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

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

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

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

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

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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

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...

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...

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...

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...

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

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

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

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

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

The 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

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...

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

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...

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

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...

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...

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

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

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...

 
Chattanooga Founder’s 12th Anniversary Blend of Straight Whiskeys
ABV: 50%
MSRP: $60
Availability: Available at the Experimental Distillery starting April 26th, with a retail and online rollout to follow next month
Chattanooga Whiskey was a key player in the revitalization of Tennessee’s whiskey scene. When the distillery was founded in 2011, distillation was not permitted in Chattanooga—the result of a 1909 law that gutted most of Tennessee’s whiskey production. Founders Tim Piersant and Joe Ledbetter sourced liquid while they worked with lawmakers to lift the ban. Their campaign lasted two years but succeeded in the end, and the two began distilling their own bourbon in March 2015; each year, Chattanooga commemorates its history with a blended whiskey called Founder’s Blend. The newest iteration, 12th Anniversary, has just been announced.
The Founder’s series is somewhat unusual because each year the blend is...

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

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

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

Riedel

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


Glencairn

$7
Developed with assistance from...

Johnnie Walker Blue has unveiled a new limited-edition whisky designed to tap the flavor of an Alpine winter. Johnnie Walker Blue Ice Chalet is a winter whisky targeted toward après-ski occasions.
To capture the essence of winter, master blender Emma Walker and her team started by mining historical data from the UK’s Met Office (the national weather service) to track Scotland’s coldest winters over the decades. Walker then targeted Diageo’s most northern and highest-altitude distilleries, notably Dalwhinnie, Clynelish, and Brora, and set out to use whiskies distilled during those winters to create the desired wintry flavor profile.
“We’re almost taking apart Blue Label, and looking at those rare and precious whiskies, and bringing them together in a slightly different way,” said Walker. “We were thinking about new elements of flavors, and when it’s colder the distillation is a different process.”
The effect of...

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

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

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...

It's a big weekend for whisky lovers out west. For the first time in three years, Stranahan's is staging its Snowflake Festival at the distillery in Denver to celebrate the latest release of its Snowflake single malt. The festivities kick off today, and bottles will go on sale tomorrow morning. Tonight is the first-ever WhiskyFest Las Vegas, with whiskies being poured by Bruichladdich, WhistlePig, Hibiki, and many others, and seminars by whisky makers including Dewar's, Maker's Mark, and Suntory.
WhiskyFest is a great way to taste whiskies as soon as they're released, and this week there are some notable names with new expressions. George Dickel brings back its 17 year old Tennessee whiskey, now with wider distribution, and Heaven Hill announces the latest Parker's Heritage release, a blend of aged bourbons. Meanwhile, Johnnie Walker has debuted its latest bottling for the Lunar New Year, which celebrates the Year of the...

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...

Blue Run Spirits launched in 2020 to great anticipation—mainly because its roster included Jim Rutledge, taking on his first major whiskey role since retiring from Four Roses in 2015. In the few years since then, the company has gained a high profile with a slew of well-received bourbons and ryes with Rutledge serving as liquid advisor. Some were contract distilled by Rutledge at Castle & Key, and the rest have come from Bardstown Bourbon Co. Blue Run co-founder and CEO Mike Montgomery says the company has grown 300% year-over-year, and sold close to 200,000 bottles last year. Now it’s making a big leap by building its own distillery.
Blue Run is set to break ground later this year on a 35,000-square-foot distillery and a 20,000-square-foot rickhouse in Georgetown, Kentucky, a small city on the outskirts of Lexington. Plans have been drawn up by Bjarke Ingels Group, the Danish architecture firm behind the Google headquarters, Noma restaurant, and other major...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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

Single pot still Irish whiskey was a breakthrough winner in Whisky Advocate's Top 20 whiskies of 2020, with three expressions—from Kilbeggan, Drumshanbo, and Teeling—making the list. This is a style anchored to Ireland, and has yet to be widely imitated in other nations. Brace yourself for a cascade of fresh single pot still whiskeys from the many new distilleries that have fired up their stills across Ireland in recent years.Although 95% of Irish whiskeys are blends, single pot still is seen by many as Ireland's path to becoming the choice of whiskey lovers around the world. At Midleton Distillery in County Cork, distiller Katherine Condon describes single pot still's character for those yet to discover its delights. “They're spicy, robust, and full-bodied, with a great element of depth and complexity and a wonderful creamy mouthfeel,” she says. The spiciness is a distillate character credited to the unmalted barley, while triple distillation is used to...

In whisky packaging, luxury usually means heavy—think thick bottles with hefty stoppers that double as trophies on a shelf. Johnnie Walker wants to upend that thinking and embrace the notion that lithe is luxurious. Case in point: The new Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ultra bottle, at 6.3 oz. (180g), was just awarded the Guinness World Record for lightest 700 ml bottle. The stopper, made of hollowed-out aluminum, adds approximately 2.5 oz., for a total weight of 8.8 oz.
In other luxury sectors—like watches and supercars—less has always meant more. The lighter, the rarer. But spirits have been different. For fans of Blue Label’s famous square 1.8-pound (850g) bottle, a featherweight replacement might be a bit of a culture shock. Going from something as heavy as a paperweight to the Ultra, a glass bottle as light as six pencils, may take a minute to get used to.
How the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ultra Bottle Was Created
The Ultra bottle is the result of a...

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...

With more and more American bourbon drinkers cozying up to Cognac, Martell decided to create a game-changing spirit to set a new standard for the future. Martell, of course, is the oldest of the great Cognac houses, founded by Jean Martell in 1715. It was likewise the first Cognac company to ship barrels from France to the United States, with them arriving on our shores in 1783. In 2016, the brand wanted to honor this long-standing international relationship with an original interpretation and a modern expression saluting the pioneering spirit of Maison Martell.
Thus, the question was asked: “What would happen if we finished Martell Cognac VSOP in Kentucky bourbon casks?”
The result was Martell Blue Swift, the first ever spirit made with Martell VSOP cognac, matured in fine French oak barrels before taking the audacious final step of being finished in bourbon casks, giving it an unique and exceptionally smooth taste. (Once put into bourbon barrels, it can no...

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...

Our Fall 2021 issue includes over 130 whisky reviews, covering a wide variety of styles. This week, we highlighted the 10 highest-scoring whiskies from the issue's Buying Guide, representing the very best from the whisky world and highlighting both familiar names and more obscure labels.As we move further into October, the exciting new rollouts continue. There’s a fresh release of Booker’s, the latest from Johnnie Walker Blue Label’s Ghost and Rare, WhistlePig’s Boss Hog series, and new wheated bourbons from New Riff and Wyoming Whiskey. Read on for full details.Booker’s 2021-03 “Bardstown Batch”Style: Straight bourbonOrigin: KentuckyAge: 6 years, 5 monthsABV: 62.75%Price: $90Release: October 2021Availability: LimitedNeed to know:The third batch of Booker’s released this year is named after Bardstown, Kentucky, the town where Jim Beam master distillers past and present have lived. Booker Noe, for whom this whiskey is named, lived in Bardstown for more than 50 years...

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

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

Hardin’s Creek Jacob’s...

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...

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...

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...

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

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...

Single malt scotch makes a good showing this week, with new releases from Glenmorangie, Nc’nean, and Bladnoch, in addition to a collectible Laphroaig. In keeping with previous changes to its other core whiskies The Original and The Nectar, Glenmorangie has added some extra aging to its popular Lasanta expression, while Nc’nean unveils its annual release of Huntress. Both whiskeys have reasonably wide availability. Meanwhile, Lowlands scotch maker Bladnoch follows with the second release in its Wave series, and Laphroaig delves into the archive to release a new 38 year old. Among American whiskeys, Blue Note offers a single barrel rye, while Pursuit United has a rye—sourced not from MGP, but from Bardstown Bourbon and Sagamore Spirit. In bourbon, Kentucky Senator has two new additions, while Michigan’s Coppercraft has an MGP-sourced 9 year old.
Glenmorangie The Lasanta 15 year old Highland Single Malt Scotch
ABV: 43%
SRP...

Bourbon isn't bourbon unless it's aged in a new charred oak container; Kentucky's bourbon distillers, in fact, filled 1.7 million barrels in 2018, the vast majority of them made from American white oak. The wood is a crucial part of bourbon's identity and production, yet much about its biology isn't well-understood. Fortunately, help is on the way. The University of Kentucky's College of Agriculture is partnering with Maker's Mark and Independent Stave Company to study the DNA of the white oak and learn how to best preserve and protect the species for future generations.“The current supply of mature white oak is well-established, but the concern lies in the next generation of white oak not being able to make it into the canopy,” says Jason Nally, who oversees sustainability operations and environmental education at Maker's Mark. The canopy is the upper layer of the forest habitat, and according to Nally, other tree species—such as maple and beech—can dominate it, blocking...

Whisky isn't whisky without the barrel it's aged in. Whether it's the vanilla and caramel notes of bourbon, or the rich, fruity influences of a sherry finishing cask, many classic whisky flavors can be attributed to the barrel—and more often than not, it's made out of white oak. Since barrels curve and trees are straight, not all wood types are equal when it comes to barrel-making. White oak triumphs because of its density and strength—those elements make it able to stand up to being bent and curved into staves, while still maintaining its structural integrity. Here, we break down some of the key metrics of this crucial whisky resource.White Oak by the Numbers Some white oaks can produce 2,000 to 7,000 acorns per year American white oaks clock in with 12 to 24 inches of growth per year White oak is often known as “stave oak” because of its frequent use in barrels The average trunk diameter is 3-5 feet A white oak can live for centuries White oak prefers slightly acidic...

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

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

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

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...

It’s the day after Thanksgiving, which means you may have some leftovers in the fridge and a little more time to explore some pairing opportunities. We’ve got you covered on the joys of matching pie and whiskey with a new video that serves pecan, pumpkin, and cherry pie alongside bourbon and rye. Try a few combinations to see what you like best.Announced this week, Royal Salute adds to its Time Series with a 51 year old blend, Blue Run drops a cask strength rye as part of its holiday collection, and The Whistler brings back two of its cask finishes. Read on for full details.Royal Salute The Time Series 51 year old (2021 Release)Style: Blend Origin: ScotlandAge: 51 year oldABV: 45.4%Price: $30,000Release: November 2021Availability: Limited, 101 bottlesNeed to know:The second in Royal Salute’s Time Series Collection includes whiskies distilled no later than 1970—some of which are sourced from ghost, or shuttered, distilleries—and bottled at cask strength. The Time Series...

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

Shopping for your favorite whisky lover can be a tough mission even when you know their personal whisky preferences—especially if you’re looking to surprise them. Thus every year, we scour the planet to bring you some fun gift options to suit the whisky fan in your life. 
We’ve included a few special bottles on this year’s list, but note that we recommend whiskies all year long, topped by our annual Top 20 list, which weighs quality, affordability, accessibility, and x-factor. You can also check out the magazine and website, where the Buying Guide offers scores and reviews. Each issue also our includes our Best Value, Editors’ Choice, and Collectible picks.
It’s a big whisky world out there. If you want to gift something other than whisky, or if your special someone keeps the whisky bar well-stocked on their own, consider these items and experiences this holiday season.
Whisky Gifts to Suit the...

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

This 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...

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...

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...

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

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

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

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

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

The return of Michter’s 20 year old bourbon after being away for two years was certainly the highlight of the week, although getting hold of a bottle of this limited release will prove to be a challenge as always. The 20 year old's arrival came just in time for WhiskyFest New York on Wednesday night, where it was in high demand. Elsewhere among the new  American whiskey releases, Tattersall has two limited edition bottled in bond expressions, while Colorado’s Laws offers two cask-finished bourbons. Other new announcements feature Pendleton, Hidden Barn, and Wyoming Whiskey.
In scotch, Johnnie Walker Blue is out with its Lunar New Year release to commemorate the Year of the Snake, while Macallan has two new whiskies in the fourth edition of its Harmony Series, which this year celebrates Macallan’s use of oak. And finally, from Ireland, Teeling has released another of its aged whiskeys, this one a 24 year old.
Michter’s 20 year old...

When the nice weather arrives, there’s no better place to be than the great outdoors. Chances are you’ll want to enjoy a dram outside now and again—whether it’s an evening at the park, a trip to the beach, an open-air concert, a party, or any other outdoor event. We've put together a list of equipment to make the most of your al fresco affair, so ditch the clunky cooler, leave the breakable glassware, and check out these stylish alternatives to enhance the experience.
Among this week's new whiskies, Blackened is back with a new limited-edition bottle that celebrates Metallica’s 72 Seasons album and M72 world tour, Four Roses has come out with a nifty sample pack of the 10 component whiskeys used in making its various bourbons, and Frey Ranch brings a cask strength bourbon to the table. Read on for full details.
Blackened 72 Seasons Limited Edition
Style: Blend
Origin: Multiple
Age: Not...

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...

Texas does a lot of things bigger; this sheet cake is no exception. Classically, a one-bowl cake baked in a sheet tray, this mellow but morish cake comes together easily. This sweet corn-based sponge has a texture akin to a moist chocolate cake with a hint of fudginess that’s reminiscent of a blondie. It’s underscored with caramelized vanilla flavors thanks to a technique of slow-roasting white chocolate—a pastry chef’s trick, that lends a luxuriant note reminiscent of dulce de leche, perfect for pairing with a honey and whiskey glaze.
Any quality bourbon on the sweeter side will work well with this recipe, like Knob Creek 9 year old, but in keeping with the Lone Star State theme, a Texas whiskey is fitting. Go one step further and highlight the cake’s corn base with a bourbon that showcases some out-of-the-ordinary corn strains.
Still Austin’s Blue Corn bourbon is a stellar option. It’s made from Texas-grown blue and white corn and...

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

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...

It's a big week for whisky lovers with a host of new bottles to look out for—including some from Westeros. Although the Game of Thrones Single Malt Scotch Whisky Collection won't be launching until later this year, we have information on the full lineup, which ranges from Lagavulin to Dalwhinnie to Talisker—and we'll let you know when those whiskies are hitting shelves.Meanwhile, Glenfiddich's newest release is out, and it shows off a whole different side of the Speyside single malt. Fire & Cane is a peated whisky, finished in South American rum barrels, and it's hitting shelves now. It will be widely available at $50 a bottle.Another new, widely available Speyside single malt is coming your way this fall: Aberlour has announced a new whisky in its core lineup, Casg Annamh. Aged in first- and second-fill bourbon casks and finished in sherry casks, the whisky will hit the U.S. later this year at $65 a bottle. Like Aberlour A'bunadh, Casg Annam is a batched product, but will...

New whiskies are coming from all over the world this week. Glenmorangie has its latest Tale Of limited-edition single malt, this one a spotlight on spices. Elsewhere across the pond, Torabhaig has the fourth installment in its Legacy Series, Port Ellen celebrates its 200th anniversary with a 42 year old single malt, and Teeling debuts another release in its multi-year partnership with the University of Notre Dame. In American whiskey, there’s plenty to enjoy, with new ryes from Sagamore Spirit, Wigle Whiskey, and Blue Note, and bourbons from Yellowstone, 15 Stars, and Jackson Purchase. And for the single North American single malt fans, WhistlePig has brought out a 30 year old bottling finished in Italian dessert wine casks.
 
Glenmorangie A Tale of Spices Single Malt Scotch
ABV: 46%
SRP: $92
Availability: Limited; imported by Moët Hennessy USA
The sixth installment in Glenmorangie’s annual A Tale Of limited-edition series, A Tale...

Heads up, whisky lovers! There are lots of new releases to get excited about this week.Jack Daniel's is rolling out a bottled-in-bond version of its classic Tennessee whiskey. Currently available in travel retail stores only, the whiskey will sell for $38 for a 1-liter bottle.Meanwhile, peat heads will want to look for this year's Laphroaig Cairdeas, the distillery's annual special release. The 2018 Cairdeas matured in first-fill bourbon barrels before a finishing period in fino sherry casks. It costs $80 and will be available in limited amounts.Freddie Noe, son of Fred Noe and grandson of the legendary Booker Noe, has unveiled Little Book Chapter 2 "Noe Simple Task." The whiskey combines rye from Kentucky with two whiskies from Canada. Priced a bit higher than Little Book Chapter 1 "The Easy"—which was ranked number 11 in Whisky Advocate's 2017 Top 20—this whiskey is available in limited amounts for $100.Another limited-edition—and bottled-in-bond—bourbon will be hitting...

