1003 Searched for is baileys with tequila good

Tequila is made only in Mexico—and primarily in the state of Jalisco, which lies in the center of the country like a beating heart. Like so much of the Mexican countryside, Jalisco is remarkably scenic, offering views of high mountain ranges and scrubland, rolling fields of blue agave and Pacific Ocean beaches. While best known for tequila, Jalisco is also the birthplace of Mariachi music, whose singers will serenade you on many occasions during your visit.
Jalisco’s charming town of Tequila is to its namesake spirit what the town of Sonoma is to its surrounding wine country, and is the heart and soul of the region’s production. Located only 40 miles northwest of the cosmopolitan city of Guadalajara (population 1.5 million), Tequila is home to La Rojeña, Latin America’s oldest distillery (1798), and the only one of three distilleries owned by Mexico’s largest tequila maker, Jose Cuervo, that offers tours. With its hotels, restaurants, and...

Tequila’s roots grow deep. Mexico’s native spirit has a rich history and an even richer sense of place. Nowadays, thanks to rising interest from spirits sippers and cocktail enthusiasts, its sales are booming. Like scotch whisky and cognac, tequila’s production is highly regulated, with the Mexican government imposing restrictions and quality standards to maintain integrity. Thanks to those efforts, tequila has upped its game over the years to win a place alongside the world’s most connoisseurial spirits.
At its heart, tequila is all about agave. A succulent native to hot, arid regions of the Americas, agave is the base for all tequilas. There are many types of agaves, though only one can be used to make tequila: agave tequilana, the Weber Azul or blue agave, native to western Mexico. For tequila, that particular varietal can only be sourced from five Mexican states: Jalisco, where the majority of tequila is made, and within certain municipalities of...

Actor George Clooney and entrepreneur Rande Gerber are old friends who’ve long vacationed together in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, where they developed a passion for tequila. One day they were struck with the idea of creating their very own expression, looking only to make a tequila they could enjoy with friends and family. Of course, that dream grew into something much bigger in the Casamigos brand. “We wanted something different—the best tasting, smoothest tequila, one that didn’t have to be covered up with salt or lime,” Gerber recalls. “We wanted to be able to drink it all night and not be hungover in the morning.”
After two years and roughly 700 tastings, their tequila project became a reality in 2013. The two friends, along with entrepreneur Mike Meldman, partnered to launch Casamigos—and the tequila world hasn’t been quite the same since. Today, Casamigos is a huge success, ranking sixth among the top 10 for all tequilas...

Tequila truly embodies the spirit of Mexico, in both the literal sense—it’s the country’s national drink—and more figuratively for its importance in Mexican culture and tradition. The story of tequila is woven into the country’s history. Just as bourbon is to the U.S. and scotch is to Scotland, tequila is a celebration of Mexican craftsmanship, and it has risen to become a dominant spirit for drinks enthusiasts around the world.
What Is Tequila?
Put simply, tequila is a distilled spirit made from the blue Weber agave plant. But of course, there’s a lot more to it than that. To be classified as tequila, a spirit must be made from at least 51% blue Weber agave in one of five Mexican states. Tequila is big business in Mexico, and its production is managed by the governing agency Consejo Regulador del Tequila (Tequila Regulatory Council, TRC), which oversees everything from agave harvesting to distillation to bottling and labeling, ensuring...

There has been a revolution of sorts over the past few decades: More and more, consumers of spirits want to know what’s in the products they purchase and enjoy—and who makes them and where they are from. Provenance and production methods have become top-of-mind considerations for discerning drinkers.
The Tequila industry has long been a leader in standards that ensure quality. It is a protected D. O. spirit (denomination of origin), meaning it can only be made in Mexico, with Blue Weber agave, under tight regulations dealing with strength, age, and geography, among other considerations.
Today, though the term is widely discussed (and widely misunderstood), “additives” have become a frequent conversation topic.
That’s not a bad thing: Many producers are taking the opportunity to discuss the intentions behind how they make their spirit, as well as the balance of traditional and modern methods of production. “Additives” have long been...

For much of tequila’s history, barrel aging wasn’t a huge consideration—tequila was meant to be consumed young, with the spirit’s natural flavors un adulterated by wood. But as tequila moved up the ladder of respectability, distillers began to barrel-age their products. Today, aged expressions are an almost required part of a tequila distiller’s portfolio, and tequileros are pushing boundaries by trying different barrels, new techniques, and longer aging processes.
Tequila barrel aging dates as far back as 1800, according to some historians, but whether those barrels were used for aging or simply for storage is unclear. Regardless, the vast majority of tequila consumed well into the 20th century was blanco, or unaged. The first laws distinguishing aged from unaged tequila weren’t laid down in Mexico until 1964, and even then the only categories were blanco and añejo, or “aged,” without specifying time spent in the barrel. The...

Few spirits can match tequila in popularity these days, as the tequila space swells with new releases. One particular innovation that has been attracting a lot of attention is additive-free tequila. American whiskey drinkers are already well-versed in additive-free sipping, as whiskeys labeled as "straight" are legally prohibited from using additives. Tequila, however, is relatively new to the additive-free game.
Tequila production is regulated by Mexican law, which states that to be called tequila, a spirit must be made from at least 51% blue Weber agave in one of five Mexican states, Jalisco being the largest and most popular. Of course, most top brands today boast that they’re made with 100% agave. Agave is the key to tequila. The blue Weber agave plant is a large succulent with spiky leaves. The plant’s stalk can grow higher than 10 feet and its leaves can grow to be 7 feet long. On average, it takes five to seven years for a plant to reach maturity for tequila...

You’d be hard-pressed to find any imbiber who hasn’t had a Margarita or two, but not everyone has taken the time to develop a finer appreciation for tequila. Now might be just the right time to begin the journey. Tequila can deliver much of the same complex flavor development as whisky, while its range—from blanco to extra añejo—offers a breadth of styles from which to choose. 
NeatA slow sip of a well-made, well-aged tequila can be a sensory delight. “I must confess to being a purist in tequila matters—and by sipping a tequila neat, at room temperature, you can really appreciate the nuances regarding aromas and flavors of a particular tequila expression,” says Carlos Camarena, master distiller at La Alteña Distillery. As opposed to the grain-derived flavors of whisky, agave brings earthy and vegetal characteristics to the forefront, often tinged with floral notes, citrus, and spice. “By adding a few drops of water...

Back in the ’90s, you’d be hardpressed to find a decent tequila list anywhere in town. Today it’s a completely different story. Whether you’re in the mood for blanco-based Margaritas or ready to sip some rare extra añejo, these places have what you’re looking for—and then some.

Barrio
Minneapolis
This spot prides itself on authentic scratch made Latin cuisine and bold cocktails. It offers 12 Margarita variations ($10-$15), including the Pink Elephant, made with Maestro Dobel tequila, Aperol, Cointreau, and grapefruit and lime juices; and the Diamante Pepino, featuring Maestro Dobel, Cointreau, jalapeño, cucumber, and lime juice. The backbar holds a large selection of 150-plus agave-based spirits and more than 40 flights.

Cantina Dos Segundos

Philadelphia
This Mexican restaurant has over 100 different tequilas available, with highlights including Gran Patrón Smoky ($45/1-oz. pour...

With so many varieties of tequila available today, this blue agave-based spirit makes a versatile and exciting addition to your home bar. From light and bright blanco expressions to oaky and smooth añejo, tequila offers something for everyone, and a wide range of labels adds to the sense of fun and exploration.
Tequila is a spirit with a true sense of place, as it’s produced only in Mexico—primarily in the state of Jalisco, along with a few local municipalities in Guanajuato, Michoacán, Tamaulipas, and Nayarit—and can vary greatly depending on the region’s specific terroir. Tequilas from the Highlands—a region known as Los Altos—tend to be sweeter and fruiter, while those from the Lowlands, or El Valle, have more peppery and herbal qualities. Unaged blanco expressions work well in Margaritas and other fruity shaken cocktails; reposado, which is aged 2 to 12 months in oak, can pair with an even wider range of ingredients in a...

Some whisky fans assert that bourbon is analogous to jazz: the only spirited art form original to America. As bourbon is made with an indigenous plant—corn—that seems a pretty solid claim. Well, as long you define “American” as from the U.S. Look south of the border, however, and you'll find another spirit unique to North America: tequila. Its agave base is similarly original to the continent and it predates America's corn concoctions by a century.The Aztecs were drinking the fermented juice of agave for some 2,500 years before the Spanish conquistadors arrived in the early 16th century and distilled it into what would become tequila. Yet tequila received little respect north of the border, until recently. High-end tequila is currently thriving in the U.S. According to industry trade publication Impact Database, the overall volume increased 6.5 percent in 2016, and the high-end accounted for 35 percent of that. The more ambitious are distinguishing themselves through...

In the early 2000s, Juan Domingo Beckmann, founder of Maestro Dobel Tequila and eleventh-generation member of the Cuervo family, made a giant leap forward in reshaping the future of tequila. As tastes shifted to white spirits, a new generation of tequila drinkers longed for a more accessible, premium, and modern expression of tequila that they could mix in cocktails. Inspired by this shift, Beckmann aimed to create the smoothest expression of tequila, capturing both the complexity of an aged tequila with the crisp vibrancy of a blanco. This vision led to the creation of Maestro Dobel Diamante in 2008, the world’s first Cristalino tequila, and the birth of an entirely new tequila category.
To produce this groundbreaking innovation, Beckmann employed filtration techniques borrowed from other spirits categories, such as rum, whisk(e)y, and vodka. By filtering aged tequila through charcoal, the process removed imperfections and impurities from the oak barrel. This process...

Wood-aged tequila has a surprisingly short history, and American whiskey barrels have dominated it. While some tequila makers have borrowed from the scotch whisky playbook by using wine, sherry, port, and cognac casks for aging or finishing their spirit, most typically look north for their vessels. Price is the obvious reason. The most popular styles of American whiskey require new barrels, so a steady flow of less expensive used wood exists. But moreover, these vessels smooth the edges and add a dose of familiarity to a drink that can seem peculiar to American palates. Whiskey barrels impart a measure of caramel sweetness and evoke the natural vanilla tones in a drink that tends to be spicy and tart in the raw.
While most casks have gone incognito (Jack Daniel's and Jim Beam are assumed to be responsible for much of the trade), some tequila brands are calling out the names of whiskies that formerly inhabited their barrels. For instance, Espolòn looks to Wild Turkey for its...

If you were going to imagine an ideal Maestro Tequilero, you might consider the three-decade career of Alejandro (Alex) Coronado. Trained in chemical engineering, the Mexico native started with Cuervo as a strategic planning analyst, helping determine where to invest in the company’s future, then moved into operations, spending years learning every aspect of bottling, plant management, and the complex process of creating spirits. Today, as Cuervo’s Maestro Tequilero, he is responsible for distillation, bottling, and innovation for the entire portfolio. He has learned a few things along the way.
We spoke with him about artisanal and modern production, sustainable agriculture, and, above all, his ongoing passion for creating tequila.
What are the most significant issues in tequila production today?
It's very important we protect tequila, especially considering how much it's growing globally. Tequila is deeply rooted in Mexican heritage and is a symbol of...

Say “tequila,” and many people immediately think “Margarita.” And whether you’re hosting a party or making tacos for two, everyone should know how to make this easy classic without resorting to neon green mixers. Simply shake tequila, orange liqueur, and fresh lime juice with ice, then strain into a salt-rimmed glass.
But don’t stop at Margaritas. Discover the many ways to enjoy tequila’s different styles. “Tequila is a uniquely complex spirit with an array of pleasant notes that can be incorporated with many flavor profiles that accent each other to create a well-balanced and enjoyable cocktail all year round,” says William Scyphers, beverage director of Cumberland Bar at JW Marriott Nashville. 
While all tequila adds depth and earthiness to cocktails, blanco tends to add black pepper and citrus flavors, reposado often has notes of vanilla and baking spices from the oak barrel, and the longer aging process of...

“Tequila is more than a beverage for us,” explains Willy Bañuelos, one of the third-generation Bañuelos to craft tequila from the heart of Mexico’s Jalisco region. “It’s a legacy and a lifetime of absorbing the knowledge and passion of our elders.” 
His sentiments echo throughout the distillery at Hacienda El Mexicano (NOM 1588), where evidence of his father’s and grandfather’s Tequila heritage seems to permeate from the walls. Don Félix Bañuelos, the grandfather of Willy and his brother León, was one of the original partners in Tequila Cazadores®, and the artisanal ethos of that global benchmark is inherent in Tequila El Mexicano. Today, El Mexicano is handcrafted by the current generation of Bañuelos brothers—Léon Jr. and Willy—in collaboration with their father Léon Sr.
A tribute to traditional production, Tequila El Mexicano is made exclusively from...

When chef Eileen Andrade opened Amelia’s 1931, she chose not to locate it in one of Miami’s classically trendy neighborhoods like Wynwood or South Beach, but rather in West Kendall, closer to where she grew up. It makes sense: Amelia was the name of her grandmother, and the restaurant is an homage to her love of Cuban food.
And while tequila is of course not produced in Cuba, many of the flavors of the island are well-suited to pairing with it. The ceviche verde recipe below is a delicious example. “Tequila has a beautiful vegetal flavor that elevates food in general, and it pairs with so many different flavor profiles,” Andrade explains. “In this case, the heat of the salsa verde is mellowed by the tequila. Both [that] and the ceviche have hints of pepper”—excellent alongside tequila— “but both are very different.”

When pairing tequila and food, she notes, there are a number of strategies that will help guide...

Islay whisky, draped in the aromas of burning peat, may be the world's best known smoky spirit, but smoke in a bottle is also available from a much different terrain and climate on this side of the Atlantic. The mezcals distilled in the mountains of Mexico deliver smoke that comes not from peat, but from wood.Mezcal has long lived in the shadow of tequila, another agave-based spirit, and was once even disparaged as an inferior substitute. But the United States is awakening to what the people of Oaxaca and a number of other Mexican states have long known: mezcal is largely a farm-to-bottle spirit offering complex charms and artisanal aesthetics. In contrast to corporate tequila, mezcal is a cottage industry in which folk distillers use antique equipment to craft unique spirits that reflect their own village.Despite its humble roots, mezcal shipments to the U.S. have quadrupled over the last five years and selections are proliferating on store shelves. Casamigos, the tequila company...

The Irish coffee hits all the marks of a great whiskey cocktail: delicious, beautiful, and easy to make and customize according to your taste. There are many variations, from using flavored coffee to serving it on ice, but in the end, the perfect Irish coffee is the one you like best. The basic recipe for Irish coffee is simple: Add 2 teaspoons demerara sugar to a warm mug or Irish coffee glass. Add 4 to 6 oz. hot coffee and stir well to dissolve sugar. Add 1½ oz. Irish whiskey and stir to combine. Float whipped cream on top by pouring it over the back of a spoon. Using that as a starting point, follow these tips to craft an Irish coffee that's perfect for your palate.
The 5 Key Elements of Irish Coffee
The CoffeeSome people prefer light roast Colombian java while others only drink dark French roast, and you can pick pretty much any coffee for your cocktail. Although Morgan Carney, general manager and bar manager of Boston's Grafton Street, uses an extra bold roast...

Fans of whisky may turn up their noses at whisky liqueurs, where cream, sugar, and other flavors step into the spotlight. While the initial aversion is understandable for palates accustomed to drier drinks with higher proofs, whisky liqueurs aren't all candy sweet—though even the sweetest can brighten a cocktail or dessert. And besides, a Baileys and coffee might be the first step on a journey that leads to Irish Coffee, and eventually to a neat pour of Redbreast.Sweet or dry, there are plenty of liqueurs that don't scrimp on whisky. Though there's disputed territory between flavored whiskies and whisky liqueurs, the drinks collected here are sippers in their own right and provide complementary flavors to their base whiskies.The classic whisky liqueurs—think Baileys, Drambuie, and Dunkeld Atholl Brose—serve as both drink and ingredient, fitting as a liquid dessert or as part of cocktails like the Mudslide, Rusty Nail, and the classic Scottish cocktail, also called...

You don’t always have to choose between tequila and whisky. The two can make for a deliciously complex cocktail, though you may not realize that the “something extra” you taste is coming from the clear spirit. “Tequila has a subtle vegetal note on both the nose and palate that brings a great depth of flavor when paired with the sweetness and spice of quality whisky. Like the celery in a great soup, it’s not the first thing you might notice, but it would be a completely different cocktail if omitted,” says Beau Harris, mixologist and general manager of Ziggy D’Amico’s Whiskey Bar & Diner in Naples, Florida.
When mixing whisky and tequila, most often aged tequilas work best since many are aged in bourbon barrels, explains James Estes, bar director of Nerano and BG Lounge in Beverly Hills, California. “Many of the subtle notes, colors, and nuances of the bourbon are carried over to the tequila during the aging...

Most tequila makers source their agave from Jalisco—the most prominent of the five Mexican territories permitted to make tequila under government rules. Those focused on terroir often tout either Highland agave (grown in Jalisco’s colder high-altitude areas ) or Lowland agave (from warmer valley terrain). 
Mijenta distills its tequilas from agave grown in the Highlands, specifically in Arandas, where mineral-rich red clay soil skews more toward fruit notes than its herbaceous counterparts in the Lowlands. But Mijenta’s latest release, Maestra Selection No. 2, has taken things beyond those borders—by tapping agave grown not only in Jalisco, but in all five of tequila’s blue agave-growing states. 
Multi-State Influence
Maestra Selection No. 2 is a blend of five single-estate blancos. These components were distilled separately, each using 7 year old agave from one of the five states permitted to make tequila. According to maestra...

How do you ensure that El Tesoro Tequila remains true to its heritage while appealing to modern consumers?
It’s very important to me to continue the vision and spirit of my father, my grandfather Don Felipe and my brother Carlos in our work with El Tesoro, which is to do things the right way, even if it is not the easy way. I’ve grown in a family full of creative and stubborn innovators, from my grandfather to my brothers, if they had a new crazy idea to make something unique, they would find the way to make it work because they were sure of what they were doing and how they wanted to do it. For example, my father created the first Extra Añejo even before it was an official category, he called it “Muy Añejo” (very aged) and he was roughly criticized for that. Then he and my brother Carlos Camarena wanted to go a step further and start aging it in ex-Cognac barrels, again hardly criticized and called crazy for bringing together these two...

This week’s big news is a new tequila-finished Tennessee whiskey from Jack Daniel Distillery, though unfortunately the size of the release doesn’t quite match the magnitude of the headlines. The tequila finish is part of the Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series, a succession of experimental whiskeys that are packaged in 375 ml bottles and sold only at the distillery and a few Tennessee retailers. We wish Jack would make these experiments more widely available, but can’t complain, as we’ve seen some serious innovation from the Lynchburg, Tennessee distillery in recent years, including its 10 and 12 year old releases, as well as a Tennessee rye and a limited run American single malt.
Elsewhere, Garrison Brothers is out with Laguna Madre, its annual aged bourbon release that's highly sought-after. And it’s rock and roll time, as Catoctin Creek offers another release in its Ragnarök Rye series, and Lynyrd Skynyrd turns it up with Hell...

Deanston Distillery is among the more overlooked scotch whisky distilleries, having never gone through an era of being a branded star. That’s partly because it’s relatively young, having launched in 1966. Deanston’s whiskies are well-regarded, with many scoring above 90 points. Deanston has generally pursued a fairly straightforward approach to whisky making and is not known for bold experimentation, with its signature innovation being the well-received Virgin Oak Finished expressions. But late last year it released a 15 year old tequila cask finished expression, its first-ever attempt at the genre, and it’s a winner.
Deanston 15 year old Tequila Cask Finish was aged in oak hogsheads for 13 years before spending an additional 2 years in tequila casks which lent their influence. A fresh, fragrant nose greets you with lime, honey, vanilla, green banana, and a hint of barrel char. The palate is smooth and filled with balanced sweetness, offering notes of key...

Rachel Barrie, Kevin O'Gorman, and Allisa Henley discuss their road to a career in distilling, as well as what they do in their spare time–with answers that cover motorbikes, Baileys Irish Cream, and Tennessee sports of all types. And most important of all, we get their take on what they love most about whisky.
Rachel Barrie
Brown Forman master blender for The GlenDronach, Benriach, and Glenglassaugh single malt scotches
Imagine feeling like there aren’t enough hours in a day to sample whisky. Sounds like a dream for most, but for Rachel Barrie, it’s a reality. As master blender responsible for three single malt scotch labels, she’s constantly testing maturation and exploring new creative boundaries, and taking risks in the lab while balancing traveling and other day-to-day demands of the job. With over 30 years in the whisky industry under her belt, In 2003—then employed with Moet Hennessy and working on Glenmorangie and...

Add extra layers of complexity and flavor to your celebration with a bottle of small-batch tequila or mezcal. Expressions include fresh, citrus-driven blancos, a rich, warming anejo, a Napa Cabernet-finished rosé, and a smoky mezcal. Whether sipped neat, on the rocks, or mixed into a deliciously balanced cocktail, they will please any agave connoisseur at the party. You’ll find quality in every bottle. Learn more about these Top Shelf spirits below.
Código Tequila Reposado
Carefully rested for six months in Napa Valley Cabernet French White Oak wine barrels. The Reposado features the brightness of ripe agave with some of the warm, smoky undertones often found in whiskey, like vanilla, oak, and caramel. Complex, delightful flavors make the Código 1530 Reposado a flexible spirit. Savor on the rocks or in the indulgent cocktail of your choice.
Código Tequila Rosa
A unique fusion of tequila and wine...

Whisky isn’t the only spirit that’s caught the cask-finishing bug. Beam Suntory’s El Tesoro tequila has unveiled a new añejo expression: El Tesoro Mundial Knob Creek Rye Edition. The new tequila from La Alteña Distillery features a 12-month cask finish using barrels that held Knob Creek rye for seven years. The aim is to give the tequila some of the rye’s sweeter and spicier notes, namely vanilla, dark chocolate, cinnamon, caramel, and orange peel.
This is La Alteña’s second whisky cask-finished expression. In 2021, the distillery released El Tesoro Mundial Collection The Laphroaig Edition, its first showcasing of this style. That release saw an El Tesoro añejo tequila spend an additional 12 months in Laphroaig 10 Year Old casks. The goal was to impart some of the Islay single malt’s maritime salinity and peat smoke notes onto the tequila. That was the first release in the Mundial Collection, an experimental line that...

The most traditional sipping vessel is the copita—a small ceramic glass—and many modern variations are available. Stemmed tequila glassware is also an option, led by Riedel’s tequila glass, while the famed Glencairn is also an excellent option. The ideal vessel elevates the concentration of flavors, has adequate space for swirling, and is clear so that if the tequila is aged, its color can be observed.

The Oaxaca
$45/set of 2
Inspired by traditional Mexican copitas used for sipping agave-based spirits, this glass holds 4.5 oz., with room for ice.

Cobalt Blue Rim Stemmed Sipper
$55/set of 6
Handblown from recycled glass in Tonalá, Mexico. The 2.5 oz. vessel is ideal for sipping tequila. 

Riedel

$55/set of 4
This stemmed crystal glass holds 6.7 oz. It was designed to enhance the aroma and flavor experience of tequila.


Glencairn

$7
Developed with assistance from...

Irish cream doesn't always have the best reputation among whisky drinkers, but that's somewhat undeserved. Sure, it hardly resembles actual whisky and is a key ingredient in frivolous cocktails like the Mudslide, but Irish cream—invented in a mere 45 minutes in 1973—makes a delicious after-dinner drink, and is the perfect single-ingredient addition to coffee when you need more than just caffeine to pick you up. “Irish cream adds a fantastic texture and ultimate creaminess to cocktails,” says Georgina McKevitt, bartender at The Irish Times Pub & Restaurant in Los Angeles.There are dozens of Irish cream brands out there, with Baileys being the most well-known. But many brands use a minimum of real whiskey, instead swapping in neutral grain spirit to make up most of the alcohol. So if you're looking for a guaranteed whiskey-forward Irish cream, consider making your own. The process is crazy simple, and any supermarket will carry the ingredients. All you have to do is measure...

There’s nothing quite like the decadence of an Irish cream liqueur—it’s dessert for grown-ups! With an ABV typically between 15% and 20%, the mixture of Irish whiskey and cream (and often additional flavors like vanilla or toffee) is delicious on its own or with a little ice, but it also makes a great addition to an Irish Coffee—or simply splashed in a regular cup of joe—and just as tasty poured over ice cream, or blend the two up for an adult milkshake. What’s not to like?
Irish cream is a young product, first created in the 1970s—compare this to Irish whiskey’s history dating back to the 12th century (or Irish dairy farming’s similarly centuries-long history, for that matter) and it’s practically brand new. Baileys was the first: It was introduced in 1974, and in addition to Irish whiskey and cream, today it features multiple flavor variants. Other brands have since emerged, such as Carolans, The Irishman, and Five...

Balmy languid summer days aren’t ideal for slaving away in the kitchen. Surrendering to summer’s bounty, these three informal and oven-free recipes are the perfect coda to a long day in the sun. From a gentle kiss to a punchy blast, the recipes utilize whiskey in different ways to propel juicy seasonal fruit to its full dessert potential. And for ultimate summer refreshment, there’s a recipe for a frozen treat that harnesses whiskey’s rich toffee and chocolaty notes against a backdrop of abundant coffee and coconut.
Poached Whiskey Peaches With Vanilla and Pink Peppercorn
Sweet, sappy peaches become summer’s elegant post-dinner darling when gently poached in liquid gold composed of vanilla, peppercorns, and whiskey. A modestly priced rye whiskey such as Rittenhouse or a rye-heavy bourbon, like Old Forester 100 or Wild Turkey 101 add a pleasant spice to fragrant fruit-leaning pink peppercorns. Leftover peaches stored in the poaching liquid can be...

Among the American whiskey releases this week, Angel's Envy, which rose to fame on its barrel-finished expressions, now has a new tequila cask-finished rye, and Washington State's Woodinville Whiskey has a new tequila cask-finished bourbon. Barrell has unveiled its first full-proof bourbon, bottled at 61.5%, while Maryland rye specialist Sagamore Spirit is out with the annual edition of its Cask Strength rye. New Riff, best known for its bottled in bond bourbons and ryes, is back with another release of its American single malt. This is New Riff's first single malt release since 2023, and it contains liquid that's 10 years old, dating back to its founding days. There's also new whiskey from Chicken Cock and Calumet Farm, as well as an unaged expression from California's Sespe Creek, where ex-Laphroaig master distiller John Campbell now creates the whiskeys since joining the company last year.
Angel’s Envy Cellar...

Back in 19th-century Scotland and Ireland, whisky merchants also sold wine, bringing in popular fortified wines like port and sherry. Casks filled with wine were shipped across the sea from Spain and Portugal, and once they were emptied, the merchants would often refill them with whisky from a nearby distillery rather than discard them and pay for new casks. Eventually, people came to see that a whisky’s maturation in wine casks contributed some very nice flavors. Ireland’s whiskey merchants, famously Dublin’s J.A. Mitchell & Son with its Spot whiskeys, were particularly renowned.
But those days were more about cost expedience, and generally involved full maturation rather than finishing per se. It was in Scotland during the early 1980s that cask finishing as a modern art form was born. In 1982, David Stewart, former malt master at Speyside distillery Balvenie, decided to see what would happen when a whisky aged in American oak casks was transferred to a...

Whiskeys meet tequilas in the Expresiones del Corazón Collection. Barrels that previously aged Buffalo Trace whiskeys are filled with Corazón tequila, made at Casa San Matias Distillery in Jalisco, Mexico. Sazerac, owner of Buffalo Trace and Corazón’s importer, launched this collaboration 10 years ago, and each year’s collection is unique—from the barrels used for aging, the number of expressions released, to the length of time the tequilas are aged. At first, the collection included Buffalo Trace bourbon-aged reposados and Van Winkle-aged añejos. More recently, a reposado that spent 12 months in Elmer T. Lee barrels was included in a release. While we may not see Van Winkle and Elmer T. Lee expressions in the current lineup, two Buffalo Trace Distillery barrels are making their debut: Weller 12 year old and Old Charter Oak.
Corazón French Oak – Old Charter Oak French oak barrels matured this añejo for at...

Diageo, which owns about a quarter of Scotland's single malt distilleries, is reportedly planning new products and processes that could fundamentally change the nature of scotch. According to a story in the Wall Street Journal (paywall), the company formed a “secret task force” last year to determine how Scotch whisky is “constrained” in regulatory, legal, technical, and other ways, and to explore the “scope for reform.” That means Diageo is hoping to use its clout to force changes or adaptations to the rules set down in the Scotch Whisky Regulations of 2009 and upheld by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) trade group.Two particular ideas are highlighted in the WSJ article. First, Diageo is considering creating “scotch whisky infusions,” low-alcohol and/or flavored alcoholic beverages sold under the same name as existing single malt or blended whisky brands. Secondly, Diageo has sought permission from the SWA to finish some of its single malts in Don Julio tequila...

This time of year, there are plenty of reasons to raise a glass: family gatherings, parties with friends, and successfully wrestling the tree into your house. Whether you’re hosting or putting your feet up in front of the fire after a long day, this easy, warming twist on the Old Fashioned is the perfect drink.

Milos Kostadinovic, corporate beverage manager at Olio E Più in New York City, starts with a base of bourbon and tequila. “Anejo tequila has been aged for up to three years and helps balance the burn of bourbon,” he explains. “The tequila also adds vanilla, caramel, and honey notes.” Lavender syrup and plum bitters round things out for a rich, full-bodied cocktail you can enjoy with a meal or as a nightcap.
Tequila Old Fashioned

1 1/4 oz. Wild Turkey 101 (or other high-rye bourbon)
3/4 oz. Patron añejo (or other añejo tequila)
1/4 oz. lavender syrup
3 dashes plum bitters
Lemon twist and...

Once bourbon is ready to move from barrel to bottle, that barrel is up for grabs—since under U.S. law bourbon can be aged only in new oak. There's a long tradition of distillers in Scotland, Japan, and Ireland buying used bourbon barrels to mature their whiskies, but more recently a bourbon barrel's life has expanded well beyond whisky. “The great thing about bourbon barrels is their versatility,” says national educator for Don Julio tequila Jorge Raptis. “They've become popular for aging a variety of products—even cooking sauces and chocolates—but most notably other spirits outside of whisky.”Indeed, oak-aged expressions can be found for nearly every spirits type. In rum, there's Don Papa from the Philippines, Santa Teresa 1796 from Venezuela, and Mount Gay from Barbados, to name just a few. Tequila is similarly abundant in oak-aged expressions from brands including Don Julio, Lunazul, Ocho, Espolòn, and more. Even typically unaged spirits are getting in the game...

Amid all the razzmatazz of new releases, we note with some nostalgia that Cutty Sark, that grand old scotch, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, and it just rolled out a limited anniversary edition to mark the occasion. Cutty has been dressed up in a festive bottle and gift box that is hitting retail across the U.S., and there will be 100 celebratory events around the country in its honor. Named for the fastest clipper ship in the 19th century, during Prohibition years Cutty became a favorite of rum runners plying the Caribbean and the eastern seaboard. This light-tasting blend was a very popular choice for cocktails, and for years Cutty Sark  was America’s number-one scotch whisky, peaking in 1980 at an astounding 22 million bottles annually, according to our research arm Impact Databank. Today it's far smaller, selling just under a milllion bottles a year.
But on to the business at hand. Halloween is not quite here yet, but we have some...

It is universally understood that whisky is more enjoyable when you share it, and the experience becomes even more rewarding when you're able to give back in the process. Here's a roundup of American whiskeys that contribute to a variety of charitable causes, with a portion of proceeds going to such organizations as the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Association, Folds of Honor, and a number of conservation efforts.Pick up one of those charitable-minded bottles this weekend, or seek out one of the new releases in this week's roundup. The Glenrothes has a limited edition 36 year old single cask that comes equipped with an illustrated NFT, Blackened has a new rye whiskey that was finished in madeira wine and Caribbean rum casks, and Stranahan's has distillery-exclusive tequila finished single malt. Read on for full details. Glenrothes 36 year old 1978 Vintage (Cask #3631)Style: Single maltOrigin: Scotland (Speyside)Age: 36 year oldABV: 41.4%Price: $3,600Release: April 27th...

Higher proof whiskeys have been expanding their presence these days—indeed, among the latest releases, it almost seems like a rare thing to find a whisky with an ABV in the 40% bracket. These new expressions are nearly all in the high 50% or low 60% range, with only two bottlings in the mid-40s. It seems to be what whisky drinkers want as they seek intense, amped up flavors, and, so distillers are delivering. This lineup spans most of the major styles, including bourbon, rye, single malt, and Irish, nearly all pushing up the needle on proof.
Michter’s US*1 Barrel Strength Rye
ABV: 55.25%
SRP: $120
Availability: Limited
While your favorite Michter’s releases can sometimes go on hiatus due to a combination of limited supply and the judgment of master distiller Dan McKee and master of maturation Andrea Wilson, the distillery has made concerted efforts in recent years to make sure that its whiskeys are on shelves. That effort has paid...

Drinkable Doritos? In hard liquor form? An interesting concept from the folks at Empirical Spirits, one that raises additional questions. How does nacho cheese-flavored liquor taste? Is it worth $65 per bottle? And, of course, how the hell did they make it?
We’ll get into all that in a second, but first, a little primer on Empirical Spirits, the company behind the Doritos liquor. Founded in 2017 by Lars Williams and Mark Emil Hermansen, Empirical Spirits focuses on flavor first, and spirit categorization second. Using custom-built machinery and equipment, as well as bespoke fermentation and distillation techniques, the team—comprised of staff who’ve toiled in the world’s best kitchens, pushing the boundaries of food—brings a self-described “maniacal approach” to bring new flavors to liquor shelves.
There’s a heavy emphasis on uncategorized spirits. Empirical isn’t trying to compete with existing categories, deemed too...

Our Spring issue is all about rye, a whiskey that seems to increase in popularity with each passing day. Take it as a sign of the times that Wild Turkey's next limited-edition Master's Keep is the first rye whiskey in the collection. Wild Turkey Master's Keep Cornerstone Rye is priced at $175 and will hit shelves in August. There are 15,000 bottles available.Meanwhile, The Last Drop is rolling out two single casks of Glenrothes distilled in 1969. Just 271 bottles of the nearly-50 year old whisky are available, priced at $6,250.More widely available are new bourbons from Bardstown Bourbon Co. (BBC), including the first whiskey that includes the distillery's own straight bourbon. Fusion Series #1 combines sourced 11 year old Kentucky straight bourbon with 2 year old wheated and high-rye bourbons distilled at BBC and costs $60. Meanwhile, Discovery Series #1 blends four Kentucky straight bourbons, ranging in age from 5 to 11 years, and costs $130. Finally, Collaboration Series #1...

Cask finishing is primarily the domain of whisky makers, but other distillers are also in the game. Tequila producers have long been practitioners of the style—Patrón introduced Gran Patrón Burdeos, a Bordeaux-cask finished expression, back in 2007, and Herradura released a port-cask finished reposado in 2013, to name just two examples. Maestro Dobel,  the upscale, ultra-aged tequila maker owned by the Beckmann family of Jose Cuervo fame, has its own series of cask-finished tequilas.
In 2022 Maestro Dobel launched its limited edition Dobel 50 Anniversary Series with the sherry-finished Dobel 50 1967, intended as a toast to founder Juan Domingo Beckmann Legoretta (Dobel being the acronym of that name). Now it has added three more cask-finished expressions to the Maestro Dobel 50 Series, also carrying calendar years as names: 1968 Armagnac Cask Finished, 1969 Sauternes Cask Finished, and 1970 Amarone Cask Finished.
To be clear, these are not...

Here for your reading pleasure are some of the latest scores and reviews from the Whisky Advocate tasting panel. The art of barrel finishing stands front and center on this list, with the inclusion of high-scoring expressions finished in rum, tequila, and pineau des charentes casks. Another thread is the art of aging, as Very Old St Nick takes its place among some of the best-aged bourbons, and  Colorado distiller Laws Whiskey House has offered its oldest wheat whiskey yet, at 7 years of age. These entries represent just some of our reviews and ratings, all of which will be published in our Buying Guide in the Fall issue.


96 Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Voyage, 53%, $275
The first rum cask expression in Wild Turkey’s history, done in collaboration with Dr. Joy Spence of Jamaica’s Appleton Estate. This Master’s Keep expression is an absolute stunner, though a bit more pricey than previous editions. The Master’s...

The week’s list of new releases is led by the American side, with bourbons and American single malts at the fore, as well as a new tequila-finished rye from High West. From Scotland, Kilchoman offers its annual Sanaig release, and from Ireland, we have what might be the final release from Waterford Distillery, which went into receivership in late November. It seems likely that funding will be found to keep Waterford going, possibly under a different owner, but for now, everything remains on hold.
On a happier note, Indian single malt maker Paul John has just released its annual Christmas Edition. Those who’ve discovered or wish to discover this producer should take note: two previous Paul John Christmas releases we’ve reviewed both scored 91 points. And from Kentucky, Blue Run also gets into the season with its new Blue Run Ember release, made with holiday sipping in mind.
Old Forester 117 Series: Warehouse I Bourbon
ABV: 47.5%
SRP: $65/375ml

Bars with outdoor seating are in high demand when the weather starts to warm; bars that are on the water even more so. And while most waterfront watering holes will reliably have the classic summertime cocktails—think Margarita and Gin and Tonic—on offer, the 10 listed here are actually whisky destinations. After all, true enthusiasts know that whisky has no season. So sit back, relax, and raise a toast to summer as you enjoy your whisky by the water.
Bourbon Prime
Morgantown, West Virginia
With a dining room featuring indoor and outdoor seating that overlooks the Monongahela, the mother river of rye whiskey, this bourbon-focused restaurant offers a casual take on upscale chophouse fare, complemented by a whisky list of more than 80 labels. It claims to be the first establishment in West Virginia to develop its own private selection bourbon from Woodford Reserve, which it calls the Country Roads Blend. The current batch is No. 29 and can be enjoyed by the 1...

In the 1960s and ‘70s, with vodka ascendant and whisky sales tumbling, many brands started trying to make their whiskies more vodka-like, raising the proof off the still and lowering the proof in the bottle to make it lighter, less flavorful and “easier” or “smoother.” Today, with whisky riding a long growth curve, the situation is reversed: spirits that are typically unaged are being barrel-aged. Gins, mezcals, sojus—and yes, even vodkas—are acquiring a brown hue from time spent in a barrel, with an emphasis on new American oak and whisky barrels that impart flavors familiar to whisky drinkers.
Barrel-aged spirits of all sorts are, of course, nothing new. In the 18th and 19th centuries, any spirits that had to be transported were carried in wooden barrels, so some degree of barrel aging was virtually universal even if inadvertent. In the 20th century, Seagram’s Extra Dry gin was “rested” for a month in whiskey barrels as...

The Fred. B. Noe Distillery, on the sprawling grounds of James Beam’s Clermont, Kentucky, campus, is Freddie Noe’s innovation playground. It’s where the Beam family’s eighth-generation master distiller gets to experiment on a smaller version of Jim Beam’s big still—in a building a stone’s throw away—and unlock new flavors, production enhancements, and more. It’s also where Booker’s and other higher-end, smaller batch Beam whiskeys are made.
It’s a bit of a shrine to the Booker’s brand itself. Enter and look left to see a bottle of every batch ever made, including the first one Booker Noe (Freddie’s grandfather) made back in 1979 as a gift for his distributors. The distributors loved the uncut, unfiltered, high-proof bourbon so much that the response was, “Why aren’t you just selling this?”
Booker began doing precisely that—and sending a delightfully pointed rejection letter to...

A unique 3-D map experience showcasing how the world’s finest tequila is made.



Patron Expressions to Try
Patrón Silver
Patrón Silver is the standard-bearer for the category, whether elevating a classic cocktail or served with soda. Made from just three simple ingredients, agave, water, and yeast, it is a pure expression of the Jalisco highlands.
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Patrón Reposado
Patrón takes its perfect Patrón Silver tequila and ages it for at least 4 months in American whiskey barrels to make the smooth, ultra-premium Patrón Reposado; Patrón added nothing but time. It brings structure and character to Palomas, Margaritas, or simply mixed with soda.
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Patrón El Alto
Patrón El Alto marries the sweetest agaves from the highest parts of Jalisco with expert aging in 11 types of barrels, yielding a smooth, luxurious taste. Served neat or on the rocks, its bold...

This is Woodinville’s 6 year old bourbon finished in the distillery’s experimental Warehouse 1 for an undisclosed time in extra añejo tequila barrels. The nose is woody and ashy, carrying tobacco leaf and campfire notes; that tequila wood is even more palpable on the palate, though red fruit and caramel poke through. The finish is a bright spot, bringing out espresso bean and choco- late, but the tequila finish is never quite present; if anything, it simply manifests as more...

Ever find yourself in a whisky cocktail rut or too settled into the comfort zone of the familiar Old Fashioned and Manhattan? There's an easy way to break free: substitute a different spirit in place of whisky and see how it tastes. It may seem sacrilegious, but many bartenders are experimenting this way—and the results are delicious.“We stand in front of walls of liquor every day with some bottles that hardly get touched. It's a matter of time before a bartender wonders what something would taste like with another ingredient,” says Michael Toscano, head bartender at Dante in New York City. “Sometimes you're just curious. It can also be a fun challenge to work with ingredients you don't use very often.” While not every experiment is a hit, many times the mad scientist approach of mixing and matching leads to cocktails that rival the original.To mix it up at home, there aren't many hard and fast rules. Robert Freeman, bar consultant in Savannah, Georgia suggests dipping your...

With the wealth of distilleries now on stream across the country, distillers are tasked with not just making whiskey, but with setting themselves apart from the wide crop of competition as well. For some, this has translated to more experimental cask finishing that goes beyond the use of unspecified red wine barrels or the like. Take Coalition Whiskey in Crestwood, Kentucky. The distillery's focus is on 100% rye whiskey finished in wine barriques from across Bordeaux—specifically, barrels sourced from Margaux, Pauillac, and Sauternes. Up in Clarence, New York, Three Chord's latest bourbon is finished in Pinot Noir casks from Strange Family Vineyards, which is based in the Sta. Rita Hills AVA.Finishing in wine barrels is just the tip of the iceberg these days. Barrell's blenders finished their newest whiskey in not one but three different barrels, which previously held rum, madeira, and apricot brandy. Tequila barrel finishes are also on the rise, with Sagamore Spirit coming out with...

High West Distillery and Casa Noble are joining forces for a groundbreaking release. Known as The Noble Share, this collaboration features a blend of straight rye whiskeys aged 4-10 years old, finished in Marques de Casa Noble añejo barrels.
Utah-based High West Distillery has earned a reputation as an industry leader for its meticulous approach to blending, resulting in products that surpass the sum of their parts. Casa Noble, a legendary tequila producer, traces its heritage through seven generations of maestro tequileros to a distillery located just outside the town of Tequila, Jalisco.

Pepe Hermosillo, Casa Noble Founder & Maestro Tequilero, shared “This collaboration between Casa Noble and High West is a true celebration of craftsmanship and tradition, where the bold, botanical spice of High West rye meets the refined elegance of Casa Noble’s Marques Añejo French Oak barrels. Together, we’ve created something exceptional...

There are just a few whiskeys included among this week’s new rollouts, but those comprise some of the most highly anticipated bourbons on the market. Booker’s leads the way with its first batch of the year, while we also have a new release of Michter’s 10 year old bourbon, and the 11th annual release from Blood Oath. New Riff, meanwhile, has its very limited bourbon and rye labels, both under the Silver Grove name, available at the distillery’s gift shop only, with a portion of sales going to a local charity in nearby Silver Grove, Kentucky. Also new are a double oak bourbon from Buzzard's Roost, and two offerings from the World Whiskey Society.
 
Booker’s “Barry’s Batch” Bourbon (Batch 2025-01)
ABV: 62.85%
SRP: $100
Availability: Limited
The first Booker’s batch of the year has arrived. Named in honor of Barry Berish, a former Jim Beam chairman and CEO (and dear friend of master...

Your dad has enough ties, novelty T-shirts, coffee mugs, and socks. Upgrade your gifting game and get him something that will replace a forced smile with a wide grin: a wonderful bottle. Whether he’s a seasoned sipper or a whisky neophyte, we’ve selected 12 standout spirits ranging from special scotch single malts to cult-favorite bourbons to accessible, underrated ryes—and a few exceptional whisky-adjacent options—all guaranteed to earn you favorite-child status. Here’s hoping whatever you buy him, Dad will crack the bottle and pour a glass for you, too.  
93 points - Yamazaki 12 year old Japanese single malt, 43%, $150
A mainstay among the best Japanese whiskies for good reason. This single malt whisky matures in three types of barrels: bourbon, oloroso sherry, and mizunara oak. The resulting liquid is floral, light, complex, and balanced. It’s pleasing, sip after sip.
92 points - Bowmore 15 year old scotch single malt, 43%...

When it comes to making whiskey cocktails, people often go straight to bourbon or rye—and indeed, many classic recipes were invented with these styles in mind. Irish whiskey may not have the storied cocktail history of its American counterparts, but it’s just as mixable with a wide variety of ingredients and worthy of the spotlight in the cocktail realm.
Patrick McGoldrick, beverage director at Afterbar in Chicago, believes that Irish whiskey is one of the most essential and versatile spirits in the world. “It’s incredibly accessible to novices and whisky veterans with its smooth and balanced sweetness,” he says. “This makes it a wonderful choice for both sour-style drinks as well as spirit-forward ones.”
Irish whiskey in fact offers something for every type of whisky drinker: It shares similarities with scotch due to the malted barley in its mashbill, but its lack of big, bold smokiness in favor of subtler sweet and fruity qualities...

This article was originally published in December 2019. COVID-related restrictions may affect some of the opening times and offerings of these venues, so check in advance of a visit.Blessed with great weather and equally impressive scenery, Scottsdale anchors the “Valley of the Sun,” a sprawling jigsaw puzzle of Arizona municipalities including Tempe, Phoenix, Cave Creek, Paradise Valley, Mesa, and more. The region's heart and soul is Old Town Scottsdale, a walkable neighborhood full of restaurants, bars, shops, and Old West flair that is also home to one of baseball's top spring training facilities. Along with the adjacent Fashion Square mall area, it forms the regional downtown.Radiating out from this center in every direction is an impressive array of large resort hotels, including many that cater to golf, a key driver of tourism. Scottsdale is among the top warm-weather golf destinations in the world and the epicenter of the stunning course style known as desert golf. With...

On a snowy day in November 2020, John McKee—founder of Headframe Spirits in Butte, Montana—reached out to a group of his closest friends in craft distilling, who collectively call themselves the Good Guys. After months of isolation and social distancing, canceled events, and continuous disruptions to daily life, he missed seeing his fellow distillers, and he wanted to do something about it. So he sent a message to the group conveying exactly that, and within minutes, a conversation took hold and an idea was born. Under the name Good Deeds Spirits, the Good Guys would make a new whiskey—a blend of craft American single malts—and it would have a purpose. All proceeds would benefit the American Craft Spirits Association's (ACSA) Spirits Training Entrepreneurship Program for Underrepresented Professionals (STEPUP) Foundation, a diversity and inclusion initiative.Nine distillers, all members of the Good Guys, contributed whiskey for the project. Among them is Paul Hletko, founder...

This virtual tasting features two innovative tequilas from Avión that display how this prestige brand uses advanced aging techniques to create rich, flavorful tequilas that are redolent of the finest whiskies, while still showcasing the inherent qualities of finely roasted, hand-harvested Mexican agave. Featuring special guest, global advocacy manager Carlos Andres Ramirez, who will lead everyone through the night’s tasting.Avión Reserva 44Aged for 36 months in ex-bourbon barrels, this extra añejo tequila offers the aroma of roasted agave with hints of warm vanilla and spice.  The color of a fine single malt scotch, Reserva 44 is likewise meant to be sip and savored neat or on ice, which will unlock a complex infusion of ripe, luscious fruits underscored by fragrant American oak.Avión Reserva CristalinoThe rare tequila that will appeal to both blanco and añejo drinkers, this blend of both añejo and extra añejo undergoes a...

With the calendar turning a new page, there are plenty of new whiskies too.First up, Buffalo Trace has bottled a single barrel of Col. E.H. Taylor, Jr. bourbon in honor of the 124th anniversary of the Bottled in Bond Act and benefiting the nonprofit Outlaw State of Kind, which was founded by musician Chris Stapleton. There are less than 100 bottles available, with the first ones auctioned through Charitybuzz.A new blended Irish whiskey is hitting shores in not just bottles, but cans too. Two Stacks comes in 4-packs of 100 ml cans for $19, as well as a traditional 750 ml bottle ($40). There's also a cask-strength version called Blender's Cut for $60.Old Elk is debuting Sour Mash Reserve straight bourbon. Priced at $90, there are just over 5,000 bottles available in the first batch.Sagamore Spirit is rolling out its latest Distiller's Select rye, finished in tequila casks. The limited-edition whiskey is $69.Proof and Wood has partnered with bar owner Rob Morton to release Idle Hands...

Few things pair better than a good book and a good whisky—and best of all is when the book is about whisky. There are several new whisky books out now, ready to be perused alongside a good dram. Pour a glass, settle into your favorite chair, and get lost in the pages.Crack the Spine of These Five New Whisky Books
The Complete Whiskey Course: A Comprehensive Tasting School in Ten ClassesBy Robin Robinson ($28)Whisky educator Robin Robinson sets out to demystify the spirit in this book that takes the form of a comprehensive “tasting school,” with ten classes that transport readers to the far-flung corners of the booming whisky world. The heavily illustrated tome delves into whisky history, including the evolution of distillation in different countries and regions; the many styles of whisky and their production methods; and sensory appreciation of whisky—how to nose and taste. Each chapter offers a guided tour through the traditions of major whisky-producing countries...

