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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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

With many of May’s auctions scheduled toward the end of the month, the first half saw a greater number of Japanese whiskies from Karuizawa and Hanyu break $20,000 than scotch, though scotch took the highest bids. Leading the pack was WVA Whisky Auctions with their sale of a bottle of Macallan The Red Collection 50 year old for $39,167 while Scotch Whisky Auctions sold a bottle of Macallan 1950 Exceptional Cask #13 2018 Release for $37,566. With Dalmore eyeing a place at the top of this month’s highest sales for The Dalmore The Luminary No. 2 49 year old at Sotheby’s on May 31st, it will be interesting to see the month’s final tally. Whisky Auctioneer had an impressive line-up in April (see below), but a bottle of Yamazaki 55 year old and a bottle of Macallan 1950 Tales of the Macallan Volume I failed to make their reserves—both have regularly featured in our monthly list of highest hammer prices. Even in the upcoming Sotheby’s auction, Dalmore will...

In“What's It Worth?”our resident auction expert examines the collectibility of a distillery, brand, or series. Here he examines the fortunes of Parker's Heritage Collection.Among the hotly anticipated limited-edition whiskeys released every fall is Parker's Heritage Collection from Heaven Hill Distillery. The series, which spans multiple styles, was launched in 2007 by master distiller Parker Beam, who passed away from ALS in 2017 at the age of 75. Many of these offerings feature among Whisky Advocate's highest-ever scores for American whiskeys. With over 14 releases to date,* the Parker's Heritage Collection has explored everything from well-aged bourbon, rye, malt, and wheat whiskeys, to single-cask releases, innovative cask finishes, and the flavor impact of heavily charred barrels.Given the diversity of age statements and whiskey styles the series encompasses, it's unsurprising that auction values do not run chronologically. While prospective buyers will find recent releases...

Last weekend, our sister publication Cigar Aficionado's Big Smoke event teamed up with WhiskyFest to stage "Big Smoke Meets WhiskyFest", a combined extravaganza at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida. It was a day filled with exquisite cigars, world-class whisky, and great company, with over two thousand cigar and whisky fans in attendance. Tonight, WhiskyFest will be held in Chicago, then hit New York on November 11 before wrapping in San Francisco on December 3.As for this week's new whiskies, Johnnie Walker offers a blend made with a sky-high percentage of rye in the mashbill, Jack Daniel's has a new expression from its single barrel series, and Angel's Envy celebrates the 10th anniversary of its annual cask-strength port-finished bourbon release.Johnnie Walker High RyeStyle: Blended whiskyOrigin: ScotlandAge: Not statedABV: 45%Price: $35Release: November 2021Availability: NationwideNeed to know:This whisky, which will be a core offering from Johnnie...

A great vacation doesn't have to be all about whisky, but a wee dram or artisanal cocktail along the way certainly enhances the experience. The best getaways for whisky lovers combine cozy lodging with fun activities, delicious food, warm hospitality, and of course an excellent selection of whiskies. Such great escapes can be found all over the country and around the world—you can squeeze in a bit of fun on a long weekend or fly across the Atlantic to sojourn in the British Isles. Whether you a choose trip focused on skiing, fishing, hiking, golfing, or just relaxation with cooking classes and spa treatments, fabulous whisky-fueled adventures await. We've chosen 10 of the best such getaway options.

Sea Island Resort has not one, but two separate hotels, including The Lodge (pictured), where the main bar serves several hundred Old Fashioned cocktails a day.
Sea Island
Sea Island, Georgia
For nearly a century, Sea Island Resort has been one of America's...

A great vacation doesn’t have to be all about whisky, but a wee dram or artisanal cocktail along the way certainly enhances the experience. The best getaways for whisky lovers combine cozy lodging with fun activities, delicious food, warm hospitality, and of course an excellent selection of whiskies. Such great escapes can be found all over the country and around the world—you can squeeze in a bit of fun on a long weekend or fly across the Atlantic to sojourn in the British Isles. Whether you a choose trip focused on skiing, fishing, hiking, golfing, or just relaxation with cooking classes and spa treatments, fabulous whisky-fueled adventures await. We’ve chosen 10 of the best such getaway options.

Sea Island Resort has not one, but two separate hotels, including The Lodge (pictured), where the main bar serves several hundred Old Fashioned cocktails a day.
Sea Island—Sea Island, Georgia
For nearly a century, Sea Island Resort has been one of...

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 week’s rolling announcement of our Top 20 Whiskies of the Year is completed today, with the unveiling of whiskies 11-20. As always, the drumroll began on Monday with Nos. 10, 9, and 8, followed by 7, 6, and 5 on Tuesday, and 4,3, and 2 on Wednesday. Yesterday came the big day, with the reveal of our Whisky of the Year,  and we finished up today with the rest of the list. With due congratulations and celebration for the winners, we will soon begin the quest for next year’s winners. It all starts here, on the pages of our Whisky Weekend new releases.
In keeping with the ways of the modern whisky world, this year’s Top 20 features a number of international collaborations, notably Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Voyage, whose rum barrel finish is a joint effort with Jamaica’s Appleton Estate. In this week's new rollouts, we have Puncher’s Chance whose latest, The Unified Belt, blends Irish whiskey and bourbon. Meanwhile...

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...

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...

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...

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...

There’s an old joke about real estate that the best time to buy a house is 20 years ago. That crack is probably even more relevant to today’s whisky market. Most of us have heard the war stories—about bottles of Old Rip Van Winkle, Port Ellen, and other now-precious whiskies that once sat on store shelves ignored for months and even years because no one was interested. But as for selection, there’s no time like the present. Over the past two decades, the whisky world has changed beyond all recognition, and that’s true of every style across the board.
In rye, the market is now comprised of countless labels, whereas 20 years ago there were only three distilleries making the stuff—Heaven Hill, Wild Turkey, and Beam. While bourbon has always been prominent, the proportion of change has been the same. Craft whiskeys barely existed two decades ago, and now there are 2,753 craft distilleries across the nation accounting for nearly 8% of total spirits...

The latest addition to Heaven Hill’s Heritage Collection is a 19 year old straight wheat whiskey, which uses the same mashbill recipe as the one for its Bernheim label. From out west, Utah’s  High West has a new single malt whiskey, comprised of 4 and 8 year old whisks entirely at the Utah distillery, though unfortunately, its distribution is in-state only. From Texas, Garrison Bros. has a single barrel version of its Balmorhea bourbon, and it also is limited, at just 1,000 bottles. Ardbeg is out with its annual Ardbeg Committee Exclusive, Ardbeg Eureka! which blends malt selected by 100 fans who were invited to the Islay distillery to taste five “extreme” Ardbeg samples.
Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 19 year old Kentucky Straight Wheat 
ABV: 50%
SRP: $300
Availability: Limited
This is the latest release in Heaven Hill’s Heritage Collection, a series of aged releases launched in 2022 that showcases some of...

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...

High West Distillery has built its reputation on blending, but it's making a complete 180 with its newest whiskey: High Country American single malt, debuting on Dec. 6. The Utah-based producer has long sourced whiskeys for labels like Rendezvous and Double rye, A Midwinter Night's Dram,Bourye, American Prairie bourbon, and the bourbon-rye-scotch mashup Campfire. And starting in 2018, it began blending its own house-made rye into some of these recipes. But until now, there has been very little whiskey from High West that was 100% house-made. (Some unaged whiskey and Valley Tan, an oat and wheat whiskey blend, are made at the distillery but sold only in Utah in small amounts.)A single malt, by definition, can come from only one distillery, and it can include only malted barley in its mashbill. But that doesn't mean it can't be blended together with different liquids with unique flavor profiles. “We've always shown that we can make the most complex, unique, interesting whiskey by...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

High West Distillery is making a major change to one of its core whiskeys, Double Rye. Previously a blend of 2 year old rye from Indiana's MGP Distillery and 16 year old rye from Kentucky's Barton 1792 Distillery, Double Rye will now include a portion of High West's own rye, made in Utah. The exact proportion of whiskeys isn't being disclosed, but master distiller Brendan Coyle says the house-made whiskey is a minority of the blend and ranges in age from 4 to 7 years old. “We have some fairly complex, intricate blending recipes; the High West component that is in the Double Rye recipe now is a blend in itself,” he explains, adding that the mashbill for all the house-made whiskey is 80% rye and 20% malted rye. The abv (46%), price ($35), and packaging for Double Rye will all remain the same. If there's an 18 at the beginning of the batch number on the label, that means the whiskey inside is the new recipe.The High West-made rye replaces the 16 year old Barton rye, which is in...

Auberge Resorts was born in the heart of Napa Valley wine country before growing into an international collection of more than 20 luxury properties, so it is only fitting that they return to their adult beverage roots. Their new Lodge at Blue Sky, outside Salt Lake City and Park City, Utah, where guests enjoy a variety of outdoor pursuits, summer and winter, has whiskey on its grounds. The sprawling 3,500-acre dude ranch-style property is home to both the new Auberge Lodge at Blue Sky and highly awarded whiskey maker High West.Worldwide, lodging and distillery combos run the gamut from rooms above the stills to small inns to historic Scottish cottages. Others might throw world-class skiing or equestrian pursuits into the mix. In every case, they make great vacation options for those who enjoy blending two of life's finest pleasures: travel and whisky.
The Auberge Lodge at Blue Sky in Utah sits on a 3,500-acre dude ranch-style property that's also home to High West Distillery...

Virag Saksena had already been brewing beer for a couple decades when, in 2011, he began dreaming up a plan to make American single malt that could stand up to the finest whiskies from Scotland and Japan. “In order to do that, the first step was to understand how the old masters made it,” Saksena says. He traveled to the source of the big peated malt whiskies he most adored, apprenticing at an Islay distillery before he and business partner Vishal Gauri—both engineers—opened 10th Street Distillery in an industrial part of San Jose, California in 2017. Using a pair of 500-gallon copper pot stills that are dwarfed by their lofty 6,500-square-foot space, they're making peated and unpeated malt whiskey that is rooted in European tradition, but with unmistakable California provenance.To make their peated whiskey, Saksena and Gauri use San Jose's alkaline, mineral-rich water for mashing and fermentation, combining it with custom-peated malt sourced from the Highlands of Scotland...

Oregon has played a key role in making whiskey since the dawn of America’s craft distilling movement—one of its major contributions being the birthplace of American malt with McCarthy’s Oregon single malt, which debuted in 1996. The city of Portland is best known for its craft breweries, lively food scene, and whimsical reputation for weirdness. But it’s also a whiskey city, with a distilling culture that dovetails nicely with Oregon’s wine and beer background. This culture stretches far beyond Portland, spilling across the rest of the state, too. Here’s a sampling of prominent distilleries that have helped put Oregon on the whiskey map.
PORTLAND DISTILLERIES
Westward Whiskey
FOUNDED 2004
westwardwhiskey.com
Westward Whiskey wasn’t the first to brew an ale and then distill it, but the Portland distiller has certainly perfected the craft. “We have a rich brewing history in the Northwest, and a lot of us at Westward...

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...

The holiday season is swiftly approaching, and with it, a slew of extra-special releases that would make interesting end-of-year gifts. For the car lover in your life, there is Bowmore's latest opus in partnership with luxury British automaker Aston Martin. Also out is a new edition from the Heaven's Door Bootleg series—the crème de la crème of the brand, which was created in partnership with Bob Dylan. Of great interest to us is the new release from Old Overholt, a 10 year old, cask strength rye priced at $100. That seems like quite a departure for this price-friendly label that has long been a favorite of rye lovers, though this release is in fact a throwback to Old Overholt ryes of the previous century. 
Elsewhere in new whisky, High West returns with a fresh edition of The Prisoner's Share, this one using no sourced whiskey, as it's 100% made at High West's Wanship...

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...

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...

Close your eyes and conjure up a trip to Switzerland. The imposing presence of the Swiss Alps looms in the distance. Maybe it’s wintertime and a fire is roaring beside you after a busy day on the slopes. Thick blankets of fresh snow drape the streets and the rooftops. Or perhaps it’s summer and grassy meadows are dotted with bright flowers as hikers take to the trails. A pot of fondue is on the table, and a glass of Swiss wine is in your hands. Wait a minute: How about a prized 25 year old single cask whisky in your glass, and a vintage Cuban cigar on the table? That sounds even better, doesn’t it?

While Switzerland is a premier destination for skiing and hiking, and the gorgeous Alpine views and lifestyle perks that come with it, and is noted for its cheese, chocolate, and fine dining, it’s also one of the world’s top destinations for whisky and cigar lovers. The country offers an unparalleled collection of bars and lounges, not to mention...

St. Patrick's Day is upon us, and while it's the biggest time of the year for Guinness Stout, Irish whiskey also gets plenty of play on the big day. Times have changed quite a bit for Irish whiskey, and we've written extensively about the Irish renaissance and the explosion of variety across the spectrum, from single pot still to single malt, finished whiskeys, and ultra-aged gems. If you're looking for a great Irish whiskey to enjoy, these selections all rated 90 points or higher and are priced at $100 or less. Erin go bragh!

Teeling Blackpitts 94 points, 46%, $75 
Orchard fruit, panna cotta, sweet floral notes, tangy marmalade, and peppery spice (No. 3 in the 2021 Top 20)

Kilbeggan Single Pot Still 93 points,43%, $45
Orange, apricot, cake, vanilla, and pot still spices (No. 8 in the 2020 Top 20)

Redbreast Pedro Ximénez Edition 93 points, 46%, $86
Raspberry, red currant, plum, cherry, black tea, and spice
...

Burns Night, the annual celebration that marks the birthday of Scotland’s national poet Robert Burns, is toasted every January 25th with suppers, songs, drams, and readings around the world. A few years ago, the University of Glasgow built a Burns Night interactive map that showed more than 2,500 Burns Night celebrations taking place globally, leaving out the countless number of private Burns Night parties and suppers. You can celebrate Burns Night like a true Scot, but the occasion calls for any type of gathering you wish. The only de rigueur item for the evening is whisky, which was an integral part of Burn’s everyday life and is mentioned frequently in his poems and songs, including Tam O’Shanter, John Barleycorn, and many more.

All of which begs the question: What scotch whiskies are best for Burns Night? While any scotch will do, it’s fun to toast the bard with whiskies of his old stomping grounds.
Burns was a child of Lowland Scotland, and...

There’s a lot to consider this week, with two familiar annual releases—Parker’s Heritage from Heaven Hill and Garrison Brothers Laguna Madre—as well as new entries from Macallan, New Riff, High West, A. Smith Bowman (that very underrated whiskey from Sazerac), and Blue Note, among others. Off the beaten path are Penelope's pre-mixed Old Fashioned in a 750-ml. bottle, and a new blackberry entry from Jack Daniel's—technically not a whiskey since it’s below 40% ABV.
Heaven Hill Parker’s Heritage Collection 11 year old Kentucky Straight Whiskey (2025 Edition)
ABV: 61.25%
SRP: $180
Availability: Limited
Now in its 19th year, Heaven Hill’s Parker’s Heritage Collection showcases the distillery’s innovative side, as a tribute to late master distiller emeritus Parker Beam’s legacy. The latest Parker’s Heritage whiskey is a blend of three distinct whiskeys: 15 year old Kentucky straight...

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...

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...

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

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...

It’s been called the Chicago and the New York of the South, but Atlanta doesn’t need such comparisons—it’s a dynamic, bustling city in its own right. It’s home to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the busiest in the world, which is fitting for a city that served as the Deep South’s major railway hub prior to and during the Civil War. Today, ridesharing or renting a car is your best bet for maximum freedom and flexibility in this sprawling city’s flourishing dining and drinks scene.

You’ll want to stay in or near the downtown or midtown areas. Hotel Clermont offers perhaps the most unique lodging experience in the city: This six-story building topped with a 65-foot radio tower was built in 1924 and was home to the rather disreputable Clermont Motor Lodge before being transformed in 2018 into the boutique hotel it is today. Enjoy dinner in its upscale French-American brasserie Tiny Lou’s, and specialty...

“Yellowstone” actor and country music singer Luke Grimes has teamed up with Utah-based High West Distillery to support its “Protect the West” campaign. The effort aims to help preserve the Western landscape of the U.S. by supporting local charities that focus on initiatives like land preservation, wildfire prevention, and climate resilience. To increase exposure, High West has launched an online sweepstakes with Grimes as the spokesperson.
The High West Protect the West sweepstakes runs through July 25, allowing consumers to enter via the brand’s Instagram by following @DrinkHighWest. Grimes is making a collaborative post with High West about the campaign, and social media followers are encouraged to comment on the post, sharing which Western United States locale they’d most like to help protect. Those who comment by July 25 will be entered into a random drawing, with a winner chosen in early August.
The prize is designed for whiskey lovers...

Fall is in full swing, and so are new whisky launches. In a burst of good news for Pappy fans, the 2022 Van Winkle lineup has been announced, and with it the word that more bottles than usual are available this year. Does that mean it'll be easier to get your hands on one ahead of the holiday season? Not necessarily, but here's to staying optimistic.The Van Winkle whiskeys aren't the only specialty releases making their debut this week. There are two new whiskies from Hibiki—a cherrywood-finished blend and a 30 year old whisky—both of which are highly limited. Knob Creek, meanwhile, has introduced a rarity of its own, an 18 year old bourbon that marks its oldest release to date, and High West has unveiled the 10th edition of A Midwinter Night's Dram, along with a distillery-exclusive special to commemorate the 10th anniversary. From Scotland, Glendronach has debuted Grandeur Batch 11—aged for 28 years—while Gordon & Macphail is offering three new...

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...

When the COVID-19 pandemic first began taking shape in the U.S., Whisky Advocate responded by looking for ways to come together from a distance—and so #TasteWithSpace was born. Since the first Friday New York City went into lockdown, our editors have hosted whisky distillers, blenders, bartenders, and other experts for conversation and tasting on Instagram Live every week.Early on, #TasteWithSpace focused on the issues surrounding the pandemic and repercussions for whisky makers, bars, and restaurants. The conversation has since expanded and now encompasses a range of issues important to whisky lovers. In June, after Uncle Nearest and Jack Daniel's debuted an education and mentorship program for Black whisky professionals, Uncle Nearest founder Fawn Weaver joined #TasteWithSpace to talk more about it. Nicole Austin, the distiller behind our 2019 Whisky of the Year, George Dickel 13 year old Bottled in Bond, came on to debut the whiskey's 2020 release, comparing and contrasting the...

Reminders of whisky are never far off in Scotland—swollen fresh rivers, pristine glens, rich peated earth, and the abundant rain that is destined to become tomorrow’s whisky. But so much of whisky’s culture in Scotland historically lay hidden, and was meant to be so. In earlier centuries, its distilleries were tucked away in remote corners of the Highlands and western isles, dodging the tax man. Even as scotch whisky grew to become big business, its prized malt distillers remained mostly unknown to the world at large.
Scotland’s malt whiskies were considered too rustic, too assertive, and too obscure for the world’s cosmopolitan drinkers in the 19th century—or so the thinking went. Blenders, often Scottish grocers who sold whisky in their shops, began mixing these malts with softer grain whiskies, giving rise to the blended scotch category. These palate-friendly blends, bearing names like Johnnie Walker, Dewar’s, Bell’s, and...

In case you missed it, the biggest news of the week is the announcement of Whisky of the Year, along with the reveal of the full Top 20 whiskies of 2018. Get on over to the list to read up on why these are the most exciting bottles of the year.Meanwhile, there are tons of new whiskies to look forward to, some of which are hitting shelves right now. First up, Basil Hayden's has released its first age-statement bourbon, a 10 year old. The whiskey will be for sale in limited amounts for $60, and will return in future holiday seasons.Compass Box has two new releases coming out: Juveniles is a blended malt made in partnership with a Paris wine bar and features a whimsical bell on the bottle. Nearly 15,000 bottles are available for $150 each. Compass Box Stranger & Stranger isn't technically a whisky—it includes a very small amount of grain spirit that doesn't meet the 3-year minimum aging requirement for scotch—but the company is betting few drinkers will mind. Around 4,000 bottles...

Bourbon must be made with a mashbill of at least 51% corn, and the remainder generally comes from some combination of rye, malted barley, and/or wheat, though some distillers who use oat, millet, amaranth, and other esoteric grains. This gives whiskey makers plenty of creative room when it comes to the mashbill, but the ones with a comparatively high share of rye in the mashbill tend to attract a devoted following.
Though there’s no set rule on what constitutes a high-rye bourbon, they typically contain anywhere from 20% to 35% rye, giving them that extra dose of spice, heat, and bite. Those seeking to look at rye in a different light—or who find bourbon too sweet—should consider a high-rye bourbon for their next dram; below, we’ve rounded up some recent favorites.
10 High Rye Bourbons
94  Peerless High Rye Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 55.3%,  $160
Percentage of rye in the mashbill: undisclosed, but it’s more than twice that...

The Volunteer State was once home to hundreds of distilleries, but since Prohibition, Tennessee whiskey has been dominated by just two names: Jack Daniel's and George Dickel. That's changing fast. The epicenter of the action is Nashville, which for years has been emerging as one of the nation's hottest tourism cities. More than ever Nashville lives up to its moniker of Music City, expanding beyond country music to include live performances in all genres, while its red-hot culinary scene is equally diverse, from Southern classics to award-winning gourmet chefs. There are several suddenly trendy neighborhoods, new museums, non-musical entertainment, and boutique hotels seemingly opening monthly. Adult beverages have been diversifying as well, with the opportunity to tour and taste your way through whiskey, beer, sake, and cider, all in one day.Nashville's many neighborhoods and their offbeat names often confuse visitors, but they are very small and close together, with downtown and most...

For the past decade, followers of the Kentucky-based Wild Turkey Distillery have been treated to the Master’s Keep collection, a series of high-end annual releases that often tread beyond the distillery’s usual profile. Master’s Keep was created in 2015 by Eddie Russell—son of legendary master distiller Jimmy Russell—who also created Russell’s Reserve in 2001, and has helmed the Master’s Keep project from the beginning. The series kicked off with an impressive 17 year old bourbon—even today, Eddie hails it as the “most unique whiskey we’ve ever released”—which was bottled at the fairly low cask strength of 86.8 proof. That whiskey hit shelves the same year that Eddie was promoted to master distiller, and many saw it as a passing of the torch, with Eddie coming into his own as a whiskey maker.
The first batch was intended as a one-off, but Wild Turkey then decided to turn Master’s Keep into an annual...

Fall is in full swing, and so are distilleries, with all manner of releases coming out practically by the minute. In a burst of good news for Pappy fans, the 2022 Van Winkle lineup has been announced, and along with it the revelation that more bottles than usual are available this year. Does that mean it'll be easier to get your hands on one ahead of the holiday season, be it for yourself or a loved one? Not necessarily, but here's to staying optimistic.As mentioned, the Van Winkle whiskeys are hardly the only specialty releases to debut this week. There are two new whiskies from Hibiki—a cherrywood-finished blend and a 30 year old whisky—both of which are very limited in nature. Knob Creek, meanwhile, has introduced a rarity of its own, an 18 year old bourbon that marks its oldest release to date. From Scotland, Glendronach has debuted Grandeur Batch 11—aged for 28 years—and there are three new ultra-limited, ultra-aged bottlings from the Gordon &...

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...

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...

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...

While Louisville welcomed Old Forester Distillery back to its original location this week, new whiskies from Kentucky, Scotland, and beyond are rolling out to store shelves.Macallan just can't stay still. After opening its stunning new distillery, unveiling a packaging revamp, and announcing its oldest-ever single malt, the company is releasing two new limited-edition whiskies: Macallan M Black follows up in the M series, making a dramatic entrance in a black crystal Lalique decanter and with a price—$6,995—to match. Meanwhile, Macallan Edition No. 4 will hit shelves next month at $100 a bottle, showcasing the concept of structure in whisky.Revival is the name of the game for three Kentucky straight bourbons this week—literally so, in the case of Wild Turkey Master's Keep Revival. The newest iteration of master distiller Eddie Russell's blending genius, Revival was inspired by Wild Turkey Sherry Signature, a sherry-finished bourbon created by Eddie's father, master distiller...

“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...

A bounty of new whiskies is on offer this week, with American whiskey weighing in heavily as usual. Blackened and Rabbit Hole have teamed up on a collaborative bourbon, while Russell’s Reserve offers its second single rickhouse release. Still Austin has a new bottled in bond high-rye bourbon, and Ross & Squibb is asking a cool $200 for its 15 year old limited edition Remus Gatsby Reserve. In scotch whisky, we all received great news with the return of Glenglassaugh. This distillery was acquired by Jack Daniel's owner Brown-Forman back in 2016, and that purchase also included Benriach and GlenDronach. While we've seen master blender Rachel Barrie turn her formidable talents to Benriach and GlenDronach, it's been a quiet time for Glenglassaugh. But now it's back and with a troika of new releases that should delight single malt scotch drinkers. Also from Scotland, Johnnie Walker Blue has a new collaborative effort...

The best high-proof whiskies offer a combination of balance, power, and amped-up flavor. Generally defined as being above 50% ABV but often going far higher than that, they make for great whisky sipping any time of year but are perhaps best suited for the winter months. Sipping over ice or with a bit of water—which coaxes out additional flavors—is the preferred tasting method for most people, though some brave souls enjoy them neat. We've assembled this list of high-powered sippers that will make great gifts for the holiday season, or you can enjoy them on your own. There's quite a bit of variety here, with American whiskeys leading the way, joined by a strong contingent of scotch, an Irish expression, and an Irish-American blend. The good news is that they're all priced at $100 or lower, with some coming far below that threshold.
13 High-Proof Whiskies Perfect For The Season
95 points - Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Special Release Coy...

Blending has been a key part of High West’s identity since its start in 2006, when founder David Perkins set his sights on producing a rye whiskey. To accomplish this, he reportedly spent $200,000 on aged rye barrels from MGP and Barton 1792 Distillery to be used for blending. The resulting blends catapulted High West to the pinnacle of the craft distilling world. 
High West rose to prominence using sourced whiskey and skilled, creative blending. Its home base in Park City, Utah had a small still, but it was far too small to service the growing company’s needs. In 2015, High West opened a full-fledged distillery at Blue Sky Ranch in Wanship, Utah. By 2018 it had made changes to its Double Rye recipe, replacing the 16 year old Barton component with its own distillate, which was much younger. And now, nearly two decades after its founding, High West has put its distillate in the spotlight with its first bonded rye. 
High West Bottled in Bond Rye was created...

For American whiskey lovers, there’s no place quite like Louisville, Kentucky. A true whiskey playground, it offers distilleries and tasting rooms galore along Whiskey Row, a historic 12-block stretch in the heart of the city that has been revived over recent years and has come to symbolize Louisville’s whiskey-led renaissance.
The area’s past is rooted in the 1840s, when distilleries, warehouses, distributors, and sales agents all operated right on Main Street until Prohibition fractured the area’s economy. By the mid-20th century all the distillers were gone, and the area was just a shell of its former self. In 2013, the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience opened its doors and sparked the revival of Whiskey Row. Today the area has exploded with whiskey makers, and is back bigger than it ever was in terms of brand representation. At last count, some 11 whiskey makers are in residence on Whiskey Row.
Modern-day Whiskey Row is more vibrant than ever, and it...

Bern’s Steak House in Tampa, Florida is so famous that travelers plan their entire trips around dining there. Boasting the largest wine list in the nation, Bern’s has been at the same location for more than 70 years, and while it has grown from one dining room to eight, Bern’s is known for how little it changes—the mirror from the former barber shop space where it expanded decades ago is still on the wall, and many of the uniformed staffers have been there for 30-plus years. It’s the kind of place where regulars order the same thing they’ve ordered their entire lives without opening the menu.
So, when Bern’s recently got a new bar, it was the biggest thing to hit Tampa since Tom Brady came to the Buccaneers and won the Super Bowl.
Given the focus on adult beverages—not just wine—there was always a bar, but in the summer of 2023, it closed for a total rebuild. When dinner service ended, staff quickly boxed up all the booze...

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...

There was a fraudster within the Scotch whisky community. We found him, and we've taken him out,” says Isabel Graham-Yooll with ice-cool composure. The director of Whisky.Auction in London was instrumental in exposing a forger's scheme to defraud whisky collectors of tens of thousands of dollars. The one thing collectors and auctioneers are left to wonder: is this just the tip of the iceberg?“He was the Rudy Kurniawan of whisky and spirits. As we've discovered since his arrest, this was a huge crime,” says Graham-Yooll. Kurniawan, an infamous wine counterfeiter, famously duped well-heeled collectors and highly regarded auction houses with his counterfeit Burgundy and Bordeaux until his arrest in 2012.While others revel in the presence of rare whisky, Graham-Yooll's job is to eye each bottle with suspicion. In her line of work, some degree of paranoia is an advantage; all the better to ferret out fake whiskies hiding among the genuine articles. With two decades in the spirits...

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...

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

On June 24, 1889, on Main Street in Telluride, Colorado, Butch Cassidy robbed his very first bank. Skiing had not come to town yet, but whiskey certainly had, and the famed outlaw was known to partake. The story goes that he holed up in the tiny nearby mining hamlet of Dunton Hot Springs, where he carved his name into the bar of the town’s saloon. Dunton became a ghost town, but was purchased in 1994 and the entire town and its Old West buildings were transformed into one of the nation’s most luxurious all-inclusive boutique resorts. Today the saloon is the resort’s main bar, and Dunton Hot Springs has a nice selection of scotch and bourbon, and guests can sit at the bar etched with Cassidy’s signature for a dram. The house label is George Dickel, an old case of which was discovered beneath the floor during renovation. The owner took this as a sign and now leaves a bottle out in the library for guests to enjoy at their leisure. That’s taking après...

August has started off with a bang, with plenty of new whiskies ripe for drinking. From Japan (and America) comes a new iteration of Legent from Beam Suntory, this one with a Yamazaki cask finish. Another intercontinental effort is Campfire from High West, that ingenious blend of rye, bourbon, and scotch whisky, whose annual release was announced this week. And pop icon Rod Stewart becomes the latest rocker to release a whisky—but if you're inclined to skip past it, note that it's made at Loch Lomond Distillery, so it definitely seems worth a look. Also from Scotland, Gordon & Macphail has released six new single malt bottlings, with vintage statements ranging from 1976–1997. There's a 1997 Imperial in there for $550—yes, that's the cheapest one—and things get very pricey from there.
On our side of the Atlantic, McCarthy's is back with its 6 year old expression, this one finished in Oloroso sherry casks. Barrell Craft Spirits...

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...

Brendan Coyle, who’s worked at High West Distillery in Park City, Utah since 2008, has left to focus full-time on Dendric Estate, a cidery that he co-founded with his wife Carly in Kamas, about 15 miles east of Park City. Coyle has juggled his duties at High West and those of his fledgling business since 2023, shifting from the master distiller role to become its spirits consultant. Now, Dendric (whose name refers to the branch-like “dendritic” tributaries that flow from the Uinta Mountains that flank the estate) will take total share of his time, just as it gears up to launch its first cider next month.
Dendric’s debut cider, Dry Cut—a reference to its bone-dry flavor profile—is six years in the making, the result of multiple R&D trials both in the orchards and on the production side. Coyle likens it more to a dry sparkling wine than a sweet cider, given that it’s made using traditional winemaking techniques, among them the...

Today's new releases are a limited bunch, kicking off with Bulleit 12 year old rye—a re-release of a 2019 whiskey that sees Bulleit pulling from older MGP barrels. The American contingent is also present with the next installment in Four Gate's Kelvin Collaboration series, a rye mash expression from Old Potrero, as well as a new collaborative whiskey from Quest's End. Over in Scotland, Ardbeg is gearing up for the annual Ardbeg Day with a special finished blend.
Bulleit 12 year old Rye
ABV: 46%
SRP: $55
Availability: Limited 
Bulleit 12 year old Rye isn’t brand new—the whiskey was first introduced in 2019, and discontinued shortly thereafter due to supply. This reprise features the same 95% rye, 5% malted barley mashbill (which is also the mashbill of Bulleit’s flagship rye), and like its predecessor, it too was distilled at MGP Distillery in Indiana. 
The whiskey is a minimum of 12 years old, but some of the...

Rye is a traditional grain in both American and Canadian whiskies, notable for adding spice-like complexity even when used in small quantities. Some whisky renditions using rye are legally defined, like American rye whiskey with its minimum 51% rye. Others, like high-rye bourbon, are more generally accepted styles. Whether you prefer just a faint hint of rye or the jolt of 100% rye whiskey, this spectrum of lively rye-laced whiskeys will get your palate racing.
Bourbon
While corn is always the primary ingredient in bourbon, rye is a traditional flavoring grain. Bourbons that don't include any rye often feature wheat instead.
10% rye—Evan Williams Black Straight Bourbon—84 points, $15
13% rye—Wild Turkey 81 Proof Bourbon—82 points, $21
18% rye—Woodford Reserve Straight Bourbon—89 points, $35
High-Rye Bourbon
Rye grain is a popular flavoring component in bourbon, which is made primarily from corn. Although not legally...

Bourbon lovers, set your DVRs: the 16th season of Bravo's flagship cooking competition show, Top Chef, is set in Kentucky, and it includes a trip to one of the state's most famous distilleries. Premiering Thursday, December 6, the new season will incorporate all that the Bluegrass State has to offer, including horse racing, college athletics, and, of course, bourbon—in particular, Maker's Mark.In the season's second episode, airing December 13, the cast visits Maker's Mark Distillery in Loretto and creates their own Private Select bourbon, a custom whiskey finished in barrels made using proprietary oak staves. Bottled at 54.9% ABV, the Top Chef Private Select was finished in a barrel made with three baked American Pure staves, which impart notes of brown sugar, vanilla, and caramel; three Maker's 46 French oak staves, which deliver dried fruit flavors; and four roasted French mocha staves, which are toasted at high heat in a convection oven, adding traces of char, maple, and cacao...

Seasoned bartenders make it look easy. Of course, they know how to add just a splash of amaro or a drop of saline to turn an average drink into one you can’t forget. But remember, they also have first-hand experience at Mac-Gyvering a broken cork out, using everyday kitchen utensils in place of bar tools you really shouldn’t waste your money on, and simply turning lemons into garnishes that double as works of art.
We polled 20 professional bartenders on their tips and tricks to identify the best intel for home bartenders. The next time a missing wax tab, complex cocktail recipe, or big party throws you into a panic, one (or more) of these are sure to help. After all, whisky and cocktails are meant to help relieve stress, not cause it. “Don’t be afraid to make mistakes and have fun,” counsels Bob Peters, beverage director of Built on Hospitality in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Cocktail Chemistry

Double The Pleasure
Make a split-base...