Chattanooga Whiskey was founded in 2011, at a time when distilling in the city and its Hamilton County base wasn’t even legal. The start-up worked around that by using sourced whiskey while founders Tim Piersant and Joe Ledbetter lobbied with the Tennessee legislature to legalize distilling. On May 16, 2013 their efforts paid off, and Chattanooga has been a big part of Tennessee’s distilling revival ever since.
Chattanooga’s house style tends to favor high-malt bourbons, a relatively uncommon choice compared to the high-rye and wheated versions. The distillery’s latest expression aims to innovate with a not-too-commonly seen finish—the white port cask. Chattanooga White Port Cask Finished is a blend of three bourbons. While the exact grain ratios are undisclosed, each component follows a mashbill featured in a previous Chattanooga release: 

B005: Corn, dark malted wheat, caramel malted wheat, and oak-smoked malted wheat. It was...

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

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

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...

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


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

In our Summer 2021 issue, we featured the rise of heavy metal rock musicians who collaborate with craft distillers to make their own whiskeys. That feature is now online, and as you'll find, this is more than a case of musicians jumping on the celebrity whisky bandwagon. In the story, members of Metallica, Slipknot, GWAR, and others explain their motivation for the move from drinking whisky to making it.As for this week's new whiskies, Michter's is bringing back its highly coveted 20 year old bourbon, Compass Box closes out its No Name series with its third and final edition, and Blue Run adds a high-rye bourbon to its lineup. Read on for full details.Compass Box No Name (No. 3)Style: Blended maltOrigin: ScotlandAge: Not statedABV: 48.9%Price: $130Release: November 2021Availability: 10,794 bottles worldwideNeed to know:The third and final release in the No Name series is comprised of Laphroaig single malt aged in re-charred hogsheads, Bowmore single malt, and Compass Box’s own...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Lunar New Year kicks off on Tuesday, February 1, and Johnnie Walker is celebrating the Year of the Tiger with a special bottling for Blue Label designed by a Chinese artist. This year's festivities will last until the full moon appears on February 15, and whisky is part of the mix as always. Elsewhere, Kentucky-based Rabbit Hole has released the first whiskey in its new Distillery Series, which will highlight small batch, cask-strength bottlings. This week there's also a new rye from Jim Rutledge's Cream of Kentucky, as well as bourbons from Puncher's Chance and Buzzard's Roost. Read on for full details.Johnnie Walker Blue Label Year of the TigerStyle: Blended whiskyOrigin: ScotlandAge: Not statedABV: 40% Price: $250Release: January 2022Availability: LimitedNeed to know:Each year, Johnnie Walker releases a special Blue Label bottling (which is not a new whisky, just new packaging) in honor of Lunar New Year. This year’s limited-edition design, which celebrates the Year of the Tiger...

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...

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

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...

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

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

There's a brand-new issue of Whisky Advocate out now, and it's all about BIG whisky: big proof, big prices, big production, and more. Pick up a copy today, and subscribe to receive new issues even before they hit newsstands.On to the week's new releases. Wild Turkey has unveiled its latest limited-edition bourbon, a 2003 vintage of Russell's Reserve. Priced at $250, there are just 3,600 bottles available.Macallan is launching the newest entry in its Fine & Rare series, distilled in 1993. Just 256 bottles are available, priced at $18,000 each.Jack Daniel's has unveiled the latest Tennessee Tasters' Selection, a Tennessee whiskey finished in Jamaican allspice barrels. With 24,000 half-size bottles for sale mainly at the distillery, the price is $40.Compass Box has created a limited-edition version of Peat Monster to celebrate the company's 20th anniversary. Peat Monster Arcana is priced at $95, with just over 8,300 bottles available.Aberfeldy is launching another limited-edition...

In honor of Flag Day on June 14th, Kentucky’s Jeptha Creed Distillery celebrated by unveiling a giant American flag, measuring 12 feet by 7 feet, made from bourbon barrels at its Shelbyville campus. The project represents the journey of some very special barrels that date back to the distillery’s inception. 
Jeptha Creed’s grand opening took place on November 11, 2016—coinciding with Veteran’s Day. Distillery staff celebrated both events by inviting members of the military—active and retired—to sign barrels that were being used to age a very special whiskey.  The whiskey was christened Red White and Blue Kentucky straight bourbon. Although the name does intentionally correspond to the colors of the American flag, it’s a double entendre that also refers to the whiskey’s mashbill—representing the Bloody Butcher (red), Heirloom White, and Bruce’s Blue corn strains that were used to make it. The first batch...

Since releasing its first whiskey in 2022, Kentucky-based 15 Stars has distinguished itself as one of the country’s more notable blending houses. Thus far, we’ve reviewed eight of its whiskeys: one scored 90 points, and the others were all at 91 points or higher. The company, which was founded in 2019 by the father-son team of Rick and Ricky Johnson, has been best known for its limited-edition blends that typically include various combinations of aged whiskeys sourced from Kentucky, Tennessee, and Indiana.
The Johnsons took an interesting route into the whiskey business. Their background is in the popcorn industry, where they came to know a variety of heirloom corn strains—including the red, white, and blue corn, as well as the rare black variety, among others. The original idea was to make bourbon using those heirloom strains, and five years ago they started doing that in a custom distilling program with Bardstown Bourbon Co. Thus far, 15 Stars has worked with...

This week’s releases include whiskies from Scotland, Ireland, and the U.S., and most of them are limited in nature. If they catch your eye, you may want to act fast. Read on for full details.

Kilchoman Loch Gorm (2021 release)
Style: Single maltOrigin: Scotland (Islay)Age: 9 year old (minimum)ABV: 46% Price: $125Release: May 2021Availability: 17,000 bottles worldwide, 2,040 for the U.S.
Need to know:
This is the tenth edition of Loch Gorm, which is named for Islay's largest fresh water lake, located near the distillery. It is Kilchoman’s only expression matured exclusively in oloroso casks, with the sherry influence taming the peat and smoke to give this expression its signature subtlety and finesse. This year's release is a vatting of 24 oloroso sherry butts filled in 2011 and 2012.

Kilchoman PX Sherry Matured
Style: Single maltOrigin: Scotland (Islay)Age: Not...

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...

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

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

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...

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...

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



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

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

A compact but very interesting array of whiskies populate this round of new releases. Larceny Barrel Proof is out with its first batch of the year, while Memphis, Tennessee-based B. R. Distilling has unveiled the 2025 edition of its Special Reserve bourbon blend. Single malt maker Virginia Distillery Co. (VDC) has another stout cask-finished expression, this one timed especially for Valentine’s Day. From Scotland, blended scotch house Compass Box has announced the 2025 edition of its Hedonism label. And if Derby Day is in your sights, consider the Evan Williams Kentucky Derby Festival single barrel annual release, though it’s only on sale at the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience in Louisville and at some Kentucky retailers. 
Larceny Barrel Proof Bourbon (Batch A125)
ABV: 62.5%
SRP: $65
Availability: Nationwide
Just a few weeks ago, Kentucky’s Heaven Hill Distillery unveiled the newest version of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. Now it’s...

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...

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...

This article was originally published in March 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 shares a greater affinity with rye whiskey than Baltimore. Locals remained loyal to Maryland's Pikesville rye even long after the brand moved to Kentucky's Heaven Hill Distillery in 1982. The city is also the epicenter for the revival of Maryland-style rye, which is distinguished by a significant portion of corn, anywhere from 15% to 45% of the mashbill, giving it a lighter, sweeter taste. Its reemergence is a sign of Baltimore's, and Maryland's, return to the East Coast's whiskey-making vanguard.Like rye playing second fiddle to bourbon, there is an underdog quality to Baltimore, living in the shadow of Washington, D.C. “We're excited to show the world what sort of spirits Baltimore is creating, and return the city to its rightful place in the pantheon of world booze meccas,” says Max Lents...

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%...

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...

I've got to leave Chi-town.This old town keeps knocking me down.It's like a whirlwind of unhappinessKeeping me on the ground.­—Lurrie BellWhat, you were expecting “Sweet Home Chicago,” the toddling town's sappy-sweet blues anthem? Chicago is more than its clichés, like “The City that Works.” Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't, but it is never boring.You can still hear live blues in dingy dives decorated with Christmas tree lights any night of the week, but you can also see the world's best live theater. Chicago contains the world's most influential architecture, such as the Sullivan Center, formerly known as the Carson, Pirie, Scott and Company building, and architect Mies van der Rohe's Federal Plaza. With its Cubs now baseball champions, anything seems possible in Chicago.One thing that works is public transportation. By choosing buses, trains, cabs, or ride shares it is easy to avoid the trials of operating a motor vehicle. Chicago supplies the designated drivers...

Macallan dominated the whisky auction scene in February, taking nine of the 10-highest hammer prices for the month. Among the stars were bottlings from The Red Collection, including the 60 year old, 73 year old, and 78 year old, which all made the list. The oldest vintage was a rare bottle of Anniversary Malt 1928 50 year old, which sold for $52,961 at Whisky.Auction, an increase of more than $21,000 over the hammer price paid at Scotch Whisky Auctions in December. Like Macallan, Highland Park, is owned by The Edrington Group. The brand appeared twice on the list of the 20 highest hammer prices in February 2024, and the Orcadian distillery secured its first appearance in 2025 with a bottle of the inaugural Highland Park 50 year old. Meanwhile, The Singleton made its first-ever appearance on the list, with the 90-point second edition of its Paragon of Time series. The combined value of the 20-highest hammer prices in February was $706,890, making the total value of the bottles on...

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

Just a week after announcing its seventh batch of limited-edition bourbon, Kentucky Owl has revealed plans to roll out a rye whiskey for the first time. The 11 year old sourced whiskey will be available in much larger quantities than Kentucky Owl's bourbon—and will cost less, though it's by no means inexpensive at $130 a bottle. About half the country will have access to Kentucky Owl rye.Meanwhile, New York-based Hillrock Estate has a new bourbon from its solera, finished in California Cabernet Sauvignon barrels. The distillery says the 6 to 8 week finish gives the nose and finish of red wine, but preserves the core bourbon flavors on the palate.Finally, FEW Spirits is launching its latest collaboration with Chicago-area record label Bloodshot Records. White Lightning is a whisky (no E) that is distilled from five types of malt and rested for a short period of time in FEW bourbon and rye barrels. There are only 150 bottles, available at the distillery starting on September 9th at...

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...

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

Located near an extinct volcano named Dumgoyne just 14 miles north of Glasgow, Glengoyne Distillery occupies a fairly curious spot in scotch whisky—literally and figuratively. The town of Glengoyne straddles the Highland Boundary Fault, a tectonic fault line that serves as a natural border between the Highland and Lowland regions. While the distillery itself falls north of that line—thus qualifying its whisky as Highland single malt—historically Glengoyne has aged its stocks in warehouses in the Lowlands side of the line. That arrangement has sometimes led to confusion among whisky enthusiasts. Even today many drinkers associate its lighter flavor profile more with Lowland scotches than its Highland kin.
The distillery has been operating for over a century and a half—established in 1833 under the name Burnfoot Distillery—but never really emerged as a major player. The early years were fairly quiet, but in 1876 the distillery was sold to Lang...

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

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...

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...

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...

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

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

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

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...

The whisky world has adapted to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic in several ways, many of them virtual. Distilleries are offering virtual tours, and Scotland's Islay Festival, though canceled IRL, nevertheless went on via digital platforms. Now, Jim Beam is offering whiskey lovers a way to virtually toast a friend through augmented reality (AR). Buy them a bottle of Jim Beam White Label ($18), and you can personalize an AR message for them to discover.The AR option can be enabled through the Jim Beam Augmented Reality app, which is available for free on the app store for both iOS and Android devices. The pre-set message will come to life when the bottle's recipient scans their phone over the label. While this AR experience works best for the 750 ml and 1.75 liter White Label, it works on any White Label bottle, including the new Jim Beam White Label 225th Anniversary bottle.A MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE“As we wait for the hospitality industry to reopen, what better way for...

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...

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...

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

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...

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...

As you make your way through the holiday rush, we've rounded up some gift ideas to help complete your list. There's a little something for all sorts of whisky lovers in your life, be they in need of new ways to bring the party, beautiful bottles to bedazzle their shelves, and much, much more. And if you're looking for something smaller (and edible) we have a list of great pairing gifts as well.Of course, don't forget the ultimate whisky gift guide, our annual Top 20 list, which captures the most exciting whiskies from the year, weighing quality, affordability, availability, and x-factor. We're counting down to Whisky of the Year on December 9, with the full list revealed on the following day.Whisky Gifts for Your Bar and Beyond
Bring Your Bar Absolutely EverywhereHave you ever wished you had access to your home bar while you were traveling? This backpack ($248) aims to give you just that. Complete with 17 different components, among them a stainless steel hawthorne strainer...

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 a steamy Saturday afternoon at the Clinton Street headquarters of Nashville, Tenn.'s Corsair Distillery and the tasting rooms are hopping. In one, drinkers jockey for position at a small bar serving big beers like the 8.4% Applewood Smoked Gratzer or 7.6% Smoked Salt Gose, all crafted in the brewery portion of the ‘brewstillery,' while in a second, significantly larger room, a much greater crowd has gathered to partake of the distillery side's wide range of spirits.Sliding between the group of twenty-somethings beginning their stag party on a high note and a somewhat overly amorous couple apparently bent on enjoying their weekend to the hilt, I arrive at a sliver of bartop and behold the selection of bottles lining the shelves behind.‘Triple Smoke' reads one, which I assume—correctly, as it turns out—to be a whiskey made from malt smoked over a trio of different woods, while the next, ‘Quinoa Whiskey,' gives me greater pause for reflection. Could it really be made from...

When Whisky Advocate published a cover story on the craft distilling movement back in 2013, there was much to talk about—smaller barrels (to age the whiskey faster), new and exciting grain varieties, experimental distilling techniques, and much more. But most of the whiskeys were still quite young, and many of today’s stars were just getting started. Thus, with some notable exceptions—like Balcones, Clear Creek, Stranahan’s, and Leopold Bros.—the buzz was more about the excitement rather than the whiskey itself. A good number of craft whiskeys simply didn’t live up to the hype, and soon the discussions of craft moved into the future tense—just wait a few years, people would say, and the quality will emerge.
Today, more than a decade later, those craft distilleries have grown to whiskey adulthood. Except for a few pioneers in the 1990s and early 2000s like McCarthy’s, Old Potrero, St. George, and some others, the big wave of openings...

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...

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...

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...

Even if you're not hitting a whisky trail, there's still plenty of excitement to be had in a new bottle or two—and this week brings six new whiskies to taste.First up, Johnnie Walker's third installment in the Blue Label Ghost and Rare series will be hitting shelves this October. With the main rare malt sourced from Glenury Royal Distillery—closed in 1985—the blend is priced at $350 and available in limited amounts.Also limited, although much more affordable, is the latest release in Jack Daniel's Tennessee Tasters' Selection: Barrel Proof Rye. There are about 24,000 half-size bottles of the whiskey for sale at Jack Daniel's Distillery and select Tennessee retailers, priced at $40 each.Meanwhile, Buffalo Trace Distillery has unveiled the latest limited-edition Col. E.H. Taylor, Jr. bourbon. Made with amaranth as the flavoring grain, rather than rye or wheat, the whiskey is available in limited amounts for $70.Compass Box is revamping the recipe for The Peat Monster, its heavily...

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...

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...

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...

Johnnie Walker has created three impressive new blends to celebrate 200 years since John Walker began blending whisky and opened his grocery store. The John Walker & Sons Celebratory Blend is based on Walker's Old Highland Whisky from the 1860s, the first to use the iconic square bottle and slanted label, and includes modern stocks from distilleries that would have been operating at that time. Johnnie Walker Blue Label Legendary Eight builds on the Ghost and Rare series and is created from whiskies made at distilleries that existed 200 years ago. The aromas and flavors that might have been found in the grocer's store in the 1820s inspired the selection of rare aged stocks in the John Walker & Sons Bicentenary Blend, including Port Ellen, Cambus, and Pittyvaich.Johnnie Walker master blender Emma Walker led a tasting of Legendary Eight and the Celebratory Blend on Whisky Advocate's #TasteWithSpace Instagram Live series. Hear how she and her colleagues created these special...

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

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...

Folks in Indiana are famous for their Midwestern friendliness—“Hoosier Hospitality”—but they also view themselves as tenacious underdogs, an aesthetic noted in just about every Hollywood depiction of the state, from "Hoosiers" to "Breaking Away" to "Rudy." Locals have taken the same approach to craft distilling—until 2014 it was illegal to operate on-site tasting and retail, the way many small distillers in other states make sales. This made Indiana an unfriendly place for indie spirits, but pioneers plunged ahead, while working to change the laws.“In 2014 the state said that if you had a license to distill spirits for three years you could open a tasting room,” recalls Blake Jones, co-owner and president of West Fork Whiskey Co. “That was still tough, but it sort of made distillery tasting rooms in Indiana a thing, and since then we've been able to get it reduced to eighteen months.” For this reason, the Indianapolis distillery boom is a very recent thing, and...

