Dewar's White Label is the bottle that taught most of the world what Scotch tastes like, and on our shelf it is $29.99 at 40% alcohol - 80 proof - one of the cheapest bottles in the whole Scotch collection. What a blended Scotch actually is, why the blend is built around Aberfeldy single malt and what double ageing does to it, why a no-age statement is not a warning sign, about 97 calories in a pour, and Highland Queen 8 Year at $32.99, the other traditional blend at this money that almost nobody asks for by name.

Japanese whisky is spelled without the e, follows Scotland rather than Ireland, and the bottle most people are looking for is Hibiki Japanese Harmony at $149.99. Six whiskies from $44.99 to $299.99 compared: Suntory's Hibiki blend and the Hakushu 12 Year single malt, the two Mars Iwai bottles from Japan's highest-altitude distillery, the easy-drinking Sensei, and Kurayoshi Pure Malt from Tottori. What single malt, blended and pure malt actually mean, what Mizunara oak does, how to build a proper highball, and a straight answer on kosher certification.