A 50mL miniature is the cheapest honest way to taste a famous bottle: the same whiskey, tequila or cognac as the full-size release, in a single proper pour. At Del Mesa Liquor, our family-owned store in San Diego, California, the miniatures collection runs from a $2.99 Glenfarclas 12 Year Old taster to a $29.99 Johnnie Walker Blue Label miniature — and every bottle below is in stock and available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
Single Malts and a Pot-Still Bourbon, in Miniature
Glenfarclas 12 Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky 50mL ($2.99) may be the best-value taste in the store: a 43% ABV Speyside single malt aged 12 years in sherry casks at the family-owned Ballindalloch distillery the Grant family has run since 1865 — the full house style in a trial-size pour. Willett Pot Still Reserve 50mL ($9.99) is the same wheated small-batch Kentucky straight bourbon as the full-size bottle — 47% ABV (94 proof), aged 8-10 years in Bardstown — shrunk into a miniature replica of Willett's own copper pot still decanter. Both sit naturally beside the full-size Scotch whisky shelf when a taste turns into a bottle.
The Bottles in Stock
- Glenfarclas 12 Year Single Malt Scotch Whisky 50mL — $2.99. 50mL, 43% ABV. Speyside single malt, 12 years in sherry casks — a full-size flavour profile in a taster.
- Willett Pot Still Reserve 50mL — $9.99. 50mL, 47% ABV (94 proof). Wheated small-batch bourbon aged 8-10 years, in the pot-still-shaped decanter, miniature size.
- Don Julio 1942 Tequila 50mL — $19.99. 50mL, 40% ABV (80 proof). The iconic anejo, aged a minimum of 2.5 years in American white oak, from 100% Blue Weber agave.
- Teeling Trinity Pack Irish Whiskey — $23.99. 3 x 50mL (150mL total), 46% ABV (92 proof). Three core-range Dublin expressions, non-chill filtered, gift-boxed.
- Johnnie Walker Blue Label Scotch Whisky 50mL — $29.99. 50mL, 40% ABV (80 proof). The flagship blend, drawn from rare casks — the brand says only one in 10,000 makes the cut.
Icons and Tasting Sets
Don Julio 1942 50mL ($19.99) puts the most famous anejo in tequila — created to mark Don Julio Gonzalez founding his La Primavera distillery in 1942, aged a minimum of two and a half years — into a pocket-sized pour; the full-size bottles anchor our tequila collection. Teeling Trinity Pack ($23.99) is a guided tasting in a box: three 50mL expressions of Dublin's revival house, all at 46% ABV and non-chill filtered. Johnnie Walker Blue Label 50mL ($29.99) is the gift end of the shelf — the house flagship blend as a single celebratory pour. Minis also travel well as presents: pair them with the gift sets collection, read about the store on our about page, or compare full-size Irish bottles in the Irish whiskey guide on the blog index.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a 50mL miniature the same spirit as the full-size bottle?
Yes. A Glenfarclas 12 miniature is the same 12-year sherry-cask Speyside malt, a Willett Pot Still miniature is the same 94-proof wheated bourbon, and a Don Julio 1942 miniature is the same anejo — only the bottle size changes.
How many drinks are in a 50mL miniature?
A 50mL miniature is one generous pour — slightly more than a standard 1.5oz (44mL) shot. It is enough for a proper neat taste, which is exactly what tasters are for.
Why buy miniatures instead of a full bottle?
Taste before committing: a $2.99 Glenfarclas 12 taster or a $19.99 Don Julio 1942 miniature lets you try a style or an icon first. They also make precise gifts, stocking stuffers, tasting-flight lineups and travel-friendly pours.
Where can I buy miniature liquor bottles online?
Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, California stocks 50mL miniatures from Glenfarclas, Willett, Don Julio, Teeling and Johnnie Walker, all available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor with nationwide shipping where permitted.