While rye whiskey doesn't have the same unique national identity that bourbon does, its identity is just as rooted in American history. First made in the northeastern U.S. in the colonial era, rye whiskey allowed farmers to turn excess grains into a shelf-stable, valuable trade good—that is, if they didn't drink it themselves. Rye was as popular as bourbon for decades, but largely fell out of favor post-Prohibition. With the arrival of the cocktail renaissance over the past two decades, a renewed interest in the spirit has blossomed, and distilleries both large and small have accommodated the demand with a flood of new ryes.Other countries, most notably Canada, make their own versions of rye, but these don't always use much (or sometimes any) rye grain. In America, rye whiskey must have a mashbill that is at least 51% rye, which makes for a spirit that is typically less sweet than bourbon, and a lot spicier. Rye is often enjoyable from a fairly young age—Kentucky Peerless's 2 year...

Just because dad never complains, we so often take advantage of him by not putting too much thought and effort into Father’s Day. Sure, he’ll say “thank you” to another sleeve of golf balls, of course he’ll be grateful for one more pair of dress socks, but he won’t truly be touched. This year, though, Pernod Ricard USA wants you to give your dad something that truly befits and echoes his years of devotion and nurturing. 
Well-aged whiskies, cognacs, and tequilas, like fatherhood, requires a lifetime of devotion and nurturing. Think about it. They need to be carefully added to aging vessels and maintained over the years. They need to be cultivated through nuanced aging methods, careful cask selection, and then exemplary blending. Do all that, and one day you might have such high-marque spirits as Aberlour 12 Year Scotch Whisky, Jefferson's Reserve, Redbreast 12-Year-Old, and Martell Blue Swift.

Aberlour 12 Year Scotch Whisky...

Exploring new whiskies is among the joys that we’re able to experience regularly as whisky lovers. But there’s something to be said for familiar favorites—those bottles that first sparked your passion for whisky, or have stayed faithfully in your home bar since the very first sip. For a look at these old reliables, check out this list, which highlights some of those still-great first loves.
Elsewhere, the dog days of summer are delivering a handful of new whiskies, including three different styles of Irish whiskey from Jameson and W.D. O'Connell. The Dalmore has added a new aged single malt within its Principal Collection, High West is re-introducing its Campfire blended whiskey, and Bruichladdich takes another deep dive into Islay terroir with its latest release of Islay Barley. Read on for full details.

The Dalmore 14 year old
Style: Single maltOrigin: Scotland (Highland)Age: 14 year oldABV: 43.8%Price: $90Release: September 2022Availability...

This year’s annual Birthday Bourbon release from Old Forester is a 12 year old whiskey at a robust 53.5% ABV, which will please fans hungry for more proof, as the last two years have seen it at a mere 48%. The 12 year old age statement will also be reassuring, as some recent releases have seen it slip to 11 years. This year’s expression again will be sold via national lottery—the ritual of lining up the distillery ended after 2021, as the crowds were becoming too big to handle. (Old Forester owner Brown-Forman also saw the lottery as a better way to keep tabs on the secondary market.) This year’s lottery will be held on September 2: register by August 21, and you’re in with a chance.
In scotch whisky, Talisker is out with the annual release of its 30 year old, while Royal Salute has expanded its  62 Gun Salute with the addition of two more expressions, making it a three-part collection. Back in America, Remus Repeal Reserve is...

To understand rye whiskey’s remarkable revival, one first needs to understand the modern renaissance of the cocktail—because both have followed the same curve. As America moved through the latter half of the 20th century, rye had become about as unfashionable as the top hat and cane. In the mists of childhood Christmases past, I can recall rye as a drink favored by my great-aunt Mary, who always requested it—rye being her shorthand for a Manhattan. The rye in the home liquor cabinet was Old Overholt, the workhorse of rye’s wilderness years. My dear old auntie certainly knew how to appreciate rye, but she was part of an aging, dwindling generation of devotees.
It was a bleak time for rye whiskey, and years would pass before its revival would show even a flicker of life. The first spark came in 1987, when bartender Dale DeGroff—nobody would have called him a mixologist back then—helped relaunch the Promenade Bar at the Rainbow Room, high atop...

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...

Let me take you to a land of volcanoes and glaciers, rugged coastlines and deep fjords, Viking legends and the aurora borealis. The Nordic region is admired for its contemporary interior design, inspiring architecture, and timber summer cabins tucked into forest clearings. Now, Nordic whisky can be included in that array. It's a vibrant time for distilleries from the Jutland Peninsula to the Arctic Circle and across to Iceland, the land of fire and ice. The spectrum of this region's whisky flavors is as diverse as the Nordic landscape itself. Over the past two decades, distillers throughout the region have built a culture of craftsmanship and innovation, turning this special place into one of the world's prime locations for making whisky.
Finland
Teerenpeli Distillery—Founded 2002Teerenpeli is located in Lahti, about 60 miles north of Helsinki, and operates a brewery, seven restaurants, and a downtown distillery with a new visitor center. The distillery draws water from...

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...

With winter here, there’s no better way to warm up than with some American single malt whisky. This newest category of American spirit, soon to be codified federally, typically offers a heavier mouthfeel and more robust flavor profile than, say, bourbon; it’s ideal for slow-sipping during the colder months. And there’s perhaps no better option than one produced in the land of après-ski, High West Distillery’s High Country American Single Malt.
Founded by David and Jane Perkins in 2006, High West originally produced their whisky at the world’s only ski-in gastro-distillery located right near Main Street in Old Town Park City, Utah. Today, High West makes its world-class bourbons and ryes at a stunning 30,000-square foot distillery high in the Wasatch Mountains of Wanship, Utah. By 2019, the location seemed ideal for creating a unique, Utah-inspired twist to the much-admired single malts of Scotland. High West’s Master Distiller...

When assembling your bar, don't neglect non-whisky spirits if not for your own enjoyment than for that of your guests. With more barrel-aged gins, tequilas, rums, cognacs, and wines to choose from, it's never been easier to branch out and add some diversity to your home setup. We explored the many ways that bourbon barrels are giving other spirits new dimensions and recommend a few bottles to seek out.Naturally, there's plenty of new whisky to target as well, with releases this week hailing from Scotland and the U.S. The Macallan adds a New York-inspired single malt to its Distil the World collection; Ross & Squibb Distillery unveils the latest Rossville Union Barrel Proof rye, now bearing an age statement; and Catoctin Creek has a high-proof rye of its own with Roundstone Rye Cask Strength finished in hickory syrup barrels. Read on for full details.The Macallan Distil Your World New YorkStyle: Single maltOrigin: Scotland (Speyside)Age: Not statedABV: 49.5%Price: $4,500/750 ml;...

In a world where people actively avoid high-fat foods, whisky lovers can make an exception: washing fat through whisky introduces a whole new universe of delicious flavors. So forget diet culture and embrace the fat, at least for your favorite drink. Through fat-washing—a technique that imparts flavors from meat, plant, and oil-based fats into spirits—rich and savory elements can be added to any style of whisky. Complementing the natural flavors gleaned from distillation and barrel aging, whisky can be made even tastier by the likes of bacon fat, butter, or plant-based oils like olive, coconut, or sesame.
There’s science involved in fat-washing, but anyone can do it with the right tools. It’s a process of extracting fat from one source and rinsing it through another, thereby adding the flavors from the fat to the end product without adding the fat solids. There are a lot of steps, but it’s not as difficult as it looks or sounds. And the result, while...

It's a big week for well-aged scotch. Macallan is releasing a 50 year old single malt that aged in a single Spanish oak sherry butt, while Dalmore has unveiled a 45 year old which includes whiskies finished in two vintage tawny port pipes. The Macallan 50 year old costs $35,000, and only 200 bottles are available (35 for the U.S.), while The Dalmore 45 year old rings up at $12,500 with 500 bottles for sale.Meanwhile, Glenlivet is reprising the same elements of mystery that surrounded its Alpha release a few years ago. The Glenlivet Code is a Speyside single malt whisky, and that's about all we know of it. Glenlivet wants drinkers to taste the whisky and determine for themselves what aromas and flavors they detect; then, at the end of the year, the distillery will reveal details about the whisky's maturation. While Alpha was very limited in quantity, Code is more widely available and will have a shelf price of $120.In American whiskey new releases, Michter's is rolling out its 2018...

In recent years, there’s been a flood of celebrity-backed spirits brands. Actor Matthew Lillard—best known for his roles as Stu Macher in “Scream” and Shaggy in “Scooby-Doo”—and screenwriter Justin Ware joined that party later in the year, jumping in with Quest’s End, a whiskey label that takes many cues from the fantasy genre and tabletop roleplaying games. The pair had help from Blue Run Spirits co-founder Tim Sparapani, who serves in an advisory role, and TX Whiskey alum Alé Ochoa, who was picked as master blender. 
The initial release, Paladin, was a 50% ABV blend of sourced bourbons that was released online in early October. The debut came with the promise of more expressions, and Quest’s End is making good on that pledge with its second release: Rogue. 
Quest’s End doesn’t disclose information about its whiskeys, but at a glance, Rogue is nearly identical to its predecessor Paladin. Both...

Peated whisky is most often associated with the Scottish island of Islay, where names like Laphroaig and Ardbeg have become synonymous with smoky drams. But Islay isn't the only place where peaty whisky is made. In fact, there is far more diversity within the peated category than you might imagine, and the possible food pairings for peaty whiskies are equally varied.“To me, nothing balances a peated whisky better than nice, buttery salmon,” explains Marc Therrien, executive chef at Keeneland, the legendary thoroughbred track—and culinary and event destination—in Lexington, Kentucky. “The whisky imparts a smoky, sharp, tannin type of flavor when sipped. This salmon dish is savory, sweet, astringent, pungent, sour, and salty all in one shot, and really complements those complex flavors.”Pour This, Pair That: Peated Whisky and Torched Seared King Salmon with Togarashi, Japanese Cucumber, and ShoyuPour: Peated whiskyTastes like: The process of drying malted barley using peat...

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...

For many whiskey lovers, there's nothing better than the taste of bourbon straight from the barrel: unfiltered and uncut, and as close to untouched as you can get at retail. While 80 proof (40% ABV) is the lowest legally allowed alcohol level for bourbon, and many releases are less than 100 proof, barrel-proof or cask-strength bourbon is typically in the range of 110 proof and higher. Some bottles, like certain bottlings of George T. Stagg, even soar above so-called hazmat levels—140 proof, which legally can't be brought on an airplane (even in your checked luggage).Many of the top barrel proof bourbons are highly acclaimed limited releases—meaning they can be tough to find and cost a pretty penny. But luckily, a few distilleries offer a widely-available taste of their full-strength products at a reasonable price.Yes, $75 may seem a tad high for an everyday whiskey, but remember, you're getting more bang for your buck. Few folks want to drink a barrel-proof bourbon as-is; the...

Wine cask finishing has long been part of the whisky maker's repertoire, and in recent years such expressions have become ever more plentiful. Three of our Top 20 Whiskies of 2022 were finished in wine casks: Tomintoul Cigar Malt Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish (No.-12), Blackened Rye The Lightning Double Cask Madeira and Rum Finished (No.-14), and Indri Trini The Three Wood (No.-17). Our most recent Buying Guide also featured a range of four age-stated Japanese single malts from Hakata, all sherry cask-finished and all scoring between 93 and 96. But while port, madeira, and sherry casks may live in the limelight, there’s one type of wine cask that’s more quietly been part of the scene for quite some time: tokaji (pronounced tow KAA jee).
Tokaji is an unfortified dessert wine from the Tokaji wine region in northeastern Hungary and part of Slovakia, a particularly hilly area near the Carpathian Mountains. The wine is made entirely from white grapes from one of six...

When we named David Perkins, founder of High West Distillery, our “Pioneer of the Year” for 2010, it was a controversial decision. Now, six years later and following the recent sale of the company to Constellation Brands for approximately $160 million, we expect there will still be some naysayers. Yes, High West, a craft distiller based in Utah, is a great American success story. However, their success is not the reason for our recognition, but just one more result of what whisky enthusiasts know to be true: High West delivers innovative and delicious whiskeys, expands the definition of what it is to be a distiller, and pioneered a successful new paradigm for craft distilling.High West is a distillery—two in fact, one in Park City and the other at Wanship, Utah's Blue Sky Ranch. High West master distiller Brendan Coyle produces whiskeys, including High West Silver Whiskey Western Oat and Valley Tan, an interpretation of historic 19th century Utah whiskey that first appeared in...

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...

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...

The Summer 2022 issue of the magazine hit newsstands on Tuesday, offering over 100 whisky reviews. We've compiled some of those reviews into two website lists: Summer 2022 Collectibles, and Summer 2022 Best Values. Look out for more such Summer 2022 Buying Guide lists in the weeks to come.
In the world of new whisky, there's plenty to look explore. From across the pond, Bushmills has debuted a collaboration with British television series "Peaky Blinders" ahead of its final season, while Benriach is releasing three single cask expressions—for the first time ever—in the U.S. From our own backyard, High West has unveiled its limited edition release of Rendezvous Rye, and Nevada's Frey Ranch also has a new rye, this one a  single barrel, cask strength expression. Read on for full details.

Bushmills Prohibition Recipe
Style: BlendedOrigin: IrelandAge: Not statedABV: 46%Price: $30Release: June 2022Availability: Limited; nationwide
Need to...

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...

Early July saw brisk sales across auction houses with a number of high-value sales. Our focus this week covers activity at three online auction houses, including Whisky-Online Auction’s sale of Brora 40 year old, which achieved the year’s highest hammer price for the Brora 40 year old to date. Elsewhere, Sotheby’s held a small online sale of iconic vintages of Macallan that produced the three highest hammer prices of the month so far: Macallan The Reach 81 year old ($222,606), Macallan Tales of the Macallan Volume 1 ($72,020), and Macallan Anniversary Malt 1928 50 year old ($65,472). Overall, it’s clear that the summer season hasn’t slowed the enthusiasm for collectible whisky.
 Whisky Auctioneer
Auction ended July 10th


Japanese: Karuizawa Noh Whisky 1971 41 year old Cask No. 1842, $51,347. We last saw this bottle in our list of highest hammer prices in April, when it sold at the same auction house for $61,786...

No dog days of summer this week, as whisky lovers are being treated to lots of exciting news. In American whiskey, Seattle's Westland Distillery,  whose co-founder Matt Hofmann moved on last year, continues its reset with the release of  two new expressions—one finished in beer casks and the other in wine casks. Knob Creek, always among the most traditional of whiskey makers, gets creative with a new blend of bourbon and rye, while Woodford Reserve has blended two malt whiskeys for the latest edition in its Distillery Series. Dixon Dedman, who made his name with the Kentucky Owl whiskeys back in 2014, continues to see his star rise with 2XO, whose latest release is a bourbon finished in French oak casks.
Not to be outdone, the scotch side has some very interesting news. Compass Box, whose celebrated founder John Glaser departed the company earlier this year, is ready for its next act with two entirely new labels...

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...

Finishing off a bottle of whisky can be bittersweet. It means you have to restock, but you also might reflect on the drams shared that got you there. Before you totally say goodbye and recycle the bottle, consider upcycling it so you can cherish those memories—or have the chance to show off a particularly enviable bottle—longer.You can put as much or as little effort as you want into repurposing old whisky bottles—there are projects for every skill level. Keep in mind that some require power tools and other equipment, so put safety first. Don't drink and DIY.Give an Old Bottle New Life With These DIY ProjectsTurn It Into a Carafe or VaseIf it holds whisky, it can hold any beverage—and more. Simply wash out the bottle and use it to hold water, iced tea, or anything you desire. Empty bottles also make a great flower vase. You may want to remove the label and paint or otherwise decorate the bottle, a method often deployed by restaurants.Make an Infinity BottleWhen you have just a...

Thanksgiving is next week, and with it comes a prime opportunity to share some drams with family and friends. While we’ve previously covered the best cocktails and crowd-pleasers to serve when hosting a Thanksgiving dinner, or how to best optimize particular whisky styles, this year we compiled a list of American whiskeys that are sure to please longtime whisky lovers and newer fans alike. Cheers to the start of the holiday season, and happy sipping! 
With the holidays now upon us, the onslaught of new whiskies is in full swing. This week, there's a new finished rye from Kentucky Peerless, a bourbon and a rum cask-finished rye from Kentucky Owl, and a new collaborative blend from High West and The Prisoner Wine Co. Read on for full details.

Kentucky Peerless Double Oak 
Style: Finished rye Origin: Kentucky Age: Not stated ABV: 54.65% Price: $150 Release: November 2022 Availability: Limited
Need to...

Tattersall Distilling is one of the more adventurous craft distilleries. The Minneapolis-based company produces barrel-aged gin, blackstrap rum, aquavit, amaro, absinthe, and, of course, whiskey. But even among dozens of products, a high-proof single malt with distinctive barbecue notes from the mesquite and apple-smoked malt along with dark-roasted chocolate malt stands apart. Tattersall Signature Series single malt whiskey is the result of an unlikely collaboration with local chef Justin Sutherland, most known for competing on Bravo's Top Chef. Sutherland thought it would be perfect to serve alongside the food at his meat-heavy restaurants like the pig-centric Handsome Hog and steakhouse Fire & Whiskey.
Chef Justin Sutherland collaborated with Tattersall to create a smoky single malt. (Illustration by Michael Witte)In fact, more distillers seem to be reaching outside their internal ranks for ideas, whether that means enlisting the opinions of chefs and bartenders, or...

Our Winter issue is always packed with high-scoring whiskies, as it's the time of year when we share our Top 20 list. We taste hundreds of new whiskies throughout the year, considering quality, affordability, accessibility, and x-factor. The result is a list with a wide range in style and price—a collection of exciting whiskies that boast high ABVs, inventive cask finishes, masterful blends, and so much more.
In addition to the Top 20, the Winter issue also features more than 130 whisky reviews. Scotch lovers will find standout releases from Compass Box, Octomore, and Royal Brackla, all scoring between 92 and 95 points. Fans of American whiskey have an 18 year old from Knob Creek and an armagnac-finished bourbon from Bardstown Bourbon Company to consider. World whisky has plenty to offer as well, with English distiller Cotswolds earning high marks, as do a pair of Japanese whiskies from Ichiro’s Malt and Kanosuke. As the year comes to a close, there is...

Hey Big Spender! Your convenience store may sell whisky, but not these whiskies. Big-ticket whiskies reside in glass cases in specialty spirits shops, priced more in line with luxury goods and fine art rather than everyday drinks. The most expensive whiskies available can span opulent new releases, auction bottles bought to resell, and unsold collectibles with prices that have risen commensurate with their scarcity. The retail prices bear little relation to the cost of production, and some would even say reality, but then you wouldn't expect to buy a 50 year old whisky based on the price of malted barley, sherry casks, and labor from five decades ago.So, if not raw materials, what makes these whiskies so expensive? For one, age comes at a premium, and scotch whisky is way out in front on this one due to a combination of history, technique, and a favorable climate. Macallan, Glenfarclas, Dalmore, and Gordon & MacPhail have all released whiskies 60 years and older. Due to...

Shrouded in the woods in an unincorporated town outside of Frankfort, Kentucky, a 19th-century distillery rumbles back to life. Abandoned in 1972, the workers walked out, leaving coffee mugs and office memos on their desks, not knowing when or if they might return. In the passing decades, the Old Taylor Distillery, with its “Sleeping Beauty” castle, was crumbling, cloaked in ivy, an unintended casualty of an unloved spirit.Now the sprawling compound stands resurrected as Castle & Key, a massive and mercurial passion project of former Kentucky lawyer Will Arvin and hedge funder Wesley Murry. The reborn distillery began producing bourbon and gin in November under the energetic oversight of Marianne Barnes, the first female master distiller in bourbon country since Prohibition. “Since the first time I laid eyes on the historic site that would become Castle & Key, I knew that it was important,” she says. “It is a lost bourbon icon, built by a man who was not shy to say...

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...

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...

We’ve entered a new year, and with it, a flurry of hotly anticipated distillery openings. Several distilleries are being built in Scotland, with a host of brand-new names joining the fray, and another re-opening after a decades-long closure. In the States, Kentucky bourbon remains a hotbed of investment opportunity. Beyond the Bluegrass State, a couple of craft brands that have made serious strides as non-distiller producers are taking the next step this year and opening their own distilleries. Read on for all the distilleries set to open, or have a groundbreaking, in 2024.
Scotland 
Openings
Port Ellen
Islay distillery Port Ellen shuttered in 1983 amid one of whisky’s great downturns. The whisky that remained in the warehouses gained a cult following in the decades after its closure and correspondingly high prices for the finite inventory of remaining bottles. Fast-forward to 2017, when Diageo announced an investment of $44 million to revive Port...

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...

What's the secret to a whiskey's success? For Brendan Coyle, master distiller at High West, it boils down to two core values: quality and transparency. “We strive for the utmost quality—distinctive and very balanced yet very, very complex whiskeys,” he said on Sept. 18 during Whisky Advocate's Instagram Live series, #TasteWithSpace. “We're very, very transparent and we're all about the quality of the drink coming forward,” whether the whiskeys in the blend were made by High West or sourced from another distillery.Blending was a big topic of conversation, as High West has made a name for itself first and foremost as a blender. (Check out this video of Coyle explaining his blending process for Double Rye!, the first whiskey to incorporate some of High West's own-make.) “Blending is really important to us for the reason that not all whiskeys and not all casks are created equal from year to year,” he said. “You can compare casks in the same lot, and they're not all equal...

John Glaser, a key figure in whisky’s modern transformation as the founder of Compass Box, has stepped down from his leadership role at the company. Glaser retains an ownership stake but will relinquish all day-to-day activities, effectively parting ways.
London-based investment group Caelum Capital took a majority stake in Compass Box in 2022, and since then tapped spirits industry veteran Maurice Doyle to serve as Compass Box CEO while Glaser continued in a guidance role. The company has also since made other regional appointments as it begins this new organizational chapter. The financial details of Caelum’s 2022 deal for Compass Box weren’t disclosed, but Caelum’s strategy calls for making equity investments between $50 million and $200 million.
In a 23-year run that featured highly rated whiskies and a remarkably creative approach to making blended scotch, Glaser’s signature accomplishment was to break the mindset...

These expressions, with their intense character and layered flavors, epitomize the essence of great whisky. Ideal for gifting, entertaining, or treating yourself, these highly rated bottles are poised to impress even the most discerning aficionados. Our 90+ club members show off a variety of finishes, from cognac casks to extra-charred American oak, to darkly fruited Malbec barrels. These expressions represent outstanding quality in every bottle because when it comes to excellence, 90 points marks the difference between “very good” and “outstanding” on Whisky Advocate’s 100-point scale. Because in this club, membership is earned.
Jameson Black Barrel, 91 pts
Sumptuously rich, toasted nuts, raisins, caramelized sugar, dark vanilla, fleshy fruits, peppery spice. | 40%
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Chivas Regal XV, 92 pts
Velvety smooth and layered, marmalade, almond, cinnamon buns, dark fruits, toffee, wood spice. | 40%
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The Timeless Whisky Collection sold for a combined hammer price of $1.59 million at Sotheby's, New York on September 23rd, against pre-sale estimates of $1.55-$2.15 million, leaving 1 in 5 bottles unsold. The Macallan Six Pillars collection and Lalique experience attracted the highest bid with a hammer price of $450,000, equivalent to paying $100/ml for these rare spirits. Across the sale, 90 lots, or 23% of sold lots, exceeded their high estimates, though none of these included the top 10 highest sales (see below). At $900, WhistlePig Rye 10 year old 100 proof was the best performing bottle relative to its estimate, attracting a hammer price 3.6 times more than the high estimate. The median hammer price of a winning lot was $1,100, but an unforeseen 22% of scotch lots, totaling 106 bottles, failed to sell—highly unusual for Sotheby's which has averaged 97% of lots sold in each whisky sale since 2019. At the Three Continents Collection Part V auction at Sotheby's, New York in...

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...

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...

While the tried and true whiskies might be a distillery’s bread and butter, experimental and celebratory releases offer a chance at exploration—not just for whisky fans, but for distillers, too. Look to Balcones' new single malt Cataleja, which is a toast to the Texas distiller's 15th anniversary, and testament to its non-stop creativity. It blends three batches of whiskey, which head distiller Jared Himstedt led through three separate maturation journeys. Similarly, over at Ardbeg there's always plenty of experimentation from whisky creator Dr. Bill Lumsden, whose latest Ardbeg Committee release delves deep into the effects of cask charring.
As for other new whiskies, Wild Turkey has debuted Generations, a collaborative effort between three generations of the Russell family: Jimmy, Eddie, and Bruce. In Maryland, Sagamore Spirit has cooked up two ryes, the latest iterations of its Penny's Proof and Bottled in Bond whiskeys. There's...

Bourbon leads this week with a swarm of “B's”, as Bernheim, Baker’s, and Bardstown all weigh in with new releases. Bernheim Barrel Proof, appropriately enough for this list, is offering Batch B, the second and final installment of 2024 for this expression. We’ve yet to taste Batch B, but Batch A has been one of our favorite whiskeys so far this year. There’s also a welcome return for Baker’s, the single barrel gem whose appearances are all too infrequent. Based on previous tastings, we’d recommend that you snag a bottle. Elsewhere, Bardstown’s new super-wheater is serious business—check out that 39% wheat share in the mashbill. In comparison to other wheaters, Larceny’s is a mere 20%, as is Old Fitzgerald, while Maker’s hovers at around 15%.
Cask-finished whiskeys also feature prominently this week, as Old Elk continues its finishing work with a cognac barrel-finished wheater. Virginia Distillery Co. has a new...

EDITOR'S NOTE: In our “What's It Worth?” series, Whisky Advocate auction expert Jonny McCormick examines the current collectibility of a distillery or brand. With the long-silenced Brora Distillery now reopened, wepause to examine the auction values achieved over the last year for Brora bottlings in the Diageo Special Releases program and beyond.When the discussion turns to Scotland's silent distilleries, most collectors think of Brora and Port Ellen, which both closed in 1983. Following Diageo's announcement that it would reopen both distilleries, Brora has now embarked on a new chapter with the filling of the first cask of new-make spirit in 38 years.Brora was built in 1819 at a cost of £750—a sum that wouldn't buy a single bottle on this list today. Between 2002 and 2017, Diageo released 16 annual bottlings of Brora from the distillery's original stock as part of its Special Releases program, followed by Brora 40 year old 1978 200th anniversary in 2019. The values for most...

As reported earlier this morning in our sister publication, Shanken News Daily, Kentucky bourbon maker Blue Run Spirits has been acquired by North American brewer Molson Coors. The Blue Run whiskey team, led by liquid advisor Jim Rutledge and whiskey director Shaylyn Gammon, will remain in place—as will the company’s founders, Mike Montgomery, Tim Sparapani, Jesse McKnight, and Andy Brown.
Founded in 2020, Blue Run has gotten off to a fast start, sparked initially by the name recognition of Rutledge, best known for his legendary role in revitalizing Four Roses. To date, the company has released 15 different whiskeys, with three more on the way this year. Its offerings have garnered consistently high scores from Whisky Advocate, nearly all in the 90-91 point range, the highest-rated being its 13 year old Kentucky straight bourbon, which scored 91 points in 2021. 
Blue Run’s two core expressions are Reflection 1 Kentucky straight bourbon and Kentucky...

Higher-proof whiskies began growing in popularity around 20 years ago, thanks to bartenders who loved their ability to stand up to competing flavors in a drink. But over the years, whisky fans increasingly gravitated toward drinking them neat, with the perception that more proof means more flavor. Recently, proof bombs have gained a cult following, primarily thanks to American whiskeys like Jack Daniel’s Coy Hill and others. Most of the whiskies on this list are fairly gentle compared to those, but all have robust levels of alcohol. At their worst, high-ABV whiskies simply hide behind their proof, attempting to ride the high-proof craze without offering much beyond that. But at their best, well-made high-proof whiskies offer loads of accentuated flavors and complexity to sip and enjoy.
95 points - Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Special Release Coy Hill Barrelhouse 8 Tennessee whiskey (2024), 67.35%, $80
Coy Hill is the highest...

Summer is getaway time, and if London is on your radar screen, check out our London travel guide. If Ireland is in the plan, consider a side trip to Northern Ireland, where Belfast is reviving its old reputation as a whiskey city and other parts of the north are in renaissance mode as well. Read all about it in our profile of the distilleries of Northern Ireland. Of course, if you're staying close to home, you'll have a chance to keep an eye on the latest new releases. This week marked the arrival of two new single malt scotches from Benromach, a new bonded bourbon has joined the Old Forester 117 Series,  Lux Row is offering a new four-grain bourbon, and new American Single Malts are out from Dogfish Head, Copperworks, and Old Line. Meanwhile, Lost Lantern is unveiling its Summer of Bourbon, a collection of eight bourbons from distilleries around the country. Read on for further details.
Old Forester...

With its endless cobblestone streets, finely manicured gardens, bright-colored antebellum houses, and historic churches, food and beverage have a lot of competition for the attention of visitors to Charleston, South Carolina. Fortunately, the city's chefs and bartenders are up to the challenge, combining local ingredients and history into mouthwatering dishes and drinks. “Charleston's vibrant food and beverage scene is rooted in its rich agricultural diversity. Visitors can explore flavors they may not encounter anywhere else in the world, and that is true not just for its many amazing restaurants, but its whiskey makers too,” says Scott Blackwell, High Wire Distilling Co.'s co-owner and distiller. With every destination either walkable or a short ride, it's easy to indulge in Charleston's flavors, hospitality, and local pride.Day OneAllow the aroma of butter and baked goods to lure you to Callie's Hot Little Biscuit, a cozy, popular grab-and-go eatery. Grab their small, fluffy...

When the weather warms up and more of life’s pleasures take place outside, even enthusiastic home bartenders know that it’s not always practical to mix up cocktails to go. But nowadays, there are high-quality ready-to-drink (RTD) options that you can take almost anywhere.
In 2019, entrepreneurs Neal Cohen and Yoni Reisman were taking stock of the drinks landscape. At the time, these two ardent cocktail lovers were regularly working major outdoor festival events, and they noticed there were plenty of vodka lemonades, but no prepared drinks for cocktail aficionados. “We had such a love of cocktails and felt the accessibility was so limited,” says Cohen, noting you either had to head to a bar or make them at home. So Tip Top Proper Cocktails was born to fill the void.
Canned Classic Cocktails
Tip Top focuses on classic cocktails—Old Fashioned, Manhattan, Whiskey Sour, Paper Plane, Penicillin, and Boulevardier—with recipes developed by...

Spring is here and with it comes our latest issue, which is now on the newsstands. The issue offers an in-depth insight into the world of single barrel whiskeys, a guide to making the most of the upcoming Derby Weekend in Louisville, over 100 whisky reviews, and more—pick up your copy today and dig in.
Elsewhere, Stranahan's has debuted a new après ski experience in Vail Valley that’s perfect for whisky-loving skiers, snowboarders, and mountain-goers. A collaboration between the distillery and The Westin Riverfront, the Stranahan’s Après Ski Lounge features four life-size, heated whiskey barrels made for dramming and dining. It runs until April 2, and you can make reservations here. 
New whisky this week comes from all over the U.S. and Scotland. Maker’s Mark has introduced the fifth and final installment of its Wood Finishing Series, Kentucky Peerless is making its high-rye bourbon a permanent fixture...

In Pour This, Pair That, Whisky Advocate asks professional chefs to share a recipe designed for a specific type of whisky. Learn why these food and whisky combinations work—and try them yourself at home!High-proof bourbon has seen its stock rise in recent years. As whiskey lovers search for ever more powerful expressions of their favorite distillers' visions, these robust, rich bottlings have come to exemplify the art of bourbon production. And alongside appropriately full-bodied dishes, all those layers of flavor and aroma packed into the high alcohol content really have a chance to shine.“The reason for fatty food with high proof bourbons and ryes is the same reason for wines with big tannins,” explains Clayton Rollison, chef and owner of Lucky Rooster in Hilton Head Island, SC. “We need something to stand up to the heat of the proof. High-proof bourbons have bolder flavor profiles as well, since they are not cut when they come out the barrel.” Alongside a dish like...

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...

Julie Macklowe knows business—thanks to her ventures in finance, fashion, and luxury skincare. She also knows whisky. Her New York City apartment, perched high above Fifth Avenue, has a private tasting room that offers sweeping views of Central Park—and a whisky library filled with rare bottles of Ardbeg, Springbank, Glenlivet, Laphroaig, Macallan, and many more. Some date back to the 1960s, others to the 1950s.
Macklowe’s collection fills one entire wall of the tasting room and continues behind hidden doors throughout. Open one wall panel, and you’ll find Hermes boxes surrounded by vintage Bowmore. That doesn’t include some opened bottles on an upper floor of this triplex apartment, or those stored at her Hamptons summer home. In total, Macklowe has over 2,000 whiskies in her collection. 
This passion for whisky ultimately led to the creation of a business venture: a whisky called The Macklowe American single malt. 

“I...

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...

Where It's From
Whisky is made on six of the seven continents (sorry, Antarctica fans). “World whisky” generally refers to whiskies produced outside of Scotland, Ireland, the United States, and Canada. Japanese whisky is often set apart as a distinct style—read more about it in Instant Expert: JapaneseWhisky.
What It's Made Of
World whiskies can be made of every grain imaginable, from malted barley, corn, and wheat to rice, triticale, buckwheat, and quinoa. Many world whiskies are single malts or blends of malt and grain whiskies.
How It's Made
All whiskies, no matter their origin, are distilled, usually in pot or column stills. To learn the basics of whisky-making, check out “How Whisky Is Made.”Some countries have regulations regarding whisky, though these are typically not as stringent as the laws of traditional whisky-making nations. In 2015, France codified protected geographical indications for whisky from two regions, Brittany...