Are you ready for scotch finished in mezcal casks? That, and a whole spectrum of other new whiskies, could be on the horizon as the UK has amended certain parts of the Scotch Whisky Technical File, which dictates the processes and materials allowed in scotch production. No other whisky style in the world is as tightly regulated as scotch, so a change like this is a notable event.The new rules deal with the types of casks permitted for maturing scotch whisky, making certain criteria more explicit than before. Previously, there was no specific language about permitted cask types beyond regulations indicating material (oak) and size (no more than 700 liters), as well as a note that “most casks will previously have been used to mature other alcoholic beverages” with bourbon being the most prevalent, followed by sherry.The amendment reads as follows:“The spirit must be matured in new oak casks and/or in oak casks which have only been used to mature wine (still or fortified) and/or...

Most people know that tequila and mezcal are both crafted from agave. Beyond that, the well of knowledge usually runs dry. A few pointers on the differences between these two types of spirits will help enhance your appreciation of mezcal, Mexico’s once-forgotten agave spirit whose popularity is now blooming.
Regulations require that only blue Weber agave be used for tequila. Around 30 varieties can be used for mezcal, but there are just a handful that are typically used. The denominations of origin for each also specify different Mexican states where they can legally be grown. So although these two spirits are both agave-based, the differences are significant.
Once the agave has been harvested and the leaves removed to reveal the pine cone-shaped heart or piña, it’s cooked and crushed to convert its starches into more readily fermentable sugars. The piña for tequila is typically cooked in steam, whereas for mezcal it is buried and cooked using wood...

On November 14th the New York Marriott Marquis transforms into whisky paradise—and you're invited. WhiskyFest New York is the not-to-be-missed event for everyone who enjoys whisky and other fine spirits. Whether you’re an expert, a fan looking to expand your horizons, or simply starting your whisky journey, WhiskyFest is the place to be. Admission includes access to hundreds of whiskies and other spirits, as well as a Glencairn tasting glass, gourmet buffet, and more.
Plan ahead for an evening that will enrich your tasting experience. Start by visiting the WhiskyFest website to view a selection of whiskies to be poured—and check back often as it’s updated regularly. You’ll find brands you know and likely some favorites, but don’t overlook those you’ve not heard of before. Remember, this night is an opportunity to learn more about your favorites, but also to discover new. Make a priority list of the brands you want to taste, and leave some...

Jack Daniel's announced the launch of Tennessee Apple this week, if you like flavored whiskey—but if you prefer the unadulterated stuff, there are plenty of great options from Scotland, Kentucky, and elsewhere, all rolling out now.First up, there's a half-century scotch at a remarkably fair price, all things considered. There are 125 decanters of Benromach 50 year old available, priced at $10,000 each.Much more affordable, but no less exciting, Ardbeg is bringing back its super-peaty Supernova for the fifth time. Limited quantities are available at $180; expect it to sell fast.More limited-edition peaty goodness is coming from Bruichladdich, which is releasing the tenth Octomore series. Four different Octomores of varying ages and availabilities are hitting shelves, priced at $190 to $250.Booker's is rolling out its third release for this year. Booker's 2019-03 "Country Ham" is, as always, available in limited amounts, with a recommended price of $80.Sagamore Spirit has a cognac...

Happy 4th of July! Like us, you’re probably looking forward to a few celebratory days that include grilling, great drinks, and good company. We have some favorite summertime whiskies to suggest as well as the ideal whisky pairings for barbecue and grilled meats and vegetables. If you're hosting a party, here's some useful equipment that will make your life easier, and for the beach crowd and the partygoers among us, consider tossing one of these ready-to-drink cocktails into your bag to crank up the fun this weekend.
As far as new whisky goes, Redbreast debuts the first expression in its new American Oak series; Jack Daniel's  is releasing its highest proof whiskey to date; and Michter's is back with its beloved 10 year old rye. Read on for full details.

Redbreast Kentucky Oak Edition
Style: Single pot still Origin: IrelandAge: Not statedABV: 50.5%Price: $96Release: June 2022Availability: U.S. exclusive; limited release
Need to know:
Redbreast is...

Graeme McDowell, the PGA Tour pro from Northern Ireland, has been around whisky his entire life, growing up in Portrush, six miles from Bushmills Distillery. As a young adult, McDowell was more of a beer fan, but his travels as a tour pro offered the chance to try a variety of whiskies, sending him down a path that started with blended scotch and has led to a fascination with American and Irish whiskeys. “I probably didn’t get into drinking whisky myself until I was in my 20s,” he said. “Johnnie Walker Blue was probably my first real foray down the whisky route, and I started to fall in love with the flavors.”
Though McDowell names Blue Label as the first whisky that really grabbed him, his history with blended scotch stretches back well before he was of age. “My dad’s sister married a Scottish guy who worked for Chivas Brothers,” he said. “We’d spend a lot of time up in the Northeast of Scotland in a little town called...

The whisky scene was abuzz this week about the story of Mary Dowling, and the release of two whiskeys bearing her name. Dowling (1859-1930) was a distillery owner, entrepreneur, accused bootlegger, and all-around brilliant businesswoman with one of the most remarkable careers in whisky history (see below). She's perhaps best noted for relocating her entire distilling operation down to Juarez, Mexico during the Prohibition years, outsmarting the law and her competitors. Rabbit Hole founder Kaveh Zamanian of Louisville has created two whiskeys under the Mary Dowling name to honor her legacy. While the announcement is not quite accurate in saying that Dowling's story has never been told—she was featured in Fred Minnick's 2013 book Whiskey Women, among other places—dedicating whiskeys to her name is a home run of an idea. We haven't tasted the whiskeys yet, and we certainly hope they...

Watch a film that Aaron Sorkin wrote or directed and you're likely to catch some snappy dialogue: political figures intensely discussing their next move or power players orchestrating a way to get ahead. Oftentimes, these back-room deals and strategy sessions are accompanied by whisky. Sorkin uses the drink to signify an agreement reached or to illustrate the corruptible nature of political systems.Whether it's lawyers drawing up a defense in “A Few Good Men,” or a CIA operative courting a congressman in “Charlie Wilson's War,” for Sorkin, whisky is an essential part of the process. It is a tool used to bond and broker, or one used to signify status and the ways in which a person can climb the social ladder. In “Molly's Game,” Molly (Jessica Chastain) establishes herself in the world of illicit poker, assembling a top-shelf bar for her high-roller clientele that includes Macallan 18 year old. In “The Social Network,” Eduardo (Andrew Garfield) hopes to gain entry into...

While we may look to distillers and blenders first and foremost for the whiskies they’re making us, have you ever wondered what they’re drinking when they’re off the clock? We asked 10 whisky makers for their favorite whiskies (with the single stipulation that it couldn’t be a whisky they themselves had a hand in making), as well as for their favorite non-whisky drinks. Their answers shine light on all sorts of whisky styles and non-whisky drinks, though you’ll see a handful of shared answers, too. Who knows, one of their favorites might just inspire you to try something new next time you’re out at a bar, restaurant, or liquor store.
Who: Dr. Bill Lumsden, director of distilling and whisky creation, Glenmorangie and Ardbeg
Favorite whisky: “It’d have to be The Balvenie Founder’s Reserve; I think it was a 10 year old when I first tried it, and it was the second single malt scotch I ever tasted after...

In order to bag a rare bourbon, Ricky Nash endured ridicule. The Georgia native walked into liquor stores and asked for “Elmer T. Lee.” The store associates laughed. He asked for “Pappy,” and they teased the whiskey enthusiast like he was stalking a unicorn.Nash tracked Internet rumors and the online secondary market, drove across several states, and looked inside more than two dozen liquor stores in search of any limited edition or hard-to-find bourbon. Then, one day in late November, it happened. He stepped inside one of the stores he'd been eyeing and there was the entire Van Winkle line, ranging from the 23 year old for $2,900 to the 10 year old for $400. After negotiating it down to $350, Nash finally owned 10 year old Old Rip Van Winkle and gleefully commented on a bourbon Facebook group, “Today was a good day!! My first bottle of ORVW10!!!.”He shopped, he scored.Like many whiskey lovers, Nash realized it's much more difficult to buy limited edition bourbon now than...

For Allen Lancaster's Sombrero Rosado—a spin on the 1930s-era Brown Derby, comprised of bourbon, grapefruit, and honey—the master cocktail craftsman at The Bar at The Spectator Hotel in Charleston, South Carolina, recommends a reposado or añejo tequila that has a similar barrel-aged structure to whiskey. The addition of grapefruit liqueur and cinnamon play well with tequila, yielding a bright, lively cocktail with warm back notes.
INGREDIENTS

1½ oz. Casamigos Añejo (or other aged tequila)
1½ oz. fresh pink grapefruit juice
½ oz. Giffard Crème de Pamplemousse liqueur
½ oz. cinnamon-honey syrup (recipe below)
Garnish: grapefruit twist around cinnamon stick

DIRECTIONS
Combine all ingredients into shaker tin, add ice, and shake vigorously. Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with grapefruit twist around cinnamon stick.
How to Make Cinnamon-Honey Syrup

1 cup water
6...

Whether you’re a fan of neat bourbon or scotch on the rocks, there’s a great whiskey (or whisky) cocktail you’ll love. We’ve got variations on classics including the Old Fashioned, Sazarac, Manhattan, Irish Coffee, this spin on the Rob Roy, and more, plus newer cocktails, like this Paper Plane makeover. 
Whether your whiskey preference is bourbon, rye, Irish, scotch, Japanese, or a world whisky, there’s something on our list for every palate. There are plenty of options for refreshing summer whisky drinks as well as fireside sippers and cocktails that are perfect for the holidays or winter months when you want to warm up with whiskey. Looking for special occasion whiskies? We have you covered with suggestions for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and beyond. Or check out these entertaining with whisky ideas.
Our list spans the flavor gamut, too, with options for those who like cocktails sweet or floral to spicy and complex...

Made with 10% of the mashbill’s malted barley peated at the Texas distillery using Irish peat, aged in Andalusia’s Stryker barrels for 2 years and 6 months, then finished in añejo tequila casks for 6 months. Tiramisu and more dessert sweetness on the nose, with whiffs of smoke and earthiness. Hot and spicy on the palate, and water brings out sweet notes of candied cherries and lime. Good honeyed texture, nice and spicy, yet somewhat lacking in balance. 

The Fall release from Old Fitzgerald is out: it's just a week before the start of winter, but these Old Fitz releases are nearly always worth the wait. Woodford Reserve, meanwhile, offers a second Batch Proof release this year, while Penelope has a new rum barrel finished expression. Still Austin, fresh off being named the No. 7 whisky of the year in Whisky Advocate’s Top 20 rankings for 2024, joins an increasingly crowded cigar blend market with its new Still Austin Tanager. Hidden Barn, the work of former Old Forester master taster Jackie Zykan, has a new expression, while Chattanooga offers the 2024 edition of its Vault Series. And in the spirit of the holidays, Good Deed Spirits is back with a new blended whiskey whose proceeds will all be donated.
Woodford Reserve Batch Proof Bourbon (2024 Edition)
ABV: 59.75%
SRP: $150
Availability: Limited
Thanks to Woodford Reserve’s fiscal calendar, which ends in May, we’re being treated...

For centuries, the Old Fashioned has remained a staple at bars around the world. “It is literally the definitive cocktail,” says Sam Treadway, owner of Backbar in Somerville, Massachusetts. “Once upon a time, the word ‘cocktail' meant specifically this one drink.” As trendy, newer cocktails were invented, it became known as the “Old Fashioned cocktail.”
Will Benedetto, opening beverage director and bar consultant at The Fox Bar & Cocktail Club in Nashville, says the Old Fashioned is highly versatile with whiskey—and beyond. “Any spirit—any worth drinking—can be made into an enlightening Old Fashioned,” he says.
It's doubtful that the elaborate craft cocktails of today will be remembered in a century. But owing to its short list of common ingredients and simplicity, the Old Fashioned endures.
How to Make an Old Fashioned

1 sugar cube or ½ tsp. sugar
2 dashes Angostura...

While no one would argue that simply getting a group together to sample and enjoy whiskies is a bad time, adding a focus can make it a much better time. Fresh, fun ideas will give your club's next tasting a clear focal point, and ensure everyone has a blast.“
The easiest and most common is for us to rally around a specific distillery,” says Josh Peters, a longtime member of several Los Angeles-area clubs, like Malt Nuts and the Southern California Whiskey Club (SCWC). And while there's no shortage of distilleries, he finds that slightly more “out there” tasting themes offer a welcome change of pace. Peters says core club members bounce ideas back and forth throughout the year to come up with creative and educational programming that brings whisky to life in new ways.
“When we have clear, interesting themes we sell out the events in under 24 hours,” he notes. “When the theme is a bit ambiguous or too similar to something we've done...

While there’s a plentiful crop of new whiskies out this week, news of Jim Beam’s Fred B. Noe Distillery opening means that Beam will be able to experiment more freely, as the new facility will be a place for distiller Freddie Noe to work on his Little Book releases and additional projects, including an American single malt. Learn more about Beam’s new Clermont, Kentucky distillery and find out what Freddie has planned for the future.As for whiskies on shelves right now (or coming relatively soon), Metallica-owned Blackened has teamed up with Willett Distillery on a rye finished in madeira casks, Four Roses has released details on its 2021 Limited Edition Small Batch, and Barrell has a new 15 year old Gray Label bourbon. Read on for full details.Blackened x Willett Kentucky Straight RyeStyle: Finished rye
Origin: Kentucky
Age: Not stated
ABV: 54.8%
Price: $140
Release: August 2021
Availability: LimitedNeed to know:This is the first release in Blackened’s Masters of...

Plenty of whisky brands choose certain causes to support or celebrate, and Evan Williams is no different: Ahead of Memorial Day Weekend, the brand has announced its latest class of American-Made Heroes to be featured on limited edition bottles. Six men and women are in this year's class of Heroes. Originally launched in 2015, the program has recognized 48 veterans on its American Hero bottles and donated $450,000 to veteran-focused non-profits across the country.Elsewhere, there are all sorts of new whiskies to try. At the Fred B. Noe Distillery, a series of experimental whiskeys called Hardin's Creek has debuted; Australia's Starward has launched a new single malt matured in shiraz casks; and Yamazaki has a slew of new non-age statement whiskies. Read on for full details.

Hardin’s Creek Colonel James B. Beam
Style: Straight bourbonOrigin: KentuckyAge: 2 year oldABV: 54%Price: $80Release: July 1, 2022Availability: Limited

Hardin’s Creek Jacob’s...

The stream of new imported whisky arrivals has slowed to a trickle as we move to the end of the year, but we have a few items of note. Bushmills, which has been channeling its creative side over the past several years, offers its new Private Reserve Series, a group of four different whiskeys, each finished with different casks—tequila, plum, Burgundy, and Bordeaux. Despite its somewhat daunting name, the Private Reserve Series is meant as a more affordable option than the ultra-aged Bushmills cask-finished releases, with prices for these whiskeys ranging between $60 and $75. Elsewhere, High N’ Wicked, the importer and independent bottler led by former Brown-Forman International executive and Brown family scion W.L. Lyons Brown III and Kevin Sachs, has a new single grain whiskey from Ireland. Read on.
Bushmills Private Reserve Series
Bushmills 10 year old Plum Cask Finish
Style: Single malt
Origin: Ireland
Age: 10 year old
ABV...

This week's new releases see several whisky makers take familiar concepts and flip them on their heads. First up is Woodford, which has reinvented its Chocolate Malt Whisper bourbon into a whiskey that, at 69.7% ABV, is the highest-proof expression it has ever released. Elsewhere in Kentucky, Peerless has taken two whiskeys it’s executed well in the past—rye and toasted barrel—and combined them for its first toasted barrel-finished rye. Frey Ranch is also bringing something fresh to the table with the introduction of a whiskey made entirely from unmalted barley. Overseas, Bushmills has had its hands full with cask finishes, while Macallan has debuted the 8th release in its nostalgia-evoking Archival Series. 
Woodford Reserve Chocolate Whisper Redux 139.4 Bourbon
ABV: 69.7%
SRP: $100/375 ml
Availability: Limited; woodfordreserve.com, distillery tasting room, and KY
To understand this new Woodford whiskey, we must first look back to 2021...

Auctions in the first week of August indicated a stronger trend than in July. Topping the performance list was Grand Whisky Auction, which delivered the highest hammer price so far this month with a bottle of Macallan The Red Collection 60 year old, selling for $72,192. This is only the second such bottle to sell at auction in 2025. Still, it represents a 24% drop in value over the six months since it set the highest hammer price of the month in February.
A Sotheby’s sale in New York featured the first opportunity to bid on bottles of I.W. Harper 34 year old. A lot containing WhistlePig The Boss Hog editions I–X fetched a hammer price of $19,000 and saved one lucky collector the effort of tracking down each edition individually. A bottle of Stewart Pure Rye 1898 made a hammer price of $5,500; these simply labelled bottles from Stewart Distilling Co., Philadelphia surface occasionally. Look out for the company name on bottles of Carstairs whiskey. Old MacBrayer 17 year...

Single malt scotch drinkers, it's your day: The latest Diageo Special Releases have been unveiled, and aside from a 26 year old Lagavulin, they're remarkably accessible, coming in at $250 or less. As with previous iterations, this year's collection—called Legends Untold—was curated by Diageo master blender Craig Wilson and includes eight whiskies in total.It's an abundant week for American whiskey lovers, too, with new bourbons from Wild Turkey and Woodford Reserve, the latest edition of High West's A Midwinter Night's Dram, and a cask strength single malt from Westward Whiskey. Read on for full details.

Wild Turkey Master's Keep One
Style: Straight bourbon
Origin: Kentucky
Age: Not stated
ABV: 50.5%
SRP: $175
Release: October 2021
Availability: Limited
Need to know:
Master’s Keep One is the sixth release in Wild Turkey's limited edition Master’s Keep series. This one blends 8 to 10 year old bourbon with 14...

It's the night of WhiskyFest Chicago. The ballroom is brimming with hundreds of whiskies for sampling and the excited whisky lovers who adore them. But one group of attendees seems to be having the most fun of all. Adorned in matching navy blazers embellished with their club patch, and sporting fur pelts draped around their shoulders, Illinois's own Whiskey Wolf Pack is chatting with distillers, clinking glasses with presenters, posing for photos, and generally owning the room.
Don't mistake this dashing whisky club's gregariousness for indiscriminate imbibing. These guys know good whisky. The Wolf Pack first came together in 2016 as a way to pool their cash and obtain the bottles they might not otherwise afford on their own, according to vice president and current treasurer Robert Pagel. (Lest you wonder where his whisky fondness lies, he gave his son the middle name “Macallan.”)
“When we were younger, dropping a hundred dollars on a bottle was a big thing...

The biggest news of the week was the reveal of Whisky Advocate's Whisky of the Year and full Top 20 awards—a list that has something for everyone. Be sure to check it out! And then keep reading to discover the week's newest whiskies.First up, Balvenie has crafted a new 50 year old single malt, priced at $38,000. Just 110 bottles are available worldwide.Compass Box is rolling out its Myths & Legends trio in the U.S. The series includes two single malts and one blended malt scotch, all priced at $150 apiece; availability is around 4,400 bottles of each variant.Clyde May's is re-releasing its cask-strength expression with an added year of age. There are 3,000 bottles of Clyde May's 11 year old Cask Strength, priced at $120.Royal Salute has debuted a blended grain whisky, the Snow Polo Edition. It's available at travel retail for $155.High West is launching a single malt whiskey (sort of) that's all made in-house. Initially for sale in Utah for $80, it will go national in 2021.Wigle...

New month, new whisky!Woodford Reserve is rolling out its special Kentucky Derby bottle ($50 for 1 liter) ahead of the big race on May 2. The label features a watercolor by Louisville artist and former Atlanta Braves baseball player Richard Sullivan that depicts horses racing toward the finish line at Churchill Downs.Bulleit has unveiled Blenders' Select No. 001, the first in a series of planned limited-edition releases crafted by the distillery's blending team; this one was created by Eboni Major. The straight bourbon is $50, available in limited amounts.Johnnie Walker has reintroduced Jane Walker as a new blended malt, rather than simply repackaging Johnnie Walker Black with a special label. The limited-edition whisky is $38 and available nationwide.Dewar's is launching Ilegal Smooth, an 8 year old blended scotch finished in Ilegal mezcal casks. The whisky is widely available for $22.Redbreast has added a 27 year old single pot still whiskey to its permanent range. It's available...

You should never underestimate the power of a strong finish, as these whiskies from the Spring 2020 Buying Guide prove. Where sherry, port, and madeira cask finishes have dominated the world of scotch, American and Irish whiskeys are getting in on the trend as distillers experiment with new types of wood, finishing length, and barrels that previously held a different spirit altogether.As the world of finishing has expanded, so too has our Buying Guide categorization. The new release of Angel's Envy Cask Strength Port Barrel-Finished (93 points) is not classified as bourbon by the distillery in its filing with federal regulators (our feature on “whiskey imposters” in the Spring issue explains why). However, the flavor profile of this whiskey—a bourbon finished in port barrels—clearly appeals to bourbon drinkers. We've decided to group these “finished bourbons” with traditional bourbon in the Buying Guide for that reason.Not all of these finished whiskies are bourbons, but...

Want to buy a $20 single malt scotch? Good luck. Desire a quality $30 Cognac? Yeah, right. Even vodka, which can be made in an instant, places its premium products north of $30. Fortunately, we do not need to settle for cheap beer or two-dollar jug wine. Hope awaits us penny-pinching spirits lovers: sitting in new charred oak barrels, resting in Kentucky rickhouses are copious amounts of delicious bourbon that will be bottled in the $9 to $30 range, delivering plenty of satisfying flavor, while still leaving some coin in our pockets.The recent interest in bourbon has priced once-hidden gems like Elijah Craig 18 year old out of the everyday drinking conversation for many of us. Lavish media attention made others, like Pappy Van Winkle, nearly impossible to find, but the bourbon standbys that so often go unappreciated are waiting on the shelves to offer solace.The Best Bourbons for $20 or LessJust ask Ernie Smith, a western Massachusetts resident who's been drinking bourbon so long his...

With much of the world practicing social distancing to prevent the spread of coronavirus, many daily habits have changed, from commuting to childcare to mealtimes. Whisky lovers, too, are adapting to the new order by converting in-person tastings to virtual meetups, and visiting distilleries digitally rather than actually traveling there. The ongoing isolation is giving every drinker a chance to kick half-consumed bottles, revisit comforting old favorites, and even pull down the special stuff—because if not now, when?It's just the same with whisky professionals, many of whom—when not making hand sanitizer or high-proof ethanol to use in sanitizing products—are working from home or have found their schedules adjusted to reduce contact with colleagues. Ashok Chokalingam, master distiller at India's Amrut, has been trying to finish off bottles, including high-end releases like Greedy Angels and Spectrum, matured in a one-of-a-kind hybrid cask. But he's not limiting his drams to...

The pinnacle of being a great host includes enjoying yourself as a guest, according to Aarón Sánchez, a judge on FOX's “MasterChef” and chef and owner of Johnny Sánchez in New Orleans. “A great host visits with everybody,” says Sánchez. “Spend time with the people you've invited.” At a dinner party in New York City's Lower East Side, Sánchez spends as much time outside the kitchen as possible, frequently emerging to share photos and stories of his French bulldog, Moose.We spoke with the celebrity chef about the art of effortless entertaining, from building a guest list to cooking with whisky. “We live in New Orleans,” the MasterChef judge says, “so we're kind of professionals at throwing parties.”Mix It UpInvite friends from different circles, adding new faces to an otherwise familiar crowd. “It's good to have an artist and a chef next to a financial banker. That really makes for an interesting time,” Sánchez says. Sometimes a theme or dress code can be a...

Chip Tate played a pivotal role in shaping the craft whiskey scene, especially in American single malt. As the founder of Texas-based Balcones Distillery, where he worked from 2008-2014, Tate produced many American single malts—the distillery's flagship Lineage (Batch SML20-2) went on to earn a place on our Top 20 list of 2020 with a score of 91 points. Nowadays Tate is busy developing the new spirits portfolio at Foley Family Wines & Spirits, but still also finds time to make whiskies elsewhere. Thanks to a collaboration with rare whisky purveyor World Whiskey Society (WWS), Tate recently made his first foray into Japanese whisky, which resulted in a new WWS release called Double Barrel Japanese Single Malt by Chip Tate.
The partnership kicked off late last year when WWS CEO Alex Kogan approached Tate with the idea of doing a project in Japanese whisky. Tate says he had long wanted to work with Japanese liquid, but had never been able to do so...

Suddenly it's quite a time for aged whiskies, at least compared to the past 10 or 15 years. The days of drastic shortages and non-age statement releases have faded as whisky inventories swing back into full supply—and possible oversupply going forward. But putting industry prognostications aside, what we know for sure is that it's all good news for people who appreciate fine whisky, because there are more aged whiskeys that weren't available only a short time ago. Knob Creek is back once again with its 18 year old, while Sagamore has a 7 year old Bottled in Bond, as does Brother's Bond. The most sought-after labels are still offering their best aged expressions in fairly limited fashion, but it's still a noticeable change from previous years, and a great opportunity to try some new—or should we say old—whiskies.
Orphan Barrel Woven Honor 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch 
ABV: 46.3%
SRP: $185

Initially matured in first-fill bourbon barrels, then a 2-year tequila cask finish, the nose is fascinating with zested lime, roasted almond, brown butter, cut grass, cassia bark, roasted agave, vanilla seeds, and a hint of cacao. Milk chocolate and maltiness melt across the palate, with lime juice, agave, green bell pepper, and jalapeño. A finish of Horlicks and chocolate graham crackers. No need to add water. (Florida exclusive; 258 bottles; Release date: 3/25)

The 8-year tequila cask finish used here makes a significant flavor impact that has mellowed over time rather than intensified. The nose has Golden Delicious apple, sliced lime, vanilla sponge, gorse flowers, and a hint of pickle. A rich, thick, velvety texture with sweet notes of vanilla, brown sugar, melon, and lime juice, then hints of green apple, fudge, and herbal notes that lead to a caramel sauce finish. (Release date: 2/25)

For this single malt, Smokehead took its flagship whisky and finished it in tequila casks for 6 months. That agave influence isn’t immediately apparent, as the nose is dominated by yeasty aromas, stone fruit, graham cracker crust, lemon-coated apple, and of course, tendrils of peat smoke. The palate is pleasant, if a bit thin, with notes of lemon meringue, black pepper, and berries. There’s not an ounce of heat on the finish, but it’s honeyed and perfectly sippable, especially for those who might be scared of a peated whisky with...

Barrel aging is a crucial part of whisky making—it gives the spirit its color and adds a greater depth of flavor over time. Some styles even mandate the type of barrel or vessel used to age the whiskey. Bourbon, for example, is legally required to be placed in a new charred oak container meaning that once a barrel has been emptied, it can never be used to make bourbon again. So what happens to those barrels? They can be used to aged other types of whiskey like American single malt, or other types of spirits like gin, rum, or cognac.Bourbon barrel aging can give these other spirits, and wine as well, an added dimension, as the oak likewise imparts color, but also flavors left behind from the whiskey. Taste that influence for yourself with these 10 bottles that offer something for whisky lovers looking to branch our into other spirits, and fans of those spirits looking to develop a taste for oak.10 bourbon barrel-Aged spirits and wines to try nowDon Papa 10 year old Rum—43%, $70This...

A family recipe perfected over generations, with hand-selected fully-matured agave, to ensure a better-tasting, smoother tequila. This tequila never touches a barrel so that the rich flavor of agave can be appreciated.  With a nose of sweet citrus and mint, and a palate featuring crisp, clean notes of agave and white pepper, it offers a smooth finish that's perfect for sipping or mixing

We regularly cover new whiskies here at Whisky Advocate, but with some bottlings, we delve just a little deeper. This week, for instance, there are two new projects in the mix: a single barrel Empire rye from New York Distilling made exclusively for the Brooklyn-based Wythe Hotel, and an entirely new brand from master blender Dixon Dedman. The Empire rye is a celebration of Brooklyn's rich distilling and cocktailing cultures, which both have been reborn in the past decade, while Dixon Dedman's release marks an exciting new chapter for this acclaimed Kentucky blender, who's best known for reviving Kentucky Owl back in 2014.
Of course, there are plenty of additional whiskies to present this week. Michter's is back with the latest edition of its highly coveted 10 year old Rye, Nikka returns with an age-statement Japanese single malt, and Nelson Green Brier sweetens its range with a bourbon finished in a honey-coated cask. Read on for full details.
Michter’s 10...

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” The same might be said of buying whisky. As barely a month passes without a whisky setting a new record auction price, it would be easy to think it's too late to join the party. It doesn't help that there's always some curmudgeon around boasting of the good ol' days, when fine bottles of whisky were affordable and could be picked up off the store shelf. Times may have changed, but there's no point in thinking about what could have been. With some perseverance and a smart approach you can acquire the bottles you desire. Whether you are a longtime collector or just starting out, the best time to start shopping is today.The Joy of CollectingWhisky connoisseurship begins with your first sip and propels you through life's adventures. Along with the accrual of fine bottles of whisky, you're likely to collect new flavors, knowledge, and like-minded friends. Every collector of whisky is unique; some amass...

Want to add unique flavors to your favorite cocktails without a lot of effort or money? Try making an infused whisky. It's ridiculously easy and instantly transforms the old and familiar into something exciting and new."Whisky is almost an infusion already, because it starts off as clear spirit and is then essentially infused with wood in the barrel," says Adam Seger, chef and bartender at The Tuck Room LA. “That nice, rich vanilla base opens up a whole host of additional items you can infuse.” Think of Manhattans made with cherry-infused bourbon and orange-infused rye Old Fashioneds—and then think bigger.You can infuse just about any ingredient into whisky. Although fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices are most common, you can also work with butter or even cheese, or fat-wash whisky with smoked ham, cooked bacon, charcuterie, or other meats.Follow These Tips to Start Making Your Own Custom Whisky InfusionsUse High-Proof Whisky"Higher proof is better because it pulls more...

Many writers have found inspiration in a bottle of good whisky: Mark Twain, James Joyce, William Faulkner, Dorothy Parker, and numerous others. Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns, wrote dozens of works that mention or focus on whisky, including “Scotch Drink” and the humorously metaphorical “John Barleycorn.”Joining the literary greats in using the water of life as a muse, Sara Robinson of Charlottesville, Virginia has been writing poetry about whisky for nearly a decade, though she came late to the craft after a career in the chemical and mineral processing industry. “I was writing articles in technical journals,” she says. “You can imagine how ‘dry' that writing was…[During those years] I got introduced to really good scotches [and] I discovered a fascination [similar to that of] wine drinkers for developing a sophisticated palate. It became really intriguing and interesting to me that there was a real spirit behind the spirit. All of these things I discovered...

The term ‘flipper' sounds so bad,” Paul H* groans after I casually refer to him as such. As the midday sun streams in through his kitchen window, he leans back against a folding table that's overflowing with whiskey-shipping supplies, running a hand through his bed-head hair. “I sell high-end whiskey as a middleman,” he clarifies. My eyes drift to ogle another table full of enviable whiskies—Hirsch Select 25, Sazerac 18, and Hibiki 21 year olds. Paul's makeshift processing center is not what you'd call tidy. Children's books, plastic bags, and crumpled cash fill the occasional voids between the rare bottles packed upon the stained table.[*Several sources for this story spoke on the condition of anonymity. They are indicated by abbreviated surnames.]“But I never feel bad about selling whiskey,” Paul admits. “It's like walking into a store, seeing 10 lotto tickets, one of which is a winner, and taking any of the nine losers. You don't...

Follow Terry Bradshaw, four-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, on Facebook and you're likely to catch one of his many live videos. They are personal diary entries from his ranch and the road, but on one late July day he greeted his followers from inside the O.Z. Tyler rickhouse in Owensboro, Kentucky.
“I'm a nostalgia guy,” Bradshaw tells Whisky Advocate. “You put me in something that's old and ancient and has history behind it, I have a love affair with it.” Bradshaw's trip to O.Z. Tyler (recently renamed Green River Distilling Co.) was as much about business as pleasure: The distillery is the home of his own brand, Bradshaw Bourbon. Launched in February, the straight whiskey has a mashbill of 70% corn, 21% rye, and 9% malted barley, and is proofed to 51.9% ABV, a nod to the quarterback's career completion percentage.
“I've always been a bourbon drinker,” Bradshaw says, noting that he didn't discover his love...

James Bond enjoys himself a drink. Special agent 007 is a worldly man, and when he's not pouring something neat at the end of a long day, he's using drinks to adapt to the many countries and cultures where he is assigned. While he's best known for ordering Martinis—his “shaken not stirred” line synonymous with the character after all these years—Bond's taste in drinks is far from limited. Over the course of 53 years, 24 films, and 6 actors portraying him, Bond uncorks champagne, sips sherry, and winds down with whisky. In Ian Fleming's original books, Bond actually drinks more scotch and soda than Martinis—with scotch just eclipsing the Martini at a rate of 21 to 19.The Bond character is discerning and cultured, whatever the setting or spirit. He drinks Mojitos in Havana, sharing his drink with Jinx (Halle Berry), and telling her, “You should try it.” When he's offered saké in Japan, he remarks that he enjoys the beverage...

Whether looking for a no-nonsense shot-and-beer bar or a fancy joint with a miles-deep whisky menu, a weekend in Philadelphia will provide. The city is eminently walkable, too. From any Center City hotel there are dozens of options for food, drinks, and attractions in one of America's most historic cities. A walk down Broad Street—downtown Philadelphia's main north-south drag—offers views of the city's late-19th century City Hall, the Civil War-era Union League (now a private club), and the city's leading arts venues, like the Kimmel Center and the Academy of Music. And just blocks east or west of Broad Street are some of the city's best places to eat and drink.Staying in Center City is the best option for a mostly walkable trip, with convenient public transit that gives you the widest variety of bars and restaurants to choose from. Whether flying, driving, or taking Amtrak, Center City is a breeze to reach. For accommodations, it's easy to recommend Philadelphia's Loews...

Pat Fallon’s health was rapidly deteriorating when he reached out to Francisco Melendez in 2022.
The 52 year old former Marine was in full kidney failure following a series of medical misfortunes stemming from a lung injury. With dialysis as his lifeline, “The only solution was a new kidney,” Fallon recounts, “but no one I knew was a viable donor.” To amplify his plea, Fallon tapped Melendez, founder of a Texas nonprofit and The Sinner’s Club, a whiskey group on Facebook of which Fallon was a member.
Melendez raced into action, blasting Fallon’s dire situation to the entire 5,800-member group. Within minutes, a dozen offers to get tested flooded in; within weeks, five had completed the test. One, a bubbly coordinator for an audiologist and part-time bartender named Brittany McCaffety, was a perfect match. “I called Francisco and Pat and said ‘This is happening!’ and we all cried on the call,” McCaffety...

As BuffTurkey barrels dwindle, the frenzy around the various bottlings from non-distilling producers (NDPs) is cooling. (Though some Buffalo Trace and Wild Turkey frankenbourbon remains aging in barrels, expected to be released at 17 or 18 years.) The market seems ready for the next hype train. What will that be? Potentially Barton 18 year old.
Just starting to sell now, Barton 18 year bourbon arrives both as age-stated blends—notably, Calumet 18 year old Centennial Release—and single barrels, selected by clubs, groups or individuals, various NDPs, and some retailers. Early feedback is generally positive, though mixed. One certainty: It’s not cheap. Bottles of Barton 18 start with a suggested retail price of $400, and of course, rise from there. 
Let's dive into what we know about Barton 18, how it was made, what the current market reaction is, what to expect about future Barton 18 releases, and what you should know if you’re looking to buy a...

There was a time in the not-too-distant past when merely asking for an ice cube in your single malt scotch was enough to get you tarred, feathered, and run out of town. Thankfully, the perceived rules have loosened. Drinking scotch, or partaking in any of life's finer pursuits, is today more about deriving pleasure however you darn well please than it is rigidly sticking with yesteryear's mandates. Join the revolution, with a full range of single malt scotch cocktails offering new ways to highlight, showcase, and ultimately enjoy the wondrous world of single malts.The Sanctity of Single MaltsThe perceived sanctity of single malts begins of course with the producers themselves. Many simply believed their scotch was far too good, too precious on its own merits to be wasted in a drink, and strived to create an elitist world outside of cocktails. That is, until it was clear that cocktails were helping to boost the good fortunes of competing categories such as bourbon and rye, and even...

Examine some whiskies from Whisky Advocate's 2017 Top 20. Number 3,Wild Turkey Master's Keep Decades—a mix of bourbons aged between 10 and 20 years—costs $150. Yet number 10,Glen Moray 18 year old, comes in at just $90, while number 15, Kentucky Peerless Straight Rye—a 2 year old craft whiskey—is $125. Meanwhile, Old Rip Van Winkle 25 year old hit the market last year at $1,800, while Michter's Celebration—a 33 year old bourbon—has a recommended retail price of $5,000. They're all whiskies, made from grain and aged in barrels—so why such a massive disparity?How do companies set prices on old, limited, or in-demand whisky? Do they use some algorithm that takes into account age and quantity? Do these prices show the actual cost of production? Or is it just a guessing game by the liquor companies, trying to maximize profit on their rarest offerings?“I don't feel there's a real rhyme or reason to what they do,” says Joseph W. Mollica, chairman of the New Hampshire Liquor...

For years, MGP Distillery has been known as the source of dozens of whiskeys, from Smooth Ambler Old Scout to WhistlePig. The familiar words “Distilled in Indiana” on a bottle's back label denote MGP as the source, even if it's not officially publicized by the particular brand. And while MGP has made forays into offering its own-brand whiskeys under the Rossville Union rye, George Remus bourbon, and Eight & Sand American whiskey labels, progress has been slow. They're only available in some states and—despite reflecting the high quality turned out by the distillery (Remus Repeal Reserve regularly scores above 90 in the Buying Guide)—aren't nearly as well-known as other brands made on the very same stills.But all that could change, as MGP is about to cannonball into the deep end of the national whiskey market. The company announced on Jan. 25 that it would pay $475 million, in cash and stock, to acquire St. Louis-based Luxco, which produces a variety of spirits, from vodka...

Whiskey has a long and rich history on the Emerald Isle, though for most of the 20th century it languished, with just a handful of distilleries in operation. Now, however, Irish whiskey is experiencing a resurgence as new distilleries open, making single pot still and other styles, and yielding an array of liquids for potential blending. “It's a good time to be a whiskey bonder,” said Lousie McGuane, founder of J.J. Corry Irish Whiskey, who joined Whisky Advocate's #TasteWithSpace on Feb. 26. “It wasn't when I started, but it is now.”Irish whiskey bonding—not to be mistaken with the American bottled in bond whiskey—is technically a way of blending which was commonplace in previous centuries and operated similar to the way Scotland's blending tradition evolved. Independent merchants would purchase spirit from different distilleries to age, finish, and blend themselves. “You source whiskey from other sources and you custom-blend it to make your own house style,” McGuane...

The most popular whisky types—scotch, bourbon, rye, and others—dominate the discussion. But there's a world of overlooked whisky styles out there, just waiting to be discovered. They're made with unusual mashbills, barrel finishes, and even creative flavorings. So break out of your comfort zone, and explore the far side of whisky appreciation. Here's our guide for whisky lovers who choose to travel off the beaten path.Drink Me: Rice Whisky From JapanJapanese rice whisky is actually barrel-aged rice shochu—as opposed to unaged shochu that enjoys huge mainstream popularity in Japan—and is mostly produced in the country's southernmost main island of Kyushu. These esoteric whiskies present a fascinating style, not least because their production method is so unusual. “The foundation of rice whisky is the ko-ji kin,” explains Shigeruriku Fukano-san, fifth-generation distiller at Fukano Distillery, a family-run operation in the city of Hitoyoshi on Kyushu...

Can cask-finished bourbon technically still be called bourbon? It's a divisive subject in the world of American whiskey as the regulations specifically state that bourbon can only be matured in “charred new oak containers.” There are some who believe that any time spent in a different barrel immediately disqualifies these whiskeys from being considered bourbons, while a case could also be made that maturation and finishing are separate periods of measurement, with maturation typically lasting years, and finishing lasting only a few months.Here at Whisky Advocate, we saw this growing trend and expanded our Buying Guide categories accordingly, to account for finished bourbons and ryes. We see them as not quite the same but not so different either, that's why you'll see “Bourbon/Finished Bourbon” when you flip to the reviews in the back of the magazine.No matter your stance on the issue, the fact remains that American whiskey makers are just beginning to explore the possibilities...

Food pairings can elevate any drinking experience, whether you are tasting as a group or enjoying a dram on your own. Cheese is a good choice, with a wide array of styles offering a multitude of pairing options. Get started with our guide to matching whisky and cheese and see which combination works best for you.If you're looking for a new whisky to crack open, we have plenty to choose from this week. Old Forester Birthday Bourbon is back, this time with an online lottery; Ross & Squibb unveils the latest batch of its Remus Repeal Reserve series; and Jefferson's adds a new wheated bourbon to its Aged at Sea series. For scotch lovers, Ardbeg is out with the fourth edition of Traigh Bhan, its 19 year old annual release. Meanwhile, for collectors, we also have all the details on the new Littlemill bottling, as the lost Lowland distillery releases its oldest whisky ever. Read on for full details.

Old Forester Birthday Bourbon (2022 Release)
Style: Straight bourbonOrigin...

While blends are often perceived as lesser than other whisky counterparts, there’s no good reason for that stigma. Blenders from around the world are offering expressions that highlight exquisite flavor balance and showcase their remarkable skills, and there are a number of master blenders to champion.
From Scotland, Compass Box creator and whisky maker John Glaser has long led the way with innovative scotch blends. Two of the country’s greatest legacy blenders Dewar’s and Johnnie Walker, have been delivering innovative new releases, some of which scored top marks in our Fall 2022 Buying Guide. Of course, Scotland isn’t the only country offering top-tier blends now. Most of the whiskeys on this list hail from the U.S., where distilleries from around the country are making blends that combine bourbon, rye, and other styles. Read on to discover some of the top-scoring blended whiskies from our Fall 2022 Buying Guide. 
Pour One of...

Singer and songwriter Michael Bublé has become the latest musician to take the plunge into whisky. Named after two rivers in Bublé’s native British Columbia, Fraser & Thompson is a blend of Kentucky bourbon and Canadian whiskies. It was released in partnership with Heaven Hill and drinks incubator WES Brands. 
The Fraser & Thompson blend comprises three whiskies ranging from 3 to 9 years old. The bourbon parcel, which makes up 7% of the overall blend, is sourced from Bardstown, Kentucky’s Heaven Hill Distillery. The distillery is also responsible for blending and bottling the expression. The remainder of the blend is made up of corn, single-grain rye, and two-grain rye Canadian whiskies, which were produced by co-founder and master distiller Paul Cirka, owner of Cirkia Distilleries in Montreal, and Heaven Hill’s Black Velvet Distilling Co. in Lethbridge, Canada.
This is the third spirit to join WES Brands’s portfolio...

The June auction market got off to an impressive start, with a bottle of Yamazaki 55 year old selling at the highest hammer price of the year, thanks to a $200,000 bid at Bonhams Skinner, Massachusetts. Yamazaki’s value has fared well in the current market; the last bottle of this Japanese whisky to sell at a U.S. auction house made $210,200 a year ago. Last year, the three highest hammer prices were all Japanese single malts, and two of them were Yamazaki 55 year old. 
Sotheby’s sold antique spirits this month, the prized collection of Mark Wade, co-founder of the Vintage Whiskey Society. Most of the historic bourbon and ryes achieved hammer prices in the range of a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, and many exceeded their estimates. Three vintage bottles made $10,000 a piece; Old Stagg Special Reserve 24 year old, Four Roses 1917 16 year old, and Old McBrayer 1917 17 year old.  These were eclipsed by the $24,000 bid for a relatively modern bottle of...

The Irish whiskey narrative over the past 15–20 years has been a story of restoration, perseverance, and conviction, galvanized by a resilient spirit that recognizes how the island nearly lost its whiskey industry in the 20th century. Dozens of new distilleries and hundreds of new Irish whiskey brands were founded with aspirations of capturing the U.S. market, but now find themselves facing a post-Covid world battling the combined effects of geopolitical uncertainty, economic downturns in China, trade tensions, and a sober-curious Gen Z.
Persuading whiskey drinkers to explore beyond Jameson has been a challenge, such is its dominance among Irish whiskeys. As all styles of whisky struggle, the global casualty list of distilleries keeps growing, the most high-profile Irish example being Waterford Distillery, which went into receivership in November 2024 with substantial debt. Others are in similar straits, and even the country’s number-one whiskey maker, Irish...

It’s Father’s Day weekend, and earlier in the week we posted a piece that covered a wide range of Father's Day gift choices to suit nearly every dad. We follow here with an array of new whiskeys, many of which could also be in the running—notably a just-released Father’s Day Bourbon Collection from Woodford Reserve. Among other noteworthy new items, Old Forester is offering a new batch of its President’s Choice single barrel bourbon, while Blue Run is back with Flight Series II, featuring six micro-batch whiskeys. Texas whiskey maker Still Austin has a summer release of its Bottled in Bond red corn, and the Penelope Cooper Series has a new release of its bourbon finished in grenache rosé wine casks from the Southern Rhône.
For scotch lovers, the U.S. Open golf championship is in full swing this weekend, and Dewar’s is out with this year’s release of its 19 year old Champion’s Edition...

Update (October 18, 2024): The highest hammer price in the sale was $8,000 for a bottle of Black Bowmore 1964 Final Edition bottled in 1995. The Gordon & MacPhail Generations 80 year old distilled at Glenlivet was withdrawn from the auction before it began. The highest hammer price for American whiskey was $3,800 for a bottle of Colonel E.H. Taylor Warehouse C Tornado Surviving.
Collectors trawling through the listings of the latest Bonhams Skinner sale in search of rare whiskies cannot fail to find something to add to their collection. The online auction runs until October 16th and contains over 355 lots of bourbon, scotch, Irish, Japanese, and Canadian whisky as well as a selection of cognac, brandy, and chartreuse. The sale also includes 50 bottles of whiskey sold posthumously as part of the estate of wine critic Josh Raynolds. 
American whiskey makes up over 60% of the lots, with estimates ranging from $100 – $8,000. The leading American whiskey...

Mexico's Becle, S.A.B. de C.V.—also known as Casa Cuervo, whose U.S. subsidiary is Proximo Spirits—has agreed to buy the Pendleton whisky brand from Oregon-based Hood River Distillers for $205 million. The deal should close in early 2018. Like Masterson's rye—which was also acquired by a larger company earlier this year—Pendleton is a sourced Canadian whisky bottled in the U.S. with a Western-themed identity. Hood River Distillers will continue to bottle Pendleton for Proximo. Its other spirits—which include McCarthy's Oregon single malt, Trail's End Kentucky straight bourbon, Double Mountain hopped whiskey, and Sinfire cinnamon whisky liqueur—are not included in the deal.This isn't Cuervo's first time at the craft whiskey rodeo, though the company is best known as the owner of the eponymous Jose Cuervo tequila. In 2010, Proximo Spirits acquired the Stranahan's and Tincup whiskey brands, a deal that included Stranahan's Denver distillery. (Tincup was and remains a sourced...

In this Extra Añejo Manhattan, “the richness of Patrón Extra Añejo pairs well with a Spanish vermouth, making for a well-rounded and more complex version of the Manhattan,” explains Robert Freeman, bartender at Husk Restaurant in Savannah, Georgia.
INGREDIENTS

2 oz. Patrón Extra Añejo (or other aged tequila)
1 oz. Yzaguirre Rojo Reserva vermouth (or other sweet Spanish vermouth)
2 dashes Bittermens Xocolatl Mole Bitters
1 dash Angostura Bitters
Orange peel
Garnish: brandied cherry

DIRECTIONS
Mix tequila, vermouth, and bitters in a mixing glass with ice and stir about 40 times. Strain into a chilled coupe glass and squeeze an orange peel over the drink to release the oils. Garnish with a brandied cherry on a cocktail...

Matthew McConaughey remembers the first time he enjoyed bourbon, conjuring up the details as though it happened yesterday.“I was duck hunting with my dad in Arkansas and I was in high school,” he says. “It was about eleven degrees and there was a hole in my wader, and I was wet and cold. Real cold. But we'd only been out there an hour or so and we weren't going back soon. So my dad pulled out a flask with some bourbon in it and said, ‘Sip on this. It'll warm you up.' And it saved the day for me.”These days, McConaughey prefers warmer environs, with the only chill provided by an occasional single ice cube (and only if the weather is really warm). “Really, I take it neat.”In search of a bourbon that perfectly suited his taste, McConaughey created it himself: Wild Turkey Longbranch, a bourbon crafted over a two-year collaboration with Wild Turkey master distiller Eddie Russell. The new offering takes the Kentucky classic and gives it a Texas twist by utilizing mesquite...

In November 2018 a bottle of Macallan 1926 60 year old, which had been hand-painted by Irish artist Michael Dillon, set a whisky auction record when it sold for $1.28 million. Few of us can afford a whisky that is such a certifiable work of art—inside and out—but you can still dress up your backbar. These more affordable artistic whisky labels, many of them limited editions, will transform your bar into a bona fide gallery.
Almost Too Pretty to Drink: 6 Beautifully Illustrated Whiskies

Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby Edition (2019 release)—45.2%, $44Keith Anderson, a Brown-Forman employee, debuted his racehorse painting on the 2018 Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby bottle. The annual edition has been featuring artists since 2003. “I got to meet the artists who did the bottles and they're the ones that told me ‘If you ever get a chance, you need to and the doors will open,'” Anderson says, and open they did. Following his encore on the...

College can be the setting for many formative experiences; if you didn't develop an appreciation for whiskey in your university years, perhaps you discovered a taste for it. Recently, colleges have been striking licensing deals with breweries—like Old Tuffy, a partnership between NC State and New Belgium Brewing—but until now no one had branched into spirits. Breaking that ground is New Mexico State University (NMSU), which is launching a collaborative whiskey to raise funds for its athletic department. Made in partnership with Las Cruces-based Dry Point Distillers, Pistol Pete Six-Shooter rye joins the school's existing branded beer and wine.In a year where many college campuses have reduced attendance at athletic events, the licensing deals allow NMSU to make up some of its lost ticket sales. “While I don't think one product is going to hit it big, when you start adding the licensing revenue from a spirit and a wine and a beer, and some of these other consumables that we have...

