My grandmother used to say skill at cards was the sign of a misspent youth. Well, she failed to warn me about a man’s misspent middle age, which is no longer restricted to buying sports cars and chasing younger women. There’s now the equally ruinous habit – for the wallet and liver – of imbibing single-malt scotch.

How did I come to this? More disposable income, for one, and no pressing need to buy a car or another pair of skis. Second, an equally addicted friend, with whom to compare notes, attend scotch tastings, conduct late-night samplings and badger into buying that $200 bottle, or two, of Blacker Still (believe me, it was worth every penny). Third, those canny Scots.

When I was a young adult, there was no such thing as single-malt scotch. Ne Plus Ultra or the Famous Grouse was about as fancy as blended scotch got for me. Then, a couple of decades ago, single malts started hitting the market, and it was all downhill from there.

Nowadays, there are 90-some scotch distilleries, each pumping out 12-, 15- and 21-year olds, along with those once-in-a-lifetime 40-year-olds for the price of a year’s university tuition. The barrels they’re aged in – which, along with the peat fires the barley is roasted in, give the scotch much of its flavour – have undergone a similar explosion: barrels that once housed sherry, Madeira, port, bourbon, various wines, etc. Another spin is the proliferation of scotches produced from a single year’s malt. The genius here is that it’s a one-time offer; once that 1986 Blacker Still is gone, there’s no more to be had, making it easier to justify re-mortgaging your house.

Still, having tasted a goodly amount of single malts over the past couple of years, I’ve realized you don’t always have to spend upwards of $100 for a good scotch. Indeed, there are a number for half that price that provide mighty fine sipping and can stand up to many of their far more expensive brethren. In fact, some 12-year-olds are superior to the 15- or 18-year-olds from the same distillery.

Thus, here’s a short, but hopefully growing, list of splendid single malts for about $50 (prices in Canadian dollars, generally not including tax, at the least expensive Calgary retailers I could find). Disclaimer: Neither my nose nor my tongue is nearly talented enough to discern the hints of kiwi or coffee that the experts get ecstatic about, so I’ll quote from Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible or other websites when words fail me. If you’re serious about your scotch, Murray’s book is a lively, insightful and irreverent assessment of hundreds and hundreds of scotches, plus it’s updated every year.

Highland Park 12-Year-Old – If you’re only going to drink one scotch and have limited funds, this is the one. “Pleasantly peaty” and astoundingly good for the price and better than some higher-pedigree malts at triple the price. $43 at Superstore liquor stores.

Talisker 10-Year-Old – Another everyday standout. Remarkably complex, with lots of peaty heat. $47.50 at Superstore.

Laphroaig Quarter Cask – Faster maturation in a smaller cask. Jim Murray gives it 95 points out of 100, with these comments: “Nose: burning embers of peat, intense malt, refreshing citrus. Palate: rich smoke builds towards a malty-sweet middle palate. Finish: astoundingly long, & drying with smoke & spice.” $48.39 at Calgary Co-op Liquor Stores.

Finlaggan Old Reserve Islay – The biggest seller at Calgary’s best whisky shop, Kensington Wine Market (www.kensingtonwinemarket.com), which describes it as a mystery malt “with loads of peat and chocolate.” Says Murray: “If you don't get a bottle of this, you'll regret it for the rest of your life." $49.99 at Kensington Wine Market, which says it might be the only place in Canada that carries it.

Macallan 12-Year-Old – Long considered the standard against which all single malts should be measured. A fine, smooth everyday whisky with that distinctive Macallan sherry taste. $49.99 at Superstore.

Dalwhinnie 15-Year-Old – Emanating from the highest distillery in Scotland, this sweet, aromatic whisky “exhibits a light peatiness and medium sweetness that carries through to a long, rich finish. A gem” (Kensington Wine Market). $47 at Superstore.

I’m sure there are a number of other fine single malts for around $50 or less. If you know of some, send me a note at info@billcorbett.ca