How Much Discount Is Normal on Whisky at Black Friday?

A normal Black Friday saving on whisky is about a third below the RRP: last year's 56 featured bottles ran from 12% to 66%, median 33%. Redbreast 15 Years Old at €68 instead of the RRP of €80, a saving of 15%, and Macallan Rare Cask 2023 Release at €215 instead of the RRP of €380, a saving of 43%, will be part of Spiritory's Black Friday sale later this month.

Key Takeaways

• Across the 56 bottles featured last year, savings against the RRP ran from 12% to 66%, with a median of 33%.

• Half of those bottles sat between 27% and 38%, and 43 of the 56 landed between 20% and 39%.

• Only 5 of the 56 reached 50% or more, and only 2 stayed under 20%.

• A percentage compares a price with the RRP. It says nothing about the edition, the release year, the size or the box, so check those first.

• This year's two example bottles show both ends: a modest 15% on Redbreast 15 and a large 43% on Macallan Rare Cask 2023.

Tip: Before you judge any percentage, write down the euro price and the euro RRP next to it. A saving of €12 and a saving of €165 can both be called a good deal, but they are very different things.

What Did 56 Real Bottles Show Last Year?

Spiritory featured 56 bottles in its 2025 Black Friday selection, each shown with its saving against the RRP. The smallest saving was 12% and the largest was 66%. The median was 33%, which means half of the bottles had a saving of 33% or less and half had 33% or more.

The spread is tighter than the extremes suggest. Half of the bottles sat between 27% and 38%. In total, 43 bottles landed between 20% and 39%. Another 6 were between 40% and 49%, 5 reached 50% or more, and 2 were below 20%. Of the 56, 31 had a saving of 33% or less.

So a normal featured saving is a number in the high twenties to high thirties. Under 20% is on the modest side, and 50% or more is unusual. These bottles are listed here only as a record of last year and not as a current offer. For a brand by brand look, see Which Whisky Brands Go on Sale on Black Friday? For one brand in detail, see what usually gets cheaper at Macallan.

Does the Saving Change by Type of Whisky?

A little, though the groups are small, so read this as a pattern and not a rule. Sorting the 56 bottles by type gives this picture:

• Scotch whisky, 39 bottles: 12% to 66%, median 33%.

• Japanese whisky, 6 bottles: 26% to 56%, median 43%.

• Irish whiskey, 3 bottles: 25% to 39%, median 28%.

• Tequila, 4 bottles: 26% to 50%, median 27.5%.

• Blended Scotch, 2 bottles: 26% and 53%.

• Bourbon, 2 bottles: 22% to 36%, median 29%.

Scotch is the largest group, so its median matches the overall 33%. The six Japanese bottles ran higher, led by the Hakushu 18 Years Old Peated Malt 100th Anniversary Edition at 56%. The three Irish bottles stayed lower, for example the Redbreast 21 Years Old at 28%. At the top of the whole list sat the Glenrothes 42 Years Old at 66%, followed by the Hakushu at 56% and the Royal Salute 38 Years Old at 53%. Near the bottom, the Highland Park 25 Years Old 2022 Release was featured at 23%.

When Does a Big Percentage Say More About the RRP Than the Bottle?

A percentage is a ratio. It shows how far a price sits below the RRP, which is the producer's suggested retail price. It does not show whether the bottle suits you, and it does not tell you how the RRP was set. Two bottles can carry the same percentage with very different euro amounts, and one bottle can carry different percentages in different years.

The Macallan Rare Cask 2023 release is an example of the second point. It was featured last year at 34% against the RRP. This year the figure is 43%. Because the price and the RRP can both move, a percentage from last year is a poor guide to this year.

When you see a big number, run through four checks:

• Exact edition. Names repeat, so check the full name and any series or batch.

• Release year. The same age statement can come from different years with different RRPs.

• Size and strength. Look for 70cl and compare the ABV, since a different strength is a different bottle.

• Box. Some listings include the original box and some do not.

If all four match the bottle you have been watching, the percentage becomes useful. If one does not match, treat the number with care. More on timing is in the best time to buy whisky around Black Friday.

This Year's Bottles: A Modest and a Large Saving

Two bottles that will be part of Spiritory's Black Friday sale show the range. Prices are plus shipping, and there is a limited number of bottles.

Redbreast 15 Years Old: €68 instead of the RRP of €80, a saving of 15%

Redbreast is a single pot still Irish whiskey, and the 15 Years Old is bottled at 46%. This is the modest end of the scale. A saving of 15% is €12 on an RRP of €80, and it sits below the 20% line, where only 2 of last year's 56 bottles fell. It suits someone who wants this exact whiskey and is happy with a fair step below the RRP, not a deep cut.

Macallan Rare Cask 2023 Release: €215 instead of the RRP of €380, a saving of 43%

Rare Cask is bottled at 43%. The saving is €165 on an RRP of €380, a level that only 8 of last year's 56 featured bottles reached or passed. It also shows why the checks matter: the release year is in the name, so a Rare Cask from another year is a different bottle with a different RRP.

Side by side, the two show why one percentage never tells the whole story. A 15% saving on a core Irish bottle and a 43% saving on a Macallan release answer different questions.

Tip: Judge a deal against the bottle you actually want. A smaller percentage on the exact edition you were already watching is worth more than a bigger one on a bottle you would not have chosen.

FAQ

What is a normal discount on whisky at Black Friday?

Among the 56 bottles Spiritory featured last year, the median saving against the RRP was 33%, and half of the bottles sat between 27% and 38%. These are last year's featured savings, not a promise for this year.

Is 50% off whisky common?

No. Only 5 of the 56 bottles featured last year reached 50% or more, and the highest was 66%. Most were between 20% and 39%.

Does a big percentage mean a better deal?

Not on its own. A percentage compares a price with the RRP, so check the exact edition, release year, size and box, and look at the euro amount as well as the percentage.