Barrel finishing is a long-established practice in scotch, but a far more recent phenomenon in American whiskey. That's mainly because bourbon, by definition, must be matured in new charred oak barrels. Put bourbon into a barrel that isn't new and charred and it technically becomes a whisky specialty, more commonly called finished bourbon.A few weeks or months in a secondary cask can elevate the bourbon, transforming it in subtle ways. “It changes [the bourbon], and we think it changes it for the better,” says Bob D'Antoni, chief barrel officer at Four Gate Whiskey Co. The blender and bottler releases cask-finished whiskey almost exclusively, with secondary vessels ranging from sherry, port, and rum, to custom barrels made by Kelvin Cooperage.The enjoyment of finished bourbon has gained steam in the decade since Angel's Envy debuted as the first widely available example of the style. Today dozens of finishes, from port, tequila, and armagnac, to chardonnay and rhum agricole, offer...

Change is in the air, and we aren't just talking about the seasons. Major brands are losing some of their top whiskey makers, as distillers and blenders are leaving corporate comforts to create a legacy of their own. We spoke to Jane Bowie and Denny Potter, formerly of Maker's Mark, and Jackie Zykan, formerly of Old Forester, about their decisions to forge their own paths and the whiskeys we can expect from them in the future.As for whiskies you can search for now, there are plenty to choose from this week. Wild Turkey adds to its Master's Keep line with Unforgotten, while Maker's Mark unveils the latest release in its stave finishing series, a pair of whiskeys labeled BRT-01 and 02. As for single malt scotch, Benriach is bringing back its limited Smoke and Malting Season whiskies. We also covered the 2022 Diageo Special Releases, dubbed the "Elusive Expressions," earlier this week. Read on for full details.

Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Unforgotten
Style: Blend of...

Crafted from 100% blue agave, this tequila is a celebration of its Jalisco origins. The nose is filled with sweet, citrusy notes, while the palate offers a blend of agave sweetness and a slight peppery kick. Versatile and vibrant, it's a go-to for tequila-based cocktails

For our Summer issue, we journeyed across the pond to Ireland, where a full-fledged whiskey renaissance is still in swing. The dozens of new distilleries and hundreds of new brands founded over the past two decades are now facing their greatest challenge yet: a post-Covid world that features geopolitical uncertainty, global economic downturns, and sober-curious consumers. Even so, the Emerald Isle seems poised for continued success thanks to the stunning whiskeys its distillers and blenders are putting out. We also highlighted the many distilleries, restaurants, bars, shops, tours, and attractions that make Ireland such a dream destination for any whiskey lover. Elsewhere in the issue, we took a look at Scotland’s many scenic train rides, the world’s best golf course bars, the prizes and pitfalls of Travel Retail, and more, in addition to reviewing 121 whiskies. Plus, this issue debuted a tequila section, a new permanent part of the magazine that spotlights all things...

Roaring onto screens this month, “F1 The Movie” is a high-octane action thriller starring Brad Pitt that just might be this summer’s blockbuster. The movie was filmed over two years alongside actual Formula 1 race weekends, and director Joseph Kosinski (“Top Gun: Maverick”) delivers all the racing thrills and off-track dramas from the paddock to keep theater goers on the edge of their seats. Sonny Hayes (Pitt) is a retired F1 driver from the 1990s, persuaded to return to the sport by APXGP team boss Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), his former teammate, to help save the team. For Hayes, getting the seat gives him one last shot at F1 glory, and a chance to silence the demons of his past. He’s partnered with rookie driver Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), and tension between both sides of the garage grows quickly, with APXGP’s tenacious technical director Kate McKenna (Kerry Condon) caught in the middle, as the teammates compete for dominance on the...

It’s no secret that 2024 was a challenging year in various quarters of the whisky world. Still, through it all, the scene continued to churn with dynamic and exciting change—new distillery and visitor center openings, master distillers taking on new roles, and an increasingly creative surge of sought-after releases. Here's our look at the year in whisky.
Not Used to This
After declining in 2023 for the first time in memory, total American whiskey sales were projected to decrease again this year, according to our research arm Impact Databank. Within that big picture, the leading higher-end American whiskeys generally still saw healthy sales, while scotch faced a slightly different scenario. In late December, UK trade group the Food and Drinks  Federation (FDF) reported that whisky export sales (mostly scotch) fell by 36.4% by value in the first three quarters of 2024. But the most notable headwinds came in the American craft...

To say “the state of bourbon is strong” is an understatement. The state of bourbon in 2016 is, especially to long-time observers, astonishing.To understand why, consider where bourbon was 25 years ago. Back in 1991, American whiskey sales were flat and that was an improvement. Sales had finally bottomed out after a brutal 20-year decline, during which bourbon lost half of its volume and comparable market share.By 1991, the bleeding had stopped. Instead, sales from year to year were up 1 or 2 percent one year, down a similar amount the next, essentially flat.Outside of the South, young Americans were drinking everything but bourbon. Without the traditional ‘Bourbon Belt,' bourbon might have gone extinct.Moving OutAfter receiving so much bad news for so long, the industry had given up on bourbon. Consolidation had just about eliminated the bourbon-only companies. Every company still standing had valuable assets outside the whiskey category and that's where they put their attention...

Once you discover good whisky, it becomes astonishingly easy to accumulate bottles. Purchase by purchase, you can plot your way around the world's great whisky-producing nations, delving into a rich world of flavor. But after parting with your hard-earned cash, you owe it to yourself to look after your whisky collection properly. Whisky is pretty hardy, but it's not indestructible. Educate yourself on how to store and make the most of your best whiskies with our advice.Aging vs. Staling: why whisky isn't wine Take it easy. That fresh bottle of whisky you just bought at the store is in perfect drinking condition. You're going to enjoy it. Yet you think you might just save it for a special occasion. Stored properly, whisky should still be perfect if it waits a year, ten years, a generation, or even a lifetime before someone pulls the cork. One thing that won't change is the number on the whisky label, as that only relates to the time inside the cask. Tough luck; your 12 year old whisky...

From spectacular cliff-top castles and coastal links golf courses, to wild remote glens and brooding mountains, Northern Ireland has a great deal to offer any visitor. ‘Norn Iron' (if you want to sound like a local) was formed from six of the nine historic counties of Ulster when Ireland was partitioned in 1921. With The Troubles largely confined to the 20th century, these days the country is well recognized for the quality of its food and drink, its welcoming hospitality, and the achievements of Rory McIlroy, Liam Neeson, and Kenneth Branagh.A whiskey visitor can drink in more than just the landscape; there are a growing number of distilleries, whiskey bars, and restaurants to experience. This year has been designated the Northern Ireland Year of Food and Drink. From pints of the black stuff sipped in historic pubs along with foot-stompin' traditional music, to sophisticated libations quaffed in high-end hotel lounges, this place should be high on your bucket list.Whether you fly...

Before you can do anything else with whisky, you have to buy it, and that's where a lot of people go wrong. They pay too much, or get the same old thing they always get, or they get what a reviewer said to get, or they go to the wrong store, or they buy something expensive that's way out of their comfort zone without tasting it first. If you've done this (or if you think you may have done this), don't worry: we can help.Know ThyselfThe ancient Greek aphorism works pretty well on buying whisky. Don't buy what the crowd's buying (if you've heard of “supply and demand,” one very good reason should be clear); figure out what it is that you actually like, and pursue that. Self-confidence is one of the most important whisky-tasting tools to develop, and as always, tasting widely is the best course of action.You'll likely find during the process that you like a range of whiskies, not just one, and surely some of them are not currently in the Hype Box. For instance, I was overjoyed to...

Avisit to Islay and Jura is the ultimate adventure for the single malt scotch lover. Islay, Queen of the Hebrides, and her world-class whiskies have come to represent Scotch whisky for so many minds and palates. We love those assertive, uncompromising, smoky single malts bristling with machismo, and we revel in their unpeated drams that produce soft, rich Hebridean beauties bursting with personality. These whiskies ignite passionate dedication and near-religious fervor at times, leading some to commit spectacular acts of single-minded devotion that no other whisky producing area can rival. They are unmatched. No spirit distilled anywhere else in the world is a substitute for Ardbeg or can be taken as a proxy for Laphroaig. If you're the kind of person who likes to suck the marrow out of life, then simply nothing else will do.Both islands face the teeth of forceful Atlantic gales through the winter, and bask in the welcoming relief of the Gulf Stream climate in the summer months (well...

Online whisky auctions have had an indisputable impact on the world of whisky. Their phenomenal success has turned casual and serious whisky collectors into eager customers, radically altered the scale and accessibility of the secondary market, trumped the best liquor stores on choice and price, and in turn, compelled a reactive whisky industry to rethink the pricing and availability of every new limited-edition whisky. The ascendancy of this young, global, multi-million-dollar industry shows no signs of slowing. With the hegemony of UK-based websites dominating the scene, we interview four top industry leaders representing the country's largest online auction houses. Scotch Whisky Auctions (scotchwhiskyauctions.com) has moved to its third Glasgow location in five years to meet their ever-growing requirements for storage space. “Back in 2010, Tam Gardiner had a wee whisky shop called Tam's Drams,” explains Bill Mackintosh, co-founder of the business, as he tells the story of their...

If you love whiskey, food, and good company, Ireland is the perfect place to enjoy yourself. From the gentle humor of vintage Guinness murals to lilting accents that seduce the listener's ear, there is no shortage of good craic to be had in the authentic pubs that are, literally and figuratively, colorful. Position yourself in a dark recess by a backbar crammed with whiskeys, and sip away while the fiddles, accordion, and bodhran of the traditional musicians keep your toes tapping. Relish the best Irish ingredients transformed into plates of the most delicious creations in the country's top restaurants. At the end of the night, collapse into a welcoming bed in a traditional country house or a modern, chic city hotel. You really can't go far wrong, and these recommendations are a great place to start.DublinEatRestaurant Patrick GuilbaudRenowned as Ireland's only two-star Michelin establishment, start salivating for the Mellow Spiced Wicklow Lamb and colorful arrangements of Annagassan...

Why do small whisky companies compete in the face of blending dominance by multinational corporations? What's their take on blending, and how does this differ from the major whisky brands? Which blends are deserving of your hard-earned cash? As blending is highly topical, Jonny McCormick speaks to blenders from three contrasting whisky companies to find out the answers. To an aspiring whisky blender, the muscle of Dewar's, Johnnie Walker, and Chivas Brothers must seem every bit as imposing as biblical Goliath. These huge heritage brands, born from the successes of entrepreneurs in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, dominate not only blended whisky, but also the entire Scotch whisky industry. They are masters in the art of blending dozens of aged single malts and lighter grain whiskies into incredibly complex and consistent whiskies on a grand scale. Add to this skill their marketing prowess, daunting stocks of maturing whiskies, and global name recognition, and they are the...

TheKentucky Derby takes place on the first Saturday of May.It's the annualRun for the Roses, and—whether you pay any attention to horses the rest of the year or not—it's the perfect reason to celebrate the arrival of warm weather with a Derby Day party.How To Make The Perfect Mint JulepDerby Day is one of just a handful of holidays throughout the year with an explicit whiskey connection—it's not Derby Day without a Mint Julep. If you're the big whiskey drinker in your group of friends, this is the perfect chance to introduce newcomers to whiskey in an accessible way.There are many ways to make mint juleps. Here's our classic recipe:
Mint JulepINGREDIENTS 3 oz. bourbon 1 tsp. sugar Fresh mint leaves Cracked iceDIRECTIONSIn a Mint Julep cup or large Old Fashioned glass, gently muddle 5-6 mint leaves with the sugar. Add ice almost to the top of the glass, then pour bourbon over the ice and stir vigorously until the mixture is chilled and the glass frosted. Mound more ice...

The District of Columbia might be best known for hard-nosed politics and massive protests, but the hard-working men and women of the nation's capital can at least agree on one thing: the need to unwind with a whiskey. Already home to one of the world's best whiskey bars, Jack Rose Dining Saloon, D.C. now offers a thriving craft distilling culture, with several making the good stuff right in the heart of the city.There are half a dozen whiskey-producing distilleries in the nation's capital, and that's just in D.C. proper—no need to hit the beltway or figure out the difference between the inner loop and outer loop. Even better, four of those six distilleries are within half a mile of each other in the bustling Ivy City neighborhood, making it a cinch to visit them all in a single day.Hit the craft whiskey trail in Washington, D.C. at these six distilleries.
The Magnus Room at Jos. A Magnus & Co. is used for tastings, cocktail classes, and private events.The Ivy City Quartet...

I see FarmStock 001 being a $10,000 bottle of whiskey within 10 years," says Raj Bhakta. It's a bold predictionfrom the founder of pioneering craft distillery WhistlePig, especially given that FarmStock 001 is the company's first offering to include whiskey actually distilled at WhistlePig's picturesque Vermont farm. Bhakta, however, has good reason for his optimism. The most recent release from WhistlePig, Boss Hog The Black Prince, a rye finished in Armagnac casks, launched last fall and retails for $500 a bottle—an unheard-of price for a craft upstart.The Black Prince has beaten out competition from Scotland, Ireland, Kentucky, and Japan to win a slew of awards, including the Best Whiskey in Show award from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Bhakta and others believe that Boss Hog is not an outlier or a flash in the pan, but the beginning of something new. Not just for drinking anymore, American whiskey has achieved investment grade.Add These American Whiskeys to Your...

Whisky may evolve slowly in the cask, but occasionally a progressive leap forward comes along, a seismic development that changes everything in a heartbeat. The privilege of delivering these accomplishments comes with lasting recognition. Generations of whisky makers follow in the footsteps of the innovators, offering refinements on genius, but forever in their debt. These ten junctures have helped to forge the taste, heighten the pleasure, and illuminate the joy we discover in a glass of good whisky today.Single Pot Still Whiskey—1785Like America's Declaration of Independence, Ireland's single pot still whiskey is the brilliant result of a bunch of guys who didn't want to pay their taxes. With the passage of the Malt Tax in 1785, Irish distillers were forced to pay duty on malted grains in addition to the spirit they produced. The extra tax caused distillery owners to re-evaluate their cereal selection in search of a loophole. Malted barley is crucial to successful fermentation...

Two major auction houses will put millions of dollars' worth of whisky up on the block in Hong Kong this month. On May 17, Bonhams, Hong Kong will hold a Fine & Rare Wine & Spirits auction one year to the day from when it sold the first bottle of whisky for over $1 million. Meanwhile, Acker—better known as the leading wine auction house in the world, selling over $105 million worth of wine in 2018, according to Wine Spectator—is preparing to host its inaugural spirits auction on May 11 in the city. Below, I've listed my top picks for lots to watch—and bid on—at both auctions, with a few words of caution as well.5/8/2019: In response to the errors noted below in Acker's listings, the company has corrected and updated their catalogue.The Top Whisky Lots at Bonhams, Hong KongWith nearly 500 lots of single malt scotch and Japanese whisky available, Macallan is leading the pack with a mind-blowing line-up of some of the most sought-after releases from its back catalogue...

Deep leather armchairs and quiet sitting rooms have their place, but when summer is in full swing enjoying whisky need not be a strictly sedentary affair. After all, the word whisky famously derives from “water of life,” and the life well-lived should include travel and the great outdoors. Thanks to surging interest in whisky, you can now find it being distilled in scenic spots from Scotland to Montana. Intrepid whisky lovers unite: these thrilling and delicious destinations will unleash your whisky warrior.Slay the Single Track at Breckenridge DistilleryColorado's most bicycle-centric town, Breckenridge has more than 100 mountain bike trails plus a technical obstacle mountain bike park and the beginner-friendly Illinois Creek Trail System. The Breckenridge ski resort offers a dozen lift-served trails of its own, and nearby Copper Mountain also has a lift-served trail network. For the less adventurous, the seven-mile paved Blue River Recreation Path is blissfully car-free. There...

These days, a new whisky comes out practically every day—sometimes a dozen or more a week (all reported each Friday in Whisky Weekend). Store shelves are crowded with more bottles than ever before. New releases make a splash, but when a whisky disappears, it usually happens quietly.That was the case with Old Scout, a popular whiskey sourced from MGP and bottled by Smooth Ambler. Just a few years ago, the West Virginia distillery was selling every bottle of Old Scout bourbon and rye that it could ship—so much that it ran out of mature whiskey altogether. So since September 2016, Smooth Ambler has bottled only a few barrels of Old Scout bourbon, usually limited to gift shop sales. But now Old Scout's 99-proof (49.5% ABV) bourbon is coming back for good.“It was really dumb, what we did,” says Smooth Ambler CEO and master distiller John Little, explaining how the well dried up. The company had bought its first barrels of bourbon and rye for Old Scout in 2011, and continued to buy...

The benefits of hosting your whisky club in a public space instead of your home are vast—and for the right establishment, it's a win-win situation for all involved. Whether you're just starting out and looking for a neutral meeting ground, or want to expand your club's reach, a whisky-focused bar is a prime spot to get together.Finding an appropriate meeting space was an early hurdle Los Angeles resident Andy Smith and his neighbor Scott Saikley faced when they decided to start a whisky club in 2006. The first was simply forming the group. “This was before Facebook was really big—it wasn't as easy to connect with people online,” Smith says. “We started a website with a sign-up form and for months waited to see if anyone would show interest.” It took some time, but people did sign up—about 15 to 20, in fact—but still, where were they all going to meet? “Everyone was pretty queasy about meeting at their home until they felt sure that...

If you're a bookish type with $1,000 to burn—and for some reason don't want to spend it on whisky—consider using it for an insightful, passionate exploration of some of the world's rarest bottles. Spirits writer Clay Risen's “The Impossible Collection of Whiskey: The 100 Most Exceptional and Collectible Bottles,” just released by New York-based luxury lifestyle publisher Assouline as part of its Fall 2020 “Ultimate” series, offers a tour of some of the world's most famed distilleries—and their most coveted whiskies. “Do you remember the first time you tasted whiskey?” Risen asks. “The first time you tasted good whiskey? And what about the first time you tasted whiskey so good, so utterly transporting, that you could have sworn you weren't drinking whiskey at all, but some sort of heavenly nectar? …Perhaps you've been lucky enough to taste great whiskey, and luckier still to know it was great—to appreciate its complexity and sublimity. If you have—or hope to...

Some relationships are skin deep: For Dennis Steckel and his love of Amrut single malts, the term takes on a whole new meaning. Steckel sports not one, but two Amrut tattoos on his forearms—symbols of an abiding fascination that has transformed the mild-mannered Swede into the whisky's No.-1 fan worldwide. On his left arm is a reproduction of the logo on Amrut's distillery in Bangalore, India, while his right arm shows a variation of the “Greedy Angel” illustration that bedecks the brand's oldest bottlings, with the names of Steckel's three children inked below.“I really connected with that angel,” Steckel says of his first time seeing and tasting a bottle of Greedy Angels in 2015. His first encounter with Amrut had come just a year or two earlier, and he was instantly smitten. “I'm a person that if I'm doing something, I will do it 110%,” Steckel explains, noting that Amrut's name intrigued him initially, but the whisky itself was what won him over. “Some people say...

Many whisky lovers enjoy having their nose in a good book almost as much as a glass of whisky, and there are deeply evocative aromas common to both pleasures. The bouquet of some whiskies call to mind the antique scent of rows of books inside a library, in the cabinets of antiquarian book dealers, or along the miles of shelving stretching around enormous bookstores from Powell's in Portland to the Strand in New York. Sales of print books rose during the pandemic as more people picked up a good read. (According to publishing industry tracker NPD Group, U.S. print book sales were up 8.2% in 2020 to 750 million books, while more than 200 million print books were sold in the UK last year—passing that mark for the first time since 2012, according to Nielsen BookScan.)From a whisky nosing perspective, bookish aromas typically conjure up images of a gilt-edged tome bound in calfskin leather, perhaps with raised bands on the spine and archaic gold lettering, or a cloth-bound volume...

Danko, Abruzzi, and Rosen may sound like a law firm, or a not so hip 70s rock band. But you'll hear the names being bandied about at small distilleries around the U.S. They are heirloom varietals of rye—grains that had all but disappeared from American farming until about a decade ago, when craft distillers began seeking out local farmers to grow them. Their aim is to restore long-vanished rye whiskey styles, and these forgotten rye strains may be their key to success. It hasn't been an easy endeavor, but distillers believe the resulting differences make it all worthwhile.Farmers mainly use rye as a cover crop—planting it in the fall and plowing it under in the spring or summer, for the purpose of keeping the soil in place during winter. Larger distilleries look abroad for their rye grain—to Canada, Germany, or Sweden. Herman Mihalich, co-founder and distiller of Dad's Hat Rye in Bristol, Pennsylvania, was one of the early voices advocating for a return to native...

Danko, Abruzzi, and Rosen may sound like a law firm, or a not-so-hip 70s rock band. But you’ll hear the names being bandied about at small distilleries around the U.S. They are heirloom varietals of rye—grains that had all but disappeared from American farming until about a decade ago, when craft distillers began seeking out local farmers to grow them. Their aim is to restore long-vanished rye whiskey styles, and these forgotten rye strains may be their key to success. It hasn’t been an easy endeavor, but distillers believe the resulting differences make it all worthwhile.

Farmers mainly use rye as a cover crop—planting it in the fall and plowing it under in the spring or summer, for the purpose of keeping the soil in place during winter. Larger distilleries look abroad for their rye grain—to Canada, Germany, or Sweden. Herman Mihalich, co-founder and distiller of Dad’s Hat Rye in Bristol, Pennsylvania, was one of the early voices...

Driving south into Lexington, Kentucky on Interstate 75, you pass Kentucky Horse Park and International Museum of the Horse right at the city line. Enter from the west on Old Frankfort Pike, and you travel by the famous Secretariat statue. Fly into Blue Grass Airport and you’ll exit on Man O’ War Boulevard and drive past Keeneland racetrack. It’s pretty hard to miss the equine theme, which is why Lexington’s trademarked nickname is Horse Capital of the World. But the city also anchors the eastern end of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, and it’s surrounded by distilleries, along with new experiences for whiskey lovers. You no longer need to leave the city to visit distilleries.
Lexington is only about half the size of Louisville, which lies around 80 miles to the west. But this vibrant city has been playing catch-up to its bigger rival in recent years, adding hotels, tours, attractions, and new distilleries. Resurgence is in the air, so...

Ask Chris Stapleton about his palate and the country icon laughs. “I’m not one of those folks who can pick out distinct flavors,” he says. “I’ve got a “Gladiator” approach: thumbs up or down. I don’t consider myself a whiskey expert—other than in consumption.”
The “Tennessee Whiskey” singer always issues a thumbs up to Buffalo Trace Distillery products, particularly E.H. Taylor. “Someone brought a bottle into the studio in 2013 and I loved it,” Stapleton tells us during a video chat from a Florida vacation. “I find something I like and stick to it. [E.H. Taylor] is where I’ve lived for a long time.” Present for every recording session of any record he’s made, E.H. Taylor may well be a de facto member of Stapleton’s band.
Now E.H. Taylor must battle for studio space. Stapleton’s Traveller Whiskey is here.
What is Traveller Whiskey and How is it...

Home to grand Gilded Age mansions and a historic yachting culture, Newport is the epitome of a centuries-old New England resort town. Beyond the opulent estates and shipyards lies a city begging to be explored for its arts, history, and culinary and drinks scene. Rhode Island’s first distillery since the 19th century, Newport Craft Brewing & Distilling Co., is based here, and the city has evolved from old-world tradition to a wide range of new dining, drinking, shopping, and entertainment options.
One of the benefits of vacationing in a state this small is that so many of its attractions are within walking distance or a short drive away. And at just three hours from New York City and about an hour south of Boston, Newport is a destination that everyone who loves to eat and drink should put on their must-visit list.
Day One

Newport offers many lodging options, from quaint bed & breakfasts to luxury resorts and everything in between. If you’re...

It’s not only Japanese whisky that’s exploding in popularity. Tourism to Japan is too, thanks to a vibrant culture, unparalleled hospitality, and a historically weak yen. With $20 cocktails quickly becoming the norm in the U.S., the favorable exchange rate also means some of the best whisky bar deals on the planet are happening right now in Japan.
A couple of things to bear in mind: Bars can be hard to find and located in the basements of buildings, table charges are normal (this is Japan, and space is at a premium) but usually include little snacks, one dram typically measures 30 ml (around one ounce), and bars can’t sell bottles because they usually aren’t licensed for it. The bar spaces are often smaller than you might imagine. While Japan has cracked down on indoor smoking, lighting up is still permitted at some bars, whether cigars or cigarettes. But at others, like Aloha Whisky in Tokyo and One Shot Bar Keith in Osaka, smoking is a no-no.
Whether...

If there’s one thing to learn from the Roy family in the hit television series “Succession,” it’s that blood relatives and business often don’t mix. But that adage doesn’t ring true in American whiskey, where many storied families have embraced distilling with enduring success. The oldest distilling families have been at it for centuries— most notably the Beams, where the tradition stretches back eight generations to 1795, when Jacob Beam sold his first barrel of corn whiskey. Closely intertwined with that story is today’s Noe family, who are direct descendants.
Other families might not count eight generations back, but are nonetheless ingrained into the story of American distilling. Think the Van Winkles of Pappy fame, who are now into the fourth generation of whiskey makers, or the Hendersons with three generations of distillers, who created Angels Envy and recently launched True Story whiskey. Willett, too, has long remained a...

Update 7/17: Another distillery that calls Texas Hill Country home, Milam & Greene, is contributing to relief efforts through bottle sales at its Blanco-based distillery, online, and at Texas-based retailer Spec’s Wine and Foods. Through July 31st, 15% of net bottle sales will be donated to the Community Foundation of Texas Hill Country. For patrons who purchase one or both of the label’s two rare, cask strength blended bourbons under the Unabridged Series, 50% of the proceeds will be donated. Additionally, the label has pledged $20.00 per bottle sold at Spec’s Wine and Foods to benefit Texas Pets Alive!, a non-profit that supports displaced pets and reunites them with loved ones during times of disaster.
The “once-in-a-century” flooding that struck Kerr County in Texas Hill Country this past weekend saw the waters of the Guadalupe River rise to nearly 30 feet within just 45 minutes in the predawn hours of July 4th, devastating the area and...

In a converted Guinness brewery in the southern Irish seaport of Waterford, something remarkable is happening. Mark Reynier, formerly of Scotland's Bruichladdich Distillery and a barley provenance devotee, has created what he terms, “A cathedral of barley” in his Waterford Distillery, where spirit flowed for the first time in January 2016.Taking a page from his Islay playbook, Reynier enlists 46 Irish farms, some organic, growing barley on nineteen distinct soil types. Each farmer's crop is harvested, stored, malted, and distilled separately, one each week throughout the year. Reynier declares, “Thus we can capture in spirit each farm's terroir, that subtle character shaped by micro-climate and soil. I'm trying to make the most profound single malt whiskey possible.” In September, Reynier distilled the first organic Irish whiskey.Meanwhile, further north, in County Meath, whiskey making is about to return to the Boyne Valley, where the last of Drogheda's eighteen distilleries...

For many people, making it in Hollywood is the culmination of their dreams. For Rocky Patel, it was more like the beginning. Born in Mumbai and raised in India and Wisconsin, Patel was a high-powered Hollywood lawyer when he fell in love with scotch and cigars. Soon, he decided that the only thing more exciting than living the luxury lifestyle was sharing it with others. Patel took a chance in the waning days of the 1990s cigar boom and charged into the premium cigar industry. Today, the founder and CEO of Rocky Patel Premium Cigars is an evangelist for sophisticated living. Most recently, his Rocky Patel Sun Grown Maduro Robusto was named Cigar Aficionado's No. 2 Cigar of 2016. And when Patel holds a cigar in one hand, there is usually a single malt in the other.“If I'm enjoying a cigar and sipping, then I like a nice single malt, usually with one ice cube,” Patel says. “I like to play around and try different stuff all the time. I get bored of drinking the same stuff.” He...

Perhaps it's futile to predict trends—especially when it comes to taste—but the one drinking vogue that should be happening, for some reason hasn't quite arrived. It's aged rum. With a bounty of rich and rewarding examples on the market at mainly bang-for-the-buck prices, the category seems set for a boom of the caliber that American whiskey is enjoying. You might scratch your head, but for savvy spirits enthusiasts a better reaction is to take advantage of it before the popular palate catches up.If you're a whisky lover, aged rum offers a lot to relate to. Both are brown spirits with depths of character and spectra of flavors that make them ideal for unending hours of enjoyment and reflection. And while there are marked differences, much of the knowledge it takes to understand whisky can easily be applied to rum.The basics of both processes are the same: you make a fermented liquid, distill it to higher proof, and mature it in casks. The main difference is the raw material. Rum...

Once upon a time, air travel was a glamorous affair where well-dressed men and women kept their shoes on and idly sipped Manhattans before strolling straight to the gate for takeoff. Nowadays, travelers are lucky if they get to grab some overpriced mixed nuts or a can of Coke before being corralled to their cramped seats.It doesn't have to be that way, though. There are options for whisky lovers seeking a good drink and a little dignity before taking off. Next time you're traveling through one of these airports, check in a little early and relax with a whisky cocktail, a generous pour on the rocks, or—yes, a flight.
A Whisky Lover's Guide to Airplane Drinking
Book & Bourbon Southern Kitchen—SDF, LouisvilleVisitors to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail can start or end their trip at this restaurant and bar in the main Louisville terminal, designed to have the look and feel of a library. With over 85 bourbons, ryes, and American whiskeys, the bar also offers an array of...

Few commodities are as precious to 21st-century life as convenience and dependability, and whisky subscription services combine the two to benefit your bar. What's better than returning home to find a new bottle of whisky that literally has your name on it?For a monthly fee, these subscription services send curated whisky picks right to your doorstep. Each offers a unique spin that's sure to appeal to a particular type of dram devotee. Whether you're new to the world of whisky or looking to expand your base of knowledge and experience, these services can provide guideposts for the onward journey.Whisky Subscription Services That Ship Straight To Your DoorTaster's Club: For pursuing a particular passionPrice: $69 to $184/monthWhat you get: 1 full-size bottle every month, plus corresponding educational materialNot all delivery services let you pick your niche, but Taster's Club allows members to select a Bourbon, Scotch, or Whisky package that will determine which bottles arrive every...

Kids aren't the only ones who love all the candy at Halloween. And the perfect way to heighten the enjoyment of goodies you snag from your children's trick-or-treat stash (or the leftovers you have from “accidentally” buying too much) is with whisky. But any old whisky and candy combo won't do. Circus peanuts and Laphroaig? No thanks.“A skilled combination of flavors can produce a whole that's greater than the sum of its parts,” says Tom Geniesse, founder and owner of Bottlerocket Wine & Spirit in New York City. Every October since 2006, Geniesse and his team hold a Halloween event where they pair candy with different types of wines and spirits. With combinations like “coffee and a cigarette”—a tiny paper cup with Avión Espresso Tequila liqueur and a chocolate cigarette—it's more than a simple tasting. It combines the twin pleasures of sweet nostalgia with flavorful spirits for a complete emotional, and palate-pleasing experience.One of Geniesse's favorite...

The biggest news of the week comes from the UK, where Diageo reportedly is exploring ways to innovate Scotch whisky that could fall outside the regulated boundaries of the style. Whisky Advocate took an in-depth look at why "scotch infusions" and whisky finished in tequila barrels might not meet the standards set down in the Scotch Whisky Regulations of 2009.Meanwhile, new whisky releases are headed to shelves from Scotland, the U.S., and Japan. Independent bottler Chapter 7 has two 9 year old single cask single malts from the Allt-á-Bhainne and Aultmore distilleries. (If you're wondering what independent bottlers are and why you should be buying whisky from them, here's a good answer for that.)American Freedom Distillery is launching Horse Soldier, a wheated bourbon made in Columbus, Ohio, and named for the mounted Special Forces unit that entered Afghanistan in the days immediately following September 11th. The bourbon is available in three expressions: the core Wheated Bourbon...

Many whisky lovers feel a sense of sadness at the end of a good dram. But for Ernie Button, a drained glass is an opportunity to dive even deeper. When he's done with a drink, rather than just putting the dirty glass into the dishwasher, Button uses it to create otherworldly pieces of art.Button's collection of photographs, called “Vanishing Spirits: The Dried Remains of Single Malt Scotch,” shows how every glass of whisky can yield unique patterns, “like snowflakes,” he says. Here's how it works: whisky that dries in the bottom of a glass does so irregularly, leaving behind dregs or rings. They aren't easy to spot as-is, but Button places the glass (he prefers flat-bottomed rocks glasses) on a light or flashlight with a color filter. Then he photographs the glass, creating an image that could have come from outer space, or from a microscope plate.
Photographer Ernie Button (self portrait)The scientific aspect of this hobby isn't just surface-deep, either; Button's photo...

Michael Cudlitz's taste in whiskey is as all-American as his most memorable on-screen roles—fighters like Sergeant Denver “Bull” Randleman on the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers and Sergeant Abraham Ford from AMC's The Walking Dead. We sat down with the avid whiskey fan and Long Island native at Porchlight in New York City to sip our way through a few of 2017's best American whiskeys and find out what's next for the actor following the gruesome death of his character on The Walking Dead, season 7.Cudlitz is well cast as a sergeant; he's even provided voiceovers for several Call of Duty video games. A fit and formidable figure, never short on opinions, he appears comfortably close to his blue-collar roots, knocking back a bourbon in his dock-worker knit cap and black leather boots. In fact, Cudlitz was working as the construction coordinator on Beverly Hills 90210—where he was politely informed to stick to swinging his hammer and forget any aspirations of auditioning—when one...

Updated May 30, 2024: Effective May 28, 2024, Golden Moon Distillery ceased operations.
Denver began as a mining town in 1858 with a whisper that gold had been found in the Rocky Mountains. Prospectors and fortune-hunters set up tents and shacks on the banks of the Platte river, and in their wake came entrepreneurs—gamblers, prostitutes, and saloonkeepers—ready to help “mine” the miners of whatever they might find. Though not much gold was found, there was plenty of whiskey to help wash away their troubles.160 years later, Denver is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States and the residents have not lost their taste for whiskey and other spirits. Craft distilleries are opening at a remarkable rate; the recently launched Colorado Spirits Trail includes more than 50 distillers around the state creating a wide variety of spirits, from whiskey to brandy. Denver alone has nine distilleries as of August 2018, plus several more in the greater metro...

For such a simple drink, the Old Fashioned can ignite passionate debates—rye or bourbon, sugar cube or simple syrup, cherry or no cherry. But when it comes down to it, there's more than one correct way to make this classic whiskey cocktail.In the late 18th or early 19th century, if you walked into a bar, you'd order a cocktail by naming your spirit and get a mix of that spirit, sugar, bitters, and water or ice, explains drinks historian Elizabeth Pearce, owner and founder of New Orleans cocktail tour company Drink and Learn.“But bartenders can't leave well enough alone,” she adds. And in the post-Civil War era, vermouth and new liqueurs such as Chartreuse and maraschino were arriving from Europe. Bartenders began experimenting and adding these novel ingredients to drinks; patrons could no longer predict with certainty what the “whiskey cocktail” would contain or taste like. And so discerning drinkers began asking for a “whiskey cocktail the old...

The best-known single malt scotch distillers are quick to point to their long history, perseverance, and established reputations for greatness. But for the first time in nearly a hundred years, they are finding themselves in the company of a throng of newcomers.Distillery construction in Scotland hasn't been this active since the beginning of the 20th century. While new distillers follow the rules and enjoy the cachet associated with the world's most premium spirit, they are also innovative by nature. These new scotch distillers are finding their niche among the ranks of the old guard. For whisky lovers, that means a greater selection of single malts to choose from and fresh directions, including creative approaches to distilling and finishing.
Green LightThe basis for the surge in new distilleries is more than just entrepreneurs chasing a piece of the whisky boom. There are deeper reasons concerning the environment, the subtle ways in which whisky making is changing, regulations...

While whiskey appears in many movies and TV shows, some make it more than prop, embedding it within the culture of the characters to reinforce key ideas. No show has done this better than “Justified.” From the first episode, which premiered on FX on March 16, 2010, to the last, characters are frequently shown with a whiskey in hand, their drink choices reflecting their lifestyle, class, or attitude. Over six seasons and 78 episodes, it established itself as the preeminent show for whiskey lovers. Set in Kentucky, “Justified”—based on the Elmore Leonard short story “Fire in the Hole”—had an ingrained way of featuring a dram. “Liquor is not a throwaway in the show,” David Blass, the show's production designer, tells Whisky Advocate. “It binds everyone together.”
Walton Goggins, who played the whiskey-loving criminal Boyd Crowder and enjoys a whiskey himself, agrees. “Whatever bottle you pulled out, with...

In the world of single malt scotch, Dr. Bill Lumsden is a fearless explorer. With curiosity as his compass, the head of distilling and whisky creation at The Glenmorangie Distillery Co. has created a range of wine cask finishes, harnessed mocha flavors with Glenmorangie Signet, cultivated wild yeast for Allta, and used grain from the property's own barley fields for its Cadboll Estate expression.Now, Lumsden is setting sail on a new ship, as Glenmorangie unveils the Lighthouse, an experimental distillery where he will pursue his wildest whisky dreams. “I clearly will be making products which will be proudly labeled as Glenmorangie single malt scotch whisky, but I have the capability to do all sorts of other things,” says Lumsden. “I haven't really got a crystal-clear picture of everything I'm going to do. And obviously, some of the things are confidential, but it's certainly a distinct possibility that we may have products going into market which are not actually scotch...

You may be planning on gifting a loved one a bottle of whisky this holiday season, but pay mind to their stocking, too, and spice it up with these whisky-centric snacks or a gift card for them. From salty to sweet, these delicious bites call on Irish whiskey, scotch, and Tennessee whiskey to deliver a full tasting experience.Munchable Delights, Paired Perfectly With Whisky
A Poppable Bag of Whisky MiniaturesWe've sung the virtues of the whisky miniin the past—they're portable, inexpensive, and an easy way to try something new. Around the start of football season, Tullamore D.E.W. introduced this 6-pack of minis of its Original Irish whiskey called Tully Chips ($29 through Caskers), giving the sports-minded whisky drinker something new to bring to the watch party. Packaged to look like an actual bag of chips, this works just as great as a fun and surprising holiday gift. And pairing whiskey with chips is a winning combination. Tayto is considered the holy grail of Irish potato...

It’s gift giving season, and if you’re looking for something special for the whisky lover in your life, we've got you covered. There are plenty of snackable gifts available, from popcorn to barbecued ribs, specifically designed to be paired with whiskey. We also have a few other recommendations including books, luggage, and more whisky related items that will enhance your tasting experience. There are some exciting new whiskies out this week that also would make great gifts. Woodford Reserve adds to its Master’s Collection with a beer-inspired malt whiskey, High West brings its High Country single malt to a wider stage, and Barrell Craft Spirits adds two new straight bourbon blends to its lineup. Read on for full details.Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection: Five-Malt Stouted MashStyle: Straight maltOrigin: KentuckyAge: Not statedABV: 45.2%Price: $130Release: December 2021Availability: LimitedNeed to know:A version of Woodford’s straight malt whiskey, this new addition to...

In 2021, Adam Frazier added an MLB All-Star appearance to his résumé and a few choice bottles of bourbon to his bar. “My collection's kind of gotten out of control,” the second baseman says. “I think we're up to 60 or 70 just from the season.”
That's in part because Frazier racked up accolades and whisky bottles at the same time, with Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton awarding bottles based on player performance. For example, Frazier got a bottle of Old Fitzgerald—Shelton's favorite—for being named the starting second baseman for the National League All-Star team, while a bottle of Weller Special Reserve entered his collection with “0-2 to 4-2” scrawled across it in silver marker. Frazier, who finished the 2021 season with a .305 batting average, had turned an 0-2 count into a walk, and scored some bourbon because of it. “We had a system in Pittsburgh. Basically, there's a few bad things that you could do...

While aromas of cinnamon spice, powdered sugar, honey, and the like can certainly be appealing to the nose, sometimes whisky smells straight up like a barnyard—and that’s not a bad thing. The scents that tell a story of life on a farm are unusual and intriguing, conjuring up images of hay bales, weathered planks, dried corn, and more. We dive into what sort of whiskies deliver such barn-adjacent scents here, and offer up three bottles in particular that are certainly worth trying for yourself, whether you are a barnyard fan or not.
This week in new whisky, there's plenty to enjoy. Glenfiddich has launched an entirely new line of luxury single malts, George Dickel 13 year old is the latest release in its Bottled in Bond Series, Kentucky Owl is back with the second edition of its International Collaboration Series, and Sagamore Spirit has a new añejo mezcal cask-finished rye. Read on for more details.

Glenfiddich Time Re:Imagined Collection
Style...

Last Friday, we kicked off the fall WhiskyFest season with WhiskyFest San Francisco, where throngs of whisky lovers came together to enjoy over 400 different whiskies. And last night, the fun continued with WhiskyFest New York, an event that drew even more fans and had plenty of top-tier whisky names in attendance. If you’ve missed out on these events, or want to get in on some superb sipping once more, WhiskyFest Las Vegas is on December 2nd at Resorts World Las Vegas; for now, tickets are still available.
In new whisky this week, there are plenty of limited releases coming out ahead of the holiday season. Angel’s Envy returns with the 11th edition of its cask strength port wine barrel-finished straight bourbon, Booker’s has released its third whiskey of 2022, and Balvenie adds three new rarefied single malts to its Stories lineup. Read on for full details.



ANGEL’S ENVY CASK STRENGTH (2022...

In the high desert country of northwest Nevada, about 75 miles from the California line, lies the city of Fallon. It’s an outpost along cross-country U.S. Route 50, on a stretch of highway known as The Loneliest Road in America for its endless reaches of dusty desert terrain. But Fallon is an oasis in this vast desert, with fertile farmland nurtured by snowmelt from the nearby Sierra Nevada range as well as Lake Tahoe on the California border. This bountiful land is most famous for its rich yields of alfalfa, which is prized by cattle ranchers and thoroughbred breeders around the world.
The Frey family has farmed here since 1854—a decade before Nevada even became a state. Frey Ranch spans about 1,500 acres and cultivates alfalfa as well as wheat, rye, barley, oats, and corn. Today the ranch is stewarded by Colby Frey, who represents the fifth generation of family ownership. Like his forebears, he devotes himself to the land. “I was just irrigating our rye...

With Memorial Day now in the rearview mirror, we cruise toward summer, which means grilling season and all sorts of celebratory occasions. Over in Scotland, the fun got off to an early start this week with Islay's annual Fèis Ìle festival, which finishes up tomorrow. The festivities, which feature music, tastings, food, tours, and other events, are a great way to immerse yourself in the culture of this famous whisky island.  
On this side of the pond, whisky makers have been having a busy week, with a slew of releases ahead of Father's Day and the summer season. Russell's Reserve is back with a new release of its 13 year old, and Woodford Reserve's annual Master's Collection release is out, this one at cask strength. Elsewhere, Teeling has added a new expression to its Wonders of Wood Series, Stranahan's has a red wine cask finished whiskey, and Johnnie Walker’s Cities Series has a new label in the...

As more labels backed by famous faces enter our whiskey aisles, it’s easy to roll your eyes and presume they’re all cash grabs. What can this celebrity actually know about distillation, maturation, and blending? Very little, right? And that’s true for some. 
Not Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley, founders of Brother’s Bond whiskey. 
“We’re meticulously laying barrels down in certain places of the ricks based on when they’re distilled,” Somerhalder tells us. “We’re able to pinpoint flavor profiles this way. October distillate in one particular section always ends up in our rye. We know exactly which [rickhouse] spot that barrel needs.” Somerhalder can talk your ear off about maturation, in a manner of articulation typically reserved for master distillers.
The duo met as actors playing brothers on the hit TV show "Vampire Diaries" and forged a friendship over bourbon, hence the...

The Italian liqueur limoncello is made from lemon zest, with flavors to match. “Limoncello has a bright, zesty, and sweet profile,” says Kate Williams, bar director at Nostrana in Portland, Oregon. “More like a syrup than lemon juice, it can add another layer of citrusy depth to a cocktail while maintaining balance thanks to its alcohol content.”
Williams points out that there’s a general rule in cocktail-making that lime pairs well with clear spirits—think blanco tequila, gin, and vodka—while lemon is a good fit with dark spirits like cognac, amari, and, of course, whisky. “Bourbon, rye, and scotch all work well with limoncello—it’s a match made in boozy heaven,” Williams says.
The Whiskey Sour is perhaps the most well-known whiskey and lemon cocktail, and it makes a great starting point for experimenting with limoncello, allowing you to boost the sweet and zesty lemon flavor while also adding body and texture...

The fourth season of “Succession” reaches its climax this month as the final episode hits our screens. While we can’t wait to find out what happens, it hasn’t escaped our notice that the multi-Emmy-winning HBO Max series about power and politics includes a great deal of imbibing. To toast the last installment, here’s our guide to what to pour into your glass, whether you want to match the choices of the super-rich in key scenes or sip our whisky recommendations inspired by the show’s glamorous locations.
“Succession” follows the fortunes of octogenarian media tycoon Logan Roy as he fights to keep control of Waystar Royco, his global media and entertainment conglomerate. The darkly comic drama sees Roy, played by Brian Cox, negotiate the balance of power over a series of digital media merger and acquisition deals, amid a series of scandals, betrayals, and takeover bids as the next generation makes a play to succeed their father as the...

The cocktail revival of the past two decades saw classics like the Manhattan return to our mixing glasses, an icy mix of bourbon, bitters, and sweet vermouth. However, as inspired bartenders sought the wisdom of the ancients by cracking open century-old cocktail guides, like medievalists digging through Greek manuscripts, they uncovered forgotten secrets. The 1887 edition of Jerry Thomas's Bar-Tender's Guide specified rye whiskey for the drink (other guides were vague, specifying only “whiskey”).“My sense is that rye was probably the more prominent whiskey used in the early days in the Manhattan, simply because it was the more firmly established spirit in the part of the country where much of the Manhattan development and writing was taking place,” says Philip Greene, author of The Manhattan: The Story of the First Modern Cocktail. Now, rye has not only reclaimed its rightful place in classic cocktails, but also expanded its influence into a broader array of drinks.Rye whiskey...

When the blender and ice bucket come out for the season, most push-button mixologists reach for rum or tequila. But don't put away that whisky just yet! Punchy rye, silky Irish, and smooth blended scotch are equally well-suited for creating frozen cocktails that can take the sting out of any heat wave. Each recipe below serves two, or can be scaled up for a crowd. So grab the nearest blender and discover how whisky can make all the difference in the whirled!The Killing JokeRye whiskey pairs with lime juice and a ginger-honey syrup to create this herbal, spicy cocktail.Get the Recipe: The Killing JokeIrish FrappéFans of the Irish Coffee may enjoy this smoothie-fied cocktail, which includes Irish whiskey, Kahlúa, bananas, and cold brew coffee.Get the Recipe: Irish FrappéSwede's SlushieBlended whisky meets fruity blackcurrant and nutty orgeat in this frozen concoction from San Francisco's Elixir.Get the Recipe: Swede's SlushieFruta FrescaWatermelon, blended scotch, and ginger ale...

Who doesn’t love to add a bottle to their bar? And if you read Whisky Weekend regularly, you know there’s no shortage of new releases to track down. But once you’ve invested in your whisky, you want to display it as artfully as possible. This week, we spoke to HGTV star Orlando Soria about how to make your home bar look its very best. Read some of his tips and tricks and add a dash of style to the bar this weekend.New releases this week include bourbons from Heaven Hill and George Dickel, a collaboration between Scottie Pippen and Dave Phinney's Savage & Cooke and more. Read on for full details.Heaven Hill Five Brothers BourbonStyle: Straight bourbonOrigin: KentuckyAge: 5 year old ABV: 45%Price: $60Release: June 2021Availability: Kentucky onlyNeed to know:Heaven Hill's new small-batch bourbon is a blend of whiskeys aged five to nine years old, representing the distillery's five founding brothers. Made from Heaven Hill's traditional bourbon mashbill, this whiskey will be...

Alternative rock group The Smashing Pumpkins has accomplished a lot over the past 36 years. The band, which is known for melancholic melodies like “Try, Try, Try,” “Bullet with Butterfly Wings,” and “1979”, has two Grammys and an AMA award under its belt, and one of its albums debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.
Now, thanks to a partnership with FEW Spirits, a craft distillery based in the band's hometown of Chicago, The Smashing Pumpkins has its own whiskey. 
The new expression starts out as FEW’s flagship bourbon, which was distilled from a mashbill of 70% corn, 20% rye, and 10% two-row malted barley. It was proofed from around 62% to 46.2% ABV using Midnight Rose, a blend of black teas scented with rose petals that’s said to contribute flavors of rose water and sandalwood to the whiskey. The tea comes from Madame ZuZu’s Emporium—a tea shop in Highland Park, Illinois run by The Smashing...

A unique fusion of tequila and wine sensibilities, aged in un-charred Napa Cabernet French White Oak barrels. Its pink hue hints at its complex palate - floral notes blend seamlessly with agave sweetness and hints of deep fruit notes with a bright and floral finish. A versatile choice for both sipping on the rocks and cocktails

With a scrunch of gravel, the snarling engine of the Morgan comes to life. With the roof buttoned down, I pull away from the sidewalk, short-shifting through the low gears to build up speed. Driving modern vehicles can be a passive experience, but a Morgan demands to be actively driven.With Freddie, my father-in-law, as co-driver, we're attempting something quite ambitious; some might call it foolhardy. I've set us the challenge of driving the entire length of the A9 and back again in 48 hours. It's Scotland's longest road, running 273 miles up the spine of the country. This is Scotland's answer to Route 66, with more than a dozen distilleries interspersed along its route. Forevermore, this two-day attempt to tackle the journey from Rosebank distillery in Falkirk to Wolfburn distillery in Thurso and back again will be known as my Whisky Cannonball Run.The car belongs to Alex Stewart of Caledonian Classic Cars, based near Dollar, Clackmannanshire. He runs the Kennels B&B, which has...

