For many whisky drinkers, scotch is defined by smoke flavors. But long before single malt drinkers developed a taste for intensely peat-smoked Islay whiskies, their main role was as a judiciously added component in blended scotch whiskies. Whether you are searching for a smoky sipper of your own, or introducing friends to the pleasure of smoke, we’ve arranged these classic blended scotches by their smoke character—from a whiff to wallop.

Less Smoke

Black Bottle—83 points, $25

J.Mossman Pink gold Crown 18 Year Old—89 points, $68

Isle of Skye 8 year old—84 points, $29

Medium Smoke

The Famous Grouse Smoky Black—89 points, $35

Buchanan’s Red Seal—91 points, $169

Johnnie Walker Blue Label—97 points, $225

Grant’s Elementary Carbon 6 year old—85 points, $30

More Smoke

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost & Rare—91 points, $400

Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 year old—88 points, $30

Johnnie Walker Double Black—90 points, $40