Many drinkers are quick to inspect the back label of a whiskey bottle to determine the origin of the liquid inside—whether it was actually distilled by the people who sell it or if it was sourced from elsewhere.Often, the answer is both.That's the approach taken by Smooth Ambler Spirits and its aptly named Contradiction bourbon—a blend of straight bourbons combining about one-third house-distilled whiskey with the balance sourced from another distiller.While a popular approach now, this was once a novel idea, says national sales and marketing director John Foster, who has been with Smooth Ambler since 2009. “At first there were two camps,” he says. “You either made everything from scratch and everybody else was a poser, or you sourced everything and pretended you made it.” Sourcing was not part of Smooth Ambler's original plan.How Open Should Brands Be About Sourcing? Our Editors DebateSometimes however, serendipity leads to success. “Contradiction is our most popular...

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...

Johnnie Walker Princes Street, the new flagship home and visitor attraction of the world's best-selling whisky, opened September 6 in the heart of Edinburgh. The new high-design venue, built inside a former luxury department store, has eight levels and is staffed with 150 people. It's expected to attract over half a million visitors in its first year, as the centerpiece of Diageo's $250 million investment in scotch whisky tourism. Whisky Advocate gained a full-access tour ahead of opening day, and here is our report:The ToursJourney of Flavor - 1.5 hours for £25 (around $35)The main tour brings the story of Johnnie Walker to life, combining audio-visuals, 3D projection, and high definition LEDs, all with a soundtrack of movie theater-quality. Guests use a dedicated side entrance where a host will greet you, check you in for the tour, ascertain your flavor preferences with a quiz to personalize your experience, and hand you a wristband whose color comes into play later on. A...

In the past few years Bangkok has overtaken London to become the second most visited city on earth after Hong Kong, but even before that, Aqua, located in Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel, was its preferred watering hole. For more than two decades, locals, ex-pats, and visitors have escaped the city’s notorious traffic and tropical heat in this relaxing oasis within Bangkok’s most iconic hotel. Singapore has Raffles, Hong Kong has the Peninsula, and Bangkok has the Siam, the flagship of global luxury chain Anantara. It’s set in the middle of downtown, in the heart of the Ratchaprasong shopping and entertainment district, and immediately adjacent to BTS sky train Ratchadamri station, the best way to beat rush hour gridlock while exploring the city.
The hotel is also home to an indoor/outdoor garden area, enclosed on all four sides but open to the sky above, and it is here that Aqua sits, alongside a lush ornamental garden and pond filled with Koi fish. Entering is like...

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...

Kentucky is bourbon country, and Louisville is the capital. Home to distilleries and brand experiences from the likes of Jim Beam, Old Forester, and Evan Williams—all part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail—the birthplace of the Old Fashioned, and the setting for the most exciting two minutes in sports and a bonafide cocktail holiday, the Kentucky Derby. Whether it's a Mint Julep in your hand, a decadent Coffee & Donut cocktail from Whiskey Dry or simply a neat pour made down the block, Louisville is a bourbon drinker's paradise and one of the greatest whiskey cities in the world.
Getting Around
Uber or Lyft are your best bets. Taxis can be scarce and the municipal bus system, TARC, isn't conducive to a proper urban expedition. The major distillery visitor centers outside of town can require an hour's drive, so a car rental and non-drinking driver are necessary unless you utilize an organized tour company.
When to Go
Kentucky Derby Festival begins in April...

High-end British car makers adore a whisky tipple. In recent years, there’s been a surge in luxury automakers—Bentley, Aston Martin, Rolls-Royce, McLaren, and Morgan—partnering with top whisky distillers to introduce special limited-run offerings. The most recent entry? The Macallan Horizon, a stunning $50,000 single malt scotch crafted in conjunction with Bentley Motors.
The Macallan Horizon with Bentley Motors
Distillery Name: The Macallan
Age: Not stated
ABV: 46.6%
Cask: Six first-fill sherry-seasoned casks from The Macallan Estate
SRP: $50,000
Bottles Available: 700
For this collaboration, The Macallan’s master whisky maker Kirsteen Campbell ventured to Crewe, England, where Bentley makes its bespoke vehicles, to get a sense of the craftsmanship behind the machines. “I wanted to bring the essence of Bentley into a whisky,” Campbell tells us. “Seeing Bentley’s process was a wonderful sensory...

Scotland and Ireland have been heard from this week after a recent stream of new American whiskeys. In the west of Scotland, May is festival time for Campbeltown and Islay, which brings forth a slew of special releases, including Laphroaig Càirdeas, which we cover here.  Also from Scotland comes the very limited  Daftmill, the Lowlands farm distillery whose highly sought-after whiskies are notoriously difficult to find. From Ireland, Teeling is out with the third edition in its Wonders of Wood series—this one aged in Swedish oak—while Bushmills offers a 31 year old as the fourth edition in its Rare Cask series and The Whistler unveils a 21 year old madeira-finished single malt.
From the U.S., Barrell has a new batch, while Colorado distiller Laws has a trio of bottled in bond expressions. NBA superstar Steph Curry, who came out with his first whiskey, Gentleman's Cut, last year, last week...

The Collins is one of those classic cocktails that started out featuring one base spirit but has evolved to encompass a range of variations—including the popular and tasty Whiskey Collins.“Collins cocktails rank among the oldest cocktails of all time,” says Brent Rosen, president and CEO of the National Food and Beverage Foundation. In the mid-19th century, single-serve cocktails replaced communal punches as the drink du jour, he says. In turn, the Gin Punch created by London bartender John Collins in the 1830s—a mixture of gin, sugar, citrus, and water—was later dubbed the “Tom Collins”—as mixologists began using Old Tom gin (a sweeter style) as the base spirit.But gin wasn't the only base for this refreshing drink. Bartenders experimented with other spirits, including whiskey since at least the 1870s, according to Rosen. Today, Whiskey Collins recipes exist using bourbon, rye, Irish whiskey, and pretty much every other style as a base.“It's a great cocktail because...

Amid increased competition in its core contract distilling business, MGP Ingredients still saw its total sales increase 7% to $837 million during its fiscal 2023, with adjusted EBITDA rising 20% to $305 million. The company’s branded side and its contract production business both showed strong advances.
Starting in 2016, MGP began a strategic rethink that included a customized approach to its contract distilling business, and, importantly, the establishment of a division to build, acquire, and create its own branded products. Those have included George Remus bourbon, Eight & Sand blended bourbon, and Rossville Union rye. Last year MGP added to that group with the acquisition of Penelope Bourbon.
But the branded portfolio also includes the brands acquired when MGP bought Luxco back in 2021, adding such as Ezra Brooks, Rebel, Blood Oath, David Nicholson, Daviess County, and Yellowstone Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, as well as El Mayor, Exotico, Dos Primos...

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...

October delivered a top 20 hammer price list in excess of $2 million ($2,084,701 to be precise), with six bottles from the Distillers One of One Auction making this month’s list—including the highest three entries. In addition to setting a new auction record for Bowmore, brands including Old Pulteney, House of Hazelwood, and Kandoblanc made the list for the first time thanks to this sale. Gaining a place on the list was more competitive than ever in October, with all but a couple of entries selling for a hammer price of $40,000 or higher. The Bowmore STAC 1962 55 year old moved ahead as the highest hammer price paid for a bottle of whisky at auction this year, but will it remain on top as we head toward year-end? The appearance of a bottle of Macallan Valerio Adami 1926 60 year old at Sotheby’s in November will become the first million-dollar bottle of whisky to sell at auction in nearly three years, and if collectors flock to the Whisky...

Taken at face value, the words “cask strength” signify something extra: alcohol. But there's much more to these whiskies than just higher proof. Cask-strength single malt scotch, which has no additional water added before bottling, is indisputably more flavorful; the molecules that make up what our noses and palates detect as delicious aromas and flavors are bound to alcohol, not water. With more alcohol in a dram, there's more flavor potential.You don't have to love high proof to benefit from cask-strength whiskies. These whiskies put the power of enjoyment fully in the hands of the drinker. Rather than tasting whisky that has already been diluted to a standard 46%, 43%, or even 40% ABV, the imbiber is left to determine the ideal strength—a process that can be as simple as tasting neat, then adding a few drops of water at a time to taste. Or it can be as precise as measuring out whisky and water and trialing different combinations to methodically determine a particular whisky's...

Angel's Envy is the the distllery that launched the finished bourbon phenomenon back in 2011, and now it's gone a different route with its first-ever release of a non-finished bourbon.  And speaking of different routes, Isle of Arran-based Lagg DIstillery launched in 2019 as the peated sibling of the more famous Isle of Arran distillery, Lochranza; now its whiskies are finally reaching U.S. shores, with two expressions hitting the market. Elsewhere, Widow Jane has a new release that features its heirloom corn Baby Jane, while Laws has launched a new collection called the Headwaters Series, and Lost Lantern is back with the second edition of its Summer of Bourbon Series.
Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Bottled in Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon 
ABV: 50%
SRP: $55/375 ml
Availability: Distillery exclusive; 12,000 bottles 
From the jump, Angel’s Envy has emphasized cask finishes, with its core bourbon finished in port casks for up to 6...

So many new releases this week! We decided that we can’t possibly fit them all without creating a post that resembles a whisky encyclopedia, so today’s Whisky Weekend will feature only the  latest American whiskey offerings. On Monday, we’ll post a second run of new releases, and those will feature Scotland, Ireland, and other places beyond our shores.
Here at home, multiple bottle releases seem to be the thing these days. We posted Lost Lantern’s Summer of Bourbon range a few weeks back, a lineup of eight whiskeys in all, and this week we feature Tennessee’s Old Dominick Distillery, which offers six new expressions. Elsewhere, there’s a new bonded Jack Daniel’s in town, and this time it’s a rye. Meanwhile, the explosion in cask-finished bourbons continues, with Barrel’s new rum cask and amburana finished whiskeys, as well as a new stout-cask finished expression from...

Summer provides the perfect opportunity to travel, and even if you're not planning a trip, the top whiskies in Whisky Advocate's latest Buying Guide will transport drinkers to continents far and wide. Both single malt and blended scotches earned high marks, with Bowmore, GlenDronach, Aberlour and Compass Box highlighting the best of the nation's distilling prowess. Meanwhile, Teeling and Jameson represent Ireland's top single malt and blended whiskeys as well.Those looking for a more distant experience can check out the Kavalan Vinho Barrique, which hails from Taiwan and scored 92 points. And of course, there is plenty to enjoy while staying stateside as well, with Kentucky reigning supreme. Batch 1 of Kentucky Owl's 11 year old rye lands at the top spot with 95 points, while the latest batch of Booker's falls in line with the high quality bourbon lovers have come to expect. Take a trip through the Buying Guide Top 10 below—and check out over 110 more reviews in the Summer 2018...

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...

Update 4/21/25: Gregg Snyder, former Chicken Cock master distiller, has left that post to join veteran-owned, Bardstown-based Four Branches Bourbon in an advisory role.
When the modern whiskey era and the dawn of craft distilling arrived in the early 2000s, most fledgling craft players “sourced” whiskeys— buying aged distillate from other, larger suppliers— while waiting for their juice to mature. Utah-based High West famously sourced aged rye whiskeys from MGP, using those as the cornerstone of some great whiskeys while its distillery was being built. Others, like Woodinville Whiskey in Washington, chose never to source whiskey, waiting years for its own distillate to mature. Still others, like Smooth Ambler of West Virginia, chose a middle path, blending sourced whiskey with its own make.
Then another business model came upon the American whiskey scene—the producer that’s solely a blender and bottler, with no plans to build a distillery...

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...

This story was originally published in December 2019; offerings and opening times may be different due to COVID-related restrictions, so check in advance of a visit.Utah isn't typically at the top of the list for cutting-edge cocktails, but High West's Park City Saloon could change that. The venue leans into the restraints imposed by the state's unusual liquor laws (like capping the base spirit of a cocktail at 1½ ounces) through its bar lab mentorship program, which encourages staff to concoct original creations to make up the menu. All drinks are whiskey-based, pairing well with the saloon's menu of filling fare, much of it whiskey-laced.
Whiskey CiderIt's easy to narrow in on a cocktail to suit your palate, as the menu is organized into four sections: Light & Long, Refreshing & Rich, Stirred & Strong, and Short & Sour (switching to Hot & Decadent in the winter). While offerings vary depending on the season, a recent lineup featured drinks like the Parleys...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Crank the thermostat down a notch or two as the whiskies reviewed in the Winter 2017 issue are sure to keep you warm and cozy. Hitting newsstands on December 5th, the issue's buying guide features a number of whiskies that soar well above the 90-point threshold. (The Winter issue also highlights the full Top 20 whiskies of 2017.) Special releases from Four Roses, Diageo, and Buffalo Trace, along with award-winning Ardbeg and Glenmorangie, single cask Irish whiskey, and a rare Amrut, all register as excellent end of year gift choices—particularly for yourself.Four Roses 2017 Limited Edition Small BatchStraight bourbon93 Points, 53.95%, $130This is an ode to this bourbon's old-school style that, post-caramel and cinnamon, is balanced with dried blueberries, sweet cornbread, nutmeg, saffron, citrus, and slight hints of chipotle, ginger, and clove. Under the beautiful spice come vanilla cake batter, almond butter, and salt water taffy that walk it to a finish that just doesn't quit...

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...

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

In "What's It Worth?" our resident auction expert examines the collectibility of a distillery, brand, or series. Here he breaks down the value of Ardbeg's popular Committee Releases.Just three years after reopening, on Jan. 1, 2000, Ardbeg Distillery launched the Ardbeg Committee, a fan club that's free to join and offers members access to special releases and other privileges. The goal was to build up a loyal following and ensure the Islay distillery never fell silent again; during the 1980s and 1990s, production had been spotty, with long periods of disuse at the distillery culminating in closure in 1996.One large perk of joining the Ardbeg Committee is access to its exclusive bottlings, many of which have become collector's items—though plenty are opened and enjoyed. The earliest releases were available by mail order and took time to sell out, but as Ardbeg's fan base grew, release days were marked by chaotic online scrambles to acquire a bottle—even though quantities are now...

Season 5 of multi-Emmy award-winning drama “The Crown” returns to Netflix today, November 9th, picking up screenwriter Peter Morgan’s fictionalized account of events from 1991 onward based on the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Here are Whisky Advocate‘s five recommended royal whiskies to pour as you watch—as well as five collectibles available at auction for a king’s ransom (palace not included) if you’re so inclined. All 10 of these gems were chosen for their royal connections, their status as royal warrant holders, or because they commemorate significant royal events. So pour yourself a regal dram and enjoy the show.
FIVE ROYAL WHISKIES TO DRINK NOW

Dewar’s 25 year old—93 points, 40%, $225 Rich maltiness, flapjacks, whole almond, smooth caramel, chocolate orange, and cappuccino
Finished in Royal Brackla casks, this blended scotch is double-aged for a minimum of 25 years. Royal Brackla was the first single...

A rare bottle of Japanese whisky sold for a record price in what’s been a busy August so far. Whisky Auctioneer achieved a record-winning bid of $38,304 for a bottle of Hanyu Ichiro’s Malt Card Series Two of Hearts Cask No. 482. The Scottish auction house has handled four sales of this expression in the past four years, starting with a bottle selling for $9,607 in October 2019, just a quarter of the current price. Whisky Auctioneer sold 16 bottles from the Malt Card series this month, fetching a combined value of $162,216. Elsewhere, Scotch Whisky Auctions set a new auction record for Macallan The Red Collection 60 year old, gathering a bid of more than a quarter of a million dollars. It’s also the highest hammer price ever recorded for a single bottle of whisky at Scotch Whisky Auctions, which entered the online auction market in 2011. Read on for more details in our mid-month report.
Whisky.Auction
Auction ended August 1st



Scotch...

The House of Suntory has unveiled the four Japanese single malt expressions in the 2024 Tsukuriwake Series, which aims to showcase its adventurous sense of creativity. The series lets Suntory chief blender Shinji Fukuyo demonstrate how blending can illustrate the intricacy of Japanese whisky making by spanning a variety of elements in barley strains, peating levels, and different cask types.
The Tsukuriwake Series (pronounced soo-koo-ree-wah-keh) debuted two years ago, and the word translates as “artisanship through the diversity of making.” The company marked its 100th anniversary in 2023 with special centenary releases, so there was not a Tsukuriwake Series release last year. The 2024 Tsukuriwake Series is driven by the core values of wa, which takes inspiration through harmony with Japanese nature, monozukuri, which means to be elevated by Japanese craftsmanship, and omotenashi, which is about the enjoyment of an authentic Japanese cultural...

Collecting from a new distillery is an act of faith, and Daftmill appears to be one where that faith is rewarded. This farm distillery makes small quantities of scotch as it was made two centuries ago—an uncommonly traditional approach that strikes a chord with whisky enthusiasts. Brothers Francis and Ian Cuthbert built Daftmill Distillery on their farm in the Lowlands county of Fife in 2005 and started making whisky during the quieter spells in the agricultural year, in summer and winter. They installed a copper-topped semi-lauter tun, two stainless steel washbacks, and a pair of modest-sized copper pot stills. They source no malt from external suppliers, instead relying only on what’s harvested from their own land.
There was a flurry of excitement from collectors when Daftmill started production, as few new distilleries were opening in Scotland at the time. In fact, it was Fife’s first new distillery in over 100 years. But the Cuthberts stayed quiet but...

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...

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...

Few things are more enjoyable than sipping a great whisky in the company of a good friend. But complications arise when your drinking companion has four legs and kibble breath. Fortunately, we've uncovered a handful of bars that cater to whisky lovers and their canine counterparts. With impressive whisky lists and perks for your pooch, these dog-friendly destinations are great places to enjoy a whisky with a side of water—served neat, in a bowl.Taurus Beer & Whisk(e)y House—MiamiThis rollicking locals' bar is both dog and kid-friendly. No food is prepared here, so dogs are permitted throughout the bar, although in fair weather most guests opt for the outdoor patio area. In addition to comedy night, trivia contests, and live music, Taurus offers a serious whisky list numbering around 140 selections. The whisky-laden cocktail menu includes classics, like a Four Roses Boulevardier, and originals, like Breakfast at Taurus: bacon-infused rye whiskey and Licor 43.For you: Whisk(e)y...

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...

The first WhiskyFest of the fall took place over the weekend in Hollywood, Florida at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The evening’s festivities kicked off at 5:30 p.m. with a VIP hour, during which VIP ticket holders were treated to a variety of rarefied drams. Among the exclusive whiskies being poured were such international labels as Lagavulin Distillers Edition, Loch Lomond 24 year old Royal Troon Edition, Johnnie Walker Blue, Redbreast 18 year old, Crown Royal 18 year old, and Fuji 50th Anniversary Edition Single Malt, as well as a selection of American whiskeys, including Jefferson’s Reserve bourbon, Sagamore Spirit 9 year old rye, and Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 18 year old bourbon.
Manning the booth at Heaven Hill was its artisanal distiller Jodie Filiatreau, who said the Heritage Collection was wildly popular. “The 18 was a big hit,” he said. Of course, there was plenty more to enjoy from Heaven Hill, for both VIP guests and general...

Imagine a job where you get access to the world's most coveted whiskies—tasting and then setting a value on them. That job—spirits specialist—belongs to Jonny Fowle of Sotheby's auctioneers. And he didn't get it just because he loves drinking whisky.“You've got to have personality and specialist knowledge of the subject,” explains Fowle. “When it comes to spirits, you have to be able to increase awareness, entertain, and ultimately inspire people [to buy].” Fowle's working days are filled with client meetings, appraisals, and tasting events designed to stoke excitement for upcoming sales. Operating within the upper echelons of the world's top whisky creators and collectors, Fowle's job grants him access to blending labs and libraries of rare stocks—plus the opportunity to taste extraordinary drams that most whisky lovers can only dream about. Through his tasting events for Sotheby's, Fowle knows the persuasive power of a glass of fine whisky on prospective buyers...

By some estimates, up to 70% of a whisky's flavor comes from the barrel in which it's aged, and hence, much attention is paid to the most minuscule details of the barrel, from the provenance of the wood to the depth of the char to what liquid it formerly held. But what's often ignored is how the barrels are stored, a variable that can have profound effects on the whisky's final flavor. There are three main types of barrel storage: rickhouses, palletized warehouses, and dunnage warehouses. Each has its benefits and drawbacks; the same whisky aged in different environments can turn out tasting quite different by the end. And that can actually be advantageous.
Rickhouse Versus Palletized
A rackhouse, or rickhouse, has barrels that are stored horizontally on racks, which allows enough room for the air to circulate around the sides and ends.
Larger American whiskey distilleries generally store their barrels in racked warehouses (known as rickhouses or rackhouses) or palletized...

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...

Chef Tyler Akin has been a force on the American culinary scene for well over a decade. He won over fans in Philadelphia for his work at both Stock and Res Ipsa, and now, as chef-partner at Le Cavalier in the historic Hotel DuPont in Wilmington, Delaware, he is reinterpreting the classics of French cooking for a new generation. This menu, he explains, “Explores French cuisine from south to north while looking across the pond to Scotland for some fresh takes on classic cocktails.”
While French food and scotch might not be classic pairing partners, the flavors and textures embodied by both result in a seamless synergy. “Most rules are meant to be broken, and that is certainly the case with the old one that French food can only be eaten with French wine,” Akin adds. “Beverage pairings are meant to make you think! In my mind, this menu immediately transports me to thoughts about how the Scottish Enlightenment thinkers accompany the French philosophers...

Joseph Magliocco’s earliest link to Michter’s came in the late 1970s, when he took his very first sales job at his family’s wine and spirits business. Michter’s, then a Pennsylvania brand with roots stretching back to 1753, had released mini gold-plated King Tut decanters of its pot still sour mash whiskey—at the time, much of the country was captivated by the “Treasures of Tutankhamen” traveling exhibit, which drew huge crowds. The decanters didn’t have the same sort of pull; in fact, they were such flops that Magliocco was tasked with getting them out of the company’s warehouses by any means necessary. As he worked to clear out the Michter’s decanters, however, he also developed an affinity for and deep understanding of the brand.
Fast forward to 1995, when Magliocco was at the helm of a new family business, Chatham Imports, and was looking for a brand to jumpstart the budding company’s revenue stream...

Japanese whisky’s reputation has come a long way over the arc of 25 years. Once an unglamorous local tipple, today it’s a globally revered spirit—with supply straining to meet demand. Along this path to glory, Japanese whisky has inspired some of the world’s great cocktail bars, created liquid magic with its use of mizunara oak, and achieved mastery in the art of blending. On the global auction market, Japan has produced some of the most coveted collectibles ever released. In short, the allure is undeniable.
Despite centuries-old traditions in sake and shochu, Japan’s history of whisky distilling is not a lengthy one. The country’s two most famous malt whisky distilleries are Yamazaki (owned by Suntory), which opened in 1923, and Yoichi (owned by Nikka), which began distilling in 1936. The seminal figure for whisky in Japan was Masataka Taketsuru, a scion of a sake brewing family who journeyed to Scotland from 1918-20 to study whisky making and...

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...

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...

The noise sounds like a distant echo when you're standing outside the nondescript building on an otherwise silent street, minutes from downtown Louisville. But the instant you open the shop door to the Vendome Copper & Brass Works, an industrial orchestra—clatter, clank, hiss, bang!—drowns out any attempt at conversation. That can be a nuisance when Mike Sherman, one of Vendome's fourth-generation owners and its vice president, is showing you around and explaining the intricate technicalities of welding, soldering, plasma-cutting, and precision turning.There are probably a dozen projects underway in the vast shop on this particular morning. There's distillery equipment in various stages of being: hulking columns with gaping holes where sight ports will go, lying sideways like Doric columns of an ancient Greek building felled by an earthquake; a fermenting tank flush against the floor, its legs just a pile of copper poles beside it; shiny stacks of perforated trays. Men are...

While only a single bottle of the special 50 year old Chivas Regal commemorating Manchester United's 1968 European Cup win will be available for purchase, there are many other whiskies with much greater availability to look forward to this week.First up, High West is rolling out the 2018 batch of A Midwinter Night's Dram. This year, the blend of straight ryes finished in French oak port casks also includes some of High West's own whiskey. Priced at $100, it is for sale nationwide.If you're a polo fan, Royal Salute has a special-edition 21 year old blend celebrating beach polo. The whisky, which is softly peated, costs $140 and is currently expanding beyond travel retail.Virginia's Catoctin Creek Distillery has announced its first bottled in bond rye. Rabble Rouser will be released in February in honor of the distillery's tenth anniversary. Limited amounts of the whiskey will be sold for $96 at the distillery, as well as more widely.Near to Catoctin Creek, Virginia Distillery Co. is...

For fans of American whiskey, the words “barrel proof” often bring to mind big, brawny bourbons—uncut, unfiltered, and packed with flavor. But high-proof rye offers a similarly amped up version of the bold, spicy spirit that was famous before bourbon and reigned supreme until Prohibition shut down America's whiskey industry. Whisky Advocate's Fall 2020 Buying Guide offers reviews of more than 150 whiskies, including a trio of high-proof—and high-quality—ryes. Each of these whiskeys offers a distinct set of aromas and flavors that speak to different distilling traditions and techniques, as well as different mashbills and barrel-entry proofs, all of which affect the final whiskey. What they have in common are high scores, similar proofs, and an abundance of flavor.Whisky Advocate's Fall issue turns the spotlight on Big Whisky, and these ryes fit the bill—with their potent proofs and robust flavors, they're the kind of whiskey that leaps out of your glass in a delicious way...

Crank up the subwoofers and get ready to rock and roll: Metallica has its own whiskey, and it was created in part by the band's music. A blend of straight American whiskeys selected and blended by master distiller Dave Pickerell, Blackened was put through a proprietary "sonic enhancement" process that used Metallica songs to create sound waves that impact chemical reactions taking place in the aging whiskey. Coming out in late September, the whiskey will be available in a handful of states and online for $43.Less glitzy but equally exciting: Four Roses has announced its 2018 Limited-Edition Small Batch. This year's release celebrates the distillery's 130th anniversary. With just over 13,000 bottles available and priced at $140, expect it to be in high demand among both Four Roses fans and collectors.Speaking of collecting, Highland Park has unveiled its second-ever 50 year old whisky. A mere 274 bottles, packaged with a custom crystal decanter, will be available at $15,000 apiece.Back...

Once you've amassed a collection of whisky, how are you going to show it off? These whisky lovers have dedicated entire rooms to their collections, modeling them after a library, speakeasy, and 20th century hotel. Get started on your own whisky room with these tips.As for new whiskies to add to your stash, there's a wide variety out this week. Michter's has unveiled the 2022 edition of its US1* barrel strength rye, Heaven Hill adds to the Old Fitzgerald lineup with a 17 year old bourbon, Stranahan's and Balcones have new versions of familiar single malts, and Barrell Craft Spirits continues its series of blended straight bourbons with Batch 032. Read on for full details.Michter’s US*1 Barrel Strength Rye (2022)Style: Straight ryeOrigin: KentuckyAge: Not statedABV: 55.8%Price: $100Release: March 2022Availability: LimitedNeed to know:As with previous releases of Barrel Strength Rye, this whiskey is bottled as a single barrel product, so while the average proof is 111.6%, it varies...

“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...

What a week for new releases! There’s no shortage of new whiskies as we transition from summer into fall, and they range from highly allocated collectible single malts and experimental limited editions to widely available permanent expressions.
Scotch lovers have plenty to be excited about, with new malts and blends coming from all over the country. Laphroaig has debuted the third edition of its experimental Elements series; Single Cask Nation has bottled three new single malts; Buchanan’s has added a luxurious new blend; and Johnnie Walker has launched a limited-edition Blue Label bottle and box that celebrates the Indian festive season. In bourbon, there’s cask finishes galore. Both Barton 1792 and Hirsch have introduced cognac-finished bourbons, while Widow Jane is back with its maple syrup-finished Decadence, and Steph Curry’s Gentleman’s Cut has a Pedro Ximénez sherry-finished bourbon, made in collaboration with chef José...

The classic match-up for cookies may be a cool glass of milk—but who wants milk when you can have whisky? Just as there's a different style of whisky to suit every person's taste, various cookies also have a perfect flavor match.“Whisky and cookies are an ideal pairing,” says Morgan Kirchner, whiskey advisor for Jack Rose Dining Saloon in Washington, D.C. “Cookies, like whisky, are a marriage of simple ingredients that come together to make an incredibly delicious snack. Aside from the fact that they share multiple aromatic and flavor profiles, cookies are comforting and homey, as is a lot of whisky. Few things sound as appealing as a fresh-baked cookie and a delicious dram.”Or perhaps you'd prefer a whisky cocktail with your cookies. Gamlin Whiskey House in St. Louis, Missouri recent partnered with the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri for a fundraiser event. The bar developed a special whiskey cocktail—Buffalo Trace Single Barrel bourbon, simple syrup, and lemon juice...

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...

It’s the season of Octomore, the ultra-peated annual whisky from Islay’s Bruichladdich Distillery that is now in its 14th edition. Octomore 14 comes in the usual three separate Octomore offerings, and all three are available in the U.S. That’s a welcome departure from some years ago when only two of the three expressions were shipped stateside. These ultra-peated gems are noteworthy for their young age profile, heavily peated mashbills, and high ABVs, which somehow all combine to produce a remarkably gentle, complex, and tasty whisky. This year’s releases will be reviewed soon, but they were already showing beautifully in our initial tasting.
Elsewhere in the whisky world, Eifel Whisky from Germany is out with three new releases, while Israel’s Milk & Honey has a special edition for the High Holy Day of Rosh Hashana. Scotch whisky maker Wolfburn has released its first-ever 10 year old expression as part of its core lineup...

Whisky Auctioneer concluded its first sale of 2023 with a colossal 9,841 lot auction. The top seller of the group was Samaroli Laphroaig 1967 15 year old, which fetched a hammer price of $51,252. The auction also included 56 charity lots for The BEN, Scotland’s drinks and hospitality charity, which raised a sum of $12,573.

Ben Nevis 1926 63 year old sold for $25,016. Photo courtesy of Whisky Auctioneer.
Although 2023 has barely begun, some seriously old bottles have already gone under the hammer, giving the winning bidders the chance to taste some historic whiskies produced around a century ago. Whisky Auctioneer sold a single cask bottling of Ben Nevis 1926 63 year old bottled for the Japanese market for $25,016 on January 9th, as well as a Springbank 1919 50 year old for $28,677 in the same auction. Meanwhile, Whisky Online Auctions sold an official distillery bottling of Clynelish—The Finest Highland Malt Whisky Made—bottled in the 1920s. What we...

Whisky lovers will descend on New York's Marriott Marquis on November 16 for the 20th anniversary of WhiskyFest. With nearly 500 whiskies (and even a few other spirits and wine) available, there will be something for everyone, whether you're a scotch lover, a craft whiskey fan, a whiskey veteran looking to try the next big thing, or a bourbon aficionado. If bourbon is your drink of choice, you'll have a vast array to choose from—so where do you start?Many folks will head straight for the Pappy Van Winkle table—especially since the 2017 releases are just coming out. If you're thirsting for a chance to taste this legendary bourbon, step behind the velvet rope and enjoy. And close by will be the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, another must-try for new drinkers and old fans alike.And there's so much more! It's impossible to call out every great whiskey that's being poured—it's definitely not possible to drink them all—but we've selected a few highlights you should aim to try.If...

For many, there's no beating uncut and unfiltered whiskey, and the reasons why are clear. Barrel-proof or cask-strength whiskies allow the drinker to taste the spirit undiluted, and they often present great value for those looking to savor a strong and sturdy pour. In fact, Whisky Advocate's Top 20 lists—which take affordability into consideration—often feature barrel-proof whiskies including the 2020 Whisky of the Year, Larceny Barrel Proof and its sibling, 2017 Whisky of the Year Elijah Craig Barrel Proof.Both of those bourbons are made at Heaven Hill Distillery, and although specific batches netted Top 20 honors, the whiskeys are consistent in quality batch after batch; in fact, two more recent batches of each appear on this list, along with consistent high scorers like Angel's Envy and Old Forester. All of the whiskies here earned 94 points, reflecting the remarkable quality available in barrel-proof bourbon. Even the skilled blenders at Barrell earned high marks, proving that...

Looking for a gift for the whisky lover in your life this holiday season? We've got you covered with these 14 recommendations, ranging from specialty bottles to sweet treats, to unforgettable whisky and cigar experiences. Check out our 12 Whiskies of Christmas for more selections to gift or share this holiday season. And of course, our annual Top 20 list is a great resource if you are looking to gift a bottle, with this year's selections ranging in price from $30 to $275, and covering a range of styles.
New releases this week represent a wide range of styles as well. Old Forester adds to its 117 series with Extra Extra Old; Orphan Barrel releases the final installment in its Muckety-Muck range, a 26 year old single grain whisky; Booker's announces the fourth batch of this year's bourbon; and Mortlach and Talisker each have new aged expressions. Read on for full details. 

Old Forester 117 Series: Extra Extra...

Less than a decade ago, a tour of Tennessee's whiskey distilleries would have taken you to Jack Daniel, George Dickel (now Cascade Hollow), and family-owned Prichard's, and that would have been it. Tennessee distilling remained within this small circle of three until the mid-2000s—despite the state being home to the world's biggest-selling American whiskey, Jack Daniel's, and laying claim to distilling roots dating back to 1771.
The reason for this oddity can be summed up in one word: temperance. Just prior to the Civil War, Tennessee was producing enough whiskey for the Confederate government to place a wartime ban on production in order to maintain grain supplies. In the post-war years, the temperance movement gathered steam, and by the time Prohibition was enacted in 1920, some 33 states already were enforcing their own alcohol bans. Tennessee was one of them, placing bans on consumption and production as early as 1838, but really ramping up efforts by the early 1900s...

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...

There are some rebel whiskies out there. Whiskies with a reputation. Bristling with bravado, they carry a certain swagger and command everyone's undivided attention. Some cause a ruckus, throw a punch or two around, and ruffle a few feathers. Some flagrantly disregard the rules and become embroiled in the glare of a scandal, while the lucky ones emerge as accidental heroes. The fate of a rebel whisky can be condemnation, judged by the mocking commentaries to be heinous, abject failure, while others capitalize on the notoriety, ensuring fame propels them into the heavenly realm of legends. You can't argue with the fact that some rebel whiskies are just effortlessly cool.Compass Box Spice TreeThe year was 2005 and John Glaser released a vatted malt whisky mellowed in casks lined with inner staves of heavily-toasted French oak, provoking the ire of the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA). The practice was deemed non-traditional, leading to an effective ban, which in hindsight handed Compass...