Lexington is similar to Louisville and a good choice for the same reasons. It's just smaller and has more of a college town atmosphere, as it hosts both the University of Kentucky and Transylvania University. If you are interested in horses and horse racing, that probably tips it in for Lexington. Keeneland is a historic thoroughbred track and most of Kentucky's horse farms are in the Lexington area. Some welcome visitors but just driving by and admiring them from the road is a popular pastime too. Many visitors love to marvel at the miles and miles of dry-stacked stone walls.The Kentucky Horse Park is the easiest way to have a horsey experience. It includes a working horse farm. Nearby is Old Friends Farm, where thoroughbreds retire.In Lexington, the Gratz Park Inn is a charming alternative to chain hotels. Distilled is their fine dining restaurant and bourbon bar. There are many other good dining and drinking choices in Lexington's compact downtown. Dudley's on Short is great for...

I've bought a time machine. And I'd like to take you back to 1985.It was not a happy time for whisky. As those of us who lived through it will recall, sales were falling—fast—and the roll call of distillery closures in the mid-1980s makes dismal reading. Banff, Brora, Coleburn, Convalmore, Dallas Dhu, Glen Albyn, Glen Esk, Glenlochy, Glen Mhor, Glenugie, Glenury Royal, Hillside, Linlithgow, Millburn, Moffat, North Port, Glen Flagler, Garnheath, and, of course, the long and loudly lamented Port Ellen. All closed, many demolished; none will ever work again.It was an unholy mess. Scotch whisky was, many thought, in terminal decline. As for Irish whiskey…well, basically, apart from novelty coffees, it was dead and gone. “Good ol' boys” may have been drinking whiskey and rye, but no one else was. Japanese whisky was confined to its local market and by the end of the 1980s, that industry too experienced its own wave of savage closures.White rum and vodka ruled and were eventually...

Even if you're more the put-my-whisky-in-a-glass-and-let-me-hear-no-more-of-it drinker than the sort who doesn't cringe at the shrill bark of the cocktail as it is shaken, you should still know how a few essential drinks are mixed. You have friends, after all, and presumably they're not all exactly like you. And who knows: learn to make or at least identify a proper cocktail and your opinion of the things might “evolve,” as they say these days. At the very least, such knowledge arms you against incompetent or, even worse, creative bartenders.It helps that you don't need to master all that many drinks. Only a few whisky drinks are truly important, to the degree a drink can be important (ask me how much that is at 6:00 this evening). Here are a magnificent seven, one for each day of the week. Between them, they should cover almost any contingency that calls for a cocktail or other mixed drink. I've left out Highballs and other self-evident drinks, ones where there's no trick to...

Where can I see a smoking pagoda? Look to the skies at Bowmore, Laphroaig, and Kilchoman for the tell-tale puffs of smoke billowing out through the slatted panels of the pagoda chimney, though kilning does not take place every day.Where can I see floor malting in operation at a distillery?Oddly enough, at all the places with smoking pagodas. If you're lucky, the distillery guide will let you have a go at pulling the rake through the barley.Don't tell me I can have a go at digging peat on Islay too?Yes, you can! You want to book yourself on Laphroaig's Water to Whisky Experience for the afternoon. Alternatively, spoil yourself with Bowmore's Master Distiller's tour and get your hands dirty lifting peat that could help flavor Bowmore single malt in the future.Can I taste Islay whisky straight from the cask?You bet! Several distilleries can make this dream come true if you choose the right tour. Check out the options for Ardbeg, Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain, and Laphroaig.Can I take a...

Deftly preparing the carcass with her trusty six-inch paring knife, Rachel Hammond is an army of one. She quit the rat race of London for a rustic life in the Scottish Borders, and over the last three years she's become a self-taught butcher and maker of exceptionally fine charcuterie. Rachel's insistence on traceability, quality, and traditional methods has ensured that everything she sells is deliciously superior and a feast for the senses.The Hammond Charcuterie curing space is drafty, dark, and damp, the ideal conditions helped by being located just 100 yards from Eyemouth harbor. Her sublime air-dried ham starts at a farm about six miles away, where she deliberately selects rare-breed pigs. “Tamworths are fantastic for bacon and pancetta and they make really good sausages from the front end, where they've got this lovely, dark, gamey meat,” she explains, “that's had 18 months air drying, which means that it's fully cured. Most hams are not cured to that extent, so they...

A truly exceptional whisky requires time, patience, and a lot of tasting along the way. You can't make it if you don't love drinking it. Indeed, for most whisky makers, sampling spirit is much less a chore than it is a cherished perk of the job. But even master distillers enjoy an occasional break from the brown stuff. When they're not enjoying the fruits of their own labor, you'd be surprised at just how varied their tastes can be. Whisky Advocate tracked down a number of off-duty distillers to reveal what they were hiding in the mug.David Stewart, Balvenie Winemakers are fond of saying, “It takes a lot of beer to make wine,” and it seems the truism applies to whisky makers too. “I'm a great fan of Guinness and this is what I would generally order when I'm in a bar with my friends or colleagues. I enjoy a beer with a lot of flavor and complexity,” reveals David Stewart, malt master of Balvenie Distillery. The industry legend, who has a 50-year pedigree at Balvenie and...

Whisky auctions can open the door to a world of whiskies you never dreamed you would taste. While auctions may seem daunting at first, once you familiarize yourself with the process—from reserve prices to buyer's premiums—you'll be bidding like a pro in no time. Use this guide to get started at both online and live auctions. Good luck!Get Familiar With What's Out ThereWhisky auctions have flourished online over the past decade, though the major name legacy auction houses still host the impressive spectacle of the auctioneer cajoling bids before bringing the gavel thumping down with aplomb. Online auctions offer the newcomer the discretion of round-the-clock bidding from the relative anonymity of a computer, tablet, or phone, sidestepping the need for familiarity with the rituals and conventions of the saleroom.Browse different auction websites to look at the type of bottles you could acquire. (Get full details on Where to Buy, the 10 Most Collectible Distilleries, and Great...

Ian Macleod Distillers announced that it will reopen Rosebank Distillery after acquiring the trademark from Diageo and agreeing to acquire the site from Scottish Canals. The project—which includes a visitor center, along with production and warehousing—will cost £10 million to £12 million ($13.2 million to $15.9 million), and construction is projected to take about two years, with a goal to begin distillation by 2019. In the meantime, Ian Macleod has also acquired all Diageo's remaining stocks of Rosebank whisky—just "several dozen casks," according to Ian Macleod's operations director Gordon Doctor. The company will release that old whisky bit by bit until the modern liquid is mature.Located on the Forth & Clyde Canal that runs between Edinburgh and Glasgow, Rosebank was founded in 1840 and closed in 1993. Its owners, United Distillers (now Diageo), sold the site to British Waterways (also known as Scottish Canals) in 2002 while retaining the trademark for the Rosebank...

Tullamore D.E.W. has made ribbon cutting obsolete. For the opening of their new distillery on October 19th 2017, a bottle of Tullamore D.E.W. was smashed against a grain column like the launching of a ship, eliciting cheers from the assembled guests. The grain distillery's opening comes three years after Tullamore began production at its malt and pot still whiskey distillery, located adjacent to the new facility. After a $70m investment, Tullamore D.E.W. has been transformed: long blended from sourced whiskey, the brand's production is now going grain to glass.The Rebirth of Tullamore D.E.W.Tullamore, Co. Offaly is a busy little country town in the center of Ireland, an hour west of Dublin. It's the original site of the Old Tullamore distillery (1829-1954) that was once owned by Daniel E. Williams (his initials put the D.E.W. in the whiskey). William Grant & Sons, best known as the family behind Glenfiddich and Balvenie in Scotland, purchased the Tullamore D.E.W. brand in 2010...

You spot a great value bottle of your favorite single malt on the shelf. The price seems right, but the label is strangely unfamiliar. Chances are it's from an “independent bottler” rather than the distillery itself—a third-party operator in the business of buying casks, either singly or in parcels, and bottling them under their name, even though for the most part the original distillery is clearly identified.But operations such as Cadenhead's, Gordon & MacPhail, Signatory, Berry Bros. & Rudd, Adelphi, and others do much more than just bottle whisky. At their best, they are curators, brokers, and stewards during good times and bad who have given whisky lovers some remarkable drams at what now seems like incredible value. But as markets evolve around them, their continued survival has dictated a change in their commercial identity: today some are also blenders, while others have become distillery owners in their own right. A Brief Lesson in HistoryOnce upon a time—not...

The Monongahela River winds its way slowly from West Virginia to Pittsburgh, where it merges with the Allegheny to become the Ohio River. Centuries ago, farmer-distillers worked the Monongahela Valley, growing rye and distilling it into a distinct style of whiskey that took the region's name. Monongahela rye was the first American whiskey style to gain widespread recognition, both here and abroad. It became notorious due to an uprising among its distillers on the western frontier. The Whiskey Rebellion pushed back against taxation, and was quelled at the command of President George Washington.Originally an unaged product, the regional whiskey gained a meaningful prefix once people became familiar with the delicious, red-hued barrel-aged version: “Old” Monongahela. In fact, in 1794, while trying to mediate a confrontation with the rebels, former state assemblyman Hugh Henry Brackenridge explicitly referred to the whiskey's barrel-aging: “The people were mad. It never came into my...

From the outside, whisky collecting seems like an exclusive sport, a world of international auction houses, unattainable Japanese whisky, and pre-Prohibition bottles of bourbon. But not everyone who appreciates art has to own a Basquiat. Beyond the most rarefied whiskies and record-breaking bottles is a much larger, much more accessible realm of collectible whiskies. Collecting doesn't have to be expensive or time consuming—and above all else, it should be fun.Collecting TypesThere are a few kinds of whisky collectors. Trophy hunters might buy for personal satisfaction or investment, but they tend to target rare current releases—think Pappy Van Winkle or Buffalo Trace Antique Collection—and cult distilleries like Ardbeg and Karuizawa (see our story on the most collectible distilleries, page 76). These are superb whiskies, but they're beyond the reach of most people, even most collectors. The second type, dusty hunters, chase the best vestiges of whisky history, lost treasures...

Finding rare whisky on the shelf—a practice dubbed “whisky antiquing”—isn't seek and destroy, but rather, a search and enjoy mission. Follow these steps to securing liquid gems.Assess Your AspirationsRecord an inventory of the whiskies you own and the styles you drink most. You probably already have more expertise than you even realize, so apply extra focus here when hunting.Establish a PerimeterPick a central starting point and establish a radius for your search. Search for “liquor stores,” “wine shops,” “package stores,” and “wine and spirits” on Yelp and Google Maps. Chart a route, paying close attention to opening and closing times.Search High and LowAny store can hold treasure. Old, run-down stores are more likely to have dusty bottles. Upscale wine shops often harbor limited-edition scotches and other spirits. High-volume shops and chains get larger allocations of rare whisky. Snoop around in beach towns and seasonal destinations in the off-season.Make a...

A new year means a whole new crop of whiskies entering our buying guide—both recent releases and tried-and-true expressions. Topping our Spring 2018 list is Johnnie Walker Blue Label, a grail for many, and a dram of exceptional reputation. Also included is a standout from the Balvenie DCS Compendium Chapter 3, a collection of five handpicked whiskies representing each of the decades that Malt Master David Stewart has spent with the company. The full collection is available to sample as a flight or individually at the Four Seasons' Ty Bar in New York.Meanwhile, it's all about the oak for Yamazaki's 2017 Mizunara Cask 18 year old and the latest in Midleton's Dair Ghaelach virgin Irish oak series. Another 18 year old, this one a straight rye whiskey from Redemption, shows off the effect of long aging on American whiskey.Elsewhere, there are echoes of the Top 20 Whiskies of 2017, as Compass Box Phenomenology scores 94 points, and Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch C917, the follow-up batch...

You've amassed a collection of whiskies, properly inventoried every bottle—and if you haven't, read this guide—and now you want to make sure that your investment is secure. It's time to get an appraisal. Whether it's for insurance purposes, or because you are selling at auction, an accurate valuation of your whiskies will be essential. And who knows? Your collection may be worth much more than you think.
Why Insure Your Bottles?
“Insurance is there to put you back in the same financial position that you were in immediately prior to an insured event happening, such as a loss,” explains Alexandra Richards, a private client development executive at Bruce Stevenson Insurance Brokers in Scotland. The company specializes in brokering private client insurance in the UK and has access to household policies that accommodate high-value wine and whisky collections. They also work with whisky brokers, independent bottlers, and new distillery owners to arrange their...

The taste of a fine whisky in the company of good friends just makes you feel good. Choosing a whisky that gives to a worthy cause, whether it's conservation, military veterans, or historical preservation, can make the moment even more satisfying.When you sip some Macallan or Highland Park this holiday season, raise a toast to Edrington, the company that owns the brands and the largest independent grant-making trust in Scotland. The Robertson sisters, whose grandfather founded Edrington, set up The Robertson Trust, which remains Edrington's largest shareholder and allocates all its dividends to charitable giving. Since 2012 the trust has directed over £5.5 million to international charities.Edrington also offers a generous double-match for contributions to charities by individual employees, ranging from regional food banks to the Kaohsiung Autism Foundation in Taiwan. Yet most Macallan fans are content to admire the whisky for its flavor. “It's not about pushing the brand forward...

There's a new whisky for just about every taste this week, from bourbon and Tennessee whiskey to an array of peated and non-peated scotches.Jack Daniel's is rolling out its latest single barrel, a limited-edition whiskey that was aged in so-called "heritage" barrels made in a 19th-century style with more toasting and a lighter char. Priced at $65 a bottle, just 200 barrels are being bottled.Woodford Reserve has announced plans to release not one, but two Master's Collection whiskeys this year: Select American Oak, a bourbon aged in Ozark oak barrels, and Oat Grain, a bourbon made with—you guessed it—oats in the mashbill. Available in limited amounts, each whiskey costs $130.Over in Scotland, Ardbeg is releasing its latest Twenty Something, a 22 year old single malt that hails from the days when the distillery was infrequently in operation. The 46.4% ABV whisky costs $550 and will be available in limited amounts.Highland Park's newest special edition is hitting shelves. Valknut...

In an industrial section of Los Angeles, a fantasy jungle grows inside a warehouse. Populated by animatronic topiary dinosaurs, talking plastic parrots, and an autonomous AI personality named Tessa, this steampunk theme park houses Lost Spirits Distillery. Here, ideas about whisky—and whisky itself—are deliberately challenged, broken apart, and remade.Lost Spirits founder Bryan Davis ushers me aboard a flat-bottomed wooden boat, which he pilots through darkness filled with simulated thunder and wind, toward an “island” of tiny fermenters and pot stills topped with dragon heads. Here, behind a heavy wooden door, in a starkly bare room, futuristic-looking devices emit otherworldly bright light, while hoses snake like tentacles to the ceiling. It all appears too outlandish to be true, but Davis has a slightly mad twinkle in his eyes and chuckles as he tells me, “One thing you'll catch as you go through this: all the jokes are real.” It would be easy to dismiss Davis as a...

Dave Pickerell, former Maker's Mark master distiller and the creative force behind such whiskey brands as WhistlePig, Metallica's Blackened, and Hillrock Estate, passed away on November 1, 2018 in San Francisco. He was 62.With his signature wide-brimmed hat, huge smile, and warm embraces, Pickerell was both a beloved and a legendary figure in American whiskey. A 1978 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he played football, he later went on to earn a master's degree in chemical engineering from the University of Louisville. That expertise led him to a position at Maker's Mark starting in 1994; for the next 14 years, he oversaw the creation of the Kentucky bourbon just as American whiskey was slowly emerging from a period of low demand.Pickerell anticipated the boom in American craft whiskey ahead of many of his peers. After departing Maker's in 2008, he began working as a consultant to numerous small distilleries, helping them with equipment and set-up...

The wash that goes into a whiskey still is sometimes called distiller's beer, but this un-hopped fermented liquid tastes nothing like your favorite IPA. Now though, some craft whiskey producers are distilling the same craft beers you could buy off the shelf, with tasty results. “The overarching philosophy behind it is if you have a good product going in, you have a good product going out,” says Clint Potter, cofounder of San Francisco's Seven Stills Brewery & Distillery.At Berkshire Mountain Distillers in Massachusetts, founder and distiller Chris Weld finds fodder across the panorama of American craft beer—everything from Samuel Adams Boston Lager to Terrapin Hopsecutioner IPA and even Belgian-style ales. Each whiskey carries the DNA and flavors of the beer it was made from. “It's for the beer geeks,” Weld says. “They like to see the genetics of the beer come through.” After aging for at least 4 years in oak, Weld's spirits also showcase rich, complex flavors more...

Irish whiskey lovers are luckier than ever. More blended Irish whiskeys have appeared in the last five years than in the previous 50. The transformation of blended Irish whiskey from a lifeline thrown by the few surviving distillers of Ireland to the life force driving forward one of the most thrilling whiskey-making nations is a truly remarkable feat. Irish pot still whiskey and Irish single malts deserve the love of aficionados, but for Ireland, the blend is savior, champion, protector, hero, and guardian angel.Learn Everything You Need to Know About Irish WhiskeyUnlike their Scottish counterparts, Irish blenders often work with whiskeys made under their own roof, which originated out of necessity given the dearth of Irish distillers throughout the 20th century. Furthermore, Irish blends can be made from any combination of the three distinct styles of whiskey produced in Ireland. This differs profoundly from blending in Scotland, where blenders combine just two styles, but many...

Aside from perhaps only Pappy Van Winkle, Japanese whisky has become the most sought-after commodity by many American drinkers. And with good reason: It tends to be consistently delicious, refined, and complex. While some Japanese whiskies remain affordable and available—like the 2018 Whisky of the Year, Nikka From The Barrel—that isn't true for many bottles. The category's meteoric rise in the last decade caught Japanese distilleries off-guard, and supplies of mature whisky have become scarce. Thus, all the great age-statement Yamazaki and Hibiki bottles you could have easily found a decade ago have virtually disappeared from shelves.It's time to move on—or at least find a few alternatives.Outside of Japan, not many Asian nations are producing whisky. There are distilleries starting to pop up here and there, and nascent makers in unexpected countries like Indonesia and Bhutan, but few have produced anything for export so far. Instead, if you want the next great Asian whisky...

Whether you love or hate peated whisky, there is no doubting the immense industry behind it. Peat itself is densely compressed, decayed vegetation that looks like clumps or bricks of mud. So how does that translate to smoke flavor? The scotch industry has it all figured out, with these four professions playing key roles in delivering peat from the bog to the bottle.The Peat CutterThis seasonal position on a remote Hebridean island requires strength and stamina, coupled with a tolerance for dirty, repetitive tasks. Cutting turf from the earth into bricks for drying is accomplished outdoors regardless of weather conditions, often ranging from wet and windy to blazing hot. Competence with highly specialized tools is required. Working conditions may include mud, snakes, and biting insects.As soon as I was strong enough, I was helping my Dad to cut peat, and I hated it!” recalls John Campbell, the distillery manager at Laphroaig. Like generations of families on Islay, the Campbells cut...

In a series of old candy commercials the actors would bump into each other, accidentally mixing peanut butter with chocolate, and voila, the peanut butter cup was invented: two great tastes that taste great together. One can imagine a similar conjunction of cigars and spirits: one reveler arrives with cigars, the other with whisky; they share and “Boy, don't these go well together?” The difference is that smoke and liquor flavor combinations are endless, from not only chocolate and peanuts, but vanilla, maple, toffee, a wealth of herbs and spices, leather, fruits, and the possibilities go on.But when faced with myriad choices it can be difficult to know where to begin. The good news is a few simple guidelines will get you on your way. The great news is you'll never work your way through all the options as you try to demonstrate again and again what has been known for centuries: the drink bone's connected to the smoke bone.4 Foolproof Scotch and Cigar PairingsThe cardinal rule is...

The world of whisky is ever-expanding, extending into your medicine cabinet and onto the baseball field. That means there are more options and opportunities to educate and enjoy and if you are serious about either, a proper plan is best. Pursue your best whisky life with these 10 tips.1. Start a Tasting ClubStarting a regularly scheduled tasting club is a great way to form friendships and advance your whisky knowledge. It can be as formal or casual as you like, says Jim Holdsworth, who runs the Passen Cotty Scotch Club in western Massachusetts. “We'll have a theme, as many as 10 to 20 whiskies,” says Holdsworth. “Scotch, rye, a wood-finished theme, wounded soldiers—we'll take pictures of the empty bottles. It's an event.” Use these 5 tips to start your own vibrant whisky club.Scout for members: Start with your favorite specialty whisky retailer. “They already know the heavy hitters in the area, and are probably in touch with [them],” says Jim. They might post a flyer or...

For many drinkers, bourbon can be a bit too sweet,” says Todd Leopold, distiller and co-founder at Leopold Bros. in Denver. “The American palate—at least for foodies—is moving very, very rapidly away from sweet and over into savory, bitter, and hot [as in Scoville hot]. Think of how popular bitter IPAs and aperitifs [Campari, Aperol] have become. This was unthinkable 25 years ago.” This is very good news for rye whiskey. Although it is still a small sliver of the American whiskey category, rye is finding fans among discerning drinkers who relish complex, often intense flavors, and it's finding its niche in both cocktails and for straight sipping.Because Kentucky and Tennessee are so closely associated with bourbon and its kissing cousin, Tennessee whiskey, rye gives far-flung distillers, like Leopold Bros., a way to sidestep those comparisons. Leopold Bros. deems their rye a Maryland-style, which they characterize as fruity, floral, and lightly oaked. They are experimenting...

For likely as long as whisky has existed, people have enjoyed it to the accompaniment of great music. Whisky has inspired its fair share of songs too, with numerous artists weaving it into their work. Now some musicians are taking it even further, integrating their art straight into the bottle. Blackened might be the most well-known of the moment, aged to the thump of Metallica's oeuvre, but many other whiskies now boast a musician's endorsement—and in some cases, their heavy involvement.Matching Flavor Profile to Musical StyleThe experience of enjoying whisky and music together inspired DJ and producer TommyD to create his own brand, a single grain whisky called 8O8. “Alcohol and music have gone hand-in-hand for centuries—there's nothing new about this,” he says. “So it's not an unreasonable connection to make. Music is intrinsically part of the 8O8 whisky DNA.” Inspired by the TR-808 drum machine commonly used in electronic dance music, 8O8 whisky caters to the dance...

The perfect summer vacation is an escape from life's stresses, full of new experiences, and a break from our daily routine. This summer, take the same approach with whisky: Get out of the rut of your usual, rejuvenate your palate, and bask in the glory of blended scotch. For those in the know, blended scotch has always been an indisputable classic, and for those experiencing it for the first time, current trends in crafting blends make them feel fresh, breezy, and perfect for the season. Best of all, blends have remarkable versatility—they rule the day in summer, where they shimmer in a long drink, blend beautifully into a cocktail, chill comfortably on the rocks, then languish neat after sunset.Single malt elitists take note: The existence and popularity of blends is the very reason there are more than 120 whisky distilleries flourishing in Scotland today. Blended scotch is an assembly of multiple malt and grain whiskies from distilleries across Scotland. Scotch whisky blenders...

Some filmmakers seem to have a special penchant for whisky, using it over and over again in character development and during crucial plot points. Quentin Tarantino films are characterized by their snappy dialogue, reverence for bygone cinematic eras, and graphic violence, but just there within the frame is another frequent theme: whisky. Sometimes it's a subtle reference, and other times it plays a key role in the action, but when whisky shows up in Tarantino's movies, it's always with purpose. (Warning: Spoilers ahead.)
What you drink is part of who you are, and Tarantino uses this idea to tell us about his characters. For example, in “Inglourious Basterds,” General Ed Fenech (Mike Myers) isn't a major presence, but one detail we learn is that his drink is “Whiskey, straight. No junk in it.” His drink style reflects his commanding style: to the point with no dilution.Beyond whisky, characters reveal key traits through their drinking habits. Ordell (Samuel...

When news broke on Aug. 17 that spirits giant Diageo had acquired a company called Davos Brands, the focus was on Aviation gin, the jewel of the Davos portfolio, which is backed by actor Ryan Reynolds. But sharp-witted whisky lovers may also have remembered that Davos has a partnership with Texas' Balcones Distilling—and wondered what would happen to it.The good news is that, for now, Balcones' prospects seem secure, as Davos has no ownership stake in Balcones itself. “The agreement that we have with Davos, which kicked off on Jan. 1, is simply a sales support agreement,” Balcones chairman Greg Allen tells Whisky Advocate. “We did not sell them any equity, and therefore, when Diageo purchased them, Diageo didn't purchase any equity. So the post-Davos-Diageo deal, from our point of view, is really no different than [before], because Diageo and Davos have told us that Davos is going to operate independently from Diageo.” But Allen believes the deal could have...

Guests love guidance—from where to hang their coats to what to drink. An open-ended “What can I get you to drink?” is too often met with blank stares or indecision. All the better reason to make whisky the center of your get-together. By building a party around a whisky theme, you'll share your passion with friends, secure your position as a great entertainer, and ensure a carefree evening. With a little pre-planning, there's nothing to do but pour a dram and watch it all fall into place.“Whisky makes a great theme for a party because, one, it's delicious and, two, it's a conversation starter,” says Katie Garrett, owner and founder of Old Hickory Whiskey Bar in Pensacola, Fla. “Since everyone has different palates and preferences, discussions about which whisky is ‘best' can be exciting and sometimes intense, but always entertaining.”Whisky is a big universe, with a lot of ground to cover, so it can be helpful to narrow your focus and give your party a theme that...

You might not expect to find a trio of friends enjoying one another's company over cigars at a private cigar lounge to be discussing Jell-O shots—but for Whisky Blasphemy, those are the exact circumstances that brought the group to fruition.“
We're all members at Holt's cigar club in Philadelphia and there was an older gentleman there who was a big fan of Johnnie Walker Blue, and we all loved him but we used to tease him because he would never drink anything else no matter how much we tried to convince him,” says Judd Weisgal, who co-founded Whisky Blasphemy with friends Matt Kinson and Jun Nunez. “Then one day we were at the club and Matt, who's a smart aleck of the highest order, said, ‘We should make Johnnie Walker Blue Jell-O shots just to mess with this guy.'”
Want to Meet More Great Whisky Clubs? Click Here
The rest is history, as they say. While the trio never ended up making those gelatin delicacies, it did open up a conversation...

David Landrum is the founder of Two James Spirits, a small distillery in Detroit. His buddy, Jacques Driscoll, runs Johnny Noodle King, a nearby ramen shop. Driscoll was planning a bar program for the restaurant and asked Landrum if he might create a whiskey to complement his umami-rich broths.“I was an art student,” says Landrum. “I've always been pushed by creativity. I like to keep making new things.”He had been drinking a lot of Asian teas and lapsang souchong, a Chinese smoked tea, came to mind. It was a source of inspiration. Landrum infused a blend of corn and rye whiskeys with lapsang souchong and two other Asian teas. He calls it Johnny Smoking Gun. Driscoll loved it. Both the noodle shop and Two James's tasting room serve it in cocktails and also neat with a “broth back.”Interesting? Yes. Unique? Sure. Innovative? Absolutely! But is it whiskey?That question sits at an intersection of art, craft, tradition, culture, law, commerce, imagination, taste—and probably...

Rum and whisky are born of different parents—whisky from grains, rum from sugar cane. But then comes the upbringing, when these two often find themselves in the same classroom with the same teacher. They begin to talk like one another. Those classrooms are, of course, white oak barrels, which impart their own distinctive flavor to any spirit over time. It's this barrel aging that can transform a clear Caribbean cocktail mixer into a rum deserving of slow sipping and contemplation.
The Whisky Lover's Guide to Rum
The longer rum and whisky are aged, the more their tastes converge. After 3 years they may start to share a similar flavor profile, with tannins and vanilla and caramel notes taking the lead over their respective raw materials. After 5 or 6 years, they're all but finishing each other's sentences. This process of convergence is accelerated by the fact that rums are typically aged in barrels that formerly held bourbon, imbuing them with an initial burst of borrowed...

Thanksgiving is behind us and December approaches, but the wave of new whiskies only builds.First up, Bowmore has partnered with Aston Martin to launch a new expression of Black Bowmore. The 31 year old whisky is priced at $65,000, with just 25 bottles available.Fellow Islay distiller Ardbeg has debuted a slightly younger single malt with a much more reasonable price. Ardbeg 25 year old Aged and Caged is priced at $850, and is a permanent part of the lineup.George Dickel is now offering single barrels at 15 years old. The recommended price for each bottle is $60, with limited amounts available.A trio of whiskies from Japan's Mars Shinshu and Tsukuni distilleries is hitting the U.S.: the widely available Mars Iwai 45 ($35), the limited-edition Mars Komagatake ($169), and the very limited Tsunuki the First ($220), which has just 1,122 bottles.Three whiskeys from Clyde May's are rolling out now: a 6 year old single-barrel straight bourbon ($50), 8 year old straight rye ($50), and 12 year...

Forgive us if we get romantic about our whisky, but some drams make it easy to fall in love. Whisky aromas can be described as fragrant and floral, textures can be lush and velvety, and some pours even have transportive abilities. Perhaps a whisky reminds you of time spent abroad, or a certain home-cooked dish, or even a special person—and suddenly, you're reliving some of your fondest memories.Any day can be a great whisky occasion, but sharing a dram with someone you love—whether a partner, friend, or family member—on Valentine's Day can heighten your enjoyment. Try pairing it with the usual treats of the day, like chocolates—this year, Woodford Reserve has teamed up with Memphis-based Phillip Ashley Chocolates to craft custom sweets to pair with its Double Oaked Bourbon. Or make your own special delicacy, like bourbon balls or donuts with maple-bourbon glaze. You might even try a whisky-chocolate cocktail.Or check out one of the whiskies below, whose names...

Barrel-proof whiskey—which has no additional water added before bottling—consistently delivers big, bold aromas and flavors. For many whiskey drinkers, this uncut, minimally filtered liquid is as good as it gets. “If you ask any distiller—especially a bourbon distiller—what is their best bourbon, it would always be straight out of the barrel,” says Wild Turkey master distiller Eddie Russell.As Russell notes, bourbon might be considered the poster child for big proof, since in Kentucky, proof almost always increases with time in the barrel (unlike Scotland, where proof generally dwindles over decades). As whiskey matures, some liquid is lost to evaporation—known as the angels' share. In hot, dry climates, the barrel loses water at a faster rate than alcohol, so the whiskey's strength increases over time. The environment of the particular warehouse and a barrel's specific location further influence a whiskey's final measure of alcohol by volume (ABV). A whiskey that is...

There's nothing like a good whisky, except, perhaps, another good whisky. Yet even whisky lovers may decide to take a break from time to time for medical, religious, or other reasons. Whatever the motive, abstaining no longer means a choice of just soda or seltzer. Now there is a range of alcohol-free alternatives for when you're off the sauce or just want to lighten the proof load of your usual tipple.
“The vast majority of consumers are not necessarily vigilantly sober daily,” says Lauren Chitwood, who co-founded Spiritless in 2019 and serves as its CEO. “They're really just looking to curb consumption and increase moderation.” Spiritless's first product, Kentucky 74, is a dealcoholized “whiskey” that's made in a two-step process. First, grain neutral spirit and oak are combined in a pot still, using pressure, vapor, and temperature variations to create a highly concentrated extract. The resulting liquid is put into a second pot still and...

In our “What's It Worth?” series, Whisky Advocate auction correspondent Jonny McCormick examines the current collectability of a distillery or brand.Midleton master distiller Kevin O'Gorman recently unveiled the release of Midleton Very Rare 2022. This long-running series has become the most traded Irish whiskey at auction, so with the new release marking the 39th bottling in the series, we examine the highest auction values for Midleton Very Rare vintages released by Brian Nation, O'Gorman's predecessor as Midleton master distiller, whose signature adorned the bottles released during 2014 to 2020. When Barry Crockett launched the first release of Midleton Very Rare in 1984, the international market for Irish whiskey was markedly smaller than it is today. But Crockett had instituted a policy of laying down 100 casks of top-quality stock every year for future use in Midleton Very Rare as it found its place in the hearts of Irish whiskey lovers. That decision bears fruit to this...

Jamar Mack has bourbon in his bones. He recalls “smelling mash being fermented before I even knew what bourbon was,” while growing up three blocks from Brown-Forman's Louisville headquarters. He's since developed a passion for Kentucky's famed spirit, continuing the tradition of his grandfather who “drank Early Times ‘til the day he died.”
In 2017, Mack and a couple of fellow bourbon lovers banded together to form Kentucky's Original Black Bourbon Enthusiasts (KOBBE), looking to fulfill a need: In Kentucky at the time, “there was no group that was truly welcoming people of color,” Mack explains. KOBBE is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing African American participation in the bourbon community. Their philanthropic endeavors include giving back to low-income Louisville communities and raising funds by auctioning prized bottles. The group's stated mission—“Drink good bourbon, keep good company, do good...

Matthew Kelley would like to clarify that his son is not named Dingle. In April 2019, Kelley had plans to visit Ireland for the launch of Dingle's first single malt. An avid Irish whiskey fan, he couldn't wait for the trip. That same year, Kelley and his wife, Ashley, learned that they would be expecting their first child together, with the doctor's visit that revealed the baby's sex occurring on the same day his plane was to depart.The two agreed to wait until he returned to South Carolina to share the news with their family, but with a sonogram image tucked inside his passport, Kelley had to tell someone. “Being impatient and wanting to share the news, 10 hours later, I'm huddled up in a pub over in Dublin, sharing this information, this news that we're having a little boy, with some of my closest friends in Ireland,” he says. The trip turned into quite the celebration, and while he has a bottle stashed from that event to share with his son once he comes of age, the...

The French may have popularized charcuterie as we know it today—and gave it the name, which comes from their words for flesh (chair) and cooked (cuit)—but salting and smoking meats to preserve them dates back to at least ancient Rome. “Since there was only so much pork loin, beef rib eye, and tenderloin to go around, Romans would chop, mince, and grind all parts of the animal and stuff the innards with this meat, plus salt and spices, and then roast them over an open fire,” says Kevin Ouzts, owner, executive chef, and charcutier of The Spotted Trotter in Atlanta. 
While wine and cheese make a natural pairing, whisky and charcuterie are just as delicious together. The flavors you’ll find on a charcuterie board are similar to those of many whiskies—including smoke, brine, fruit, and spice—and enjoying them together enhances the flavors of both. With so many different meats, cheeses, and other ingredients that make up a charcuterie...

Some people love whisky, but most everyone loves dogs, and when vacation time comes, nowadays people are increasingly inclined to bring along the family pooch. Indeed, demand for dog travel is so high these days that many hotels, restaurants, and attractions that once catered only to humans have opened their doors to pets. The trend fueled the recent record use of private jets, and NetJets now even provides its staff with canine training. But you don’t need a private jet to have a great vacation with your best buddy in Kentucky, where the nation’s richest whiskey culture offers an extraordinary level of dog-friendly amenities. Call it Southern hospitality, canine-style.

Day One
Welcome to Louisville! Start your trip in Kentucky’s biggest city with a visit to something few other cities boast: a “dog park bar.” PG&J is a full-blown, indoor/outdoor off-leash dog park and bar, and like all the best fur-friendly spots, it’s named for...

This summer, for the 10th time in its history, Royal Troon golf club on Scotland’s windswept west coast will host the British Open, formally known as the Open Championship. The surrounding area is one that can be described as a golfer’s dream: Prestwick Golf Club, where the Open Championship was first contested in 1860, is just five miles up the road, and a half-dozen other prominent courses lie within a 45-minute radius. Less well-known is the fact that this region is also a great corner of Scotland for whisky lovers to explore.

There are so many fun whisky experiences nearby this part of Scotland’s western shore that you could construct a multi-day whisky itinerary from Troon. Your main base of operations should be the Marine Troon Hotel, where Curtis McConnell, manager of the hotel’s The Seal Bar, likes to mix and shake with scotch. McConnell and his team will often research the origins of a scotch whisky, delving into the distillery’s...

“Every day, I’m paranoid someone will open a bottle of something I’ve picked and call me a hack,” says co-founder and co-owner of Rare Character Whiskey Company Pablo Moix. The 49 year old entrepreneur still struggles to wrap his head around the exploding success of Rare Character bottles; all of which are personally selected by him. “Selling bottles at $99, knowing they’ll hit resale markets for $400 or more, and having it not drink like a $400 and the buyer is upset—that pressure is intense,” Moix says, adding, “I have no fallback plan; this has to work.”
But work it has. Rare Character Whiskey Company has become the next “it” brand in American whiskey.
What started as a pandemic business in 2021 has blown up into six sub-brands, each with rabid followings, many of which are already selling at ten times the suggested retail price at Sotheby's and Unicorn Auctions. Rare Character (RC) fan groups on...

After more than 20 successful years in the country music industry, singer-songwriter Dierks Bentley is trying his hand at a new venture: bourbon. A longtime whiskey drinker, Bentley launches his Row 94 whiskey label today. It’s been a passion project for Bentley, and one he’s spent a couple of years working on through a partnership with Green River Distilling in Owensboro, Kentucky.
Row 94 debuts with this straight bourbon, which features a high-rye mashbill (70% corn, 21% rye, and 9% malted barley) and is bottled at 47% ABV (94 proof, a tie-in to the brand name). It’s aged for 4 years in new white oak barrels with a No. 4 char. Row 94 ($40) initially launches in Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, Colorado, Arizona, and row94whiskey.com, with additional states expected in 2025.
For Bentley, the parallels between country music and whiskey made the transition to bourbon-making feel natural. In an exclusive interview with Whisky Advocate, Bentley noted that whiskey...

Let's be real: You aren't going to transport your entire bar cart to the beach or a neighborhood barbecue. In the outdoor bustle of summer, convenience reigns supreme, and that makes ready-to-drink cocktails ideal. Toss one into your tote bag before a picnic, or keep some chilled for when you're short on time but want a mixed drink. We'll be the first to tell you that nothing can top a handmade cocktail, but in a pinch, these ready-to-drink options satisfy a variety of needs. Stay versatile this summer and add one or several of these packaged cocktails to your repertoire.
Make a Splash with one of these Whiskey RTDs
Cold Hamer Highball, 7% ABV, $13/4-355 ml cans
West Fork Whiskey Co. cans two drinks—this Highball and a Snapback (7% ABV) made with ginger and lime. Both cocktails use the distillery's Old Hamer bourbon. We like the Highball, made with all-natural lemon and soda water, as an alternative to wildly popular hard seltzers. It's refreshing at a low 130...

Denver was one of the birthplaces of the craft brewing movement, which led to craft distilleries, some helmed by pioneering brewers. The city boasts some of the nation’s oldest craft distilleries, with an unusually strong focus on whiskey compared to other spirits, especially American single malt. But, from distilleries to bars with elaborate cocktails, Denver covers all the bases and is arguably the nation’s best big city for whiskey lovers. It’s also quite affordable.
Making Denver even more appealing is a reliable international airport with non-stop flights from around the country and the world. It has the best public transport connection to downtown of any U.S. airport, with direct rail service into the city’s Union Station, the heart of downtown, at just $10 for the 37-minute ride. Once there, most top bars, restaurants, hotels, and distilleries are nearby—some walkable, and none more than a short rideshare away. For sports fans looking to double...

The pot still is the engine that makes so much of our whisky, but pot distillation also creates some undesirable components, and those must be separated from the good stuff. To do that, a distiller makes “cuts” during a production run. The good news is that the unwanted distillate is fairly easily separated, as it arrives at two points—the beginning and the end of a run. The middle part in the sequence is where the quality spirit is made, and accounts for most of the final product. These three stages are known in the U.S. as the heads, hearts, and tails. The Scots know them as foreshots, hearts, and feints.
But how do the three parts get separated? After the distillate passes through the still, it flows from the condenser as distilled spirit. Cuts are separated, and distillers collect them by switching the flow into the appropriate container as the distillate’s character changes along the way.


HEADS
The heads contain volatiles like...

Golf and whisky just go hand in hand. It makes sense, after all, as the game was cultivated in a region where, for just as long, whiskies were crafted with similar attention to detail, care, and passion. And nothing celebrates a day on the links better than a dram.
When the game was first introduced stateside in the late 19th century, it brought whisky enjoyment with it. Golf resorts have since flourished, both in the U. S. and throughout the British Isles, and so we celebrate golf courses with whisky programs that match the elevated level of their play. A visit to one of the following seven destinations will find exceptional whiskies being poured once the day’s final putts are holed.

Adare Manor
COUNTY LIMERICK, IRELAND
For first-time guests, visiting Adare Manor can be an overwhelming experience. Located just over 10 miles outside the southwest city of Limerick, this five-star luxury resort is home to a sparkling Irish manor house designed in the Gothic...

BuffTurkey. Russalo Trace. Wild Buffalo. The hottest whiskey on the market—Wild Turkey bourbon distilled by Buffalo Trace—has several portmanteau monikers, and even more alleged origin stories. The leading lore? A professional sports franchise owner from the South won a national championship and commissioned these barrels before forgetting about them. Others say Campari Group faced production woes during expansion of a then recently purchased Wild Turkey and tapped Buffalo Trace to help, but didn’t love the finished product.
Also shrouded in mystery is the production run’s final volumes. Industry scuttlebutt varies widely, from a scant 600 barrels to an eye-watering 10,000 barrels. The latter seems improbable, as that would represent three to four straight weeks of non-stop production by Buffalo Trace. A thousand barrels, insiders tell me, is most likely; that would require only two production days.
How BuffTurkey Was Made and Sold
While we...

Want to buy a bottle of Old Rip Van Winkle 25 year old? And then sit down and drink through the entire Van Winkle 10, 12, 15, 20, and 23 year range…with Julian Van Winkle III himself? Sazerac’s Legacy de Forge auction site is currently offering that very incredible bottle and experience for one lucky winner, with the lot open for bidding from today through September 24th, in honor of September’s Bourbon Heritage Month.
Old Rip Van Winkle 25 year old is the absolute apex of Van Winkle whiskey. Distilled in 1989 at Stitzel-Weller, the barrel spent a decade maturing there before moving to Buffalo Trace in 2002, when it bought the Van Winkle brand. In 2014, the barrel was dumped and transferred into stainless steel to keep the flavor profile balanced before being bottled in 2017. Of the 710 crystal decanters produced, the one on the auction block is number 706, which was in Buffalo Trace’s Distillery archives. It’s now available to be yours. At the time...

Curating a great home bar cart is one of the best ways to improve your drinking experience. Whether you're treating yourself to a carefully crafted cocktail after a hard day's work or mixing up Manhattans for a group of friends on a Saturday night, it's important to have everything you need in one convenient place. We've learned from the top beverage pros that it's a lot less complicated than you might think. Here are their home bar cart hacks—all are easy, affordable, and highly useful.GEAR IT UPPortable Personal BlenderChetan Gangan, mixologist at Baar Baar in New York City, recommends keeping a small portable blender on the bar cart. “We use this for our egg white cocktails, which reduces your need for a double shake.”But It: NutriBullet Go Cordless Personal Blender—$30
Condiment Squeeze BottlesTim Waters, who oversees beverages at The Grey in Savannah, recommends having squeeze bottles handy. “They are great for egg white cocktails because it really prevents a mess...

 Pure, citrus, fresh agave, pepper, mineral

Kentucky distillers are known for camaraderie, sharing special bottles and helping each other out when in need. In many cases, their relationships run deeper than simply being colleagues or even good friends; Fred Noe, master distiller at James B. Beam Distilling Co., has said that he has regarded Wild Turkey master distiller Jimmy Russell as a father figure, especially in the years since his own dad, Booker, passed away. But rarely do bourbon makers come together on whiskey releases—after all, they're competitors when bottles hit the shelf.A new project centered in Bardstown, Kentucky is taking a significant step toward collaboration, however. The 12.25-square-mile town of around 12,000 people boasts 11 distilleries or distillery experiences within about 16 miles of its central Court Square, and five of them are joining together to create the Bardstown Collection, a lineup of special releases benefiting the community. Each distillery will launch a limited-edition bourbon in...

Sheep dung is the one thing that most people associate with Icelandic whisky. “It's pretty good shit,” jokes Eimverk Distillery founder Halli Thorkelsson with a boyish grin, brandishing a tall glass jar filled with dry brown bricks of ovine excreta. This is not a gimmick: Smoking with sheep dung is traditional. “Every Icelander eats lamb at Christmas that's been smoked with sheep dung,” explains Thorkelsson. It's only natural that it should be part of making a traditional Icelandic whisky too.Due to Iceland's cold temperatures, sheep are moved into barns for the winter. Compacted under cloven hooves, the layers of dung incorporate a lot of hay and solidify over time. The dung is shoveled out in the spring and left to harden over the summer. Dried, it smells a little like peat, though unlike peat, it only takes a year to form, rather than thousands of years. “You definitely get some … different tones,” says Thorkelsson, taking a deep sniff of...

Whisky can be transportive, evoking memories of places you've been and trips you've taken. Distillers know this well and sometimes use it to great effect. Look to Dr. Bill Lumsden, the director of whisky creation for Glenmorangie and Ardbeg, who has time and again used his own experiences as inspiration for his creations. In the Glenmorangie "A Tale Of" series, he's explored Scottish forests and the delights of enjoying a dram by the fire, and now he's fathoming Tokyo through a glass with Glenmorangie's A Tale of Tokyo release. And while only the most adventurous among us have been to the  Isle of Harris, this tiny island in the Outer Hebrides has a distillery. This week it introduces The Hearach, its very first single malt—a  gently peated Islands expression that arrived on the eighth anniversary of the distillery's opening. That one seems likely to be a transportive experience of its own.
Isle of Harris isn't...

The Irish whiskey restoration is in full swing. Over the last decade, the number of operational distilleries in Ireland has increased from 4 to nearly 40, and Irish whiskey's soaring sales have made it the biggest growth story in the world. Following the collapse of Ireland's economy in 2008, craft distilleries began sprouting up all over the island—occupied in abandoned spaces that formerly housed bakeries, sawmills, woolen mills, breweries, jam factories, and even a church. Within a decade, Dublin was reborn as the most vibrant whiskey city in the world, and Ireland's distilleries hosted a million visitors in 2019 as whiskey lovers took notice.During Irish whiskey's lowest years of the 1960s and 1970s, blended expressions provided a straightforward route for rebuilding, and Irish blends, championed by Jameson, Bushmills, and Tullamore D.E.W., remain the driving force today. But now Ireland's distillers are cultivating a far greater depth and diversity of styles, bringing Irish...

For many Americans, the Mint Julep they hoist on Derby Day each May celebrates the most exciting two minutes in sports, while simultaneously marking a seasonal farewell to whisky. Having satisfied the ritual of frosty silver cups and sugar-dusted mint leaves, many will soon push their bourbon toward the back of the bar, reaching for white spirits like rum and gin, until it's once again time to rake the leaves and relax by the fire. Of course, there are whisky cocktails that are suited for summer, standbys like fizzy Scotch Highballs or the Reagan-era Lynchburg Lemonade. But in order to really embrace whisky when the heat is on, we're searching for new recipes and rituals, irreverent though some may seem. These bartenders have bold ideas for the coolest ways to savor whisky this summer, straight through Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, and beyond.If You Like Piña ColadasJulia Momose, head bartender at GreenRiver in Chicago, credits a cocktail list that categorizes drinks by their raw...

Created by cocktail gurus Dave Kaplan and Alex Day of Proprietor's LLC (Death & Co., New York City), the Rose is tucked away off the street and up a flight of stairs. While this speakeasy vibe will be familiar to urban cocktail lounge dwellers, the Rose also stands apart in downtown Jackson for its “new mountain cuisine” from chef René Stein, who anchored a Michelin star at New York's Seasonal. Stein takes local to the extreme: house-made butter, salt from Yellowstone. Even the pottery dinnerware and wooden serving trays are sourced from local artists. Of course, Wyoming Whiskey and Single Track Spirits wheat whiskey, from Cody, make an appearance on the list, even as the mixological duo indulges their love for mezcal and tequila. But the Rose isn't some precious farm-to-table cliché, as the kitchen closes at 10 p.m. and the place rocks on with live music. The Howitzer is one of the venue's most popular cocktails, created by mixologist Meagan...

There's another reason to celebrate the reigning World Series Champions, the Chicago Cubs. Starting this year, two bourbon brands—Jim Beam and Maker's Mark—are launching partnerships with the team.As part of a deal made by parent company Beam Suntory, Jim Beam bourbon will have long-term naming rights to a new first base club at Wrigley Field. The club will take two seasons to complete, so for now, expect to see Jim Beam signage and promotions in the upper deck patio where it will eventually be located, as well as throughout the stadium. The Cubs' spring training home, Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona, will also feature the Jim Beam brand.You can't hit the stadium every time you want a drink, however, so Jim Beam is also planning to release a special Chicago Cubs bottling this year. In addition, Maker's Mark—also part of Beam Suntory's whiskey portfolio—has launched a limited-edition bottle whose wax dipisred and blue, the Cubs' team colors. That whiskey is available now at stores...

In Quercus we trust. There are over 600 species of oak trees in the Quercus genus, to which whisky maturation owes all. Without time in oak barrels, whisky would remain white and fiery, devoid of the toasty, caramel, nutty, or vanilla notes that make our mouths water. It's simple—without oak, there is no whisky as we know it today. Considering oak's profound effect on the taste of whisky, it's not surprising that the details count. The specific type of oak, the origin of the tree, and all the finer points of its treatment during production will influence the flavors the barrel imparts, whether vanilla or citrus zest, baking spices or dark red fruits, or a myriad of other possibilities. To understand whisky, you must understand oak.Ancient TechnologyUsing oak for barrels isn't exactly an emerging trend. “Oak became a barrel of choice as far back as the Roman empire,” says Chris Morris, master distiller at Brown-Forman, producer of Woodford Reserve and Jack Daniel's whiskeys.Oak...

Haymarket Whisky Bar: Punk rock and bourbonOffers: Live music, Cigars, Flights, Whisky educationRare is the dive bar where you see 20-somethings knocking back Booker's Rye for $100 a pour. But that's Haymarket, a self-proclaimed “punk rock bourbon bar” with almost 400 whiskies, including eight pages of bourbon, and live music of every genre several nights per week. Ask for a shot, a double, or a bottle to take home after you challenge a friend to a game of Incredible Hulk pinball or vintage video arcade Centipede.Proof on Main: Where whisky is artOffers: Food, FlightsAdjoining 21c Museum Hotel, Proof on Main is a power lunch destination showcasing an eclectic mix of contemporary art as well as a selection of more than 120 of Kentucky's finest bourbons. Private-selection brandies, ryes, and bourbons, including Woodford Reserve and Van Winkle, are often on sale at the museum shop to take home. The watchwords for the food and cocktails: local, seasonal, and artisanal.The Silver...

