Maker’s Mark is a personal favorite bourbon of mine. I’ve visited the distillery, helped select one-off barrels, and always keep a bottle—or a few variations—on my home bar year-round. It’s consistently a winner. If you enjoy the Maker’s Mark style, you likely appreciate the added sweetness that wheat brings to bourbon, which can enhance a wide range of flavors.

The list of Scottish whiskies below is curated to deliver maximum flavor for your money. One point to clarify upfront: none of these whiskies contain wheat or are made from it—they’re all malted barley distillates. Still, they’ve been selected for their richness and value, in the same spirit that makes Maker’s Mark so appealing.

Arran ‘The Bothy’ Quarter Cask

BUY NOW: $63

When it comes to value, it’s hard not to mention Arran. The entire range is impressive for what it offers, and this bottle—The Bothy Quarter Cask—is no exception. It’s a sub-ten-year-old whisky, matured in ex-American oak and finished in a quarter cask. This smaller barrel format enhances the influence of the wood during the finishing period, delivering more flavor thanks to the increased wood-to-liquid contact.

The result is a cask strength scotch whisky driven by tropical fruit notes, from one of the best distilleries in Scotland—and arguably, the world. It’s bold, creamy, and packed with fruit-forward character, making it a worthy complement or even a replacement for a bottle of Maker’s Mark—albeit with a Scottish twist.

The GlenAllachie 12 Year Old

BUY NOW: $56

When it comes to big flavor—and big wins—The GlenAllachie 12 Year Old stands out. It was recently named the best single malt in the world at the World Whiskies Awards.

One of the key reasons for this recognition is that the distillery is led by Billy Walker, often referred to as the King Midas of ex-sherry casks. While this isn’t a whisky driven by American oak, Walker’s expert cask selection and blending have created something remarkably well-balanced.

It’s the ideal sherry cask–focused whisky for bourbon fans—offering quality, style, and attention to detail that makes it a strong counterpart to Maker’s Mark.

Glen Scotia 15 Year Old

BUY NOW: $73

Now we head to Campbeltown for what I consider one of the best bottles of whisky in the world—Glen Scotia 15 Year Old. It’s a remarkable combination of ex-American oak influence and the gentle, salty character imparted by its coastal surroundings.

Campbeltown holds a special place in the whisky world for many reasons, and Glen Scotia exemplifies why. When matured in ex-bourbon casks, the distillery’s spirit develops beautifully. The barrel type allows the whisky’s character to shine through, even after 15 years in wood.

Expect soft coastal salinity, caramel, oak spice, and dry, woody notes, all leading to a finish that rivals some of the oldest whiskies I’ve ever tasted. It’s a strong contender—especially if you’re intrigued by coastal flavors but want to avoid venturing into peated territory.

Laphroaig 10 Year Old Sherry Oak

BUY NOW: $68

Speaking of peat—how could we get more divisive than Laphroaig?

To be honest, the main reason this bottle is on the list is because all Laphroaig whisky is aged in ex–Maker’s Mark barrels. It’s not the strongest flavor connection, but it’s a genuine link.

This is a bottle that can split a room the moment the cork is popped. But just because you’re into bourbon doesn’t mean you won’t enjoy peated whisky. Yes, this is an extreme example—but some people love that.

By incorporating heavy sherry cask influence, this expression showcases just how much more Laphroaig has to offer. Sure, it still does seaweed-soaked ashtrays brilliantly—but it can also deliver deep, rich notes of chocolate, espresso, Lapsang Souchong tea, raisins, and vanilla. All of that, layered over a foundation of dense peat smoke.

It’s a bold recommendation—but some of you just might fall in love with it.

Loch Lomond 14 Year Old

BUY NOW: $67

This is one of the most interesting Scottish whiskies I tried in the pre-COVID era. It’s a combination of unpeated distillate matured in ex-bourbon casks, then finished in heavily charred Limousin oak casks—French oak known for its bold influence.

If you’re a fan of Maker’s Mark 46, this Loch Lomond makes for a natural step into scotch whisky.

Flavor-wise, it opens with all the candied, vanilla sweetness you’d expect from ex-bourbon casks. Then the heavily charred French oak takes over, guiding you through a spectrum of scotch whisky flavor profiles. It begins with candied orange and vanilla, shifts into a gentle saltiness and a touch of spice from the oak, and then—almost out of nowhere—a subtle wisp of barrel smoke emerges.

I was genuinely amazed the first time I tried it. If you’re a fan of both bourbon and scotch, and your focus is on flavor rather than region, this bottle is an absolute must.

Read the full article at If You Like Maker’s Mark, Try These 5 Scotch Whiskies