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

April generated the lowest monthly combined 20-highest single bottle hammer prices since August 2024, reaching $433,030. Despite an 18% gain after three months compared to 2024, the combined value of the top 20 bottles of the month is now down 6% against the first four months of last year. Auction houses had to adapt to the changing tariff rules throughout April: U.S. buyers now need to pay the 10% tariff on all whiskies purchased at overseas auctions, except for American whiskeys. On April 21st, courier DHL temporarily suspended all business-to-consumer shipments of $800 or more to U.S. customers due to the introduction of new customs entry processes, but to the relief of collectors, this decision was reversed on April 28th after dialogue between DHL and the government, enabling operations to get back to normal.
Whisky Auctioneer made much of the play this month, delivering 60% of the 20-highest bottles, though their auction concluded ahead of the tariff announcements...

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

This weekend, it’s off to the races! The 148th Kentucky Derby takes place tomorrow at Churchill Downs, and we’ve got a variety of tips and tricks to help you celebrate. If you plan on attending, we have the inside track on making the most of your day (or weekend) in Louisville. For those watching from home, try your hand at a Kentucky Derby Classic: the Mint Julep. Regardless of where you are, take a deep dive into the thoroughbred stars themselves ahead of the big race. Of course, we can't forget the big event on Sunday, either—raise a glass to Mom and wish her a Happy Mother's Day.
Elsewhere, there’s new whisky aplenty this week. Westland debuts the second release of terroir-focused single malt Colere, Jack Daniel's adds two new bottled in bond whiskeys to its repertoire, and New Riff unveils a sherry-malted rye. Read on for full details.

Westland Colere (Edition 2)
Style: American single maltOrigin: WashingtonAge: Not statedABV: 50%Price...

Visitors headed home from the Kentucky Bourbon Trail now have a reason to get to the airport early. Both Louisville International Airport and Lexington's Blue Grass Airport are opening new bourbon-centric venues to allow travelers to enjoy one last taste of the good stuff before boarding their planes.At Louisville's airport, Book & Bourbon Southern Kitchen recently opened, taking the place of a restaurant that focused on the Woodford Reserve brand. The new bar and restaurant features a wide array of Kentucky-made whiskeys. It's designed to have the look and feel of a library, from leather-bound books on display to “library cards,” featuring classic cocktail recipes, which guests can take with them. In keeping with that theme, Book & Bourbon also aims to provide education about whiskey and distilling. Guests can peruse books about bourbon and Kentucky history, as well as explore different bourbons on iPads. The restaurant's servers are trained to answer questions about...

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...

In case you missed Whisky Advocate's exclusive reports: New whiskeys are on the way from the likes of country star Lee Greenwood, Brough Brothers, and Kentucky's most mysterious producer. Though we'll have to wait a bit for those, there are new whiskies available now.First up, a new 100% rye made at Kentucky Artisan Distillery is launching. Coalition rye includes three wine cask-finished variants (all $90) and a barrel-proof straight rye ($130). The whiskeys are available in several states.The Isle of Skye's second distillery, Torabhaig, is making its debut with Legacy Series 2017 single malt. The scotch whisky is priced at $60, with 6,000 bottles available in the U.S.Lock, Stock & Barrel rye is back with a 20 year old offering, its oldest yet. There are 3,000 bottles available, priced at $389.The Family Jones in Colorado is set to offer a bottled in bond rye whose distillation and bottling dates are exactly four years apart—Jan. 20, Inauguration Day. There are just 380 bottles...

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...

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

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

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

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...

What could be better than whiskey? How about whiskey and a beer? This classic combo is often referred to as a Boilermaker. Across the country, bars are offering Boilermakers that thoughtfully pair whiskey and beer in a way that elevates this blue-collar basic. In years gone by, the whiskey was often dropped into the beer, shot glass and all, for maximum efficiency. But premium whiskey and beer combinations are designed to be slowly sipped in tandem. “That's the essence of a great Boilermaker,” says Tony Correale, bar manager at Longman & Eagle in Chicago. “You enjoy two flavors side by side, and you realize something new about each.” Whether traditional or made-over for white-collar work, these bars and their tasty Boilermaker combinations keep your hands full.The "Beer Back" is Back at These Top VenuesEverson Royce Bar—Los AngelesA refined neighborhood bar with a whisky selection that ranges from $5 to $725 a pour, you can be assured there's something for everyone at 3...

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...

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

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

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

1 cup water
6...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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

Driving down the road, you pass Rob Cameron’s work every day. The 39 year old is a design manager for a major Detroit automotive manufacturer, overseeing a team of five designers and a sculpting group to develop future automobiles. While his impressive designs may be parked in your very own driveway, you’ll definitely be interested in displaying his stunning side hustle in your bar.
At the height of the pandemic, while on paternity leave for the birth of his second daughter, Cameron needed a creative outlet more than ever. Hunkered down in his home office in the idle hours after the kids were bedded down resulted in extra pours from his collection of 200-plus bottles of whisky. Eying a bottle of Mayor Pingree’s Black Label 13 year old bourbon, he sketched it out one night.
“I love Mayor Pingree,” Cameron says of Valentine Distilling’s offering. “It’s a Detroit whiskey— it’s sourced, but aged in Michigan. It’s...

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

As part of its partnership with the Chicago Cubs, announced earlier this year, Jim Beam is rolling out a limited-edition bottle of its trademark bourbon that celebrates the team's World Series win last fall. The “Game 7 Batch” purportedly reached maturity—a full four years of age—the very night of the final championship game, November 2, 2016.Jim Beam spokeswoman Mila Kunis revealed the new bottle this past weekend after throwing the first pitch at Wrigley field before the Cubs' game versus the Milwaukee Brewers. (The Cubs won, 11 to 6.) The bottle's label features the Cubs' signature red and blue and comes packaged with a commemorative blue cap. It will cost $18 a bottle, available at Chicago-area retailers starting in...

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...

With just 24 shopping days left until Christmas (and only 11 until the first night of Hanukkah, which this year starts on December 12), there's no end of great whiskies lining up on shelves, waiting to be taken home and enjoyed.Johnnie Walker has a new, limited-edition Blue Label called Ghost and Rare, which includes whiskies from silent distilleries (though one, Brora, won't be silent for much longer). It costs $400 and comes in a gift-ready box.Jameson is launching a new expression of Caskmates, its beer barrel-finished whiskey. Whereas Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition is finished in, duh, stout casks, this one is finished in IPA casks for a verifiable hoppy bite. The price is the same for both—$30.The latest release in the Orphan Barrel series of old whiskies comes from Canada's Crown Royal Distillery. Entrapment was intended for use in a blend when it was distilled from corn and a tiny amount of malted barley, but instead it aged for 25 years and is now being bottled solo. It...

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...

As craft distilleries across the country find new ways to welcome visitors safely, many whisky lovers are looking for new bottles to try. There's plenty to satisfy on that front this week, with fresh releases celebrating big moments and others pioneering novel flavors.First up, Heaven Hill Distillery has debuted Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel, a bourbon finished in a second, new, charred, and heavily toasted cask. It's available nationwide, priced at $50.Heaven Hill is also rolling out the Spring 2020 release of Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond, this time at 9 years old. The bourbon is priced at $90 and available in limited amounts.Jack Daniel's has partnered with country singer Eric Church on a limited-edition single-barrel release. Roughly 60,000 bottles of the Tennessee whiskey are available, priced at $50.Johnnie Walker has created a trio of special blended scotches to celebrate its 200th anniversary this year. John Walker & Sons Celebratory Blend is inspired by the brand's...

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

In each issue of Whisky Advocate, the editors select three great value bottles: whiskies with solid scores, modest prices, and wide availability. For the Winter 2021 issue, a French oak-finished bourbon, a Highland single malt, and a sherry cask stave-finished Kentucky bourbon all ranked as Best Values.Check out the Buying Guide for a complete list of whiskies reviewed in the Winter 2021 issue.HIGH SCORES, LOW PRICES: BEST VALUE WHISKIES
Blue Note Crossroads Straight bourbon89 points, 50%, $45Finished in French oak. Dried herbs, grape candies, saddle leather, blueberry muffin, and new wood on the nose, with chocolate, marshmallow, and toasted caramel emerging over time. Wood drives the palate further alongside vanilla wafer, cooked dark fruits, and spiced dark chocolate. There is more sweetness on the finish as well as solid spice characteristics.—Ted Simmons
Tullibardine 12 year old single malt89 points, 40%, $45Red apples, nectarines, white peaches, menthol, macadamia...

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...

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

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

Father’s Day is this Sunday, and we have plenty of cool whiskies that will make perfect gifts. In addition to those, you could consult our Summer 2023 Best Values and Editors’ Choice lists to make sure you've got all the options covered. This week, the whisky world is awash with new expressions. New scotches include Laphroaig Càirdeas and six age-statement blends from Ian Macleod’s Isle of Skye range. In addition, Woodford Reserve has a new bottled in bond wheat whiskey, and Heaven Hill offers a wheated whiskey from its microdistillery at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience in Louisville. Meanwhile, Texas and Ireland meet, as Clonakilty has collaborated with Garrison Brothers on a new single malt that's finished in Garrison Brothers casks. Read on for more.
Laphroaig Càirdeas White Port & Madeira Casks
Style: Single malt
Origin: Scotland (Islay)
Age: Not stated

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...

“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...

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...

No tailgate party is going to be lacking in meats. Balance out the fatty flavors with some bright vegetables, letting the vidalia onions, sweet peppers, and cucumbers hit the grill before your serving dish. By chef EJ Hodgkinson of King + Duke in Atlanta, Ga.—Serves 4-6.Get More Tailgate-Ready RecipesWhiskey Gastrique 1 cup sugar ½ cup water 2 cups George Dickel whisky (or other Tennessee whiskey) 1 cup cider vinegar kosher salt black pepperNight Before: In small sauce pot, combine sugar and water and bring to a boil. Cook until the mixture has turned golden brown. Remove from heat and pour in whiskey and cider vinegar. (Caution: This sugar mixture will spit and bubble from the introduction of cooler liquid.) Return to heat and cook until the mixture has reduced by half. Remove, add a pinch of salt and a generous pinch of black pepper, and let cool to room temperature. Once it's cool, begin making the whiskey vinaigrette (recipe below). Caution: Whiskey contains alcohol...

Distillers of whisky are known to proudly show off their water source, share the provenance of their grain, and occasionally even malt it on-site, all in the quest to create something that speaks of their place. But to truly understand the local nature of Chambers Bay Distillery's straight bourbon, you must look much more closely. In fact, a microscope would come in handy.About five years ago, Jeff Robinette, distiller and co-founder of Chambers Bay, placed some agar plates—Petri dishes with a growth medium—under Macintosh apple trees in a nearby orchard. From the collected microbiological thicket, Robinette—with extensive experience in biochemistry from his long career as an embryologist—eventually isolated yeast. When he began distilling in 2014, he was using commercial yeast, but once he propagated yeast isolated from the orchard and started producing whiskey with it, his distillate changed. It had a bit less of the bready, sourdough smell and more of an apple cider tang...

In one sense, cognac is the wine world's whisky equivalent: an exquisite spirit, distilled from grapes rather than grain, aged in oak to create nuanced flavors worthy of intense contemplation. In another, the categories are at odds. Even as the whisky realm expanded with a breadth of variables, cognac remained constricted by tradition and French regulations into a narrow band of possibilities.Until lately, that is. Taking cues from whisky's success, cognac is exploring innovation. Once staid and self-satisfied, makers are rethinking maturation techniques, age statements, and blending (or lack thereof) in ways that are shaking up the niche—and in some cases even exceeding the bounds of what this brandy exemplar can be.Cognac is a subset of grape brandy, a distilled wine. Its exclusive birthplace, a growing region of the same name in southern France, sets it apart. Local vineyards provide the wine, which is then locally distilled. Maturation is largely executed by a small handful of...

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...

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

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

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

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...

Japanese whisky lovers have cause for celebration, as Suntory announced last week that it will be investing $77 million into its whisky distilleries over the next two years. The Yamazaki and Hakushu Distilleries will each receive a new malting floor as well as updated visitor experiences as part of the expansion. 
Coinciding with that announcement is news that Suntory plans to bring its Ao world blend to the States for the first time. Other new releases from this week include an Irish rye from Powers, Batch 34 of Barrell Bourbon, and a sauternes cask-finished American single malt that will be a part of Westward's Whiskey Club. Read on for full details. 
Suntory Ao
Style: Blend
Origin: World (Japan, Scotland, Ireland, U.S., and Canada)
Age: Not stated
ABV: 43%Price: $55
Release: February 2023
Availability: Widely available
Need to know: This blend is created using Beam Suntory whiskies distilled in five...

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...

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

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

Johnnie Walker, the world's most popular scotch, is celebrating a huge milestone this year. 2020 marks the 200th anniversary since John Walker himself started blending in a small grocery store in Kilmarnock, and in celebration the company is releasing a book, a documentary, and a series of commemorative whiskies. Emma Walker, one of 12 master blenders on the Johnnie Walker team, joined our Instagram Live series #TasteWithSpace on Dec. 11 to taste some of those whiskies and discuss what that anniversary means to her and her fellow blenders.“It hit us more this year when you realize that you're part of this ongoing chain,” she said. “It's been 200 years of people making whisky before you, making great whiskies. You're learning from what they've done but you're continuing that innovation that Johnnie Walker's always had. And you're part of that. There is a bit of curiosity of, in 200 years' time, will people be looking back at what we're doing right now and talking about it in a...

When entertaining, whisky works perfectly to bookend a magnificent meal. A refreshing aperitif’s purpose is to open up the palate in preparation for the feast ahead, while a fine digestif follows the meal to aid digestion. Numerous cocktails and beverages are fit for the job, of course, but this is the list for you if you’re the busy host coordinating the meal ahead from the kitchen, or an easygoing guest who just wants a neat pour unfettered by slices of fruit dropped into a single drink that took every piece of barware to make. Despite what people might tell you, there are no hard and fast rules around drinking etiquette on either side of the meal: “I’ll take a whisky” is a perfectly acceptable response.
Each selection is based on one of 12 flavor themes, highlighting the flavor of each whisky’s strongest suit, with key tasting notes and a food pairing suggestion, leaving you ample scope to experiment and adapt to your own preferences. Here...

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

Johnnie Walker has announced the release of a new 52 year old blend composed of rare whisky stocks, including several casks from closed distilleries. Johnnie Walker master blender Dr. Emma Walker combined eight whiskies to create the blend in honor of founder John Walker and his son Alexander, the pioneers behind the iconic Johnnie Walker legacy, who both lived for 52 years.
The blend comprises six Highland single malts from Blair Athol, Brora, Dalwhinnie, Glen Albyn, Glenury Royal, and Glenlochy, and two Lowland single grain whiskies from Cambus and Carsebridge distilleries. Six of these distilleries operated during either John or Alexander Walker’s lifetimes, with only Dalwhinnie and Glenlochy opening in the decade after Alexander died in 1889. Every whisky was distilled in 1972 or earlier, making it one of the oldest ever age-stated Johnnie Walker releases. While it’s not trying to recreate any specific flavor from the past, the age and history of the components...

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

While limited-edition bourbons and ryes like the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, and Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch get lots of hype these days, scotch lovers aren't left out of the action, as each fall brings the Diageo Special Releases. These whiskies hail from the spirits company's 27 malt distilleries across Scotland, and vary in age, price, and availability from year to year—but there are a few things that never change: The whiskies are bottled at cask strength without chill-filtration or added coloring. The offerings are usually targeted at collectors, but priced within reach of those who want to drink them. There's always a Lagavulin 12 year old.The 2020 collection, called “Rare by Nature,” was created by Diageo master blender Craig Wilson and features eight single malts matured in a variety of cask types. Some of the bottle counts are known, while Diageo left others deliberately vague. Read on for full reviews.WHISKY ADVOCATE...

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

The first time a collectible whisky goes under the hammer, it has a lot to prove. The original suggested retail price and scarcity of the bottle may be fresh in the memory of a buyer, but then the factors of supply and demand kick in and it becomes apparent how many collectors are still looking to get their hands on a bottle. Time it right, and that bottle can dictate the secondary market value for years to come. Time it wrong, and it can sell for less than you paid for it. Making their auction debuts this month were bottles of Macallan The Red Collection 73 year old, Eagle Rare 25 year old, and a one-of-one Glenlivet 55 year old.
Despite these first-timers, it’s been a month of mixed fortunes for the secondary market, with Bonhams, Paris withdrawing a single-owner collection of scotches due to authenticity concerns. Elsewhere, a number of high-value scotches have gone unsold this month by failing to meet their reserves, despite attracting five and six-figure bids. Whisky...