The Century: Small bar with a long listOffers: Flights, Whisky educationThis unassuming former distillery has an impressive list of more than 400 bottles, split about evenly between bourbon and other whiskies, with thirteen private barrels plus a house tequila. You won't feel out of place doing some day drinking, as the polished patina of the 1862 carved cherrywood bar, illuminated in the filtered light of stained-glass skylights, lends an air of distinction to the task at hand. Four whisky flights are offered Sunday through Thursday to ensure the bartender can devote time for one-on-one...

Dubh Linn: An Irish havenOffers: Live music, Food, BilliardsThis Irish brewpub claims the largest selection of whisky in Minnesota, with an on-site nanobrewery to help wash them down. Create a customized flight from the beers on tap, sample whisky in ½, 1, or 1½-ounce pours, try a Guinness float, or sip craft rum, gin, tequila, and absinthe while enjoying one of the dozen burgers. Local jazz legend Billy Barnard plays Thursday nights

SPI Group, the parent company of boutique whiskey brand Kentucky Owl, has plans to build a $150 million distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky, according to documents released by the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA). The company is eyeing property in Bardstown, home to several bourbon distilleries, including Heaven Hill, Barton 1792, Willett, and Bardstown Bourbon Company, as well as Lux Row, which is set to open in early 2018. SPI Group's project has been approved for a tax incentive of up to $2 million, and is estimated to create 77 new jobs.Kentucky Owl has a long history, and was produced from 1879 until Prohibition. It was revived about a decade ago by Dixon Dedman, a descendant of the original distiller, Charles Mortimer Dedman, and partners Mark and Sherri Carter, who are winemakers in California. Dixon Dedman began blending different bourbons sourced from various distilleries, and released the first batch of 1,100 bottles of Kentucky Owl bourbon in 2014...

Bardstown, Kentucky's newest whiskey distillery quietly filled its first barrel on January 10th, 2018. Lux Row Distillers, which is located just a few miles from Jim Beam and Heaven Hill, among others, is the first whiskey distillery owned by Luxco, a St. Louis-based spirits company that also sells vodka, gin, tequila, rum, and liqueurs. Luxco's whiskey brands—which include Ezra Brooks, Rebel Yell, David Nicholson, and Blood Oath—are currently produced for the company at unnamed distilleries.Although not on the scale of the planned Kentucky Owl Park, which will be located just a stone's throw away, Lux Row is no micro-distillery. It has twelve 8,000-gallon fermenters, and a 36-inch column still capable of churning out over a million proof gallons of whiskey annually. The space was designed to make it easy to add more fermenters and a second still in the future. There's one warehouse already standing, and another set to be completed by the summer. The site is big enough to house...

Whisky: it's so hot right now. Especially if it's finished in Tabasco hot sauce barrels, which is the case with a new flavored whiskey from Tennessee's George Dickel. In fact, "Hot Dickel" takes things even further by blending in distilled Tabasco, creating a spicy spirit with a capsaicin kick. If you're into it, the whiskey is a permanent part of Dickel's lineup and will cost $25.For those who don't like to mingle condiments and whisky, there's a new blended American whiskey from Hotaling & Co. (formerly Anchor Distilling), makers of Old Potrero. The blend includes Old Potrero 18th-Century Style Whiskey, Old Potrero Straight Malt Whiskey Finished in Port Casks, and Kentucky bourbon. Called J.H. Cutter after a historic whiskey brand, the 48% ABV whiskey costs $50 and is available in a handful of states.From Scotland come two new single malts in the Port Askaig line: an 8 year old and a 14 year old. Each sourced from a different, undisclosed single malt distillery on Islay, the...

When buying a gift for a whisky lover, the easiest—and most appreciated—option is simply to buy a bottle of special bourbon, scotch, or Irish whiskey. With Father's Day coming up, whisky-drinking dads are no doubt hoping that their kids or partners will be presenting them with a tall, slim-necked package to enjoy neat or on the rocks. If you're looking for a way to make a gift bottle extra special, however, you can personalize it through custom labeling or engraving. Here are several options to make Dad's dram a little more memorable.
Get A Free Custom Label From Speyburn or Woodford Reserve
Speyburn offers some of the best value in single malt scotch, from Bradan Orach ($20) to the recently released 15 year old ($65). This year, the distillery is offering a free custom label to anyone who buys a bottle of Speyburn 10 year old, 15 year old, Arranta Casks, or Companion Cask (available at select retailers) before June 30th. (After June 3rd, delivery is not guaranteed...

Courtesy of The Bar at The Spectator Hotel, Charleson, South Carolina, this cocktail plays a double role, transforming as its custom ice sphere melts. Filled with a mini-cocktail of its own, the ice adds dark berry and earthy flavors, as well as a slightly spicy back note.
INGREDIENTS

¾ oz. Montelobos Mezcal
¾ oz. Yellow Chartreuse
½ oz. Licor 43
½ oz. pineapple juice
¾ oz. lime juice
Spicy Pomegranate Ice Ball (recipe below)
Garnish: lemon wheel skewered with a brandied cherry

DIRECTIONS
Combine all cocktail ingredients in a shaker tin, add ice, and shake vigorously. Strain and pour into a rocks glass. Gently add ice ball and garnish with lemon wheel skewered with brandied cherry.
Spicy Pomegranate Ice Ball

3½ oz. pomegranate juice
¼ oz. Milagro Silver Tequila
¼ oz. Giffard Crème de Mûre
¼ oz. Ancho Reyes liqueur
¼ oz...

If you're into whisky, it's not a huge leap to try another aged spirit, made from fruit rather than grain. Apple brandy has a storied American legacy and can be a delicious option for sipping neat or using in cocktails like the Jack Rose and Apple Brandy Old Fashioned. Not sure where to start? Check out these apple brandies, which have flavorful characteristics that will appeal to a whisky drinker's sensibilities.Unaged and freshRhine Hall Apple Brandy—40% ABV, $50 An unaged white spirit, in the style of Austrian schnapps. Fruity, lively, vivacious, and above all apple-y—try it if you want to see what “apple in a glass” really means.Young and vibrantClear Creek 2 year old Apple Brandy—40% ABV, $30 With just 2 years in Cognac Limousin oak barrels, this nicely balances bright apple flavors, light oak tannins, and vanilla. Complex, subtle, and delicate, and proof that apple brandy can be delicious even after just a few years in oak.Traditional and balancedHarvest Spirits 7 year...

Update April 6, 2023: Edrington has increased its stake in Wyoming Whiskey from 35% to 80% making it the majority shareholder of the distillery.
Edrington Group, the parent company of Macallan, Glenrothes, and Highland Park scotch, announced that it has formed a “strategic partnership” with Wyoming Whiskey. The Kirby, Wyoming craft distiller's bourbon and other whiskeys will become part of Edrington's portfolio, which also includes The Famous Grouse and Cutty Sark blended scotches, Brugal rum, Partida tequila, and Snow Leopard vodka; Edrington will handle all sales, marketing, and distribution. Other terms of the deal—such as the size of the stake, price, or whether it includes the potential for full acquisition in the future—were not disclosed, although president and CEO of Edrington North America Chris Spalding says that the partnership is long-term. The two companies spent about two years in discussions before reaching an agreement.
Other than two...

When you learned about the American folklore hero John Chapman, nom de pomme Johnny Appleseed, in grade school, they probably didn't tell you he was propagating apple trees throughout the country to make cider and brandy, not for lunchbox snacks. Apple brandy, historically known as applejack, is America's original spirit. Long before the birth of bourbon, colonial Americans used freeze distillation, a decidedly low-tech precursor to modern techniques, to preserve their apple harvest in liquid form. A century later, Robert Laird, a Revolutionary War soldier, gave his recipe for apple brandy to George Washington. Laird went on to found America's first commercial distillery, Laird & Co., which still makes apple brandy under family ownership two and a half centuries later.Take A Bite Out of These Apple BrandiesCider and apple brandy were a cornerstone of American drinking until Prohibition, when apple brandy largely fell off the map. Laird & Co. soldiered on alone for most of the...

A historic and well-known scotch label has changed hands. Cutty Sark blended whisky—formerly part of the Edrington Group portfolio—has been acquired by French company La Martiniquaise-Bardinet, which also owns Glen Moray Distillery in Scotland's Speyside region. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Edrington has agreed to continue providing blending, bottling, and other services for Cutty Sark during a transition period.Cutty Sark was invented in 1923 by wine and spirits company Berry Bros. & Ruddand named after a famous clipper ship that was the fastest in the world during its 19th-century heyday. The whisky's blend was intentionally designed to be light and mixable, resulting in a high grain content that persists to this day. At one point in the 1960s, Cutty was the best-selling scotch in the U.S., although the whisky's popularity has waned in recent generations. Edrington Group acquired the brand from Berry Bros. in 2010, launching a higher-proof Prohibition...

Learn how to make a Sour, and you open yourself to a world of cocktails. The simple combination of spirit, sugar, water, and citrus can be mixed in almost endless ways. But the best base is, of course, whiskey.The practice of adding citrus juice to spirits may have started in the 1700s when British sailors began consuming lemons and limes to prevent scurvy. Rum was part of their rations, and made a natural companion to the tart citrus, sometimes with water or sugar added. The concoction eventually made its way to shore, where drinkers weren't limited to a single spirit and naturally experimented with not only rum, but also brandy and whiskey.In 1862, the recipe for a Whisky Sour was recorded in Jerry Thomas's The Bartender's Guide. The recipe called for 1 large teaspoon of powdered sugar dissolved in a little seltzer water, the juice of half a small lemon, and 1 wine glass of bourbon or rye, shaken. The drink was then strained into a claret glass and garnished with berries.In the 19th...

Bushmills is set to double its whiskey output with a second distillery, set to open by 2022. Already the largest and oldest whiskey maker in Northern Ireland, Bushmills got the green light for the expansion as part of a $77 million investment plan by Mexico-based parent company Becle S.A.B. de C.V., also known as Cuervo. When it opens, Bushmills' new single malt distillery will match the capacity of its current facility. Although the company won't say what that capacity is, it is estimated by the book From Barley to Blarney to be around 6 million liters of pure alcohol annually.The company plans to spend $33.7 million on the new distillery, which will be erected to the northwest of the existing site, adjacent to warehouse 17. Work will begin this year, and the project includes a new barrel store closer to the main street of the village, while a new chimney, cooling equipment, and boiler house will be hidden away behind warehousing. Over the next two decades, Bushmills will also...

You might not think of Tucson as one of the world's great food cities, but the United Nations begs to differ: UNESCO designated the southern Arizona metropolis as a World City of Gastronomy in 2015—the first city in the United States to earn the honor.Founded by the Spanish in 1775, Tucson is home to the longest-established agricultural tradition in the country and is uniquely situated at the intersection of three cultures that have coexisted for centuries: American, Mexican, and Native American. All three influences are alive and well in the present day, revitalized by the modern interest in regionality, locavorism, and sustainable development. That enthusiasm also appears in the city's burgeoning drinks scene, making Tucson home to an array of distinctly Southwestern potables.Tucson is only a quarter the size of Phoenix, but the city has fostered a sophisticated cultural community that can go toe-to-toe with its larger neighbor. The revitalized downtown is quite walkable, at least...

There may be tequila cask-finished scotch on the horizon, as the rules for permitted cask types in scotch production have just been updated to include a much broader range of options than before. And Beam Suntory has announced that it will be bringing back Knob Creek bourbon's 9 year old age statement starting in 2020. In addition, the company is transforming Baker's from a batched bourbon to a single barrel offering—still at 53.5% ABV and 7 years old—later this year. The company says there are no immediate plans to change the price on Knob Creek, although Baker's will now be priced at $60. We'll report more on those developments as details become available.While we wait for those bottles to roll out, there are plenty of new whiskies coming out much sooner. Heavy metal band Slipknot has collaborated with Iowa's Cedar Ridge Distillery to release two American whiskeys, both a blend of bourbon and rye. Slipknot No. 9 Iowa whiskey ($40) and Slipknot No. 9 Reserve Iowa whiskey ($70...

Whisky lovers are a varied bunch—just take a glance at the different whisky clubs that have sprung up around the country. But whisky producers, even those with diverse employee makeup, don't necessarily reflect the same diversity at the ownership level.That doesn't mean there aren't any Black-owned whisky makers, though. They're out there, and they want to share their whisky with you! If you're looking for a Black-owned whisky distillery or company to support, check out the folks below.We plan to continuously update this list as we learn of Black-owned whisky producers. Are we missing someone? Send us an email.
California
Shadow Ridge Spirits Co.
Sean Hallman is a former Navy surface warfare officer, and currently a federal civilian employee for the department of Navy. An interest in homebrewing led Hallman to explore the world of distilling, and now he and his wife, Lisa Ireland, run Shadow Ridge Spirits Co., which is registered under Oceanside Distillers in...

A cocktail's garnish should be given as much thought as the ingredients used to make the drink itself. It's the final touch, yet it's the first visual impression. Cherries, olives, cocktail onions, and all sorts of citrus peels and wedges may get the majority of attention, but candied ginger is a key component in a number of classic and modern cocktails, like the Penicillin, and its inclusion should never be an afterthought.“Obvious visual benefits aside, I love a completely functional edible garnish in a cocktail,” says Jennifer Camela, general manager and beverage manager at Forsythia restaurant in Philadelphia. She uses house-made candied ginger as a garnish in several drinks, including the Whiskey Sour and Moscow Mule.Another cocktail on the menu, Fight Fire with Fire, brings together tequila, mezcal, ginger beer, and blackberry in a glass with a habanero-sugar rim, garnished with candied ginger. “This drink in particular has a lot of bold flavors coming together, and the...

Ireland's distillers are world leaders in whiskey finishing, with names like Teeling, West Cork, Glendalough, The Irishman, Tullamore D.E.W., Tyrconnell, The Whistler, and Jameson frequently expanding our horizons. Irish whiskey's technical rules allow for a broad approach to finishing—which can come from either an alternative wood such as virgin Irish oak, or a cask previously seasoned by another spirit, like port, rum, or even tequila.But finishing with alternative wood types is far from an easy path. After finding initial success with a French chestnut finish in its Method & Madness range, Midleton moved to French wild cherry, acacia, and most recently mulberry wood. But the trial and error of these experiments can be arduous. “The cherrywood tested our persistence, composure, and patience,” notes O'Gorman. French wild cherry, Prunus avium, is an open, porous wood in the same subgenus as sakura, Prunus serrulata, the increasingly popular finishing cask used in Japan...

This Memorial Day Weekend, Big Smoke Meets WhiskyFest returned for its second run, offering a night of superb cigars, outstanding whiskies, and opportunities for pairings aplenty. The event took place at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida on May 28th, kicking off with a series of cigar-focused seminars for All-Access pass attendees. It concluded with a grand tasting of whisky and other spirits, supplemented by over 25 cigars, and live music.On the morning of the 28th, All-Access pass attendees enjoyed a Cigar Seminar program that included four seminars that highlight industry legends, among them Rocky Patel of Rocky Patel Premium Cigars, Carlos Fuente Jr. of Arturo Fuente Cigars, and Rafael Nodal of Tabacalera USA (which markets famous Cuban cigar brand Montecristo). A cigar-and-whisky pairing seminar also took place, with Whisky Advocate's 2021 Whisky of the Year—Lagavulin 11 year old Offerman Edition: Guinness Cask Finish—featured alongside Cigar...

For whiskey fans making a stop in the Big Apple, now there's a reason to go to Manhattan beyond its many whisky bars. Great Jones Distilling Co., said to be Manhattan's first legal whiskey distillery since Prohibition, and its only active whiskey-making operation, opened in August 2021. The distillery's restaurant, The Grid, serves dishes featuring Great Jones's whiskeys—a bourbon, a rye, and a four-grain bourbon made with corn, malted barley, rye, and wheat—as a central ingredient.The 28,000 square-foot, four-story space is the brainchild of Juan Domingo Beckmann, whose family owns Jose Cuervo tequila—along with Bushmills, Stranahan's, Tin Cup, and Pendleton whiskies. The distillery has a 500-gallon copper pot still, housed in a two-story chamber perched on a floor that was lowered by five feet to comply with city ordinances.No grain milling or whiskey aging takes place at the distillery—barrels are shipped to Black Dirt Distillery in Orange County, New York, which Cuervo's...

Cask-finished bourbons and ryes are an anomaly of the U.S. whiskey scene, given that U.S. regulations require them to be matured in "charred new oak containers." But bourbon and rye makers have gone boldly forth, exploring a myriad of finishes with barrels previously used for cognac, port, cabernet sauvignon, tequila, and other spirits and wine types. We selected the highest-scoring cask-finished bourbons and ryes from our Spring 2022 Buying Guide, so take look at the power of secondary finishing on American whiskeys.There are also plenty of new whiskies to explore right here. Orphan Barrel releases a 14 year old Kentucky blend, The Last Drop debuts a duo of aged single malts from Japan and Scotland, and the Holladay Distillery introduces a bottled in bond Missouri bourbon. Read on for full details.Orphan Barrel Fable & FollyStyle: BlendedOrigin: KentuckyAge: 14 year oldABV: 45%Price: $150Release: April 2022Availability: LimitedNeed to know:This whiskey merges the last remaining...

This cocktail was created by Brett Helke, wine and beverage director at Toast and Perro Blanco in Norfolk, Virgina.Every sip of this crisp, peppery drink is refreshing, thanks to the mint in the bottom of the glass.



INGREDIENTS

9 to 11 mint leaves
¾ oz. blackberry-peppercorn shrub (recipe below)
½ oz. fresh lemon juice
1½ oz. Elijah Craig Small Batch (or other Kentucky straight bourbon)
Prosecco or sparkling lambrusco
Fresh blackberry for garnish

DIRECTIONS
In a Collins or double Old Fashioned glass, gently muddle 8-10 mint leaves and blackberry peppercorn shrub. Add lemon juice, bourbon, and a few ice cubes. Stir gently. Fill the glass completely with ice cubes and top with prosecco or lambrusco. Garnish with remaining mint leaf and blackberry.
Try this: Make the same cocktail with a base of gin, tequila, or mezcal, or skip the whisky and swap club soda for the...

Father’s Day is this Sunday, and if you’re looking for some last-minute gift ideas, we’ve got you covered. The Dad's Day classic is a bottle of whisky, and earlier this week, we rounded up the ten highest scoring whiskies in our Summer 2022 Buying Guide. Any of them would make for a worthy splurge. Or perhaps you’d like to give the gift of gear—consider a canteen that will keep batched cocktails chilled all day; a high-end carrying case for hauling bottles, bar equipment, and more; or handy upgrades for any home bar cart.
In new whisky, there’s plenty to enjoy. The Spot range gets a brand new Gold addition, while Brother’s Bond has unveiled a cask strength iteration of its flagship bourbon and O’Shaughnessy Distilling Co. debuts the latest Irish-American style whiskey in its Keeper’s Heart lineup. Read on for full details.

Gold Spot 9 Year Old
Style: Single pot still Origin: IrelandAge: 9 year oldABV: 51.4%Price...

For many, Scotland is the center of the whisky-making universe, and our Fall 2022 issue takes you across the pond to bask in its splendor. From incredible 30 year old bottlings, to gorgeous golf courses and world-class hotel options, the time is now to open that cherished bottle or plan your next getaway. The issue also has travel guides to Las Vegas and New England, everything you need to know about tequila, and 126 new whisky reviews.


Fall 2022 Buying Guide
Explore Our Fall Buying Guide
Explore over 120 whisky reviews including Macallan 30 year old Double Cask, Hardin's Creek Jacob's Well, Redbreast Kentucky Oak Edition, and Starward Octave...

When whiskey makers depart from famous distilleries—and that has been happening often lately—they typically continue to produce a style they’ve worked on. Yet, after six years producing American single malt at Stranahan’s in Denver, Owen Martin has made the move to Louisville, where he’ll serve as master distiller at Angel’s Envy, making bourbon and rye. 
The job makes sense for Martin—who says a friend told him he’d be crazy not to take it—when you consider that Angel’s Envy became the first Kentucky bourbon maker to truly embrace cask finishing, now a widely accepted practice in the world of single malt.
“What I was doing in single malts was primarily research and development (R&D) through cask finishing. So, I've worked with a huge library of casks and gained knowledge of what works with them. If you think about it that way, then a hop over to Angel's Envy makes perfect sense,” Martin...

We cover new releases here every week, but we also like to ask distillers and blenders what they're working on that's yet to be announced. Case in point, we recently spoke to Owen Martin, the new master distiller at Angel's Envy, about what cask finishes excite him as he settles into his new role with the Louisville distiller. 
As for this week's new releases, we have a debut scotch and a number of American whiskeys. Lochlea Our Barley, the new flagship single malt scotch from Lochlea Distillery, hits shelves in the U.S., albeit in limited quantities. Lochlea, a Lowlands distillery that has been producing since only 2018, is run by former Laphroaig distillery manager John Campbell, who moved from Laphroaig last November after a 25 year career there.  Barrell Craft Spirits announces the latest additions to Stellum Black, its line of specialty blends, Jack Daniel adds a whiskey finished with toasted pecan wood chips to its Distillery...

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Yes, the holiday season is upon us, but we've also spent the week counting down our annual Top 20 list, with the full list officially out today. Check out our pick for Whisky of the Year, a bonded Tennessee whiskey priced at just $30, and see if any of these exciting whiskies catch your eye or look right for the whisky lover in your life.
New releases this week include the latest iteration of High West's High Country single malt, the third release in the Bushmills Rare cask series, and the 2023 bottling of Barrell's New Year blend. Read on for full details. 

High West High Country
Style: Single malt Origin: Utah Age: Not stated ABV: 44% Price: $80 Release: December 2022 Availability: Limited
Need to know: 
High Country is High West’s ode to Scottish single malts, and as such it blends single malt scotch techniques with American whiskey making. Its 100% malt mashbill...

In 2018, scotch whisky distiller Glen Moray sparked debate with the release of its Cider Cask Project, the distillery’s single malt finished in hard cider casks. The UK-exclusive bottling had the sweet vanilla flavors characteristic of Glen Moray’s signature single malt, paired with caramel apple notes resulting from its time in cider barrels. 
But it was a contentious bottling, as it was released before the rules governing scotch maturation were relaxed to allow use of barrels that had previously held other spirits like tequila, beer, and wine. The company got around those regulations by seasoning its own casks with cider from a local producer, before taking back the barrels to finish its whisky.
It was a first for a scotch distiller, but Glen Moray wasn’t the pioneer of the global whisky industry. In regions where the rules around maturation are less stringent, cider casks, ice cider, apple brandy barrels, and other fruity vessels are increasingly used...

Burgers and bourbon are two of the all-time great pairing partners. “The sweetness of bourbon and the savoriness of a burger go hand in hand,” explains chef David Gross of The Standard, East Village, in New York City. Beyond that, there’s generally enough sweet spice in each sip to stand up to whatever toppings and accompaniments you want to add into the mix.
To take full advantage of bourbon’s innate friendliness with burgers, we enlisted the help of chef Gross to create a full, bourbon-friendly menu of dips, sides, dessert, and, of course, a seriously delicious hamburger. We’ve also included his preferred bourbons to enjoy alongside each course, as well as cocktails created by bar manager Ben Guber and the rest of the bar team. The results, as expected, are fantastic.

COCKTAIL OF CHOICE
Apple Upgrade
Serves 4

4 oz. Wild Turkey (or other bourbon)
3 oz. Luxardo Amaro Abano
3 oz. apple...

Sotheby’s New York’s first whisky auction of 2023 was a smash hit, with a combined hammer price of $1,063,600. All 272 lots were sold, which consisted of 72% American whiskey, 18% scotch, 7% Japanese, 2% other spirits (cognac and tequila), and 1% Irish whiskey.
Two brands in particular dominated the February 10th sale with Van Winkle accounting for one in four lots sold, and Macallan responsible for one in eight. Collectors bid $450,600 on Macallan across 47 lots, with $342,250 bid on 94 Van Winkle lots consisting of Pappy Van Winkle and Old Rip Van Winkle labels. Median hammer prices for Macallan and Van Winkle lots were $2,800 and $2,600 respectively. Macallan delivered the three highest sales of the day: aside from the $200,000 bid on Macallan Distil Your World New York Single Cask Edition, Macallan 50 year old (2018 release) made a hammer price of $55,000, and Macallan 52 year old (2018 release) attracted a $50,000 bid.  Two bottles of Pappy Van Winkle 23 year...

Crowds flocked to the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida this past weekend for the third annual Big Smoke Meets WhiskyFest extravaganza. The day started with a slew of afternoon seminars and culminated in a grand tasting of whisky, rum, tequila, and fine cigars, all accompanied by a live band.
Things kicked off just after lunch on Saturday, when Cigar Aficionado’s editors were joined by some of the world’s top cigarmakers for several hours of seminars, tastings, and discussions. To the delight of guests (and those on stage), editor and publisher Marvin R. Shanken was in the house. "Hi everybody," he greeted the crowd, before launching into a lighthearted roast of his panelists, who included cigar luminaries Ernesto Perez-Carrillo, Rocky Patel, Litto Gomez, Jorge Padrón, and Carlos Fuente Jr. Later on, attendees were treated to an exclusive tasting of a new collaborative cigar by Padrón and Fuente, as well as a...

St. Patrick’s Day comes with more to celebrate than usual this year, with news that Irish whiskey exports to the U.S. are flying once again after a brief slowdown during COVID-19. More than 72 million bottles of Irish whiskey were shipped to the U.S. last year, representing a 28% growth rate from 2021, according to research arm Impact Databank. Only tequila, whose sales have been on fire in recent years, is growing more rapidly among imported spirits.
Jameson continues to be the big seller of Irish whiskey, accounting for nearly 80% of all sales. But other Irish whiskey makers have been building their own momentum, led by Tullamore D.E.W., Bushmills, Redbreast, and Teeling, among others. And a host of other creative players like Waterford, Boann, Slane, and Clonakilty, to name only a few, are making the Irish whiskey shelf a fun place to shop. The number of whiskey distilleries in Ireland has exploded–from 4 only a decade ago to more than 40 today–led by small...

Sure, you may have seen a whiskey barrel before, but what are the odds that you’ve spent time inside of one? If you’ve ever wanted to get up close and personal to whiskey and hold court within a barrel, there’s an opportunity to do just that—if you’re spending time in Colorado’s Vail Valley, that is. As spring skiing kicks into high gear, Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey has teamed up with Stoke & Rye at The Westin Riverfront in Avon, Colorado for a new après ski experience.
The distillery’s partnership with Stoke & Rye kicked off on March 17; from now until Sunday, April 2, four giant heated whiskey barrels—with capacity for four guests each—are situated on the restaurant’s patio, available for reservations from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The restaurant itself—an American grill serving up alpine-inspired dishes by chef Richard Sandoval—has direct gondola access to Beaver Creek Mountain, and...

Like many of his Kentucky peers, Dixon Dedman has whiskey embedded in his DNA. Dedman’s great-great-grandfather, Charles Mortimer Dedman, founded Kentucky Owl in 1879 and made bourbon until 1916, when Prohibition went into effect and shut down his operation. The brand would remain dormant for nearly 100 years, until Dedman himself picked up the blender’s mantle and revived his family label in 2014. His involvement with Kentucky Owl would be relatively short-lived, lasting just seven years—even as he successfully brought Kentucky Owl back into the whiskey limelight, its sale to Stoli Group in 2017 would signal the start of his moving on, which he did in 2021. But it certainly wasn’t the end of his blending career, and the fruits of his new labors are now here for all to taste, under the 2XO label.
2XO is quite literally a dream come true for Dedman. “I couldn’t have asked for a better situation,” he says. “I still pinch myself...

Country clubs have plenty of activities to offer, such as golf, fine dining, tennis, and swimming. But how many can claim to have their very own whisky club? Palm Desert, California’s The Lakes Country Club certainly can do so. 
The Lakes Spirit Society is this country club’s attraction for whisky drinkers. The society's meetings take place monthly from November to April on the grounds, with Palm Desert’s scorching temperatures compelling the group to adjourn for the hot months.  
First christened as The Lakes Whisky Society, this group was founded by Mark Ovitz in  2016. Mark, who still serves as acting president, founded the society as a practical solution to his spirits-buying habits. “I woke up one day and I thought ‘Wow, I’m buying a lot of [whisky]. Wouldn’t it be fun if I could get a group together, we all chip in, and buy the spirits to taste together?’ that way I wouldn’t...

Considering Chicago’s historical ties to notorious bootlegging mobsters, perhaps it’s not surprising that today the city has quite a robust—and nowadays legal—distilling scene. There’s plenty to explore throughout the city, especially for whisky lovers.
Koval Distillery was the first to open after Prohibition—in 2008—and offers a line of single barrel whiskeys, including bourbon, rye, four grain (oat, malted barley, rye, and wheat), millet, and oat; Chicago Distilling Co. and Judson and Moore Distillery both offer bourbons, ryes, and American single malts; Maplewood Brewery & Distillery makes single malts and ryes; Wolf Point Distilling makes bourbon and rye; and although CH Distillery specializes in vodka, it’s also home to Jeppson’s bourbon, plus Jeppson’s Malört, a traditional wormwood-based digestif that has achieved cult status with Chicagoans. And just outside the city, there’s FEW Spirits in...

Diageo has revealed the details of this year’s Special Releases collection, its annual limited-edition lineup of eight cask-strength collectible scotch whiskies. Released under the name Spirited Xchange,  this year’s Special Release's expressions were curated for the first time by master blender Dr. Stuart Morrison. One key highlight is a 12 year old single malt from Roseisle—it’s the first-ever bottling from this large distillery built along the Moray coastline (Speyside) back in 2010 to supply malt whisky for Diageo’s blends.  There’s also a non-age stated  Mortlach finished in whisky casks from Kanosuke Distillery in Japan. The oldest bottling in this year’s collection is a 27 year old from Lowland distillery Glenkinchie, marking its first Special Releases appearance since 2016. The Singleton of Glendullan is included for the first time since 2021, but all the others in the collection—Mortlach, Clynelish, Talisker...

Aged for an impressive 44 months, this tequila is a masterclass in complexity. With a nose of dried fruits and toasted oak, the palate reveals layers of caramel, ripe plum, and a touch of spice. The finish is long and warming, a testament to its extended aging process

WhiskyFest San Francisco is just a week away and, as always, will be the West Coast’s whisky event of the year! With 245 whiskies available for tasting it’s the place to be for everyone—from those just setting out on their whisky journey to aficionados alike. In addition to whisky, brandy, gin, rum, and tequila are available for tasting.
VIP ticket holders will have the opportunity to taste rare and interesting pours like Compass Box’s Metropolis, Dewar’s Double Double 21 year old and a 27 year old, and Johnnie Walker Blue, to name a few, for scotch lovers. American whiskey fans have the opportunity to taste expressions like Elijah Craig 18 year old, Dickel x Leopold Collaboration rye, Jack Daniel’s Sinatra, Parker’s Double Barreled, and more. Irish, Japanese, and world whiskies are also in the lineup with the likes of Nikka Japanese whisky, Kavalan from Taiwan, and Redbreast Irish whiskey, among others.
Beyond the VIP hour, all...

Most whiskies, along with champagne, cognac, tequila, and some other spirits, are governed by strict regulations on where and how they can be produced. Those rules have benefited drinkers enormously—particularly people with a thirst for drinks knowledge—as they usually know exactly what they’re getting. But rum has always been a bit of an outlier in this regard: While there are certainly great rums out there and some do tout their origin story, most of the time it isn’t so clearly stated.
Mount Gay has long been among the leaders in expressing its sense of place, and now it has doubled down with the recently unveiled Single Estate Series, a new line of terroir-driven rums that celebrates Barbadian rum from cane to glass. This release traces Mount Gay’s history in St. Lucy, Barbados back to 1703, as its sugar cane and molasses are both from the Mount Gay estate.
The Single Estate Series idea started back in 2015, when Mount Gay...

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, WhiskyFest is coming to the Big Apple next week! The event, which will be held at the New York Marriott Marquis on November 9th, is the perfect opportunity for whisky fans to discover new pours and new friends, while also meeting the people behind some truly exceptional whiskies. 
Over 280 different whiskies will be available for tasting throughout the evening. The list of pours includes 18 whiskies from our previous Top 20 lists, such as Balblair 15 year old, Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 year old, Knob Creek 12 year old, and Nikka From the Barrel, among others. Alongside great bourbons, ryes, and scotches, will be great drams from Ireland, Japan, and elsewhere around the world. The list includes American single malts from Balcones, Beam, Virginia Distillery Co., Westland, and Westward. Other spirits, such as rum and tequila, will also be available. 
In addition to early admission, attendees with VIP passes will also have access to...

When distillers present their whiskies, the barrel is almost always the co-star of the show. You’ll hear a lot of different barrel names tossed about—quarter casks, hogsheads, barriques, butts, pipes, and puncheons. But how often do you really know what they mean? Or perhaps you learned it once and have since forgotten. Either way, the mind sometimes zooms past all that and focuses on tasting the whisky. Channeling our inner whisky nerd, we’ve put together the specifics on cask types used for whisky, and the vast differences between them, to help enhance your tasting pleasure.
Quarter Cask
Size: 13-21 gallons
Who uses these: Back in the 19th century, quarter casks—so named for their size, being a quarter of the standard barrel—were the choice barrel type among Scottish and American distillers, as they were easy to transport on horseback, and allowed for shorter maturation time (the smaller barrel size means the whisky is subject to more wood...

Whisky devotees descended upon the New York Marriott Marquis on November 9th for this year’s WhiskyFest New York, a gathering that delivered drams, a bagpipe performance, and even a famous face. Over 300 whiskies were on offer throughout the night, in many cases accompanied by their distillers, blenders, and owners. 
A VIP hour kicked the evening off, during which attendees had the opportunity to sip a number of exclusive and extraordinary whiskies. Among New York’s VIP hour pours were Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19 year old Batch No. 5, Deanston 15 year old Tequila Cask Finish, Dewar’s 21 year old Mizunara Cask Finish, Old Pulteney Pineau de Charentes Cask Finish, Glen Moray 21 year old, Fercullen 21 year old, Fuji 50th Anniversary Single Malt, Heaven’s Door Bootleg Volume V, Kentucky Owl Batch 12, and Michter’s 20 year old. 

Just as it was at WhiskyFest San Francisco in October, Michter’s 20 was very popular and VIP...

After dazzling whisky fans in Florida, San Francisco, Chicago, and New York, WhiskyFest is set to make its final stop of 2023 on Saturday, December 2nd in Sin City. The event, which will be held at Resorts World Las Vegas hotel, is the perfect opportunity for aficionados and newcomers to discover exciting whiskies. 
The night, which kicks off at 6:30 for general admission ticket holders, promises a plethora of interesting pours from around the world. Fans of American whiskey can sip on favorites from Michter’s, Jack Daniel’s, Blackened, Frey Ranch, and Larceny, among others. Scotch drinkers can expect pours from Compass Box, Chivas Regal, Glenlivet, Dewar’s, and Glen Moray. From Ireland comes Redbreast, Method and Madness, and Glendalough. 
Alongside an additional hour of tasting, which begins at 5:30, guests with VIP tickets also gain access to some of the most exclusive pours. The VIP-only list includes Compass Box Art & Decadence, Johnnie...

On Monday, December 4, our countdown of the Top 20 Whiskies of 2023 begins! The reveal kicks off with whiskies 10, 9, and 8, followed by whiskies 7, 6, and 5 on Tuesday, December 5; whiskies 4, 3, and 2 on Wednesday, December 6; and the unveiling of our Whisky of the Year on Thursday, December 7. The entire Top 20 list, detailing the most exciting whiskies of the year, will be published on our site next Friday, December 8.
As for this week's new releases, perhaps a future Top 20 candidate is in their midst: Read on for full details of all the week has to offer, including the latest Diageo's Distillers Edition, Fuji Whisky's 30 year old Single Grain, Jack Daniel's Distillery Series Selection #12, and more.
SCOTCH
Diageo Distillers Edition 2023
Each year, Diageo releases its Distillers Edition versions of some of its most popular single malts. Generally speaking, they’re the same whiskies as the core expressions, but they all receive varying amounts of...

Very pale and peaty, with lime zest, smoked lemon, green gooseberry, brine, and cooked agave aromas, the smoke and tequila cask notes are well-balanced, sharp, and invigorating. Lime, agave, caramel, and vanilla sweetness, with smoke on the back of the palate, cooked plum fruitiness, and a growing sense of minerality, green herbal notes, and zesty lime. Be generous with the water; this Lagavulin can take it. No. 3 in our Top 20 of 2024. 

Justin Aden wasn’t even a week into his new role as master blender at Stranahan’s Distillery in Denver, Colorado, when he was tasked with creating the 2023 Snowflake offering. “I was simultaneously trying to learn the warehouse inventory—all of our thousands of barrels,” says Aden, adding that he effectively walked the ricks with a drill in hand, tasting everything he could in search of great barrels to include in Snowflake, the annual limited-edition, distillery-only single malt release.
This year’s Snowflake release is the 26th edition, and it’s dubbed Pyramid Peak. (All Snowflake releases are named after Colorado’s 14ers, a term for any mountain in the state that’s higher than 14,000 feet in elevation.) This 94-proof bottle is a blend of 16 barrels, each of which sees Stranahan’s Colorado single malt finished in an array of sourced casks.

How 2023’s Pyramid Peak Snowflake Release Was Created
Aden, a...

Calling all peated scotch lovers! Here’s a list of 15 peated scotch whiskies that scored well with our tasting panel—some new, some from last year, and some old standbys. One that was not included because of its limited nature and high price ($5,000) is Talisker Glacial Edge, a 45 year old expression that’s among the best we’ve tasted in recent times. While the list includes some pricy whiskies, they are worth seeking out for a pour at a bar or restaurant. And many are within reach. While Islay leads this list, which is to be expected in any conversation about peated scotch, a surprising number are from elsewhere in Scotland.
95 Highland Park Cask Strength Single Malt (Batch 4), 64.3%, $100
Our No.-2 whisky of the year in the 2023 rankings. While this batch might be hard to find, any cask-strength Highland Park is highly likely to be a treat. Unencumbered by an age statement, master whisky maker Gordon Motion painted Batch 4 with flavor in...

Few things in life pair with whisky more perfectly than a great cigar; the two truly are a match made in heaven. To help celebrate and facilitate that pairing, Whisky Advocate and Cigar Aficionado are joining forces in April for a combined showcase: Big Smoke Meets WhiskyFest, promising a night of top-shelf smokes and unforgettable sips.
Big Smoke Meets WhiskyFest will take place on April 6th at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in sunny Tampa, Florida. The night, which starts at 6:30 p.m. for general admission, will feature a star-studded list of cigars and spirits. There will be over 100 pours, including whiskies from Bardstown Bourbon Co., Blackened, Chivas Regal, Redbreast, Uncle Nearest, and more. The event’s cigar lineup includes over 30 top-rated sticks from Alec Bradley, Arturo Fuente, Cohiba, Drew Estate, H. Upmann, My Father, Padrón, and Romeo Y Julieta.
For the smokers who want to experiment with other pairings and the whisky drinkers who want...

Our Spring issue focuses on cask-finishing, a subtle art that’s become a global phenomenon in the whisky world. Sherry, port, red wine, white wine, rum, cognac, tequila, and other spirits casks are now joined by exotic woods, among them mizunara, amburana, chestnut, and cherry, as well as casks seasoned with honey, coffee, maple syrup, and more. Such a vast array of options has unlocked an entire universe of flavors for whisky makers—and whisky lovers—to explore, while also making whisky connections around the world. In the end, there’s no complex formula to cask-finishing, just a blender’s careful, constant diligence in determining when it’s ready for you to taste. Elsewhere in the issue, we look at the whisky fanatics who camp out at their favorite distilleries ahead of special release days, offer up a travel guide for those visiting Jerez, Porto, or Madeira, highlight the best places to stop on Louisville’s Whiskey Row, and detail...

Meetings—in the corporate sense—are a somewhat new addition to the workday for Woodinville whiskey co-founder Brett Carlile. Woodinville was acquired by Moët Hennessy (LVMH) in 2017, a move that allowed the Washington state distiller to ramp up volume and expand beyond its home state. A lot has changed in the nearly seven years since that deal was struck, including Carlile’s role. “Prior to the acquisition, I was very hands-on, literally on the distilling floor working the shifts alongside the other distillers,” he says. Now, Carlile is in charge of all production at Woodinville and was also involved in a post-acquisition expansion of the facility. In Quincy, Washington, east and over the Cascade Mountains from Woodinville, the company built a barreling and bottling facility in 2020, which Carlile oversees as well.
A bigger, more cultural change has also come into play. “I’m more involved in meetings than I used to be,” Carlile...

It's not quite ready to roll, but, there's an upcoming new release of an annual expression that's always an occasion for its distillery and its fans. Lady Bird, made by Texas distiller Garrison Brothers, is a honey-infused, cognac-finished bourbon made from a mashbill of 75% corn, 15% soft winter red wheat, and 10% barley. It’s released once a year at the distillery in the town of Hye, in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, west of Austin, and this year’s release date has just been revealed as May 11. Some 7,002 bottles of Lady Bird’s 2024 edition are being made available: the first 1,000 bottles will be sold on May 11 at the distillery, and the remainder will be released at retail nationwide. Lady Bird is bottled at 57% ABV and carries a retail price of $180. The waiting line at the distillery on selling day starts at around 5 a.m. and usually stretches for a couple of miles. In the meantime, there are plenty of new releases here to...

Although Margaritas are the go-to on Cinco de Mayo, you don't have to wash down your guac and tacos with tequila. You can also celebrate Latino history and culture with whisky.
Corn (a common ingredient in the spirit) is believed to have originated in Mexico. And according to Mayan culture, the gods made the first humans out of the grain.
The Maestro cocktail starts with a blended whisky and incorporates other meaningful ingredients to embody the spirit of Cinco de Mayo. “It includes a touch of French liqueur with a hint of bitterness, paying homage to the historical significance of this day. And by incorporating foreign spirits, it symbolizes the resilience and unity demonstrated during the battle in Mexico,” says creator Luis Villanueva, managing partner and beverage director of Casa Bond in New York City. “The added spice serves as a vibrant accent, celebrating the fusion of cultures and flavors.”
As the name implies, the Maestro is a perfect...

Amid the usual fanfare of new product announcements, this week brought word of the retirement of John MacDonald, longtime manager at Balblair Distillery in the Northern Highlands. One of the great citizens of the scotch whisky world, Macdonald has overseen all aspects of whisky making at Balblair, including its recent transition from vintage-dated releases to age statement whiskies. Situated on a hillside overlooking the Dornoch Firth, Balblair is arguably Scotland’s most picturesque distillery and certainly one of its more underrated ones. It’s just up the road from its famous neighbor Glenmorangie, and while it has never achieved the fame of Glenmorangie or its other Northern Highlands neighbor, Dalmore, its whiskies are certainly on equal footing.
As for the new whisky introductions, it’s been a busy week. Things got started with the rollout of the latest Lagavulin Offerman Edition, followed by the inaugural release from Islay distillery Ardnahoe, whose...

Knob Creek age statements are returning with a vengeance, as many of us can remember the days of 2009 when Knob Creek ran out of aged juice altogether. Of course, Knob Creek was hardly the only one caught off guard by the whisky boom—the years between 2010 and 2020 were filled with non-age statement releases and other measures as distillers scrambled to meet demand. Now, thankfully, the age-statement whiskey scene appears to be back in full bloom.
Elsewhere Crown Royal is getting into the single malt act, which adds another big distiller to a space, once the province of craft distillers. The space now also includes Jack Daniel’s, and Jim Beam. Can Heaven Hill be far behind?
Lots more is doing, including a high-proof bottling from the rapidly rising Green River Distillery, whose Owensboro, Kentucky distillery received 10,000 visitors last year. Quietly inserted in the most recent new product information from Kentucky’s Frank August was news that Potter Jane...

Single malt scotch sales have been on a long-term upswing in the U.S. market, nearly doubling from 2010 to 2021 to reach 2 million cases (24 million bottles) for the first time, according to our company’s research arm, Impact Databank, before receding a bit over the past two years. Scotch single malts continue to battle competition from popular categories like American whiskey and tequila, and so have been aiming to maximize higher-end offerings as volume dips, notes our sister web news site Shanken News Daily.
Single malt scotch shipments to the U.S. amounted to 1.93 million 9-liter cases (23.2 million bottles) in 2023, down 14.3%, but the export value was only down 1.4% to £394 million ($502m), showing that higher-end whiskies are fairing better than the overall picture. Including blended scotch, total scotch whisky shipments to the U.S. fell 7% by both volume and value last year.
In line with broader scotch trends, the top five single malt brands in the U.S. by...

Known as the City of Gold, Johannesburg is the main aviation hub and commercial heart for all of Southern Africa. Whether you’re there for business or pleasure, if you love whisky, WhiskyBrother Bar is a must-visit.
The city is home to some of the region’s wealthiest residents and most desirable neighborhoods, and in recent years the taste for finer things, from luxury cars and watches to international fashion to top-shelf whiskies has taken off in a big way. Whisky has become part of the society scene here, and there’s no better place for a big night out than WhiskyBrother Bar in Sandton, Johannesburg’s poshest neighborhood (the nearby Saxon Hotel is where Nelson Mandela stayed when he wrote his memoir, and it’s the choice of the Clintons, Oprah Winfrey, and just about every visiting entertainer).
Like Los Angeles, Johannesburg is a very large city devoted to driving with very little that’s pedestrian friendly. Oddly, almost all the best...

A bankruptcy filing by Stoli Group USA has created uncertainty for its Kentucky Owl whiskey brand and its planned Kentucky Owl Park distillery and visitor center in Bardstown, Kentucky. That project, announced soon after Stoli USA acquired Kentucky Owl in 2017, is envisioned as a 420-acre campus complete with a distillery, warehouses, bar, restaurant, hotel, and even a light railroad. But it has been plagued by delays from the start, most significantly from Covid-19, casting doubt on whether it will come to fruition. The bankruptcy filing complicates matters even further.
Kentucky Owl Park aside, the Kentucky Owl brand has released some excellent bourbon and rye whiskeys under Stoli’s ownership, most notably its Maighstir Edition in September 2023,  Straight Batch 12 in November 2022, and The Wiseman in September 2021, which finished at No. 17 on our Top 20 list that year. All but one of Kentucky Owl’s whiskeys reviewed by Whisky Advocate since 2017...

This week's new releases feature a new edition of Blue Run's Flight Series, a collection of six whiskeys made in micro-batches, with each "flight"  made from a maximum of four barrels. The concept aims to poke fun at the term "small batch," which isn't legally defined and rarely reveals details on the quantities of each batch. On the tasting front, this new Flight Series contrasts bourbon and rye-led mashbills, and showcases their differences. Elsewhere in Kentucky, New Riff celebrated its 10th anniversary last year, and it bottled a commemorative bourbon and rye to mark the occasion. Both are now out, though at the distillery only. Meanwhile, Irish whiskey Proper No. Twelve climbs the age ladder with a new 13 year old single malt to show that it can be a contender, while scotch whiskies Glen Grant and Macallan have new ultra-aged offerings.  
Blue Run Flight Series III Blended American
ABV: Varies
SRP: $125
Availability...

This week's new release round-up features American whiskeys, led by a port cask finished blend from Woodford Reserve and a California red wine cask finish from Rebel. Elijah Craig has dropped the second barrel proof batch of the year, while Nashville pitmaster Carey Bringle is offering a 15 year old rye. Elsewhere, Cedar Ridge has a new single malt finished in a multiplicity of casks, while other new offerings are from Frank August, Spirit Hound, Milam & Greene, and World Whiskey Society. And in a separate story, we cover two distillers who've announced releases honoring the U.S. military.
 
Woodford Reserve Distillery Series: Tawny Port Finish Blend
ABV: 45.2%
SRP: $65/375 ml
Availability: Limited
Master distiller Elizabeth McCall’s newest Woodford Distillery Series release first combined rye and bourbon together. From there, McCall added a tawny port-finished bourbon to the blend; once that was married, she balanced the...

Walk the floor at Bar Convent Brooklyn, the annual convention for bar and drinks professionals held recently in Brooklyn, and you just might see the next big thing. Tasty single malt from Switzerland? Present. Japanese green chartreuse and fernet alternatives? Check. Green tea shooter whisky, espousing notes of peach and citrus? Yes, apparently that’s a thing.  
Taking in the show through the lens of the whiskey drinker, you spot trends that may represent fundamental shifts in how America approaches flavor, technique, and consumption. These aren’t predictions; they’re movements gaining traction among the industry’s influential players. Love them or hate them, here are six examples of trend-spotting at the show:
Umami Enters the Chat 
Umami has found its way from high-end kitchens into the whiskeyverse before, notably, Johnnie Walker Blue Umami. Now, the fifth taste is showing up in ways that challenge traditional flavor expectations...

Whisky Advocate's New York event is back for 2025 with an exciting new twist! WhiskyFest New York: Whisky, Tequila, and Beyond will be held on Friday, November 14th from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square. Whisky and spirit lovers will have the opportunity to taste whiskies, tequilas, and other spirits from around the world, including rare and exceptional bottlings. Learn about the whiskies and spirits from the distillers and blenders while you sip their creations. It’s an opportunity like no other: Taste selections you otherwise don’t have access to, revisit some old favorites, and discover new ones. Visit the WhiskyFest website or sign up here for updates on the expressions that will be poured throughout the evening.
New for this year is the introduction of one ticket type. This grants access to all the whiskies and other spirits on the pour list to all...

