Scotch whiskies like 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.
One point to clarify upfront: none of these whiskies contain wheat or derive from it—they’re all malted barley distillates. Still, I selected them 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 GlenAllachie 12 Year Old
BUY NOW: $56
When it comes to big flavor—and big wins—The GlenAllachie 12 Year Old stands out. The World Whiskies Awards recently named it the best single malt in the world.
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 combines ex-American oak influence with the gentle, salty character its coastal surroundings provide.
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?
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
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