Bidders took their pick of the rarities in the early days of 2025. Whisky Auctioneer delivered the highest prices of the month so far, with a bottle of Macallan The Reach 81 year old leading the field. Not far behind, a bottle of Port Ellen 12 year old created for the visit of Queen Elizabeth II to Port Ellen Maltings on August 9th 1980 sold for $80,796. If the bottle shape looks familiar, it’s because this expression was bottled in the same design that was used for Oban in the early 1980s. The sale also saw a late bid secure a bottle of Glenfiddich 1937 64 year old for $43,843, one of the 61 bottles of this rare Glenfiddich released in 2001.
Single malt scotch is attracting the month’s highest prices so far. Bowmore topped Whisky Hammer’s auction with sales of the first bottle of Bowmore ARC-52 to sell in over a year, along with a bottle of Black Bowmore 1964 50 year old The Last Cask, which fetched $37,258. In addition, a bottle of Brora 1972 40 year old was...

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

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

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...

Forty floors up, from my window seat in 40 Sky Bar, I hover above the impossibly packed streets of Osaka with their notoriously fast walkers (and drivers). Up here I feel relaxed, almost weightless. The dense urban sprawl bleeds into blue-green mountains as jets descend through the afternoon light. Nearby, two women relish the popular afternoon tea service ($50), their Birkin bags resting on adjacent seats as a server glides past with a tray of small jeweled pink and green cakes. A mile distant is the gleaming twin-towered Umeda Sky Building, capped with an observation deck with views across the busy port to distant Awaji Island. We are nearly a hundred feet higher than that deck. And up there, they don't serve impeccable Old-Fashioneds with perfect ice spheres. They do here.Countless bars in Japan offer spectacular views. This one also offers a glimpse of history. Forty stories below the Sky Bar's perch in the Conrad Osaka Hotel, the slow-moving Yodo River meanders through the city...

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...

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

This expression is finished in French oak XO cognac casks, making it slightly sweeter than most Blue Label releases. Classic caramel and smoke on the nose, with butterscotch, dried apricot, apple, white pepper, vanilla sauce, and chopped nuts. Apple strudel, brown sugar, sweet honey, apricot, and citrus peel flavors lead to cigar smoke, milk chocolate, and a pleasant nougat creaminess. Spiced cinnamon latte on the finish. (Travel Retail exclusive; Release date: 12/23)

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

It takes a village to make craft whiskey possible. From acquiring a still to finding a grain supplier, your local whiskey maker likely needed the help of any number of businesses to get started. Around the country, like-minded creators are teaming up to support one another and produce a spirit for which their communities can be proud. Here are a few of the companies that whiskey makers call upon to open and stay in operation.Architects/DesignGastingerWalker&—Kansas City, Mo. and Chicago, Ill.Specializes in distillery designs that account for every aspect of day-to-day operation, from delivery drivers to employees to visitors, as well as historic preservation. J. Rieger & Co. was its first distillery design project.Peggy Noe Stevens and Associates—Louisville, Ky.This firm focuses on visitor centers and tasting rooms, working with architects to design tour-friendly distilleries of all sizes.Urbanadd—Seattle, Wash.An architecture, planning, and design firm specializing in...

Sotheby’s, Hong Kong set new record prices for Macallan The Reach 81 year old and Yamazaki 50 year old First Edition in the first week of April as they marked 50 years of doing business in Asia. Both bottles achieved the same hammer price of HK$3.8million ($484,000), becoming the highest hammer prices for single bottles this year. This new Macallan record for the oldest bottle of whisky ever sold at auction eclipsed Sotheby’s existing record for the special one-of-one edition of the Macallan The Reach 81 year old sold in London in 2022.  Sotheby's, New York also soared with the last remaining set of United Distiller's The Rare American Whiskey Selection, which hit a record-setting price.
Scotch Whisky Auctions
Auction ended April 9th

Scotch: Macallan The Red Collection 40 year old $22,354. Released in 2020, this saw the 40 year old join The Red Collection, Macallan's series of mature age statement whiskies reflecting the natural red colors found...

The Hudson Valley ends near New York City, which is a convenient place to start your trip. While you're still in the metropolitan area, count your first stop as Nahmias et Fils Distillery in Yonkers. The distillery's Legs Diamond rye is made using New York organic grains. Be sure to try the Mahia—a white spirit made from figs and a nod to co-founder David Nahmias's Moroccan-Jewish heritage. A short hop north, just beyond New York's sprawl, Sleepy Hollow embraces its spooky reputation and offers an abundance of family-friendly Halloween-centered attractions. On most fall nights, the 250 year old Van Cortlandt Manor hosts The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze, a riverside walk filled with structures made from jack-o-lanterns—even the Pumpkin Carousel. Another 18th-century house, Phillipsburg Manor, hosts the Horseman's Hollow haunted house experience. Even the Old Dutch Church, one of the oldest buildings in the state, joins in with live retellings of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow...

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

Tennessee whiskey has long been led by Jack Daniel's and George Dickel, but in recent years a new crop of distillers has brought fresh excitement to the scene, while both Jack and Dickel have been upping their game with innovative releases. Get started with one of these 12 Tennessee whiskeys, brush up on the Lincoln County Process of charcoal filtration that gives the style its identity, and learn why Nashville is increasingly becoming a whiskey destination.As for new whiskies this week, Kentucky is leading the way. Limestone Branch Distillery has unveiled the 2022 release of its Yellowstone Limited Edition bourbon; there's a new venture from Jackie Zykan and Royce Neeley called Hidden Barn; and Blue Run Spirits drops Batch 2 of its Golden Rye. Read on for full details.

Yellowstone Limited Edition (2022 Release)
Style: Straight bourbonOrigin: KentuckyAge: Not statedABV: 50.5%Price: $100Release: September 2022Availability: Limited; 30,000 bottles
Need to know:
The...

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's so much new whisky coming out, it's hard to know where to start! First things first: Blood Oath is releasing its first three "pacts"—annual batches—in a special gift pack for the holidays. Just 900 of the trilogy packs will be for sale nationwide for $599. Whisky Advocate's Buying Guide scored Pact No. 1 82 points, Pact No. 2 88 points, and Pact No. 3 89 points.Buffalo Trace Distillery has unveiled a new range of experimental bourbons as part of its Old Charter brand. The distillery has been experimenting with different types of oak for years, and the Old Charter Oak range will showcase some of the biggest successes, starting with Mongolian Oak. Different releases will have different availability, but in general, the whiskeys will be distributed nationwide. Mongolian Oak is priced at $70.The Heaven's Door brand—created in partnership with Bob Dylan—is releasing a 10 year old Tennessee straight bourbon. Available in limited amounts, it costs $130.Two new single malt...

Halloween is on Monday, which means it’s time to unwrap some candy, open up some whisky, and find your favorite pairing. We put together this list of whiskies that showcase popular candy notes, though we also have a guide to pairing a variety of candy types with a wide range of whisky. Start by matching flavors, searching for whiskies that have notes of chocolate, nuts, cookies, and caramel, and grabbing a Snickers, Twix, or other candy to go with it.
As for new whiskies this week, there are plenty of treats to choose from. Buffalo Trace has unveiled this year’s Antique Collection, which includes the return of George T. Stagg. Glenmorangie adds to its Tale series with a woodland-inspired single malt, while The Macallan adds to the Harmony Collection with a pair of whiskies inspired by coffee. Nikka meanwhile, extends its Discovery Series with two new single malts devoted to yeast. Read on for full...

Love or hate him, Kyle “Rowdy” Busch is one of the most talented drivers currently competing in NASCAR. Known for his uber-competitive nature, penchant for trash talking, and aggressive driving style, Busch has set many impressive records in his 20-plus year career on the track—including all-time wins across all three national series, the most wins in the Trucks Series, and the most consecutive seasons with a win. But now his palate is in the spotlight, with his new single barrel bourbon made in partnership with MGP’s Rebel Bourbon rolling out nationwide.
The bourbon, dubbed Rebel Kyle Busch 108 Single Barrel, was pulled from over 100 barrels, each selected by Kyle Busch at the Lux Row Distillery in Bardstown with guidance from master distiller John Rempe. It has a mashbill of 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley—it’s the same recipe as Rebel’s other wheaters, which the brand claims have been around since...

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...

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

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...

A bottle of Dalmore Constellation Collection 1964 46 year old sold for a record hammer price of $95,453 at Whisky Auctioneer this month. This is the oldest vintage release in the series, and the sale set a new record for the highest price paid for a single bottle from the collection, as well as becoming the highest hammer price paid for a bottle of Dalmore this year. The Dalmore Constellation Collection was released in 2012 and consists of 21 vintages from 1964 to 1992. A full set of the Dalmore Constellation Collection, each bottle signed by master distiller Richard Paterson, first sold at auction in 2022 at Sotheby’s, Hong Kong, achieving a hammer price of $445,868.
WVA Whisky Auctions had three different Glenfarclas Pagoda releases on the block, each distilled in the early 1950s and bottled at over 60 years old, but none of them reached the reserve price. This series helped Glenfarclas to place six bottles in the 20-highest hammer prices of the month in 2024, but the...

The clink of bottles getting jostled in a suitcase can strike fear into any whisky-lover's heart. A precious whisky should be cradled like a baby, but no one has invented the ‘bottle car seat' yet. Luckily, there's no need to resign your bottles to a bumpy ride: Whether you're squeezing into a subway car, driving through bourbon country, or trekking in the wilderness, one of these cases will suit the scenario, keeping your bottle safe—and your heart rate steady.Transport Your Whisky SecurelyFuroshiki, $48Whether it hails from Japan or not, wrap up your whisky with this traditional Japanese cloth, which can be tied differently depending on what you're carrying. (YouTube will teach you how.)Walnut Studiolo Whiskey/Wine Case, $145Handmade in Portland, Oregon, this sturdy leather case comes with a pair of matching coasters. Add a monogram so your friends aren't tempted to take it for themselves.Monogrammed Cian Tartan Bottle Bag, $65Hit the links with your whisky snugly swaddled in...

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...

In the final week of 2020, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) quietly announced it would now accept additional “standards of fill”—bottle sizes—for spirits. Normally such minutiae wouldn't be particularly newsworthy, but one of the newly permitted sizes is stirring excitement among whisky lovers. Most of the world uses 700 ml as its standard spirits bottle size, rather than the 750 ml bottle that's been the requirement in the U.S. With 700 ml spirits bottles now allowed, along with a few other sizes, whisky drinkers may soon be looking at a wider array of options on the shelf.
With 700 ml bottles now an option, Atom Brands plans to introduce new scotch whiskies, like the Character of Islay range (pictured), to the U.S. market.The 700 ml is especially relevant to American scotch fans, who have long missed out on rare or highly allocated whiskies because, for many companies, the extra cost of producing and filling a different-sized bottle wasn't worth it on...

In January 2018, the Kentucky Vintage Spirits Law was enacted. The law’s aim is to allow bars, restaurants, and liquor stores to sell vintage spirits without using a distributor. Alcohol in the U.S. normally must be sold through what’s called the three-tier system—starting with a producer, who sells to a distributor, who then sells to a retailer. But now Kentucky’s licensed retailers (including bars and restaurants) can buy old bottles from ordinary citizens and sell them in their establishments. Among other advantages for whiskey lovers, it provides an outlet to those who previously had to seek out “old dusty” vintage whiskeys on the illegal secondary markets that flourish on Facebook.
However, some ambiguous wording in the law created multiple problems over the past six years. Numerous sources we spoke to shared stories of state liquor enforcement agents misunderstanding the law, leading to confiscations of products and fines. Here are some of...

June’s 20-highest single bottle hammer prices had a combined value of $889,738, and the month belonged to Bonhams Skinner. The Massachusetts-based auction house delivered not only the highest auction price of the year with Yamazaki 55 year old, but also served up a live auction that landed nine bottles of Macallan in this month’s 20-highest hammer prices. It was Yamazaki’s first bottle to make this year’s list, and it continues to trade for more than triple its original retail price. The Macallans were all Lalique decanter bottlings from the Six Pillars collection, which range in age from 50 to 65 years, plus the 72 year old Genesis decanter. The Six Pillars collection debuted in 2005 and remains highly collectible. Bonhams Skinner’s The Encyclopedic Whisky Collection, the largest single owner collection of spirits ever offered at Bonhams in the U.S., had a full set on sale, and even some duplicates. Macallan remains the number one brand in our 20-highest...

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...

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...

The U.S. produces more cheese annually than France, Italy, and Switzerland combined. That statistic is according to Afrim Pristine, maître fromager, or cheese master, and owner of Cheese Boutique in Toronto, where he oversees the sale of some 44 tons of cheese each year. Of course, that's not the same as having the greatest variety of cheeses, a title that goes to France. But still, the prodigious output of the U.S. is impressive.Further, Pristine says that from “about 1995 to 2002,” North Americans finally started to explore the full scope of that cheese. “I saw it firsthand,” he recalls, “People stopped buying the same cheese every time and became much more interested in trying different varieties.”While trying new cheeses is never a bad thing, Pristine notes that it can lead to disappointment. “I tell my customers to buy smaller pieces and shop more often,” he says, “Cheese doesn't go bad, but when people overbuy and it...

On the evening of September 25th, some of the biggest names in scotch whisky gathered at the New York Athletic Club (NYAC). The occasion? The U.S. chapter of the Keepers of the Quaich—a Scotland-based group founded in 1988 that honors and recognizes the workers, writers, and evangelists of the scotch whisky industry—hosted its third banquet. What followed was a night of songs, scotch, and camaraderie.
The proceedings kicked off with a cocktail hour in the NYAC card room and lounge on the 9th floor, with a who’s who of scotch ambassadors, executives, actors, and writers—most of whom were “Keepers” (members of the group), along with journalists and other invited guests.
The Keepers of the Quaich inducts new members at ceremonies held twice a year at Blair Castle in Scotland. Those who become members must have worked in scotch whisky for at least 7 years, and must be recommended by at least two existing members. Marvin R. Shanken, editor and...

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

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

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

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

No stranger to luxury, Dalmore released one of the highest-priced collections of the year with its No. 5 Collection, which includes expressions with ages spanning five decades. Worldwide, only 15 numbered sets were released. The launch included a single No. 6 Collection that included a sixth bottle—Dalmore 1951—that sold for $899,305 at Sotheby's Hong Kong, plus a non-fungible token (NFT) of the four-bottle No. 4 Collection, which sold for $137,000 on BlockBar. Beyond simply being a masterclass in oloroso sherry maturation, handpicked vintage port casks and select wine barrels have been deployed to enhance the depth of flavor, while each bottle is tied to an important moment in the distillery's history.Dalmore Decades Reviewed
The Dalmore Decades 53 year old “Expertly Composed Spirit” 196795 points, 42.5%, $275,000/ 5 bottle set One to study intensely; the aromas come into focus with espresso foam, chocolate mousse, black currant sauce, maraschino cherry, raspberry...

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...

Update 10/1/18: Diageo has released more details, including pricing, on all eight single malts and Johnnie Walker White Walker. See below.It only took seven years, but Game of Thrones fans will finally be able to pair the perfect scotch with each action-packed episode of the hit series when its eighth and final season premieres in 2019. Drinks conglomerate Diageohas partnered with HBO to release eight special single malts this winter—each from a different distillery and named for a different house or group from the fictional land of Westeros.
After initially bringing you information about the whiskies based on the approved labels from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Whisky Advocate now has additional details from Diageo. The company's press release states that their "unparalled diverse range of distilleries in Scotland, much like in Westeros, each have their own unique characteristics and produce a distinctive whisky representative of its local terroir...

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...

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...

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

It’s another plentiful week in new whisky, especially for American craft distillers. Frey Ranch is celebrating its 10th anniversary with an American whiskey made from five different grains, while Chicken Cock has upped the age on its Double Oak whiskey by two years. Filmland Spirits has similarly released an older iteration of its flagship Moonlight Mayhem! bourbon, and North Carolina’s Oaklore Distilling has made its four-grain bourbon available nationwide. In Washington, Heritage Distilling Co. has debuted another bourbon commemorating the stories and veterans of the U.S. Special Operations Forces. Outside the U.S., Crown Royal has introduced a Canadian blend finished in Caribbean rum casks, Hatozaki has a new blend of malt whiskies finished in umeshu plum liqueur casks, and Japanese whisky bar Club Qing is making its U.S. debut with two single casks from Speyside.
Chicken Cock 10 year old Double Oak Kentucky Whiskey
ABV: 46%
SRP: $80

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

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...

