The Best Scotch of the Month Clubs

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Why We Chose It: Flaviar has figured out the most ideal box format for spirits clubs, and it works for scotch as well as it does for any other liquor.

Flaviar could qualify for this list on packaging alone. The presentation that comes with each new fifth of craft Scotch is that slick, which makes receiving the box that much more fun (at $95 per quarter or $300 per year). Thematically grouped, 1.5-ounce tasting bottles come in a columnar caddy with a detachable ceramic coaster and tasting notes that correspond to the mini-bottles labeled by letter to encourage identification contests (which is great for social sampling). An impressive new print edition of Flaviar Times is included. Many resources like tastings, tours, online content, and access to rare vault offers (like Gordon & MacPhail Ardbeg Connoisseurs Choice 1974) round things out.

But plenty of substance accompanies this style. The scotch options are excellent—note the Son of a Peat blended malt and Dear, Bear & Moose whisky available for members only—plus the educational details are solid, and shipping is included.

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Why We Chose It: Family-run and classy as they come, Aries has a DNA that is unmistakable: Take care of the customer. That translates into a thoughtful and personalized subscription experience.

While Aries doesn’t feature a fancy website and shiny packaging, it has two attributes that harmonize with scotch's old-school identity: staying power and personal attention.

This Enoteca-style wine and spirits shop in White Plains, New York, opened its doors in 1984. Its scotch clubs—both the beginner ($99.99 per month) and advanced ($189.99 per month)—evolved organically from one of those basic beliefs: Give the customer what they want.

With either box, Aries communicates with members to tailor bottles to their taste. Each box is stocked with a tasting glass (two for the advanced option), regional and flavor maps, extensive tasting notes, and background.

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Why We Chose It: The value is undeniable and is a great way to introduce yourself or a gift recipient to the subscription approach without breaking the bank. Meanwhile, tiered memberships await devotees.

There's no need to overthink things here. Each month’s delivery brings with it a 750-milliliter bottle of scotch that explores the span of old-school and newer styles, a description of the whisky, and a cocktail recipe, for a reasonable $55 per month for the Intro club. Members can up the ante and go for the Explorer ($89 per month) or Enthusiast ($149 per month), which promises higher-grade and harder-to-find options. With each tier, bottles come monthly or bimonthly. You can save money on your subscription by paying for three, six, or 12 months upfront. Shipments come with a background on each scotch and a recipe, with optional gifts and special promotions from partner producers.

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Why We Chose It: Scotch brings strong flavor and elicits strong opinions. When it comes to clubs that celebrate it, it’s hard to say that anyone comes stronger in rare sourcing or enthusiasm for the spirit than this society.

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) started in Scotland’s capital city of Edinburgh in 1983—well before liquor subscription services became a thing—and has grown to count more than 30,000 Scotch whisky fans from South Carolina to South Korea. Founder Pip Hills drew the inspiration from a 1970s quest to a rural Scottish Highlands distillery where the family craftsmen blew his mind with handmade scotch poured in the back of a dark warehouse direct from the cask. He bought the barrel, shared it with his friends, and an idea started to ferment.

Many of the best scotch clubs use a model that works for all spirits and apply it to the category. Not so with SMWS, which obsesses over one focus: "To uncover the finest single malt whisky in the world…[and] enjoy it together.”

There is a threshold to join the Bottle of the Month Club, which hints at the altitude at which these aficionados operate: You must first become an SMWS member ($99 per year) to receive scotch straight from the cask ($90–$200 per bottle).

A nice little bonus: The 12th bottle of the year comes with a complimentary second one of 750 milliliters.

Other worthy extras are in play, including virtual tastings, access to rare finds and Members’ Rooms in several cities, ample online educational resources, and a members-only subscription to award-winning Unfiltered Magazine.

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Why We Chose It: Taster’s is a textbook subscription service. Multiple tiers? Check. Savvy curating? Yup. Good education materials? Very much so. Gift-giving friendly? One hundred percent.

Empowering is not the most common tasting descriptor, but it applies here because a significant strength of Taster’s Club is its commitment to elevating understanding of the storied spirit. This happens in two ways: shipping hard-to-get bottles that generate curiosity and discovery and a detailed “Scotch 101” curriculum with typical basics like flavor profiles and tasting notes. It also includes information on how to best evaluate scotch, expert reviews, distilleries, regions, production techniques, and more.

Each shipment is a surprise for the Scotch Club members ($94 per month) or the Scotch Pro Club ($199 per month), which ups the rarity index. Past brands speak to the pedigree: Deanston Highland Single Malt, Isle of Arran, and less-common Tullibardine among them. Shipping is included in both club options.