Editors' Choices: Selections From Our Fall 2025 Issue

In each issue of Whisky Advocate, our Buying Guide includes stand-out expressions selected by our editors based on scores, availability, and price. For the Fall issue, the tasting panel selected a variety of expressions, including bourbon, scotch, rye, Japanese blended malt, and American single malt. Most of them hover around $75, with the highest-ticket whiskies sitting at $150.

94 Points - Booker's “Barry's Batch” 7 year old (Batch 2025-01) bourbon, 62.85%, $100

The palate starts sweet, with frosting, maple syrup, and dark chocolate. Rounding out the sip are walnuts, caramel candies, and a touch of overripe bananas. This has real depth and, despite the proof, ample finesse.

94 Points - Glendronach Ode to the Embers Sherry & Smoke single malt scotch, 48.4%, $91

The palate dials back the peat and lets the cask influence shine: Ripe berries, apples, and heather honey blend into a slightly smoky, very fruity finish.

94 Points - Isle of Harris The Hearach Château Biac single malt scotch, 50%. $150

Fully matured in sweet wine casks from Bordeaux winery Château Biac—the first time the winery’s casks have been used to mature scotch. It’s quite light and well-spiced on the palate, with baked apricots and gooey thickness.

94 Points - Jefferson's Reserve Limited Edition Cask Strength bourbon, 65%, $70

Bottled at 8 years old, this delivers fantastic depth and subtlety, even at its high proof. The palate is quite fruity, showing apples, berries, and cherry ice cream. The whiskey holds its proof well, but water brings out citrus, maple syrup, and charred oak.

94 Points - New Riff Bottled in Bond Balboa (2025 Release) rye, 50%, $55

Made with the Balboa rye strain, aged 4 years, and non-chill filtered. Thick and creamy on the palate, with red berries, apple, cracked pepper, and rye spice.

93 Points - Cedar Ridge The QuintEssential Special Release Number Five Cask Strength (2025 Release) American single malt, 58.9%, $100

Exceptionally dark, this gets its color and character from spending time in five different barrels, including port and madeira. It’s lively on the palate, delivering toasted pecan, raisin bread, and some peppery spice and maple sweetness. A little water makes it even better, amping up the sweetness and bringing balance to the liquid.

93 Points - Sons of Vancouver Realms of Rye 100% Rye (Release 02), 59.9%, $150

This is part of a series that showcases the flavors (beyond spice and pepper) that rye grain can elicit in whisky. The palate is beautifully textured and reminiscent of summer camp thanks to a heady rush of toasted marshmallow.

92 Points - Elijah Craig 10 year 7 month old Barrel Proof (Batch A125) bourbon, 59.1%, $75

The first batch of the year; a little younger and with a slightly lower proof than recent releases. A nose of coconut flakes, cherry pie, vanilla, and cigar wrapper leads to a palate that’s powerful, with dark chocolate, cinnamon, and pepper spice. Water brings out strawberry and citrus.

92 Points - Hatozaki Triple Cask Reserve blended malt whiskey, 46%, $75

Blended by master distiller and blender Kimio Yonezawa from malt whisky matured in bourbon and sherry casks, and finished for 6 months in umeshu plum liqueur casks. The palate is balanced with a fantastic flavor trajectory: oranges, peppery spice, red apple, mango, apricot, hints of chocolate wrapped in smoke, and blackened oak.