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

A diverse selection of new whiskies is rolling out this month. For scotch fans, there are new limited editions from Glenfiddich and Compass Box. Bourbon aficionados can begin the hunt for the latest batch of Booker's bourbon and the new Knob Creek 25th Anniversary Edition, along with Lone Whisker, a new 12 year old bourbon. Brown-Forman has also rolled out the first release from Slane, its new Irish whiskey label. Also, don't miss out on the top 10 whiskies from our Summer Buying Guide.Glenfiddich Project XXStyle: Single maltOrigin: SpeysideAge: Not statedProof: 47% ABVPrice: $80Release: June 2017Availability: Nationwide Need to know:The non-chill filtered whisky is a collaboration between Glenfiddich malt master Brian Kinsman and 20 whisky experts from 16 countries, each of whom selected one of the casks that went into the final blend. The casks included first-fill bourbon barrels, port pipes, sherry butts, and more.Whisky Advocate says:This is the second release in Glenfiddich’s...

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...

In recent weeks, a number of distilleries have announced major new builds. Blue Run Spirits is set to break ground on a state-of-the-art facility in Georgetown, Kentucky, while Middle West Spirits is relocating in Columbus, Ohio for 14 acres of space and a 75,000-square-foot distillery. Now, Wild Turkey has joined the mix, bringing to the table plans for an additional distillery on the Wild Turkey Distillery campus in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. The $161 million facility will be capable of producing 5 million proof gallons per year, bumping annual production up to 14 million proof gallons. Completion is slated for July 2025. 
This week's new whiskies come from Scotland, California, and Kentucky. Campbeltown single malt Glen Scotia adds a 21 year old to its core lineup, Old Potrero returns with three single barrel straight ryes, and RD1 Spirits debuts two wood stave-finished bourbons. Read on for full details.
Glen Scotia 21 year old

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...

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

If Japanese whisky is your pursuit, then Osaka is the land of the plenty. With over 3,000 bars and restaurants on offer, the birthplace of Japanese whisky has history, a bustling bar scene, and several great distilleries. Keep these destinations in mind when planning your visit, and you'll soon see what makes Osaka one of the greatest whisky cities in the world.Getting AroundThe subway makes it easy, but it shuts down between midnight and 5 a.m. Taxis are always available, and their unions have successfully blocked ride-sharing services. Uber has a cab-hailing app for licensed taxis. When hailing cabs, look for those with the 空車 (kuusha, literally “empty car”) in the windshield's lower left corner.When to GoThe Osaka Whisky Festival is held in early June and Whisky History Osaka typically occurs in September or October, both of which welcome thousands of eager whisky lovers to large-scale tastings. Late summer can make distillery visits unpredictable since they often close for...

Port, second perhaps only to sherry, is the most traditional cask used to finish whisky. As with sherry, various styles of port can be used—tawny, ruby, white, rosé, and even vintage port. Port-finished whiskies are often noteworthy for their deeper color and flavors that include plentiful berry notes of cranberry and blackberry, cherry, plum, and chocolate nuttiness, among others. 
Even peated whiskies can be finished in port barrels, and Islay, the spiritual home of peated scotch, has many smoky port-finished offerings. Port-finished bourbons have only been around for a little more than a decade, but they too are now figuring more prominently in port cask finishing. And almost every other whisky country in the world nowadays offers port cask-finished whiskies.
While port finishing’s flavors are discernible to the experienced palate, identifying them is unimportant. Why? Because if you can identify the finish too easily, then...

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...

Discover the House Style of Kentucky's Legendary Noe Introduced in 1795 by Jacob Beam as Old Jake Beam Sour Mash, by 1880 it was known as Old Tub, and in 1943 it finally took the name Jim Beam, after the company's 3rd master distiller. Today, Fred Noe is Jim Beam's the 7th generation master distiller (and his son Freddie the 8th), and the whisky likewise remains a consistent, family tradition. For your next progressive tasting, notice how, across the board, Jim Beam is a very full-bodied whisky. It's typically heavy on the caramel notes yet balanced with an intense spiced oakiness. It's always well-aged bourbon and rye, which makes it warm and inviting, perfect for neats pours, on ice, or in your favorite whisky cocktails.Jim Beam® Kentucky Straight BourbonMedium-bodied with mellow hints of caramel and vanilla, the finish offer toasted and some sweetness.Jim Beam® Bourbon Double OakAged in newly charred American white oak barrels before being switched to another freshly-charred...

Sébastien Giannini isn't one to throw away empty whisky bottles. Instead, he's giving them a second life as an unlikely culinary vessel—cooking turkey inside them.This Thanksgiving, Giannini, executive chef at the Watergate Hotel's Kingbird restaurant in Washington, D.C., will serve up a dish dubbed the “Break-In Turkey”— a turkey roulade cooked in an empty whisky bottle. (The moniker is a saucy nod to the political scandal stemming from the 1972 break-in of Democratic Party headquarters that led to President Richard Nixon's resignation.) The dish's preparation is understandably complex: Giannini infuses black truffle mousseline with whisky, then stuffs it between deboned cuts of turkey breast and thigh meat before rolling it up and searing the outer layer to an enticing golden brown. He then slides the roulade into an empty whisky bottle—the bottom of which has been carefully sliced off—and steams it for around an hour. Finally, the roulade is presented to guests...

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...

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...

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

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...

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

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...

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

The Top 20 highest single bottle hammer prices achieved during April 2023 achieved the highest combined value of this list this year: $1,716,835 comprising 11 scotches, 5 Japanese whiskies, 3 American whiskeys, and 1 Irish whiskey. Macallan The Reach 81 year old, the oldest whisky ever sold at auction, had the highest hammer price. The list includes 11 single malts aged 50 years or more— from Macallan, Yamazaki, Karuizawa, Bowmore, Mortlach, and Glendronach.
April 2023 – Top 20 Highest Single Bottle Hammer Prices
Results converted to dollars using xe.com
20. Willett Family Estate 18 year old Paws & Claws Private Barrel
Sold: April 16th 2023 at Unicorn Auctions
Hammer price: $24,300

19. Midleton Very Rare 30th Anniversary Pearl Edition
Sold: April 23rd 2023 at Irish Whiskey Auction
Hammer price: $24,417

18. Karuizawa Sapphire Geisha 36 year old Cask No. 5077
Sold: April 10th 2023 at Whisky Auctioneer
Hammer...

Many auction houses are taking a summer break, which means there are few high-value scotches around. Our month-end list of the 20-highest single bottle sales for August thus will likely include more American whiskeys and more sales under $20,000 than usual. Unicorn Auctions, with no letup in its auction schedule, has seen more American whiskeys sell for $15,000-plus than anywhere else. Its Curated Auction contained a treasure trove of dusty bourbons and ryes produced during the second half of the 20th century, along with older Pre-Prohibition bourbons such as a rare quart bottle of Four Roses by Paul Jones & Co. that sold for $10,000.
The month so far has seen a fair amount of bulk selling: Unicorn Auctions sold the Springbank Millenium Collection for $27,500 and a 6-bottle set of Weller for $1,680, Scotch Whisky Auctions sold a 6-bottle set of Yamazaki 18 year old for $3,189 and a set of Macallan Edition No.1–6 for $2,934, while Grand Whisky Auction sold an 11-bottle...

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...

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

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...

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

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...

Sotheby’s kicks off its Weekend of Whisky today, and it’s an event that could bring the first million-dollar bottle of whisky to auction in over two years (see below). Rare scotch and Japanese whiskies will be sold in London over two days, with Sotheby’s valuing these precious bottles at $4.1million – $5.8million. Today’s sale (November 17th) is called “Kodawari | The Greatest Japanese Whisky Collection Part I,” and features a bottle of Karuizawa 1960 52 year old ‘Daikoku God’ (Est. $320,000–$430,000). Each bottling in this series released in 2013 featured a unique netsuke, and these Karuizawa have previously set the record for the most expensive standard sized bottle of whisky at auction. The sale includes 272 lots of rare Japanese whiskies from Hanyu, Yamazaki, Hakushu, Hibiki, and Yoichi, as well as over 160 lots of Karuizawa. Then on November 18th, Sotheby’s will hold a sale entitled “The World’s Most...

As the Mint Julep—a combination of bourbon, sugar, mint, and ice—and the cocktails below prove, adding mint easily molds whisky into a spring beverage. “Mint lifts whisky up and enables it to be a lighter beverage than it normally plays,” says Tony Burgesen, bartender at The Bower in New Orleans. “Mint’s subtle sweetness melds effortlessly into the caramel and vanilla notes of most whisky, while the refreshing coolness of mint plays with the higher notes of whisky, like white pepper and grass.”
The Cloverleaf
Created by Bennett Hofer, bartender, Union Horse Bar, Lenexa, Kansas
“Named after the racing pattern of a barrel race, this cocktail will take your taste buds for a ride,” Hofer says. “First the fresh and bright citrus notes activate your senses. Then the fresh mint combined with Chartreuse adds depth, floral, and minty notes. Lastly, the caramel, baking spices, and sweet cinnamon of the rye shine, leaving...

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...

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

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

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

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

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 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...

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

With the click of a mouse, the first million-dollar whisky has been sold at an online whisky auction. The bottle of rare Macallan was the highlight of The Perfect Collection Part One by Whisky Auctioneer, an estate sale of nearly 4,000 bottles, split into two sales, that has the potential to become the greatest whisky auction of all time. A European buyer paid a record $1,180,703, including premiums, for the 1926 Macallan Valerio Adami 60 year old on February 17, 2020, setting a record for Scotland's most expensive whisky ever auctioned. It's also the sixth standard-sized whisky bottle ever to achieve $1 million at auction, and the third-highest auction price ever achieved for a bottle of whisky. Even with the lower premiums charged by online whisky auction houses, this sale unambiguously surpassed the previous record for the Valerio Adami bottle, set in 2018.Whisky Auctioneer's New Record For 1926 Macallan Valerio Adami 60 year old* Calculated using historical currency tables at...

Worried about your burgeoning whisky collection’s security? You can safeguard your coveted investment with specialty insurance. While the average homeowner’s policy will typically cover lower-end bottles of whisky (though you should confirm this with your broker), it won’t cover all circumstances, nor will it handle replacement of high-priced bottles—those valued at more than $500.
Securing a specialty insurer isn’t overly difficult, says Pinchus Chein, proprietor of Brooklyn-based Chein Insurance Agency, who brokers deals on behalf of clients across the nation.
How to Get Started With Insuring Your Whisky
To start a policy, you’ll first need to determine the nature of your collection and how much effort you wish to expend detailing it. For collectors wishing to cover a 100-plus bottle collection—a few of which are worth $600 each, and perhaps a handful are in the thousands of dollars—that’s easy to do with an insurance...

Everyone remembers the first bottle or sip of whisky that sparked their passion. And, if you’re like most whisky lovers, that passion blossomed and burgeoned. It can be seen as a snowball effect or a rabbit hole, but the stronghold that whisky collecting exerts is undeniable. Whether that’s hunting for a beloved bottle you haven’t seen in the wild for years or searching tirelessly for the last piece needed to complete a set, there’s a feeling of elation when you tuck a new bottle into its home alongside the rest of your prized finds.
As your collection overflows from a shelf or cabinet to occupy closets, custom-built shelves, basement bars, or entire rooms (all due credit to understanding spouses and partners for these allowances), you may hit a point where you wonder if you’ll be able to enjoy it all in one lifetime. Regardless of how immense your collection becomes, there will always be bottles you obsess over and pursue. That’s just the...

Long known for its country music scene, Nashville has recently built a reputation as a food and beverage destination. And after a 2009 law reintroduced distilling for the first time since statewide Prohibition in 1910, a crop of craft distillers has sprung up, making all sorts of whiskey. While some distillers are breaking new ground, others are reviving recipes passed down through generations.There are now enough local distilleries to support a Tennessee Whiskey Trail, established in 2017 by the Nashville-based Tennessee Distillers Guild. The trail features 30 distilleries across the state, ranging in size from boutique micro-distillers to the big guys, George Dickel and Jack Daniel's. With a number of innovative craft distillers showcasing regional ingredients and flare in Nashville and the surrounding area, there's good reason to break away from the honky tonks on Lower Broadway to sample some locally grown and distilled whiskeys.Nashville Whiskey DistilleriesCorsair Distillery601...

Remember a time when devotees of the Manhattan had few options when it came to choosing a vermouth to stir with their whiskey? An era when Martinis were mixed so dry that it mattered little what was misted on top? Vermouth, a wine fortified with distilled spirits, was once a sleepy mixer gathering dust on the shelf. Thanks to the rebirth of cocktail culture, those days are over.More Than Manhattans: Try These Whisky-Vermouth CocktailsBorn in the Piedmont region of northwest Italy in the 16th century or even earlier, vermouth was originally used to make medicinal herbs more palatable. Production spread to neighboring French and Swiss regions and became a cottage industry in all three countries. By the 18th century, vermouth moved beyond its medicinal roots and was commonly enjoyed as an appetite enhancer. America discovered the drink in the late 19th century and soon revealed its potential in a long list of aromatic, often potent cocktails. Today, it is still widely appreciated in...

More than 125 whiskies are reviewed in the Summer 2019 issue of Whisky Advocate—from single malt and blended scotch to bourbon, rye, Irish, Canadian, Japanese whisky, and more. Here, we highlight the ten highest-scoring whiskies (not featured as Collectibles or Editors' Choice bottles) that are for sale in the U.S., each netting 92 points or above.Angel's Envy Oloroso Sherry Cask Finished Bourbon93 points, 50% ABV, $200The confectionary nose of flan and crème caramel comes draped over lovely grainy aromas of warm porridge and pastry crust. Vinous notes of cherry/berry fruit emerge, along with toasted almonds and floral aromas. On the palate, there is berry coulis, Creamsicle stick, French burnt peanut candies, and warm banana. Overall, this demonstrates both nice maturity and lovely balance of sweetness and spice, with a finish of cinnamon-sprinkled apple pie. —Jeffery LindenmuthMayor Pingree 11 year old Straight Bourbon (Batch 3)93 points, 57.25% ABV, $90Intense, flavorful, and...

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

Chili is the Martini of the North American culinary world, in that everyone knows how to make it, but few agree on which method to use. Atop the list of debates is whether or not kidney beans belong in the recipe, with the nothing-but-meat advocates being particularly vocal in defense of their position. Then comes the matter of heat: mouth-burning from fresh chiles, moderately hot from dried peppers, or simply a bit piquant from chile powder. And should the tomato element be fresh, canned, or added as sauce, if indeed it should be present at all?
Most non-purist chili aficionados would agree, however, that there are three or possibly four primary families of chili: Texas, with cubed beef and no beans; vegetarian; beef and bean, sometimes simply known as red, featuring ground beef and red kidney beans; and the outlier, white chili made with white beans and chicken, and sometimes with cream as well.
Made with well-marbled brisket and an assortment of dried chiles, my...

There’s a new crop of whiskeys out of California’s Napa Valley region to bring some excitement to your American whiskey assortment.
Boisset Collection—owner of the California wineries Buena Vista Winery, DeLoach Vineyards, Elizabeth Spencer, JCB by Jean-Charles Boisset, and Raymond Vineyards, and the U.S.-based outpost of family-owned Boisset, La Famille des Grands Vins—has launched a spirits portfolio under the Calistoga Depot Distillery moniker, with most of the focus on whiskey.
Jean-Charles Boisset, vintner and proprietor of the Boisset Collection, purchased the historic Calistoga Depot in Calistoga, California in 2021. The depot was built by entrepreneur Samuel Brannan in 1868 and is the second-oldest train depot in the state. This newly restored landmark includes a gourmet grocery and, now, a copper-clad distillery tasting room offering ultra-premium, barrel-aged, and wine cask-finished spirits.
Calistoga Depot Distillery tapped local...

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...

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
...

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...

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

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...

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...

We normally equate devices that purport to improve our whisky with Ponzi schemes, snake oil, and the "Spanish Prisoner" ruse. However, would-be whisky alchemists continue to conjure up devices that pledge to work miracles. In the interest of science, our tasting panel put these products' claims to the taste test with a basic bourbon and blended scotch, both priced around $20, and a $40 white whiskey.Better Aeration, More Maturity: Testing the Promises of Whisky GadgetsThe Barrel Mill Oak Infusion Spirals—$25/6 pack of 2.5 inch spiralsPromise: Forgo barrel aging as you “…achieve similar results directly in the bottle.” Intended for unaged whiskey, Oak Infusion Spirals come in a variety of sizes and char levels. We immersed a 2.5-inch American Oak Char #3 spiral in the white whiskey and sampled every week for five weeks.Verdict: While it tasted in no way similar to barrel-aged whiskey as promised, the spicy oak layered atop a quality distillate made for an enjoyable experiment...

