Fall 2023 Best Values: Ezra Brooks, The Whistler, Maclean's Nose, and More

In each issue of Whisky Advocate, our Buying Guide offers whiskies of all types from around the world and at a wide variety of prices. Within that long list lie some excellent bargains—something that can be tough to find in today's whisky world. Here's a sampling of our editors' picks for great value bottles with solid scores, friendly prices, and wide availability—including ryes, Irish whiskeys, scotch whiskies, and an American single malt.

92 Ezra Brooks 99 2 year old Rye, 49.5%, $25
The nose kicks off on a zesty and flavorful note, with loads of black pepper and peppercorn sauce joined by chlorine, an assortment of farmers market leafy greens, and menthol. The palate is more lightly peppered; here it’s also supplemented by a dollop of honey, some celery juice, and raw kale, keeping the greens going. More pepper on the finish, which has a fair amount of milk chocolate and lemon ice too.

91 Bart's Irish Blend, 46%, $50
Lough Ree Distillery’s blend of grain, pot still, peated, and unpeated malts is finished in rye and oloroso casks. The nose is delightful with honeysuckle, lemon peel, vanilla sponge, and citrus peel, with peat smoke, mint, and s’mores. A silky mouthfeel with flavors of sweet pear, melon, and mango, the peat smoke revs on the accelerator, while flavors of red apple and sweet malt fade amid the spice and smoke.

91 Rebel 100 Rye, 50%, $20
Aromas of cereal grains and baking spice are not a harbinger of what’s to come; the palate veers off course and delivers ripe red apple, sliced pear sweetness, frosted vanilla cupcake, grape jelly, and cinnamon stick. It’s rich, well-spiced, and complex, and leaves you wanting more. Dark chocolate and hot fudge emerge on the lengthy finish, though they never overtake the lingering fruit, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and grain notes.

91 The Whistler Dark Symphony Irish Blend, 43.14%, $40
Matured in first-fill bourbon barrels and finished in VSOP cognac barrels, the nose offers fresh plum, orange peel, dried apple ring, caramelized brown sugar, honey, dried flowers, and a hint of lemon. Taking you on quite a journey, the palate is thickly textured with plum, baked orange, brown sugar, and caramel, with a slowly growing spice presence, drifting into bourbon biscuit, hazelnut, espresso, burnt sugar, and creamy milk chocolate.
90 Maclean’s Nose Scotch Blend, 46%, $35
This 70% malt content blend from Adelphi has savory barbecue smoke, red berries, dried orange slice, pepper, fleshy orange, lemon peel, and stewed fruit aromas— happily sherried without becoming a sherry beast. Warm and sweet with a heavenly velvety texture, there are flavors of orange, dried mango, damson, brown sugar, pepper, and gingerbread, then notes of dark chocolate, tobacco, and prune leading to a finish of sherry, vanilla, burnt sugar, and cocoa.

90 Old Line Flagship 95 American Single Malt, 47.5%, $45
The nose leads with Honey Nut Cheerios, waffles with maple syrup, and Raisin Bran. These malty notes are balanced with a bright halo of lemon and lime zest, crafting an enticing balance. The palate is more straightforward, with granola, raisins, chocolate milkshake, and oatmeal with honey. The finish is of moderate length and stretches the whiskey’s honeyed notes and grainy flavors to a satisfying conclusion.

90 Spearhead Scotch Single Grain, 43%, $35
Distilled on Loch Lomond’s Coffey still from 100% malted barley and matured in infrared toasted new American oak casks; there are aromas of toasted cereals, honey, vanilla, oak shavings, baked pastry, and gentle spice. It has plenty of body and a creamy mouthfeel with more toasted cereal, sautéed apple, honey, butterscotch, vanilla, candied citrus, and lime. Perhaps this is Scotland’s version of an American single malt?

88 Speyburn 10 year old Scotch Single Malt, 40%, $35
A sweet, creamy dram matured mainly in bourbon casks and some sherry casks. The nose has honey, vanilla, flaked coconut, lemon biscuits, and apple Danish pastries. Vanilla fudge, lemon bonbons, white chocolate, toffee, sweet oak, and cracked peppercorns continue the sweet flavor profile as it melts into butterscotch sauce and crème brûlée at the swallow, with vanilla seeds on the finish It’s impossible not to like it.