The 7 best supermarket whiskeys to add to your basket, according to industry experts

Described as a “bold, youthful whisky bursting with personality” by Smith, this spirit is crafted in Blackpool but inspired by American styles. It’s made with English barley and aged for just over three years, in charred virgin oak. “This small-batch gem delivers vibrant notes of orange marmalade, vanilla, dried fruits, and mint, with a dash of cinnamon and dark chocolate,” Smith describes. “Triple-distilled and matured in ex-bourbon, ex-sherry and virgin oak casks, it’s rich, versatile, and equally at home sipped over ice on sunny days as it is by the fire on winter evenings.” Though it usually costs £25, it’s even cheaper with a Nectar loyalty card, which takes the price down to £18.

“This 12 year old single malt is good value at full price as an approachably smooth and silky dram with lots of stone fruit and sweetness,” Gould says. Better yet, it's also currently on offer at Waitrose for just £29, so is well worth picking up. As for how to drink it, while it’s “great for a nightcap on its own, it pairs nicely with gingery mixers,” she says.

Hatchman says he’s always got a bottle of Laphroaig 10-Year-Old on the go at home, as “it’s just such an exemplary Islay single malt with unapologetically bold character, with a punch of medicinal peat smoke, iodine and just a whisper of seaweed.” But what really sets it apart is the “10-Year-Old’s consistency and maturity, with some of the harsher edges rounded off and a more complex finish,” says Hatchman, adding that “the no-age-statement expression is also great.”

“Islay fans who like their whiskies super smokey should head to Morrisons where Smokehead Islay Single Malt is currently in stock,” Gould advises. “Not for the fainthearted, this uber-peaty, woody whisky has a slight sherried style and is just waiting for autumn to draw in.”

“Michter’s is one of my favourite distilleries, producing some truly incredible bourbon, rye and sour mash American whiskeys,” Hatchman says. His favourite? Michter’s US 1 Small Batch Kentucky straight bourbon from the core range. “It’s an absolute benchmark of both the style and the distillery’s approach to whiskey production.” Though great for cocktails, this is definitely a bourbon to drink neat, or with a couple of ice cubes at most, Hatchman suggests. “The whiskey has gorgeous vanilla and corn notes, as are typical of bourbon, plus a really nice richness alongside slight caramel notes.”

“Although the 15- and 21-year-old expressions are particularly celebrated, the 12-year-old is often overlooked,” Hatchman says. “It’s an excellent introduction to great Irish whiskey, matured in a combination of American oak barrels and Spanish oak Oloroso sherry butts.” Despite having “all of the smoothness associated with Irish whiskey, it’s also bold with loads of baking spice character and a delicious, buttery finish that lingers.”

“Carrying the pioneering spirit of early American settlers, this bourbon is crafted at one of the country’s oldest distilleries, where the liquor is aged to perfection, using the region’s rich grains and pure limestone water,” Smith explains. “This deep amber bourbon delights with a complex nose of vanilla, mint, and molasses, while the palate offers a harmonious blend of brown sugar, spice, and a smooth sweetness.” Perfect for fans of an old-fashioned and bourbon lovers, it’s also won plenty of awards.