Buchanan's is the bottle that goes on the table when there's something to celebrate, and almost nobody can explain how the three differ. Here's the short answer and the long one.
The 12 is the everyday one
It's blended Scotch, and the number means the youngest whisky in the blend has had twelve years in wood. It's soft, sweet on the way in, and doesn't bite at the end - which is exactly why it takes ice and soda without anybody complaining. If the bottle is for the party rather than the shelf, this is it.
The 18 is not the 12 with more years on it
It's a different blend. It's called Special Reserve and it carries more malt whisky, not just older whisky. That gives it more body and a longer finish. Drink this one neat or over one big cube. Putting it in a mixer throws away half of what you paid.
Master is the odd one of the three
No number, because it isn't built around an age. It's made to be drunk over ice with sparkling water - lighter and fresher than the 12. Anybody who says whisky sits heavy on them usually prefers this.
And the pineapple one
Buchanan's Pineapple is flavoured whisky and doesn't pretend otherwise. Serve it very cold, on its own or with pineapple soda. It comes in a 375, which is the right size to try something without committing to it.
For a gift
The 12 in a 750 is the gift that never misses and everybody knows the box. The 18 is for when the occasion genuinely deserves it. The 1.75 litre of the 12 is for the house where family gathers, because it costs far less per drink than two 750s.
Beverage World Package Store
6731 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Doraville, GA 30360. (770) 441-0001. Open 10am to 9pm Monday to Wednesday, 10am to 11pm Thursday to Saturday, and 11am to 9pm Sunday. Delivery from $4.99.
On our shelf right now
Prices and stock read from our own inventory when this page was built.