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...

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;...

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...

This week delivered news of two major distillery builds in the U.S. In Georgetown, Kentucky, Blue Run Spirits will soon break ground on a strikingly modern new headquarters that will include a 35,000-square-foot distillery and a 20,000-square-foot rickhouse, all expected to be up and running by 2025. Over in Ohio, craft distiller Middle West has unveiled plans for a 75,000-square-foot distillery, slated to be the centerpiece of its newly developed 14-acre home that will open this summer in Columbus. While Middle West makes vodka and gin along with its whiskey labels, its new distillery will be exclusively whiskey-focused. 
This week brings a varied array of new whiskies. From Scotland, Glenfiddich has introduced a single malt in celebration of Japan's cherry blossom festival—a 29 year old whisky finished in casks previously used for the Japanese spirit awamori—while Loch Lomond is releasing two new whiskies to...

Cocktails often seem best when crafted by a skilled mixologist and enjoyed at a bar—but that isn't always true! You can enjoy a top-notch cocktail from the comfort of your own home, even if you have zero bar skills. Enter cocktail kits, pre-made by professionals with all the fixins you'll need to do it yourself, from classics like the Manhtattan and Old Fashioned to original creations.Right now, many bars are offering cocktail kits as a way to serve their patrons while social distancing. Sometimes these kits include every ingredient—mixers, garnish, and more—except the alcohol, allowing at-home bartenders to choose their own. Others include the bottle in their kit, such as Chicago's Bar Biscay, which sells a Manhattan kit that comes with Evan Williams Bottled in Bond bourbon.Even if you aren't near a bar offering to-go cocktail kits, there are a slew of options you can order online (most of these require you to provide the alcohol yourself). Read on for more information, and...

Scotch whisky history is full of great rivalries, such as Ardbeg and Bruichladdich's Peat Bog battles over ppm and Dalwhinnie and Braeval's spat over which distillery is Scotland's highest. Now we can add the great auction duel of 2019-2021 between Whisky Auctioneer and Sotheby's to the list. This legendary contest was fought between two extraordinarily valuable whisky collections, with both auction houses claiming to have sold the most valuable collection ever seen—in the case of Whisky Auctioneer, the Perfect Collection, which when revealed in 2019,looked set to challenge Sotheby's sale of The Ultimate Whisky Collection in a clash of online versus live bidding. We previously speculated on the two collections' prospects for being crowned the greatest whisky collection of all time, but now that both stages of these auctions are over, it's time to take a deep dive into the figures to settle the matter once and for all,Our route to declaring a victor involved three tests that compared...

Though it's not a new whiskey release, the latest Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavor is worth reporting here as it incorporates whiskey—in this case, WhistlePig 6 year old Piggyback rye. (The distillery and ice cream manufacturer are Vermont neighbors.) Ben & Jerry's Whiskey Biz flavor has a brown butter-bourbon ice cream base and incorporates blonde brownies, Piggyback-infused caramel swirls, white fudge chunks, and white chocolate ganache. It's kosher, which means Piggyback is now certified kosher, as are all WhistlePig whiskeys with the exception of 12 year old Old World.On to new whisky releases, starting with The 117 Series from Old Forester. This limited-edition collection debuts with High Angels' Share bourbon, priced at $50 for 375 ml.Dalmore Distillery's 12 year old Sherry Cask Select is landing on U.S. shores. Priced at $80, the single malt is initially for sale only at Total Wine & More stores, with expanded availability starting in September.Jefferson's is...

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...

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

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

Miniature barrels are like miniature horses. They're almost too adorable to resist, yet nobody seems to know exactly what to do with them. So we asked chefs, distillers, and bartenders for their tips on the best small barrel DIY projects. Now, put these items in your mini-barrel, and turn it into the little workhorse it was born to be.The White Stuff: Aging Unaged WhiskeyAging time: 3-6 monthsWoodinville Whiskey Co. offers the Age Your Own Whiskey Kit, including two 750 ml bottles of 110 proof unaged white dog and a 2-liter aging barrel. “Color develops within a few weeks in the barrel and it takes about 3 months to get a solid, enjoyable product,” says Woodinville co-owner Orlin Sorensen. Evaporation, or the angel's share, is accelerated with small barrels, according to Sorenson. To minimize it, take only small samplings and keep the barrel topped off, even if you are just adding water. Rather go it alone? Try filling your barrel with Buffalo Trace White Dog Mash #1 or George...

Whether it’s Kit Kat, Twix, Starburst, Swedish Fish, or another candy you crave, there’s a whisky to match it. Sure, you can pair your favorite dram with chocolate or a Halloween treat,  but don’t lose sight of whiskies that serve up sweetness with each pour. So delight your sweet tooth with these whiskies that unwrap candy flavors in a glass.
George Dickel 11 year old Bottled in Bond (Distilled in Fall 2008) Tennessee whiskey95 points, 50%, $40Lush, rich, and deep from the start, with blackberry, cherry, spiced plum, cinnamon, mint, and maple syrup aromas. Even more density on the palate, which has deep flavors of cocoa powder, Raisinets, roasted walnuts, cinnamon, mint, maple syrup, and chewy oak. Extraordinary length on the finish, which carries the chocolate, dark fruit, spice, mint, and rich oak notes for minutes. A phenomenal follow-up to its 13 year old antecedent, our 2019 Whisky of the Year.
Knob Creek 12 year old bourbon95 points, 50%...

What ages together, goes together. Or at least that’s the case with whisky and rum. Though one starts with starch and the other with sugar, both are imparted with color and flavors from their time spent in barrels and while they’re distinctly different, they share similar flavors. So when you shake or stir whisky and rum together, the uniform flavors fade into the background, allowing their unique attributes to take the spotlight. “It creates a beautifully layered and balanced drink,” says Keena Hanson, training and development bar manager for Ida Claire and Haywire in Dallas, Texas.
To form a harmonious marriage for a tasty cocktail, note the spice levels, alcohol contents, and flavors of your spirits. Since rum tends to be sweet, it lends itself to partnering with peated scotch, spicy rye, or other bold, heavy whisky. Still, if you prefer bourbon, you may want to choose a drier rum. Or simply let the recipes below guide you to sugar and spice...

The winter months can be quiet on the new whisky front. After the rush of holiday releases, many distillers pause for a breath and to look ahead to the rest of the year. But even in January lull, there are new bottles to keep things interesting.First up, Johnnie Walker's newest Blenders' Batch is launching at travel retail stores around the world. The blend is finished in sherry casks, which results in sweet fruity flavors. The Blenders' Batch releases have varied widely and show off the diversity of flavor profiles blending can achieve. Johnnie Walker Blenders' Batch Triple Grain American Oak was our Fall 2017 Value Pick.Gatlinburg, Tennessee's Sugarlands Distilling Company is about to launch its latest batch of straight rye whiskey. The barrel-proof expression will be available for pre-sale on Sugarlands' website starting February 2nd, but you must be able to pick it up in person at the distillery.Finally, Macallan is rolling out a limited-edition gift pack of its Double Cask 12...

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...

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

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...

Kentucky, land of bourbon and horses, is a magical place. Within her borders lie hundreds of equine farms, making the Bluegrass State the world's leader in thoroughbreds as well as bourbon. With more than a million acres of Kentucky land maintained for horses, it's hard to miss the rolling pastures that are home to these remarkable creatures, that can be seen munching on grass and swatting pesky flies with their tails as you drive by.Kentucky became home to thoroughbreds for many of the same reasons bourbon did: a four-season climate, fresh air, and limestone-filtered water. While providing a superb base ingredient for whiskey, the water also delivers a wallop of bone-building calcium to the pasture grass, along with its famous tinge of blue. Horses and bourbon were part of the picture even before Kentucky became a state in 1792. Commercial whiskey was distilled in Kentucky since the 1700s, and explorer Daniel Boone is credited with introducing a bill in Kentucky's first Legislative...

Once relegated to airplanes and minibars, the 50 ml bottle became increasingly popular as a result of COVID-related restrictions especially among craft distillers who were kept from hosting events or opening their tasting rooms. To stay afloat, small distilleries turned to minis (which are 50 ml), sending out samples for virtual tastings, and connecting with drinkers from afar.“Filling 50 ml bottles is notoriously difficult, and normally not known as a profit center for craft businesses, but we saw them as an investment,” says Gareth Moore, CEO of Virginia Distillery Co.. The distillery launched its first single malt, Courage and Conviction, in April 2020, at the start of the pandemic, and used 50 ml bottles as part of the rollout to reach more people.Catoctin Creekco-founder Scott Harris says that they resisted minis at first, but eventually saw the appeal. “Store tastings have stopped completely nationwide, and without tastings, there is no easy way to get customers to try our...

It's sure to be the whisky auction of the year. On Oct. 24, Sotheby's will auction off one of the world's most valuable whisky collections. Amassed by an anonymous single American owner, the $5 million asset has been dubbed “The Ultimate Whisky Collection” by Jonny Fowle, Sotheby's spirits specialist. The landmark sale underscores Sotheby's new commitment to spirit auctions and promises to be a showcase for scotch not seen at live auction since the 2009 Bonhams series that encompassed the 3,000-bottle Willard S. Folsom Collection and spanned multiple countries. It's easy to run out of superlatives for eye-popping whisky auctions, but I have genuinely never been more excited about a sale.Massive MacallanSotheby's has a strong history of bringing the finest Macallan to auction, but the magnitude of vintages in this sale is unparalleled. Macallan makes up 70% of the sale, with Sotheby's cataloguing an unprecedented 178 bottles of The Macallan Fine & Rare series, covering vintages...

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...

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

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

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

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

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...

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

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

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...

Looking for a good whisky to drink on Super Bowl Sunday? Raid your shelves to find a perfect pairing for wings, pizza, chips, dip, and nuts—or check out one of the new releases below.First up, Buffalo Trace is bringing back Double Eagle Very Rare, its 20 year old version of Eagle Rare bourbon. There are just 199 bottles available this year, with a suggested price of $2,000.Irish whiskey producer Egan's is rolling out Legacy Reserve III, a 17 year old single malt finished in cadillac casks. It's priced at $200, with 1,000 bottles available.Berkshire Mountain Distillers has unveiled the first releases in its Craft Brewers Whiskey Project, the result of distilling and aging popular craft beers. The first three offerings—UFO White Ale whiskey, Spencer's Trappist Ale whiskey, and Big Elm Brewing's 413 Farmhouse Ale whiskey—are available now in limited amounts, priced at $65.New Riff is offering a 15 year old straight bourbon, distilled at MGP, to raise money for hospitality workers...

Last month, James B. Beam Distilling Co. unveiled a new version of its core-range Jim Beam Black bourbon. Unlike the original, this one carries a 7 year old age statement—making it six months older—and it’s also gotten a higher ABV, boosted from 43% to 45%. The bourbon is currently available for purchase nationwide at the suggested price of $25.
Jim Beam Black has always been the older sibling of the classic Beam White Label, and historically that status was backed by an age statement. As early as the 70s, Beam Black was stated as being 101 months old (just under 8 and a half years) and was bottled at 45% ABV. Over the ensuing decades, the bourbon would undergo some changes: First the age statement was lowered to 8 years old, then later the strength would similarly drop to 43%. In 2014, the blend comprised 6.5 year old liquid on average, and the age statement was dropped completely from the label. That decision was due to the shortage of aged liquid that became...

Buying WhiskyThere's more choice than ever on the whisky shelves these days, but figuring out which to purchase doesn't have to be a headache. Whisky Advocate's tips will help you get the best bang for your buck.Try Before You BuyThe best way to figure out what you like? Taste it! Go to a bar and pick out a whisky you haven't tried. Many liquor stores offer free samples from time to time, and others might pour a sip from an open bottle if you express interest in trying it. Get acquainted with your local bars and retailers and become a regular. They'll start to remember your preferences and can make suggestions for new brands you might like.Find A GuideWhen you don't get the chance to taste and judge the whisky for yourself before shelling out for a bottle, crowdsource opinions. Ask friends with trusted palates what they think and read reviews like those found in our Buying Guide. You may not agree with every reviewer, but once you find someone with similar tastes to yours, use those...

Auctions have been buzzing this month, with a frenzy of summer whisky sales delivering impressive results. Yamazaki 55 year old set a new highest auction price of the year this week, with another bottle of The Macallan The Reach 81 year old recently fetching a six-figure sum (see below for further details). Not to be outdone, this weekend’s Whisky Hammer sale includes the chance to bid on both of these collectibles again. We are predicting that June’s 20-highest hammer prices will break $1 million, and it’s looking like it will be the first month of 2024 to outperform the year-earlier period, reversing a downward trend of recent months.
We reported that American whiskey is performing particularly well at auction recently, making notable gains while some scotch and Japanese whisky values have been on the slide. Competition for rare bourbon and rye has pushed prices to new heights and made American whiskeys a regular fixture in our monthly list of the 20-highest...

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...

From the base of New Hampshire's White Mountains to the forgotten remnants of eastern North Carolina's tobacco trade, a new generation of rural distilleries has popped up along the Eastern Seaboard, farming pastoral landscapes and reinvigorating small towns thirsty for an economic boost. Entrepreneurial spirits, from a visionary advertising executive to a longtime car parts salesman, have found in whiskey a means to improve their neighbors' quality of life while attracting visitors looking to take a scenic getaway, drink in the local flavor, then depart with irreplaceable bottles and memories.Tamworth Distillery & Mercantile15 Cleveland Hill Rd.Tamworth, N.H.Last fall, Tamworth Distillery & Mercantile CEO and founder Steven Grasse tapped the maple trees shading an unmarked Revolutionary War graveyard near the front gate of his summer residence. The syrup from these trees is the skeleton key that opens up his maple-flavored Graverobber Unholy rye whiskey. Tamworth's William...

American whiskey makers are staying busy in the new year. Shortly after reporting that Nelson's Green Brier plans to renovate its Nashville distillery, news broke that Traverse City Whiskey Co. began construction on what will be the largest whiskey distillery in Michigan. Traverse City is targeting early 2024 to have production up-and-running, with a plan to open to the public several months later.
While Michigan whiskey drinkers will have to wait for more Traverse City, there are a number of new releases this week worth getting excited about. Heaven Hill extends its Heritage Collection with a 20 year old corn whiskey, Westland announces the 7th edition of its Garryana single malt, and Sagamore Spirit is bringing its 8 year old rye nationwide. Read on for full details. 
Heaven Hill Heritage Collection (2023)Style: Corn whiskeyOrigin: KentuckyAge: 20 year oldABV: 57.5%Price: $290Release: March...

Earlier this week, Woodford Reserve announced a changing of the guard: Elizabeth McCall is now master distiller, while Chris Morris has moved into a master distiller emeritus role. Morris has mentored McCall since she joined Woodford in 2015, and in recent years her influence at the distillery has grown, as she's taken the lead on series like the Master's Collection and guided the distillery toward more in-depth grain research. She's only the third master distiller in Woodford's history, and she joins a growing rank of women at the helm of whisky's biggest names.
In new whisky, there's plenty to celebrate this week. Heaven Hill has released a barrel proof version of its Bernheim wheat whiskey, previously a Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience exclusive; Bowmore has collaborated with luxury automaker Aston Martin on yet another whisky; and Woodford is back with the 18th edition of its Master's Collection. Read on for full details.

Bernheim Barrel Proof 

There's plenty of new whisky on the horizon this week, from the U.S., Scotland, and beyond.Old Forester is debuting its first new mashbill in a century and a half with the launch of a rye whiskey. Bottled at 50% ABV and priced at $24, the whiskey is widely available.Another brand from Brown-Forman, Coopers' Craft, is also adding a new whiskey. Coopers' Craft Barrel Reserve was aged in a new charred oak barrel that was chiseled on the inside to create more surface area for the wood and whiskey to interact. At 50% ABV, it's also higher proof than the original Cooper's Craft. It will be available in a dozen states for $30-$33.Glen Moray has unveiled the latest release in its non-age statement Classic Collection. Glen Moray Cabernet Sauvignon Cask Finish was finished in, you guessed it, cabernet casks and bottled at 40% ABV. It's widely available for $30.Seattle's Westland Distillery is releasing its latest Peat Week limited-edition single malt. Bottled at 50% ABV and priced at $100, the...

