The Scotch Shortlist: 12 Go-To (Unpeated) Bottles Endorsed by Experts
September 17, 2025
Scotch doesn’t need to be reserved for special occasions, or come with a sky-high price tag to be worth savouring. While peat often steals the spotlight, there’s a whole world of unpeated drams that shine as everyday companions.
These are the bottles that whisky insiders reach for time and again: approachable, flavour-forward pours that balance character, quality, and value. From under-$60 gems to timeless classics and Speyside’s more indulgent malts, this shortlist brings together expert-endorsed favourites you’ll be glad to keep on your shelf. Whether you’re just discovering Scotch or looking to expand your daily rotation, consider this your guide to reliable go-tos that deliver pleasure without pretense.
Daily Drinkers: Value Picks
These picks are proof that a great Scotch doesn’t need to break the bank—these daily drinkers all come in under $60 CAD, offering big flavour and reliable quality at a price you’ll happily reach for again and again.
Crystal Coverdale
General Manager
City: Osoyoos, BC
Connect at: @edgylassie
What unpeated Scotch would you consider a daily drinker for you right now?
This is a bottle you never get sick of, isn’t insanely expensive, and that you enjoy on the regular. Please note any flavor notes or facts that you think are interesting about it!
I’m not an “everyday” drinker type, I enjoy exploring and trying different whiskies more than anything, but if I was to have an affordable non-peated Scotch to enjoy on the regular it would be Tamnavulin Sherry Cask. Banana, maple syrup and orange notes – tasty! If my wallet felt a bit heavier, I’d go for a cask strength sherry cask like Glenfarclas 105 or Aberlour A’bunadh for a much higher intensity of flavour.
Nichole
Certified Whisky Ambassador
City: Edmonton, Alberta
Connect at: @blackcatwhisky
What unpeated Scotch would you consider a daily drinker for you right now?
I can’t help but offer two picks here, both are staples in my rotation and speak to my love of independent bottlers.
First up is a gem from Berry Bros & Rudd, distilled in 2000 and bottled in 2014. It hails from the Lowland distillery Auchentoshan, clocks in at 13 years old, and sits at a bold 53.6% ABV. I snagged it for $95 and was so impressed, I bought multiples. It’s a bottle I reach for often and never regret pouring. What I love about independent bottlers is how they reveal a different side of a distillery’s spirit, something unexpected, something worth savoring. This one opens with bright citrus and fresh green grass, then evolves across the palate into toasted marshmallow, caramel, and a finish that is subtly salty and vegetal. It’s layered, expressive, and just plain fun to drink.
When I’m indecisive about how to kick off the evening, or need something to gently awaken the palate, I always reach for the Adelphi Private Stock Blend. Blends are criminally underrated, and this one is a quiet masterpiece. It’s approachable, beautifully balanced, and an absolute steal at $35–40. There’s an elegance to it, the kind that makes you wonder why more people don’t talk about blends with reverence. For me, it’s the perfect opener: reliable, nuanced, and never boring.
Stacy Kyle
Executive Director, Import Vintners & Spirits Association (IVSA)
City: Vancouver, BC
Connect at: @kylespicey
What unpeated Scotch would you consider a daily drinker for you right now?
I love a good blended Scotch thats just easy to drink and for that Id chose King of Scots. It’s almost too easy to drink, the price point makes it a winner as a go to daily dram. Lovely toffee notes on the nose and palate with sweet juicy fruits. There are some great stories from Fred Laing, second generation to run the business, of travelling around the world with his father and selling King of Scots by the plane load.
Daily Drinkers: Beyond the Single
Blended malts are whisky’s best-kept secret—pure malt character with layers of depth that too often fly under the radar. Prices range from approximately $60 – $85 CAD.
Tricia McCoomb
Content Creator & Spirits Reviewer
City: Fort McMurray, Alberta
Connect at: @girlandherwhiskey
What unpeated Scotch would you consider a daily drinker for you right now?
If I had to pick a go-to everyday non-peated Scotch right now, Waterproof Whisky would be a strong contender. It’s a lesser-known gem that punches well above its weight in terms of flavor and value.
Why Waterproof Whisky Well, it’s completely free of smoke, making it ideal for those who prefer a cleaner, fruit-forward dram.
The flavour notes include:
Nose: Rich with dried fruits, vanilla, and a hint of spice.
Palate: Think warm toffee, raisins, and a touch of oak. There’s a subtle sherry influence that adds depth without overwhelming.
Finish: Smooth and lingering, with gentle spice and a whisper of sweetness.
ABV: Bottled at 45.8%, it has enough strength to carry flavour without being overpowering.
Price: Typically found around $35-40 CAD, it’s affordable enough to enjoy regularly without guilt.