It's a big week of new releases for bourbon and other American whiskeys, with announcements from major stars including Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch (covered earlier this week), as well as Maker's Mark Cellar Aged, Michter's US*1 Toasted Barrel Sour Mash,  Baker's 13 year old, and numerous others detailed below. In scotch, Glenfiddich has a new 16 year old in partnership with Aston Martin's Formula One racing team, while the Tormore single malt brand has a trio of new whiskies as it prepares for a broader U.S. introduction in 2026.
Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged (2025 Edition) Bourbon
ABV: 56.45%
SRP: $175
Availability: Limited
Since its debut in 2023, Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged has represented a dramatic departure from the distillery’s standard bourbon, which is ready at around 7 to 8 years old. While Cellar Aged, like the flagship Maker’s, bears no age statement, it has featured whiskey 11 years or older. The barrels used...

Updated 9/30/25: Wyoming Whiskey's Buffalo Bill Cody (see details below), originally released as a Wyoming exclusive, is now available nationwide. The ABV is 48%, compared to the Wyoming-only release's 48.5%.
A mixture of bourbons, ryes, and American blends leads the week’s new releases. High West brings back its The Prisoner Wine Co. red wine-finished blend of bourbon and rye, while Penelope has a blend that includes straight bourbon, American single malt, and American light whiskey. Woodinville has upped the age on its flagship rye, while 15 Stars introduces its oldest blend of rye yet; new bourbons include the fourth chapter of Castle & Key’s Untold Story series, a wheater from Great Jones, and a tribute to Buffalo Bill Cody from Wyoming Whiskey. Overseas, Tomatin, Loch Lomond, and Gordon & MacPhail all have new single malt scotch whiskies.
 
High West The Prisoner’s Share (2025 Edition) American blend
ABV: 51%
SRP: $175

The year 2000 marked a turning point for the whisky industry. After decades of declining sales, younger drinkers started buying and trying whisky, and new distillers appeared, kicking off the craft whiskey movement. Nowadays, there are more whisky names than ever before, and they’re coming from across the globe. In our Fall 2025 issue, we chronicled whisky’s journey through this quarter century—the people who created it, the places it’s from, and the new ideas that made it all happen. Elsewhere in the issue, we explore Seattle through a whisky lover’s lens, check in on the secondary market, and look at how two of Islay’s biggest stars rose from near ruin. Our section on tequila, which includes stories, new products, ratings, and reviews, is at the back of the magazine once...

Bourbon's growth doesn't just affect whiskey producers. Business is up at cooperages, bottle makers, label printers, shippers, grain silos, still manufacturers, warehouse builders, and every other related business. But no ancillary industry has benefited more from the bourbon boom than tourism. It began simply, with official highway signs pointing to distillery ‘attractions.' Then the Kentucky Distillers Association (KDA) packaged its member distilleries up as theKentucky Bourbon Trail Tour. Now there is a companion Craft Distillery Trail Tour too. Tennessee, with Daniel and Dickel and a host of new craft distilleries, has its own fledgling association and trail. Today, whiskey is one of the main drivers for tourism in the region.Getting ThereSpeaking of drivers, one of your first questions might be, “Do I need a car?” The region's tourism infrastructure doesn't really support the carless, and distilleries tend to be out of the way. Your best option if you don't drive is a tour...

Elizabethtown (everybody calls it ‘E-town') is attractive as an alternate place to stay when you're visiting the Bardstown area. It has a large hotel and restaurant cluster just off interstate 65 and from there it's barely 20 minutes to Bardstown on the Martha Layne. E-town marks the end of bourbon country and the beginning of Fort Knox country. It also has several sites associated with Abraham Lincoln's father, Thomas, and easy access to the Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park near Hodgenville.E-town has a few non-chain restaurants. Kentucky doesn't have the ‘meat-and-three' tradition you find further south, but Back Home comes close. It's in a 19th century house with multiple dining rooms. Family-owned and operated, it is warm and friendly. Fried green tomatoes are the star. Chicken-fried steak, chicken-fried chicken, and Kentucky country ham are all good traditional choices. Corn pudding and sweet potato casserole are on the long list of sides.In that hotel cluster out by...

A warm whiskey cocktail sounds like something the black-hatted bad guy orders in a classic western. Jim Kearns, bar director at Slowly Shirley in Manhattan, which features four “room-temperature cocktails,” offers an equally colorful history. “They were once called scaffa-style drinks, meaning a mixed libation that was not chilled and did not use ice,” says Kearns, noting the word “scaffa” may have derived from the Italian for “cupboard,” suggesting these drinks went directly from cupboard to glass.Slowly Shirley offers a Room Temperature Manhattan using Heaven Hill's Pikesville rye at 110 proof. “When sipped slowly and allowed to warm, a Manhattan becomes different, but not worse. It owes to the fact that good whiskey is enjoyable warm with a little dilution,” says Kearns. For that reason, Slowly Shirley eschews ice in their room-temperature cocktails, but breaks with scaffa tradition by adding water. “The addition of water and vermouth take a higher proof...

Listen up buddy, here's some good advice for free. Great tasting whisky is not expensive; you just need to know where to look.Firstly, you need to work on your game. We're gonna put those dead presidents in your pocket to work, you understand? If you shop online, tap into stores' Twitter accounts and keep a lookout for flash sales and discounts. As prices skyrocket, these are now a thing: do yourself a favor, and use ‘em, okay? And hey, take advantage of the seasonal markdowns during the holidays and Father's Day.And another thing: don't pay top dollar to multinationals or exorbitant prices for young juice from shiny new distilleries. You're paying their shareholders, the paychecks of all those sales and marketing people, being a patsy for some guy whose dreams are bigger than his bank account. Let some other sucker do that, your job is to part with as little green as possible. Here's what you're gonna do. Seek out the family-run companies that offer a fairer deal for their bottles...

Mindfulness is one of today's buzzwords. It translates into being aware of and then living in the moment, oh, and being compassionate when you are doing so. That last bit is the most important, by the way. Without wishing to trivialize what strikes me as an ideal model for life, this framework can apply to whisky. Being conscious of what flavors and serves will suit your mood at this moment will go some distance to ensuring you have a happy experience. Extend that to the people around you—guests in a bar, friends in the pub—and picking the right drink puts you and your friends in a better mood. Being in a good mood generates warm feelings, those feelings then manifest themselves in your behavior and you become, if only for that dram, a better person. And here's you, thinking you were just pouring some booze.In the Mood: when to drink whatThe question is, what to choose? Here's how I go about it in a bar with 100 bottles behind the stick. The human response to such choice mingles...

Any American of retirement age who has worked in beverage alcohol for most or all of his or her career has never experienced American whiskey, the pride and joy of the American distilled spirits industry, healthy and growing like it is today. For most of our working lives, American whiskey was quiescent. It sold. A few companies did well with it. Most didn't. Nothing seemed to move the needle. The customers kept getting older and many feared that when the last bourbon drinker went to that great brass rail in the sky, that would be it. It wasn't always so dismal. Bourbons, ryes, and blends sold as fast as distilleries could make them coming out of the privations of World War II in the mid-1940s. They were still going strong when we were in high school. Almost two million barrels were filled in 1967 and there were more than eight-and-a-half million in aging inventory. By the time we finished college and went to work, the bottom had fallen out. The industry was on its way to losing half...

Do you drink whisky? Or do you taste whisky? There's certainly a time for each, but if you want to get more out of your whisky, there are things you can do to taste at a higher level. When you do, you learn more about what you like, and about what other whiskies may appeal to you, and which ones probably won't.I have a theory about tasting whisky that I call the “Karate Kid” method. You'll recall the iconic scene from The Karate Kid where the young man seeks to learn karate from the old master, and instead is put to work waxing his cars, painting his fence, and sanding his deck. He then learns that the work has built muscle memory of reflexive karate moves.Similarly, you've been training to taste whisky all your life, every time you smelled or tasted food, plants, even chemicals and appliances. Read a whisky review; generally the reviewer will tell you what they smelled or tasted, like cereal, berries, bonfire, or mint, all of which are things you know. Now slow down and smell...

The city of Portland, straddling the Willamette River in the Pacific Northwest, is not a bad place to be a drinker. Around 70 breweries are located here, more than any other city in the world. About a dozen distilleries call ‘Stumptown' home, with a similar amount of urban wineries. The food culture complements the drinking scene, with award-winning restaurants, 600 food trucks, and an almost religious belief by Portlanders in enjoying local products and the farm-to-table philosophy.There are whisky and cocktail bars in almost every neighborhood, and a healthy respect for pairing good whisky with local craft beer (the two major food groups in the city). Add to this a walkable, vibrant downtown with efficient public transportation, and two days of hedonistic ramblings are easily filled.Many of the bars don't open until late afternoon, so take a distillery tour earlier in the day or pay a visit to a liquor store. Oregon is a control state, so all spirits are sold through...

After a day on Wyoming's cowboy powder, a cold can of beans just ain't gonna cut it. That's why chef-owner Paul O'Connor is serving up creative country cuisine, like bone marrow and cheddar fondue and buffalo-fried quail with celery root slaw and Jackson hot sauce. There's plenty of Jägermeister,beer, and spicy Margaritas flowing in this rambunctious outpost, but saddle up at the bar on one of the custom leather saddle stools and veteran bartender Tobias Gelber will pour you an Old-Fashioned, aged in-house in 5-liter barrels. “I am a big fan ofaging cocktails in barrels, as it adds a new level of complexity to the cocktail. What's good for bourbon, rum, and wine is good for most spirit-based cocktails,” says Gelber, who adapted the recipe for us using more convenient oak spirals. The recipe makes ten servings.
INGREDIENTS

20 oz. Maker’s Mark bourbon
10 oz. Grade B maple syrup
30 dashes of Autumn Bitters (or other cocktail bitters)
1 oak...

In the thick of summer, country-strong Buffalo Trace workers are sweating through their shirts, rolling newly filled barrels from a truck into a stone warehouse. The whiff of new make spirit in charred oak cuts through the subtle breeze, wafting rich bourbon aromas. It's a typical hot and humid Kentucky day, but something's wrong.The Buffalo Trace Distillery's barrelhead stencil markings look a little unusual. Instead of the smeared black ink upon wood grain, these barrelheads don a bright green.This may seem like no big deal to a casual observer, but in the whiskey business, where every detail counts and small changes reverberate across decades, this green ink on the outside of a barrel is the mark of something profound on the inside: wheated bourbon.Buffalo Trace switched its wheated bourbon stenciling from black to green, while the ryed bourbons remain black, so warehouse crews can differentiate the two. With the growing demand for wheated bourbon, this simple green stenciling...

Fans of whisky from India's Amrut, Penderyn of Wales, Kilchoman on Islay and Taiwan's Kavalan all owe a debt of gratitude to one man: Dr. Jim Swan, a magician who turned aspiring distillers' dreams into reality. His sudden and untimely passing on February 14th has been mourned internationally, a testament to the sorrow keenly felt by the global whisky community at the abrupt loss.The foundation of Dr. Swan's profession placed him within the inner circle of Scotland's brightest scientific spirit researchers, through Inveresk Research International, then Pentlands Scotch Whisky Research Limited in the 1970s under the leadership of director of research Dr. James Gray. Dr. Swan's skill was applied research into the fusion of the laboratory and sensory analysis of whisky, which meant conducting his studies side by side with the mashmen, brewers, and stillmen on shift in malt and grain distilleries across Scotland. During the 1970s and 1980s, Dr. Swan managed research programs funded by the...

Our Spring 2017 issueis on newsstands now! Take a look at the great articles that await, and check out the Buying Guide here.Distillations48 Hours in Chicago, the science of small barrels, bars with whisky lockers, sipping rum, cases to carry whisky, pairing whisky and chips, green malt, better cooking with whisky, and more! Plus theWhisky Advocate Auction IndexColumnsAmerican Spiritby Fred MinnickWith an eager secondary market, bourbon retail prices seem to defy the laws of supply and demand. Fred charts a path to our good fortune.Add Whiskeyby Jeffery LindenmuthBlack is the new brown when charcoal joins whiskey in the mixing glass to create these cocktails noir. Jeffery explores the black arts.The Thinking Drinkerby Stephen BeaumontIf it's expensive, it's got to be good! Or does it? Stephen considers the impact of price on perception among whisky enthusiasts.A Lighter Dramby Terry SullivanManhattan cocktail traditionalists prefer a lemon twist, but a neon-red garnish holds a special...

Located in the woods of Western Massachusetts, Berkshire Mountain Distillers first made a name for itself with its acclaimed Greylock gin. But in the last few years, the company has begun to experiment with unique and innovative whiskey releases. The latest, Berkshire Bourbon Smoke and Peat, is a new twist on a barrel-finished bourbon. Smoke and Peat is made by finishing fully mature 4 year old Berkshire Bourbon (72% corn, 18% rye, 10% barley) in Islay single malt casks for 3 to 8 months. The whisky is an unusual crossover, a fusion of sweet, spicy bourbon and the flavors of smoky, peaty scotch.“I'd been looking for Islay casks for nine years and hadn't found them,” says Chris Weld, founder, owner and distiller at Berkshire. “It's the first time in ten years that these casks became available. All the rest went to breweries, and as far as I know we're the only distillery to get them.” Weld wanted to experiment with creating a whiskey that blended elements of both bourbon and...

Anyone who's ever gotten married knows what a double-edged sword the wedding registry can be. On the one hand, it ensures that clueless relatives are directed toward gifts the couple actually wants. On the other hand, you could end up with 42 teaspoons and only three plates. And even with a registry, someone's always going to go off-book and giveyou their idea of a great wedding present. (Thanks for the decorative bathroom art, Aunt Mary!)But sometimes everything on the registry gets snapped up by other guests—or is way out of your price range—and you need a great gift idea. Our favorite go-to, of course, is whisky, a gift guaranteed to be enjoyed and not to collect dust in the attic. Whether you're attending the nuptials of your best friend from kindergarten or you're leading the wedding party in the funky chicken dance, there's a bottle or two that will fit the situation and bring added joy to the happy occasion.The Best Whisky Gifts For Brides And GroomsIf you're the best man...

Making homemade ice cream is a bit like mixing a cocktail: it's an easy way to impress, as long as you follow a good recipe. And like a good cocktail, ice cream can include a kick of whisky, making for a refreshing, delicious spiked frozen treat.Incorporating whisky into your ice cream is pretty simple, and once you feel confident making a batch of basic bourbon vanilla, you can play around with other flavors, using your favorite cocktails as inspiration. From the Manhattan to the Mint Julep, you'll wonder why you didn't add whisky to your ice cream machine sooner.Follow these tips from the pros to churn your own whisky ice cream Don't Be a LushThe biggest challenge when making spiked ice cream, of course, is that alcohol doesn't freeze. “You can only put a certain amount in, otherwise your ice cream will come out soupy,” warns Lauren Schultz, co-owner of Purple Door Ice Cream in Milwaukee.There are two ways to do this. First, you can put the whisky in a pot over a low flame and...

The influence of sherry casks on whisky is usually evident from the first whiff: aromas of dried fruit, nuts, chocolate, and orange peel entice the senses and beguile the drinker into pouring an extra-large dram. (Or is that just me?)Sherry itself—a fortified wine from the Jerez region of Spain—encompasses a diverse array of styles, each imparting different types of flavors on a cask and, later, whisky. But many distillers favor the nutty, dry style of Oloroso or the sweet, rich flavors of Pedro Ximénez (aka PX), which are especially suited to single malt scotch maturation.True sherry connoisseurs know that bodegas tend to use American oak (Quercus alba) casks for aging their sherries. (American oak has a tight grain and is less prone to leaks than European oak.) Since sherry doesn't benefit from the flavors of oak, bodegas also like to use neutral wood casks that have had their most prominent wood flavors stripped away by time. But many whisky distillers buy European oak...

Even when a whisky is already fully mature and perfectly delicious, some distillers decide to give it extra time in a different barrel. The practice is called finishing, also sometimes known as secondary maturation. While it's commonly done today in Scotland, Ireland, the U.S., and elsewhere, it first began in 1983 when Balvenie master distiller David Stewart put some fully-aged whisky into sherry butts for around a year. The result was Balvenie Classic, now known as DoubleWood. Starting in the 1998 at Glenmorangie, Dr. Bill Lumsden used his love of wine to become one of the biggest innovators in finishing: He's gone so far as to re-toast barrels with Douro Valley table wine still in them in order to caramelize the sugars.Today, whiskies on both sides of the pond are being finished in everything from sherry butts and port casks to sauternes hogsheads and rum barrels, even with gold bars. The phenomenon has inspired DIY-minded whisky lovers to try their hand at it. Some are taking...

WhiskyFest San Francisco on October 6th is fast approaching, and if you're a whisky lover in the Bay Area, it's the perfect way to kick off the fall whisky-drinking season in earnest.With over 400 whiskies being poured, WhiskyFest has something for everyone (and if you want to quench your thirst with scotch, we've got you covered). But if you're a bourbon fanatic or just want to see what all the fuss is about, take a look below for the Whisky Advocate editorial team's top bourbon (and rye) picks at WhiskyFest San Francisco. All of these pours are available with general admission tickets. (If you haven't bought yours yet, it's not too late!)7 Must-Try Bourbons At WhiskyFest San FranciscoEagle Rare 17 year oldThere's a reason it's called Eagle Rare, not Eagle Common. Like all the members of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, Eagle Rare 17 is genuinely hard to find—except at WhiskyFest. Don't miss your chance to try this annual special release, which regularly scores a 93 or 94 in...

We need to talk about how many bottles of whisky you own. Can we be honest with each other? First there were too many for the drinks shelf, then you couldn't close the closet doors, then they took over the basement den—and now you spend more time searching for whiskies than enjoying them. It's time to start keeping track of what you've got. Whisky collectors are capable of amassing thousands of bottles, and a well-catalogued collection is one you can enjoy in an instant.You need a Whisky InventoryAn inventory that records which site, room, box, or bin holds a whisky is vital when your collection grows to occupy several locations. Naturally, a whisky inventory will be indispensable for insurance and appraisal purposes. Furthermore, you will find it an invaluable tool when communicating with auctioneers, brokers, and retail stores if you decide to sell part of your collection.Beyond these practical considerations, a good inventory can act as inspiration, for example, when you are...

Scotch distilleries roll out major new whiskies to great fanfare all the time. (In fact, we write about them every Friday in Whisky Weekend.) Whisky retirements get less attention, but they do happen. The reasons are numerous: shortages of aged stock, changes in branding or focus, or even the total overhaul of a distillery's core line. But because of the way that whisky retail works, there's usually a long lead time between when a product is announced as being discontinued and when it's actually gone from store shelves.The single malt whiskies on this list were all discontinued relatively recently, and (as of fall 2017) are still available in limited quantities at stores for roughly their original retail price. A Whisky Advocate editor has spotted every whisky on this list “in the wild” sometime recently. With a little luck, you really can still find these bottles. Visit small, independent shops in up-and-coming neighborhoods or hit up stores in the suburbs for your best shot. For...

Thanksgiving is a time to drink and eat with your family, to share memories and joys and field goals. It's also a great time to help spread your love of whisky and potentially create new fans. After all, some friends and family members may never have tried really good whisky or given it much of a chance. As a passionate whisky lover, you can show them what makes whisky so exciting.If you really wanted, you could probably come up with a pretty good whisky pairing to go with turkey, stuffing, or cranberry sauce, and convince the host to put a bottle of whisky on the table next to the wine. But why try to compete with other beverages? Instead, wait until after dinner, when everyone is relaxing, to open some great bottles—and hopefully open some minds too.Whiskies To Share With Family At ThanksgivingIf you want to introduce as-yet-unenlightened family members to the joys of whisky at Thanksgiving, consider making a round of cocktails. Some people just aren't used to sipping spirits, and...

Did you see Monday's reveal of the full Top 20 list? Check out all 20 of the most exciting whiskies of 2017, including Whisky of the Year.Beyond the Top 20 list, there's more excitement to be had in this week's new whisky releases. Glen Moray—whose 18 year old was number 10 on our list—is launching a sherry cask-finished, NAS single malt. For only $30, it's worth picking up if you've never gotten acquainted with this Speyside distillery.Higher up the pricing ladder, Macallan has a new line of single cask whiskies ranging in age from 12 to 22 years old—and priced from $250 to $1,300. There's not much other information available about these seven single cask bottlings.If you prefer peatier scotch at a lower price, Bowmore has a new 18 year old ($127) partly matured in manzanilla sherry casks and a 26 year old ($540) that spent half its life in wine barriques. Both are limited in quantity.Meanwhile, the Big Peat blended malt brand is launching its first age-statement whisky. Only...

Old Overholt rye has had a steady presence on the bottom shelf of your local liquor store for decades, its founder's face glaring at you from the label of every bottle—but it wasn't always that way. In fact, Old Overholt was, at one time, one of the most respected and highly regarded whiskeys in the United States, said to have once been the preferred tipple of notables like Ulysses S. Grant and John Henry “Doc” Holliday. It is the only American whiskey brand that retains undeniable ties to the “Old Monongahela” (muh-non-guh-HAY-luh) style of rye.So how did this once-lauded whiskey go from top of the heap to bottom-shelf bottle? It all started over 200 years ago.Learn what makes Old Monongahela rye unique and where you can find it todayThe Oberholtzer family, headed by patriarch Henry, left Bucks County, Pennsylvania in 1800 and, after a six-month journey over the Allegheny Mountains in covered wagons, settled on the western frontier. Their 263-acre farm was located in a...

If you really want to wow someone, there's nothing like starting a fire. And when it comes to smoked cocktails, the effect is about much more than presentation—although it's certainly Instagram-worthy too.“The aromatic qualities of smoke add a dryness that's more of a perception, rather than a reduction of sugar. You also get more tannic qualities of the wood,” explains Ben Potts, bar manager and owner of Miami's Beaker & Gray.And of course there's the smell of whatever you smoke, which contributes another layer to your drink. “The aroma excites the palate and adds depth to the flavor of the cocktail,” says Norton Christopher, bar chef at Sac-a-Lait in New Orleans.Add it all up, and smoking adds to a cocktail's multi-sensory experience—one you can pull off at home, with the right equipment and a few safety precautions (since you are working with fire and alcohol, after all). Follow these pro tips to create rich and smoky whisky cocktails.Technique and EquipmentThere's...

Just last week, Lux Row Distillers in Bardstown, Kentucky filled its first barrel with new-make spirit. While that whiskey will spend a good couple of years aging, there are plenty of other whiskies to enjoy that are coming out now.Hot on the heels of Macallan's special Chinese New Year package, Johnnie Walker has unveiled its annual Lunar New Year Blue Label. Celebrating the Year of the Dog, the bottle's design features a Shar Pei in an elaborate triptych.Speaking of Macallan, the distillery is releasing a new single cask bottling in its Fine & Rare Vintage collection. Just four bottles of the Macallan Fine & Rare 1977 Vintage will be hitting the U.S. for now, though more will be on their way later in the year. Each bottle costs $15,000.A new Irish whiskey brand, Lambay, is making its U.S. debut after launching in Europe last year. Sourced from West Cork Distillers, Lambay is a joint venture between cognac house Camus and the Baring family of Ireland. There is currently a...

Every American whiskey bottle embodies a distiller's legacy. The names of Jack Daniel, Jim Beam, Evan Williams, and Henry McKenna are just a few you will find etched in glass and honored on labels. Their legacies are sealed for the ages, but we'll never taste any whiskey they actually touched.There are more recent American greats, with legacies just as strong. Although not always easy to find, their whiskeys still lurk behind the bar. To have a sip is the closest many of us will ever come to meeting an American distilling legend, to revel in their life's work, created by their own hands.Jimmy Russell of Wild TurkeySome fans have named their children after Russell and he once trended on social media for giving people “the bird,” but Jimmy Russell would just as soon you pay tribute by pouring yourself a whiskey with friends.Jimmy Russell: The Living LegendParker Beam of Heaven HillBeyond his selfless courage, Beam's golden whiskey palate created bourbon's most consistent single...

Nicknamed the “Buddha of Bourbon,” Jimmy Russell's presence has defined not only Wild Turkey, but also the best of bourbon culture for more than 60 years. His warm spirit, love for people, and passion for whiskey far surpass anything a slick marketer could hope to create. Russell is the only individual to attend every single WhiskyFest, no small feat, where he routinely sneaks off to have a beer with attendees.His body of work includes Tradition, Tribute, Wild Turkey 17 year old for Japan, Rare Breed, American Spirit, Kentucky Spirit, and Russell's Reserve, some of which he created with his son, Eddie. Ever the innovator, Russell even started the flavored whiskey trend—when in 1976 he released Wild Turkey Liqueur with honey.Despite this, Russell's legacy is in the bourbon, as its voice both in the tough times, when bean counters made bad decisions, and in the good days, such as when Campari invested $50-million in a new distillery. Through it all, Jimmy Russell has always been...

When Woodford Reserve launched as an upscale bourbon in 1996, it was a groundbreaking display of optimism from its creator, Lincoln Henderson.At the turn of the Millennium, few brands gave a stronger lightning bolt to American whiskey than Woodford Reserve, and master distiller Henderson was the brand's face and flavor.The Cincinnati Enquirer called Henderson the “master of the good stuff” and said Woodford wasn't ready until Henderson said so.Henderson retired from a 40-year career at Brown-Forman, where he also developed Woodford, Gentleman Jack, and Jack Daniel's Single Barrel, but a great distiller never loses the whiskey-making itch.In 2006, Henderson put his barrel-aging experiments to good use when he and his son, Wes, embarked on the first mainstay port barrel finish bourbon—Angel's Envy, which launched in 2011. “This has been the highlight of my career,” Henderson told me at the groundbreaking of the Angel's Envy Distillery in 2013.A few months after the...

When searching out a new bottle of whisky to try, what clues tip you off to its flavor? Style, of course—a single malt will taste very different from a bourbon. Whether Ireland, Canada, or another country or region, origin also has an impact on flavor. Maybe you also consider its age. If the whisky's label says 12 years old, is that a guarantee of good flavor?

There's a lot more to flavor and quality than just years in a barrel, and an age statement provides only a sliver of information. Legally, a label can only state the age of the youngest whisky used in the final blend, but often that bottle contains much older liquid too. Master blenders have to achieve the same flavor profile with every batch, and not all whiskies mature at the same rate. So even when the label says 12 years old, chances are good that you're getting some older whisky in there.

And that's why non-age statement (NAS) whiskies—bottles that say nothing about how old the whisky...

In a living room chock-a-block with animal skulls, taxidermied raccoons, Civil War-era wooden furniture, and 1980s Japanese robots, it's easy to overlook the shelf of whiskey bottles. Many of the labels are faded or torn, while others—Cutty Sark, Wild Turkey—look perfectly ordinary, part of any whiskey drinker's home bar.At first glance, the sheer number of bottles on the floor-to-ceiling bookcase is impressive, but on closer inspection, these are not familiar bottom-shelf whiskey brands. The forgotten distillery names, the faded labels, the tax strips on the necks—all are indicators of the whiskeys' provenance and age, which are well out of the ordinary—indeed, exceedingly rare—in 2017.Mike Jasinski is one of the country's foremost hunters of old whiskey, and one of the most generous. His collection of “dusties,” dusty old bottles rescued from liquor store shelves, once numbered 1,200. These days he has closer to 700 or so bourbons, ryes, scotches, and other whiskeys...

Barrel-aged cocktails have been making the rounds at bars for years, with a wee barrel likely sitting on a countertop near you. But you don't have to go to a bar to enjoy a drink with some wood age—you can do it yourself at home. Start off by experimenting, and sample the cocktail as it matures to taste how wood and time change familiar flavors into something totally new.“The maturing process changes the flavor profile and gives you an unexpected twist,” says Adrian Mishek, beverage director at Root Cellar Whiskey Bar in Washington, D.C. “It can cut, or add, a touch of bitterness, round out flavors, and blend them together.”“Aging adds depth,” notes Chris Karalekas, co-owner and bar manager at Sanford's Restaurant in Queens, New York. “You get a cocktail with a bigger, richer personality.”And, other than the barrel itself, it doesn't take any fancy equipment or very much effort to make your own barrel-aged cocktail. Follow these tips to do it yourself!How to Make...

This week brings new whisky for lovers of scotch, bourbon, and practical jokes.First up, Glenmorangie has released the second whisky in its Bond House No. 1 Vintage collection. Distilled in 1989, the single malt includes about 25% whisky finished in Côte-Rôtie wine casks. Like last year's release, the 1990 vintage, this whisky is available in limited quantities—just 6,178 bottles. It costs $665—not a bad price for a 27 year old scotch.Buffalo Trace is coming out with several new bourbons—but good luck getting your hands on them. W.L. Weller CYPB is the result of many thousands of whiskey fans designing their ideal bourbon on the "Craft Your Perfect Bourbon" website. The whiskey is 8 years old, made with a wheated mashbill, and bottled at 47.5% ABV. It will be released once a year in limited amounts, starting this summer, for $40.In addition, Buffalo Trace has three single barrel bourbons hitting the market, each available in extremely limited quantities. Bottled under the...

When new distilleries hang out their shingle, many establish their whiskey-making credentials through a family legacy or local historical connections. But Danville, Kentucky'sWilderness Trail—which is releasing its first bourbon and rye in April 2018—has taken a different approach. Rather than finding a colorful story to tell, co-founders Shane Baker and Patrick Heist are emphasizing the scientific pursuit of distilling great whiskey.Baker, a mechanical engineer, and Heist, a PhD microbiologist and biochemist, initially paired up in the 1990s, playing in a grunge and hard rock cover band. Their initiation to whiskey-making, however, started with the consulting company Ferm Solutions, which they founded in 2006. Baker and Heist made a name for themselves as troubleshooters for distilleries around the world, helping clients start distilleries, consulting on bacterial contamination, developing mashbills, and analyzing grain quality, yeast strains, and fermentation. While they can't...

Absinthe, a high-proof anise-flavored spirit, may have the naughtiest reputation in the spirits world. Its mere mention evokes images of seductive green fairies, bursts of artistic creativity, and blithe stupors. A century-long ban will do that to a spirit's good name.Blamed for a slew of social ills, from madness to murder to mere lollygagging, absinthe became one of the first victims of the temperance movement. The charges were largely trumped up. Nevertheless, the U.S. and most of Europe banned its sale and manufacture by 1915. So when the spirit, ostensibly of Swiss origin but made popular in fin de siècle Paris, legally reappeared here in 2007, it returned with the excitement of a long-forbidden pleasure.Alas, despite the hype, absinthe is not likely to bring on hallucinations, nor make you paint like Van Gogh. Whether you consider the lack of hallucinatory visions to be a plus or a minus, absinthe is worth experiencing for the taste alone. Most whisky lovers first discover...

Bourbon whiskey—and rye, wheat, malt, and Tennessee whiskey—must be aged in new, charred oak barrels. Within that requirement, however, there are myriad variations that can affect the color, aroma, flavor, and mouthfeel of the final whiskey. Working within those barrel specifications allows distillers to craft a distinctive product, with decisions about char and toast level having major ramifications on the final whiskey.Wood typeWood terroir is one variable. While more or less all barrels are made of white oak, the wood itself can vary by region. In colder northern climates, for example, trees grow more slowly and have a tighter grain. The flavors they offer are more concentrated, but also harder to reach and absorb.SeasoningAfter the wood is harvested it must be dried, or seasoned, since more than half its weight is water. Kilning—drying the wood in a heated chamber—is the fastest and easiest way, but not the best. The wood will be dry enough to make barrels, but that's...

Suddenly, it's perfectly acceptable to start your day with the taste of whiskey. Craft whiskey distillers and small coffee roasters, often dubbed the third-wave of coffee, are joining forces to bring the flavor of whiskey to your morning joe. Vermont's WhistlePig Distillery ages green, unroasted coffee beans in their used rye barrels, then returns them to Vermont Artisan Coffee & Tea Co. for roasting. “We don't sell flavored coffee, but this was really good,” says founder Mané Alves. “I found the flavor to be exceptional, the closest thing to a truly natural flavor.”Big players are also getting into the act. Starbucks aged green Sulawesi coffee beans in regularly hand-rotated used American whiskey barrels from Woodinville Whiskey Co., a Washington craft distiller. After a few weeks in barrel and a good roast, the coffee was available at Starbucks Roastery in Seattle. And Jack Daniel and Jim Beam both recently debuted coffees influenced by the flavor of their whiskeys...

Limited-edition bourbon season doesn't start for another month or two—Old Forester's Birthday Bourbon usually kicks things off, with other special releases like the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection rolling out later in the fall. But Heaven Hill has gotten a head start by announcing this year's Parker's Heritage Collection release, a 10 year old straight bourbon finished in orange curaçao casks. The whiskey will cost $90 and, as always, a portion of the proceeds will go to support the ALS Association.If you've got a yen for the peaty stuff, Bruichladdich will be rolling out three new whiskies in its Port Charlotte range this fall. All peated to 40 ppm, the lineup includes Port Charlotte's first age-stated whisky, a 10 year old, as well as Islay Barley 2011—both $65 each—and MRC:01 2010, which was finished in Bordeaux casks and costs $120.Meanwhile, fellow Islay single malt distillery Kilchoman has announced its 2018 editions of Loch Gorm ($110) and Port Cask Matured ($125...

The drive to Amrut Distillery takes me through the crowded, frenzied, disorienting streets of Bangalore. As the car noses a dump truck festooned with garlands (“Horn OK!” reads the bumper in flowery, colorful script) and auto-rickshaws blare their old-fashioned klaxons, motorbikes loaded with two or three riders apiece weave through the gridlock. Slowly, we snake our way past carts laden with fruit; elaborate temples rising from behind concrete walls; gnarled Bodhi trees adorned with rainbows of flags, flowers, and images of the gods; and cows placidly munching garbage in the median. Finally, open highway—my white-knuckled grip loosens just a bit—and the distillery looms in sight.There is no visitor center at Amrut, just a squat office building fronted by a few palm trees, with the industrial distillery buildings crowded behind. In the small sitting area, framed awards, photos, and newspaper clippings cover an entire wall, trumpeting the company's achievements. This feeling of...

This Saturday, Whisky Advocate is in the running for "Best Spirits & Cocktail Publication" at the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards in New Orleans. The ceremony starts at 7 p.m. Central Time; follow along on Facebook Live, and wish us luck! No matter who wins, we will be toasting with a good dram—and suggest you do the same.Balvenie's new 50 year old single malt would be quite the celebratory pour indeed, and at $38,000 a bottle, it's definitely for very special occasions only. As you might imagine, the whisky is extremely limited—just 110 bottles are for sale, reaching the U.S. later this year.Much more widely available is Buchanan's Select, a 15 year old blended malt. It costs $50, around the same price as Johnnie Walker Green Label, also a blended malt.Meanwhile, GlenDronach's next batch of cask strength single malt will be arriving in the U.S. later this year. It was matured in oloroso and PX sherry casks, and should hit shelves at around $100.A new blended bourbon...

While it can be fun to experiment with new ingredients and recipes when making cocktails, the process can get pricey and fussy when you need a dozen bottles, plus homemade syrups or tinctures, to create one drink. Luckily some of the best libations require only three ingredients—one of which is whisky. Thanks to its versatility, the brown spirit is a perfect fit for simple drinks with big character.“You don't have to carve out an hour in your day just to make a good cocktail at home,” says New York Times cocktail writer Robert Simonson, author of 3-Ingredient Cocktails. “Most of the enduring drinks of the last century or two are incredibly simple. That is one of the reasons they have lasted. Name a classic cocktail, and chances are good that you're naming a three-ingredient cocktail.”Think about the Manhattan or Old Fashioned. They remain classic go-to cocktails because of their depth of flavor and complexity, despite their short ingredient lists. With cocktails, more...

For the casual drinker and collector alike, it's high time to visit one of Scotland's many distilleries. More than 70 Scotch whisky distilleries now offer visitor tours—some even give you a choice of four or five different experiences. So many tours, so little time! Don't panic: it may seem bewildering at first, but there are key strategies to making the most of your visit.If it's your first time touring a scotch distillery, let your favorite dram guide your choice of where to visit. Nothing beats that incredible feeling of standing in the place where the whisky you first fell in love with was made.Note that most distillery tours follow a similar formula, with a guide leading you through the steps of the whisky-making process (prepare ahead of time by brushing up on the basics of how whisky is made). You'll see the mill, mashtun, washbacks, stills, plus a warehouse if you're lucky—and then round off your trip with a tasting of the whisky.If you're a seasoned distillery visitor...

It's your wedding day! You've curated the perfect menu, meticulously planned the seating chart and flower arrangements, and pored over playlists to pick your first dance song—and now it's time to add in some whisky. You could leave the choice up to the venue, but unless you're required to go with a pre-set bar package, you're better off doing this part of the work yourself.When planning my own wedding, I was offered a choice of two packages: a few bottom to mid-shelf well whiskies, or a premium selection that seemed designed to gouge my budget. (Think a $700 upcharge to include just Glenlivet 12 year old.) I opted for the former, then tailored my reception's whisky offerings to meet my tastes and budget—and to give my guests a top-notch experience.Give the Wedding Gift Everyone Wants: WhiskyYou know your taste better than anyone else, and you can easily assemble your own whisky bar offerings with these tips and strategies. But before you do, check with your venue that you're able...

The biggest American whiskey in the world, Jack Daniel's, is rolling out a series of exclusive whiskeys. The Tennessee Tasters' Selection offers unusual and creative whiskeys for sale mainly at the distillery in Lynchburg. The first two releases, High Angels' Share Barrels and Hickory Finish, are available now, with the next release, Reunion Barrel, coming in early 2019. Each 375-ml. bottle is $40; batches are around 24,000 bottles, with several batches released each year.More of an Irish whiskey fan? Your ship has come in. Four new whiskeys from the Emerald Isle are making their way to store shelves, offering an array of styles and exciting flavors.First up, the 2018 release of Midleton Very Rare is rolling out now overseas, hitting U.S. shores in 2019. This year's batch blends whiskeys aged 12 to 28 years. It will be available in limited amounts for $200.Next, Kilbeggan has unveiled a pot-distilled whiskey made with at least 30% rye grain—the first such Irish whiskey made in over...

In economy class, where the vast majority of airline travelers spend their time, food service—if available at all—is usually dull, trending toward unpalatable. For the whisky-loving traveler, the improved selection of tiny bottles aboard many airlines is a welcome escape from an otherwise uncivilized dining experience. Yet many find even their whisky tastes lackluster in the confines of a pressurized cabin.It's not your imagination. Professor Charles Spence, gastrophysicist and head of the Crossmodal Research Laboratory at Oxford University, says our taste buds operate less efficiently in the pressurized confines of an airplane cabin. Three main factors can have both physically and psychologically adverse effects on taste when flying: low air pressure, dry air, and airplane engine noise. So, unless you take steps to counteract those effects you may be wasting your money on a premium priced in-flight whisky.5 Great Airport Whisky BarsA series of tests conducted in Germany at the...

Scotch whisky guides typically slice the country into neat regions: Highlands, Lowlands, Speyside, Islay, Campbeltown, and other Islands. But fans of Scotland's coastal malts prefer life on the edge, much like the distilleries that cling to Scotland's wild perimeter, with its thousands of miles of coastline encompassing long sandy beaches, rugged cliffs, sheltered coves, and deep blue estuaries that convey the outflow of rivers to the ocean. Their whiskies run the gamut of flavor, from fiery, elemental smoke bombs to sumptuously smooth charmers, yet find a common bond in their affinity with the sea. Whether a wisp of briny ocean spray, reeking to the rafters with iodine, or as lip-smackingly moreish as a giant pretzel, each sip is a compelling case that Scotland's coast is a whisky region unto itself.6 Highly Rated Single Malts from Scotland's Coastal RegionsIt's impossible to ascribe the saltiness to any single factor. As the casks breathe in the sea air, distillers with warehouses...

You can thank George Washington Vanderbilt III for putting Asheville, North Carolina on travelers' radar. After the Manhattanite visited and fell for the Blue Ridge Mountains, with their dreamy splendor and curative climate, he built the Biltmore House between 1889 and 1895. At 178,926 square feet it was, and remains, the biggest privately owned house in the U.S. Where once it drew throngs of guests, now it draws tourists. Walk through the banquet rooms overlooking the mountain range, and it's clear this setting was designed for socializing over drinks. But Asheville's imbibing legacy extends far beyond posh parties. It's said that NASCAR's roots sprung from mountain bootleggers juicing up their cars to outrun the authorities. When it comes to drinking here, highbrow and grit happily coexist. Bars, distilleries, and breweries pay tribute to a rich heritage, yet present their offerings without pretense. Asheville represents classic Southern hospitality with a vibrant, contemporary...

Twenty years after being distilled, most bourbons have long since been bottled and, hopefully, consumed. If the whiskey is still in the barrel and hasn't completely evaporated or taken on the flavor profile of an oak stave, it's a small miracle. Yet the appeal of the high age statement endures, embodied by the most desired bottle of all, Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 23 year old. And, despite Pappy's recommended retail price of $270, its actual shelf price is almost always several times more than that.Accordingly, more and more super-aged bourbons have hit high-end back bars and store shelves in recent years, with prices to match their age statements—from the increasing series of ages for Orphan Barrel Rhetoric ($140 for the 25 year old) to Heaven Hill 27 year old ($400) to Michter's 20 year old ($700) and 25 year old ($800). Boutique independent bottler The Last Drop sourced a Buffalo Trace bourbon that was distilled in 1982 and aged for 20 years before being transferred to...

Single malt scotch is often regarded as a rarefied drink—something to be approached with reverence. Few people seem to be intimidated by good ole bourbon or humble Irish whiskey, but single malt is different. Especially among new whisky drinkers, it can be seen as too fancy, expensive, or sophisticated to take a chance on.That thinking is simply not true. Sure, single malt can offer a greater range of flavors than bourbon or rye, but not all of it is of the aggressive, house-on-fire peated variety that many scotch newcomers ascribe to the whole category. Many single malts have fruity, floral, sweet, and silky flavor profiles that make for easy first—and successive—sips.7 Bottles That Every New Bourbon Drinker Must TryThese reasonably priced single malt scotches each offer something that anyone can approach without hesitation—whether you are already well into a whisky-drinking career, or have just decided to make single malt your starting point.Scotch 101: Start Your Education...

The staid world of whisky auctions rarely sees a shakeup more dramatic than a record-setting price, but a recent sale at Bonhams in Edinburgh may indicate that major changes are underway. More than 350 bottles of whisky valued in excess of $300,000 went unsold in the auction held on June 5. The unwanted bottles represented nearly 40% of the lots—an unprecedented failure for a house like Bonhams.Even with a growing number of whiskies consigned to auction each year, the successful sell rate is generally above 90%. In this sale, however, Bonhams sold just 62%—240 out of 387 lots in a sale that included a selection of rare Laphroaig and Macallan, two large private-owner whisky collections, and six bottles recovered from the wreck of the S.S. Politician, which sank off the Scottish island of Eriskay in 1941 and became the inspiration for the book Whisky Galore. The last Bonhams whisky auction in Edinburgh to achieve a sell rate of 90% was October 2018, with two auctions since then...

If you're fond of peaty Islay scotches, there's a whole new world of smoke to discover in America. Distillers are using peat, mesquite, hickory and more to impart both subtle and strong smoke flavors on single malt, rye, and other styles. Stoke the flames of your enthusiasm for the smoky stuff with these whiskeys.PeatMcCarthy's Oregon Single Malt—88 points, $55Clear Creek Distillery, Hood River, OregonMade using Scottish smoked barley and aged for around 3 years. Burnt marshmallow, graham cracker, and toasted grain flavors, with a good amount of smoke.Westland Peated Single Malt—86 points, $70Westland Distillery, Seattle, WashingtonMade using Scottish smoked barley and aged at least 2 years. A rush of deep vanilla and tapioca on the nose, with cream pie, French vanilla, cotton candy, and subtle smoke on the palate.Balcones Peated Single Malt—92 points, $80Balcones Distilling, Waco, TexasMeaty, with lots of baking spice and a dark, earthy smoke. Very long finish. Special release...

Here's a word of warning for anyone who comes on a trip with me: If your idea of a great afternoon involves modern art museums or taking in a matinée, you'd better find a different traveling companion. I mean, I like a good cultural experience as much as the next former liberal arts major, but whenever I visit a new city, I don't automatically head for the marquee sights—I pop into the local liquor store.It's not that I absolutely must have a bottle of whisky as soon as I disembark from the plane (although I often do like to pick up something for the time I'm in town). It's that the liquor store helps me get oriented to local tastes, customs, and habits. I scan the shelves, taking in familiar labels but mostly looking for those that stand out—a locally made brand, a private-barrel pick, or a long-forgotten bottle of single malt I haven't seen in my city, New York, for years. I'm not dusty-hunting—trying to track down old or rare bottles—though I do get a thrill to happen upon...

Last November, the Alcohol and Tobacco Trade and Tax Bureau, better known as the TTB, released Notice No. 176, a 132-page set of proposed regulations. Like many government documents, it's as good a sleep aid as a handful of Ambien. One small section, however, buried deep within the proposal, has woken up the bourbon community, particularly small distilleries that stand to be affected by it.There's already a set of rules in place about what type of whiskey can be labeled as bourbon. It has to be distilled from a mashbill of at least 51% corn, it must be distilled to no more than 80% ABV, it has to be bottled at a minimum of 40% ABV, and it has to be produced in the United States, to name a few. (Read up on the complete set of requirements for bourbon and other American whiskeys with our Instant Expert primer).Chief among the requirements for bourbon (as well as rye, malt, and wheat whiskey) is that it be aged in new charred oak containers—in other words, barrels. This is where the...

Two upcoming whisky auctions—one in Chicago and the other in Hong Kong—are putting up some rare and rarely seen collectible whiskies. From Pappy Van Winkle's Japanese editions to a full 54-bottle set of the Hanyu Card Series, here are the lots to watch at Hart Davis Hart (Aug. 15-16) and Bonhams, Hong Kong (Aug. 16).Hart Davis Hart: August 15-16, 2019If you love Pappy Van Winkle but can never find a bottle to buy, now's your chance. More than 300 bottles of Van Winkle bourbon and rye whiskey are set to go under the hammer in Chicago this month. The second Hart Davis Hart mobile-only auction of Finest and Rarest Spirits takes place on August 15-16, and includes an abundance of fine whiskey (and whisky) among the 1,887 lots, with bidding starting at less than $100.Pappy drinkers will have multiple opportunities to stock up on the 15, 20, and 23 year olds, but my advice is not to overbid with so many Van Winkle bottles throughout the sale, as later lots might go for lower sums once...

Single malt scotch isn't a simple style. Even the most welcoming “beginner” pours offer complexity and depth of flavor—although they're also silky, soft, and easy to drink. So when you're ready to move up to even more complex drams, where do you turn?Don't worry—this isn't a list of peat bombs, although you'll find a few good smoky offerings to try. These single malts go beyond the 101 level because they require more of your attention. Sure, you can just sip them without thinking, but these whiskies offer an exciting cavalcade of flavors that reward the thoughtful drinker. They're complex, layered, wide-ranging, and often extremely nuanced.You're going to have to pay attention to unlock these flavors, but what you discover will be very rewarding. You're no long a beginner; it's time to start stretching your palate and mind with each and every sip.Scotch 201: Intermediate-Level Bottles You Must TasteSpringbank 10 year old—88 points, $72Springbank is beloved among the scotch...

Many connoisseurs of scotch, bourbon, or Irish whiskey are total beginners when it comes to Canadian whisky. The northern country's long distilling tradition is often overlooked—and rarely appreciated—in favor of buzzier offerings from Kentucky or Japan. Drinkers who aren't in the know may see the entire category as consisting of only Canadian Club and Crown Royal—light, blended, “smooth” products that hold little interest in today's explosively diverse whisky world.But while Canada has often kept its best bottles to itself, the country is also stepping up its exports, sending out splendid whiskies to international shelves. Many are ryes, while others feature rye as the flavoring whisky in a blend. (Learn more about Canada's tradition of blending flavoring and base whiskies in our Instant Expert guide.) And best of all, they're very fairly priced.Canadian Whisky 101: Start Your Education With These WhiskiesCrown Royal Northern Harvest Rye—91 points, $26If the famed blend...

Tea is hot stuff! It is literally the most popular beverage in the world, after water of course. Fans of a good ‘cuppa' seek out the complexity and nuance in the flavor of their teas, much like whisky lovers savor a good dram. Similar to whisky, tea is produced in many countries across many different continents. Also similar to whisky, tea ranges from cheap blends, suitable for cookie dunking, to rare and limited stylesof single origin.Tea is made from the leaves and buds of Camellia sinensis, which are processed through what is often referred to as fermentation, although it's actually oxidation and other chemical reactions. It's here that many of the complex polyphenol compounds essential to the color, aroma, and flavor of tea are created. Broadly speaking, green teas undergo very little processing, oolong teas are semi-fermented, and black teas are fermented the most. Heat is applied to end the oxidative process, not dissimilar to kilning malted barley to halt germination.Tea is...

America has fallen back in love with rye whisky. According to the Distilled Spirits Council, sales of U.S.-distilled rye were marginal before 2007. However, since 2009, volumes have increased 934 percent, growing to 912.2 thousand cases in 2017. The surging demand caught nearly everyone by surprise, particularly U.S. distillers now struggling to satisfy America's thirst. After all, it takes years of barrel aging to make a decent rye whiskey. Fortunately, a northern neighbor has come to the rescue. That's right. Look closely at the label of some of America's notable ryes and you'll find that the contents originated not in Kentucky, but in Canada.In 2010, distiller Dave Pickerell launched Vermont's WhistlePigusing 100 percent rye whisky that he purchased from Alberta Distillers Limited (ADL) in Calgary, Canada. Pickerell, the long-time master distiller at Maker's Mark who passed away last year, is well-regarded as a whiskey visionary. Other producers saw his success, resulting in...

Thanksgiving is less than a week away, and if you're panicking about what whisky to serve, take a breath: We've got you covered, with recommended pours, party-ready punches, and a guide to pairing whisky and pie. (Speaking of which—we can also teach you how to make pie-inspired whisky cocktails.) But if you're looking for brand-new bottles to pop, keep reading.For the high rollers, Michter's is rolling out its aptly-named Celebration just ahead of the holidays. The blend of straight bourbon and rye is priced at $5,000, with just 277 bottles available.At 20% less than Celebration, Glenrothes 40 year old is still a luxury buy. The single malt scotch costs $4,000, with just 66 out of 594 bottles coming to the U.S.Can't let the Americans and Scots corner the high-end whisky market though; Ireland's Chapelgate Whiskey Co. has unveiled J.J. Corry The Chosen, a £6,500 ($8,393) single malt. There are just 100 bottles available.Bardstown Bourbon Co. is releasing the latest batches of its...