One-of-a-kind whiskeys are not so easy to come by, but guests at a recent dinner presented by Vermont's WhistlePig enjoyed the rare treat of being the first in the world to taste experimental cask-finished ryes. The members-only WS Club in New York City—home to the Whisky Advocate bar—played host to the dinner, the first of many planned events bringing together distillers and blenders with whisky lovers in an intimate, conversational setting. Considering the caliber of the whiskeys poured—including WhistlePig 18 year old Double Malt and the Boss Hog VI: The Samurai Scientist—the bar has been set high.Selected by master blender Pete Lynch, the ryes—part of WhistlePig's experimental single-finish program—had never before been shared with the public, but Lynch wanted to pour something special to make the evening extra-memorable. "The single-finish program is one of those behind-the-scenes items at WhistlePig that most of our audience does not necessarily get to see," he says...

Zuidam Distillery's Patrick van Zuidam is well aware of rye's reputation as a troublesome grain. “Basically, you end up with 10,000 liters of wallpaper paste,” says the Dutch master distiller, referring to rye's tendency toward ‘stuck mash' and frenetic foaming during fermentation. But van Zuidam and a rising number of global distillers refuse to let such challenges deter them from rye's irresistibly flavorful results. “Rye has that special earthy spiciness that connects you directly to the grain and to farming,” says van Zuidam, “If the end result wasn't so special, I wouldn't touch rye ever again.”As one of Europe's leading proponents of rye, van Zuidam notes that it is not so much a new grain as an old one. “There is heritage in the grain: rye has always been a major part of distilling in the Netherlands, though mostly for genever. Rye was cheap and easy to grow, even on very poor sandy soils. It doesn't need much to grow, apart from a bit of rain and sunshine at...

Many whiskeys have a good story behind them, but for Rabbit Hole's newest bourbon, that story takes on particular poignancy. In an exclusive interview with Whisky Advocate, Rabbit Hole founder Kaveh Zamanian revealed why he chose the name Heigold, and what inspired the new names he's given to the rest of the brand's whiskeys. Heigold ($70) and the rebranded line roll out next month, first at the distillery and later more widely.Other new whiskies are coming out as well. Kentucky Owl is releasing the third batch of its rye, this time with a 10 year old age statement. Priced at $200, Kentucky Owl Rye is available in limited amounts.Bruichladdich Distillery on Islay is adding two new vintage releases to its core range. Bruichladdich 2010 Bere Barley is made with an ancient strain, while Bruichladdich 2010 The Organic is, as you might have guessed, distilled from organic barley. Both whiskies are $100, with 18,000 bottles of each available.Eighth-generation Jim Beam distiller Freddie Noe...

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...

We're set to kick off the season—no, not football, although there is that too. The season for big-time whisky releases is upon us. From Kentucky, Four Roses just announced its annual Limited Edition Small Batch, this one a celebration of its 135th anniversary, while Michter's is back with US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish rye. Both will drop in September. Meanwhile, Parker's Heritage has unveiled its annual release, and it's a 10 year old cask-strength rye. And Little Book is out with Chapter 7, an intriguing retrospective blending one component each from Chapters 1-6 and then adding a new whiskey for Chapter 7.
From Islay, Ardbeg's Dr. Bill Lumsden is at it again with the new Ardbeg Anthology series, the inaugural release highlighted by Sauternes cask finishing in the mix. The Sauternes cask is not often seen on  Islay, though it has been used by Kilchoman and  Bunnahabhain. From Speyside, Balvenie has another...

We all welcome that rare guest who's able to happily mingle with others. Likewise, a whisky mixer with personality really enlivens an evening compared to yet another dull soda or ho-hum ginger ale. These sodas and cocktail ingredients are so tasty and original they might end up being the life of your whisky party.Put some pep in your cocktail with these top-shelf whisky toppersBittermilk Bourbon Barrel Aged Old Fashioned—$20/250 mlTastes like: Gingersnaps and root beer-like earthiness; gentian root and cinchona bark lend bitterness, balancing golden cane sugar, orange peel, and spices.Mix this: An elevated Old Fashioned, using high-proof rye or bourbon such as Wild Turkey 101.Fentimans Dandelion & Burdock—$6.50/750 mlTastes like: A medicinal yet balanced blend of fermented ginger root extract, beet sugar, pear juice concentrate, and other herbal infusions.Mix this: Herbal intensity pairs well with big caramel flavors of a high-proof bourbon.Fentimans Ginger Beer—$6.50/750...

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...

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...

If you’re traveling to Kentucky as a whiskey tourist, chances are the state’s northern reaches aren’t first on your list of places to visit. That’s by no means a snub as much as a statement of fact—the vast majority of the state’s distilleries are dotted across the center of the commonwealth, in the “Amber Triangle” formed by Lexington, Louisville, and Bardstown. These days, however, there’s a hub of whiskey activity humming to the north, with Covington at the center of it all. Here's your guide to spending 48 hours in Covington.

The city of Covington (population 40,984) lies just across the river from Cincinnati, a travel hub with an airport bigger and more accessible than what you’ll find in Louisville or Lexington. Covington touts a rich, albeit lesser-known distilling history (one of its politicians, John G. Carlisle, was a co-creator of the Bottled in Bond Act, for starters) that’s resulted in a...

In the far reaches of northern Minnesota, just 40 miles south of the Canadian border, Michael Swanson’s family has been farming its 1,000 acres of land for over a century near the town of Hallock. A farm kid through and through, Swanson spent his childhood among fields of wheat, sugar beets, barley, canola, and sunflowers, and in a home surrounded by the sprawling Minnesota plains where his Swedish immigrant great-grandparents had settled. While both sides of Swanson’s family were in agriculture, neither had backgrounds in distilling, so it was a leap of faith when in 2013 he decided to devote some of his harvest toward something new: whiskey. “It made sense to me—to distill whiskey from grain that you grow just outside of the distillery itself. It gives you utmost control over the raw materials and their quality, as well as a story with an authentic feel,” he explains.

Before getting Far North Distillery off the ground, Swanson turned to...

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...

There are loads of new releases to dive into this week, as well as news of another brand revamping its look. Heaven Hill is rolling out restyled packaging for Evan Williams straight bourbon and bottled in bond bourbon, as well as the line of flavored whiskeys. Look for the new bottles to hit shelves starting this month.On to new whiskey! Glenmorangie is launching a special single malt finished in tokaji dessert wine casks. Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake is priced at $99 and available in limited amounts.WhistlePig's newest Boss Hog is rolling out, and it has an unusual finish. WhistlePig Boss Hog VII: Magellan's Atlantic is available in limited amounts, priced at $500.Three special batches of Old Forester bourbon have been created in honor of the brand's 150th anniversary. All are quite limited, with bottles priced at $150.Macallan is wrapping up its Edition series with Edition No. 6. The single malt scotch is available in limited amounts and priced at $150.Bruichladdich Distillery has...

Our latest crop of new ratings includes two scotch whiskies, two bourbons, and one rye. Among the scotch whiskies is a highly rated 25 year old from the Isle of Skye label, which at $210 represents a relative bargain in the world of ultra-aged spirits. The other scotch is an unusual one—leading with malted rye, accompanied by malted barley to fill out the rest of the mashbill recipe. Elsewhere, we rate Little Book’s Chapter 7 In Retrospect, which combines the subtotal of master distiller Freddie Noe’s body of work on this project, and it’s excellent. Also checking in is Hemingway rye, a relative newcomer with a mission to make top-flight rye whiskeys in Kentucky. Read on for more details.

95 Little Book Chapter 07: In Retrospect, 59.01%, $150
A blend of the six preceding Little Book releases along with a new component. In total, it includes five straight bourbons aged 18, 17 10, 9, and 4 years, a 5 year old straight malt whiskey finished in...

The whisky auction scene shows no signs of relaxing as the end of the year approaches. Sotheby’s conducted a substantial sale of scotch, bourbon, rye, and Japanese whisky in New York this month, with details below on several historic and rare bottlings of Kentucky bourbon and rye that sold for $20,000 and more. Sotheby's reported that this sale received the highest-ever number of bidders in a Sotheby's spirits sale, and set new record prices for Glenturret, LeNell's Red Hook Rye, and Rathskeller Rye from 1983. Scotch Whisky Auctions celebrated their 150th auction this month, with a bottle of Glendronach 1971 50 year old leading the sale with a hammer price of $22,588. With a number of online auctions slated for late December, whisky collectors can keep bidding until the ball drops at midnight and beyond in a bid to bag their first whisky bottles of 2024. 
Whisky Auctioneer
Auction ended December 4th  


Scotch: Samaroli Laphroaig...

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...

Perched high in the mountains or deep underground, they battle blazing heat or frigid cold, and toil in historic buildings or embrace futuristic design. Yet the one thing all these distillers have in common is that nothing will stand in the way of their quest to craft whiskies of distinction. Here's how 12 distillers from around the world make the most of their extreme situations. All are worthy of a taste, and most definitely a visit!Hot Stuff: Del Bac DistilleryWhiskey Del Bac (formerly Hamilton Distillers) set out to produce single malt with mesquite-smoked grain, but that's no easy task in the Sonoran Desert, where summer temperatures can reach 118 degrees and humidity dips below 5 percent.Incoming water must be cooled before mashing, fermenters require glycol jackets, and managing the malting process amounts to a tug-of-war between chilly mornings and searing afternoons. Throughout the day, weather can be erratic, as winter rains and monsoon storms in summer play havoc with the...

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...

December is the most wonderful time of the year for many people—especially whisky lovers. WhiskyFest New York takes place on December 3 and, with hundreds of drams to choose from, it's going to be an unforgettable evening.But about those hundreds of drams—you can't taste them all, so how to do you pick which ones will grace your glass? Read up on our advice for strategizing your night—or simply keep reading to see what our editors have picked as their can't-miss pours.Whatever route you take, be sure to keep track of what you've tasted using the WhiskyFest app (available for download in the coming weeks) or event program. Consider sitting in on a seminar (there are nine to choose from), free for all ticket-holders, to take a load off while still enjoying and learning about whisky. Speaking of tickets, there are still some available—perfect for an early Christmas or Chanukah present.ArranScotland's Isle of Arran Distillers—which opened its second facility, Lagg Distillery...

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...

Ireland’s spectacular west coast features some of the most stunning coastal scenery on earth. It’s a paradise for surfers, walkers, sailors, history buffs, food lovers, and whiskey fans—offering an epic coastline-hugging journey of 1,600 miles through ancient lands where towering cliffs have withstood the raw power of Atlantic waves for thousands of years. The route wends around the headlands of Cork in Ireland’s southwest, all the way up to Donegal in the northwest. Its shores fire the imagination with craggy islands, historic treasures, natural wonders, magnificent castles, quaint harbors, colorful towns, and deserted beaches. The entire route takes at least a week or two to cover, and more time will be required if you want to visit distilleries and sample the fine fare at the pubs along the way. But you don’t have to tackle it all, of course. The route can be started from either end, but since vehicles in Ireland drive on the left, go south to north if...

Sah wah dee khap! “The White Lotus” Season 3 (HBO Max) is the water cooler show of the spring. Set in a luxury resort in Thailand, season 3 delivers bullets, Buddhists, bald guys, and body bags. From the insincerity of the staff welcome—all fake smiles and mandatory hand waves—to the watery endings of all three seasons, writer and director Mike White invites viewers to experience a new White Lotus wellness and spa destination each season through the eyes of its staff and wealthy guests.
The Season 3 opening sets the tone, with a dark collage of mythological creatures inspired by mural artworks from Thai temples, while the eclectic soundtrack has a febrile intensity that ratchets up the anxiety and tension across all eight episodes. The ensemble cast, meanwhile, navigates a plot that contains more than its fair share of misdirection and narrative cul-de-sacs. "The White Lotus" has a lot of drinks on screen, from protein shakes to Piña Coladas, so...

Do you miss Game of Thrones? Johnnie Walker—which previously released White Walker—is here to help assuage your woes with two new special-edition blends: Song of Ice and Song of Fire. Few details are available, but even a casual GoT fan will recognize that the Song of Ice packaging features direwolves, the sigil of House Stark, while the Song of Fire packaging shows House Targaryen's dragons. Both whiskies are available for pre-order at Reservebar.com, priced at $43. A full U.S. rollout will happen in August.Also coming out at the end of the summer, Old Forester's 2019 Birthday Bourbon. The whiskey is bottled at its highest proof yet—52.5% ABV—and carries a suggested price of $100, with 13,200 bottles available.Meanwhile, the latest limited-edition Crown Royal is rolling out now. Crown Royal Noble Collection French Oak Cask Finished is, as you probably guessed, finished in French oak casks. It's available in limited amounts for $60.Compass Box has unveiled a new blended malt...

Kavalan Distillery has a new release to tempt sherried whisky lovers. Triple Sherry Cask is composed of Kavalan single malt whiskies aged in oloroso, Pedro Ximénez, and moscatel casks. The Taiwanese distillery, which will be 20 years old next year, is known to invest in top-quality sherry casks. This is the first new release since Kavalan brought its cask strength single cask releases back to the U.S. at the end of 2023. Bottled at 43% and priced at $100, Kavalan Triple Sherry Cask is fully matured in the individual casks before being brought together in marrying vats to allow the whiskies to integrate. The combination of white, red, and gold on the packaging is designed to reflect the colors of new make spirit, whisky, and sherry.
Kavalan is situated in Yilan County on the northeast coast of Taiwan and experiences a subtropical climate and high humidity. The whisky is designed to exploit these conditions to reach peak maturation in a comparatively short period of time...

On March 23rd, whiskey lovers of the Midwest will convene for WhiskyFest Chicago, the first WhiskyFest event of 2018. As always, hundreds of whiskies will be available at the event, and attendees can range freely between scotch, bourbon, Japanese whiskies, and many other whiskey styles—including the big tent of American craft whiskey. As craft whiskey has matured, small producers can now stand toe-to-toe with much more established distilleries. A number of craft distilleries from all around the country will be pouring at WhiskyFest Chicago, so you can sample the wide variety of styles now being made. Here are some of our top picks.Also, be sure to check out the full list of pours and the lineup of free seminars. And read our tips for navigating WhiskyFest like a pro. If you don't have your tickets yet, it's not too late!Kentucky PeerlessCraft whiskey is made all over the country, and that includes traditional whiskey-making states like Kentucky. In fact, Louisville-based Kentucky...

The Fall 2022 issue is all about the many wonders Scotland has to offer, from gorgeous golf courses, to hospitable hotels, and of course, unforgettable whiskies. It should come as no surprise then, that the issue contains reviews for a number of high-scoring single malt scotches. Most notably, we highlight 15 single malts that bear a 30 year age statement, all of which scored between 90 and 96 points. Two of those whiskies, Macallan 30 year old Sherry Oak (2021 Release) and Springbank 30 year old, were named among the issue's most collectible whiskies reviewed. At 30 years old, all of the bottles included would make for a special toast and treat.The below list, however, aims to provide a bit more diversity, and there is something for everyone here, from cask strength bourbon, to inventive single pot still finishes, to peated American single malt. But that's not to say that these are all expensive. Blue Note Juke Joint Uncut scored 92 points and will set you back just $45. We have...

Scotch whisky fans were celebrating this week as the long-silent Brora Distillery in the Scottish Highlands opened its doors for the first time since 1983. We covered the historic reopening ceremony, and Whisky Advocate auction expert Jonny McCormick took the opportunity to study some of the distillery’s rarest expressions in our “What’s It Worth?” series.For those looking for a more accessible dram, this week’s roundup of new whiskies has plenty on offer. Cask finishing and brand collaborations are the main events, with Lagavulin teaming up with Guinness for a new release and Heaven’s Door working with Redbreast on a new bourbon with an Irish touch. Read on for full details.Lagavulin Offerman Edition: Guinness Cask FinishStyle: Single maltOrigin: Scotland (Islay)Age: 11 year oldABV: 46%Price: $80Release: June 2021Availability: Limited editionNeed to know:Lagavulin Offerman Edition first debuted in October 2019. This iteration, created in collaboration with actor Nick...

Peat is one of the most unique, expressive, and occasionally polarizing flavors encountered in whisky. The densely compressed, long-decayed vegetation was traditionally used as a fuel source in rural and remote parts of Scotland—so it was also used to dry barley during the malting process, thus imparting its signature smoky and medicinal aromas and tastes to the core ingredient of scotch. Peat-dried barley contains phenols, a class of chemical compounds that impart what we perceive as peated, smoky flavors. Phenol levels are measured in parts per million, or PPM—it doesn't take a lot of phenol for us to notice.Although it's not for everyone, peated scotch is popular with a certain strain of whisky lover worldwide. Peat expresses a spectrum of flavors, many of them described in seemingly unpleasant terms like iodine, Band-Aids, bicycle tires, and gasoline. Peat heads are undeterred by these unsavory adjectives, as are the distillers and blenders who have pushed the boundaries of...

In scotch whisky, Ardbeg has a new release in its Anthology Collection and Jura offers a rye cask finished single malt—an expression that's been available overseas for the last two years and now arrives on U.S. shores. Among American whiskeys, we welcome a new release in Old Forester's 117 series, this one finished in rum casks. The 117 Series has done particularly well with our tasting panel, the last  one scoring 94 points. Elsewhere, Iowa whiskey maker Cedar Ridge aims for a cigar pairing with its latest American single malt, while Chattanooga offers a new bottled in bond expression. Penelope, meanwhile, is back with its popular Toasted Rye, and Delaware brewer/distiller Dogfish Head becomes the latest American whiskey maker to try its hand at amburana finishing. 
 
Ardbeg Anthology: The Unicorn’s Tale 14 year old Scotch Single Malt
ABV: 46%
SRP: $160
Availability: Limited; ardbeg.com, the...

Just about every distillery these days has a tasting room where visitors can sample a dram—an important part of the experience of learning about whiskey. A taste or two is one thing, but some distilleries are taking it further by offering full-service cocktail bars on-site.* As destinations unto themselves, these venues go beyond the Old Fashioned and Manhattan to offer inventive and original creations that showcase the whiskey made just steps away. Step up to the bar and raise your glass—it's cocktail hour.*These venues all offered full-service schedules when the article was originally published in print in December 2019. As COVID-19 restrictions vary, it's best to check venue websites for the most up-to-date opening information.
Photos of famous whiskey distillers, like Parker Beam and George Washington, line the top shelf of the backbar at The Shanty.The Shanty at New York Distilling Co.—Brooklyn, New YorkIt can be easy to miss New York Distilling Co., tucked into a...

While some people may dream of receiving a new cashmere sweater or a desired golf club this holiday season, for a whiskey fan there’s no better gift than a trip to their favorite producer. When it comes to fans of Breckenridge Distillery, however, you can enjoy the experience without ever leaving your home. That’s because the experience is inherently baked into every bottle.
Located 9,600 feet above sea level, Breckenridge Distillery has been the world’s highest distillery since its founding in 2008. Because it has such a unique setting, you can taste that terroir in every glass. The pure water used in the mash, in fact, comes from the Rocky Mountains. 
“We’re getting snowmelt that’s filtered, with perfect minerality for our spirits,” explains Billie Keithley, the distillery’s “liquid chef” who was named bar manager of the year at Icons of Whisky. This minerality doesn’t just allow the flavors of the whisky...

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...

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...

Memorial Day is about honoring our fallen soldiers, but the holiday weekend also represents the unofficial start of summer, when the season's gatherings begin. While the weather can sometimes interfere with our outdoor plans, it's often a time for backyard cookouts and parties. Here we add whiskey to the occasion, with a selection of 10 American expressions that are perfect for barbecue sipping. 
 
 
94 points - Booker's "Springfield Batch" Straight Bourbon (Batch 2024-01), 62.25%, $90
Booker's is a longtime barbecue favorite—back in 2018 it even gave one of its releases the name "Backyard Barbecue." The Springfield Batch edition, released last year, was exceptional, finishing at No.-6 on our Top 20 and offering caramel, dark chocolate, baking spice, and a finish that catapults it into greatness. While each batch is different, all are highly flavorful with proof levels and structures giving them plenty of...

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...

The 2020 WhiskyFest calendar kicks off in Chicago on March 27, when Windy City whisky lovers will connect with their favorite brands, discover new drams, and experience an evening full of education and excitement. Want to attend? Be sure to get your tickets, and then start planning your night. Whether it's your first WhiskyFest or you've been coming for years, you'll want to devise a strategy that incorporates top-priority pours and can't-miss seminars while making plenty of time to eat and stay hydrated.If you're unsure where to start when drawing up your list of must-taste whiskies, never fear: As with every WhiskyFest, the Whisky Advocate editors are here to help. Yes, Pappy Van Winkle and the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection will be poured, but that's not the whole story. These are some of the most exciting, interesting, and just plain standout whiskies that we'll be lining up to try.Whisky of the Year—All of ThemThe Whisky Advocate Top 20 started in 2017, and we've had three...

A couple months after its launch at Fèis Ìle, Laphroaig Cairdeas 2017 is available stateside. The cask strength version of Laphroaig's Quarter Cask expression will retail at a recommended price of $80. There's more maritime scotch to be had, as Douglas Laing & Co. (which recently announced plans to open its own distillery in Glasgow) is releasing a sherry cask version of its Rock Oyster blended malt. Meanwhile, Hirsch has launched an 8 year old bourbon with a high-rye mashbill, and there's a new single grain Irish whiskey from the Egan's brand. Plus Hamilton Distillers in Arizona is debuting a cask strength batch of its single malt whiskey that's made with barley dried with mesquite smoke. Read on for full details.Laphroaig Cairdeas 2017 Quarter CaskStyle: Single maltOrigin: Scotland (Islay)Age: Not statedProof: 57.2% ABVPrice: $80Release: August 2017Availability: Limited quantitiesNeed to know:Each year, Laphroaig releases its special-edition Cairdeas ("friendship" in Gaelic...

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...

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...

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...

Shiny copper stills get all the attention, but the most challenging part of whisky making usually happens behind closed doors. Except for single barrel offerings, almost every whisky is a blend of barrels. Master blenders face a challenge whether they're replicating a flavor profile or striving to create something totally unique.“Blending is a creative art,” explains John Glaser, founder and whisky maker at Compass Box Whisky, which specializes in the innovative blending of whiskies.Although distilling must be left to the professionals, anyone can experiment with creating blends at home. Amateurs are now blending custom whiskies from commercially-available bottles, a practice many refer to as “vatting.” In a way, the task is easier than the one facing a distillery's master blender, since most bottles on the market have already been blended to a high level of quality. At the same time, the home blender can combine whiskies across different distilleries and even styles, giving...

New distillery visitors centers are springing up all over: Last week it was Woodford Reserve, and this week, Bulleit opened the doors to a new experience at its Shelbyville distillery. Plus, Lagg Distillery on Scotland's Isle of Arran is also now welcoming visitors and churning out heavily peated spirit. In a few years, it will be mature enough to call whisky.There's plenty of already-mature whisky now though. Maker's Mark has expanded availability of its 101 expression. Previously for sale at travel retail only, Maker's 101 is now available at the distillery and select Kentucky retailers, priced at $50 for a 1-liter bottle.Glenlivet has unveiled its latest mystery malt; called Enigma, the whisky's details are deliberately being withheld so that drinkers can make up their own minds about the flavor. Available in the U.S. only, Enigma costs $149.Meanwhile, there's a lot going on in bourbon country. Heaven Hill is launching a 7 year old bottled in bond bourbon this fall. While the...

There are many ways to toast St. Patrick's Day with whiskey—whipping up cocktails like a Whiskey Ginger or Hot Toddy with your favorite Irish whiskey, creating your own Irish cream, indulging in some Irish Coffee, or keeping it simple by sipping your spirit neat. And to that end, there are lots of new Irish whiskeys to choose from this year and plenty of ways to celebrate.Just as it did last year, Jameson is teaming up with music artist Anderson .Paak to host a free St. Patrick's Day concert in California. For details on how to attend, sign up for updates from Jameson. Meanwhile, Tullamore D.E.W. is bringing back its O'Everyone campaign, which allows fans to order a commemorative shirt featuring their own last name transformed with an O-apostrophe to sound Irish. This year, O'Everyone will also feature Irish pub pop-ups close to St. Patrick's Day in Chicago, Denver, New York City, and Los Angeles. Update 3/16/2020: The Jameson x Meet Me At The Bar concert in Los Angeles, scheduled...

The whisky world was abuzz with news this week. WhiskyFest took place in Chicago last Friday, May 12th, drawing in newcomers and returnees to the Windy City’s marquee whisky event. Bourbon heavyweight James B. Beam Distilling Co. has thrown its hat into the American single malt ring with the release of Clermont Steep—its first official ASM expression, and a permanent addition to its whiskey family. In an exclusive interview with Whisky Advocate, Justin Sloan and Justin Thompson of Washington, D.C. retail outfit Justins’ House of Bourbon have responded to the TTB dropping its counterfeiting claims.
As far as new expressions go, whisky fans are spoiled for choice this week. Newcomer Forbidden has debuted with a small batch bourbon expression, Chattanooga Whiskey has added a new bourbon to its Experimental Batch series, Jack Daniel’s has a new barrel proof rye, and Kilchoman released its 2023 edition of Loch Gorm. Read on for full...

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...

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...

Last month, we took a look at the tumult taking hold of the whisky industry. In the weeks since, more uncertainty has roiled the economy and the whisky world at large, along with more jarring news of trouble on the craft whiskey front—including word that American single malt Westward Whiskey has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. While that sounds grim—bankruptcy isn’t exactly cause for celebration—Westward founder and CEO Thomas Mooney insists there’s a bright light at the end of this tunnel. “The most predominant first sentence I’m hearing from every one of my friends is ‘I’m sorry,’ but in reality, this is an opportunity, it’s something the U.S. law has given us that allows us to reinvent ourselves as the company we need to be in order to compete and win. It’s not the same world [for whisky makers] as two years ago, or even five years ago.”
Portland, Oregon-based Westward was founded as House Spirits in...

If you hold regular whisky nights with your friends or tasting club, chances are there's some food, and maybe even a little music on hand to enhance the experience. Take the revelry a step further with one of these whisky-themed games, which will test your whisky knowledge or add a touch of bourbon to your usual game of cards or chess.New whiskey releases this week all come from the U.S. Old Overholt is raising the age of its flagship straight rye to 4 years, Barrell Craft Spirits is adding a Dovetail expression to its Grey Label line, and Daviess County kicks off its range of toasted barrel finishes with a Lightly Toasted straight bourbon. Read on for full details.

Old Overholt 4 year old
Style: Straight ryeOrigin: KentuckyAge: 4 year oldABV: 43%Price: $20Release: August 2022Availability: Nationwide
Need to know:
Old Overholt is raising the age of its flagship straight rye from 3 to 4 years old. The change comes just a few years after the proof was...

The Summer 2017 issue hits newsstands on June 6th and includes over 80 new reviews of scotch, bourbon, Irish, Canadian, and many more whiskies. We're unveiling the top ten highest-scoring bottles from the Buying Guide, includingbourbons from Wild Turkey, Elijah Craig, and Four Roses; Crown Royal's latest addition to the Noble Collection; a very mature Teeling Irish whiskey; and one of the core scotches from GlenDronach.High West Bourye (Batch 17A09)92 points, 46% ABV, $80
Straight bourbon and rye whiskeys aged from 10 to 14 years, this nicely balances its dry oak, almost cedary, aromas with bourbon sweetness and a rye finish. The initial hit of orange peel, caramel, and vanilla flan yields to a spicy finish of lemon zest, peppercorns, and ginger. —Jeffery LindenmuthWild Turkey Masters KeepDecades93 points, 52% ABV, $150When earth meets sweet in whiskey, it's a beautiful thing. Here, soil tilled deep, fresh-cut grass, and mushrooms meet leather and dark chocolate, followed by dill...

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...

Bottled in bond bourbon has been around for more than a century, yet the style has undergone a full-on renaissance in recent years. Newer distilleries are finally seeing their stocks reach the 4-year minimum age requirement outlined by the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897; coupled with the steady stream of big-name producers releasing new and revived bottled in bond labels, it seems like every week there's a new option on the shelf. The Bottled in Bond Act was meant to ensure one very important thing: the integrity of the whiskey.
Prior to its enforcement, there was no telling what kind of liquid was in the bottle. It could have been adulterated, flavored, colored, diluted—and so the government intervened. To be labeled bottled in bond, a whiskey must be the product of a single distiller in a single season—spring (January to June) or fall (July to December)—aged for a minimum of 4 years in a federally bonded warehouse, and bottled at 50% ABV.Beyond a quality...

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...

Blake Borah estimates he had about 50 bottles of whisky in his Harlem studio apartment before adding three more when the 36 year old was selected as the winner of Whisky Advocate's 2018 Top 20 sweepstakes. For Borah—who is the beverage director at New York City restaurant Barn Joo—a love of whiskey started in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky when he got a job bartending at The Oakroom in the Seelbach Hotel.“They had a very nicely curated bourbon and whiskey selection. This is when I was first starting out, and I was just doing bartending, so I had to learn as much as I could [about whiskey],” Borah says. “So I started going to all of the distilleries, and I didn't realize the history and how much goes into it until I started to see them make it. And that's when I really started to fall in love with the spirit itself.”Bourbon remains his whiskey of choice, with cask-strength bottlings like Noah's Mill and Booker's as his personal favorites.On the job, Borah applies both...

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...

Taking in a city’s stunning skyline while sipping a delicious drink—what’s not to love about a rooftop bar? Add in a stellar whisky list, and you’re all set for a memorable evening. Rooftop drinking is generally seen as a summertime experience, but these whisky-focused spots offer both indoor and outdoor spaces for year-round enjoyment.
Big Apple Vistas
Bar 54 • New York City
At 54 floors up, this lounge atop the Hyatt Centric Times Square is the city’s highest hotel rooftop bar, complete with river-to-river views. The beverage menu includes a cocktail list that changes twice a year, plus over 30 American, Irish, Japanese, and scotch whiskies, ranging from $17/2 oz. pour for labels like Rittenhouse rye and Dewar’s White Label up to $325 for Macallan Sherry Oak 25 year old. Reservations are required. hyatt.com
A Whisky Aerie
Dirty Habit • San Francisco
Located in the SoMa neighborhood, this fifth-floor retreat...

Woodford Reserve this week released its annual Derby bottle ahead of the 2025 Kentucky Derby, which takes place on May 3. This year’s label was created by Cuban-American artist Humberto Lahera, who’s based in Louisville. The one-liter bottle retails at $50 and can be purchased on Reservebar, on Woodford’s online store, at the Woodford Reserve Distillery, and selected retailers nationwide.
Among other new releases, Orphan Barrel is out with a 17 year old, while Old Elk has a new flagship bourbon called Slow Cut. Penelope Rio, the amburana cask-finished bourbon, is back with its third iteration, while High West returns with the annual release of Bourye, its rye-bourbon blend. There's plenty more, with new offerings from Buzzard's Roost, Remus, and Westward, among others, including a noteworthy release from Bushmills, which has unveiled the oldest Irish single malt ever—a 46 year old with a limited global release of just 300 bottles, priced at a cool...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Cigar and whisky lovers descended upon the Sunshine State over the weekend for the fourth annual Big Smoke Meets WhiskyFest, held at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa. This marked the first time the event took place in Tampa (also known as Cigar City), where the historic Ybor City neighborhood—once hailed as the “Cigar Capital of the World”—is a hub for hand-rolled cigars, making it a fitting locale.
The evening’s grand tasting commenced at 5:30 p.m. with a packed VIP hour, where throngs of ticket holders were treated to an exclusive array of whiskies and cigars. VIP drams included limited American whiskeys, among them Bardstown Bourbon Co. Collaborative Series with Foursquare Rum, Green River Distilling Co. Kentucky Straight Bourbon Single Barrel, George Dickel x Leopold Brothers Collaboration Rye, and a selection of bourbons and ryes from Middle West Spirits, as well as import offerings such as Fuji Whisky 50th Anniversary...

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...

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...

We've all been there: Bored with our usual bourbon, looking for something new to try, butthen it gets to the end of the month and the budget is busted. Not to worry, however: There are plenty of great wallet-friendly options to be found in theWhisky Advocate Buying Guide, including bottles that have scored 90 points or higher. Check out these fivebourbonsthat will let you drink like a whiskey baron without breaking the bank.Angel's Envy—$46, 93 pointsA newer bourbon that has easily become a classic, finished in a port pipe for silky, creamy fruit notes.Baker's—$47, 92 pointsAt 53.5% ABV, you really get your money's worth with this powerful 7 year old bourbon.1792 Full Proof—$45, 92 pointsThe "full proof" clocks in at 62.5% ABV, meaning you can drop in a rock or two without worrying about dilution.Evan Williams Single Barrel 2007 Vintage—$30, 90 pointsAt about 9 years old, this is true bargain bourbon with strong fruit, mint, and caramel flavors.Maker's 46—$34, 90 pointsIf...

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...

As blazing hot temperatures linger on, refreshing sippers tend to take the edge off. While you could certainly head to a bar, why not make a drink at home—and one with your very own homemade shrub at that? A mixture of fruit, sugar, and vinegar, shrubs is perfect for preserving summer flavors, and go wonderfully in whisky cocktails, too. Try your hand at one of these four whisky-and-shrub cocktails in our new guide, and beat the summer heat.
There’s plenty of new whisky this week, much of it is American-made. Heaven's Door, the Nashville-based brand co-founded by Bob Dylan, has debuted the first release in its new Decade Series, a collection of whiskeys aged 10 years or older; Woodford Reserve has unveiled the latest edition of Batch Proof; and Booker's is back with its second release of the year. Read on for full details.

Heaven’s Door Decade Series Release #01
Style: Straight bourbonOrigin: TennesseeAge: 10 year oldABV: 50%Price: $99Release: July...

If you're the type of whisky drinker who cherishes being the first to get their hands on new releases, distillery clubs will keep you in the know when products drop, give you access to exclusive tastings, and get you discounts on merchandise and tours. We detailed the many perks of joining a distillery club, and spoke to some of the loyal patrons who enjoy them.As for new releases within the wider world of whisky, Maker's Mark introduces a second limited-edition stave finish for 2021, Macallan adds a 30 year old to its Double Cask line, and Westland unveils its 6th edition of Garryana. Read on for full details.Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series 2021 Limited Release: FAE-02Style: Straight bourbonOrigin: KentuckyAge: Not statedABV: 54.55%Price: $60Release: September 2021Availability: LimitedNeed to know:This is the second limited edition stave finish released by Maker’s Mark this year following FAE-01 this spring. Maker’s Mark doesn’t chill filter its whiskeys, which results in...

