The best Scotch subscription boxes will provide you with more than a new, intriguing bottle. They’ll also enhance the experience by helping you understand what makes the Scotch in your glass so special. This education can turn beginners into aficionados and existing enthusiasts into experts. If you’re ready to learn why you like Scotch whisky, a Scotch of the month club is the perfect way to find out. (Note: Not all states allow liquor delivery, so before you commit to a subscription, it’s best to check the availability in your area.)
Best Scotch of the Month Clubs of 2022
Best Overall: Flaviar Best Deal: PourMore Best Variety: Mash&Grape Best for Beginner Scotch Drinkers: Taster’s Club Best for Aficionados: Scotch Malt Whisky Society Best for Gifting: Bounty Hunter
ProsFlexible plans that fit your needsFull-sized bottles or tasting boxesAccess to guided tastings ConsNo free shipping for base service OverviewFlexibility can be crucial to enjoying a Scotch delivery program, especially if you live an on-the-go lifestyle. Flaviar understands this rather well and proves it by offering a customizable Scotch subscription service that fully embraces this philosophy. Instead of the typical subscription model, Flaviar uses a unique system that can allow you to control the number of bottles or tasting boxes you receive. The base membership lets you receive one product per month, either a full bottle or a Tasting Box with three mini bottles, which can be switched as you please. You’ll also have the chance to be educated on the Scotch, as most selections come with the opportunity to sit in on a guided tasting session led by a trusted industry voice. You can also choose a two-product package, charged every three months, or an eight-product package that’s charged every 12 months. All membership plans grant you access to Flaviar’s hefty roster of special Scotch selections. If you go with the Tasting Box option, Flaviar’s experts will pick labels they think you’ll like. Need to skip a month? Just let them know, and they’ll accompany your request. For a few dollars more, you can also upgrade to a Primo membership and enjoy free shipping and other perks like free tickets to local events.Pricing and PlansOne product per month: $60Two products every three months: $110Eight products every 12 months: $350 ProsCost-effective tier optionScotch from all five regionsVersatile shipping options ConsNo free shipping OverviewThe average Scotch has a higher price point compared to bourbon or rye. This can make it a tougher category to dive into, as the thought of paying extra money for an unknown bottle you may not like may make you hesitate. Luckily, signing up with PourMore’s cost-effective monthly Scotch club eliminates the trepidation you may have by splurging for Scotch at a brick-and-mortar store. PourMore draws its bottles from Scotland’s five regions to show off the flavor versatility and the technique of Scotch whisky. You’ll get burly peat expressions from Islay, but you’ll also receive fruit-forward bottles from Speyside or light, rounded Lowland delights. You can expect to receive single-malt and blended Scotches right at your doorstep. PourMore’s Scotch subscription box delivers one full bottle on a monthly or bimonthly basis. Subscriptions come in three tiers: The intro tier offers easy Scotches for newcomers; the Explorer tier features mid-range labels for experienced fans, and the Enthusiast tier delivers premium Scotch for the hard-core aficionado. There is quality at every tier, so even longtime Scotch drinkers will find pleasure in the lowest tier. Each shipment comes with tasting notes and a cocktail recipe to help you dig even deeper into your selection.Pricing and PlansScotch Intro Tier: $55Scotch Explorer Tier: $89Scotch Enthusiast Tier: $149Other spirit clubs: From $49 ProsCurated variety of small-batch and independent ScotchesRare and exclusive bottles available ConsShipping costs extra OverviewSelf-described as a labor of love and a work in progress, Mash&Grape’s mission is to help spread the word about new and under-the-radar Scotch expressions. The company’s team of tasters scours the ever-evolving market in order to find bottles from small-batch and independent distilleries that delight their seasoned palates. Labels that make the cut may wind up at your front door as part of your monthly subscription, so you’ll always be in the know about the latest in the Scotch world. Mash&Grape will also occasionally send you exclusive and rare expressions — perfect if you want to really impress your friends. Each monthly subscription box features one full-sized bottle sourced from the company’s network of small-batch distillers and independent bottlers. You can expect to receive your shipment around the third week of the month, along with tasting notes and the story about what makes the distillery and its spirit so special. Find something you really love? Drop by Mash&Grape’s impressive online marketplace and pick up an extra bottle or two.Pricing and PlansThree-month Scotch plan: $79/month ($237 total)Six-month Scotch plan: $79/month ($474 total)12-month Scotch plan: $79/month ($948 total)Other spirits plans: from $44/month ProsDigital 101s provide rich info on each bottleSelection of award-winning and lesser-known labelsFlexible delivery options ConsNo free shipping OverviewThe team behind Taster’s Club is committed to making sure their subscription Scotch boxes expand your palate and make you a more knowledgeable drinker. This can be particularly intriguing if all you know about Scotch is that it has a reputation for being smoky and sophisticated. Each box delivers a bottle from award-winning and lesser-known distilleries from Scotland’s five distinct regions. It also grants you access to online educational videos dubbed Digital 