Blended Scotch whisky is where heritage meets everyday drinkability. Whether you’re pouring a celebratory dram or stocking the bar cart, the world’s best-selling blends have something for every palate and price point.
Blends make up the vast majority of Scotch sold globally. They combine malt and grain whiskies from multiple distilleries to create a consistent, approachable style that appeals to millions.
We’re counting down top 10 blended Scotch brands by 2024 global sales volume, based on figures from the Malt Whisky Yearbook 2026 and trade data. For each, we cover what it tastes like, how to enjoy it, where it comes from, and why it’s earned its place on shelves around the world.
Let’s start at number ten, and work our way up to the global giant.
10. Buchanan’s
Buchanan’s is a smooth, fruit-forward blend with deep roots in Latin America. The flagship DeLuxe 12 Year Old is known for its honeyed palate, orange zest, and low smoke.
Founded in 1884 by James Buchanan, the brand is now part of Diageo and enjoys enormous popularity in Colombia, Mexico, and among Hispanic communities in the U.S. The exact blend is undisclosed. However, Diageo-owned Highland malts like Dalwhinnie, Clynelish, and Glendullan are often suggested as likely components, though this is unconfirmed.
Buchanan’s 18 Special Reserve has won Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, including in 2024, with the 12 Year Old picking up a silver medal.
The 12 Year is typically served on ice or with soda and a twist of orange. In Latin America, it’s also mixed with coconut water or pineapple juice.
Prices range from $40 to over $100, depending on age and market.
9. J&B
J&B Rare is a light, fruity blend created for cocktail culture. With a gentle profile and smooth finish, it’s long been a favorite in Southern Europe and Latin America.
Owned by Diageo, J&B includes 42 whiskies in its blend, nearly half of them malt. The recipe is undisclosed, but The Whisky Exchange points to Knockando, Auchroisk, Strathmill, and Glen Spey as core malt components.
J&B Rare has picked up multiple Gold medals at The Scotch Whisky Masters, including back-to-back wins in 2014 and 2015.
It’s commonly served in long drinks—try it with ginger ale and a slice of orange, or with tonic and lemon. Its light body makes it ideal for mixing but also easy to sip neat.
Pricing typically falls in the $25–$30 range, with 1-liter bottles widely available.
8. Label 5
2024 Sales Volume: 2.4 million 9L cases
Label 5 is a smooth, Speyside-forward blend that’s quietly become one of the world’s top-selling Scotch whiskies. It’s especially popular in France, North Africa, and parts of Asia.
Owned by French group La Martiniquaise, Label 5 is thought to be built around malt whisky from Glen Moray and grain from the company’s Starlaw grain distillery in Scotland. The result is a mellow profile with notes of toffee, vanilla, and soft oak.
Label 5 expressions won Silver medals in back-to-back Scotch Whisky Masters competitions in 2019 and 2020.
It’s ideal in long drinks or simple whisky cocktails. Widely seen as excellent value, it typically retails for around $20 or less in many international markets.
7. William Peel
2024 Sales Volume: 2.6 million 9L cases
William Peel may not be a household name in English-speaking markets, but in France, it dominates shelves. Known for its soft, rounded profile, this blend leans sweet with notes of vanilla, malt, and subtle oak.
Produced by Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits, William Peel was launched in 1972 to suit French tastes. While the exact distillery sources aren’t publicly disclosed, the blend is believed to include malts from Highland and Speyside regions.
It hasn’t featured prominently on the international awards circuit, but its enduring popularity in one of Scotch’s biggest markets speaks volumes.
Best enjoyed neat, on ice, or mixed with ginger ale or cola. It’s priced competitively, often under €20 in France, making it one of the most accessible blended Scotch options in Europe.
6. Black & White
2024 Sales Volume: 3 million 9L cases
Black & White is a classic blend with a light, grain-forward profile and a touch of smoke. It’s easy to sip and widely available, particularly in India, Latin America, and parts of Africa.
Created by James Buchanan in the late 19th century, the brand is now owned by Diageo. While exact components aren’t confirmed, it likely includes grain whisky from Cameronbridge and malts from Speyside and Highland distilleries.
In 2024, Black & White earned a Double Gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, highlighting its quality at a modest price point.
It’s a go-to for highballs, whisky and soda, or simple mixed drinks. Affordable and approachable, it typically retails for $15 to $20 in most markets.
5. William Lawson’s
2024 Sales Volume: 3.2 million 9L litre cases
William Lawson’s is a no-nonsense blended Scotch that skips the peat and leans into bold malt character. It’s smooth, slightly sweet, and built for easy drinking—on its own or with a mixer.
Owned by Bacardi, this blend is particularly popular in Eastern Europe and Latin America. It’s also one of the few large-scale blends that openly avoids smoky malts. The core malt component is believed to come from Macduff Distillery, also known for producing Glen Deveron.