Generations ago, the U.S. whiskey landscape was rich with farm distillery rye whiskeys, but modern American producers tend to use giant suppliers to source their rye grains. The past decade has seen a growing contingent of American craft distillers move the focus back to heirloom rye grains, aiming to revive long-forgotten styles. We look at some of these distillers and the trials, tribulations, and triumphs they’ve experienced along the road to a rye renaissance in this story from our Spring 2022 issue.
For fans of American whiskey, and bourbon in particular, this week's new releases should be  tantalizing. Barrell Craft Spirits has debuted its latest finished blend of straight bourbons, Four Roses has announced details for this year's Limited Edition Small Batch, and Michter's is back with US*1 Toasted Barrel bourbon. Read on for full details.

Barrell Vantage
Style: Blend of straight bourbonsOrigin: Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee Age: Not statedABV...

Mizunara casks have been a staple of Japanese whisky aging for quite some time, but it wasn’t always this way. The much-revered mizunara oak got its start out of necessity rather than design. In the early days of Japanese whisky making back in the 1920s, first-fill bourbon and sherry casks were the barrels of choice. But that changed during World War II, when it became all but impossible to obtain those barrel types. Left with no other choice, Japan’s whisky distillers looked to native oak for their casks. Now, nearly a century later, it’s the American and European distillers who seek out mizunara oak casks from Japan, enthralled by the notes and characteristics that it can contribute to a whisky. 
It all started nearly a decade ago on the craggy shores of Islay where, in 2015, Bowmore released a limited-edition single malt that utilized Japanese casks. That was followed quickly by Washington-based Bainbridge Organic Distillers’ debut of Yama, a...

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...

We all have drinking traditions—using only custom-inscribed rocks glasses or reciting festive toasts by heart—but their impact usually stops at the gesture. Yet a whiskey ritual at an obscure Tennessee golf course has inspired its own brand of bourbon, with All-Pro quarterback Peyton Manning and tennis great Andy Roddick, among others, behind it.The golf course in question is Sweetens Cove, a nine-hole public course in Marion County, Tennessee, about 33 miles from Chattanooga. It was bought by Manning and Roddick along with musician Drew Holcomb; Tom Nolan, former president of Ralph Lauren golf; course architect Rob Collins; and real estate developers Mark Rivers and Skip Bronson, in early 2019. Sweetens Cove has no clubhouse or even bathrooms, just a Home Depot shed, in which it's traditional for players to take a shot of whiskey before each round. “Like they say there, ‘Take your first shot before your first shot,'” Manning tells Whisky Advocate. “[It's] very authentic...

There are few better ways to earn a fine dram or a cold cocktail than riding a mule to the bottom of the Grand Canyon or scrambling over boulders to the summit of Grand Teton. Fortunately, America's national parks offer surprisingly forward-thinking alcohol policies and sophisticated dining and drinking experiences. Many of the historic lodges offer modern cocktail creations and interesting whiskies that would be at home in any major city. Best of all, they're a bargain: the national parks are a federally owned public service and mandate reasonable food and drink costs, so you'll find luxury resort selections at small-town prices. Beyond the in-park lodges, you're generally welcome to pack a whisky into the wilderness. There are 59 national parks in the U.S. and these are just a few of our favorites, so grab your boots and go track down some whisky in the wild.Yellowstone: Wyoming, Montana, and IdahoThe first Western explorers who visited Yellowstone described it as a land of fire and...

From Scotland this week, Macallan is out with the third edition in its Harmony Collection, this one created in collaboration with two of Paul McCartney's daughters—fashion designer Stella McCartney and photographer Mary McCartney. Compass Box has a new creation, Art & Decadence, blended from a rich, malty array of cask finishings. On the American whiskey scene, the very prolific Barrell Craft Spirits has a nicely affordable item in Barrell Foundation at $60, its first non-cask strength whiskey.  Pinhook,  meanwhile, has a truly unique concept in its Vertical Series, which follows the progress of 1,350 barrels of high-rye, MGP bourbons as they age over the course of time. First launched in 2019, the project will conclude in 2027, and this week we're greeted with Pinhook Vertical 8. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Verticals seem to be improving with each release, though opinions will vary on that, which is all part of the fun. Plenty of...

America’s pastime brings to mind beer, hot dogs, and Cracker Jack. It’s time to add whisky to that list. Although very few baseball stadiums have bars where you can purchase pours, most cities have a standout establishment within walking distance or a short ride away. There, you might be able to enjoy anything from pizza to prime steak with craft cocktails, curated flights, rare selections, or your favorite whisky. From sports bars to speakeasies, here’s where to get your fix before the opening pitch.

Citizen Public House & Oyster Bar

Boston
This cozy British gastropub is a block’s walk from Fenway Park, making it an ideal spot for Red Sox fans and haters alike to suck down local raw oysters, whisky-smoked mussels, and whisky before the game. Pull up a stool at the long, dark wood bar or snag a cognac leather banquette and peruse the list of 375 options, including six single-barrel selections, WhistlePig The Badönkådonk...

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...

Las Vegas has come roaring back this year, and visitors will find many new additions to the city’s lodging, dining, and drinking options. Among the new hotels, the 3,500-plus room Resorts World is the first mega-casino addition to the Strip in 10 years, and Circa is the first all-new major casino resort built in old downtown in four decades. The beloved Palms Casino Resort has reopened under new ownership and a $620-million facelift, a new NFL (and concert) stadium has debuted, new shows abound, and new restaurants and attractions are running at full steam. What’s in it for the whisky lover? Thanks to some of these recent additions, the answer is plenty.
In terms of getting around, after a historic struggle with public transportation, the underground Las Vegas Loop, now under construction, promises to change all that. Until then, the airport is close to the Strip, so taxis or rideshare remain the best way to get into town, and in many cases, to then get around. The one...

There’s no doubt that we’re entering the busiest part of the auction year. September’s provisional 20-highest hammer prices of the month rocketed past the value of last month’s total before the end of the first two weeks. The calendar has been packed with major auctions, as well as charity endeavors, including Bourbon Bonanza, Art of Bourbon, and the Legacy de Forge auction for Bourbon Heritage Month.
Spink, China ran an exclusive Springbank auction featuring over 100 lots, with a bottle of Springbank Millennium 50 year old fetching a hammer price of $10,272. Whiskyauction.com concluded their long-running ninth auction of the year on September 13th, which had been open for bidding for 56 days since July. Their highest bid was $26,020 for a bottle of Karuizawa Noh Whisky 1971 41 year old Cask No. 1842, one of a number of Karuizawa bottles vying to make the 20-highest hammer prices for September. Bowmore had a clean sweep at Scotch Whisky Auction’s...

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...

COVID-19 has battered the entire whisky industry but perhaps no one is struggling quite like the thousands of craft distillers in the U.S. The pandemic has shuttered tasting rooms and disrupted distribution, cutting off crucial revenue streams, prompting staff cuts, and potentially putting some on the brink of permanent closure. While most large companies forecast little impact from the current crisis—even as they suspend operations or shift production capacity to making hand sanitizer—some smaller distillers foresee whiskey supply shortages down the road, or worse.An April survey of over 150 distilleries by the American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) reveals that sales are down for almost 85% of respondents, as a majority have closed tasting rooms, laid off or furloughed employees, and are depleting remaining inventory as they allocate most of their production to hand sanitizer. Another survey, by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States and American Distilling...

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...

Pairing cigars with whisky is a long-standing pleasure. People who enjoy both love to mix and match them together, seeking the perfect pairings that accentuate the flavors of both. But in recent years, some distillers have taken matters into their own hands by introducing whiskies specifically meant to be sipped alongside a cigar. These expressions have drawn equal measures of curiosity and skepticism from those who are confused by what cigar blends actually are.
The cigar-centric names on whisky labels are marketing terms. Just as with other unregulated phrases like “small batch” or “special reserve,” any whisky distiller can slap “cigar” on a label. The proposition is that these whiskies work well with cigars but, technically speaking, the whisky makers aren’t required to light up and evaluate how well they pair. Many distillers do put in the work, and here we outline some of their methods.
Smoke Meets Sweet
The cigar...

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...

This week is all about the limited-edition whisky. Balvenie is rolling out its fourth batch of Tun 1509, an annual release that blends various casks in a marrying vat. The NAS single malt is pricy, but scores well—91 points each for Batch 1 and Batch 3.Michter's is offering a 25 year old bourbon for the first time in nine years. Michter's didn't make any of the whiskey: its Shively distillery has only been open since 2012, though the company was making whiskey at other distilleries for several years before then. But Michter's president Joseph Magliocco says this bourbon's flavor profile matches what the company hopes to achieve with the whiskey it's distilling itself.A Midwinter Night's Dram from High West is back for the fifth year. The blended rye, finished in French oak port barrels, is a perennial favorite and delivers on its name, warming up many a cold winter evening. For anyone wondering whether the series will continue after Act 5, don't fret: the show will definitely go...

For true connoisseurs, there's nothing better than unadulterated whisky. That means straight from the barrel, with minimal filtration, and certainly not proofed down by water. Admittedly, some whiskies are simply not polished and refined enough to be handled this way, tasting too “hot” when served in the 50% ABV and above range. (And some whiskies are deliberately bottled at minimal proof, a choice their makers vigorously defend.) But others truly soar straight from the cask, retaining a pleasing, oily mouthfeel, a potent aroma, and a heightened flavor profile.Learn the Basics of Barrel ProofBourbon and rye both excel at more potent proof levels, and there are numerous examples to be found on store shelves, including private-barrel picks. (You won't see some of the most coveted American barrel-proof releases, such as George T. Stagg and William Larue Weller, on this list due to their limited availability.) Cask-strength single malt and Irish whiskey releases are in shorter supply...

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...

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...

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...

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 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...

When you think of the place where whisky is born, a factory floor may not spring to mind, but the truth is that industrial-sized distilleries make most of the whisky in the world—and it's almost always extremely high quality. Size—or, really, scale—does matter when it comes to turning out enough great whisky to satisfy millions of thirsty drinkers, and the measures that these mega-producers take to ensure a delicious final outcome are impressive at every turn.In most of the world, distillery capacity is measured in liters of pure alcohol (lpa) or liters of absolute alcohol (laa), though U.S. distillers favor proof gallons as the unit. Capacity measures how much whisky a distillery can make, not necessarily how much it is making—though it's safe to say that producers at this scale are making a whole lot. Check out the world's largest whisky distilleries below, and keep reading for recommendations on the best industrial-scale whiskies to try.
The World's...

Although he doesn't necessarily consider himself unlucky, Norbert “Norb” Vnek says he has never won a contest. That unfortunate streak came to a surprising end when his name was drawn at random from 12,947 entries in Whisky Advocate's 2019 Top 20 Sweepstakes, awarding him the top three whiskies, including the Whisky of the Year.“It was just pure happenstance,” Vnek says, adding that he entered the sweepstakes on a spontaneous whim. And while winning may be new for the 53 year old Montclair, New Jersey resident, his appreciation for whisky dates back decades. “I'm not a casual drinker,” he declares. “I'm definitely an ardent whisky advocate.”By Vnek's recollection, his love for the spirit blossomed in graduate school. “That's when I started appreciating scotches,” he says. Vnek honed his taste for scotch both stateside and on several trips to Scotland—one of which was especially notable. “My wife and I went to Scotland on our honeymoon, which just shows you the...

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...

Part of being a luxury hotel is stocking a respectable whisky selection, but only a handful go the extra mile to woo whisky lovers with curated lists of rarities, private barrels, tasting programs, specialty whisky cocktails, food pairings, and more. Whisky regions like Ireland, Japan, and Kentucky play host to some great whisky hotels, but don't discount Wisconsin, Beverly Hills, and Boston. Whisky fans appear in every corner of the globe and so do the hotels that cater to them.
10 Hotels That Cater to Whisky Lovers
21c Museum Hotel—Louisville, KentuckyLouisville's hippest hotel focuses on art and whiskey and succeeds at both, with just 91 guest rooms and suites built around a contemporary art museum. Its vibrant lobby scene is anchored by Proof on Main restaurant, offering regional foods and more than 250 different American, Japanese, and Scotch whiskies, showcasing around 175 bourbons. There are half a dozen WhistlePig ryes including Boss Hog ($65), half a dozen Van...

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...

Whiskey and ginger seem made for each other. “There is just something magical about the combination of oak-aged spirits and spicy ginger,” says Erick Castro, cofounder of San Diego's Raised by Wolves and Polite Provisions.No wonder variations of the Whiskey Ginger—a two-ingredient Highball with ginger ale or ginger beer as the mixer—have existed since who knows when. But Prohibition “blew up” the drink, says Darron Foy, head bartender at The Flatiron Room in New York City. “Ginger ale was a perfect mixer to temper the odor of the subpar whiskey of the time while providing its own unique flavor point,” he explains.On top of that, Greta Garbo may have helped the drink earn a classy reputation. While playing the title character in the 1930 film Anna Christie, Garbo said, “Give me a whiskey, ginger ale on the side, and don't be stingy, baby.” The movie was the highest-grossing picture of the year.Because the Whiskey Ginger is so easy to make and most styles complement...

As Irish Coffee fans know, combining your favorite whiskey and java brings out the best in both drinks. “Whiskey and coffee often show similar overtones of vanilla, caramel, cinnamon, and baking spices. Their warm flavors are perfectly complementary,” says Franco Bilbaeno, head bartender at Niku Steakhouse in San Francisco. And now is the ideal time of year to take advantage of the internal heat stoked by a warm drink. 
The recipes below take Irish Coffee (coffee, Irish whiskey, and a little sugar, topped with a layer of cream) to the next level yet are still easy to make at home. Warm a mug and get ready to wake up and smell the cocktails.

Wish and the Thing
Created by Richard Willis, beverage supervisor, King + Duke, Atlanta
Combining Punt e Mes vermouth with coffee-infused amaro creates a well-balanced drink that tastes almost like a dark chocolate-covered espresso bean, Willis says. 
Ingredients

1 oz. Laws...

Great barbecue is a labor of love. Whether it’s cooking your meats low and slow over carefully calibrated woodsmoke or monitoring your grill’s hot and cool spots with obsessive attention to detail, great homemade barbecue takes time. These days, no one does it better than Dominique Leach, co-owner, chef, and pitmaster of Lexington Betty Smokehouse, the Black and woman-owned Chicago barbecue standout. Leach has also made a name for herself as a rising Food Network star, with appearances on “Chopped: Playing with Fire,” “Fire Masters,” and more.

Chef Leach has created a fantastic menu that incorporates both the smoker and the grill. For whisky recommendations, we reached out to Abe Vucekovich, former lead bartender and general manager at Chicago’s The Violet Hour and current beverage director of Meadowlark Hospitality. Between Leach’s food and Vucekovich’s whisky pairings, summertime just got a lot...

Mainland Scotland's craggy coast wanders for over 6,000 miles. Add in the islands, and you have around 10,000 miles to explore. These are some of our favorite ways to experience the sea, outside of a briny dram, of course.6 Highly Rated Coastal ScotchesDesign Within ReachDundee is home to the new V&A (Victoria & Albert) Museum of Design, opening this fall. Japanese architect Kengo Kuma's structure, showcasing the best design from around the world, was inspired by the cliffscapes of Scotland's coast.Tee OffThe Open returns to the historic links course at Carnoustie this summer. The 6th hole, Hogan's Alley, can make or break a player's day, and the weather can often be cruel, adding to the challenge. Zach Johnson, Ernie Els, Jordan Spieth, and Dustin Johnson are expected to tee off.Take a Dram on the Wild SideThe only way to reach the Old Forge pub at Knoydart is to trek eighteen miles over the mountains or make the seven-mile sea crossing. Fortunately, the warm welcome, thirst...

Regardless of how or where you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year, you'll need to have Irish whiskey on hand. Whether for sipping neat, with a splash of water, on ice, in a cocktail, or chased by a Guinness, we have you covered! There are four main styles to explore: Single malt, made from 100% malted Irish barley and either double or triple distilled; single pot still, known for its spiciness and distinctive oily mouthfeel, made from a mash of malted and unmalted barley, and occasionally adjunct grains such as oats and rye; single grain, made from different grains in a column still; and blended, made from a combination of any two of the above styles. For the Irish diaspora scattered across the world, St. Patrick’s Day is an opportunity to raise a glass to the old country. When it comes to which whiskeys to pour, we’ve selected everything from neat pours to make-at-home Irish cocktails. In the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, whether you’re Irish or...

WhiskyFest New York offers a chance to meet the makers and other experts behind your favorite whiskies, reconnect with old friends, and even make some new ones—perhaps over a whisky you've never tried. It all takes place this Thursday evening, November 11th at the Marriott Marquis in Manhattan's Times Square. With hundreds of drams to choose from, it's a whisky lover's paradise, featuring pours from nearly every major whisky making country.With such a panoply of choices, you'll need to prioritize your choices. Check out Whisky Advocate's advice on how to make the most of the event. Start by mapping out your can't-miss drams, and remember to eat and hydrate plentifully. Keep tabs on what you're tasting with the free WhiskyFest app or the printed event program.WhiskyFest New York will feature many whiskies that have earned spots on Whisky Advocate's Top 20 lists in previous years. Scotch fans, get ready to explore a wide selection of single malts, blended malts, and blends. VIP ticket...

It may be a surprise to some, but the bubbly fizz of champagne and the robust flavors of whiskey are a match made in heaven. While we’re accustomed to seeing champagne paired with vodka or gin, the mixture of celebratory bubbles and whiskey has long been a bartender favorite.
The storied Seelbach cocktail brought this idea into the limelight in the 1990s when Adam Seger, a bartender at the Seelbach Hotel in Louisville, claimed to have come across the recipe from an old hotel menu. According to modern legend, in the pre-Prohibition years, a clumsy bartender accidentally poured champagne into a Manhattan, and the combination became the Seelbach Hotel’s signature drink.
Never mind that Seger later admitted that he was the one who created the drink—and that he made up the story of its history. But by then the Seelbach cocktail had gained nationwide popularity—and for good reason. The balance of bitters, orange liquor, bubbles, and bourbon create the...

Walk into a trendy bar and you’re bound to find a cocktail touting “fat-washed” as a seductive descriptor, and for a good reason. Fat-washing, popular with mixologists, yields incredibly rich flavors in cocktails. Infusing fats such as coconut oil, bacon, or butter into a liquor lends incredible depth and mouthfeel and can do the same for desserts.
This recipe incorporates both the fat-washed bourbon and the residual bourbon-infused browned butter in a moist almond-based cake. Enrobed in a silky bourbon-vanilla bean buttercream, this richly flavored but lightly textured dessert exhibits subtle toffee and caramel notes. It also acts as a blank canvas for other flavor combinations to highlight fat-washing as an approachable method to elevate the humble layer cake. This cake is a great backdrop for a variety of fall flavors and fillings: Homemade or store-bought pumpkin butter marries beautifully with the toffee notes of browned butter and brown sugar and mellows...

The coronation of King Charles III takes place Saturday at Westminster Abbey in London, and while the ceremony plan is somewhat less extravagant than coronations past, there will be plenty of pomp and circumstance for royal watchers. Many of the whiskies being released in honor of the coronation are anything but pared down. Among the most kingly is Royal Salute's The Coronation of Kings Charles III Edition, a $25,000 blended scotch that's presented in a richly hued sapphire blue Dartington crystal decanter. While the majority of these coronation whiskies are scotches, an English single malt was also in the mix—from The English Distillery's The English Coronation single malt. That one, priced at $105 in U.S. dollars, sold out quickly. But the list offers numerous other celebratory bottles at a variety of prices.
Coronation whiskies aside, there are new releases galore this week. New Riff continues its...

October is often the month with the strongest sales of the year, and The Distillers One of One auction certainly made our monthly list of the 20 highest single-bottle hammer prices more competitive than ever. That hasn’t been the only story, as bottles of Samaroli Laphroaig 15 year old Sherry Wood led both this month’s Whisky.Auction and Whisky Auctioneer sales, and Christie's received a bid of $24,269 for a bottle of Macallan Fine & Rare 1950 52 year old. Sotheby’s also conducted sales in New York and Hong Kong, with the first five of Macallan’s Six Pillars Collection leading the charge in New York. 
Unicorn Auctions “No Reserves” Auction


Auction ended October 8th 


American: Pappy van Winkle Family Reserve 23 year old First Release, $23,400. The rarity of this whiskey distilled at Stitzel-Weller Distillery ensures its place among the most collectible bottles of Pappy’s.
Scotch: Talisker...

With the release of a new batch of Hedonism, Compass Box announced that its signature blended grain scotch will no longer be available year-round. Starting this year, it will become a limited annual release. Compass Box has cited difficulties in maintaining a sufficient supply of high-quality casks of aged grain whiskies as the main reason for the change. Notably, Hedonism 2024 Limited Annual Release uses the company’s last stocks of Cameronbridge from the 1990s, a period when the giant Diageo-owned grain distillery in Fife was producing high-corn content grain spirit.
When John Glaser launched Compass Box in 2000, Hedonism was the first whisky released. Since then, there have been more than a dozen different editions over the years. The 90 point Hedonism Maximus was a reserve edition released in 2007, made with 42 year old Invergordon and 28 year old grain whisky from northern Highlands grain distillery Carsebridge, which closed in 1983. The longevity of Hedonism was...

Still Austin Whiskey Co. opened  its doors in 2017, billed as the city of Austin’s first distillery since Prohibition. It’s located in the St. Elmo District just south of the city center, a former industrial neighborhood that’s now a destination for dining, shopping, and entertainment that also features a brewery, urban winery, coffee roaster, and other businesses. 
The distillery started as a collaborative project between retired business executive Cleveland Seals and his son Chris, along with several other locals. Early on, it recruited renowned master blender Nancy Fraley to help create whiskeys with a grain-to-glass approach, but it set itself apart with its maturation process. The regimen, which was devised by Fraley, sees small amounts of water added to barrels as they age to stave off the impact of the harsh Texas climate. 
The distillery has come a long way in a relatively short time. Still Austin has recently been scoring some high...

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...

Locating the best bang for your buck in single malt scotch can require some serious searching. It's no secret that scotch prices have crept up in the last few years and many releases are small in quantity. And while tasting through thousands of bottles to find the best values isn't an entirely unappealing endeavor, we realize not everyone has the time, or the budget, to do so. Here then are 9 splurge-worthy whiskies that top of our list of favorites and sell for under $100—some considerably less! Best of all, these whiskies are available on many store shelves—you may even have one in your liquor cabinet already. They deliver on aroma, flavor, and finish, offering superb quality for less money than you would spend on a night out.Try One of These 90+ Point Scotches for Less than $100Glenfarclas 17 year old—90 points, $99The sherry-centric house style of Glenfarclas is at its best here: fruity, oaky, sweet, and dense, a dram our reviewer described as “seductive…a femme fatale...

Oats! They're not just for breakfast anymore. Distilling with oats “creates a very creamy whiskey,” says Sonat Birnecker Hart, president and co-founder of Koval Distillery in Chicago. “It covers your palate. It's a little bit earthy…and has a nice sweetness to it as well.” Using 100% oats, Koval crafts a whiskey that Hart describes as clean, bright, and “incredibly grain-forward.”Major American distillers including Jim Beam and Buffalo Trace have previously experimented with oats, but only on a small scale. Perhaps the reason we haven't seen oats widely used in whiskey is the list of unique challenges they present, from milling the thin, pliant grain, all the way through distillation. In creating Woodford Reserve's Master's Collection Oat Grain bourbon, which includes 18% oats, master distiller Chris Morris was met with foaming fermentation that required filling fermenters to a lower than normal level. The oats also created a sticky mash, which made it difficult to...

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...

It might be a holiday week, but new releases do not pause just because the rest of us get the day off. Earlier in the week, we announced the exclusive news that MGP Distillery will launch its first bottled in bond bourbon in November. Remus Volstead Reserve is a limited-edition whiskey, priced at $200, and will be for sale in 14 states. Get the full details in our in-depth article.Although we first reported it back in April, Glenmorangie's newest Bond House No. 1 release is hitting shelves now. Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1991 costs $750 and is available in limited amounts.There are several new scotches launching at travel retail stores, including four special editions of Johnnie Walker Black and 15 rarely-seen single malts from Speyside. While they're only for sale at duty-free stores for now, the whiskies are noteworthy enough to seek out if you're traveling through the right airport.But what about whiskies that are readily available now? WhistlePig is rolling out the third...

Whisky can be enjoyed just about everywhere, but not every place will offer the perfect tasting environment. (Hey, where are the Glencairns and water droppers?!) Nor will everywhere you go even have whisky—and for that reason, you should own a flask. While flasks might have once been seen as the purview of the closet lush, today many high-end design companies are making gorgeous flasks you'll be proud to pull from your pocket or purse.Now you just need to figure out what to fill them with.Since space is of the utmost importance here—some flasks are a mere 3 ounces—you absolutely want higher-proof whisky that can be stretched further. Since you won't necessarily be able to predict how you will be employing the flask (Discreet sipping? Pouring into a soda?), versatile drams are essential as well. And as you most likely won't be enjoying these whiskies in the most optimal tasting setting, this is no time to go for your priciest, rarest bottles.90+ Point Picks Perfect for A...

The deeper we whisky lovers get into our passion, the more we care about the details. Close attention is paid to how a whisky is made, the maturation technique, and, for cocktails, the freshness of the ingredients used. So it follows that taking care when adding ice to our prized whiskies also matters. And that means learning how to make it as clear as possible.“The benefit of clear ice is that there is more control of the water content and temperature you are looking to achieve,” says Sean Meagher, head bartender at Wm. Farmer & Sons in Hudson, New York. Jordan Hughes, founder of High-Proof Preacher and a bar industry photographer well-versed in the home-bartending game, agrees that quality ice matters as it can play a crucial part in your cocktail or rocks pour. “So it makes sense to use the best ice I can make, or get,” he says. “There's also an aesthetic benefit—everyone loves the look of clear ice—but [controlled] dilution is probably the biggest benefit in my...

This article was originally published in June 2020. COVID-related restrictions may affect some of the opening times and offerings of these venues, so check in advance of a visit.No city in the country has deeper roots in whiskey history than Pittsburgh. It was virtually the epicenter of the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794, when farmer-distillers raised arms against federal agents. The area gave rise to our nation's first named whiskey style: Monongahela rye. It was famous long before Kentucky bourbon, and dominated the national market until after the Civil War.Pittsburgh's history is also entwined with the industrialization of the U.S., and it embraces its hard-working reputation decades after the decline of the steel industry. Once a shot-and-a-beer town, the Steel City's move into the 21st century has seen tremendous improvements in everything from air and water quality to food, drink, and entertainment. This heritage makes the city more a rye and bourbon mecca than a haven for other...

Garnishes aren’t only for visual appeal. Most also add a hint of flavor and aroma, engaging more of your senses and, in turn, enhancing the overall experience of the cocktail. Although traditional citrus peels, fresh herbs, fruit on a cocktail pick, and edible flowers should be part of your repertoire, you can also have fun with your drink’s flair.
Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to try chocolate as a garnish. The sweet cuts through any harsh notes in whisky, allowing the full medley of flavors to come through, and the spirit can do the same thing in return, making the chocolate’s taste multidimensional. Place your favorite candy or a classic chocolate-covered fruit on the rim, drizzle syrup on top, or shave a high-quality bar over your drink. However you garnish, it’s a match made in heaven.

P.S. I Love You
Created by Lindsay Pawson, bartender, Bank & Bourbon, Philadelphia
“Relive your childhood with a peanut butter...

A few weeks back, we covered the latest Dewar’s cask-finished release, Japanese Smooth, and recently had a chance to talk with master blender Stephanie Macleod about her experience in using mizunara oak to impart flavor. At just $25 and 91 points, we named Japanese Smooth an Editors’ Choice in the Summer 2021 issue.As we enter the dog days of summer, the number of new releases has slowed to a trickle. Four Gate Whiskey Company returns with its Kelvin River straight rye, Jim Rutledge has a new blend of straight ryes called High Plains, and Balcones adds a Sauternes-finished single malt to its range. Read on for full details.Four Gate River Kelvin Rye (Batch 13)Style: Straight ryeOrigin: IndianaAge: 8 year oldABV: 56.5%Price: $185Release: June 2021Availability: 2,470 bottles; GA, KY, TNNeed to know:Distilled at MGP from a mashbill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley, this is the second release of River Kelvin Rye, following its debut last June. It has been aged an additional year, and...

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...

This year's whirlwind WhiskyFest season concluded in San Francisco on Friday December 3rd, as whisky lovers filled the Marriott Marquis ballroom, Glencairn glasses in hand, ready for a night of spectacular pours. Positive energy was in the air as attendees discovered new whiskies and revisited old favorites.A big world of whisky was well represented, including local California distillers like Rod & Hammer's SLO Stills, St. George Spirits, Bespoken Spirits, and Gold Bar Whiskey. Whiskies from Scotland, Ireland, Japan, India, and France were also on offer, giving WhiskyFest goers a chance to taste around the globe in a single night.

St. George Spirits from Alameda was one of the California-based distillers present at WhiskyFest San Francisco.
There were great American whiskeys in abundance as well, including new and rare expressions. Jack Daniel's was pouring its much sought-after 10 year old Tennessee whiskey as well as its Single Barrel Coy Hill, the highest proof...

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...

We first reported on Brother's Bond bourbon, the new whiskey from actors Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley, back in January, and as of this month, the four grain whiskey has wider availability. We spoke to Somerhalder and Wesley about the friendship that led to this whiskey's creation.As for new whiskies this week, there are plenty from all around the globe. Michter's is releasing its annual 10 year old bourbon. Priced at $150, it is highly limited.Kentucky's New Riff Distilling has a 6 year old malted rye available in-state for now at $60.The Singleton is releasing its oldest whisky to date. There are just 235 bottles of 54 year old single malt available worldwide, priced at $40,100.Even more limited is Midleton Very Rare Silent Distillery Chapter 2 with just 70 bottles going for $45,000.Tullibardine is introducing two new single malts to the U.S., a 12 year old for $45 and the no age statement Artisan for $30. Both are widely available.Independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail has...

Take dessert to a whole new level with a compatible whisky, and enjoy as the flavors mix and match. Whisky Advocate recently called on Whiskey Cake Kitchen & Bar, a restaurant with locations in Texas, Florida, and Oklahoma, to make three suggestions for dessert pairings that are perfect for the spring season.
Lime Cheesecake Paired with Auchentoshan Springwood


Complete with a pecan-graham cracker crust, this tangy, creamy cheesecake is the quintessential spring dessert. Whiskey Cake Kitchen & Bar's beverage manager Alan Dean chose Auchentoshan Springwood as the lime cheesecake’s perfect match. Along with some of the traditional flavors you would expect from this scotch, its creamy body and notes of lime zest pair seamlessly with the smooth texture and citrusy flavors of the lime cheesecake.
Crust:

1 cup pecans, crushed
1 cup granulated sugar
¼ cup unsalted butter, melted

Filling:

2...

It’s a great week for American whiskey lovers, with new releases from Beam, Heaven Hill, Michter’s, Barrell, Kentucky Owl, and more. Freddie Noe has introduced another chapter of Little Book, which spotlights unique blends; this release is no different, combining five unique bourbon and rye components. Heaven Hill has followed up the May release of its Grain-to-Glass bourbon with the second iteration of its Grain-to-Glass rye. Elsewhere, Michter’s returns with its two Legacy Series brands, Shenk’s Homestead and Bomberger’s, which honor key figures in the distillery’s history. Rounding out the week in new releases are fresh bourbon batches from Barrell and Kentucky Owl, a rye from Wigle Distillery, a high-rye straight malt from Root Shoot Spirits, and an Irish single grain from Two Stacks.
Little Book Chapter 9: “None For Granted” Blend
ABV: 60.9%
SRP: $160
Availability: Limited
Fred B. Noe master distiller...

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...

While Macallan took the top position once again in May, Dalmore and Old Fitzgerald finished second and third, respectively, ending Macallan’s four-month run of sweeping the first three spots. The 20 highest-selling bottles in May were valued at a total of $797,967, and it was an eclectic list that featured nine labels from Scotland, six from Japan, four from the U.S., and one from Ireland.
In terms of specific names, the ever-present Macallan and Karuizawa led the field with four entries each, while Dalmore, Van Winkle, and Hanyu Ichiro’s Malt Card Series each had two. The other leading names included Willett, Midleton Very Rare, Bowmore, and Brora.
Dalmore’s second-place finish was its 49 year old second edition in its Luminary Series, a partnership between Dalmore and Scotland’s Design Museum that’s a partner of  London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, known as V&A Dundee. The Dalmore is producing three bottles of each of...

The Whisky Advocate Awards exist to recognize excellence in the world of whisky. Now in its 22nd year, the program is about the world's greatest whiskies and distilleries, and the individuals who make and promote them. As always, these awards are not simply assigned to the whiskies that get the highest ratings in our reviews. The winners might be the highest-rated, or they might instead be the most significant, or the most important, or represent a new direction for a category or niche. These awards are the oldest and longest-running annual whisky awards program. There is no fee, there are no entry requirements. We taste and sample over the course of the year, at year's end we consider and confer, and then we make our decisions based solely on the merits of the whiskies...as we have done for over twenty years.We hope you enjoy the selections, and wish you the best in the coming year!Craft Whiskey of the Year: Dad's Hat RyeAmerican Whiskey of the Year: John E. Fitzgerald Very Special...

The Whisky Advocate Awards exist to recognize excellence in the world of whisky. Now in its 21st year, the program is still about the world's greatest whiskies and distilleries, and the individuals who make and promote them. As always, these awards are not simply assigned to the whiskies that get the highest ratings in our reviews. The winners might be the highest-rated, or they might instead be the most significant, the most important, or represent a new direction for a category or niche. The awards process is not, in short, a mere numbers-based formula. It is recognition of a combination of excellence, innovation, and tradition, as well as great-tasting whisky. Our Buying Guide reviewers reach a consensus on the awards. These awards are the oldest and longest-running annual whisky awards program. We taste and sample over the course of the year, at year's end we consider and confer, and then we make our decisions based solely on the merits of the whiskies…as we have done for over...