High-priced and so-called “luxury” whiskies seem to get more attention than other bottles, and why not? They're usually well-aged—think 25-plus years old—and the reviews will tell you they're delicious. They're often put into gorgeous decanters made by crystal houses like Lalique and Baccarat, and packaged in elaborate wooden boxes handmade by artisans.These whiskies are quite expensive—we're talking from $150 all the way into the thousands of dollars—and yet, often you can't even get them. The problem? They're made in limited amounts, and many get snapped up by collectors even before they hit shelves.You're probably not going to stumble upon any bottles of George T. Stagg or Yamazaki 18 year old this week, but there are still plenty of remarkable luxury whiskies that can be found at most times in most towns. Here a few bottles to look for, once you've saved up your pocket change, that is.Turn Out Your Pockets for These Expensive Whiskies That Are Easy To FindGlenmorangie...

For many whisky drinkers, scotch is defined by smoke flavors. But long before single malt drinkers developed a taste for intensely peat-smoked Islay whiskies, their main role was as a judiciously added component in blended scotch whiskies. Whether you are searching for a smoky sipper of your own, or introducing friends to the pleasure of smoke, we've arranged these classic blended scotches by their smoke character—from a whiff to wallop.Less SmokeBlack Bottle—83 points, $25J.Mossman Pink gold Crown 18 Year Old—89 points, $68Isle of Skye 8 year old—84 points, $29Medium SmokeThe Famous Grouse Smoky Black—89 points, $35Buchanan's Red Seal—91 points, $169Johnnie Walker Blue Label—97 points, $225Grant's Elementary Carbon 6 year old—85 points, $30More SmokeJohnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost & Rare—91 points, $400Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 year old—88 points, $30Johnnie Walker Double Black—90 points...

On Ireland's windswept southwest coast, the Galley Head Lighthouse sits high above the rocky cliffs at the edge of the Atlantic. The fields around the lighthouse are filled with sea air and mist, and are planted with barley. The Scully family has owned this farmland for three centuries. “It's a special place to grow barley,” says Michael Scully, who represents the eighth generation of family leadership. “The maritime air permeates right to the grain.”Scully's passion for farming extends to a love of whiskey, and he saw the farm's seaside location as an ideal place for making and maturing it. In 2016, he took the plunge, and scouted a distillery location in the town of Clonakilty, about five miles down the road. Scully's mission: to make single pot still whiskey. “The very best single pot still expressions are among the very best exemplars of whiskey in the world, and our goal is to make world-class whiskeys,” he says. Clonakilty Distillery, a modern glass building that...

In case you missed it: On July 2, Kevin O'Gorman joined us on #TasteWithSpace to chat about his first full year as Midleton's master distiller, and reflect on the state of Irish whiskey, which covers the Summer issue of Whisky Advocate. O'Gorman discussed a range of topics relevant to Irish whiskey, and tasted through two whiskeys with associate editor Ted Simmons, both of which showcase the top tiers of Midleton's whiskey making prowess.Following Brian Nation's departure from Irish Distillers last June, O'Gorman was tapped to step into the master distiller role at the company's Midleton Distillery, and he's since been busy with new releases such as Blue Spot, whose launch completed the return of the Spot range, and the 2021 vintage of Midleton Very Rare. While Blue Spot (and all the Spot whiskeys) are single pot still expressions—a style that's quintessentially Irish—Midleton Very Rare is a blend of single pot still and single grain whiskeys, and this is the first vintage...

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...

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...

Did you know that “Star Trek” has its own liquor label? It’s true! Since 2022, the popular science-fiction franchise has been releasing spirits inspired by some of the drinks and props featured throughout the films and shows. The list includes an Earl Grey-infused gin influenced by the favorite tea of captain Jean Luc Picard (played by Patrick Stewart), a lightning-blue vodka that’s made to look like the highly addictive Romulan Ale, and a line of vintage-dated bourbons that bear the mark of the Starfleet Command, among others. The franchise has just announced its two newest whiskeys, which were made in partnership with the Barrell Craft Spirits label Stellum Spirits.
Out of This World
The first is a blended rye that includes liquid ranging in age from 5 years and 5 months to 7 years old. The provenance of the whiskey is undisclosed, but the blend has a derived mashbill of 82% rye, 14% corn, and 4% malted barley. The final product was bottled at...

Between forests, mountains, and a wide river, Japan's Mars Shinshu Distillery in Nagano is making whisky at full capacity again after taking a short break—for nineteen years. In 1989, a tax reform forced Japan's distillers to nearly double whisky prices. Many small Japanese distilleries either reduced their production or closed down entirely. While it seems hard to imagine today, there was so little demand for whisky that in 1992 Mars Shinshu abandoned whisky completely in favor of brandy. The now legendary Karuizawa and Hanyu Distilleries were able to hang on until the turn of the millennium.Now, Mars Shinshu is just one of at least ten small distilleries to join the nation's leading distillers—Suntory and Nikka—as silent distilleries come back to life and new passion projects emerge. The movement spans the country, from the island of Hokkaido in the north where the new Akkeshi Distillery is embracing the cold coastal climate, to Kyushu Island in the south, home to Japan's most...

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

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

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

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...

Looking for new whisky to temper the hot summer days, or perhaps to enjoy while grilling out? Look no further. This week brings several new releases that span a wide range of flavor profiles.First up, Crown Royal is offering a special release that nods to its strong Texas support. Crown Royal Texas Mesquite is infused with mesquite flavors and comes packaged in a spiffy bag sporting the Lone Star State's flag colors. At $25, it's available in a handful of states—including, of course, Texas.Next, Woodford Reserve has unveiled a permanent addition to its core lineup of whiskeys, which includes Bourbon, Double Oaked Bourbon, and Rye. Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Malt has a mashbill of 51% malted barley, with the remainder made up of mainly corn and a little rye. Note that this whiskey is not the same as a single malt, which in Scotland and Ireland is defined as being 100% malted barley—though in the U.S., there's no legal definition as of yet. Woodford's new straight malt will...

As Scotland takes its first steps out of lockdown, Bonhams, Edinburgh is making a welcome return with an enticing sale for the single malt lover on June 10. After last year's run of hit and miss sales, Bonhams has put together an accomplished and compact sale of quality whiskies which will be conducted live but “behind closed doors” with the auctioneer marshaling absentee bids against the incoming phone and online bids. On offer are 395 bottles in 183 lots, which Bonhams estimates to be worth $294,000-$354,000.When sizing up an auction, it's easy to become distracted by the big-ticket items (see table below), but it's always worth doing a little background research. Few bottles in this sale will sell for more than $10,000 but, in general, Bonhams has stuck with estimates that are conservative yet attractive. Bargain hunters should not miss out on the multi-bottle lots.Glenmorangie GlutThe sale has a preponderance of Glenmorangie rarities with nearly 80 bottles to choose from, led...

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...

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 &...

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

“Rye from 1898?” The fellow holding the bottle pushes it forward, showing a typewritten label with “Stewart Distilling Company” and “Made in 1898” and little else. I hold my glass out and listen to the tale of how the owner acquired a case of these in an estate sale in Connecticut. The whiskey, soft, herbaceous, and delicious, goes down too quickly. Within moments, someone else produces a bottle of James E. Pepper Bottled in Bond from the ’50s, and my glass is refilled.

And so it goes at the wildest bottle share I’ve ever attended. Held the night before Bourbon Bonanza at The Last Refuge—a grandiose Louisville church converted into a bar—100 whiskey aficionados gather, all of whom have brought the very best from the depths of their collections. “There’s probably $150,000 worth of bottles here,” says one of Bourbon Bonanza’s organizers Quintin Wise. “This is the roots of bourbon, though;...

San Francisco has always been a great place to enjoy whisky and has the history to prove it. While the inferno of the 1906 earthquake incinerated most of the city, firefighters worked overtime to save the vast whiskey warehouse of a local merchant named A.P. Hotaling. The building still stands on Jackson St., and the plaque outside displays a cheeky tribute to their effort:If, as they say, God spanked the townFor being over-frisky,Why did He burn His churches downAnd spare Hotaling's whiskey? The rest of the poetry on this tour will come in a glass. No need to rent a car, because the city is small enough to walk or hail a lift or, in true Silicon Valley style, call a ride share.Day OneIt's late morning; you've just arrived and are ready to head out on the town. First stop, the Ferry Building for a coffee at Blue Bottle. Enjoy the famous joe as you stroll in this bustling marketplace, because you're going to need the caffeine.Latte in hand, enjoy the short walk just 400 paces to the...

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...

Updated June 13, 2024
Father’s Day is this Sunday, and there’s no better time to celebrate the father figures in our lives. If your dad appreciates a great dram, then odds are there’s a whisky that ties to his other interests, be it a love of cars, the great outdoors, music, or other things. A bottle of whisky goes a long way in letting dad know how much you appreciate him.
History Buff Dad 
Shackleton Blended Malt Scotch, 40% ABV, $35
This blended Highland malt is inspired by the whisky that Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton left behind during a failed bid to reach the South Pole in 1907.
George Washington’s Straight Rye, 43% ABV, $188/375 ml
Researchers discovered the original recipe for Washington’s whiskey in his ledgers from 1798 and 1799—he used a mashbill of 60% rye, 35% corn, and 5% malted barley. Today, that same recipe is made at Mount Vernon Distillery, on the site of Washington’s home.
Grilling...

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...

Some familiar names pop up in our Winter 2018 Best Values, with a little of both fire and ice. Tullamore D.E.W. has impressed us with their aged whiskies and cask finishes, but sometimes, you just want the original, and at 88 points, it registers on par with the brand's 15 and 18 year old expressions. Johnnie Walker, meanwhile, would like to reserve a spot in your freezer for White Walker, which indicates its prime serving temperature by changing the appearance of the striding man on the label. But if it's heat and peat you seek, Glenfiddich Fire and Cane combines peated and unpeated single malt that's then finished in rum casks. You may need the snow shovel this season, but these great value whiskies won't requiring any digging. These bottles have solid scores, modest prices, and wide availability. For all whiskies reviewed in the Winter 2018 issue, visit our Buying Guide.Tullamore D.E.W. Original Blended Irish Whiskey88 points, 40% ABV, $24Triple distilled classic containing a blend...

When you think of double-digit age statements, your mind may jump straight to scotch. While scotch whiskies are often 12 years or older, more and more well-aged bourbons—and Tennessee whiskey, which is the same thing—have popped up on shelves in recent years. When it comes to age statements and the aging process, bourbon is quite different from scotch, thanks to its use of new charred oak barrels and the climate differences between Scotland and Kentucky, where the majority of bourbon is made. Some aged bourbons may have delicate, balanced notes of oak while others taste far too woody—it takes a skilled whiskey maker to walk that line. Since the process is so fickle, it's made even Whisky Advocate question: Can bourbon be too old?The six age-statement bourbons here, which are all from our Spring 2021 Buying Guide, are prime examples of well-aged bourbon. Each boasts a double-digit age statement and scored at least 90 points, showing exemplary distillation and maturation. Whether...

There are over 150 whiskies reviewed in the Winter 2020 Buying Guide, covering the full spectrum of the whisky world, from Scotland and Ireland to Kentucky, Texas, and far beyond. Here, we highlight 10 of the highest-scoring whiskies (not featured as Collectibles or Editors' Choice, and not counting the Top 20 winners or the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection), each netting 94 points or above. There are plenty of other high-scoring whiskies beyond these as well, including Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake, Kentucky Owl Dry State, Johnnie Walker Blue Label Legendary Eight, Rabbit Hole Founder's Collection Boxergrail, Canadian Club Chronicles 43 year old The Speakeasy, the latest Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (Batch C920), and the 2020 Diageo Special Releases—and many more. For the full lineup of reviews, check out the Winter 2020 Buying Guide.High Whisky Scores from Whisky Advocate's Winter 2020 Issue
Ardbeg 19 year old Traigh Bhan (Batch 2)95 points, 46.2% ABV, $300The early nose offers...

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

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

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...

Country music and whiskey often go hand-in-hand, both of them emblematic of American culture, and perfect for enjoying together. Several country singers and groups have launched their own whiskeys, including Florida Georgia Line (Wolf Moon), John Rich of Big & Rich (Redneck Riviera), and Darius Rucker (Backstage Southern Whiskey). But none of them bring together the ultimate American matchup quite like Lee Greenwood, who's preparing to launch an eponymous whiskey this spring in partnership with Omaha, Nebraska's Soldier Valley Spirits.The writer and singer of the popular patriotic anthem “God Bless the USA” says that he was drawn to work with Soldier Valley because its military connections align with his values. “If you look at the history of my career, you won't find my name associated with anything else other than something military,” Greenwood says. “I met these two guys, and I would say David [Young, Soldier Valley's president] and Jeff [Hadden, founder] are just the...

For a whisky lover, a trip to Scotland typically involves visiting distilleries scattered across the country. But don’t overlook the chance to visit some truly special whisky bars, both in the cities and the countryside, sometimes with a distillery nearby. The list below provides a look at some of Scotland’s best watering holes, where ambience and quality whisky go hand in hand—regardless of whether you want a simple dram or a hard-to-find pour.

Ardshiel Hotel
Campbeltown
Within walking distance from Campbeltown’s three classic distilleries—Springbank, Glengyle, and Glen Scotia—lies this legendary hotel bar located in an original Victorian-era villa, decorated with blue and white tartan wallpaper and light wood furniture. With a 2,000-bottle rotating collection, it has about 500 whiskies available at a time. Single malts start at £3.50/$5/1.18 oz. which buys you an 8 year old Glenburgie or a 12 year old Aultmore-Glenlivet...

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

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

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...

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

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

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...

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

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...

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...

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

Sotheby's, London regained the world record for the most expensive bottle of whisky sold at auction on Oct. 24, when the 1926 Macallan Fine & Rare 60 year old sold as part of The Ultimate Whisky Collection. With buyer's premiums, the bottle fetched £1,452,000 ($1,873,951), making it the fifth time a bottle of 1926 Macallan 60 year old has broken $1 million at auction. The single-owner whisky collection made $10 million in total, with 100% of lots sold—and a substantial number exceeding Sotheby's high estimates. This auction marked the highest-value wine or spirits sale ever held by Sotheby's, London, and a remarkable debut for Jonny Fowle, Sotheby's newly appointed spirits specialist.“This fantastic result is testament to the quality of the collection,” said Fowle in a statement following the sale. “It was remarkable to see so many iconic bottles break records—homage to the importance of distilleries such as Bowmore, Brora, Springbank and, of course, Macallan. The...

Bringing your bottles on trips is increasingly commonplace these days. “If I’m flying, I know duty free doesn’t have much I’ll like,” says Kenny Levine, a New Jersey pawn shop owner with some 500 bottles in his collection. “I’d rather have two bottles I love than something I settled for at the airport.”
Levine seals his closures by dipping them in wax in a slow cooker and bubble-wraps them before putting them in his checked luggage, and other travelers also swear by this method. But protective cases are on the rise.
Harbor Freight offers a large polypropylene protective case ($40), with customizable pick-and-pull foam inserts, that’s sealed and can withstand enormous impacts and changes in pressure. (And it’s $100 cheaper than a similar case from class leader Pelican.)
That’s why it’s Matthew Zelak’s go-to. “There are two separate layers of foam in the lower section,” the Brooklyn...

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...

In each issue of Whisky Advocate, our Buying Guide features its Editor’s Choice selections, which are chosen based on scores, affordability, and availability. For the Summer issue, the tasting panel selected a variety of scotches and bourbons, as well as an Irish single malt and a wheat whiskey. There are some excellent values here, with most selections priced at around $60, and the highest-ticket item hitting $100.
94 Points - Lochlea Fallow Edition First-Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt Matured (Third Crop) single malt scotch, 46%, $75 
The light yet luscious palate takes those notes up another notch: berries and raisins blend wonderfully with sweet malt, Black Forest cake, chocolate ganache, and cinnamon powder. 
92 Points - Bushmills 2014 Private Reserve Series 10 year old Amarone Cask Irish single malt, 47.3%, $60 
The palate is thick and fruity with cherry, bramble, clove, fresh plum, a touch of leather, and some late vanilla creaminess before a...

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...

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...

Explore the flavors of Japan with this selection of delicious whiskies across the key styles—blends, single malt, and single grain. We recommend getting to know the whisky through neat pours at first, then over ice, but why not also embrace Japanese drinking culture and revisit the same whisky in a cocktail or a Highball? New to Japanese whisky or want to learn more about it? Get all of the details here. 
92 points - Hibiki Japanese Harmony Blend, 43%, $100
Vanilla, peach, lemon meringue, cherry tart, blackberry jam, orange, chocolate, and oak
92 points - Kanosuke 2023 Limited Edition Single Malt, 59%, $175
Peat smoke, rolling tobacco, white grape, pear, star fruit, and vanilla essence
92 points - Mars Whisky Asagi Madara 8 year old Blend, 48%, $106
Cotton candy, rose Turkish delight, fresh linen, ripe orchard fruit, cherry sherbet, and vanilla custard
92 points - Nikka Coffey Grain, 45%, $65
Nutty oak, toffee fudge...