Remember the beaver whiskey? It's back again, with New Hampshire's Tamworth Distilling releasing a new batch available through Warehouse Wines & Spirits. The 200-ml bottles are a hefty $70 apiece, but where else are you going to get whiskey flavored with castoreum from a beaver's anal glands?If you prefer your whisky unadulterated, however, there are plenty of new releases free of animal products. Nikka is offering a pair of single malts, one each from its Miyagikyo and Yoichi distilleries, blending whiskies from the 1960s through today. Priced at $3,500, there are just 70 bottles of each variant coming to the U.S.Laphroaig is launching a new series of well-aged single malts in honor of former distillery manager Ian Hunter, starting with a 30 year old aged in bourbon barrels. The whisky is priced at $1,250, with limited amounts available.Glendalough Distillery has unveiled its first single pot still whiskey ($55), along with a 17 year old single malt finished in mizunara casks...

Party planning becomes easy when you start with a solid theme. “When there is a theme, and there's a sense of continuity among food and beverage, décor, time, and place, it just feels way more thought-out. It leads people to engage more and to have a better time,” says Juliet DeRose, senior beverage manager at Union Square Hospitality Group in New York.As yearlong whisky advocates, we certainly don't need a reason to get together with good friends to enjoy whisky. But for whisky-loving hosts looking for inspiration to gather, we're here with a list of great excuses to throw a whisky party.
JanuaryReason to celebrate: Robert Burns's Birthday (Jan. 25)You're serving: Single malt scotchPoet Robert Burns is traditionally celebrated with readings of his classic works like “Auld Lang Syne” and “Address to a Haggis” accompanied by authentic Scottish cuisine. “It's particularly important to expatriates like myself that we maintain these traditions,” says Alex Murray...

Whisky lovers longing to spend eternity steeped in the aroma of their favorite spirit can do just that, thanks to the Forever Aging urn—a small cask made from the whiskey-soaked wood of bourbon barrels, designed specifically to hold the ashes of the dead, further moistened by a drop or two of their dram of choice.The Forever Aging urn was designed by William Elam, a retired attorney and native Kentuckian, who, ironically, isn't big on bourbon. “I enjoy a strawberry Daiquiri around the pool,” he says. “Bourbon itself is a little hard, a little strong.” But Elam nevertheless enjoys the heady aromas of bourbon that waft over from nearby distilleries to the backyard of his Frankfort home, in the heart of bourbon country. “I can frequently smell the mash if I inhale deeply and the wind is right,” Elam says. “It is a beautiful flavor.”In late 2018, Elam was musing over the fact that bourbon must be aged in new charred oak containers, leaving a lot of perfectly good barrels...

It's a Monday morning in January—high summer in the Southern Hemisphere—and the James Sedgwick Distillery in Wellington, South Africa is preparing for a scorcher of a day. The first employees to arrive flip on a thrumming extractor fan to clear the plumes of alcohol vapor pooling dangerously inside their sweltering warehouses, piled high with maturing Three Ships whisky. This is single malt, distilled from malted barley just like the whiskies mellowing in the many cool dunnage houses of Scotland, but it's also a world apart—literally and stylistically.Why Does Climate Matter?The British Isles, specifically Scotland and Ireland, are the traditional home of malt whisky. It's hard to imagine a more moderate climate. Average annual lows and highs in Glasgow are 36° to 66°F, a range of only 30 degrees. Humidity hovers all year between 70 and 90 percent. That slow and steady climate, coupled with the Scottish preference for the muted flavors of used barrels, makes it possible to...

Scotland's largest metropolis suffers from second-city status in some circles, but where whisky is concerned, Glasgow makes as fine a destination as the capital to the east. Just as Edinburgh was a historic center of distilling, blending, bottling, and whisky exporting, so too was Glasgow, where names like Buchanan's and Teacher's based their extensive operations in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, The Clydeside Distillery is pumping new life (truly—it's located in a former pump house) into the local industry, churning out spirit that will eventually mature into whisky. Nearby, Glasgow Whisky Co. is distilling whisky and gins; though it isn't open for tours, its flagship 1770 single malt is available for purchase, with peated and triple-distilled variants coming later this year. Independent bottler Douglas Laing & Co. is based in Glasgow and planning to open Clutha Distillery in late 2020.Drinking in Glasgow is a rich experience, especially at whisky-heavy bars like Bon...

Most whisky clubs gather to enjoy tasting multiple bottles at the same time, and often a flight is the best way to do that. A well-considered tasting flight has a beginning, middle, and end. The right whisky selections and the ideal order will ensure everyone arrives happily at their final destination of whisky bliss. Pilot your club tasting event in a way that allows members to assess each whisky to its fullest. Good selection and sequencing is a skill developed over time, and with these tips you're ready to embark on your tasting journey.When determining the number of whiskies, consider both your group's experience level and the time you have to taste. We suggest no more than six whiskies at a single sitting, even for experienced participants. You'll want to plan for at least ten minutes per whisky, so attempting more than six can exhaust both palates and patience. You can also scale back to as few as two.Thematic tastings—such as rye whiskeys or peated whiskies—are usually the...

Distilleries release new whiskies all the time, but rarely does a single producer debut multiple products at once. Old Elk is taking that route, however, launching new expressions of straight rye, wheat whiskey, and wheated bourbon across the country by mid-April. These aren't limited-edition whiskeys either; they're permanent additions to the lineup, with ample availability to satisfy drinker demand.Based in Fort Collins, Colorado, Old Elk produces just 150 barrels of whiskey per year, although it's in the process of building a huge new distillery. The bulk of its whiskeys currently in bottle were distilled at MGP Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. That's not just because MGP has the capacity; Old Elk's master distiller, Greg Metze, was a long-time employee at the Lawrenceburg facility, holding the title of master distiller when he resigned in June 2016. While still employed at MGP, Metze designed Old Elk's custom mashbills and oversaw its first distillations. Now mature, these...

The night of the tasting is at hand. Whiskies have been assembled, glasses are polished and spotless, and the table is clad in white, which leaves only the menu to be decided.
Wait, the menu? For a whisky tasting?
Absolutely! While food outside of bland crackers or bread is unwelcome at critical tastings where judging or reviewing is the goal, a social tasting is another animal altogether. Indeed, having food available to promote conviviality and help allay the effects of the alcohol should be considered both a social and socially responsible imperative. In addition, tasting more than a few whiskies is sure to induce palate fatigue, where the taste buds simply become exhausted. The right nosh can not only make a whisky more enjoyable, but also renew the palate in the process.
Your whisky tasting table can range from relaxed, with bags and boxes of prepared snacks and hors d'oeuvres, to a multi-course meal, according to the occasion and the whiskies on offer. However, a...

Social distancing is keeping millions of people safe from COVID-19, but it has put a stop to many activities, including whisky club meetings. Nevertheless, clubs are getting creative with virtual substitutes, finding ways to continue gathering around whisky even from a distance. “We did a virtual tour of the Balcones Distillery [on March 17], with members logging in from our chapters all over the world—from Mexico City to all across the U.S. to Beirut—where they helped us do two barrel picks,” Drammers Club president Charlie Prince tells Whisky Advocate. “We also did a group chat [on March 20], and we're going to do virtual tastings, where we mail samples in advance to members in the coming weeks with guest speakers from Balvenie, Port Askaig, Milk & Honey,” and more to come.The barrel pick had been scheduled weeks before, with plans for Drammers members to attend in person. When the need for social distancing arose, Prince decided to carry on with the barrel pick...

In each issue of Whisky Advocate, the editors select three great value bottles: whiskies with solid scores, modest prices, and wide availability. For the Spring 2020 issue, an Irish single pot still, a blended scotch, and a Tennessee whiskey qualified as Best Values.For all whiskies reviewed in the Spring 2020 issue, check out the full Buying Guide.BEST BANG FOR BUCK WHISKIES: SPRING 2020Kilbeggan Single Pot Still93 points, 43% ABV, $45The follow up to Small Batch rye, this single pot still is double-distilled at the historic Kilbeggan Distillery with a mashbill containing 2.5% oats, inspired by a Locke family recipe from the late 1800s. Pot still spices hit the nose first, with candied peel, baked peach, apricot, creamy vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, and ground pepper. Flavors of orange, apricot, cake, and vanilla combat fizzing pot still spices. Sublimely good Irish whiskey.—Jonny McCormickChivas Regal 13 year old Manchester United Limited Edition Blended Scotch91 points, 40% ABV...

Imagine snacking on a bowl of nuts beside your evening cocktail; chances are that the bowl contains peanuts, salted or unsalted, dry-roasted or candied. But the thing is, peanuts are not actually nuts—they're legumes, like lentils and navy beans.So maybe it's time to up your nut-snacking game with cashews, almonds, Brazil nuts, and other types of tree nuts as partners for just the right sort of whisky.According to numbers released by market-research companies IRI and Grand View Research, that's exactly what a lot of us are doing, with snacking nuts accounting for $4.8 billion of the $23.05 billion global healthy snack market in 2018. And it's a surging market as well, with a projected compound annual growth rate of 52%, bringing its value to $32.88 billion by 2025.But wait: “healthy snacks”? Isn't that a bit of an oxymoron? Not according to Pamela Fergusson, a British Columbia-based registered dietician who holds a doctorate in nutrition. “Nuts are a good source of both...

When something gets ranked as the best of the best, only the foolhardy—or a genius—would attempt to top it. No one would call Nicole Austin a fool, however. The general manager and distiller at Cascade Hollow Distilling Co., who made 2019 Whisky of the Year George Dickel 13 year old Bottled in Bond, is following up that sensational release with a new version, this time 11 years old, and she shared all the details with Whisky Advocate. “With the first one, there was no pressure; I was just doing what I love,” Austin says. “I was confident in the whiskey and confident people would like it. It got a lot bigger very quick, and this [year's batch] was a lot harder.”George Dickel 11 year old Bottled in Bond shares many of the same qualities as its older sibling. It was made according to the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897, and its mashbill—84% corn, 8% rye, 8% malted barley—and charcoal-filtration process are identical to that of the 13 year old. Austin went through the same...

In February of 2019, hardly prime ice cream season, Häagen-Dazs introduced Spirits, a new collection that infuses alcohol—bourbon, rum, Irish cream liqueur, amaretto, and stout—into ice cream. What took them so long?“Our team, including the marketing and technical sides, try to keep up with trends,” explains Nestlé senior product scientist Aaron Butterworth. “With the Spirits line, there was definitely a trend toward pairing all sorts of alcohol with food, so it seemed that the time was right,” she adds.While flavors such as the creamy, vanilla-y, chocolaty Irish Cream Brownie and vanilla and maple-fueled Bourbon Vanilla Bean Truffle might seem like the most logical booze-inspired pairings in the world, development took considerable effort, says Butterworth.“We do these events we call ‘Flavor Camps,'” she explains. “Basically, we bring together all of our bases and a whole bunch of ingredients and our group of tasters literally sample all these different products...

Strap in, because there's a whole lot of new whisky headed your way.First up, Four Roses has unveiled the 2020 Limited Edition Small Batch. Details on the recipes used are below. With a recommended price of $150, there are 14,040 bottles available.Buffalo Trace will release limited amounts of Blanton's Straight From The Barrel starting this fall. Previously only available overseas, the whiskey has a recommended retail price of $150.Ardbeg is rolling out the 2020 release of 19 year old Traigh Bhan. The whisky is priced at $300 and available in limited quantities.GlenDronach's latest whisky in partnership with the Kingsman movie franchise is a 1989 vintage. It's priced at $1,299, with just 3,052 bottles available worldwide.Bardstown Bourbon Co. is releasing a bourbon finished in Copper & Kings Destillaré orange curaçao barrels. There are 3,000 bottles available, priced at $125.Pinhook is launching its flagship Bohemian bourbon, distilled at Castle & Key. The whiskey is widely...

Michael Myers realized he wanted to make whiskey while 30,000 feet in the air. Already an accomplished fashion photographer, Myers was traveling between New York and Colorado Springs in August 2010, fresh off a Vanity Fair shoot, when he read a New York Times article about Steven Grasse, the creator of Sailor Jerry rum and Hendrick's gin. An established whisky fan, Myers was inspired and encouraged by Mike Bristol, a friend and owner of Bristol Brewing Co., to pursue the path of whiskey. And thus Distillery 291, a leading innovator in American craft whiskey, was born.To get started, Myers need a still, which leading industry manufacturer Vendome estimated would cost him $50,000 for a 50-gallon unit. “I can't spend that money,” Myers recalls thinking, having never brewed beer or distilled whiskey before. “Being an artist and being handy, I was like, ‘I can build it.'”Myers used repurposed copper photogravure plates from his photography days, shaping them into a still that's...

Alex Conyngham set out to create whiskey he describes as “smooth” yet “aggressive and aromatic;” that's just as good neat or on the rocks as it is in a cocktail; and that, ultimately, brings people together. The Slane Irish whiskey co-founder joined Whisky Advocate's Instagram Live series #TasteWithSpace on Sept. 3 to talk about its core expression; how aging in three distinct casks influences its flavor; how Slane is striving for complete sustainability; and what it was like growing up in a castle in Ireland that hosted everyone from King George IV to U2, and continues to unite whiskey and music lovers from across the globe through its Slane concert series.“We didn't only have a bar growing up, we had a nightclub down in the basement,” Conyngham explained, speaking from the bar in Slane Castle, with an enviable wall of whisky visible behind him. “When my dad, Henry, who I started the Slane whiskey project with, took over the castle from my granddad, one of the first...

When whisky appears in film, it can be an act of product placement or a cool prop—or it can work to signify something greater for the characters and plot. Noah Baumbach largely focuses his films on artists, often using whisky to underscore both the creatives themselves and their personal strife. The troubled artist with bottle in hand is no new invention, but Baumbach fleshes out the stereotype in subtle human terms, shadowing their creativity, anguish, and intellect with nuance. (Warning: Spoilers ahead.)
For Baumbach, drinking whisky isn't just a personal decision—it's a reflection of taste and intelligence. There's an element of sophistication to many of his characters; they are creators, or at least critical thinkers, and he conveys that refinement through whisky. It shows up in "Kicking and Screaming," when the well-dressed, well-spoken Max (Chris Eigeman) drinks scotch while his postgrad peers sip beer. Whisky is also the drink of choice for Eigeman's character...

Whiskey warehouses are susceptible to sundry forms of calamity. Battered by the elements, they can collapse, catch fire, be struck by lightning or torn apart by tornadoes. Several warehouse mishaps in 2018 and 2019 prompted the bourbon industry to look into ways to prevent similar disasters from happening in the future. Bourbon warehouses—often called rickhouses or rackhouses—are typically constructed of large wooden support poles, with horizontal storage racks, or ricks, stacked several high, and are sheathed with corrugated tin metal. With age, these buildings grow increasingly vulnerable to damage from severe weather and other threats—including pests.A recent study by pest management company McCloud Services, which works with distillers across Kentucky, explains the importance of assessing and mitigating insect damage in warehouses. “While never proven as the root cause for collapses, [wood-destroying insects] should be managed to decrease structural integrity degradation...

It's rare for a whisky collector to agree to an interview as their collection goes under the hammer—rarer still when that collector has assembled the largest-ever private whisky collection to go to auction. The 9,000-bottle collection, valued at $5 million, is being sold at Whisky Auctioneer across multiple auctions between September 2020 and June 2021. For Whisky Advocate, I spoke to the owner, a European collector who prefers to be known only as Pat, by Zoom without a live video feed to preserve his anonymity. We discussed his buying strategies, the whiskies he missed out on (there aren't many), and the extreme measures he's taken to acquire hard-to-find bottlings.Despite the clandestine conditions under which we met, Pat spoke at length about whisky collecting, sharing his insight and opinions into what has driven him over the past 15 years. He was amiable, engaging, candid, and great company, frequently digressing as he recounted entertaining tales about his search for scarce...

With one of Japan's most legendary distilleries being revived, there'll soon be new whisky on the way—but we don't have to wait. Plenty of bottles are hitting shelves right now!First up, GlenDronach is launching a new expression of Port Wood as part of its core lineup. The whisky is priced at $90 and widely available.Jack Daniel's has announced its 2020 limited-edition single barrel, this year a barrel-proof rye. Priced at $65, the whiskey is available in limited amounts.The Spot Whiskeys range has a new member, Blue Spot, a 7 year old cask-strength single pot still whiskey. U.S. pricing hasn't yet been set, but it will likely be around $95, with the whiskey widely available.Heaven Hill has bottled a 13 year old single-barrel bourbon to celebrate its 85th anniversary. The whiskey is extremely limited, with just 146 bottles for sale mainly at the visitor center, and priced at $300.Chicken Cock is releasing its oldest whiskey to date, a 15 year old bourbon. Priced at $300, there are...

The tavern on “Lodge 49” had all the makings of a great TV bar; a colorful cast of characters filled the Southern California space each week, brought together by a shared sense of community. The patrons of the fictional, members-only lodge, otherwise known as the Ancient and Benevolent Order of the Lynx, would convene for a cold pour and a good story, escaping the outside stress of dead-end work, faltering relationships, and uncertain fortunes.
“The first time we all walked into that space [on set], it was like that spot had existed for a hundred years,” says Eric Allan Kramer, who played Scott in the show's two-season run on AMC. “I mean, just the detail and the weathering and it already felt like there were generations of Lynx before you who had sat at that bar, shared their stories, bought rounds of drinks.” “Lodge 49” was cancelled in October of 2019, meaning it won't have the longevity of “Cheers” or “It's...

Here at Whisky Advocate, we hear one question more than any other: “What whisky should I buy?” Whether for yourself or a loved one, the gift of whisky—a well-considered, out-of-the-ordinary bottle—is perfect for any occasion, and we offer plenty of tools to help you find the right one: from Best Value and Editors' Choice picks to the annual Top 20 list, plus the full Buying Guide with over 4,000 whisky reviews, sortable by price, score, and more.But what about the whisky lover who already has a fully stocked bar, or the one whose taste is so discerning you're afraid of picking something they won't like? Each issue of Whisky Advocate includes recommended whisky gear (everything from decanters to cocktail picks to glassware), and we've made some additional picks below. There's something here for every budget and all kinds of whisky lovers, including the at-home bartender, the aspiring taster, the outdoor enthusiast, and the cigar aficionado. Some of these come with whisky, while...

For the last couple of years, Dewar's has been making strides in cask finishing, spurred on by changes to the Scotch Whisky Technical file in 2019 that allow for a host of new cask types—such as mezcal, the finish for Dewar's 8 year old Ilegal Smooth. The brand's newest expression, however, turns to a traditional finish—though one that hasn't been often used for blends: port.Dewar's 8 year old Portuguese Smooth has been finished in ruby port casks for four months. Single malt scotch makers have employed port casks for years, prizing them for the fruity, intense flavors they impart—think Balvenie 21 year old Portwood, Dalmore Port Wood Reserve, and Glenmorangie 14 year old Quinta Ruban, No. 9 in the 2019 Top 20. But for blends, the fortified wine casks are largely new terrain. So when Dewar's master blender Stephanie Macleod was given the opportunity to use port casks for a new expression, she jumped at the chance.“We sourced some beautiful ruby port casks, which arrived just...

Single malt whisky was once synonymous with Scotland, its original homeland, but that's starting to change. Distillers around the globe are producing unique and flavorful single malts showcasing their maturation climate and New World approach to the popular style. M&H Distillery (short for Milk & Honey) is a prime example, as the Tel Aviv-based producer is the first to make single malt in Israel. “We started in 2020 with launching our first whisky,” said Tal Chotiner, M&H's international head of sales, during a Feb. 12 interview for Whisky Advocate's #TasteWithSpace Instagram live series. “We are a very young distillery, in kind of a young country, with no history of whisky making—and we launched our first whisky in the worst year since, I guess, World War II.”Despite the challenge of launching a new whisky brand in a year when a global pandemic brought much of the world to a standstill, M&H still debuted to much fanfare. Its flagship M&H Classic single...

The burgeoning American single malt style has practically exploded in recent years. Though the technical aspects of it are still legally unregulated, distillers across the country are giving single malts their own unique spin, including using distinctive finishing casks, a variety of smoke sources, and other variants of production. And while not everyone agrees on the definition of American single malt, that means that a wide range of flavor profiles are possible.
Here at Whisky Advocate, we're big fans of this up-and-coming style. One American single malt from this list, Balcones Lineage, earned the No.-17 spot in our 2020 Top 20. All of these whiskeys are distinct in flavor, thanks in part to their origins in different corners of the country—Texas, Colorado, and beyond. Look for American single malt to continue growing over the next few years, as more and more distillers discover the versatility of the style. For now, whether you want an introduction to American single...

Single malt scotch and Irish whiskey fans across the U.S. can rejoice and begin readying themselves for pruned price tags on a whole host of bottlings, all thanks to a thaw in the U.S.-UK trade relationship. For the next four months, the U.S. is suspending the 25% tariff on single malt scotch and Irish whiskey from Northern Ireland—among other products—that it initially imposed back in October 2019, in response to a longstanding dispute over aircraft subsidies. Cue celebration among whiskey importers too.“Hallelujah—it's about time!” exclaims Raj Sabharwal, founding partner of Glass Revolution Imports, which brings a variety of scotch whiskies to the U.S. “Last year we deferred [importing] some of our portfolio because of the impact the tariff would have on them, so we can certainly bring those whiskies over now. And I'm about to reprice everything in our system to reflect the lower costs that we'll be selling at.”Sabharwal anticipates that Glass Revolution's single...

In “What's It Worth?” our resident auction expert examines the collectibility of a distillery, brand, or series. With prices rising, he considers the value of Macallan's long-running Archival Series.Macallan launched the Archival Series in 2015, a series of 24 bottlings (called Folios) celebrating the distillery's distinctive print advertising campaigns from the 1970s to 1990s. The adverts, known for their gentle whimsical humor, are credited with shaping the appeal of Macallan as a single malt whisky. (Bear in mind that, in this era, single malts had not yet achieved the superstar status they enjoy today.) Folios 1-6 were sold at the distillery and by online ballot for approximately $250-$300 apiece, with 7-24 to come in the future.With one-quarter of the series out in the world, it's a good time to assess how the bottles are performing so far. The global demand for the Archival Series has continued beyond the early peak of flipping activity, and prices are ascending as more...

Of all Scotland's many islands, few serve up such a heady blend of heritage, romance, folklore, and dramatic beauty as Skye, “the Misty Isle,” or Eilean a' Cheo in Gaelic. Despite measuring only 50 miles across, Skye is actually the largest of the Inner Hebrides, boasting a spectacular coastline of sea lochs and peninsulas. Of most importance to whisky lovers, Skye is the gateway to three whisky distilleries. The most well-known distillery is Talisker, producer of rugged single malts recognized for the way it captures the spray of the sea and delivers a distinctive peppery spice.If there is a drawback to this beautiful island, it is that we are not alone in realizing its many charms. The intimate island now attracts an outsized 650,000 visitors annually, often resulting in overcrowding as narrow roads are blocked by large motorhomes and parking lots overflow. However, with thoughtful planning, a visit to Skye will still be a delight: a destination of meals, vistas, and whiskies...

The Scottish islands offer a picturesque getaway off the mainland, full of sites to see and spirits to drink. The Isle of Skye is no exception to that; thanks to Skye's breathtaking natural phenomena, shops and restaurants, and growing distillery scene, it makes an ideal whisky destination.When to goIdeally, avoid the peak summer vacation months of July and August. This is when Skye is at its busiest and most expensive.Spring and fall are quieter overall, and seasonal businesses that you may want to visit will be open. Accommodations will also be easier to find, and cheaper than during the most popular tourist period. These are prime periods for the average traveler looking for a well-rounded excursion.Winter is the off-season and the quietest time on the island, making it one of the few opportunities for more serene outdoor excursions. However, some degree of bravery is required with regard to weather: Winters can be cold and wet, and daylight hours are more limited. You are likely...

Perfect for leisurely sipping on a balmy summer night, the Highball is enjoying a revival in the U.S. But in Japan, Highballs are a way of life, says Masahiro Urushido, managing partner and bartender at Japanese-style cocktail bar Katana Kitten in New York City. “The Highball has been popular for over 100 years,” Urushido says. “I think the reason is because it's so versatile.”An ideal whisky drink, the Highball allows the spirit to step into roles usually occupied by beer, or even wine. “It pairs pretty much with anything you're eating, almost like champagne,” Urushido adds. Highballs also temper the potent proof of whisky. “It's not a strong drink,” says Peter Mizutani, senior bar captain at Conrad Tokyo hotel's bar TwentyEight. “Japanese people drink Highballs to enjoy the atmosphere. Maybe in the U.S. or Australia or Europe, they enjoy their whisky neat, but in Japan we prefer to drink whisky with soda water.”How to Make a Highball 1½oz. whisky 4 oz. chilled...

Fundamentally, bread is a simple food, the amalgam of water, flour, yeast, and salt, but it is also many things to many people. For generations of diners, it is an essential addition to any table; for the carb-phobic, it is a diet destroyer; and for harried moms and dads through the ages, it is the basis of many a school lunch.It is also, for perhaps most of us, something we tend to take for granted. Until, that is, we were all quarantined in our homes last spring.If you ventured anywhere near the Internet during the first phase of the COVID-19 quarantine, you witnessed the rise of a national obsession with sourdough bread. The reason behind it, speculates Eric Boerner, a New Jersey-based baker and former culinary arts instructor, is our fascination with magic.“You can buy bread yeast at a store,” says Boerner, “But you create sourdough from the air.” Beyond a fleeting fancy for wild yeast fermentation, the main trend Boerner sees is the gradual waning of white bread...

Dewar's has been making waves in the blended scotch space with its cask finished series in recent years, releasing a rum cask finished expression in 2019 and following on since then with finishes in mezcal and port barrels. This month marks the unveiling of the latest edition in this series, Dewar's Japanese Smooth, finished in mizunara oak casks.Mizunara oak, known for imparting floral, sandalwood, and gentle spice notes to whisky, is native to the mountain forests of Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island. It is a rare wood type, owing to the remarkable fact that mizunara trees require multiple centuries—in the realm of 200 to 500 years—to reach full maturity. Mizunara first became useful to Japanese whisky makers in the mid-20th century, when European and American oak became unobtainable during World War II. It remained solely in the toolkit of Japan's distillers for many decades thereafter, becoming most closely associated with Suntory's Hibiki blend and Yamazaki single malts...

When David Jennings was in college, he didn't particularly like Wild Turkey: It was the inexpensive stuff, a shooter to throw back before going out, something to mix with Coke. So he was as surprised as anyone to discover a few years ago that, actually, Wild Turkey is delicious. That realization has led him down a life-changing path to extreme fandom, which has so far yielded a successful blog, a book, and a following of paying Patreon supporters called Russell's Renegades who get access to Jennings' private barrel picks and other benefits.It all started around 2013 with a pint of Wild Turkey 101 that Jennings bought on a whim. He was just getting into whiskey seriously and wanted to try something new—or retry it, years after his first casual tastes—to potentially review on Reddit. “In my mind I'm thinking this is going to be bottom-shelf whiskey,” he says, “and it ends up tasting really good.”Although Jennings was surprised, his newfound appreciation kick-started his...

In each issue of Whisky Advocate, the editors select three great value bottles: whiskies with solid scores, modest prices, and wide availability. For the Fall 2021 issue, an Island single malt scotch, a Texas bourbon, and an Irish blend all ranked as Best Values.Check out the Buying Guide for a complete list of whiskies reviewed in the Fall 2021 issue.High Scores, Low Prices: Best Value Whiskies
The Fighting 69th Regiment90 points, 40%, $33A classic nose, equally enticing and reassuringly traditional, with aromas of cinnamon and toasted oats wrapped in rich vanilla toffee, whole spices, crisp cereal notes, millionaire's shortbread, and hints of malt and drying tobacco. The palate is fruity and juicy, with ripe stone fruits, orange, caramel, and peppery spice, with bright flashes of lime zest, ending with an irrepressible rolling spicy finish flecked with grapefruit peels. —Jonny McCormick
Jura 12 year old88 points, 40%, $50Finished in oloroso sherry casks. Stewed plums and...

The Fall 2021 issue of Whisky Advocate features over 130 whisky reviews covering a range of styles. Since the issue focuses on bourbon, the Buying Guide is chock-full of reviews that cover cask-finishing, non-Kentucky producers, Texas's growing craft scene, and more, but there is plenty else to enjoy, including single malts from Scotland, the U.S., Germany, Ireland, India, and Taiwan.As for high scores, we have those as well, with the below whiskies all earning 93 points or more. These don't include our Editors' Choice, Best Value, or Collectibles selections, but represent the very best from the whisky world, including two cask strength Irish whiskeys, age statements ranging from 6 to 24 years old, and a pair of single malt scotches that use home-grown barley. Familiar names like Barrell, Balvenie, and Ardbeg are joined by Bib & Tucker and Blue Note, two Tennessee-based brands proving that the Volunteer State can make high-quality bourbon in addition to the state's trademark...

One late August day, members of the heavy metal band GWAR were set to visit Catoctin Creek Distillery. The distillery's co-founder Scott Harris wasn't entirely sure what to expect. A fan of Neil Diamond and Barbara Streisand, Harris says he likes easy-listening music, which is about as far away as one could get from the stage antics, graphic imagery, and demonic get-ups of GWAR. “They were like, ‘Yeah we'll bring our costumes, we'll take some pictures.'” Harris says. “And so we were like ‘Okay!' And not sure what that was going to be like. It was pretty fun.”
Three band members—Mike Derks (Balsac the Jaws of Death, rhythm guitar), Brad Roberts (Jizmak Da Gusha, drums), and Bob Gorman (Bonesnapper, backing vocals)—of the hard rocking, intergalactic artistic collective visited the Purcellville, Virginia distillery to taste whiskey samples for what would become Ragnarök Rye, a new collaborative release from the band and Catoctin...

Once known as Marble City for the pink stone used to build the Lincoln Memorial, Grand Central Station, and New York Public Library's famous brace of stone lions, Knoxville has seen recognition as the Cradle of Country Music, the first Capital of Tennessee, and the Gateway to the South. It is also a growing whisky destination.While travel and entertainment as we once knew have changed due to the pandemic, we're looking forward to the days of resuming such activities. Thus, we share with you this guide to Knoxville while being mindful that distilleries, attractions, restaurants, and bars may have limited services and/or hours in order to comply with local mandates and social distancing. Whether for future planning or some armchair travel, join us as we tour the third most-populated city in Tennessee.Consisting of Market Square, the Old City, and several in-town neighborhoods, few cities can offer a concentrated collection of walkable pleasures to rival downtown Knoxville. Drink, food...

Cedar Creek Quarry is a 420-acre parcel of land located at 2095 E. John Rowan Blvd. in Bardstown, Kentucky, just a few minutes drive from the town's most famous distilleries—Heaven Hill, Lux Row, Barton, Willett, and Bardstown Bourbon Co. The former quarry site has become a peaceful set of small lakes, all surrounded by wildlife. But springtime is expected to bring the sound of groundbreaking on a long-awaited new project—Kentucky Owl Park, which will feature a new distillery, rickhouses, and a variety of visitor amenities.The story began in 2014, when entrepreneur Dixon Dedman resurrected an old family recipe to create a luxury, limited quantity bourbon and rye under the Kentucky Owl name. The whiskeys won raves from critics, and Kentucky Owl became an overnight sensation. Enter Stoli Group—the distribution and marketing arm for Luxembourg-based drinks giant SPI Group—which acquired Kentucky Owl in 2017 and unveiled plans for this ambitious $150-million project in the heart...

Quentin Tarantino spent five days shooting the film “Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood” at the Musso & Frank Grill, enlisting bartender Kenneth “Sonny Bones” Donato who shook up at least 15 of his famous Whiskey Sours. Musso's has been a favorite of the film industry ever since Charlie Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks raced to the bar on horseback, with the loser picking up the tab. But this Hollywood favorite is also popular with regular folk thirsty for a drink and a bit of cinematic nostalgia. Check out these other real-life bars that appear in famous movie scenes.L Street Tavern in BostonAs seen in: “Good Will Hunting” (1997)Troubled mathematics genius Matt Damon introduces his new girlfriend Minnie Driver to his pals (including Ben Affleck) at this now-famous Irish bar which proudly boasts its connection to the Oscar-winning film.Potable: Irish whiskey with a pint ofGuinnessQuotable: “I got her number. How do you like them apples?”—Will (Matt Damon)Musso &...

Kentucky bourbon is prized for its bold flavors and authenticity. Like an old-school steakhouse, it harnesses tradition and authority to deliver a rarified experience, a process and product that have been perfected over time. But whiskey drinkers, like gourmands, have ever-expanding palates, and as much as the old ways work, and work well, there is no denying the excitement of new ideas and perspectives on something as universally beloved as bourbon.
“Kentucky bourbon is a unique product unto its own. And frankly, it's a very good one,” says Bill Welter, owner and head distiller at Journeyman Distillery in Michigan. As for Journeyman's Featherbone bourbon, which uses an all-organic mashbill of 70% corn, 25 % wheat, and 5% rye, Welter states, “We weren't really setting out to try and replicate something that was already being done very well.”
Welter and Journeyman are among a crop of new distillers reimagining what great bourbon can taste like; stepping...

Indisputably, scotch is the world's most popular style of whisky, with single malt regarded as the epitome of this fine spirit, cherished for its unparalleled quality. While I make my home in Scotland and have a passion for her whiskies, my role as Whisky Advocate's world whisky reviewer presents me with a steady stream of fascinating whiskies from India, Taiwan, Mexico, Israel, Australia, and beyond!Just 20 years ago, it would have been considered laughable that anyone could challenge Scotland's dominance of single malt—butJapan gave scotch lovers reason to pause. Today, I'm in awe of the proliferation of whisky from around the world, and the vast range of countries that stand proudly behind high-quality products.A global community of distillers is transporting single malt whisky to new places, literally. By adding their own creativity and local techniques, resulting in exciting flavors and geographical styles, the single malt world is changing quickly. Because I sample and...

Scotland may have put single malt on the map, but in the past few years, more and more countries are embracing the style, curious to see how different climates and techniques can impact flavor. As a result, whisky drinkers have even more ground to cover when exploring and educating themselves. Here, we survey the global single malt landscape to determine where the next great single malt is most likely to arrive from.The Front RunnersThese regions are leading the way, already showing the ability to compete on the world single malt stage.
NordicThere are numerous Nordic distilleries making intriguing whiskies with innovative techniques: Eimverk in Iceland using sheep dung for drying malt, the meticulous recipes at High Coast in Sweden, the underground maturation of Mackmyra's casks in a mine, the intricate spirit cuts at Spirit of Hven, and the floor malting of local barley at Stauning in Denmark. This is a region bursting with inventive ideas and a commitment to making...

Just the name Miami evokes thoughts of sunny days with gentle trade winds and sultry nights filled with neon lights and the strains of salsa music.Miami's cityscape is constantly changing. Wynwood, now the city's art and brewing capital, was an industrial and warehouse district as recently as 10 years ago. The Design District was once a place for interior designers to shop for upholstery, and now it's home to designer shops like Gucci and Dior, and has some of the finest eateries in Miami.The entire city's food scene is thriving, and there are some things you absolutely cannot miss: a Cuban sandwich, a slice of key lime pie, and croquetas—fried bites filled with bechamel sauce and meat (usually ham, cod, or chicken)—Miami's official snack. If you visit between October and May—stone crab season—don't miss out on some crab claws. And Little Havana is a good place to find some of Miami's most authentic food and drink.
The Fontainebleau is Miami's most iconic hotel and puts...

With more distillers making it and older stocks being released, American single malt continues to grow. That's good news for curious whiskey drinkers, as the not-yet-defined style offers a range of flavors and possibilities. Not only do these whiskeys reflect the diverse climates in which they're made, but distillers are using smoke, barrel finishing, innovative blending, and more to impart personality and perspective, making the style all the more rewarding to explore.The Winter 2021 Buying Guide features a number of American single malts, including Andalusia Stryker, No. 20 on our 2021 Top 20 list. Additionally, there are distillers from the Pacific Northwest, Texas, Virginia, and beyond are producing whiskeys that routinely score 90 points or higher by our tasting panel. These seven bottles from our Winter issue provide a snapshot of what's available and how different American single malt whiskeys can be.Wide-Ranging American Single Malt Whiskeys From the Winter Buying Guide
...

The Lunar New Year is welcomed with fireworks, lanterns, lion parades, gifts, amazing food, and of course, some fine whiskies. Also known as Chinese New Year or Spring Festival, Lunar New Year is a 15 day celebration based on the lunar calendar and is one of the most widely observed holidays in the world. The festivity lasts about two weeks—this year's Lunar New Year runs from February 1 to 15—and is capped by the appearance of the full moon.Each year is named after an animal from the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac. This is the Year of the Tiger, and those born under this sign are believed to be courageous, enthusiastic, and ambitious. Families travel great distances to be together to feast, drink, pray, exchange gifts, and honor the traditions and superstitions of the season in order to bring health, prosperity, good luck, and a bountiful harvest in the year ahead. The celebrations begin with the New Year's Eve reunion dinner and culminate with the Lantern Festival. Beyond...

St. Patrick's Day may have passed, but that doesn't mean you need to abandon your Irish whiskey altogether. We have some simple cocktail recipes and a list of high-scoring bottles that will serve you well throughout the year. And of course, you can always work on making the perfect Irish coffee ahead of next year's festivities.The top new releases this week mostly hail from Kentucky, as Castle & Key debuts its small batch bourbon. The first batch is coming this month, and the second will arrive in May. Meanwhile, Barton 1792 is extending its Thomas S. Moore line of finished bourbons with finishes in madeira, sherry, cognac, and merlot casks, and Japan's Kaiyō adds two blended malts to its range. Read on for full details.Castle & Key Small Batch Bourbon 2022 Release (Batch 1) Style: Straight bourbonOrigin: KentuckyABV: 49%Age: 4 year oldPrice: $50Release: March 2022Availability: 18,564 bottles in AZ, CO, CT, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, NJ, NY, OK, SC, TN, TX, WA, and WICastle & Key...

Fernando Castorena had already been a member of Financial Executives International's (FEI) Orange County, California chapter for around three years when he discovered that he and fellow member Todd Amy shared a passion for whisky. “Todd and I were just randomly talking one day, and we were both like, ‘Hey, I like whisky.' ‘Oh, I like whisky too.' And it developed into ‘Should we start a smaller club through FEI?' And it just kind of happened,” explains Castorena.
In the beginning, they sought to connect with other FEI members over a dram. “At the first meetings, we were hoping to maybe have like 10 people attend,” Castorena recalls. “But probably halfway through year one of starting that networking group, we were selling out every tasting, and I realized we were more of a whisky club than originally intended. It was just a passion for whisky—and wanting to learn more about it—that helped us create the club, and...

Some people add to their whisky collection by tracking new releases, while others scour auction sites for rare bottlings. On September 23, Sotheby's New York will auction what it is calling The Timeless Whisky Collection, with lots that include a complete six-bottle set of the Macallan Six Pillars Collection, and a major crop of independently bottled scotch whiskies, as well as other aged expressions from Glenfiddich, Bowmore, and others. Get the details from our auction preview, including the 10 most expensive lots by estimate.Among this week's new releases, Dewar's adds to its Cask Series line with a calvados cask finish, and Woodford Reserve is offering a new honey barrel-finished bourbon as a distillery and Kentucky exclusive, while Jefferson's has an interesting new Ocean: Aged at Sea bourbon expression made with New York City water. Read on for full details.

Dewar’s 8 year old French Smooth
Style: BlendOrigin: ScotlandAge: 8 year oldABV: 40%Price: $25Release...

Our sister publication Wine Spectator is celebrating the year in wine with its annual Top 100 list, counting down its Top 10 this week to this morning's announcement of Wine of the Year. The full Top 100 list goes live on Monday, November 14th. You can check out Wine Spectator's Top 10 now at WineSpectator.com. Next up is Whisky Advocate, as our Top 20 list of the most exciting whiskies of the year will be announced early next month.
This week's new whiskies run the gamut in terms of style and origin. Heaven Hill is releasing its oldest Old Fitzgerald to date,  a 19 year old bottled in bond bourbon. Crown Royal introduces a 29 year old blend, that could be considered a rye whiskey. And Jack Daniel's announces its first-ever American single malt, which was finished in oloroso sherry casks. Read on for full details.

Jack Daniel’s Twice Barreled Special Release Oloroso Sherry Cask Finished
Style: American single...

It’s that time of year again—the leaves are nearly gone from the trees, cooler air is settling in, and the holiday season is approaching. Thanksgiving kicks things off, bringing a day spent with family, friends, and plenty of food. For us whisky lovers, it provides a perfect opportunity to share time with loved ones as well as a dram or two. 
What’s a good Thanksgiving whisky? Broadly speaking, it’s a nice time to celebrate American whiskeys, in tune with the spirit of the holiday. Bourbon, of course, can certainly star as the quintessential American spirit, but there’s plenty to parse out beyond bourbon—Tennessee whiskeys, ryes, and American single malts, which are garnering greater attention these days. With that in mind, here are Whisky Advocate’s picks for a great Thanksgiving dram.
 
Picks for Thanksgiving Sipping 
 
Wild Turkey Rare Breed Bourbon90 points, 58.4%, $45
In addition to being barrel...

The aromas and flavors of premium cigars are always a joy to discover in whisky. Nothing beats the feeling when a dram sparks the pleasurable associations of rolling a dark cigar under your nose in a cigar lounge. Whisky lovers who have toured cigar factories in Cuba, Nicaragua, or the Dominican Republic can appreciate the aromas of the piles of tobacco leaves. The leaves are cured, fermented, and aged to produce the different grades of tobacco that the torcedores blend, pack, and roll into handmade cigars. If you have a seriously good humidor filled with cigars, then nosing certain whiskies may trigger the familiar fragrance of the Spanish cedar interior, since most cigar boxes are made of cedar, or at least include a cedar insert.
A well-chosen whisky can make a fantastic pairing for a cigar, and distilleries including Dalmore and Tomintoul have made that process easier by releasing their own cigar malts, created to complement rather than mimic the flavors in a cigar. Once...

New Orleans is a city with many sobriquets. It’s the Birthplace of Jazz, as it fostered the genre and great jazz musicians like Louis Armstrong. It’s also known as the Big Easy, by virtue of its laid-back lifestyle. And for geographical reasons it’s called Crescent City; as the city expanded beyond its French Quarter center it followed the curve of the Mississippi River, forming a crescent shape.
While there’s no nickname connecting New Orleans directly to whisky, the ties to revelry are legendary, and date back as far as its founding. Even in the 1700s, New Orleans was well-known for its culture of drinking and dancing, and by the early 1800s, distillers to the north were shipping barrels of whiskey down the Mississippi straight to the city, further fueling the exuberance. In fact, American whiskey aging practices might be traced back to these shipments—legend goes that distillers sent their white whiskey downstream in used barrels that were charred...

As autumn's cooler temperatures drift over New England, travel to the region heats up. Vacationers may have flocked to New England’s beaches and coastal destinations during the summer, but in fall they focus farther inland, where the vibrant display of autumn foliage blankets much of the region.
Vermont-based WhistlePig’s blender Meghan Ireland.
Yet there’s more reason to travel to New England in the fall than just those treebound pops of color—or for the apple and pumpkin festivals that inject a bit of revelry into many of the region’s quaint towns. Distilling in New England is back in a big way. Making spirits here can be traced back to the 17th century, and although rum was the primary product for centuries, whiskey production has come on strong over the past two decades, which means there’s no shortage of great whiskey distilleries to see and experience.
Here we spotlight eight New England distilleries that make carefully...

A shadowy figure enters through the swinging double doors and the room falls silent. The bartender wordlessly fills a shot glass with warm whiskey, it gets thrown back, and he fills it up again. Whiskey has long been an iconic part of western folklore, but you won’t have to risk life and limb to grab a cold one and a whiskey at these historic saloons that double as attractions and watering holes.
Saloon # 10—Deadwood, South Dakota
Saloon #10 has been around since the 1930s. In recent years, it’s built a reputation as a go-to destination for great whisky, and for good reason— it boasts the largest whisky selection in all of South Dakota with close to 300 bottles. That includes the Van Winkles and the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection as well as private barrel picks of Buffalo Trace—which is used in the house Old Fashioned—Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, Jack Daniel’s, and Maker’s Mark, which assistant bar manager Charlie Struble...

At this week's Sotheby’s New York auction, Lot 1, the Macallan Distil Your World Cask Strength Edition exclusive to Sotheby's, sold today for a hammer price of $200,000 becoming the most expensive bottle of whisky auctioned in 2023 so far. It’s a separate whisky from the main release of 1,000 bottles of Distil Your World New York that came out in April 2022:  this one is a single cask expression of one component from that whisky’s recipe. Distilled in 2002 and bottled at 55% ABV, it’s one of only two bottles produced­—the other is in the Macallan archive at the distillery. The bottle is being offered by the Macallan, and the winning bidder will receive an invitation to dine at El Celler de Can Roca, Spain, in the bargain. All proceeds from this sale will benefit ChaShaMa, a New York City-based non-profit supporting the arts.
The Sotheby’s auction concludes today,  and we'll cover the full results  in next...

Geographically, Europe is a whisky powerhouse. This continent combines the storied pedigree of scotch and newly revived Irish whiskey with a flourishing Nordic scene, but beyond these leading areas, there lies a host of European distillers also worthy of acclaim. Mainland Europe is home to some of the finest spirits in the world, and is steeped in centuries-old distilling traditions. Many distilleries are modest family-run operations making fruit-based spirits, and they have harvested crops for distilling for generations. In this century, whisky distilling on the mainland has gathered momentum, as distillers have expanded their repertoire with pot, column, and the Charentais stills.
European whiskies are not so widely available, so you will need to keep your nose to the ground. Quantities available in the U.S. are often limited, without distribution to every state. The good news is that a small but vibrant coterie of importers with a flair for singular spirits is seeking out these...

It's a big weekend for cigar and whisky lovers, as Big Smoke Meets WhiskyFest makes its return to Hollywood, Florida tomorrow, Saturday, March 4. We previewed some of the whiskies being poured, seminars being held, and cigar stars in attendance, but it is truly an event you have to take in for yourself, combining two worlds into one extraordinary night. 
Meanwhile, with St. Patrick's Day approaching, it's another big week for Irish whiskey. Waterford brings its Cuvée series global with Argot, Method and Madness has a 60% rye and 40% unmalted barley whiskey coming to the U.S., and Writers' Tears announces its second new release in as many weeks with the 2023 edition of its cask strength whiskey. Plus, Westland unveils Solum Edition 1 and WhistlePig drops its first-ever single malt. Read on for full details. 
 
Waterford Cuvée: Argot
Style: Single malt
Origin: Ireland
Age: Not stated
ABV: 47%
Price...

The Open Championship was played for the 150th time in the summer of 2022, returning to the Old Course at St Andrews, a centuries-old layout universally adopted by the golfing world as the birthplace of the game. Fortunate golfers who’ve teed it up will know how unique and special a round in Scotland can be. The countryside is mecca for the golf obsessed, and the experience of playing its hallowed links courses—the Old Course in particular—is a thrill, no matter how challenging the conditions or how high your final score is. After all, successfully playing links golf, especially in the UK, requires a different mindset and a commitment to distinct shots that aren’t played as frequently— and don’t always work as well—in the States.
As the world’s best players competed for the Claret Jug in St Andrews this past July, millions of golfers around the world likely aspired to play golf in Scotland themselves one day. With that in mind...

Around 2007, liquor store owner Ryan Maloney had a Pappy Van Winkle problem: He had too much of it. “We did TV commercials showing off our single barrel picks, including a handpicked 15 year Pappy,” Maloney recounts. “It would just sit in our store, gathering dust.”

Maloney’s store, Julio’s Liquors in Westborough, Massachusetts, was among the first in the nation to work with Sazerac, producer of Pappy Van Winkle, on a single barrel program, and was subsequently offered barrels of 12, 15, 20 and 23 year old Van Winkle. “I wasn’t thrilled with the 20 or 23—too much wood spice for me,” Maloney says. “They were higher priced, too; I think the 15 was about $65 and even that was expensive for bourbon then.”
Today, those apex bottles would be gone within minutes, just like some of the more than 60 barrel picks now sold by Maloney each year. When bourbon sales began to explode after 2010, demand for...

At your local diner, the toast choices at breakfast are usually white, wheat, or rye. But when it comes to barrels, whiskey makers have hundreds of toast options to choose from. “Toasted is a buzzword now,” says COO and co-founder of Penelope Bourbon Daniel Polise. “But people don’t always know how a barrel is toasted or charred—and that they are two very different things.”

Charring—when a new oak barrel is exposed to an open flame—is the process of burning the wood, while toasting lends a lighter touch. Charring is like putting a marshmallow straight into the flame, while toasting is holding it further away for a longer period of time. Variables like temperature, duration, the cooper who made the barrel, and the toasting’s intensity level create a much broader spectrum than charring, which typically has four levels ranging from 15 to 55 seconds of exposure to the flame.

But the two aren’t mutually...

The torrent of new whiskies continues, and the many highlights include the return of A Midwinter Night’s Dram, the eleventh release in this annual series from High West Distillery in Utah. The High West annual releases were always among the most anticipated bottlings of the year, and fans were disappointed a few years ago when High West discontinued another cherished annual affair, Yippee Ki Yay. But Midwinter lives on, and we’ll have to see whether this year’s expression can still capture the old magic.
Elsewhere, there’s a new edition of Benriach Malting Season, the third release in the annual series that celebrates Scotland’s long history of floor malting. There’s a touch of romance in seeing a distillery’s floor maltings—alas, only eight whisky makers in Scotland still use this very enchanting (and very expensive) process. Benriach is one of them. Elsewhere from Scotland, young distiller Torabhaig from the Isle of...