Fun Fact: Waterproof Whisky is blended by MacDuff International and designed to be resilient hence the name. It’s meant to be a reliable companion whether you’re sipping it neat, adding a splash of water, or even using it in cocktails.
It’s one of those bottles that feels like a secret handshake among Scotch lovers who’ve moved past the big brands but still want quality without breaking the bank. If you’re into sherried, non smoky drams, this one’s worth keeping on your shelf.
Theresa Smith
Whisky Sommelier
Connect at: @canadianwhiskysmith
City: Calgary, Alberta
What unpeated Scotch would you consider a daily drinker for you right now?
Reece Sims
Founder, Flavor Camp
Owner, SIP Spirits Consulting Inc.
Publisher, The Flavour Report
Connect at: @reecesims
City: Calgary, Alberta
What unpeated Scotch would you consider a daily drinker for you right now?
Light, juicy, and effortlessly elegant, Compass Box Orchard House strikes that perfect balance of ‘crushability’ and refinement that makes it an everyday staple.
Daily Drinkers: Classic Cuts
Tried-and-true staples that showcase Scotch at its best—approachable, distinctive, and timeless pours you’ll never regret keeping on hand. Prices range from approximately $85 – $105 CAD.
Andrea Fujarczuk
Professor of Distilling, Niagara College
Connect at: @cdnwhiskyprof
City: St. Catherines, Ontario
What unpeated Scotch would you consider a daily drinker for you right now?
Aberlour 12. I love a rich whisky- I love when the flavours dance on my tongue and evolve over time, the round mouth feel with its beautiful viscosity, and when I feel like you could cut it’s thickness with a fork and a knife. That’s what aberlour 12 does for me. Having been double oaked in both traditional casks and oloroso sherry casks it offers dried fruit like raisins and plum with creamy vanilla, cinnamon and dark chocolate. It has a long honey finish that keeps bringing me back for more. It’s the kind of whisky that evaporates really quickly after a fun night with a few good friends.
Julie Federman
Content Creator & Spirits Reviewer
Connect at: @redlipwhiskydiary
City: Toronto, Ontario
What unpeated Scotch would you consider a daily drinker for you right now?
This is a bottle you never get sick of, isn’t insanely expensive, and that you enjoy on the regular. Please note any flavor notes or facts that you think are interesting about it!
The Classic Laddie from Bruichladdich has earned the word ‘classic’ in its title for good reason! The Classic Laddie shares the beauty of local barley with tasting notes that reflect citrus, apple and honey with delightful salinity and oak. I appreciate that this whisky is bottled at a higher-than-expected ABV (50%) and how terroir-focused this distillery is.
Dana Dickerson
Director of Market Development & Sustainability, Grain Farmers of Ontario
Connect at: @danadickersonON
City: Hamilton, Ontario
What unpeated Scotch would you consider a daily drinker for you right now?
Clynelish 14 year old – it’s very easy drinking and has a distinctive waxy texture. I was first introduced to it during a blending education session with Jill Boyd when she was at Compass Box and it struck me as being incredibly unique and satisfying.
Daily Drinkers: Everyday Luxury
From sherry bombs to rum-kissed malts, these are the Speyside malts at their most luxurious — and so delicious you’ll want it every day. Prices range from approximately $135 – $185 CAD.
Harmony Pollick
Lead Spirit Buyer, Kensington Wine Market
Connect at:
@my_worldiswhisky
City: Calgary, Alberta
What unpeated Scotch would you consider a daily drinker for you right now?
GlenAllachie 15 Year. Billy Walker Magic! It’s just such a beautiful whisky! Sticky chewy caramel, with hints of candied orange peel. On the palate, you’ll experience rich dark fruit notes, alongside milk chocolate and hints of espresso notes complete a long finish. Makes me smile after every sip!
Charlene Rooke
LCBO Food & Drink and Academy Chair, Canada West, 50 Best Bars
Connect at:
@_packlight
City: Vancouver, BC
What unpeated Scotch would you consider a daily drinker for you right now?
I don’t always love a Sherry bomb, but Aberlour A’bunadh has a lot of the nutty, spicy character that I prefer in a Scotch. Because it’s cask strength and I (don’t shoot me!) drink it over a king cube of ice, a bottle lasts me forever.
Eva Pang
Whisky Enthusiast & Content Creator
Connect at:
@oneweedram
City: Vancouver, BC
What unpeated Scotch would you consider a daily drinker for you right now?
My everyday drinker has got to be The Balvenie 14 Year Caribbean Cask. With the familiar scent and taste of vanilla and brown sugar, it’s my comfort dram. A scotch I can always rely on like an old friend.
