Whiskies We Love: 32 Expressions That Brought Us Sipping Pleasure

One question we frequently get from friends and readers is this: “What are some of the whiskies that you enjoy?" While our Top 20 list rates the stars, there are many other great bottlings out there that also merit a place on your shelf. Looking through our recent tasting notes and the whiskies in our Buying Guide, we've put together a list of some notable releases worth exploring—many of them well known, and others less so. The one standard is that they're all priced at $80 or less. Other than that, they’re simply great whiskies—for when it's time for us to put things aside, kick back, and just enjoy a great dram.

94 points - Johnnie Walker Double Black Blended Scotch, 40%, $42

Peat lovers should not overlook this smoky gem that's accompanied by flavors of dried orchard fruit, pepper, vanilla, caramel, and orange. Or if a sweeter pour is what you reach for, try Johnnie Walker Gold Reserve

93 points - Compass Box Orchard House Blended Scotch, 46%, $50

Fresh, fruity, and bright: crisp green apple, lemon, pear, shortbread, and vanilla cream create a mouth-coating ray of sunshine

93 points - Highland Park Cask Strength Heather Scotch Single Malt, 63.6%, $80

This packs the peat and serves up barbecue, raspberry coulis, pepper spice, and cherry pie

93 points - Sazerac Rye Full Proof, 62.5%, $40

A spicy, sweet, and delicious rye with flavors of chocolate, candied cherry, and jalapeno pepper

93 points - Still Austin Bottled in Bond Blue Corn (Winter 2025) Bourbon, 50%, $80

Butterscotch, tea, hearty wood, and a touch of toffee. Or try the 7 year old bottled in bond bourbon

92 points - Aberfeldy 12 year old (2025 Release) Scotch Single Malt, 40%, $56

Rich and syrupy with gingerbread, heather honey, vanilla, baked orange, raisin, candied lemon, and a touch of singed oak

92 points - Annandale Distillery Storyman Blended Scotch, 46%, $62

Charcoal, vanilla, pepper spice, toast, and citrus

92 points - Malloy Hall Peated American Single Malt, 43%, $65

From New Jersey's The Distillery at Lambertville, tasty peat smoke pulses in the background, alongside lemon sherbet, honey, and ground black pepper. There's also a highly rated rye, bourbon, American single malt, and Sherry Cask Edition American single malt

92 points - MilHòc Première Flamme Single Grain French, 50%, $80

Raisins, chocolate-covered strawberries, and funnel cake

92 points - Old Potrero California Cellar Series No. 4 Almanac Beer Finished Rye, 57.5%, $80

Richly textured and spicy, with black pepper, char, vanilla, and chocolate doughnut

92 points - Redbreast 12 year old Irish Single Malt, 40%, $70

Silky smooth with red apple, raisin, gingerbread, dried cherry, and cassis

92 points - Stranahan's Diamond Peak Local Brewer's Cask Finished American Single Malt (2025 Release), 45%, $80

Smooth, soft, complex, and creamy with flavors of vanilla, coconut, and peach

92 points - Three Chord Un-Edited Cask Strength Bourbon, 59%, $70

Red Hots, Mexican hot chocolate, crème patisserie, and baking spice. Other highly rated Three Chords to try include Hard Pressed bottled in bond bourbon, a pinot noir finished Strange Collab bourbon, Flipside Triple Wood bourbon, and Riot Double Bonded rye

91 points - Hard Truth Barrel Finish Reserve Mizunara Finished Rye, 62.3%, $80

Maraschino liqueur, sweetness, and a touch of menthol

91 points - New Riff 6 year old Sherry Finished Barrel Proof Rye, 55.95%, $70

Raisins, dried cranberries, cooked apple, mint tea, overripe berries, and subtle baking spice

91 points - Pursuit United Triple Mash Barrel Proof Rye, 60.9%, $80

Lemon zest, chocolate-coated orange, mint tea, cinnamon rolls, and flan

91 points - Sagamore High Rye Bourbon, 59%, $49

Nicely spiced, with savory herbs, licorice, and black pepper

91 points - Smokehead 15 year old Scotch Single Malt, 43%, $70

From Ian Macleod Distillers, this balances peat, iodine, and salt air against caramel, flan, and fruit tart

90 points - 1792 Cognac Cask Finished Bourbon, 47.5%, $38

Peanut butter, fresh-baked sourdough bread, herbal tea, roasted nuts, and orange marmalade

90 points - Lochlea Single Estate Our Barley Scotch Single Malt, 46%, $63

Canned pears, pepper, clove, macadamia, marmalade, and spiced grapefruit

90 points - Milam & Greene Provisions (Batch 1) Bourbon, 40%, $34

Cinnamon bread, buttered popcorn, cherry cola, and lemon candy