of the loch from which Ardbeg gets its water. Bottled at cask strength with no age statement.

Laphroaig 10 Year Cask Strength is aged in used barrels for 10 years. But unlike the flagship 10 year bottling, this whisky is only barrier filtered, meaning just the large chunks of char are removed leaving the whisky to shine on its own. As it is minimally filtered, adding water or changes in temperature will create a haze in the whisky. Batch 1 was released in early 2009 and was bottled at 57.8% ABV (115.6 proof).