Whisky Prices 2023 - Key Bottle?

Each September I complete a survey, recording the prices of a distillery's key bottle - the standard bottle which you might buy if wanting to get into a new distillery.

This year's results are in - let's see how things have changed.

When you're new into single malts, or are wanting to try a distillery's wares for the first time you'll probably pick one of their core range single malts - probably near the bottom of the price range - something readily available.

Over the last few years I've been recording the prices of a set of (mainly) age statemented core range bottles, they aren't the cheapest in each range but probably the closest in terms of  quality and availability in each distillery's range.

Here's the results:

Largest increases:

The largest increase in the year 2022-2023 came from Highland Park 12yo: a 33% increase from £30 to £40, but you can usually pick it up at the lower price on special offer.

Benromach 15yo, Glenfarclas 12yo  and Dalmore 15yo follow a little bit behind with increases of 25%, 24%  and 24% the Dalmore now north of £100.

Smallest increases:

The smallest increases in the year 2022-2023 was actually a decrease and came from Old Pulteney 12yo: a 6% decrease from £32 to £30. and Lagavulin 16yo: a 2% decrease from £82 to £80 (both not huge in the grand scheme of things)

Cardhu and Ardbeg kept their 12yo and 10yo at the same price.

Increase Table:

Old Pulteney has the cheapest 'core range age statemented bottling in my survey' with their 12yo closely followed by Bowmore 12yo but both of these are at 40% ABV. Loch Lomond up the ABV to 46% for an extra £1.

Up at the other end of the table for more than twice the price you could but a bottle of Glen Scotia 15yo, Macallan 12yo, or Tamdhu 15yo or at nearly 3 times the price a bottle of Dalmore 15yo.

Price changes 2021 to 2023:

Note: all prices were taken from a major online retailer excluding any special offers, discounts or delivery.