On the business side of the equation, 2025 has been a fairly dismal year in the whisky world. But slumping sales trends should not obscure the fact that we saw the rollout of some very memorable whiskies throughout the year. Here we present a small selection of 2025 releases—5 American and 5 scotches—for your New Year's drinking pleasure. Historical highlights include a 12 year old from Stranahan's—the Colorado distillery's oldest release to date—as well as the final expression in Wild Turkey's long-running Master's Keep series, which debuted back in 2015. These and other impressive showings combined to make 2025 an excellent whisky year.
96 points - Elijah Craig 12 year 3 month old Barrel Proof Rye (Batch A925), 54%, $75
Our 2025 Whisky of the Year isn’t a mere spice bomb—possessing a nuanced flavor profile that also works in dark fruits and sweetness. And at 54% ABV, it packs ample heat without scorching the palate. Tasting notes include vanilla, prickly pepper, cinnamon, and stewed fruits.
.png)
95 points - Maker's Mark Cellar Aged (2025 Release), 56.45%, $175
The third Maker’s Cellar Aged expression since its debut in 2023 features its oldest whiskey yet, and offers flavors of baking spice, baked apple, frosted cinnamon roll, and orange zest, checked by earthier notes of oak and tobacco barn.
95 points - Oban 15 year old Oloroso & Palo Cortado Cask Finished Cask Strength, 55.3%, $150
Our No. 2 Whisky of 2025 was finished for more than 4 years in a mix of sherry casks, including ones that previously held oloroso and palo cortado. Tasting notes include nutty sweetness, dark chocolate, berry fruits, and citrus.
.png)
94 points - Dalmore 17 year The Luminary No. 3 (2025 Edition), 49.2%, $400
The final release in a three-part series by Dalmore, in collaboration with Scottish design museum V&A Dundee. Gentle flavors of vanilla, caramel, malted milkshake, and candy shop, with generous pepper spice.
94 points - Stranahan's 12 Year Old Mountain Angel Port Wine Cask Aged (Batch 01), 47.3%, $100
The oldest whiskey yet from Colorado craft pioneer Stranahan's shows the port influence with its jammy berry and grape jelly undertones to go with spice, cracked leather, coffee cake, lemon tea, and cinnamon sugar.
94 points - Tomintoul Cigar Malt, 43%, $130
Distilled from a mix of peated and unpeated malts that were aged or finished in sherry casks. Aromas of campfire smoke, and flavors of chocolate-covered peanuts, jelly doughnut, and hickory.
94 points - Wild Turkey Master's Keep Beacon, 59%, $300
This final Master’s Keep release from Wild Turkey combines three generations of Russell family whiskey making. It features just two bourbons—a 16 year old a 10 year old—and has no cask finish.
93 points - Laphroaig Càirdeas Cask Favourites, 52.4%, $110
This has all the maritime notes you’d expect from Laphroaig, but with added darker char notes that’ll appeal to hard-core peat heads. Flavors include burnt ends, meaty smoke, blackberry jam, and jalapeño spice.
NR Macallan A Night on Earth: The First Light, 43%, $124
Part of a Macallan series celebrating togetherness, this one toasts New Year's, with a focus on far-flung New Zealand. It includes a parcel matured in bourbon barrels, though most of the liquid is aged in sherry-seasoned European and American oak.
NR Barrell Bourbon New Year (2026 Release), 55.15%, $85
Barrell's 10th annual New Year's expression blends bourbons from seven states: Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, and Wyoming, ranging in age from 5 to 16 years old, with just 119 bottles produced.
