Editor's Choice: Whisky Advocate's Favorites From Our Summer Issue

In each issue of Whisky Advocate, our Buying Guide features its Editor’s Choice selections, which are chosen based on scores, affordability, and availability. For the Summer issue, the tasting panel selected a variety of scotches and bourbons, as well as an Irish single malt and a wheat whiskey. There are some excellent values here, with most selections priced at around $60, and the highest-ticket item hitting $100.

94 Points - Lochlea Fallow Edition First-Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt Matured (Third Crop) single malt scotch, 46%, $75

The light yet luscious palate takes those notes up another notch: berries and raisins blend wonderfully with sweet malt, Black Forest cake, chocolate ganache, and cinnamon powder.

92 Points - Bushmills 2014 Private Reserve Series 10 year old Amarone Cask Irish single malt, 47.3%, $60

The palate is thick and fruity with cherry, bramble, clove, fresh plum, a touch of leather, and some late vanilla creaminess before a lengthy finish of ripe fruit, vanilla, and clove. Water opens it up beautifully, brightening the fruit notes.

92 Points - Johnnie Walker Black Ruby blended scotch, 40%, $45

This blend was matured in bourbon barrels and red wine casks seasoned with a blend of Pedro Ximénez and oloroso sherry. Fruity, juicy, and light on the palate, it delivers fresh fig, cherry, plum, gingersnap, chocolate, caramel, and smoke.

92 Points - Knob Creek Single Barrel Select Eli Manning’s 2025 Bold Pick bourbon, 60%, $60

It takes flight on the palate, with black pepper and toasted oak blending with chocolate-covered raisins and candied walnuts. The whiskey holds its proof well, and water brings out a gentler pepperiness and more vanilla.

92 Points - Larceny Barrel Proof (Batch A125) bourbon, 62.5%, $65

This wheated bourbon has cracked our Top 20 list before, and the latest edition continues delivering big, bewitching flavors. This one handles its proof beautifully, and the palate is rich with chocolate-raspberry Ghirardelli squares, raisins, cinnamon stick, and barrel char.

92 Points - Lux Row PX Sherry Cask Finished bourbon, 56%, $60

These days, there are plenty of sherry-finished bourbons to enjoy, but this Pedro Ximénez-finished iteration sets itself apart by offering quite a breadth of flavor. The spiced palate keeps notes medjool dates, ripe berries and spearmint gum coming. There’s plenty of cinnamon, pepper, chocolate, and red berries, all of which follow through to the finish.

92 Points - Maker’s Mark Star Hill Farm wheat whiskey, 57.35%, $100

Maker’s newest annual release blends wheat whiskey made from a mash of 70% wheat and 30% malted barley with 100% malted wheat whiskey, creating a fruity, rustic, and peppery pour. The palate is fruity, with fruit tarts and bright citrus.

91 Points - Glengoyne Oak Masters’ White Oak single malt scotch, 48%, $60

This new series sees the Highland distiller move in a new direction—one that puts the spotlight on American white oak as opposed to sherry casks for maturation. Rich chocolate emerges on the palate, bringing to mind chocolate ganache, cocoa powder, and chocolate pudding.

90 Points - Penelope Wheated Four Grain bourbon, 47.5%, $40

Made from a mashbill of 74% corn, 16% wheat, 7% rye, and 3% malted barley, this has great body. The palate retains that sugary sweetness, then boosts it with vanilla pastry cream, mocha latte, and more sweet grain notes.