The Whisky Advocate Awards exist to recognize excellence in the world of whisky. Now in its 20th year, the program is still simply about the world's greatest whiskies and distilleries, and the individuals who make and promote them. As always, these awards are not simply assigned to the whiskies that get the highest ratings in our reviews. The winners might be the highest-rated, or they might instead be the most significant, the most important, or represent a new direction for a category or niche. The awards process is not, in short, a mere numbers-based formula. It is recognition of a combination of excellence, innovation, tradition, and…simply great-tasting whisky. Our Buying Guide reviewers reach a consensus on the awards. These awards are the oldest and longest-running annual whisky awards program. We taste and sample over the course of the year, at year's end we consider and confer, and then we make our decisions based solely on the merits of the whiskies…as we have done for...

The Whisky Advocate Awards exist to recognize excellence in the world of whisky. Now in its 19th year, the program is still simply about the world's greatest whiskies and distilleries, and the individuals who make and promote them.As always, these awards are not simply assigned to the whiskies that get the highest ratings in our reviews. The winners might be the highest-rated, or they might instead be the most significant, the most important, or represent a new direction for a category or niche. The awards process is not, in short, a mere numbers-based formula. It is recognition of a combination of excellence, innovation, tradition, and…simply great-tasting whisky. Our Buying Guide reviewers reach a consensus on the awards. We're happy to welcome our new Canadian whisky reviewer, Davin de Kergommeaux, to that group.These awards are the oldest and longest-running annual whisky awards program. We taste and sample over the course of the year, at year's end we consider and confer, and...

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...

Once upon a time you had to go to Las Vegas or Atlantic City to visit a casino. Now there are more than 700 across 44 states, according to theAmerican Casino Guide. With such a long list vying for your cash, there's no need to gamble on finding a suitable whisky—many casinos now offer selections for everyone from the penny-slot player to the high roller.This article was originally published in April 2020. COVID-related restrictions may affect some of the opening times and offerings of these venues, so check in advance of a visit.Whiskey Down at MGM Grand—Las VegasThe biggest hotel in Sin City has an oversized whisky program to match and, like the casino, it's open 24/7. Whiskey Down's offerings include an MGM-selected single-barrel Kavalan Sherry Cask and private casks from independent bottlers like Gordon & MacPhail—currently a 1997 Macallan bottled for the bar at 46% ABV instead of 43%, the only one of its kind. It has a rotating selection of other rare Macallans, which...

The days of Prohibition may be far behind us, but the allure of the speakeasy lives on. Since these clandestine watering holes tend to be hidden behind unmarked doors or tucked away within another establishment, just being inside a speakeasy means you’re “in the know,” adding a level of intrigue. The speakeasies listed here all boast excellent whisky selections, and a couple are even located in the same buildings where real speakeasies existed in the 1920s, so you can truly be transported back through history as you sip your favorite— thankfully completely legal—dram or Prohibition-era cocktail.
Apothecary 330 
Fort Lauderdale
This spot can be found inside Pizzacraft Artisan Pizzeria, behind a sliding door next to the kitchen. Away from the bustle of the pizzeria, the cozy bar harkens back to the 1920s with leather Chesterfield chairs, chandeliers, and an ornate wooden backbar holding an impressive selection of over 300 whiskies...

Whether you're on a quest for a new pour, buying a gift, or searching for a unique bottle to share with friends, shopping for a whisky can be overwhelming with the abundance of choices available today. Our Summer issue serves up a list of 95 high-scoring whiskies priced at $100 or less. Consider this list when seeking a whisky to mix up in a refreshing summer cocktail; we've curated a list of 10 whisky-based drinks to beat the summer heat. Plus, bartenders shared their tips and tricks to elevate your at-home mixing. Prefer to leave it to the professionals? Visit any or all of the 10 waterfront whisky bars featured in this issue. And that's not all. This issue also covers the nitty-gritty of bottled in bond, a whisky lover's travel guide to Newport, Rhode Island, and a plethora of reviews of recently released whiskies. Happy shopping and...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

In order to stop the spread of COVID-19, it is vital that we all keep our hands clean, refrain from touching our faces, and practice social distancing wherever and whenever possible.Let's be clear: There is no substitution for washing your hands thoroughly and often using soap and water. However, if you don't have access to soap and water or are looking for an at-home project with real-world value, you can convert high-proof whiskey into hand sanitizer. Distilleries around the country have already begun producing hand sanitizer for hospitals and the general public, and if you have a bourbon, rye, or other whiskey that is high enough in proof, you can do the same.The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends hand sanitizers with a minimum of 80% ethanol, which eliminates almost every whiskey on the shelf. While higher is better, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that hand sanitizer with a minimum of 60% ethanol—a characteristic that is met by whiskeys of...

We've got plenty of new whiskies this week, both for ardent collectors and more casual fans. Old Forester has unveiled the second edition of its Warehouse Series, while Heaven Hill has announced the annual release of Parker's Heritage, which is a wheat whiskey this year. From Scotland, Bruichladdich has released the latest vintage of Port Charlotte Islay Barley, while Daryll McNally, best known for his work at Dublin Liberties Distillery, is reviving Limavady Irish whiskey in partnership with Vermont's WhistlePig. Read on for full details.Old Forester The 117 Series Warehouse KStyle: Straight bourbonOrigin: KentuckyAge: Not statedABV: 55%Price: $50Release: August 2021Availability: LimitedNeed to know:The first release of The 117 Series, called High Angels’ Share, featured bourbon from barrels with an unusually high rate of evaporation. This release, called Warehouse K, highlights barrels aged on different floors of the eponymous warehouse, which is known for its exceptional...

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...

The biggest new release of the week is Johnnie Walker's female-focused The Jane Walker Edition, a special package for Black Label. I had some thoughts about how Diageo missed the mark with this one—and a suggestion for what they could have done to promote women's representation in whisky instead.Apart from this limited-edition bottling, there are many other new whiskies to try. Woodford Reserve is releasing a new annual special edition: Woodford Reserve Batch Proof. The whiskey is a higher-strength version of its core bourbon. It will be available in limited quantities for $130, and the proof will change from year to year. The 2018 release clocks in at 62.9% ABV.Tullamore D.E.W. has unveiled the latest addition to its range of Irish whiskeys, finished in a cask that was seasoned with demerara rum from Guyana. The blended whiskey will sell for under $30 and be widely available just in time for St. Patrick's Day.Luxco—whose Lux Row Distillers recently opened in Bardstown...

The first WhiskyFest of 2019 hits Chicago on Friday, March 29—and it's going to be a heck of a night. With literally hundreds of whiskies to choose from, figuring out what you most want to try is key. There are the obvious bucket-list whiskies—like Pappy Van Winkle and the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection—as well as a slew of selections from the 2017 and 2018 Top 20, like High West Double Rye, Port Charlotte 10 year old, Knob Creek Cask Strength Rye, Glen Moray 18 year old, Ardbeg An Oa, 1792 Bottled in Bond, and Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2010, 2017 Whisky of the YearElijah Craig Barrel Proof, and 2018 Whisky of the YearNikka From The Barrel.And there's so much more! You could spend the evening tasting only bourbon or scotch, voyaging around the world of single malt, or focusing on whiskies with a shared trait, like the same age or cask finish. Or you could use this list as a guide to some of the bottles Whisky Advocate's editors are most excited about. Be sure you get your...

One of the many joys of being part of a whisky club is tasting in the company of others who also enjoy the water of life, but acquiring whiskies can pose a challenge. Today's whisky world is highly competitive for buyers, and your quest for new and unusual whiskies can often feel like one space forward, two spaces back. However, with a dedicated team and a solid strategy, your whisky club will be well-rewarded. Be prepared to visit distilleries, take road trips to liquor stores, pore over auction catalogs, and scour Travel Retail shops. In the game of whisky shopping, you have to play to win.Choose Your TeamDoug Spencer started the Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based WhiskyHead Tasting Club in 2013 to create an environment where like-minded people could learn more about whisky. “I was still new to whisky back then, but had enough knowledge to know that a lot of people had either never been exposed to whisky or were turned off by previous experiences with cheap whisky,” Spencer says. “The...

When entrepreneurs Keith and Fawn Weaver launched Uncle Nearest in 2017, it presented a remarkable piece of whiskey history that captured the imagination. The brand got its name and inspiration from Nathan “Nearest” Green, an enslaved man who made Tennessee whiskey in the 1850s and taught a young Jasper “Jack” Daniel the art of distillation. (After he was freed following the end of the Civil War, Green went on to be named the first-ever master distiller at the Jack Daniel Distillery.) As Nearest Green’s story spread among modern drinkers, so too did his namesake whiskey, with the brand quickly developing a name for itself. Just two years after its establishment, the brand opened its own visitor center, called Nearest Green Distillery, in Shelbyville, Tennessee, about half an hour away from Jack Daniel Distillery in Lynchburg.
The opening was just the first move in what the Weavers planned to be a four-stage expansion project, which also included a...

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're getting into whisky collecting, you'll need to familiarize yourself with auctions, which are one of the best ways to get your hands on rare bottles. Start by learning the basics of navigating the auction process—it's not as complicated as it sounds.These are the leading whisky auction houses of the world. Each will deliver to the U.S. where state law permits. Be sure to check specific auction details for applicable taxes and be aware that terms and premiums can change.
Acker Merrall & Condit
Live and online wine auctions held on two continents with a track record of bringing fine quality Japanese bottlings to their catalogs.
Locations: New York and Hong Kong
Buyer's Premium: 23.5%
Auction frequency: 15 wine auctions per year with up to 50 whisky lots per auction
Bonhams
Long-established live auction house with a considerable presence in Hong Kong that attracts a wealthy international clientele.
Locations: Hong Kong...

The year is wrapping up, and if you're still in search of a whisky gift, we have pairing ideas, more splurge-worthy items, and of course, our year-end Top 20 list is full of special and exciting bottles. It's also easier than ever to have whiskey delivered to your doorstep, but laws vary by state, so be sure to read our report on the developing landscape of direct shipping.There are a few new releases out this week, notably, an 18 year old from Crown Royal; Diageo has announced the Distillers Editions for its popular single malts like Lagavulin, Oban and Talisker; and Firestone & Robertson adds a blended bourbon to its Experimental line. Read on for full details.Crown Royal 18 year oldStyle: Blended whiskyOrigin: CanadaAge: 18 year oldABV: 40%Price: $140Release: December 2021Availability: Limited; NationwideNeed to know:This new 18 year old whisky is the oldest in Crown Royal’s current lineup.Whisky Advocate says:Crown Royal discontinued its XR expression in 2019, and as is...

Worn leather cowboy boots, cream-colored Stetson hats, and wide-open desert space dappled with cacti—these are visions of Texas in the mind's eye. But there's much more to the Lone Star State, including a dynamic whiskey scene. The ties to whiskey are not deep, as distilling arrived here just over 15 years ago. Yet even as a newcomer, Texas is rapidly building its whiskey credentials as distilleries become firmly rooted across the state, creating a colorful patchwork of styles and flavors.A key part of the picture in Texas is its multifaceted climate. Roughly the same size as France, it has a landscape that's nearly as varied. In Texas Hill Country west of Austin, dense forests, wildflower fields, and sparkling blue lakes see extreme temperature swings—daily averages can vary from 42°F to 95°F over the course of a year. In the southern reaches of Texas, sweltering humidity creates tropical conditions all year, thanks to proximity to the Gulf of Mexico. By the northern borders...

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Minneapolis was the flour milling capital of the world. No spirits enthusiast should write this off as mere trivia. Minneapolis's legacy as the linchpin of America's breadbasket is echoed in its local food and drinks scene today, and the city is also now a brightening star on the country's whisky map.Like most Midwestern cities, Minneapolis is a sprawling patchwork of neighborhoods. There are buses and a light rail system, and Nice Ride Minnesota is a dependable bike and e-bike rental service—although rideshare is the best bet for making optimal use of your time. Minneapolis is also a good walking city, except when a deep freeze sets in. Throughout its neighborhoods and riverside paths, antique signs and other vestiges of old immigrant communities can be spotted amid the trendy shops and restaurants.The centrally located North Loop, on the edge of downtown, is an ideal home base for your stay. The Hewing Hotel is a stylish...

Mashing is the stage in whisky production that takes place right before fermentation, but it’s seldom mentioned in discussions of the whisky-making process. Distillers touting flavor usually talk about maturation, finishing casks, rare heirloom grains, exotic brewing yeast strains, or specialty malts. Mashing is not a big topic, and high-gravity mashing even less so. 
While high-gravity mashing sounds like something that might require assistance from NASA, it’s actually fairly straightforward. It involves scaling back the amount of water added to the mash tun, to create a more concentrated and flavorful wort prior to fermentation. The “gravity” part merely refers to the overall density of the wort, which contains a higher intensity of certain flavor-bearing esters. It’s a technique used by scotch distilleries including Inchdairnie and Teaninich, and has now been deployed by Ardbeg for Smokiverse, its Fèis Ìle release for...

Whether you're a skier or a snowboarder, or a laidback lodge dweller, there's something that unites all of us: the après ski experience. While there are après ski spots aplenty that tout strong beer lists, finding one with a standout whisky selection is more of a challenge. But rest assured that such bars do exist, livening up major resorts across the country.
Whiskey All The Way
High West Saloon—Park City, UtahLocated at the base of the Quit'n Time ski run at Park City Resort, High West Saloon bills itself as the world's first and only ski-in/ski-out gastro-distillery.While beer and wine are available, the focus here is on whiskey—even the food is made to pair with High West drams and cocktails. The distillery's four core whiskeys are available as individual pours or in a flight, and the cocktail menu is well worth exploring—kick back and enjoy some of the many drinks on offer, which include such specialized winter warmers as twists on the hot...

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...

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...

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...

France produces some of the finest luxury goods in the world: perfume, jewelry, wine, and fashion. Its fine wines and cognacs command high prices and top auction bids, prized for their quality and collectibility. Now, a new producer is looking to add whisky to that illustrious list.Alfred Giraud, a blended malt French whisky, is launching in the U.S. this month with two expressions: the unpeated Heritage, priced at $155, and its peated sibling Harmonie, which is $190. There are less than 1,000 bottles of Heritage for sale here, and just a few hundred of Harmonie. Currently available in France and New York, the whiskies will eventually be sold—in similarly allocated amounts—in London, Hong Kong, and Shanghai.Such high prices and their accompanying small bottle counts aren't uncommon, but they're usually reserved for rare, age-stated scotch or Japanese whiskies. Little more than three decades old, France's whisky industry is still in its nascent stages, and the majority of its...

Whisky Advocate’s Summer 2021 issue hit the newsstands this week, featuring the latest on Ireland’s whiskey renaissance, a look at Japan’s distillers under the country’s new classification guidelines, and a tour of heavy metal rockers who are making whiskey in collaboration with craft distillers. There’s also a feature on home whisky rooms and the folks who’ve created these elaborate spaces. Pick up a copy of our Summer issue today, or order a subscription here.This week’s new releases include a single barrel rye from Old Forester, a 13 year old bourbon from Wild Turkey, a light and sweet single malt from Glenmorangie, a pair of single barrel whiskeys from WhistlePig, and more. Read on for full details.

Old Forester Barrel Strength Single Barrel Rye
Style: Straight ryeOrigin: KentuckyAge: Not statedABV: VariesPrice: $80Release: June 2021Availability: Limited
Need to know:
After introducing its straight rye in 2019, Old...

It’s mid-October, which means we’re drawing ever closer to the spookiest time of year: Halloween. This year, match your favorite sweet treat to a whisky—take Raisinets, for instance, which are a fantastic complement to George Dickel 11 year old Bottled in Bond given the lush, deep, dark fruit qualities of that whiskey. Of course, it's not just chocolate treats that suit whisky, and this guide offers up our favorite Halloween candy-and-whisky pairings.
As for new whisky, being in the thick of fall also means that new releases continue to flood in. Aberfeldy is back with an 18 year old whisky aged in red wine casks—this one from a Tuscan winery. Kentucky Peerless brings back its absinthe-finished rye, while Michter's returns with its 20 year old straight bourbon. Read on for full details.

Aberfeldy 18 year old Tuscan Red Wine Cask
Style: Single maltOrigin: Scotland (Highland)Age: 18 year oldABV: 43%Price: $130Release: October 2022Availability...

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...

Bourye, High West’s blend of bourbon and rye whiskeys, was once a national release, but that ended in 2019 as the distillery ran low on its aged sourced stock. (It also had a three-year hiatus from 2012 to 2015 after its original 2009 launch, as the distillery tinkered with the blend.) Since then, Bourye—when available—has been limited to Utah, and with the latest release, it narrows that field even further, becoming a distillery exclusive. 
This year’s Bourye is a blend of straight rye and straight bourbon whiskeys aged for a minimum of 10 years. Two ryes are in the blend; one is sourced from MGP and uses a mashbill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley, and the other is own-make from High West’s Wanship distillery that’s made from 80% rye and 20% malted rye. As for the bourbons in the blend, one comes from MGP and uses a mashbill of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley, and the second is sourced from Kentucky and made from a mashbill of...

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...

The drumbeat of craft distillery acquisitions continues, as this week brought news of Maryland rye maker Sagamore Spirit being acquired by Illva Saronno, the Italian drinks company best known for its Disaronno amaretto liqueur brand. Sagamore's story is one that any whisky lover can appreciate: it was founded by the deep-pocketed Kevin Plank, famous for his Under Armour sportswear brand, who spared no expense in launching Sagamore's distillery on Baltimore's waterfront back in 2017. From the start, the company has been serious about its mission to restore Maryland rye's reputation, and its own-make whiskey is just now starting to come of age. In an interesting twist, yesterday Illva Saronno also unveiled a new amaro label called Sagamore Spirit Amaro, which includes Sagamore Spirit rye distillate.
Earlier this week, Diageo announced the fourth release of its coveted Prima & Ultima whiskies. This year's edition marks the first time this collection of...

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%...

It's been an exciting couple of weeks for Macallan. First, two bottles of Macallan distilled in the 1920s each garnered bids of over $1 million at auction. A few days later, Macallan's new, eye-popping distillery opened in Speyside, and it announced that the core lineup of single malts is getting a makeover. Now the distillery has unveiled the oldest whisky it has ever bottled, a 72 year old distilled back in the 1940s. Naturally, the grandparent-aged single malt—packaged in a custom Lalique decanter and elaborate wood box—will cost a pretty penny: $65,000. Only 600 decanters are available, including 156 for the U.S.Also new in scotch this week, Balvenie's  latest batch of Tun 1509 is rolling out. The limited-edition single malt combines 29 different casks, chosen by malt master David Stewart, in a marrying tun. Bottles run $399 apiece and, if past scores are any indication, this whisky will be very, very good.Kentucky Owl is releasing the second batch of its 11 year...

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...

Whisky doesn't mix well with many things, specifically driving or operating heavy machinery. However, when it comes to more leisurely summer pursuits like mowing the lawn, surfing, or camping, whisky makes a surprisingly suitable stand-in for the more typical cold beer. So as you head out for summer adventure, always remember to pack your sunscreen—and your whisky.Here are the best whiskies for summer's outdoor activities.For backyard grilling:Balcones Brimstone—$74, 84 pointsMuch as Scotland's whiskies often include peat, American craft distillers have embraced smoke as a native ingredient, with whiskeys boasting mesquite (Whiskey Del Bac) and applewood smoke (Wasmund's Single Malt). Brimstone is made of blue corn, and the whiskey itself—not the grain—is smoked with Texas scrub oak. Like a side of slightly-charred jalapeño cornbread, this offering is perfect for sippin' while flippin' burgers or brats. (And when it's finally dinnertime, check out our recommendations for the...

A lot has changed about the business of putting people on boats and sailing them around the world since Gavin “Captain Stubing” MacLeod strode the decks of “The Love Boat” in the 1980s. Take size, for example. The Pacific Princess, the real ship that the fictional Stubing navigated to and from Puerto Vallarta each weekend, had capacity for all of 780 passengers, whereas today's largest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean's immense Harmony of the Seas, can accommodate close to 7,000 travelers. And it's not just the size of the ships that has grown, but also that of the cruise industry itself, with the trade group Cruise Lines International Association reporting that 24 million passengers were expected to set sail in 2016, up from a mere 1.4 million in 1980. Then there is the extravagance of it all, far removed from the days in which cruising was mostly a pay-as-you-go proposition. Today's luxury cruises, whether on ocean or river, are mostly all-inclusive affairs...

There’s no shortage of great whisky bars in New York City. There are those that celebrate American whiskey, others that spotlight scotch, and some that feature Irish or Japanese whiskies. In today’s (hopefully) post-pandemic world, some of the city’s most-beloved whisky spots are sadly no longer with us: places like Noorman’s Kil, Coogan’s, Angel’s Share, Highlands, Ward III, and others did not survive the shutdowns. But whether you’re looking for a nightcap, a whisky-filled evening, or whisky on top of dinner and a show, we’ve got you covered. From up and down Manhattan and across the river into Brooklyn, these Big Apple whisky bars will leave you happily drammed.

Bar Moga
Sure, it’s fun to go to a bar that offers a little bit of everything, especially if you’re with companions who prefer different styles of whisky (or something else altogether). If it’s Japanese whisky you’re after, head straight to...

The Vendome pot stills at Michter’s Fort Nelson distillery in Louisville have had quite a life. They were built in 1976, and first made whiskey in Schaefferstown, Pennsylvania, for Pennco Distillery—a contract distiller whose clients included a small brand called Michter’s. How did those very stills end up in Kentucky, and what other hands did they pass through? We detailed their origin story, and how they ultimately landed with Joseph Magliocco, owner of the Michter's brand today.
There’s new whisky aplenty this week, starting with the annual Ardbeg Day single malt, this one a particularly peaty dram. Elsewhere, Crown Royal returns with the final edition of its Noble Collection, and Proof and Wood has another Polish rye in the offing. Read on for full details.
Ardbeg Heavy Vapours
Style: Single malt
Origin: Scotland (Islay)
Age: Not stated
ABV: 46%

Update October 16, 2024 – Mackmyra has been rescued from bankruptcy after  approval was granted for it to be acquired. The distillery’s new owners are its principal shareholder Lennart Hero and Swedish investment company No. 1 Capital. Hero briefed Swedish newspapers that the business was purchased for just over 100 million krona, which is close to $10 million. The new owners pledged to retain as many of the existing staff as possible and to develop the Mackmyra brand to give it a greater global presence. It also offers fresh hope to Mackmyra’s many private cask holders who, following the bankruptcy, discovered they had only paid for the whisky but not the casks, which were still owned by the bankruptcy estate. Barrel owners were not entitled to remove their casks either, due to Sweden’s alcohol laws. As a long-term backer of Mackmyra, Hero is expected to honor the existing agreements with barrel owners as the distillery gets back to work. ...

With one notable exception, American whiskeys are the stars this week’s new releases. Most are limited edition and experimental, such as the two distillery exclusives from Angel’s Envy—one a bourbon that explores grain and the other a rye that features flavors of peat smoke—and the latest Master’s Collection bourbon from Woodford, which does a deep dive into just how American oak can influence whiskey. Heaven Hill has also introduced this year's Grain-to-Glass wheated bourbon, while O.H. Ingram, the brand best known for aging its whiskeys on the Mississippi River, is back with a wheater of its own. From outside Kentucky, there’s even more bourbon to mine. The Peyton Manning and Andy Roddick-owned Sweetens Cove returns with not one but two new Tennessee bourbons, Texas-based Garrison Brothers has debuted a bourbon finished in rye barrels, and Colorado’s Laws has added another bourbon to its Four Grain lineup. From Seattle...

Many whisky drinkers prefer to try a small pour of something before committing to buying a whole bottle. That's whyWhiskyFestis perfect for the curious drinker. There are hundreds of whiskies to sample, including new releases that may not have even made it to store shelves yet. (WhiskyFest is also a great time to revisit old favorites, or try highly rated whiskies you've never gotten around to tasting—like these top scotch and bourbon picks.)WhiskyFest San Francisco 2017 will have plenty of new drams to taste, including some—like the unaged and barely-aged Tennessee whiskey being made by John Lunn and Allisa Henley—that will never be sold at retail. Here are the can't-miss new whiskies at WhiskyFest San Francisco, all available with a general admission ticket. (And yes, there are still tickets available—buy yours before they sell out!)New Holland Beer Barrel RyeA sister whiskey to New Holland's Beer Barrel Bourbon, this limited-edition rye is just now launching in select...

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...

Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. master distiller Caleb Kilburn and chief operating officer Cordell Lawrence are leaving the company to launch new distillery in Eastern Kentucky. The venture, to be called Eastern Light Distilling, will be built from the ground up in Rowan County near the town of Morehead, about 66 miles east of Lexington, and will represent an investment of more than $143.7 million.
The business plan calls for Eastern Light to be a custom contract distiller for craft whiskey makers—a model similar to those at Bardstown Bourbon Co. and MGP. The new facility will have a production capacity of 90,000 barrels annually, making a variety of whiskeys including bourbon and rye, but not limited to those. Both Kilburn and Lawrence will stay on at Peerless while they get the new project underway.
The new project is expected to create a total of 50 new jobs, not including the construction work need to build the site. Little was disclosed about the...

Among the latest new releases, Ardbeg takes us back to the the turn of the new millennium with some of its first whisky made in 2000, while Glenmorangie is out with the fourth edition of its Cadboll Estate label, made from barley harvested on its estate in the Highlands. From the U.S., Iowa whiskey maker Cedar Ridge has released its first sherry finished bourbon, while Ireland's Boann Distillery makes its global debut with a trio of Irish single pot still whiskeys—two of them finished in sherry casks and the other in madeira casks. Up until now, Boann has been best known for its branded whiskey The Whistler, and also for its work with old Irish mashbill recipes, specifically its Vintage Mashbill Project, done in collaboration with Irish whiskey historian Fionan O'Connor.
 
 
Ardbeg Vintage Y2K Single Malt Scotch
ABV: 46%
SRP: $800
Availability: Ardbeg.com, the distillery visitor center, Reservebar.com, and...

Bib & Tucker has launched The Golden Spike, a 15 year old bourbon that’s hitting shelves now. This is the oldest whiskey yet released by Bib & Tucker. Previously, its most aged expression was a 12 year old Single Barrel Small Batch (No. 102258), launched in 2022.
The whiskeys of Bib & Tucker have scored well in Whisky Advocate tastings, with five releases over the past three years rated 91 points or higher. Its 6 year old Small Batch (No. 24) finished at No. 14 on our Top 20 list back in 2021. Bib & Tucker’s sister brand, Redemption, still leads the portfolio in terms of age, with the 2017 release of its Redemption 36 year old bourbon. Only 18 of those bottles were made available, and last year one of them sold at a Sotheby's auction for $36,000. That 36 year old was part of an ongoing collection of rare, super-aged releases from Redemption called The Ancients, which has also included an 18 year old rye, of which 300 bottles were produced. Future...

Solera aging came into being in Spain’s Jerez region back in the 18th century, originating as a way for sherry makers to artfully blend wines of different ages while keeping flavors consistent. Previously, it had been common for sherry producers simply to blend their new vintages with the previous one.
In a traditional solera system, barrels of all ages are stacked atop each other to form a pyramid. The oldest liquid lies at the bottom of the pyramid, while the newest is at the top. As older liquid is pulled from a solera system’s bottom tier, more new liquid is added to the top row. Over time, the various aged components mature in concert. Because it’s topped up year after year, a solera system can go on for quite some time—the oldest existing solera systems in the world have been operating since as far back as the end of the 18th century.
While solera aging started with the Spaniards, it wasn’t long before the system was adopted by vintners...

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...

Apple cider isn't just a delicious cocktail ingredient—it's great for some whiskey-infused baking too. Apple cider donuts (or muffins) dipped in luscious maple-bourbon glaze make a perfect seasonal treat, and are surprisingly simple to bake at home. In addition to the cider itself, spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg meld together to create a mouthwatering flavor profile that perfectly matches the whiskey topping.Maple and bourbon have long been a perfect pairing—maple flavors are often found in bourbon, and many of the whiskey's other common notes, such as pecan and vanilla, seamlessly blend with the syrup as well. When combined with the apple and spice flavors of the donut, you get an end product that perfectly captures the taste of autumn and early winter. The bourbon flavor in this glaze is potent, so make sure to choose something you like—and since less than two tablespoons are needed, don't be afraid to reach for the good stuff. We tested this recipe with both...

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...

With tariffs dominating the news headlines, auction houses have been busy assessing what the implications will be. Highland Whisky Auctions temporarily suspended all shipments to the U.S. in early April, before implementing new processes in line with the tariffs and offering U.S. collectors an additional three months of free storage. Spink, China, and Grand Whisky Auction updated their customer information to inform them that import tariffs into the U.S. will be based on the country of origin of where the goods are produced. That would mean the UK rate of 10% would apply to scotch, Welsh, and English whisky; the European Union rate of 20% would cover Irish and other whisky produced in EU countries; a rate of 24% on Japanese whisky; and Taiwanese whisky would be held to a 32% tariff. American whiskey bought from auction houses outside the U.S. would be free from tariffs. When the tariffs were then paused for 90 days and left at the 10% rate for most countries, the rules changed...

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...

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...

As the summer sun fades and cooler evenings arrive, so does our appetite for lighter, fruitier desserts. The arrival of autumn calls for more full-bodied comfort food, and this layered chocolate tart fits the bill: A wonderfully easy, rich, and no-frills treat that will likely win over even a staunch no-dessert crowd, thanks to its savory salty and smoky finish. It’s also the perfect excuse to reach for something beyond that go-to bottle of bourbon. This dessert harnesses the uniquely robust expressions of a scotch—specifically a peated scotch that lends a distinct smokiness reinforced by the smoked almonds in the crust, and holds up perfectly to the rich chocolate atop a sweet and salty butterscotch. 
A peated or otherwise smoky single malt scotch is a stellar accompaniment for those who love intense desserts with a savory edge. Talisker Storm delivers smoke and a distinctly briny bite, and is a surprisingly welcome addition to the luxurious butterscotch...

New whiskies this week truly run the gamut from Irish blends to craft rye, with ages ranging from 8 months to 18 years.Jameson is launching The Blender's Dog in the U.S. The whiskey is part of Jameson's Whiskey Makers Series, which celebrates the different crafts that go into producing a finished whiskey. In Winter 2016, the Blender's Dog was rated alongside the other two whiskeys in the line, The Cooper's Croze and The Distiller's Safe (all were available in Europe first)—and The Blender's Dog outshined its siblings with a 90-point rating. It should be easy to find on store shelves.Other new Irish whiskeys this week include Prizefight, a blend sourced from West Cork Distillers and finished in American rye barrels from New Hampshire's Tamworth Distillery. There's also a sourced Irish blend bottled under the Bogart Drinks label, which celebrates—you guessed it—Humphrey Bogart.Speaking of American rye, Redemption is releasing its oldest whiskey to date, an 18 year old rye that was...

Missouri has joined Kentucky and Tennessee in regulating specific rules for its own style of whiskey—in this case, Missouri bourbon. We spoke to distillers about the measure, which includes an unusual requirement for barrels made of Missouri-grown oak. But for those of you heading to the liquor store (which you should be doing every time you travel, by the way), there are several new whiskies to seek out.Laphroaig is rolling out the 2019 Cairdeas. This year, it's a cask-strength (59.5% ABV) version of the distillery's Triple Wood expression. It's available in limited amounts for $80.Shortly after confirming that its Quinta Ruban expression is going from 12 to 14 years old, Glenmorangie has revealed that it's dropping the age statement for Nectar D'Or, which was previously bottled at 12 years old. The whisky's price ($77) and availability remain the same.Loch Lomond Distillery has released a special-edition 2002 vintage single malt in partnership with pro golfer Cristie Kerr...

No matter how you prefer your whisky, there's no denying the benefit of adding a bit of water. Some drams open up with a splash, and we have a handy calculator to help you determine exactly how much to add. A dropper is an ideal tool to add a precise amount of water; check out these stylish and sleek droppers, including one from glassware company Glencairn.If you are looking for a whisky for adding water, we have those as well. Old Forester has released the details for this year’s highly sought after Birthday Bourbon, Dewar's adds to its Smooth line with a mizunara finish, and Uncle Nearest commemorates the opening of its distillery visitors center with a special release. Read on for full details.Old Forester Birthday Bourbon (2021 Release)Style: Straight bourbonOrigin: KentuckyAge: 12 year oldABV: 52%Price: $130Release: September 2021Availability: LimitedNeed to know:This year’s batch of Birthday Bourbon, the 21st edition from Old Forester, comes from 119 barrels that were filled...

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...

With 2023 in the rearview mirror, we look forward to a new year of exciting sales on the global auction market. January’s calendar contains mainly online auctions including holiday sales that closed early in the month, but the traditional auction houses hold very few live auctions at this time of year. The result thus far has been an eclectic mix of whiskies vying for spots in this month’s 20-highest hammer prices, though the big money seems to be sticking with Macallan.
Whisky Hammer
Auction ended January 2nd  


Scotch: Macallan The Red Collection 78 year old, $53,051. This expression has depreciated by $27,000 since February 2023.
Japanese: Karuizawa Emerald Geisha 33 year old Cask No. 8908, $15,789. A 2018 release of 170 bottles from a single sherry cask.
American: A.H. Hirsch Reserve 1974 16 year old, $2,432. A Preiss Imports bottling with the foil cap, rather than the wax closures of the...

Penelope Bourbon was founded in 2018 by entrepreneurs Danny Polise and Mike Paladini, who created the brand with sourced whiskey from MGP and then began by selling it to retailers door-to-door in their home state of New Jersey until they could find a distributor. Last year it all paid off, as MGP swooped in to acquire Penelope for $105 million.
Penelope’s secret to success is its cask finishing, primarily with its Cooper Series, a high-scoring line of cask-finished whiskeys. Now, Penelope is aiming to capture some of that magic by releasing a new version of a fan-favorite rye. Penelope Bourbon Tokaji Cask Finish is a rye with a mashbill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley, distilled at MGP’s Ross & Squibb Distillery. After aging at least 8 years, the distillate was re-casked in tokaji wine barrels—sourced from an undisclosed winery in Hungary—for 8 1/2 weeks and bottled at 53% ABV. 
Some things have changed from Penelope’s first tokaji...