The generally softer, delicate style that characterizes Japanese whisky makes it a beautiful pairing with sashimi or sushi. But most Japanese whiskies are also terrific sipped neat, and can go fabulously with a good cigar. Given their more delicate style, mixing in cocktails can be tricky, but mixologists have come up with some beautiful combinations. If you’re looking to make it a Japanese whisky night, here is a selection of bars from around the 50 states that have what it takes.
Zuma
Las Vegas
In a city that can sometimes feature over-the-top extravagance, Zuma Las Vegas definitely fits the bill. Not only does it serve up bold authentic Japanese cuisine izakaya-style, but it also has one of the rarest Japanese whisky collections in the West—including some expressions that are no longer sold in the U.S. Gracing its wall of whisky, among about 20 other Japanese pours (ranging from $16-$300/1.5 oz.), is the limited-edition 2022 Yamazaki Tsukuriwake selection...

When it comes to a whisky for a special occasion, it’s hard to argue against a 25 year old scotch. That age statement is grand enough to thrill your guests after dinner, provide a special gift, or simply be the bottle you reach for to reward yourself after a good day. There are peated malts from Islay, sherried styles from Speyside, and luxuriously complex blends to choose from.
What you pay for a quarter-century-old scotch varies considerably. Astonishingly, for two whiskies made just eight miles apart and of the exact same proof, you can buy 17 bottles of the lowest-priced example for the same money it costs to own one bottle of the most expensive, and still get 30 bucks in change.
Due to supply squeezes of ultra-aged whiskies, distillers are more often releasing annual batch bottlings rather than permanent expressions, so not every bottling will be available all year round. A fair number of 25 year old scotches disappear from the shelves for good every year. All the...

What’s a hot trend in scotch whisky? Well, believe it or not, it’s rye. At least 10 scotch whisky distilleries are laying down rye these days, with RyeLaw, the inaugural release from InchDairnie Distillery, becoming the latest addition to Scotland’s rye space. 
InchDairnie opened in 2015 just outside the Lowlands town of Glenrothes in Fife (not to be confused with Glenrothes Distillery on Speyside). InchDairnie partners with farmers within the boundaries of Fife to grow rye and barley, and the distillery is equipped with a hammer mill, mash conversion vessel, and a mash filter to handle rye, oats, and wheat, which are beyond the scope of most single malt scotch distilleries. The distillery’s founder Ian Palmer researched the historical use of rye in scotch and talked with distillers in Kentucky and Canada about their experiences with rye before producing his own. RyeLaw, uses 53% malted rye and 47% malted barley and was double distilled in 2017 using a...

In order to give us all a chance to consider this latest round of new releases as closely as possible, we've decided to separate them into two installments. Today we'll cover the landscape of new expressions in American whiskey, and on Monday we'll report on the latest from Scotland, Japan, and elsewhere in the world. For the American side, there's much ado about the barrel, as so many of these releases feature a variety of cask finishings and longer barrel agings, some of them unusual. Also, Widow Jane digs into the cellars for some of its most aged liquid, and we note with interest that Frey Ranch is out with an American single malt. We haven't scored that one yet but can confirm from preliminary tastings that it's a good one, though unfortunately its volumes are tiny, and are sold only at the distillery and on their website.  There's plenty more to take in here, so enjoy.
Widow Jane Decadence
Style: Blend of straight bourbons
Origin: Tennessee...

A few things you learn within minutes of video chatting with actor William H. Macy: he prefers to be called Bill, he’s extremely articulate, he's inquisitive, especially about the art in your home, and he’s positively and utterly enamored with rye.
That wasn’t always his preferential spirit, though it was his first exposure to whiskey. “My parents drank rye,” he recalls. “They kept it under the kitchen sink, for some reason, and they’d take a shot of it, followed by a shot of water. It looked more medicinal than fun.” Macy first dabbled in bourbon, perhaps a byproduct of his Southern roots after growing up near Atlanta, but then had “a pretty ubiquitous love affair with scotch,” after spending time in London, trying all the single malts.
But time and again he returned to rye. “I have a nationalist fervor about rye. It’s America’s whiskey,” Macy says. “I love bourbon, but rye is what...

For each issue of Whisky Advocate, our editors select great value bottles with solid scores, friendly prices, and wide availability from our Buying Guide. Here are our editors' picks for the Winter 2023 issue—a nice mix that includes bourbon, rye, scotch, and Irish whiskey. Some reasonably good bargains are to be found there, something that's getting tougher to find in today's whisky world. But all are high-scoring top-flight expressions that are well worth a buy.

94 Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Sauternes and Toasted Oak Barrel Finished (Batch RC1) Rye, 57.2%, $270
The nose is spiced and chocolaty, complemented by a lovely backbone of fruit—strawberries and cream, juicy peach, apple cider doughnut, and hibiscus tea. The palate is wonderfully textured, and while it’s hot, once the heat subsides, dark chocolate raspberry squares, black forest cake, and endless cinnamon emerge. The finish keeps a good thing going, redolent with black...

The year’s first batch of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof has hit the shelves. This one is aged for 10 years and 9 months before being bottled at cask strength,  which in this case was 59.5% ABV. Batch A124 is the first of three to come this year, with the remaining releases B and C slated for May and September.
While owner Heaven Hill’s distillers aim for flavor consistency with the Elijah Craig batches, no two expressions will be identical—a fact of life for any batch series. But that’s a good thing, as fans like to explore the nuances of each. Certainly you can count on big bourbon flavors—vanilla, toasted oak, butterscotch, caramel, baking spice, and a hint of fruitiness by way of apple and orange.
Each Elijah Craig Barrel Proof batch is distinguished by a letter and three numbers. The letter, which will be either an A, B, or C, refers to the first, second, or third release of the year, while the first number refers to the month...

Leave the green beer to the dive bar set and reach for a sophisticated dram of Irish Whiskey. Our 90+ club members offer an outstanding range of expressions including single pot still bottlings, a range of finishes including extra-charred American oak, and a rare vintage blend. Whiskey lovers know that 90 points marks the difference between “very good” and “outstanding” on Whiskey Advocate’s 100-point scale. So there’s no luck required – you can be sure these Irish distilleries have earned their place among the most coveted in the world. Meet all the members of the 90+ club below and raise a toast to health and good times. Slàinte!
Jameson Black Barrel, 91 pts
Sumptuously rich, toasted nuts, raisins, caramelized sugar, dark vanilla, fleshy fruits, peppery spice. | 40%
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Midleton, Very Rare Vintage 2023, 94 pts
Deliciously creamy, milk chocolate, coffee, vanilla pod, coriander seed, fennel spice, tobacco...

With St. Patrick’s Day nearly upon us, Irish whiskey will be front and center. It’s a most versatile and exciting spirit, but if your experience with Irish whiskey is limited to downing shots once a year dressed in a green velvet leprechaun’s hat, then we’ve got three routes to help you engage with Irish whiskey on a more rewarding level. First, our neat pour list contains six whiskeys that are worth getting to know better as they represent some of the most flavorsome whiskeys from Ireland right now. Second, for the make-at-home cocktail enthusiast, we pick six bottles to play with at home, each with a different style of Irish whiskey. With dozens of cocktail recipes online for inspiration, we want to be less prescriptive and encourage you to make a cocktail you love using an Irish whiskey and then make it again with a different pick to show you how whisky flavor influences the finished cocktail. Finally, Irish whiskey and food is a match made in heaven, so we...

Just after 12 a.m. on December 2nd, as temperatures dip below 25 degrees, the biting winter air hasn’t dampened the party in Stranahan’s Distillery parking lots in Denver. Dubbed “Snowflake Village,” it’s where more than 1,000 people have set up post in tents and RVs. All the revelers are here to purchase a bottle of the limited-edition 2023 Snowflake single malt release, a distillery-only offering that will go on sale first thing the next morning.
In this frigid setting, pockets of Stranahan’s superfans, all bundled to the hilt in winter garb, roast marshmallows on open fires just outside a giant (inflatable) igloo, as a stream of musicians rotates through the igloo’s stage. The line for the official Stranahan’s bar, nestled in a corner of the igloo, is more than a dozen deep, though many denizens are swapping flasks containing past Snowflake releases, among other whiskies. A quartet of food trucks has ceased serving, so camping...

WIth tax season upon us, many of you might be feeling a bit lighter in the wallet around this time of year, and one way to stretch your dollar is by choosing a higher-proof whisky. While these powerful whiskies aren't for everyone, the best ones deliver bold flavors and aromas that are well worth savoring. But the buyer must sometimes beware because high proof is not always an indicator of quality. Some lesser whiskies will keep the proof jacked up to mask imperfections, banking on the idea that a drinker will expect a high-powered liquid to taste brawny and more rustic.  But the best high-proof expressions are not necessarily like that. Our panelists will often write about a high-proof expression that "holds its proof well," meaning that the structure and essential flavors are very much discernible, the key advantage being that they are delivered in a more bold and powerful way. The best examples are sometimes described as being easy to taste...

The origin of the names of most whiskies is pretty easy to fathom—usually founders’ names like Jim Beam, Jack Daniel, and George Dickel—or recognizable locations like Bardstown or Breckenridge. But sometimes you come across names and have no clue about their provenance. Frankly, if we love the whisky, most of us don’t spend much time thinking about the meaning behind its name. Just for the fun of it, we’ve taken a look at some of whisky’s more unusual names, and precisely what they mean.
Buffalo Trace
The earliest American pioneers forged through the wilderness on paths first trod by buffalo herds—called buffalo traces—and Buffalo Trace Distillery is built on an ancient buffalo crossing along the Kentucky River. The distillery has had a number of name changes in its history. Once owned by E.H. Taylor, it was named O.F.C. in 1870, and then was renamed George T. Stagg Distillery in 1904. It was purchased by Sazerac in 1992 and...

April’s 20-highest hammer prices broke the million-dollar barrier for the first time in 2024, thanks largely to two sales of Macallan The Reach 81 year old. The month's 20-highest hammer prices were valued at $1,023,392, but despite this bumper month,  year to date sales are down 29%, by a total of $1.3 million. The market for the most expensive collectibles has softened since 2022–23, with unsold bottles of five-figure whiskies failing to meet the reserve price now  becoming a regular occurrence at auction. The whiskies struggling to sell are often relatively recent releases or bottles in a price segment where market is undergoing a correction after an initial flurry of interest has died down. But even this month’s  usual stand-outs, Macallan and Karuizawa, are experiencing some of these market forces. Sellers who can accept a lower sum might make the sale regardless, whereas others might want to take their bottles back...

An Australian distillery might evoke images of sun-drenched white beaches flecked with palms or the blistering heat of the Outback. But Starward Whisky is set along a sedate, tree-lined commercial road in Port Melbourne, the port area near Melbourne’s city center. Its freshly painted white building once housed an engineering equipment maker, but today resembles a modern art gallery, with its two giant, black-paned glass walls looking out onto the road.
Inside, the space is tall, airy, and starkly contemporary, with much of the nearly acre-sized area devoted to the distillery’s bar, which handles 300 visitors at a time. The bar leans into Melbourne’s foodie culture, offering both food and drink as well as tastings and educational masterclasses. It's connected to the distillery, whose equipment includes five fermenters, two copper pot stills, a 5,000-liter solera vat, and barrel racks. Starward also has about two acres of additional space offsite...

Our deep dive into Rare Character Whiskey Company’s explosive growth and astounding auction potential is a comprehensive profile on the company. (Click here to read it, if you haven’t already.) All of Rare Character’s whiskey is sourced, and while some mashbills and distillery locations are somewhat straightforward—as with Brook Hill bourbon and rye, Old Cassidy bourbon, and Pride of Edison County bourbon and rye—the Rare Character Single Barrel Series is different. 

It features more than 30 different mashbills from a variety of distilleries and locations. Each single barrel bottle receives a corresponding barrel code and a designated wax color. (These wax colors indicate similar, though not always identical, flavor profiles.) Here, Rare Character co-founder and barrel selector Pablo Moix explains each code and color, and offers some of his personal tasting notes. 
RIO / Copper Wax

“Rio is Spanish for...

Each summer, Pebble Beach Resorts on California’s Monterey Peninsula hosts the Hickory Sticks Invitational, a charity event for the Pebble Beach Company Foundation. The one-day, 9-hole tournament is contested on the resort’s short course, The Hay, which benefited from a Tiger Woods-led redesign a few years ago. The 670-yard layout now includes architectural features that either pay homage to the famous holes on the resort’s flagship course, Pebble Beach Golf Links, or take inspiration from Golden Age courses all around the world.
The host course may be diminutive—its longest hole measures only 106 yards—but the event is still plenty challenging. It’s called the Hickory Sticks Invitational because participants play not with modern clubs that boast steel or graphite shafts but with vintage old hickory wood-shafted clubs. Hickories, as these antique tools are affectionately known by golfers, are what the players used throughout the 19th and early...

Compass Box, whose blended scotch creations have won enormous critical acclaim over the past two decades, has undergone some big changes this year. In February, its founder and driving force, John Glaser, stepped down after 23 years at the helm. That news came atop an announcement that Hedonism, the grain whisky that vaulted Compass Box into the spotlight in 2000, would be removed from the core range to become a limited annual release. This month the winds of change blew once more,  as Compass Box discontinued its Spice Tree and Story of the Spaniard labels, replacing them with two completely new whiskies.
Spice Tree was first released in 2005, and Story of the Spaniard has been around since 2018. Both expressions aimed to spotlight cask/wood influence. Spice Tree explores the influence of French oak with a blend of malts including Glen Moray, Balmenach, and a proprietary Highland malt divided into three separate parcels, each aged in French oak barrels at different...

Before Bruce Russell took on the mantle of blender at Wild Turkey, his father, Eddie, sat him down for a talk. “One of the first things my dad told me, just as I was starting out at the distillery, was ‘I want you to think really hard about this, not because the job isn’t good or I don’t think you’ll be good at it, but because for the rest of your life you’ll have to give a part of yourself to everybody else,’” he recalls. “And my dad learned that from Jimmy [Russell], who’s given more of himself to the distillery and its fans than anyone else. When I did start hitting the road for the distillery, I realized there were people—a lot of them—who knew Jimmy more than me, and they had these awesome stories about him and the things he’s done over the years.” And a great many years it’s been for Jimmy, who is celebrating his 70th year at Wild Turkey this month.
It’s a remarkable milestone for...

Amid the whiskey world’s current fascination with high proof, many producers have sought to ride the wave by bottling higher-ABV whiskeys. But they often aren't that good, showing little flavor or structure behind the heat. Such whiskeys rely too much on their proof, without delivering the intrinsic quality. Very few whiskey makers are masters of the high-proof game, but Jack Daniel, with its Coy Hill single barrel series, is one of the best.
Coy Hill Tennessee whiskey is named for the highest point on the Jack Daniel Distillery’s campus, where barrel houses 8, 9, 10, 11, and 13 are located. (There is no barrrel house 12, as it was damaged and torn down years ago.) Those are the barrel houses where master distiller Chris Fletcher seeks out the casks to be used for Coy Hill. The mashbill for Coy Hill is the same as that for Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7—80% corn, 12% malted barley, and 8% rye—but the maturation period is...

When Angel’s Envy co-creator Wes Henderson left Angel’s Envy in 2022, his departure ended a 12-year stewardship, but the brand had been sold to Bacardi and it was time to move on. Back then, he called it retirement and was ready to kick his feet up and do nothing. But soon enough, he began to wonder if his working days were really behind him. “I wasn’t very good at sitting around and not doing anything,” he says with a laugh. “I felt there was more I wanted to do in this business, and I wanted to create a legacy project for my six sons.” And so, he’s triumphantly ditching retirement to launch True Story, his next chapter in whiskey making.
While Henderson wasn’t completely quiet in retirement—he worked on a one-off port-finished Kentucky bourbon with Blackened—the new True Story venture marks the first time he’s been at the helm since co-founding Angel’s Envy in 2010.  Fans of Henderson’s work...

“America’s Finest City” is a nickname San Diego earned in large part for its famously good weather and beaches. But for whiskey lovers, its downtown, especially the Gaslamp neighborhood, is a hotbed of standout bars. The city is also famous for its locally beloved happy hours, so ingrained that virtually every watering hole joins in the fun. Establishments have specials from late afternoon and/or early evening on weekdays and in some cases weekends.
San Diego’s airport is less than 10 minutes, without traffic, from downtown where parking is scarce. Readily available rideshare services are your best bet.
Make Aero Club Bar the first stop on your way to the Gaslamp or the last stop before you depart; there are over 1,000 whiskies to choose from.
Day One
The Horton Grand Hotel opened in the Gaslamp District in 1886, and catered to celebrities from Wyatt Earp to Babe Ruth to President Benjamin Harrison. Today it’s a reasonably priced...

Dalmore has unveiled the next installment in its Cask Curation Series, a limited-edition three-bottle set celebrating the role of finishing casks from the finest wineries and bodegas. It’s a story that starts on the vine, and this one celebrates Dalmore’s exclusive 50-year relationship with Graham's Port and the wines of Douro Valley. The trio of whiskies in The Port Edition, aged for 27, 30, and 43 years, were finished in Graham’s single-harvest tawny port casks from 1997, 1994, and 1952 respectively. With the royal stag on the Dalmore bottles and Graham’s being a Royal Warrant holder, the 1952 cask selection is an acknowledgement of the year of accession of Queen Elizabeth II. Though the U.S. has a larger allocation than last year’s debut, there are only 150 sets available worldwide. Read on for our initial impressions of these new Dalmore single malts.
W.&J. Graham & Co. was founded in 1820 by William and John Graham. Born of Scottish...

Whiskeys of great age are in evidence once again this week, with Old Grand-Dad releasing its first-ever 16 year old bourbon, Stranahan’s dropping one of the oldest American single malt ever in its new 12 year old  Mountain Angel, and Barrell Craft Spirits releasing a far older version of its New Year Blend than last year's expression. Whatever the reason for all this aging up, it’s certainly good news for whiskey lovers, as older whiskeys are usually, though not always, a better sip.
Elsewhere, J. Mattingly and Jeptha Creed once again honor our veterans—Mattingly with the fifth release of its 1845 Combat Infantry Badge Bourbon, and Jeptha with the third batch of its Red White and Blue bourbon, with a portion of sales for both going to military-related non-profits. Finally, The Hearach, the single malt scotch made on the remote island of Lewis and Harris in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides and founded in 2015, has added a new...

Following an action-packed event in Florida last month, WhiskyFest made its final two stops of the year in Chicago and New York. Both nights provided with top-flight drams, educational seminars, and the opportunity to meet some of the people behind their favorite brands.
Whisky in the Windy City
WhiskyFest Chicago took place on the evening of November 15, with a horde of enthusiastic whisky fans storming the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The event kicked off at 5:30 with an exclusive VIP hour—offering ticket holders an early taste of the evening’s whiskies. The VIP hour also included a slew of exclusive and highly sought-after pours, including Octomore 15.1, Compass Box Metropolis, Dewar’s Double Double 21, Heaven Hill 18 year old Heritage Collection, and Little Book among others.
One of the hot spots for VIPs was Brown-Forman’s scotch booth, which offered a smattering of single malts from Benriach, GlenDronach, and Glenglassaugh. Manning the booth was...

In the world of cooking, bonds are as essential as the ingredients themselves. The strongest culinary experiences are rooted in connections—between chefs, guests, and the ingredients they share. For two private chefs with a friendship spanning decades, this concept is at the heart of every meal they create. Their dedication to fostering these bonds brings warmth and meaning to each guest experience they craft.

“We really love to cook for other people,” says Ryan Van Voorhis, one half of this dynamic cooking duo.

The pair’s warmth and connection with guests are as integral to their service as the meals they prepare. This dedication to quality is reflected in their selection of ingredients, from fresh, local produce to carefully chosen spirits like Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon. “Everything starts with quality,” says Van Voorhis. “Whether it’s the produce we hand-pick or the bourbon we select to...

In 2019, Mike Paladini and his business partner Danny Polise were one year into their venture, Penelope Bourbon, when MGP—the Lawrenceburg, Indiana, supplier of the whiskey for their New Jersey-based non-distilling production operation—called with an unusual offer. Would the duo be interested in 24 barrels of experimental straight wheat whiskey, with a mashbill of 95% wheat and 5% malted barley, that had been laid down six years prior?
They’d always been “super close” with the folks at MGP Distillery, according to Penelope master blender Polise, and after an inventory system update, “that call came in from [MGP’s Ross & Squibb Distillery’s master blender] Sam Schmetlzer, and he said, ‘these barrels are cool; you should check them out.’ We got the samples and were 100% in,” recalls Polise.
One problem: “We didn’t have any money,” laughs Paladini.

“The cost was $25,000 or...

If you’re going to relax over a drink, you want to be comfortable. Here’s a selection of four designer chairs that emphasize style and function—some made from whisky barrel staves, and all with the whisky drinker in mind.
This variety of chairs represents a good cross-section of options for when you're looking to wind down. There's one that stores whisky bottles and stows a glass holder and another with a serving tray that tucks away. Sip indoors or out on an Adirondack chair or belly up to the table in a faux leather-upholstered swivel chair. Quality seating for whisky drinking.
The Cask Chair

$9,000
atelierruzzier.com
Designed for serious whisky drinkers. This chair features an armrest with storage for two bottles and a pullout stainless steel tray. 
Whisky Chair
$15,175
fjorn.com
Stylish and functional for whisky enjoyment. Available in leather or fabric (shown) with a hidden glass tray tucked within an...

Whether you abstain during Dry January, Sober October, or for any other reason, you have a rising number of no-alcohol options in spirits, beers, and wines at your disposal. The no-alcohol space has grown significantly over the past decade or so, but the question on everyone’s mind is whether they taste as good as the real thing.
According to bartenders, the answer is yes—but the caliber and how best to use it varies widely from brand to brand. Here’s what you need to know about zero-proof whisky.
It's Not a One-for-One Swap
As of now, the flavor of some no-alcohol whiskies is close to the real thing, though the experience isn’t exactly the same if you take your whisky neat.
Keena Hanson, training and development manager for Haywire restaurant in Plano, Texas, says Lyre’s Traditional Reserve is a solid stand-in. “It was designed to be sipped neat,” she says. “While it won’t deliver that same heat you get from...

Chicago has a long-standing reputation for being a great place to eat and drink. While that used to mean highly acclaimed dining at one place and expert mixologists slinging cocktails at another, today the line between fine dining and fine drinking has been blurred. Now there are venues that combine elevated cuisine alongside curated spirits selections and creative cocktails. And with its thriving craft distillery scene, Chicago makes a great destination for a whisky weekend.
The city is big but compact, so use the train system (known to Chicagoans as the “L”) and rideshares to see all of it.
Day 1

In the Windy City there are plenty of hotels with good bars, so you might as well stay where there’s a whisky focus. Hotel Zachary, across from Wrigley Field, provides views of the iconic baseball stadium and easy access to Mordecai, where creative takes on American classics like wagyu tartare and crackerjack beignets accompany an impressive whiskey...

The Paper Plane cocktail is rapidly moving from a deep cut, rarely ordered imbibe to a menu mainstay. And for good reason: It’s positively delicious and has infinite riffs.
When I stumbled upon the Paper Plane a few years back, I sought a refreshing cocktail that was bourbon-forward, but not so much that it overpowered the glass, and something that I could have several rounds of without burning out my palate or overdosing on cloying sweetness. It was love at first sip. A punch of bourbon, a fair amount of tartness, and just a soupçon of sweetness; heaven in a coupe.
The fun part about this equal-parts drink? Due to the endless customization options, you can keep tweaking the recipe to suit any desired flavor profile. You’ll never get tired of trying another iteration, seeing how those new additions move the overall flavor of the cocktail.
I’ve spent the last few years trying Paper Planes at every bar I visit, across seven countries and more...

Bright and buoyant, the Whiskey Sour is whiskey dressed for a summer day. The drink may have originated with 18th-century sailors combining ingredients they had at hand, but the unbeatable balance of spirit, sugar, and citrus makes this drink transcend the whims of cocktail fashion. “It's beautiful in its simplicity and it's delicious and it manages to be really fun, and it's also a really nice access point for whiskey for a lot of people,” says Dan Sabo, director of food and beverage at Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles.
As long as you stay focused on a balance of sweet, sour, and spirit, the Whiskey Sour leaves plenty of room for interpretation or tweaking to suit your palate. “There are a thousand things you can do to add a little twist to it and that's one of the things that great classics can do,” says Neal Bodenheimer, co-owner of Cure in New Orleans. “It can handle a little bit of innovation, but the basic version is as...

The author bought a cask of Bruichladdich for his wedding day in 2006, planning to bottle it in 25 years. Here’s the story so far.
As I stood in my kilt about to deliver my groom’s speech in front of my bride, our parents, friends, and relatives, I was about to reveal a secret—even to my bride. This was 2006, and our fairytale wedding reception in a picturesque Scottish village was in full swing. After praising my wife and thanking the wedding party, I lifted my dram and invited everyone to charge their glasses for a toast. At this moment, I revealed that I’d ordered a cask to be filled at Bruichladdich Distillery to mark the occasion of our wedding. Furthermore, my intention was to bottle this whisky for our silver wedding celebration in 25 years’ time, when guests at our party could take home a bottle of whisky that was as old as our marriage. In a burst of enthusiasm from our guests, the bar’s supply of Bruichladdich soon ran dry as everyone...

A beautiful thing happens when whiskey meets a teaspoon (or mountain) of sugar. The bold flavors of a neat pour are eased into a delectable saccharine hug—all of its warmth and unique flavors left to be enjoyed. Whiskey desserts aren’t anything new, but there’s a lot more on the roster than the classic Irish coffee cake. Though whiskey’s rich and buttery mouthfeel holds up against other ingredients that have a bitter edge, like chocolate and coffee, it also is a natural pair for less acerbic, but equally rich flavors such as stone fruits, berries, vanilla, and caramel. All of this offers a platform for whiskey to take the stage in sweet treats. 
When it comes to your choice of whiskey, a few general tips prevail. Vanilla-tinged spirits like bourbon, Tennessee, and American rye whiskeys make a great addition, bringing out the round, soft flavors of the dessert’s sweetness while adding some punch to keep it interesting. Corn and Canadian whisky, on...

Even if you like to explore different whisky styles, one that you may not have seen is light whiskey. It’s a curious, mysterious genre, and people are often left wondering what it really means. Spoiler alert: it’s not called light whiskey because it’s diet-friendly, because of its color, or because of its proof. The term is partly meant to describe the whiskey’s flavors, but that isn’t the whole story.
By definition, light whiskey must be produced in the U.S., with a distillation proof of more than 160° (80% ABV) but less than 190° (95%), and aged in new uncharred or used oak containers. There is no rule on what grains can be used, a fairly typical part of most other whiskey definitions. It seems to fly in the face of what most people have come to expect from American whiskey. Yet light whiskey is undergoing something of a renaissance in recent years. The style, looked down upon for decades, has suddenly been generating some buzz.
One of...

Everyone who enjoys whisky likely knows how to make a proper Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Sour, and other classic whisky cocktails. For one, they've stood the test of time—whereas the latest trendy drink is often only popular because it looks cool on Instagram, classics have been perfected, so you know they taste good. For another, most are easy to make yet impressive to serve to guests. 
At the same time, you can respect the classics while letting them serve as a starting point. The majority of contemporary cocktails are variations on these standards, and experimentation can lead to delicious results.
An easy place to start is by switching up the whisky you use as the base. “Swapping in different whisky styles lets you explore how [a whisky’s] grain, distillation, and aging change a cocktail’s whole character,” says Jason Hedges, director of beverage for LT Hospitality. “Just like jazz musicians state the basic theme before launching into...

With the warmth and beauty of summer now upon us, there aren’t many good excuses to stay indoors. For some of us, however, baking is one of them. These three breezy dessert recipes are good for a summertime indulgence and made even better by a carefully chosen accompanying bourbon. Two of the desserts offer a double dose of whiskey, both infused into the core components of the desserts and alongside.
Mississippi Mud Pie with Woodford Reserve Chocolate Custard and Woodford Double Double Oaked

Recipe and pairing courtesy of executive chef, DJ Jackson at The Southern Gentleman, Atlanta.
Mississippi Mud pie is a Deep South delight made popular in the 1970s, likely gaining its name from a resemblance to the muddy banks of the Mississippi River. This one features a fudgy custard enrobed in a fluffy whipped cream sitting atop a nostalgic and sweet crumbled Oreo crust. It’s ideal enjoyed alongside Woodford Double Double Oaked bourbon, available nationwide since...

When Whisky Advocate did a cover story on scotch whisky cask ownership back in 2008, we quickly learned that some scotch producers hadn’t considered how their U.S. customers would get their whisky home once it matured. Nowadays, distilleries will simply tell you that it’s your responsibility to arrange shipment. The problem is that distilleries can’t bottle and ship the contents of a single cask to private individuals in the U.S. unless it gets sold through the three-tier system (producer-distributor-retailer). But that doesn’t mean you’re completely out of options.
Although distilleries including Springbank, Macallan, Bruichladdich, and Glengoyne previously offered cask-buying programs, today most established scotch makers stay away from cask sales. The practice is now largely led by cash-stretched start-ups, where the quality of the whisky is still largely unproven, as distilleries in their first decade of operation might not have aged stocks...

High-rye whisky is enjoying a revival in Canada, led by releases from Lot No. 40, Canadian Club, Crown Royal, and Alberta Distillers Limited, as well as craft distillers. Many of these robust whiskies are now findin shelf space in U.S. retail shops. Of course, some of this good stuff has been crossing the border for years, even if its Canadian provenance isn’t always so evident.
If you’ve enjoyed Masterson’s, Lock Stock & Barrel, or WhistlePig, then you’re likely a fan of Al berta Distillers Limited. That’s because until recently, ADL, as it’s known, has focused most of its business on distilling and ma turing rye for other labels. Lately it has turned to making its own brands, although unbeknownst to many, ADL’s Alberta Premium has long been the world’s best-selling all-rye whisky.
Canadians have always nicknamed their whisky “rye,” regardless of its mashbill, but most Canadian distilleries produce some high...

On a mild Kentucky evening in Bardstown, 100 guests gathered in an unlikely venue: Fred Noe’s backyard. The setting was intimate, fitting for an industry built on generations of family legacies and neighborly competition. Gathered for the Bourbon Icons Dinner, part of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival, the night brought together the biggest names in American whiskey for an evening of candid storytelling.
Over five courses, bourbon royalty sat side by side on a small stage: Julian and Preston Van Winkle from Old Rip Van Winkle, Fred and Freddie Noe of Jim Beam, Rob Samuels of Maker's Mark, Four Roses master distiller Brent Elliott, Andrea Wilson, master distiller at Michter's, and Marci Palatella, owner of Preservation Distillery.
Andy Treinen, president and CEO of the Frazier History Museum, the emcee for the evening, drew out sentimental—often hilarious—stories behind the brands that shaped America’s spirit. Here are the night’s best...

Bay Area whisky lovers had a very good weekend: on Friday, October 6th, WhiskyFest San Francisco brought hundreds of whiskies from around the world to San Francisco's Marriott Marquis.As usual, eager bourbon lovers flocked to the Old Rip Van Winkle table early on, where Julian and Preston Van Winkle were personally serving up Old Rip Van Winkle 10 year old and 12 year old, as well as the Pappy Van Winkle 15 and 20 year old bourbons. (VIP ticket holders got a chance to try the elusive Pappy Van Winkle 23 year old.) The Buffalo Trace Antique Collection also drew a crowd, as did Elijah Craig 18 year old and 23 year old, poured by Heaven Hill master distiller Denny Potter himself. And three generations of Russells—Jimmy, Eddie, and Bruce—showed off Wild Turkey's best pours.Numerous scotch tables offered a huge variety of styles and selections. Peatheads enjoyed the brand new Ardbeg An Oa, as well as Lagavulin 16 year old, Ledaig 18 year old, Bruichladdich Octomore, and a huge array of...

Savage wildfires have wreaked havoc on the Greater Los Angeles Area this year, prompting companies across all industries to leap into charitable action. Sazerac Co., which owns Buffalo Trace Distillery, is doing its part with a California wildlfire charity program, wherein 100% of proceeds will benefit two nonprofit organizations operating on the frontlines of the disaster: the Jose Andres-led World Central Kitchen, which provides fresh meals to first responders and families, and Another Round Another Rally, an educational resource for members of the hospitality industry that also supplies emergency assistance to industry personnel. As part of the program, Sazerac is offering three distinct prize packages, each featuring Buffalo Trace Distillery’s most sought-after whiskeys.
The first prize is available via silent auction, and for Pappy fans, it’s a big one—the first-ever single barrel of Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 year old bourbon...

It was a typical year for Michter’s in 2022, as the Kentucky-based whiskey maker sold all the stock that its distilling and maturation team deemed ready for bottling. This year, Michter’s will continue to invest in making more whiskey, by adding new barrel houses and running additional distillation to make its perennially allocated whiskeys more widely available. Michter’s has also re-upped on efforts to attract fans to its Fort Nelson Distillery on Louisville’s Whiskey Row as the steady flow of visitors to Kentucky has returned.
“We’re making very significant capital expenditures to grow our production,” says Michter’s president Joe Magliocco. “We’ve made a conscious decision that we want to do everything we can to keep the quality as high as possible.” Recently, Michter’s brought back its 10 year old bourbon, after a hiatus in 2022. The hard-to-find whiskey retails for around $185 and comes in at 47.2% ABV...

Want to buy a whole barrel of whiskey? Read about how to do it, and consult this guide. Bear in mind:Due to high demand, some barrel purchase programs have been placed on hold, or have long waiting lists. Begin by setting up a selection session with a participating retailer. Unsure if your favorite whisky retailer participates? Look for “private selection” picks in their bourbon aisle or contact the distilleries below to assist with finding a retailer in your area.Updated 3/30/2020Whiskey Distilleries and Brands with Single Barrel ProgramsThe whiskeys offered for private barrels change frequently. Check with the distillery for current selections.Barrell Craft Spirits—Available for bourbon and Canadian rye, as well as occasionally whiskey and rumFor more information, contact Nic Christiansen: nic@barrellbourbon.comCascade Hollow Distilling Co. (George Dickel)For more information, contact DickelBarrel@diageo.comCatoctin CreekFor more information, email info@catoctincreek.com or...

The Whisky Advocate Awards system has evolved over the years, just as the industry itself has undergone impressive changes and progress. We started giving out awards in 1994 and continue to so today. Many of the whiskies we once loved are no longer available, and some of people we've honored have since passed on, but we continue to celebrate their legacy.
Whisky Advocate's 17th Annual Awards (2010)
Best Buy Whiskey of the Year—Tie:Evan Williams and Very Old Barton 6 Year Old Bottled in Bond
Artisan Whisky of the Year: Kilchoman (Summer 2010 Release)
American Whiskey of the Year: Buffalo Trace Antique Collection
Canadian Whisky of the Year: Forty Creek Confederation Oak
Irish Whiskey of the Year: Redbreast 12 year old
World Whisky of the Year: Amrut Fusion
Scotch Whisky Blend of the Year: Compass Box “Flaming Heart”
Scotch Whisky Single Malt of the Year: Glenfarclas 40 year old
Industry Leader of the Year: Glencairn...

Many whisky lovers associate age with quality, though that’s not necessarily a correct line of thinking. Still, whiskies that bear age statements often have higher prices than their non-age statement brethren, and increasingly, those prices are rising. Lately there seem to be fewer and fewer products older than a decade that are still affordable for many drinkers. But if you know where to look—especially in the 12 year old range—you can still find some incredible, aged whisky for a great price.
Let’s start with where not to search, however. Well-aged Asian whiskey has exploded in popularity and is mostly hard to find at a reasonable cost these days. Likewise, many bourbon distillers are dropping age statements—which is why you’ll only find one example of a 12 year old bourbon on this list.
But Scotland, Ireland, and Canada all continue to offer an array of well-aged whiskies—mostly those that have long existed in the portfolios of...

A special bottling to celebrate a major distillery expansion in 2010. So nice to see this whisky bottled at cask strength and not chill-filtered. Silky smooth, velvety texture. Creamy sweet foundation of vanilla fudge and caramel-coated almond. Plenty of fruit, too (golden raisin, honeyed peach, ripe nectarine, hint of banana bread). Richly textured, good weight (but not cloying), and the flavors combine seamlessly. A celebratory whisky indeed

A clean and inviting nose featuring fresh hay, cooked corn, Peanut Chews, vanilla custard, and black pepper. Chewy and mouth-filling texture, with black cherry, peanuts in Coke, caramel, peanut-butter molasses cookies, and supple spices, ending with more cherry and mature oak flavors. Straightforward, uncomplicated, and satisfying: a good all-rounder

This U.S.-exclusive release was initially aged in first-fill American oak sherry casks before a period of finishing in cognac casks. Spicy red wine notes on the notably aromatic nose, with vanilla and light cinnamon. Good texture in the mouth, sweet, and very approachable, with tangerines, toffee, dates, sultanas, and milk chocolate. Liqueur chocolates in the smooth, lengthy finish. Not overly complex, but robust and extremely drinkable

Many whisky drinkers start their journey with inexpensive pours. For Matthew Rhys, that cheap bottle was a blended scotch called The Jacobite. But these days, the Welsh actor and star of hit shows like “The Americans” and HBO's “Perry Mason” has upgraded his bar cart.“There's a little bit of everything, because as soon as you get known as a whisky drinker, that's what people bring you,” he says, rattling off Macallan, Bushmills, Lagavulin, Penderyn, and Jameson, which “has a special place in my heart” as the first “decent” whiskey he was able to afford as a young struggling actor. “That's what I love about whisky,” he says. “There's infinite variety. You can bounce around.”But the whisky that turned Rhys into a devotee was from Islay: Lagavulin 16 year old. “Oh, that's what whisky is,” he says, recalling the moment that it went from mere alcohol to profound pleasure. “I liken it to Shakespeare in schools. You're brutalized by Shakespeare and you...

Halibut from the Isle of Gigha is an award-winning delicacy, increasingly found on the menus of the UK's best restaurants. The flat fish is smoked over oak chippings containing former whisky casks to produce smoked Gigha halibut. Recently, this delicious morsel won the Golden Fork Award for the Best Scottish Product of the Year.“It's a lovely, well-balanced flavor between the smoke and the fish,” says Amanda Anderson, the sales and marketing director for Gigha Halibut. “It's very flavorsome. Everybody says that it's not too smoky, not too salty; it's creamy, and you can still taste the fish, with its lovely, meaty texture.”The fish are given a dry cure and a cold smoke. “Kilchoman barrels are included in our chips,” she reveals. “We do think that makes a difference. People say that they can taste the oak barrels in the smoke.”Gigha, meaning God's island, lies off the west coast of Kintyre and is accessed by a ferry from Tayinloan on the road to Campbeltown. The island...

Master blender Dr. Craig Wilson had the privileged task of selecting the rare casks—the first and last of their kind—for this third release of Diageo's Prima & Ultima series. Acquiring one of the 317 full sets will set you back £36,500/$43,400, but for the first time, four of the individual bottles from the collection will be released for sale in the U.S. on their own. Based on the theme of “A Moment in Time,” the collection comprises eight whiskies with a combined maturation of nearly 300 years. It marks the series debut of Royal Lochnagar, and it's the first collection to feature both Brora and Port Ellen whiskies: That hasn't happened since the 2017 Diageo Special Releases. To mark this year's Platinum Jubilee, the Port Ellen was bottled from the last remaining cask filled in 1980, the year Queen Elizabeth II visited Port Ellen maltings on Islay.
The 2022 Prima & Ultima Series Reviewed
Prima & Ultima Port Ellen 41 year old 198096...

There is a lot to be said for Louisville as a base, even though the nearest distillery tour is Jim Beam, 30 miles away. Louisville is a real city, with lots of choices for lodging, eating, drinking, and other things to do. It has bourbon attractions like the Jim Beam Urban Stillhouse, Evan Williams Experience, Bulleit Bourbon Experience at Stitzel-Weller, and Brown-Forman Cooperage. The first three include small, working distilleries. The Jim Beam and Evan Williams attractions are downtown, the other two are not. More bourbon-related attractions are in the works.Of course, Louisville also features many excellent non-bourbon things to do, such as the Louisville Slugger Museum, The Muhammad Ali Center, Falls of the Ohio State Park, the Churchill Downs Museum, the newly-remodeled Speed Art Museum, and the Frazier History Museum. Visitors who want roller coasters in their theme park experience can visit Kentucky Kingdom, south of downtown near the airport. Punters can play the ponies at...

Frankfort is the state capital. It has many lodging and dining choices, most of them chains, many clustered at or near the intersection of U.S. 127 and I-64. Downtown Frankfort is small, with an interesting historic district. There are many government buildings. Visitor attractions include the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History, the Kentucky Military History Museum, and the Old State Capitol building.Bourbon balls, a classic Kentucky confection, were invented by the Rebecca Ruth Candy Company. Their tiny factory in downtown Frankfort gives a charming tour and has a killer gift shop.Most people consider Serafini the best fine dining restaurant downtown. It's mostly Italian, with a little Kentucky thrown in. Rick's White Light is a funky diner that's only open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Specialties include crawfish pie and po' boy sandwiches, including alligator when in season.The Buffalo Trace distillery is why you are in Frankfort, of...

As I walk into the liquor store, my eyes immediately focus on a shiny sign hanging above—“25% off”—then move away as soon as I see the word “vodka.” There's a stack of cheap beer, a discounted bin of wine, and promotions for tobacco goods. All the pricing, all the point-of-purchase material, and all the signage suggest this liquor store is about affordable goods for a frugal consumer. Sounds like a deal, right?Well, that may be the case if you desire Skinnygirl margarita mix or $5 gin. But when I walk down the small bourbon aisle, I see brands marked up. Every brand is just a few dollars more than I'm accustomed to paying. I travel to another store, with “discounted liquors” in the signage, and it's selling basic Elmer T. Lee for more than $200 and the limited editions for more than $300. This must be a Kentucky trend, I surmise, and look for national online liquor stores selling bourbon, only to find everyday products far above the manufacturer's suggested retail...

It was all going so well. Japanese whiskies winning prizes at every major competition, bartenders going crazy for them, consumers following suit, auction prices going stratospheric, Suntory buying Jim Beam. Everything spoke of an industry in robust health, ready to become a significant world force in volume and quality. Then the realization hit that the whiskies were on allocation, that Nikka was removing all age statements from its single malt range. What happened?To understand that, you need to go back in time. In order to sell, say, a 15 year old whisky, you have to have made the spirit 15 (or more) years ago. In order to sell increasing volumes of 15 year old whisky, you have to have anticipated that demand 15 or more years ago. The situation in Japan 15 and more years ago was very different from what it is today. Export had only just started, single malt was still a new concept, the once massive domestic market was flatlining (at best), and distilleries were essentially being...

If you're planning a bourbon trip, consider Cincinnati. The Queen City sits on the Ohio River across from Kentucky, is only an hour away from most distilleries, and has a strong whiskey scene of its own.Day OneOnce you've checked in and settled down, your 48 Hours must begin standing next to a bathtub with the words “Since 1861. Arnold's Bar & Grill.” The tub is symbolic of the restaurant's Prohibition-era owner, Hugo Arnold, who allegedly made bathtub gin and sold illegal liquor to thirsty customers. Built in the late 1830s, the building is a slice of Midwestern Americana and showcases an old bar that commands the city's first right of refusal on allocated bourbons. The eclectic menu gives you an inside glimpse of Cincinnati cuisine, with noodles in its chili and the local meat-and-grain sausage called “goetta.” From Arnold's, it's time to cross the bridge and buy bourbon history in a bottle. At Liquor City Uncorked are the most-coveted bourbons of all time: 16 year old...

Last year Bowmore brought us a Scottish/Japanese collaboration in the shape of its Mizunara Cask Finish expression, but now Adelphi Distillery Ltd. has gone a stage further, creating a true Scotch/Japanese fusion whisky. It is named the Glover in honor of Thomas Blake Glover, born in the Scottish east coast fishing port of Fraserburgh and often referred to as “The Scottish Samurai” due to his major role in the industrialization of Japan during the second half of the 19th century.Both 14 and 22 year old versions of the Glover are available, and Adelphi's managing director Alex Bruce says, “The 14 year old is a small batch release (no more than 1,500 bottles per batch) that we intend to bottle ongoing. It has been designed to appeal to whisky drinkers from around the world who enjoy the flavors of west coast scotch, with a little twist of Japanese fruit and freshness. It has a good level of peatiness, yet still shows off its Japanese heritage with more exotic fruits on the nose...

Crystal clear ice cubes melt a little more slowly than do cloudy ones, and great big ice cubes cause less dilution due to a lower surface area-to-volume ratio than multiple smaller cubes. But honestly, that's not a good enough reason to go through all the effort to make big clear chunks of ice at home. The choice is mostly an aesthetic one, but as important as choosing to drink out of a crystal tumbler rather than a Styrofoam cup: It makes the whisky look better, it feels better in your hand, and consequently it improves perception of its taste. A nice read-through quality clear cube lets the whisky shine, gives a pleasant weight to the glass, and also provides an excuse to buy yourself the fancy $50 Japanese Yamachu ice pick.Making clear ice is not as simple as boiling the water before freezing; we've all heard that tale before and the practice doesn't have much of an effect on ice clarity at all. In fact, testing the boiled water theory led me down a multi-month experimental...

This decade is shaping up to be the best period for new Scotch whisky distillery openings in 50 years or more. Behind each of these projects are people driven to make their vision a reality. Before they can distill a single drop, they have quite a lot on their to-do list: raise finances, seek planning permission, apply for a distiller's license, join the queue for new stills, source good quality barrels, oversee construction, and a lot more. I salute the whisky makers believing that, despite the obstacles, it will all work out in the end.The Lowland region is the area with greatest development. Eden Mill and Kingsbarns began distilling in 2014, and Annandale opened in 2015. InchDairnie distillery in Glenrothes, Fife will produce 1.5-2 million liters of pure alcohol per year, and began to distill at the end of 2015. Under new ownership, distilling will recommence at Bladnoch distillery in 2016 with Ian Macmillan as master distiller and blender. This year, construction will begin on the...

It happens to everyone: getting stuck in a rut. Even if you have a favorite whisky, there are times you'llget the itch to branch out. When that happens, consult this list.If you like Glenlivet 12 year old, then try Linkwood 14 year old.It's the apples that do it here. The Glenlivet has a fresh fruit salad, green apple, and pineapple element to it. Linkwood smells like an orchard in spring: apple and peach blossom, new grass. It also has a thicker, almost oily palate that helps the flavors roll around the mouth. If you like Macallan, then try Glenfarclas or GlenDronach.The most successful sherried whiskies are those whose distillate has heft and power. Macallan's oiliness demonstrates that, but so does the direct fire-derived power of Glenfarclas and ‘Dronach's robust earthy weight. Both are complex in their own right, revel in sherry casks, and create multifaceted, layered drams. Try them.If you like Balvenie DoubleWood, then try Craigellachie 13 year old.A few years ago I'd have...

The Emerald Isle 1865 that Tad Seestedt, distiller and founder of Ransom Spirits in Portland, Oregon produces is a straight American whiskey distilled from a mashbill containing oats. The idea was inspired by the long-lost manuals of a British excise agent who, in 1865, recorded mash recipes of distilleries he visited. The treasure, a spirit geek's fantasy, was unearthed by David Wondrich, legendary drinks historian (and Whisky Advocate contributor), who shared it with Seestedt, who then set to work tweaking percentages of the grains in the 100-plus-year-old recipe, aiming to get a sense of what traditional Irish whiskey tasted like.Seestedt, of course, isn't producing an “Irish whiskey,” he's essentially playing detective, investigating the recipes. The old records are a window into a past when oats, in various proportions, were an integral mashbill component and the Irish whiskey industry in general was a bit like the Wild West. That by-any-means-necessary approach to distilling...

Every whisky drinker starts out with a single bottle, but many of us quickly acquire more and more. Different whiskies suit different occasions, after all. If you're looking to cover all the basic bases, but aren't sure where to start, use this list as a guide.1.A Versatile Mixer:JamesonA quality drop suitable for long, cooling drinks on hazy summer afternoons, but sufficiently flavorsome for everyday consumption.2.The Quintessential Blend:Chivas Regal 18 year oldA fine luxury that exemplifies the exacting skills of the blender's discerning nose and palate.3.A Dependable Straight Bourbon:Evan Williams Single BarrelFor evenings when you crave sweetness, corn, oak, and complex spices as you marvel at the reddening skies.4.A My-Oh-My Rye:High West Rendezvous RyeAn arrestingly powerful hit of spice and cinnamon for sipping or mixing.5.A Dram with Universal Appeal:Highland Park 12 year oldA can't-go-wrong whisky guaranteed to put a keen smile on every face.6.The Power of the Pot...

Whiskey is any distilled spirit that is made from grain and aged in wood. There are many different whiskey styles, usually identified with their country of origin.In the United States the national spirit is bourbon, a type of whiskey that contains at least 51% corn and is aged in oak barrels that are both new and charred on the inside. ‘Charred' means ‘burnt.' ‘New' means the barrels cannot have been previously used—and they cannot be used again to make bourbon—but they aren't discarded. Most used bourbon barrels are sold to distilleries in Scotland, Ireland, and Canada. Most American-made brandy is aged in used bourbon barrels. So are some rums and tequilas.The specifications for rye whiskey are the same as for bourbon except rye, not corn, must be the predominant grain in the mash. The other difference is that while most bourbons are 70 to 80 percent corn, many ryes are ‘barely legal' at 51 percent rye. That means they contain a lot of corn too, which is good because it...

You might be wondering just who this guide to enjoying whisky is for. Is it for beginners? Absolutely, so you can learn how to approach new whiskies and to avoid bad habits that could lead to spending more than you need to or enjoying whisky less than you could. Is it for more experienced whisky drinkers who are looking to try new categories? Of course, because we can all use some guidance on what else we might like if we like Whisky X, Y, or Z; more whiskies to enjoy is a beautiful bonus in life.We wrote it for the young whisky drinker looking to build up their confidence with solid knowledge. It's most definitely for the newly-hired whisky representative, the bartender, the store clerk, the whisky bar chef, because we'd like you to have solid information to form your opinions and passions, and then pass that along to others. And yes, it's for you, the 20-year subscriber to Whisky Advocate as well, because no one knows everything. So read, enjoy, expand your knowledge!The...