101s. These videos dive deeply into the bottle’s intimate details, including info on the distillery’s history, a behind-the-scenes look at the distillation process, why the bottle was selected, and intricate tasting notes. They also include cocktail recipes, should you be in the mood to play around. If you’re a novice to Scotch, you won’t be after a few shipments. Taster’s Club offers two different Scotch subscription services. The regular Scotch subscription focuses on lesser-known labels from the five Scottish regions. The Scotch PRO Subscription will deliver rare and limited-batch bottles that are extremely difficult to find outside of Scotland. You can either receive one bottle a month, or you can request a three-pack option for a quarterly shipment. You can also further your exploration of Scotch by visiting the company’s online Bottle Shop and browsing its top-shelf Scotch inventory.Pricing and PlansScotch subscription: $79.99/monthScotch PRO subscription: $184.99/monthThree-month prepaid membership: $300.00Six-month prepaid membership: $600.0012-month prepaid membership: $1,200.00Other spirits subscription: from $44.99/month ProsSingle-cask whiskies not available to the publicSubscription to member magazine UnfilteredVirtual tasting with other members ConsOrder bottles at additional costDistilleries undisclosed OverviewScotch Malt Whisky Society started in 1983 by a small group of Scotch-loving friends from Edinburgh. It’s since blossomed into a worldwide community of Scotch connoisseurs that’s nearly 30,000 members strong. It’s also grown substantial clout: The society’s own tasting panel gathers weekly to judge Scotch samples from some of the world’s top distilleries to find whiskies worthy to share with society members. What they share is undiluted, single-cask whiskies that aren’t available to the public. The cask holding these special whiskies can typically only fill around 100 bottles — once you taste that last drop, it’s gone forever. The hyper-limited volume of the expression, and the chance to be one of the only people on the planet lucky enough to taste it, makes membership to this club an excellent choice if you take Scotch seriously. Subscriptions are handled on an annual basis. Signing up for society membership grants you access to their library of rare and special bottles, which can be purchased for an additional price at any time. You’ll have the option of purchasing a full bottle or a tasting kit with three 100ml mini bottles emblazoned with the Society label and a special label breaking down the liquid’s flavor characteristics. Each subscription comes with a digital subscription to the Society’s members’ magazine Unfiltered, as well as access to its online educational content. As a community member, you’ll also receive invitations to partake in virtual tasting events with like-minded aficionados from around the world.Pricing and PlansBase one-year society membership: $99One-year society membership and bottle: from $160One-year society membership and tasting kit: $195 Bounty Hunter gives you the option to send your gift out on a monthly or quarterly basis. The monthly package comes with two full-sized bottles, and the quarterly package features six full-sized bottles. At least one bottle will always be a single malt or blended Scotch. If your gift recipient is into wine, be sure to let them know that Bounty Hunter’s online store also features an impressive roster of highly regarded wines from the world’s top appellations.Pricing and PlansWhiskey Runner Club: $299 monthly or quarterlyOther clubs: From $99
How Is Scotch Different From Other Whiskeys?
The primary difference between Scotch and other whiskeys is the ingredients used. The main ingredient in Scotch is malted barley, whereas American whiskeys are chiefly made from corn and rye. The use of this grain greatly contributes to Scotch’s distinctive smoky quality. Several strict regulations concerning production and geography further this distinction. For example, whisky can only be called Scotch if it’s entirely produced in Scotland.
What Are the Different Types of Scotch?
There are five distinct styles of Scotch, with each style corresponding to a different region. Speyside Scotch tends to be fruit-forward with subdued smoke. Campbeltown Scotch possesses a juxtaposition of brininess and sweetness. Highland Scotch carries diverse qualities that swing from herbaceous and honeyed to smoky and salty. Lowland Scotch is light, elegant, and round on the palate. Islay (pronounced EYE-luh) Scotch emphasizes heavy peat and yields intensely hot palate expressions.
How Does a Scotch of the Month Club Work?
A Scotch of the Month Club will deliver a fixed shipment of Scotch directly to your address on a monthly basis. What you receive depends on the subscription. Some monthly Scotch clubs will send you a full-sized bottle of Scotch, while others will send you smaller bottles of different Scotches.
Are Scotch Clubs Worth It?
Scotch clubs work well for different reasons, depending on your level of Scotch drinking. It’s great for novices because it removes the intimidation that they may feel while trying to pick a bottle in a brick-and-mortar store. Most clubs also offer options to access hard-to-get or limited-edition Scotch labels, making them ideal for longtime Scotch enthusiasts to consider. Most clubs also have some sort of educational component to help people grow in their knowledge of Scotch.
Methodology
We looked at over a dozen different Scotch subscriptions for this review. We considered metrics such as Scotch selection and club variety in our choice, since there tends to be a wide range of Scotch appreciation among imbibers of various levels. Because Scotch tends to be more expensive than other spirits, we also took price points into consideration.