Barrel staves toasted in a smokeless fire pit? That’s a new one for us. In an unusual partnership, Vermont WhistlePig has teamed up with Solo Stove, a maker of portable stainless steel fireplaces for the backyard and beach, to toast its barrel staves. Elsewhere around the whiskey world, Elijah Craig is out with this year’s Batch B, and it’s a bit older than Batch A—closer to the 12 year old level that was the norm before Elijah Craig owner Heaven Hill removed the age statement last year.  Westland Colere has a new edition, and there's a new whiskey in the Woodford Reserve Distillers Series.
 
 
Elijah Craig 11 Year and 2 Month Old Barrel Proof Bourbon (Batch B524)
ABV: 65.3%
SRP: $75
Availability: Nationwide
The newest batch of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, B524, was aged for 11 years and 2 months—featuring slightly older liquid than the previous batch released in January.
Only three batches of...

Known for its strikingly dark appearance, stout beer has a fairly successful relationship with whisky. Both work well served side by side—especially to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, when it’s all but expected to pair your favorite Irish whiskey with a creamy pint of Guinness. Other drinkers even mix the two together, for popular concoctions like Irish Car Bombs. But some whisky makers have taken things to the next level, using stout cask finishes to elevate their expressions.
Stout casks are quite popular with distillers who specialize in single malts. Part of the reason for that lies in the fact that both drinks are made from barley, and thus have complementary flavor profiles—rife with dark chocolate, coffee beans, espresso, fudge, and roasted coffee. That combination is perhaps best seen in Lagavulin Offerman Edition: Guinness Cask Finish, a 95-point beauty from Islay that was named our 2021 Whisky of the Year. It was finished for 4 months in Guinness...

Whisky Auctioneer brought the excitement back to whisky auctions this month, breaking the auction record for Hanyu on its way to setting the highest hammer price of the year so far. Close on its tail was a huge bid for a one-off bottle of Macallan 1967 from the Anecdotes of Age Collection. Among an array of high-value sales, these two were Whisky Auctioneer’s highest-value lots to sell since their May 2022 auction. This helped set March on a trajectory that should see the 20-highest hammer prices break the million-dollar mark for the first time in 2025.
That outcome will largely depend on the results from Sotheby’s, whose parallel auctions in New York and Hong Kong conclude this week. Check here to see if Sotheby’s, Hong Kong beat Whisky Auctioneer’s new Hanyu auction record, as they too are selling a bottle of Hanyu Ichiro’s Malt Card Series 1988 Ten of Spades this month. Not only that, but Sotheby’s, New York has an exclusive Macallan, a...

The key to pairing food and whisky lies in matching flavors. Food is simple enough—cherries are fruity, nuts are, well, nutty. But bourbon can have a whole array of flavors: fruit, caramel, peanuts, cloves, tobacco, root beer—the list goes on. Each individual bourbon has its own unique flavor profile. Throw in barrel finishes and it gets even more complicated.That might sound a bit overwhelming, but when pairing bourbon with food, focusing on just one or two factors is all you need to do. These principles from some of Bourbon Country's leading chefs will get you started on the path to fool-proof pairings.1. Complement or ContrastEvery pairing goes in one of two directions: complementing or contrasting flavors. “When you complement, the flavors of the bourbon and the food melt into each other,” says chef Annie Pettry of Decca Restaurant in Louisville, KY. “This experience gives you the feeling that you have just tasted the perfect match and you cannot tell where one ends and...

“Non-chill filtered” is a big selling point for American whiskey, a point of pride that's emblazoned on many a bottle of bourbon, rye, and American single malt. Private single-barrel picks and other exclusive whiskeys are almost always bottled at high strength without chill-filtration, and many drinkers take it for granted that a high-quality whiskey will not be chill-filtered. In fact, the practice of chill-filtering is often regarded negatively.But why is it bad? What does chill-filtration actually do to a whiskey? Are whiskeys that are not chill-filtered automatically superior to those that are? Whiskey makers are best positioned to answer these questions, but even among distillers, there's less consensus than you might think. And some of the whiskeys you like the most—well, they may just be chill-filtered.How Chill-Filtration WorksAll whiskey is filtered before bottling to remove particulate matter from the barrel. Chill-filtration is a more meticulous refining process...

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...

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...

They say everything is bigger in Texas, and that’s certainly the case at Haywire, a bar and restaurant in Plano that holds 600 people, with several distinct indoor and outdoor spaces across three levels. On the open-air rooftop alone, there’s a bar with high-back stools, outdoor dining tables, a classic Airstream camper cut open and filled with couches, firepits surrounded by Adirondack chairs, and three six-person climate-controlled canvas A-frame tents, for a Wild West vibe.

The second floor is conventional full-service table seating for the upscale restaurant, which specializes in high-end steaks and refined comfort food with Texas-sourced ingredients including locally farm-raised beef. There’s also a bar where guests look into the open kitchen, and all of the food and drinks are available anywhere within the complex, including the three bars. Plano is an affluent Dallas suburb, and Haywire sits in a pedestrian mixed-used development, across the street...

Barrell is back with two releases in its ultra-aged Grey Label series, a bourbon and a rye, the latter being a blend of two whiskies with 100% rye mashbills from an undisclosed Canadian distiller (most likely Alberta Distillers, which is known for its high rye mashbills.) That Canadian entry is the only non-U.S. whiskey on today’s list, which also includes a new 7 year old, high-rye expression from Baker’s—a welcome new addition for Baker's fans, who always want more from this somewhat sparsely available label. Louisville distiller Rabbit Hole, meanwhile, has a limited edition 8 year old rye from its Boxergrail label.
Elsewhere, Blue Note is offering a new honey barrel expression, while Log Still Distillery has a new rye, and Lost Lantern is out with a new collection of 10 year old single cask whiskeys.  Although Halloween and Thanksgiving still await, some whiskey makers are already unveiling their holiday whiskeys. Old Potrero...

The first of 40 rare and bespoke scotch whiskies have been unveiled ahead of the third Distillers One of One auction this fall. The oldest whisky to be offered will be a magnum of Glen Grant Eternal 77 year old distilled in 1948, while other highlights include a glass sculpture incorporating a Port Ellen bottled for the distillery’s bicentenary, the oldest-ever expressions of Aberlour, Aberfeldy, and Old Pulteney, and the Founder’s Reserve decanter by Glencairn Crystal, which contains a blend of whiskies created by master whisky maker Richard Paterson. The auction will take place on Friday, October 10th at Hopetoun House near Edinburgh, Scotland.
Distillers One of One is run by the Worshipful Company of Distillers, one of the UK’s oldest livery companies (trade guilds) that was founded in 1638. It has partnered with Sotheby’s to handle the auction side. The event, launched as a biennial affair in 2021, allocates 100% of the hammer price of each lot to...

WhiskyFest alights on the nation's capital on April 17th, and it's the perfect chance for whisky lovers to seek out new, rare, and classic drams from all around the world. Of course, scotch whisky will be flowing in great abundance, and this year's event offers many fantastic whiskies for the scotch enthusiast to revisit or discover for the first time. Here are a few of our top picks.Be sure to check out the full list of pours, as well as our guide to getting the most out of WhiskyFest. And if you don't have your tickets yet, get them here!GlenglassaughWe don't blame you if you don't know Glenglassaugh, located on the border of Speyside and the Highlands. After all, the distillery was closed from 1986 until 2008, and is only beginning to reestablish itself. If it takes the same path as acclaimed sister distilleries BenRiach and GlenDronach, Glenglassaugh's future is bright indeed. Taste it for yourself with Glenglassaugh Revival, the first single malt since the distillery's rebirth...

Bigger isn't always better, but when it comes to whisky, higher proof equals more flavor—literally, as alcohol contains all the flavor molecules found in a dram. (The rest of it is just water.) And cask-strength scotch offers some of the biggest, boldest, richest flavors in the whisky world.Cask-strength single malts score well with tasters and consistently punch their way to the Whisky Advocate Top 20. Each of these whiskies is cask strength or has minimal adjustment for consistency (typically less than 1% ABV).Big Proof, Big Flavor: Get the Full Force of Single Malt With These Seven WhiskiesArdbeg Corryvreckan—95 points; 57.1%, $90Dark fruit and spices, combined with powerful savory and saline peat flavors, evince why this is a classic of the genre.Glenmorangie Astar (2017 Release)—94 points; 52.5%, $100A rare cask-strength Glenmorangie; the bouquet of flowers and sweet intensity are matched by voluptuous oak. (2017 Top 20—No. 2)Lagavulin 12 year old (2017 Diageo Special...

Some of the best cocktails are the simplest, as the Gold Rush—a modern classic just like the Penicillin—proves.In 2000, Sasha Petraske opened Milk & Honey in New York City. His long-time friend T.J. Siegal invested in the bar and also bartended. According to Robert Simonson, author of several cocktail books, Siegal knew they had a very rich honey syrup on hand. So one night in the bar's early years, he requested a Whiskey Sour made with the syrup. “The Sour is thought to be a pedestrian cocktail,” Simonson says. “You wouldn't think such a simple change would be so important, but everyone who had this drink raved about it. The syrup dressed it up and gave it a more luxurious mouthfeel.”The Gold Rush soon became a standard not only at Milk & Honey but at bars worldwide. “So many modern cocktails are a little difficult to make because you need a special ingredient from the liquor store or to create something from scratch,” Simonson says. “But anybody can make...

For us whisky lovers, ’tis the season for indulging in delicious drams that evoke the holiday spirit. The possibilities span all sorts of decadent scents and flavors—Christmas cookies, candied nuts, cinnamon spice, gingerbread, warm apple pie, and pine needles–that are all comforting this time of year. So here is our Christmas list for you, which includes whiskies that deliver seasonal and festive flavors that have scored at least 90 points. No matter what you’re celebrating this holiday season, it’s a perfect time to grab a glass and share any one (if not all!) of these 12 whiskies with family and friends to make the holidays that much merrier. The whiskies are listed in alphabetical order.
Our Holiday Dram Selections
93 points, Arran 18 year old Scotch Single Malt, 46%, $160
The interplay of floral and sherried notes creates an elegance that other scotches surely envy: candied rose petal, dried orange peel and apricot, sugared almond...

March’s 20 highest-priced bottles were valued at $750,900, with plenty of close competition as the top hammer prices were tightly packed between $24,000–$75,000. Three months into 2024, and our year-to-date figure is 22% down on this time last year, a deficit of $625,245.
With a quarter of the year gone, our table below shows that three brands— a scotch, a Japanese, and an American whiskey—account for more than half of monthly top 20 sales so far this year. Leading the pack is Macallan, which secured the top three highest hammer prices for the third month in a row, and nine of March’s 20 slots overall.
While we list whiskies in our table by distillery, independent bottlings regularly take top prices at auction. Entries by Gordon & MacPhail, which announced that it would halt new make fillings for independent bottlings starting this year, have appeared on every monthly list in 2024 so far, with their entries fetching a combined total of more...

American whiskey historically was a bit like the Wild West, guided not by rules and regulations but by a lawlessness that encouraged questionable practices that occasionally resulted in deadly consequences. These included adding color, flavor, and chemicals—ranging from tobacco and turpentine to iodine and kerosene— all the while calling the product “whiskey,” though you’d be hard-pressed to recognize it as such today.
At the same time, distribution was far different than today— though distillers sold barreled whiskey directly to retailers, they also sold to rectifiers, who were both blenders and distributors. While there were a handful of good rectifiers, among them William Weller and Isaac Wolfe Bernheim, both of whom believed in the art of blending, many unscrupulous operators ultimately gave the word “rectifier” a bad name. They were responsible for the above-mentioned atrocious additives, doing it to boost yields and thus...

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...

When talk turns to the country's best bourbon bars, Louisville definitely shines—especially during Kentucky Derby week. While favorites like Proof on Main, The Silver Dollar, and Bourbon's Bistro are sure bets, these recent arrivals are well worth a wager.
Hell or High Water
Hell or High Water is a speakeasy located beneath the bustle of Main St., a few blocks from Louisville's Whiskey Row. Enter through a hidden door and descend the narrow staircase to a softly lit cellar enclave, splashed out with red velvet booth seating and art deco style.While the bottle list is deep, cocktails are the best route. Menus are updated seasonally, and split between Hell (stronger, spirit-forward) and High Water (bright and refreshing). Recent offerings include Cardamum's the Word, made with barrel-pick Russell's Reserve bourbon, rum blanc, cardamom syrup, cardamom tincture, and black lemon ($15). On the lighter side, there is Pass the Torch, a rye-based cocktail with green chartreuse...

Colorado might be famous for its ski slopes and outdoor activities, but its lively distilling scene can’t be overlooked. Here is a peek at 10 must-visit Colorado distilleries and what makes them special. There are all-in-one destinations, like Marble Distilling in Carbondale, with its boutique hotel located inside the distillery. Others are a short walk to great hotels, restaurants, and bars with top-notch whisky menus and fun, only-in-Colorado activities (a whitewater rafting trip that drops you off at a whiskey tasting room, anyone?). All of them share the magic of Colorado’s crisp mountain water, high altitude, and unpredictable weather. From the better-known distilleries to your new favorite hidden gem, Colorado whiskey has something to offer across the board.
Stranahan's: The Original Colorado Whiskey
To many people, Stranahan’s is Colorado whiskey. It was the first legal distillery to open after Prohibition and is the state’s oldest whiskey...

Consider a single piece of chocolate. Like the generic “glass of whisky” you are sometimes offered at a party, it can take several forms and flavors, from intense and complex to simple and sweet. It can cause your eyes to close in rapture or send you searching for a polite way to dispose of it.And that's not all chocolate has in common with whisky, since one can also be an ideal gastronomic partner for the other. The key resides in picking the right combinations from among the myriad possibilities, beginning with a few of the things that make one chocolate much different from another.First, the chocolate that purists will tell you isn't really chocolate at all: white chocolate is made with cocoa butter and typically contains none of the cocoa solids that make chocolate taste so chocolaty, instead being juiced up with sugar and vanilla. Its spiritual cousin is milk chocolate, with still quite modest cocoa content (sometimes expressed as “cacao content”), typically in the high...

The majority of whisky barrels are mass-produced, utilitarian items—ready-to-wear in fashion parlance. But sometimes, you want to dress your whisky in something custom, much like a bespoke suit is made to the customer's exacting specifications, with particular finishing touches like a ticket pocket, turnback cuffs, or horn buttons. Distillers ordering bespoke casks are looking for the same sort of custom tailoring from their cooper, as they aim to make new discoveries, expand the boundaries of flavor, and turn heads. Rather than chasing fashion, bespoke casks can embellish a whisky with a style all its own.Hip to be SquareThere's something wonderfully spherical about the word ‘cooper.' Write it down and feel how all six letters require a curving, looping motion of the hand to form the letters. Like visual onomatopoeia, the word evokes the roundness of wooden casks. So when Swedish master cooper Johan Thorslund was challenged to build a square cask, he couldn't resist.The challenge...

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...

As we move full-on into fall, we are loaded up with high-profile whiskies this week. King of Kentucky is out with its eighth annual release, while Widow Jane drops its seventh annual bottling of The Vaults, the series highlighting ultra-aged bourbons made with unusual cask finishes. Woodford Reserve has a new barrel strength rye, while Baltimore rye specialist Sagamore Spirit has released its first bourbon, a high-rye expression made entirely at the distillery. Among other whiskies, scotch whisky blender Compass Box has tapped into the dessert lover’s palate with a new expression called Crème Brulée Royale, while India’s Rampur Distillery has a new single malt. Meanwhile, college football is in the air: Teeling is back with another expression honoring the legacy of Notre Dame's legendary team, and former Rutgers University football star Eric LeGrand toasts his alma mater with a new bourbon saluting its mascot, the...

Cask finishing can take many forms; its ultimate purpose is to imbue a whisky with layered flavors that elevate its character after initial maturation in a different type of barrel. Rum cask-finished whiskies generally present notes of juicy tropical fruits. Casks that previously held light rums might lend more clean, vegetal sweetness, while richer, molasses notes can shine through in a whisky finished in casks that held dark rum. The flavors imparted by a rum cask can enhance a whisky, from mirroring bourbon’s inherent sweetness, balancing out spice in a rye, or adding layers of flavor to a grain or single malt scotch.
The use of rum casks to finish whisky is an idea that goes way back among makers of scotch and Irish whiskey. In American whiskey, Angel’s Envy was one of the pioneers, coming out with a Caribbean rum cask-finished rye 12 years ago. Producers use rum casks in different ways: as a solo finishing cask, in combination with other casks, or as the sole...

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...

Speyside is as close as most whisky lovers will ever come to the center of the single malt universe. This sub-region of the Highlands takes its name from the River Spey and is home to half of Scotland's single malt whisky distilleries. Visitors are never far from one of these many hidden distilleries, tucked away in small towns and quiet glens. At their best, these soft, fruity, and floral single malts seem to encapsulate the purity of Speyside's light, colors, and moods with effortless grace. Speyside is home to many world-class whiskies that are household names, including Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, and Macallan. At the same time, the discovery of tasty new Speyside gems brimming with irrepressible flair will reward those who dig a bit deeper. Speyside whiskies may have achieved great acclaim, but the region never rests on its laurels.Paving the Way for Single Malts“Over the past four decades, I've seen the Speyside region play an increasingly important part in the Scotch whisky...

When Dale Degroff, renowned mixologist and author of The Craft of the Cocktail and The Essential Cocktail, first saw the Blood and Sand in old cocktail books, “it seemed like an awful, awful collection of ingredients. What a disaster,” he says. But so many respected cocktail books mentioned the drink that he decided to try it in the early 1990s. “It turned out to be excellent,” he says.Drink historians believe a British bartender created the cocktail in the 1920s and named it after a 1922 movie about bullfighting called Blood and Sand. It may have been a marketing ploy to name the drink after the successful film, which starred Rudolph Valentino, in the hopes that adoring moviegoers would also latch onto the cocktail.The recipe, first printed in the 1930 edition of The Savoy Cocktail Book, calls for equal parts orange juice, scotch, cherry brandy, and sweet vermouth, shaken well and strained. The formula appears very simple, yet can also easily lead to an unbalanced concoction...

It's high season for new whisky releases, as everyone gears up for the holidays and rolls out plenty of new options, along with highly anticipated limited editions like the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, the Van Winkle lineup of whiskeys, and the Diageo Special Releases, which were fully revealed this week—with some significant changes, especially for American fans. Other brands are releasing limited-edition packaging in the lead-up to the holidays. J. Rieger & Co. unveiled the annual Holiday Edition label for its Rieger Kansas City whiskey, priced at $35. Meanwhile, Basil Hayden's has partnered with Wildsam Field Guides to create four special-edition labels: one that's available nationally, and three specific ones for Northern California, Southern California, and Brooklyn, New York. The whiskey remains the same—regular Basil Hayden's—but each label features local trivia, hidden spots, and drink recipes. Bottles are priced at $40.On to the new whiskies for the week...

Iconic in presentation with its silver cup and fresh greenery, the Mint Julep is arguably bourbon at its most refreshing. But historically, the Julep has been made with brandy, rum, and even genever—and occasionally without mint—so there's precedent for flexibility.Like many classic cocktails, the Julep benefits from a short ingredient list and ease of execution. Frank Caiafa, beverage director at New York City's The Stayton Room and author of “The Waldorf Astoria Bar Book,” says that respecting simplicity is important. “Keep it basic,” he urges. “Stick to protocol.”Ryan Hart, bar manager at The Crunkleton in Charlotte, North Carolina says that the Mint Julep is easily tweaked to suit the drinker, depending on whether you prefer your cocktail stronger or sweeter. “What's really important is getting the gist of the recipe and learning how to balance it,” he says.How to Make a Mint Julep 1 tsp. sugar or ½oz. simple syrup Handful mint leaves, plus a sprig for...

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...

If you associate iced tea cocktails only with Long Island, it’s time to try something more sophisticated. Combining iced tea with whisky works for two reasons, says Stacie Stewart, beverage director at Nami in Louisville. “The first is that the tannins in tea provide enough structure to add depth to a drink that could otherwise be overpowered by such a strongly flavored spirit. The second is that the subtler notes of whiskies that are often hard to discern on their own can be amplified with the herbaceous flavors and aromas of the tea pairing.”
Different teas pair best with different styles of whisky. “Sweeter and lighter teas can play well with spice in a whisky, while bitter black teas can balance out sweetness in a whisky,” explains Ivan Papic, beverage director of New York City’s Sweetbriar. No matter the combination, these cocktails are the perfect way to kick off spring.

Highland Tea
Created by Sarah Fay Lawson-Stopps, bar...

Inspired by the classic summertime cocktail, the Whiskey Smash, this meringue-based dessert is a showstopper that’s simple to pull together. Like the cocktail, it highlights summer’s bounty of fresh strawberries married with a slightly dry, oaky whiskey and enhanced by mint’s brightness.
Mint and whiskey have a special affinity, likely thanks to the mint-forward compounds whiskey picks up from barrels during maturation. Hard Truth sweet mash rye is a solid addition to the recipe, thanks to a minty punch in the form of what our tasting panel found to be peppermint patties, Moroccan mint tea, and Andes chocolate. It’s the backbone of a boozy syrup, made with fresh mint, tossed with strawberries and strewn atop a free-form meringue shell alongside dollops of fresh whipped cream. 
Like the Smash, this three-part recipe is marked by a key technique: “muddling” or “smashing” so the flavors are evenly incorporated. Here it’s...

The Lowlands have the dubious reputation of producing Scotland's least fashionable whiskies. While it's easy to find whisky lovers who swoon for the peaty malts of Islay and rich, sherried drams of Speyside, the delicate and floral whiskies of the Lowlands have lingered on in relative obscurity—more of a footnote on most whisky lists—until now. From a low of just two operational malt whisky distilleries in 1993, the designated Lowlands region of Scotch whisky production has now grown to include eleven distilleries, with several more in the pipeline. The Lowlands Renaissance has arrived.Lowlands EmergenceThe Lowlands malt whisky region was first defined as part of the 1784 Wash Act, which introduced a theoretical ‘Highland Line,' running across Scotland from the Firth of Clyde in the west to the Firth of Tay in the east, with differing levels of excise duty initially being paid on either side of the ‘line.'The Act aimed to stimulate legal distilling in the Highlands and to...

At industrial-scale distilleries, moving whisky from barrels to bottles is a gargantuan task.The barrel-dumping process is like filling in reverse: Conveyor belts move many casks at a time to a spot over the dump trough, then mechanical arms tip or flip them over to let the liquid run out. The whisky gets piped to colossal storage and blending tanks, rising several stories high and holding tens of thousands of gallons. At this magnitude the tanks are often set on massive scales because precision blending must be done by weight rather than volume. “Temperature in this room can change, and when you're scaling up to this degree, weight won't change,” whereas volume will, explains Hiram Walker master blender Don Livermore.Before bottling, whiskies undergo sensory analysis in the on-site lab, checking characteristics against a standard range of aromas and flavors provided by the master blender. The liquid also goes through tests to check its chemical components, density, turbidity, pH...

The week's new releases are led by Wild Turkey 101 8 year old, which isn't a new release at all, but one that's been enjoyed for some time in overseas markets and is finally coming home to U.S. distribution. Elsewhere, Jefferson's has a new cask strength offering, and Indiana's Old Hamer label has a new 10 year old bourbon. Smaller releases were announced from Copperworks, Lasso Motel, and Round Barn. In scotch, Royal Salute adds to its Polo collection. Among collectibles, there's a new iteration from Macallan Distill Your World,  Glenrothes tops the age charts with a 51 year old, and The Last Drop has a three-bottle release showcasing an ultra-aged bourbon, scotch, and Japanese whisky. 

Royal Salute 21 year old Rio de Janeiro Polo Edition Blended Scotch
ABV: 40%
SRP: $250
Availability: Limited; specialty retailers including  Flaviar and Caskers 
Royal Salute is releasing a new expression in its Polo Collection, its globe-trotting...

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...

Seattle's association with drinks has tended toward the city's world-class coffee and the monster-hoppy IPAs. But Seattle also has an active local craft distilling scene, home to almost 20 distilleries, with many making whiskey.Single malt whiskey has been the object of much local obsession. In the last several years, scientists from Washington State University and Oregon State University have confirmed what distillers and farmers have long suspected: that the maritime climate in this part of the world mirrors that of Scotland, where some of the best single malts are made.But single malt isn't the only whiskey style Seattle distillers are creating. Bourbon, rye, and other whiskeys are also flowing off the stills, often with an emphasis on using local grains and reflecting the terroir of the area.The local whiskeys are garnering praise from near and far, and Seattle is becoming known as a distilling powerhouse. The Washington Distillers Guild is launching an interactive trail map this...

When you're discerning about whisky, bitters, and other cocktail ingredients, the last thing you want to do is ruin a Manhattan by adding an overly sweet, Day-Glo red maraschino cherry. High-fructose corn syrup and artificial coloring and flavoring have no place in a well-crafted drink.Many premium cocktail cherries, like Luxardo, can be bought off the shelf at a significant price. But there's no need to spend an arm and a leg on a great garnish. Making your own cherries is about as easy as making preserves, says Gates Otsuji, a bartender and co-founder of cocktail mixer company Swig + Swallow. “Doing it yourself offers unparalleled control over quality and flavor, giving you the opportunity to tailor the cherries to your own tastes,” he adds.How to Make Whisky InfusionsFollow these tips and step-by-step instructions for delicious homemade cocktail cherriesHave the Right ToolsMason jars and lids with sealable rubber gaskets are essential, as are a cherry pitter, a bowl for the...

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...

The Spring 2021 issue of Whisky Advocate features over 100 whisky reviews, covering scotch, bourbon, Irish, Japanese, and many other whisky styles. Below, check out 10 of the bottles (excluding Editors' Choice and Collectibles) that scored highest, netting 93 points and above.Many of the top-scoring bottles come from distilleries featured in the issue's cover story on the best-kept secrets in single malt scotch. Others highlight the diversity of barrel finishes taking place in American whiskey or showcase up-and-comers in the distilling world.But don't stop here: There are plenty of other high-scoring whiskies in the Spring 2021 Buying Guide, and lots to discover. Check out the full slate of new reviews!Top Scores from Whisky Advocate's Spring 2021 Issue
George Dickel 15 year old Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey (No. L2029-5k-1010)95 points, 52.3% ABV, $60This has Dickel's distinctive oily grain aromas: It's packed with corn and peanuts, and also sweet with brown-sugar oatmeal and...

Coconut may be tough to literally crack, but pairing the fruit with whisky is a sea breeze thanks to the oak barrels used to age many styles of the spirit. “Oak imparts desirable flavors [to whisky] through the addition of soluble sugars, acids, aldehydes, tannins, and lactones,” explains Mark Mentzel, lead bartender at The Elk Room in Baltimore. “Lactones are the biggest flavor provider in oak and offer flavors of stone fruits, celery, clove, and coconut.”
Adding coconut—whether in the form of flakes, milk, water, or oil—accentuates that note and can bring out others, like baking spices, vanilla, caramel, and fruits, as showcased in the cocktails below. From rich and silky to light and refreshing, these drinks may be just the thing to satisfy your wanderlust until you can get to the beach.

Tokyo Cut
Created by Will Patton, beverage director, Bresca, Washington, D.C.
This reimagined Pompadour replaces aged rum with...

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...

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...

Updated December 22, 2023: Calling all whisky lovers who enjoy pairing a great whisky with a fine cigar! Our sister publication Cigar Aficionado has now revealed the full list of its Top 25 Cigars of 2023. The reveal began on Monday, December 18th, with the editors' picks for Nos.10, 9, and 8. The selections of Nos. 5-7 are being announced on Tuesday, December 19th, followed by Nos. 2-4 on Wednesday, December 20th. On Thursday, December 21st, The magazine named its Cigar of the Year—Fuente Fuente OpusX Reserva d'Chateau. The rollout concluded on Friday, December 22nd, with Nos. 11-25. Check it out and choose a nice cigar to savor with your favorite whisky. Better yet, make it a memorable session with a selection of one of our Top 20 Whiskies of 2023 and a Cigar Aficionado Top 25...

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...

Have you been following along with the Top 20 countdown? Whiskies 5-10 have all been revealed, and we'll unveil the the rest of the list next week. Join us for the countdown, and don't forget to enter the sweepstakes to win the top three whiskies!With the holiday shopping season officially underway, now's the time to start thinking about what whisky you want to give—or receive. (For whisky-related gifts that aren't actually bottles, though, check out our gift guide.) Several distillers are offering their whiskies in special holiday packaging, including Hibiki—which we wrote about previously—J. Rieger & Co., and Woodford Reserve. The special bottle for J. Rieger Kansas City whiskey was inspired by a 1910 advertisement for the original distillery and is festooned with holly and berries, as well as a jolly Santa Claus. The whiskey's price is $35, and it's also available as part of a holiday three-pack with J. Rieger's gin and vodka ($85). The label on Woodford Reserve'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...

While whisky itself makes a great gift for aficionados, those whisky-related extras can be a fun add-on for any whisky lover. Whether it's Pappy Van Winkle cigars, a Redbreast birdfeeder for the yard, or your very own Jack Daniel's barrel, here are some holiday gifts to suit a variety of whisky lovers' fancies. You can also smoke your own cocktails, or for the high-rollers, gift a bourbon sculpture to help liven up the whisky room. Happy shopping!
 
Flight Holder
$20
mysticbarrels.com
This tray is handcrafted in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania from Kentucky whiskey barrels, including Heaven Hill and Jim Beam. It is designed to hold three Glencairn glasses (not included) and serves as a nice presentation for tasting flights.
Buffalo Trace Bourbon Scented Candle
$25
buffalotracedistillery.com
Bourbon lovers will relish coming home to the scent of their favorite whiskey. Made by Candleberry Candle Co., this 26 oz. jar...

Father’s Day is on the near horizon (June 16th), and that means the new whisky releases are coming fast and furious. Rye and bourbon dominate the scene, including Wild Turkey's latest Master's Keep edition and the latest ultra-aged, and ultra-expensive expression from  W.L. Weller, Weller Miillenium. But we were particularly interested to see some big news from Sagamore Spirit. When its waterfront distillery in Baltimore, Maryland opened its doors in 2017, Sagamore was redoubling its mission to restore Maryland’s once-great reputation for rye whiskey. Focused entirely on rye, Sagamore initially used sourced liquid while its whiskey matured, gradually blending in its own make. But now comes the moment we’ve been waiting for: the release of its first 100% own-make, permanent rye edition. Things are actually ahead of schedule, as Sagamore originally projected that its first own-make rye wouldn’t be ready until 2025. Our...

Amrut is one of India’s most acclaimed whisky makers, earning high marks for many of its single malts. Since making its export debut in the UK in 2004, the distillery has released numerous whiskies, awakening the world to India’s whisky potential. The vast majority of India’s whiskies traditionally focused on high volume, affordably priced brands for its local market, but its export releases have scored well above 90 points. 
Now Amrut has teamed up with Bardstown Bourbon Co. on Bardstown’s latest Collaborative Series whiskey, which is a blend of American rye whiskeys finished in Amrut Indian single malt barrels and straight bourbons. It’s the first time Bardstown has partnered with a world whisky in its Collaborative Series.
The new whiskey has five different components in its blend. The biggest share at 43% of the total blend is 9 year old Indiana straight rye with a high corn component (45%) in the mashbill. A 20% share is MGP’s...

Warming a whisky cocktail is the equivalent of sitting in front of the fireplace or wrapping up in your favorite blanket on a frigid day. The heat tempers the spirit’s alcohol bite, leading to a more comforting quality. “It almost feels more like medicine than a beverage,” says Timothy Goolsby, bar manager of Post Oak Barbecue in Denver.
Warmth also releases more aromatics, which in turn set free the full spectrum of flavors. The result? A harmonious, integrated drink featuring a different side of whisky than you may be used to. Combined with tea, coffee, cocoa, or cider, it’s a relaxing way to take the chill off and get better acquainted with your favorite spirit.

Royal Robes
Created by George Reilly, owner and mixologist, The Twisted Tail, Philadelphia
Queen Elizabeth preferred Earl Grey tea. Spike yours with rich honey syrup and rye whiskey for a complex, soothing sip that leaves you feeling like royalty, Reilly says.

1½...

This week, Texas distiller Garrison Bros. announced the arrival of its Lady Bird limited annual release, which uses the same recipe as previous expressions—4 year old cask-strength Garrison Bros. Honeydew bourbon with a long cognac cask finish. Yellowstone, meanwhile, is out with a 6 year old that’s the first age-stated whiskey ever for the label.
Elsewhere, Chattanooga has a new pre-Prohibition-style bourbon, while Virginia Distillery Co. adds yet another stout cask-finished whiskey to its lineup. In scotch, Tobermory has unveiled the final release in its five-part Hebridean Series, this one a 27 year old oloroso cask-finished expression. Among world whiskies, Taiwan distiller Kavalan has two 2009 vintage whiskies—ultra-aged in Taiwan’s sub-tropical climate, which is no easy feat.
Yellowstone 6 year old Small Batch 107 Proof Bourbon
ABV: 53.5%
SRP: $45
Availability: Nationwide
Yellowstone, the whiskey brand made by Limestone...

Unlike most classic cocktails—whose origin stories run the gamut from legend to hearsay—the history of modern classic cocktails tends to be more certain. But a lack of mystique doesn't make these drinks any less delicious.Take the Bramble, which was invented in 1984 by English bartender Dick Bradsell. While working at Fred's Club in Soho, Bradsell—whom some have identified as a founding father of London's cocktail scene—decided to invent a British drink with British products. He ended up creating what he considered a variation on the Singapore Sling and named it after the blackberry bush, in a nod to his childhood days on the Isle of Wight. The original gin Bramble calls for ¾ oz. lemon juice, 2 barspoons simple syrup, and 2 shots of gin, shaken and served over crushed ice with a bit of crème de mûre.But somewhere along the way, whiskey was touted as a substitute for gin in the drink. “There's something nice about how the oak profile and spice of whiskey combines with any...

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...

What Scotland may lack in size, it makes up for in diversity. It boasts the highest peaks in the British Isles, more than 900 offshore islands including Skye, Islay, Arran, and Jura, a couple of thousand miles of hiking trails, prehistoric sites, medieval castles, and endless beaches. It has the world’s best collection of golf courses, as well as just about every other imaginable outdoor diversion. Scotland has big cities, tiny hamlets, and everything in between. Spread among the towns, cities, and countryside is a wealth of fantastic places to stay, with charming inns and hotels of every size, at every price point, and for every taste. What they all have in common is that you’re never far from a distillery, and you’re even closer to a fantastic selection of whisky, something every single one of these hotels offers.
The Balmoral
Edinburgh
Edinburgh has a lot of great lodging options, but for 120 years the top pick has been The Balmoral, a landmark in the...