While not a frequent award winner, William Lawson’s has earned its place through consistency, value, and sheer drinkability.
Enjoy it over ice, with cola, or straight from the freezer. Prices are highly accessible, typically ranging from $15 to $20 depending on the market.
4. Dewar’s
2024 Sales Volume: 3.3 million 9L cases
Dewar’s blends are known for their mellow sweetness and clean finish, thanks to a unique double aging process completed under the guidance of multi-award-winning master blender, Stephanie Macleod. The whisky is matured, blended, then aged again to unify the flavors. The result is a smooth, approachable dram from the first sip.
The flagship White Label is a popular choice, but the age-stated range—including 12, 15, and 18 Year Old—has earned serious recognition. Dewar’s 18, for example, was a Category Winner at the 2026 World Whiskies Awards.
Aberfeldy is the brand’s single malt heart, and other likely malts include Craigellachie, Royal Brackla, and Aultmore, all part of parent company Bacardi’s portfolio.
White Label is easy to mix—try it in a highball with soda and lemon. The aged expressions are best neat. Prices range from $20 for White Label to over $100 for 18 Year Old and special editions.
3. Chivas Regal
2024 Sales Volume: 4.8 million 9L cases
Chivas Regal blends rich Speyside malts into a signature style that’s creamy, fruity, and easy to love. The 12 Year Old is its most recognized expression, though the 18 and 25 Year Olds offer more depth and weight.
Chivas Brothers, part of Pernod Ricard, produces the blend using malt whisky from several distilleries. The heart of the blend comes from Strathisla, with additional malts speculated to include Longmorn and Braeval. The exact recipe is confidential.
Chivas 18 has received numerous accolades, including being named Best Blended Scotch Whisky 18 Years Old at the 2025 International Whisky Competition. It is also no secret that we love Chivas Regal 18 for its incredible value.
The 12 Year Old is probably the most well-known and widely sold expression.
Older expressions reward slow sipping, served neat or with a few drops of water. Prices range from about $35 to $300, depending on the age and edition.
2. Ballantine’s
2024 Sales Volume: 9.3 million 9L cases
Ballantine’s is known for its smooth, sweet character and consistent quality. Owned by Chivas Brothers (Pernod Ricard), the range includes everything from the entry-level Finest to the award-winning 30 Year Old.
The core style is Speyside-led, with soft honey, heather, and vanilla notes. While the full recipe is proprietary, Miltonduff and Glenburgie are commonly cited as key malt components, supported by grain whisky from Strathclyde.
Ballantine’s 17 Year Old has received exceptional acclaim. It was named Scotch Whisky of the Year by Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2011, a rare achievement for a blend. More recently, Ballantine’s 7 Year Old American Barrel, 10 Year Old, and 23 Year Old were all recognized at the 2026 World Whiskies Awards.
Ballantine’s Finest is the most popular whisky of the range. Cheap, accessible, and consistent, it remains one of the world’s favourite blended Scotch whiskies, selling over 9 million 9L cases in 2024.
Serve the Finest in a Highball or with ginger ale. Aged expressions are best enjoyed neat or with a splash of water. Prices range from $25 to $300+.
1. Johnnie Walker
2024 Sales Volume: 21.6 million 9L cases
It should come as no surprise that Johnnie Walker is the world’s best-selling Scotch whisky brand. Owned by Diageo, this global icon offers a full spectrum of flavor, from the smoky bite of Red Label to the luxurious smoothness of Blue.
The core of its success is Black Label 12 Year Old, a blend prized for its balance of vanilla, dried fruit, and gentle smoke. It includes malt whiskies from several Diageo-owned distilleries. Among them are Clynelish, Cardhu, and Caol Ila, though the exact recipe is closely guarded.
Black Label is widely loved across the spectrum of whisky drinkers, from newbies to seasoned whisky lovers. For its balance, versatility, and value for money, Black Label is hard to beat. Our very own Phil Dwyer called it, “A truly remarkable whisky that deserves a spot on the list of ‘greatest whiskies ever created’.”
Enjoy it neat, on the rocks, or (my personal favourite serve) in a Highball with soda, a slice of lemon, and a dash of ginger ale. Johnnie Walker also has an entire ‘cocktails’ section on its website, dedicated to helping drinkers find their favourite way to enjoy Johnnie Walker.
Prices range from around $25 for Red Label to over $250 for Blue, with Black Label typically retailing for $35 to $40.
Final Thoughts
From smooth crowd-pleasers to cult favorites, these blends represent the best-selling Scotch whiskies in the world for a reason. Whether you’re sipping neat or mixing a highball, there’s a bottle here to suit every palate, price point, and occasion.
Read the full article at The Top 10 Scotch Whisky Blends That Dominate the Global Market
