Whisky Prices 2024 - 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 2023-2024 came from Caol Ila 12yo: an 8% increase from £51 to £55.

Glenfarclas 12yo, Glenrothes 12yo  and Ardbeg 10yo follow a little bit behind with increases of 6%, 5%  and 5%

These are a lot lower than the 25%+ increases we saw last year

Smallest increases:

The smallest increases (decreases) in the year 2023-2024 came from GlenDronach 12yo: a 25% decrease from £51 to £38. For the 2nd year in a row Lagavulin 16yo decreased, this time by 14& from £80 to £69. Spey Trutina came down 13% from £46 to £40 - a bargain!

Increase Table:

Old Pulteney still has the cheapest 'core range age statemented bottling in my survey' with their 12yo closely followed by Glenlivet 12yo and Bowmore 12yo but all of these are at 40% ABV. Loch Lomond ups the ABV to 46% for an extra £2.

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

Price changes 2021 to 2024:

When you compare back to 2022 Glen Scotia 15yo  has increased by 50%, Highland Park 12yo by 33% and Aberfeldy 16yo by 27%. At the other end of the scale Spey Trutina is down 11% and Lagavulin 16yo by 8%

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