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...

The biggest weekend for Irish whiskey is upon us, and if you're looking for new Irish whiskeys to try, cocktail recipes, the perfect food pairing, or simply tons of information about Irish whiskey to impress everyone at the bar—we've got you covered. After all, there's never been a better time to drink Irish whiskey than right now. And there's an even newer Irish whiskey coming out too—see below.High-rolling scotch fans, meanwhile, can look forward to the latest release in Glenlivet's Winchester Collection, a 50 year old single malt distilled in 1967. As expected, the price is hefty: $25,000. Just 150 bottles of the rare whisky are being released worldwide.The Spring 2019 batch of Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond bourbon is rolling out. Distilled in September 2005, this 13 year old whiskey is available in limited amounts for $130.That new Irish whiskey is the second label from Chapel Gate Whiskey Co.'s J.J. Corry brand. A 16 year old single malt, it's named for a historic pistol...

Don't fret that summer's coming to a close, celebrate that the biggest whisky release season is upon us, and this week serves as a hearty entry, with loads of new single malt scotch and other whiskies.Glenfiddich is hoping you turn to their 23 year old Grand Cru next time you have a toast-worthy occasion. The whisky was finished in French cuvée casks from the country's most famous sparkling wine region. At $300, the single malt will be part of the brand's core range and is widely available starting this month.Less permanent, Four Roses is releasing their annual Limited Edition Small Batch bourbon, this year's release clocking in at 56.3% ABV and $140. Each Limited Edition Small Batch release scores high marks in our Buying Guide, so this whiskey, released for National Bourbon Heritage Month, should appeal to collectors and sippers alike.Meanwhile, back in Scotland, Aberlour has a new A'bunadh expression, Alba, mirroring past cask-strength releases but matured in American oak bourbon...

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...

I'm going to let you in on a secret: Some of the most affordable, quality whisky lies just north of us in Canada. And while many hardcore bourbon and scotch drinkers might kneejerk-assume that all Canadian whisky is for “beginners”—owing to its often light, smooth character—in fact, the country has always produced flavorful, full-bodied whiskies that would appeal to even the most demanding palate. The only problem was that they were mostly being used in blends.That's not the case anymore as Canadian distilleries have wisely started releasing some of these so-called flavoring whiskies on their own: high-proof, high-flavor products that will appeal to more mature drinkers. Canada has likewise begun exploring single barrels and cask finishing, creating additional avenues for experimentation. Open your mind and taste what Canadian whisky can be.Canadian Whisky 201: Intermediate-Level Bottles You Must TasteCaribou Crossing Single Barrel—93 points, $50 The moose-topped cork on the...

Think of whisky, and the places that come to mind are the rugged Scottish Highlands or Kentucky's rolling green hills—definitely not the snow-covered Alps. Yet one of the world's most exciting whisky scenes can be found in land-locked Switzerland. The country prohibited distilling grain until 2008, but its wealth as both an international banking capital and a winter playground has created opportunities to sip and stock up on top-quality, rare, and esoteric whiskies just about everywhere. From high-end hotels to bars both big and famously small, there is an impressive whisky cache to discover.Luxury to LocalThe Bernina Express terminates at a train station in St. Moritz, discharging travelers to the right, where chauffeurs line up to ferry them to century-old grand hotels looming large in the dramatic Alpine landscape. The lobby bar at the nearby Carlton Hotel is home to the strongest whisky list in this pedigreed enclave, offering 100 prized pours with an emphasis on scotch...

Vinegar can be made from apple cider, wine, beer—and whisky. Whisky vinegar isn't common, but it offers potent flavor and has both cocktail and culinary applications. And it's something you can make at home, provided you have the patience to wait for the fermentation to complete. Whether in a non-alcoholic drink, as a base for a shrub to mix in a cocktail, or as an ingredient in the kitchen, whisky vinegar offers new dimensions for enjoying your favorite beverage.“Bourbon vinegar is a great way to taste the flavors without the alcohol,” says Jori Jayne Emde, founder of Lady Jayne's Alchemy and fermentation consultant for Fish & Game in Hudson, New York. “Low-to-no-alcohol drinks are popular these days, and building a drink with bourbon vinegar and a little simple syrup, maybe some muddled fruit, a little bitters, and seltzer is an awesome booze alternative.” Bourbon vinegar can enhance traditional cocktails too; Emde suggests adding a splash to a classic Mint Julep. It's...

There's a pricey new book about "impossible" whiskies that you might want to peruse if you have a spare grand—but for everyone else, check out the week's newest releases (even though a couple of these are just as spendy).Speyside's Glenrothes Distillery is releasing its oldest single malt ever. Distilled in 1968, Glenrothes 50 year old is priced according to its rarity, with just 50 bottles available at $35,000 each.Michter's is bringing back its 25 year old straight bourbon after a three-year absence. The 2020 release is priced at $1,000 and, needless to say, is very limited.Blackened has launched its first barrel-proof whiskey. Blackened Cask Strength debuts with Batch 106, priced at $55, and available in Florida and Kentucky, with expansion planned.Barrell Craft Spirits is rolling out the 2020 release of BCS bourbon, a higher-end blend than the core Barrell bourbon expression. There are 12,000 bottles available, priced at $250.Ireland's The Shed Distillery is debuting its first...

Wait for the heat with this drink created by Lenny Heykants, bar manager at El Chingon Mexican Bistro in Denver. “This cocktail starts citrusy and floral on the palate. The spice creeps in on the back end while still being crisp and refreshing,” Heykants says.
Add Some Heat With More Cocktail Recipes
INGREDIENTS

1½ oz. Rittenhouse Bottled in Bond rye (or other high-proof straight rye)
¾ oz. Ancho Reyes Ancho Chile liqueur
½ oz. fresh-squeezed lemon juice
½ oz. cinnamon-agave syrup (recipe below)
1 dropper Bittermens HellfireHabanero shrub
1 oz. citrusy and floral IPA (such as 4 Noses Brewing Company ‘Bout Damn Time IPA)
Lemon twist and dried chile de árbol for garnish

DIRECTIONS
Combine all ingredients except IPA in a cocktail shaker with ice. Hard shake for 10 to 15 seconds. Strain over cubed ice into a Collins glass. Top with IPA. Stir gently and garnish with lemon twist and...

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...

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...

Who doesn’t like apples? The ripe, luscious peach is now a distant memory of summer, and so it’s apple season—meaning fresh apples, apple pie, and perhaps even a warm spicy rye finished in apple brandy casks. Hudson Rye Calvados Cask Finish is 7 year old whiskey first aged in new oak before a long, secondary maturation in calvados casks from Normandy, France. 
Meanwhile, we're pleased to see that Castle & Key is out with another branded expression, this one a wheated bourbon. We all were very excited when restoration began on this historic distillery back in 2014, forgetting that the process would take a while. In the ensuing years, Castle & Key was relying exclusively on contract distilling, but its first whiskey under the Castle & Key name finally appeared in 2022. Slowly but surely, Castle & Key is starting to develop a true portfolio of expressions.
Uncle Nearest, having already built a successful...

The Macallan recently celebrated its 200th birthday with the launch of an elaborate new release, Time : Space. Its arrival was announced on a high-resolution video screen that covers the entire surface of the Las Vegas Sphere, the globe-shaped arena that opened last year and is the largest spherical structure on the planet. If you want to taste this treasure without buying a bottle, you can cross Las Vegas Boulevard, aka The Vegas Strip, to Aria Resort & Casino. 
In early October, Aria renovated and relaunched its Lobby Bar as a Macallan tasting lounge. The new bicentennial Time : Space release is a crafted, ring-shaped, decanter within a bottle that includes two separate whiskies—the youngest and oldest Macallan releases at 5 and 84 years. Only 200 bottles were released worldwide, at estimates upwards of $150,000. Aria claims to be the only outlet in the nation where you can order a glass of the 1940 vintage whisky. However, while everything else has a set...

For most scotch lovers, Islay is most often talked about in terms of its peated whiskies. Only two of the island’s distilleries make non-peated expressions: Bruichladdich and Bunnahabhain. Bruichladdich’s namesake range is laser-focused on showcasing Islay’s terroir, putting the spirit front and center by leaning into the island’s locally grown barley strains without using peated malt. But the distillery does use peat to varying degrees in the rest of its portfolio. There’s Port Charlotte, a sort of smoky twin to the main brand, showcasing peated riffs on Bruichladdich’s house style. And at the other end of the smoke spectrum sits Octomore: the distillery’s annual trio of single malts that are widely touted as being some of the most heavily peated whiskies available.
But amid all of the focus on smoke and levels of peat content, one key aspect of Bruichladdich’s production process is talked about less frequently: wine cask...

Independent scotch blending house Compass Box has been going through many big changes since its acquisition by London-based investment group Caelum Capital in 2022. In February 2024, Compass Box announced that Hedonism—the grain whisky blend that launched the brand in 2000 and had been a staple of the core range for over 23 years—would become an annual expression going forward. Fans would be rocked again just days later when John Glaser, the brand’s maverick founder, parted ways with Compass Box after over two decades at the helm. He was succeeded as whisky making director by James Saxon, who had been with the brand for over five years.
With its flagship whisky turned into a high-end limited release, the face of the company gone, and a new blender at the helm, Compass Box was set to usher in a new age at the start of last year. The first major shift was a shake-up of the core range, with Spice Tree and Story of the Spaniard getting replaced by two new blends...

With gift-giving season upon us, there's no better time for new whisky. First up, Maker's Mark has a very special Private Edition coming out in December—a custom bourbon created by the competitors on Bravo's Top Chef. Just a few hundred bottles are available for $80 each, going on sale after the second episode of season 16 airs on December 13.Islay distillery Bowmore has unveiled a single malt distilled in 1965 and aged a whopping 52 years. There are just 232 bottles available, but at a cost of $30,000, the list of eligible purchasers isn't going to be too long.Meanwhile, boutique independent bottler The Last Drop is also rolling out a very aged whiskey—this one a bourbon distilled in 1982 at what is now called Buffalo Trace, but was then the George T. Stagg Distillery. It was moved out of barrel in 2002 to avoid becoming over-oaked. At 20 years old, with just 44 bottles available, the whiskey costs $4,000.Another bourbon from the George T. Stagg era is being released by Buffalo...

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...

America's bourbon barrels, which can be used to age whiskey here only once, are the globetrotting alchemical vessels that keep many of the world's spirits flowing, crossing the Atlantic to house scotch or sailing to the Caribbean to cradle rum. Brewers have also embraced these barrels to create complex and robust beers, like Goose Island Beer Co.'s Bourbon County Stout and its many imitators. Now, with the current fervor for American whiskey, barrel aging includes much more than just alcohol beverages, expanding its footprint in the wider culinary world with bold steps and new techniques that promise to bring the magic of barrel-aged flavor to fine dining, or your breakfast table.How Sweet It IsSteven Stallard, a professional chef and whiskey lover, founded Blis Gourmet in Grand Rapids, Mich. in 2004 to put his chef's penchant for ingredient sourcing and flavor construction to work, creating specialty foods like salmon and arctic char cured over whiskey barrel staves. Struck by the...

This is a great week for scotch lovers. A whole boatload of new single malts—and a couple new blends—are rolling out to store shelves. First, Macallan has two new releases to track down: Fine Oak 18 year old—which was released overseas before coming to the U.S.—joins the existing Fine Oak range of age statement whiskies. Macallan Classic Cut, on the other hand, is an NAS whisky bottled at cask strength. It's around for a limited time only and has a recommended price of $89.Macallan's parent company, Edrington Group, also owns Highland Park, and the Orkney distillery has a new whisky designed with music in mind. Highland Park Full Volume is around 18 years old and was matured entirely in ex-bourbon casks. Like Glenmorangie Pride 1974, the whisky has a custom piece of music written to go with it.Compass Box is debuting two new blended malts. Although the company has famously fought for more transparency in scotch labeling, it is deliberately holding back information about its...

Hong Kong has an enviable reputation as the global capital of live whisky auctions, even if not every sale at every auction house can deliver record-breaking prices. All eyes are currently on Bonhams, where rare whisky valued at $1.6 million-$2.1 million goes under the hammer in the Fine & Rare Wine and Whisky sale on August 21. On the block are 326 lots of whisky, comprising 444 bottles split between Japanese and scotch whisky (plus two lots of Van Winkle bourbon). What makes this auction so compelling is the wide range of offerings from closed distilleries, some rarely seen early-20th century bottlings, and the first opportunity for international whisky collectors to acquire the oldest Japanese whisky ever released.
1971 Karuizawa 41 year old Noh bottling (Photo courtesy of Bonhams)High-Value Whiskies From Closed DistilleriesOne-third of the whiskies on sale, nearly 150 bottles, comes from 10 distilleries that closed during economic downturns over the past 40 years. While...

Targeting the smaller pool of wealthy collectors trying to acquire high-value whiskies raises the stakes for those buying whiskies to sell for profit. You are putting your assessment of a higher demand for the whisky up against that of the distiller, who has calculated their release price based on its anticipated appeal.If the retail buyer has an edge it may be that not every factor is predictable in advance; awards, high-scoring reviews, and word-of-mouth excitement all have the power to catapult a whisky onto the must-have lists of collectors, bars, whisky clubs, and investors. Get your timing right and you could reap the rewards of offering the only bottle on the horizon to an eager multitude of buyers. Get it wrong, and your mistake could cost you thousands of dollars.Once you have a bottle in hand, your stratagem as a reseller is to turn a profit: Anything else counts as failure. Demand at auction drives up hammer prices, but in reality you only need two impassioned collectors...

Joining the ranks of Scotland, Ireland, the U.S., and several other whisky-making nations, New Zealand has published guidelines setting out the standards for its native whisky styles. Though the country's exports to the U.S. have been tiny thus far, the new rules could help.There's plenty of new whisky hitting shelves now, however. First up, the folks behind Barrell Craft Spirits have unveiled Stellum, a line of bourbon and rye, including single barrels. The whiskeys are all priced at $55 and widely available.Highland Park is rolling out its third 50 year old single malt, priced at $30,000. There are just 274 bottles available.The Spring 2021 release of Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond is hitting shelves, this time at 8 years old and with a suggested price of $85. As always, it's available in limited amounts.The latest offering in Jack Daniel's Tennessee Tasters' Selection line is called 14E19 Twin Blend—a combination of Tennessee whiskey and rye. There are 24,000 375 ml bottles...

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...

“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...

Tennessee-based Chattanooga Whiskey is best known for its signature high-malt bourbon. The distillery was founded in 2011, during a time when distillation wasn’t even legal in its home base of Nelson County. Founders Tim Piersant and Joe Ledbetter found a workaround by bottling sourced whiskey while lobbying with the state legislature to legalize distilling. Their efforts paid off in 2013, and afterward, they began distilling. After some tasting trials, they ultimately landed on a mashbill of yellow corn, malted rye, caramel malted barley, and honey malted barley, which came to be known as the “Barrel 91 recipe.”
In the modern landscape, where other flavoring grains like rye and wheat get all the attention, Chattanooga’s high-malt recipe is certainly a rare bird. Though uncommon, the mashbill has been well received by fans and critics, and today it’s still the distillery’s go-to recipe for its various main-line bourbon releases. Every now...

Last week it was Aberlour and Craigellachie, and this week it's Glenlivet, which is bringing a series of single-cask whiskies to the U.S., available in just six states: California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, and Texas. The ages and ABVs vary, as do the prices, from $269 to $299.Balvenie is also releasing some single-cask scotch whiskies, but these cost a lot more. The final release of Balvenie's DCS Compendium, Chapter Five, includes five vintage single malts ranging from 16 to 56 years old. Other than the 1962 Vintage—which can be bought individually for $47,000—these whiskies are only for sale as a set of five, priced at $80,000 with just 50 sets available.WhistlePig is rolling out the sixth iteration of Boss Hog rye. This year's release, called The Samurai Scientist, comes from Canada and has some unusual production details. It's priced at $500 and available in limited amounts.The third release of Old Charter Oak, made at Buffalo Trace Distillery, has debuted...

As whiskey lovers look to gather, taste, and learn more about their favorite spirit, whiskey tasting clubs are more popular than ever. Many distilleries have created their own clubs, through which fans can receive discounts, early access to releases, launch-party invitations, and more. Though these clubs have looked a bit different during the pandemic, they still offer whiskey aficionados a way to safely unite in their devotion to the dram.“We have seen a steady increase in membership since the beginning of the pandemic,” says Elisabeth Flaherty, head of hospitality for Utah's High West Distillery, where the High West Whiskey Club was formed in 2016. There is no fee to join, and “membership is maintained for as long as you wish to receive emails from High West,” Flaherty says. She adds that the biggest perk is finding out early when High West's releases are hitting the shelves.KO Distilling in Manassas, Virginia also has its own club—whose members are called PlanKOwners, in...

It’s long been an open secret that a lot of “craft” distilleries buy and bottle whiskey from an Indiana factory called Midwest Grain Products (MGP). You only need flip over a bottle and see “Distilled in Lawrenceburg, IN” to know who is doing it. Often it’s because the distillery’s own whiskey is still aging, and the company needs something to sell during the years of maturation. Dozens of brands offer hundreds of bourbons and ryes that start—in theory—as the same, exact thing. And yet, why do so many of these MGP whiskeys taste so different?
Age matters, of course. So does the fact that MGP offers its clients five different bourbon and three different rye mashbills to choose from, as well as corn and wheat whiskeys, among others. Among them, the distillery’s 95% rye mashbill seems to be the most popular.
“When we started out, we knew everyone and their...

Scotch whisky is often thought of in the context of region, but for those looking to taste beyond borders, the country's coastline offers a guide. Taste the varying flavors of the sea with these 6 whiskies, all from distilleries less than 1,000 meters from the coast.10 Adventures Available on the Scottish CoastArdbeg An Oa—93 points, $60A French Oak marrying vat helps integrate smoky Ardbeg matured in a variety of cask types: charred virgin oak, Pedro Ximénez, and first-fill bourbon. Dark chocolate, peat, aniseed, black tea, clove, and pepper make this a dynamic Ardbeg.Oban Little Bay—92 points, $75Features dried fruits, chocolate orange, a touch of salt, and clove. Combining mature Oban from European oak sherry casks, refill casks with new heads, and refill hogsheads to marry in small oak casks achieves a rich, rounded style.Springbank 15 year old—92 points, $120The oloroso sherry influence brings out soft leather, dried fruits, black tea, brine, peat, spicy tannins, raisins...

Whisky provokes many feelings, and, for some whisky lovers, the creative impulse. Linh Do was a social worker when she first fell in love with the flavors and culture of scotch and began expressing her emotions and ideas through fabric. “I was always intrigued by the concept of taking random subjects and fusing them together,” she says.Do creates bespoke dresses inspired by distilleries, whiskies, and even people, like Compass Box founder John Glaser. Her detailed, handmade creations take weeks to complete, and for her, the process is as important as the final product. “My current motto in my design is ‘If it's too much, I'm on the right track,'” she says. “I'm obsessed with details. Like with whisky, you have to slow down and pay attention to all these subtleties. You have to think about the texture, the aroma, the flavor, and how it moves from beginning to middle to end.”In addition to clothing, Linh creates pen-and-ink drawings and acrylic paintings of whisky scenes...

Commonwealth Distillery was never a famous name, but for many bourbon lovers, it’s a very special place—known as the launching point for some of American whiskey’s most iconic labels, most notably the Old Rip Van Winkle (ORVW) line and its star, Pappy Van Winkle. The story of Commonwealth began in 1983 when Pappy Van Winkle’s grandson, Julian Van Winkle III, acquired the shuttered old Hoffman Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, converted it into a warehouse and bottling facility, and renamed Commonwealth.
Commonwealth became the Van Winkle outpost after the family had been forced to sell its Stitzel Weller Distillery to a Diageo forerunner company back in 1972. Julian Van Winkle was able to obtain plenty of aging stocks from Stitzel Weller (there wasn’t much demand in those days) and transport them to Commonwealth for aging and bottling, which led to the creation of Pappy. He also bottled a number of other treasured whiskeys at Commonwealth...

P.T. Wood and his brother Lee opened Wood’s High Mountain Distillery in 2012 with an 1880 German pot still named Ashley at the heart of their production. Today, Ashley is still cranking, though she’s mostly producing gin and an occasional limited release whiskey. Wood’s High Mountain is now working with a 1,500-liter stripping still and a 1,500-liter finish still producing Sawatch American malt, Tenderfoot American malt, Alpine rye, Dawn Patrol single malt, and limited releases.
The most traditional Wood’s whiskey is Dawn Patrol, but the rest are a bit “out there,” says P.T. “We try not to imitate anybody…let’s put our own signature on this.” They use mostly malted rye, but also chocolate malt and cherrywood-smoked malted barley—specialty malts that are more widely used by brewers than distillers. “But they bring amazing flavors you can’t really build through the aging and barrel extraction...

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...

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...

Welcome to our 2022 list of the world’s 20 leading auction houses—ranked by their most expensive bottle of whisky sold in 2022. The rules are simple; hammer prices of the winning bids for a single bottle are shown without buyer’s premiums, and cask sales and multi-bottle lots are excluded. Prices are converted to U.S dollars using xe.com exchange rates from the date of each auction.
There were hundreds of top-flight whisky auctions across the world in 2022, but competition was intense and several major auction houses simply didn’t make the cut. In terms of specific whiskies, the list includes 11 scotch whiskies (including 9 entries for Macallan), 6 Japanese whiskies, 2 American whiskeys, and one Irish whiskey. During the year, auction houses had to deal with global economic volatility that had an impact on bidding, such as the strong dollar and weak pound, and we saw a growing number of unsold bottles. Our previous lists from 2021 and 2020 are...

Utah's first modern-era distillery needs little introduction for whiskey lovers, and the Saloon, located at the end of Park City Resort's Quittin' Time ski run, next to the Town Lift, makes this “gastro-distillery” an ideal ski-in destination to close the day. Pull a chair up to the bar, crafted from reclaimed wood from the Great Salt Lake Railway Trestle of 1904, and browse the laudable lineup of sourced and craft distilled whiskeys. Or try a cocktail, like The Western Cider, created by lead bartender Holly Booth.
INGREDIENTS

1 oz. High West Double Rye
1 oz. Calvados
2 oz. hot apple cider
½ oz. honey syrup (equal parts honey and warm water)
¼ oz. lemon juice
2 dashes cinnamon tincture (or two drops of cinnamon extract)
1 cinnamon stick garnish

DIRECTIONS
Add the liquid ingredients to a mixing glass and stir. Pour into a hot mug. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.
To make cinnamon tincture:

5 sticks...

The whisky community is responding in various ways to the COVID-19 outbreak. Distilleries are producing hand sanitizer, bartenders are broadcasting virtual happy hours, and whisky lovers around the world are sharing their at-home pours through social media. The hospitality industry is being hit particularly hard, as restaurants and bars are limited to pick-up and delivery orders only. One legendary whisky bar, Washington D.C.'s Jack Rose Dining Saloon, is responding to these developments by putting its entire 2,700-plus bottle whisky collection up for sale at a discount of up to 50% off.“When we come out of this on the other side I want to be debt-free and get everyone back to work—that means selling a shit ton of whiskey,” owner Bill Thomas told The Washingtonian. “It's going to take a little creativity, a little elbow grease. We're doing everything we can.”That includes discounting pour prices for anything below $100 per ounce at 20%; spendy pours over $100 an ounce are...

Cask-strength whisky—straight from the barrel, uncut, and with minimal filtration—is tough to beat. But there's something truly special about sipping barrel-proof bourbon outside in the summertime. As the last of the season's balmy nights fade into fall, look to Whisky Advocate's Summer 2020 Buying Guide for reviews of several new bottles that showcase bourbon at its brawniest, including the four highlighted below.Because these whiskeys pack a punch in terms of both flavor and proof, you may want to try enjoying them with water or even ice. Dilute slowly to find your ideal proof, or add a large rock and discover additional flavors that emerge as the ice melts.Given their high proof, these bourbons offer excellent value too. Even Woodford Reserve Master's Collection Batch Proof—which carries the heftiest price tag of the bunch at $130—could be considered a steal given its exceptional quality. Alternatively, you won't go wrong with Tumblin' Dice 4 year old Single Barrel...

Three years after it purchased Washington's Woodinville Whiskey, luxury spirits conglomerate Moët Hennessy has taken a minority stake in Vermont-based WhistlePig. The financial terms weren't disclosed. The deal will see WhistlePig's international standing increase significantly as Moët Hennessy assumes distribution of the whiskeys outside of the U.S., with a goal of greatly expanding the brand's presence abroad.The move has some synergies with Moët Hennessy's existing American whiskey distillery, Woodinville: Both it and WhistlePig were heavily influenced in their early years by legendary master distiller Dave Pickerell, who passed away in 2018. Before his death, in 2017, Pickerell confided to Whisky Advocate that he expected WhistlePig to be acquired sometime soon. Indeed, the brand and distillery would be a jewel in any portfolio, even one as high-end as Moët Hennessy's. But according to a WhistlePig spokesperson, the possibility of a full acquisition in the future is not on 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...

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...

Glen Scotia is out with the second release in its Icons of Campbeltown series, but the rest of the scotch whisky world is somewhat quiet, although Glenmorangie will soon hit our shores with another installment in its “Tale” series—this one called A Tale of Ice Cream, matured in bourbon barrels as well as “high vanillin” casks that received a special heat treatment to bring our as much vanillin as possible in the wood. We’ll have more next week, but pricing is at around $100 and it’s expected to hit the market on October 1.
On the bourbon front, we have news that Basil Hayden is offering its 10 year old as a permanent member of the lineup—graduating from its previous role as a limited annual release. We’ve been seeing many more aged whiskies lately, a far cry from a decade ago, when the good stuff was in very short supply—indeed, greater age seems to be the message far more than it used to be. Pinhook has a...

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...

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...

Style diversity is a key characteristic of American craft whiskey, but most have one thing in common: youth. They are generally young compared to what the legacy producers deliver, lacking the years in a barrel that lead to mature-tasting whisky. No one has solved the aging puzzle either. Young whiskeys taste young.Unlike most other countries, there is no minimum wood aging duration for American whiskey. Any amount of wood contact will suffice. One type of whiskey, corn whiskey, doesn't need to be aged at all.American whiskey making tradition has deep roots. Fifty years ago, when bourbon sales slumped, several large producers petitioned federal regulators to change certain whiskey labeling rules. One proposal, in imitation of foreign practice, would have imposed a minimum age requirement.The regulators demurred, stating that, “No need was established for a minimum age requirement for current domestic types of whisky.” The ruling further observed that, “there are no appreciable...

Never mind Vegas; Montreal is the original Sin City, a nickname it earned during Prohibition when it quenched American thirst with an influx of Canadian whisky thanks to an alleged deal struck between Samuel Bronfman, of Montreal-based Seagram, and Al Capone. Nowadays, Montreal is known for its fantastic wine bars and brewpubs, but its distilling roots are beginning to reemerge. A handful of craft distilleries have opened recently and Sazerac, which at one time operated out of Old Montreal, started distilling there once again this fall. The Old Montreal Distillery will offer visitor tours beginning next spring.Day OneFor now, local distilling operations in the city are tiny—and young, as are their whiskies. Cirka Distilleries, located in an industrial neighborhood in the city's southwestern quadrant, offers tastings of its vodka and gin as it awaits the blended whisky, 100-percent rye, and single malt aging in the warehouse. Tours of the small distillery end in the sleek tasting...

Kansas City, Missouri is at once historic and modern, both sophisticated in its tastes and irreverent in its maker-fueled energy. It's the kind of place where distillers collaborate with farmers and brewers, and coffee roasters cross-pollinate with chefs and bartenders in all corners of the fifteen-county metropolitan area that's anchored in Missouri and creeps into Kansas.Every visit comes with risks, warns Ryan Maybee, co-founder of J. Rieger & Co. and owner of Manifesto, an intimate craft cocktail bar. “If you come to Kansas City, you'll end up wanting to live here.”Day OneKansas City is a car town, but the KC Streetcar is a great alternative. The two-mile route puts you within easy walking distance of downtown's attractions, plus it's free.It's also handy to Hotel Phillips, an art deco gem that once housed former President Harry Truman's haberdashery and now serves up cocktails and live music at P.S. Speakeasy. Truman often lunched at the nearby Savoy Hotel and Grill...

Would you drink a whisky made by a computer? The question isn't theoretical: Mackmyra Distillery in Sweden is releasing a single malt whose recipe was designed using AI technology from Finnish tech firm Fourkind. The first batch of 5,000 bottles will be available to European customers through the distillery's online shop this fall.The process isn't as complicated as it might seem, although it took about six months to carry out. Mackmyra master blender Angela D'Orazio and other employees started by inputting all the recipes of the distillery's past releases, including cask type, size, age, and warehouse location. They also input data like awards, scores, and reviews for each recipe. Then, the software provided 50 new recipes, each comprised of what it perceived as the best components to create a great whisky.Except that the AI didn't yet understand how the different components of a blend hang together, and ended up creating disparate combinations. “It's like if you take someone who...

A new distillery in the heart of Edinburgh is testing the limits of whisky flavor. Officially opening on July 30 with whisky production starting in August, Holyrood Distillery has a focus on innovative production processes and pushing the bounds of what's expected for scotch.The brainchild of Rob Carpenter—who, along with his wife Kelly, founded the Canadian branch of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society—Holyrood sits in the shadow of the eponymous park, housed in a former railway goods shed dating back to the 1830s. Co-founded by former Macallan master distiller David Robertson, the distillery will produce single malt whisky alongside a range of gins and gin liqueurs. It aims to become one of Edinburgh's top tourist destinations, benefiting from its central location near Edinburgh Castle and the bustling Waverley train station.Holyrood is one of a few new single malt distilleries setting down roots in the Scottish capital, which was once a bastion of whisky production, although its...

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...

It's usually record-breaking sales that grab auction headlines, but recently a massive flop sent shockwaves through the world of whisky collecting: A whisky collection valued at $2 million raised only $236,000 at auction on July 9. Over 81% of the whisky lots passed unsold at the Fine Wine & Whisky sale at Poly Auction, Hong Kong, part of China's largest state-owned auction business. Could these poor results be an early indication that the pool of wealthy whisky buyers in Asia is drying up?After postponing spring sales due to the pandemic, Poly Auction rescheduled its modern art, jewelry, watches, wine, whisky, and Chinese spirits auctions for July. The whisky collection comprised 331 bottles of Scotch and Japanese whisky parceled into 221 lots, with pre-sale estimates valuing it at $1.5 million-$2 million. Poly Auction was anticipating results in the region of $4,636-$5,924 per bottle, but in reality, realized a disappointing $327 per bottle. In the end, sales totaled $235,712, a...

Here's a new crop of reviews that include two classically styled bourbons and two finished bourbons, along with an American single malt from Triple Eight Distillery on Nantucket, which has a loyal following. But leading the way is the long-awaited Maker's Cellar Aged, an aged expression of Maker's that will be an annual release going forward. Full writeups on all these whiskies will appear in the Fall issue of Whisky Advocate's Buying Guide.  


94 Maker's Mark Cellar Aged 2023 Release, 53.8%, $150
Maker’s finally releases an aged expression, and it’s a winner. The extra aging was done in a new cellar built inside a limestone hill near its distillery in Loretto, Kentucky. As everyone had hoped, it carries that Maker’s profile but with lots of aged accents, depth, and complexity. Tasting notes: Blackberry and black cherry pudding, cooked cherries, spiced but mellow, creme brulée, and light nuttiness, as well as...

Like an artist combining colors on a canvas, whiskey-centric retailers are now becoming skillfully involved in the art of blending and finishing barrels of whiskey. “It goes way beyond just picking a barrel,” says Ryan Maloney, owner of Julio’s Liquors in Westborough, Massachusetts. 
Maloney and beverage consultant Randall Bird traveled to Lexington, Kentucky-based Dark Arts Whiskey House last year to meet with company president and chief alchemist Macaulay Minton, to create a new whiskey expression. Dark Arts is a blending, finishing, and re-barreling house built around the concept of alchemy. “We pay homage to alchemy and its seven stages with our label,” Minton says. “That’s where we see the magic coming in. We take great whiskeys from other distilleries, and we transform them by finishing in wine, armagnac, or maple syrup barrels and using different stage techniques to transform ordinary whiskey into liquid...

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...

When formulating the annual Top 20 list, Whisky Advocate's editors consider multiple factors, including quality—a score of 90 points or higher—availability, and affordability. Beyond that, however, we look for singular characteristics that make a whisky unique—what we call "x-factor." With its inventive blend of Highland malt scotch and American single malt, finished in a hard cider cask, Virginia Distillery Co.'s Cider Cask Finished Virginia-Highland Whiskey, number 13 in the 2018 Top 20, had x-factor that simply couldn't be denied. Distillery director Ian Thomas explains how such a unique dram came to be...

Our Top 20 Whiskies of 2024 are being revealed this week at 11 a.m. EST beginning today and concluding on Friday.

Monday, December 6: Whiskies 10, 9, and 8
Tuesday, December 7: Whiskies 7, 6, and 5
Wednesday, December 8: Whiskies 4, 3, and 2
Thursday, December 9: The Whisky of the Year
Friday, December 10: Whiskies 11 through 20

Check here daily and enter for a chance to win our Top 20 sweepstakes

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...

It's long been an open secret that a lot of “craft” distilleries buy and bottle whiskey from an Indiana factory called Midwest Grain Products (MGP). You only need flip over a bottle and see “Distilled in Lawrenceburg, IN” to know who is doing it. Often it's because the distillery's own whiskey is still aging, and the company needs something to sell during the years of maturation. Dozens of brands offer hundreds of bourbons and ryes that start—in theory—as the same, exact thing. And yet, why do so many of these MGP whiskeys taste so different?Age matters, of course. So does the fact that MGP offers its clients five different bourbon and three different rye mashbills to choose from, as well as corn and wheat whiskeys, among others. Among them, the distillery's 95% rye mashbill seems to be the most popular.“When we started out, we knew everyone and their mother were buying MGP 95% rye,” explains David Perkins, founder of High West Distillery. The Utah-based producer got...