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

It's Friday the 13th, but don't get spooked—this week's new whiskeys are all perfectly normal. In fact, Diageo just announced news of its 2018 Special Releases—most of them, that is.First up, Wild Turkey has announced a new, permanently available bourbon called Longbranch, which master distiller Eddie Russell made in partnership with creative director (and film actor) Matthew McConaughey. It's 8 years old and filtered through both American white oak and mesquite charcoals, and it costs $40. Since McConaughey's stamp of approval is on it, I'm guessing this whiskey is all right, all right, all right (or even better than that).Balvenie Distillery debuted DoubleWood 12 year old in 1993, and in celebration of its 25th anniversary, the company is rolling out limited-edition packaging. While the liquid inside is the same as in any other bottle, Balvenie also plans to release a 25 year old DoubleWood later this year.Blade and Bow is returning with its 22 year old bourbon for the fourth...

Bowmore and Dalmore vied for auction leadership at Sotheby’s in May, with Bowmore emerging the winner. Bowmore ARC-54 The Iridos Edition sold for $121,384 in London, while Dalmore 52 year old Luminary No. 3 The Rare went for $51,187 in Hong Kong. Both results represent the highest hammer price for each brand this year.
The Bowmore sale is the third-highest hammer price for a bottle of whisky this year. Bowmore has topped the highest auction prices of the month for two months running, and the distillery has moved up to take second place in our table behind Macallan.
As the leading brand in the secondary market, Macallan was responsible for 12 of May’s 20-highest hammer prices, adding more than half a million dollars to its running total in our table for 2025. Bottles from The Red Collection, Fine & Rare, and a bottle of Macallan x Bentley Horizon made the list. The Macallan x Bentley Horizon was released for $50,000 last year, but fetched $32,369 on the...

A strong August for Macallan helped the 20-highest hammer prices for the month reach a combined total of $557,495. This pushed Macallan’s appearances on this year’s table past the $3 million mark—reaching that goal faster than last year, and with a larger share of bottles overall. Notably, August of 2024 managed to reach a total of just $366,215.
The Grand Whisky Auction delivered the highest hammer price of August with a bottle of Macallan The Red Collection 60 year old. Single malt scotch dominated the top five positions overall, including a Dalmore 50 year old signed by master distiller Richard Paterson. Vintage scotch performed well, with entries including Samaroli Bowmore Bouquet 1966, Laphroaig 14 year old from the 1950s, and Gordon & MacPhail Port Ellen 1969 15 year old. A stronger month for Irish whiskey too, with two bottles of Midleton making the list, including the 95-point Midleton Very Rare 30th Anniversary Pearl Edition. Rye...

The notion that age is synonymous with quality has eroded over the years, as non-age statement (or NAS) single malts have risen to prominence, and it has more or less been agreed upon that bourbon can at times be too old. When assessing a whisky labelto determine potential quality and character, the age of what's inside is only one factor to consider.However, there is no denying the allure of a whisky that has spent significant time, sometimes multiple decades, inside the barrel. When you sip a whisky that is up there in age, consider where you were when it was distilled. No matter the country of origin or casks used, advanced age statement whiskies have to be handled with care and monitored closely; to taste whiskies that is as old as these, all from our Fall 2021 Buying Guide, is a special treat indeed. While some of these, like the Craigellachie, are single casks releases, and others, like the Talisker, cost a hefty chunk of change, they all represent potential crown jewels for...

The Winter 2021 issue of Whisky Advocateis all about connecting you with great whisky. There areover 150 whisky reviews inside, including our annualTop 20 list, which celebrates an exciting year of high-quality and affordable drams. Our Whisky of the Year is a stout-finished Islay single malt scotch, but the full list includes value bourbons, surprising world whiskies, complex blended malts, and more.Elsewhere in the issue, we help you plan a year of whisky spending based on four different budgets and interest levels, and survey the rich landscape of 21 year old scotch. Of course, there is perhaps no greater resource than our Buying Guide, which spans multiple styles and continents to deliver well-considered tasting notes. In each issue we provide Editors' Choice, Best Values, and Collectibles picks, but beyond those, there is still plenty of whisky to consider. The highest-scoring whiskies from the Winter issue, include familiar names like Laphroaig and Booker's as well as a few...

Among this week's new whiskies, Heaven's Door has released its first bourbon that includes distillate from its own backyard. Earlier this year, Heaven's Door announced plans to open a Kentucky distillery in the scenic town of Pleasureville, the heart of bourbon country. The Pleasureville distillery has actually been in development since 2017 and making small batches there since 2018 on a custom Vendome still. But in September the place will open its doors to the public, to reveal a campus with two separate stillhouses, a visitor center, tasting rooms, and other amenities. Back in 2019, Heaven's Door was mapping plans to open a distillery and brand center in a 160 year old church in Nashville, which it acquired in 2016. That site will now be used as the headquarters of The Heaven's Door Foundation, the company's philanthropy arm supporting charities and the arts. 
Among other new releases, Kentucky distiller New Riff and Idaho-based Grand Teton Distillery...

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...

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...

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

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

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...

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...

Ditch the burgers and buns for a more robust, restaurant-quality cut of meat. This rib eye and polenta pairing will make a quality base for the day's celebrations. By Patrick Feury, chef/partner of Nectar in Berwyn, Pa. and Danlu in Philadelphia — Serves 2-4.Get More Tailgate-Ready RecipesIngredientsSteak 19 oz. high-quality rib eye steak 2 oz. sea salt 4 oz. olive oilNectar Bistro Butter 6 oz. unsalted butter 1 small shallot, chopped fine 1 clove garlic, chopped fine ½ tsp. tomato paste ½ tsp. hot curry powder ½ tsp. smoked paprika ½ tsp. black pepper 1 tsp. sea salt 1 Tbsp. chives, cut fine 1 Tbsp. sage, chopped fine 1 Tbsp. rosemary, chopped fine 1 Tbsp. thyme, chopped fineNight Before: Let butter get soft, not melted. Combine softened butter with remaining ingredients. Put into an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator until game day.Creamy White Truffle Polenta 5 cups milk or chicken stock 1 cup polenta 4 oz. parmesan cheese 1½ oz. white...

Fall calls for whisky, and there are more than 150 of them rated in Whisky Advocate's Fall 2020 Buying Guide—including several bourbons that draw flavor from unusual cask finishes. American distillers are hopping on the finishing bandwagon, long commandeered by their Scottish peers, as they experiment with new types of wood, finishing length, and barrels that previously held a totally different spirit.In the U.S., these whiskeys are known as distilled spirits specialties. Generally, they encompass any type of spirits that contain or are treated with flavors, colors, or nonstandard materials or processes. This includes bourbons and straight American whiskeys that are finished, or partly matured, in a secondary barrel that is not new, charred oak, such as a sherry, port, or rum cask. Although these products often use words like “whiskey,” “bourbon,” and “rye” prominently on the label, and bear the names of famous distilleries, none of them are straight whiskey. That...

Many of the best cooks rely on a secret ingredient, or if not literally a secret, something that is absolutely vital to a delicious outcome. This is also true of the master blenders behind blended scotch whiskies, which are a combination of malt and grain whiskies from two or more different distilleries. In blended scotch, lighter grain whiskies lend drinkability, while malt whiskies are responsible for much of the backbone and flavor. It's often one single malt scotch, sometimes referred to as the heart malt, that serves as the starting point—the defining ingredient behind some of the world's most successful blended whiskies.“A heart malt is something that is integral to the blended whisky and gives it its DNA and gives the brand its family style,” Sandy Hyslop, master blender for Chivas Regal and Ballantine's, says. “For me, it's the inspiration,” Stephanie Macleod, master blender for Dewar's adds. “It's the style of the blend and that always has to be there.”Blend...

“Although it's been around for more than 500 years and is popular in Japan, shochu is still breaking into American drinking culture,” says Tetsuro Miyazaki, general manager of Iichiko Shochu USA. “It's known as the native spirit of Japan, and it offers an incredibly rich umami flavor while also remaining very light with a smooth finish.”
Shochu can be made from any number of ingredients, but the most common types available in the U.S. are barley (mugi), sweet potato (imo), rice (kome), and unrefined cane sugar, also called black sugar (kokuto). The base ingredient is fermented using koji mold—just like in sake production—but unlike sake, which is brewed, shochu is distilled like whisky. Most traditional shochu is single-distilled in pot stills (honkaku) but it can also be made by continuous distillation (ko-rui). After distillation, water is usually added to bring the alcohol content to between 20% and 43% before the spirit rests in stainless...

From each issue of Whisky Advocate, the editors select whiskies they consider to be the most impressive, based on score, price, and availability. From the Fall 2023 issue, we've selected this honor roll. Four of the Editors’ Choice selections this time around are American single malts, three are scotch whiskies, and two are ryes.
95 McCarthy’s 6 year old Oloroso Cask Finished American Single Malt (2023 Limited Release), 56%, $120
Yet another 6 year old from McCarthy’s single malt from Hood River Distillers in Oregon, this one finished in oloroso sherry casks. Lots of smoke on the nose: smoked meat, barbecue, and sooty charcoal aromas reminiscent of Laphroaig. On the palate, more smoke but with some fruit notes of apple, cherry, and orange, along with bitter chocolate and charcoal embers, all wrapped in beautiful campfire smoke.
94 Santa Fe Colkegan Cask Strength Small Batch American Single Malt (BBL98), 59%, $80
This offers aromas of sweet...

Port and scotch have a long history, as distillers know using barrels left over from aging wine will impart the perfect level of sweetness and fruity notes. But most of the time, red port or tawny port is used. Head bartender Robyn Marfurt and owner Matt Parkinson of The Monkey’s Paw in Chicago, Illinois, decided to play around with white port and whisky. The result, Partly Cloudy Skye, is a beach vacation in a glass.
Knowing acidity and sweetness would play well in a Whisky Sour, Parkinson chose Taylor Fladgate Chip Dry port, a bright white port. “Its minerality called for a complimentary scotch,” he says, so he selected one with plenty of sea salt: Torabhaig Allt Gleann single malt. “The light smoke is an added bonus, giving more complexity to the cocktail,” he says.
Aquafaba adds mouthfeel and also a visual play on seafoam, which both accentuates the whisky's maritime character and gave way to the name.
Whether you want to celebrate the...

French oak, traditionally used to age wine and cognac, is also a popular choice for finishing bourbon and scotch. Its value is due to its tighter grain, which makes it less porous than American oak and thus able to impart flavor at a slower rate, creating delicate flavors like baking spices, honey, and caramel. We’ve rounded up 10 expressions across several styles that explore the nuances of French oak finishing, whether as a sole finishing method or in combination with other casks.
94 Points - Balvenie 16 year old French Oak Pineau Cask Finished scotch single malt, 47.6%, $175
This Speyside scotch was initially matured in bourbon barrels for 16 years before being finished for several months in French oak that formerly held fortified wine from France’s Pineau des Charentes region. A complex, creamy, and smooth mouthfeel with flavors of brown sugar, chocolate, and golden raisins, all cloaked in vanilla and sprinkled with savory spice.
93 Points - Barrel 33 year...

The year 2021 was packed with exciting new whisky releases and a busy calendar of whisky auctions around the globe. Our annual list ranks the world's 20 leading auction houses by the most expensive bottle of whisky they sold in 2021 (excluding cask sales and multi-bottle lots). Hammer prices of the winning bids are shown without buyer's premiums. While half of the bottles are Macallan, the remaining auction houses served up a diverse mix of single malt scotch, rye, bourbon, Irish, and Japanese whiskies to top their sales this year.2021 MOST EXPENSIVE WHISKY BY AUCTION HOUSE
20. Unicorn Auctions: Michter's 25 year old Straight RyeSold on: December 19Hammer Price: $21,000Chicago-based Unicorn Auctions broke their house record several times in 2021, setting a new world record with this 2011 rye from Michter's.19. Whiskyauction.com: James McArthur 12 year old (distilled at Port Ellen)Sold on: May 3Hammer Price: $25,469This European auction house sold several bottles of this cask...

High-profile distillers are on the move: Former Jameson master distiller Brian Nation is taking on the American Midwest at Minnesota craft venture O’Shaughnessy Distilling Co., while Jeff Arnett walked away from his master distiller’s role at Jack Daniel Distillery last year and just announced the launch of his new venture, Company Distilling, which is situated by the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains in eastern Tennessee.While we’ll have to wait patiently for the whiskeys from Nation and Arnett, there are plenty of new releases to sip in the meantime. First up, Jura is adding a 12 year old single malt to its core lineup. The whisky is widely available, at a buyer-friendly price of $50.From North Texas, Garrison Bros. is also rolling out one of their oldest, rarest expressions to date: Laguna Madre. There are 2,000 bottles of the bourbon available, and it’ll set you back $299.Buffalo Trace has added a new whiskey to its experimental collection that pays homage to Chinese...

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...

[caption id="attachment_14487" align="alignright" width="300"] Jack Daniel's Legacy Edition 1[/caption]Have you noticed any new Jack Daniel's packaging lately? You may have seen a green-and-gold bottle on shelves, and soon there will be another special-edition design. Jack Daniel's Legacy Edition features Old No. 7 Tennessee whiskey bottled at 43% ABV and priced at $30. It's available for a limited time nationwide.JD's Tennessee neighbor, George Dickel, has announced a new product. George Dickel Bottled in Bond 13 year old is just what it says: 13 year old bourbon, made according to the strictures of the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897. It's for sale at Cascade Hollow Distilling Co. starting today, with expansion to California, New York, Texas, and the Southeast starting at the end of the month. And you're not going to believe the price (keep reading).Meanwhile, over in Kentucky, Woodford Reserve is releasing the 2019 edition of Batch Proof. The barrel-proof bourbon comes in at 61.6% ABV...

The latest Woodford Reserve commemorative Kentucky Derby bottle is here. Each year since 1999, the distillery—a presenting sponsor of the Derby since 2018—has released a special Derby bottle that contains classic Woodford bourbon on the inside but features new and notable artwork on the label. May 4th marks the 150th Kentucky Derby, and for the auspicious occasion, Woodford tapped Kentucky-born-and-bred artist Wylie Caudill to handle this year’s label design.
The 2024 Derby Bottle features Caudill’s signature painting “Adorned in Roses,” in which a red-hued thoroughbred racehorse is covered with red roses and set upon a background of multicolored roses. In addition to the bottle, Caudill’s artwork is also the Official Art of the Kentucky Derby for Churchill Downs this year, marking the first year that both Woodford and Churchill Downs used the same artist for the big race.
If you’d like to add the latest Derby Bottle to your...

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

Scotch whisky makers might once have had a reputation for being staid, tweedy, and hidebound, but in the modern era they're anything but. Last week we reported on the releases of Arbeg Y2K and Glenmorangie The Cadboll Estate, and now we have a new Laphroaig experimental expression in Elements 2.0, as well as two new releases in Balvenie's Collection of Curious Casks—the latter quite limited, as seems to be the case all too often these days. For the high rollers, there's also a new 40 year old expression of Brora, a distillery exclusive of only 150 bottles, each priced at a cool $1,650. This release comes just past the third anniversary of Brora's reopening in the Northern Highlands. Scotch whisky lovers, perk up your ears: the distillate made at the new Brora right after it opened is now 3 years old, officially making it whisky. Diageo will keep it in the cellar for a long time to come. But if you travel to Scotland and visit the...

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...

Convincing spirits aficionados that their beloved whiskies can and do pair admirably with food is a daunting task at the best of times. Extending that gastronomic linkage to cheese, long the domain of wine and, more recently, beer, can be nigh on impossible.But the fact is whisky really is an ideal accompaniment to many cheeses, in some cases superior, even, to wine or beer. The key, as ever, lies in making the right combinations under the most favorable circumstances.That latter part, the circumstances, is oft-times glossed over in beer and wine pairing, but can prove vital when partnering spirits with comestibles. Because aromatics are both intense and key to the appreciation of whiskies, how they are delivered can make or break a food pairing, and so care should be taken with respect to temperature, dilution, and even the shape of the glass, or in other words, the circumstances of the tasting.Where the more intense flavors of blue and aged hard cheeses are concerned, for example...

This variation on the Mint Julep, created for Woodford Reserve's 2017 Kentucky Derby $1,000 Mint Julep Cup, nods to the inspiration that Churchill Downs founder Meriwether Lewis Clark found in English horse races like the Epsom Derby by incorporating Pimm's liqueur, elderflower cordial, and Earl Grey tea syrup.
INGREDIENTS

1½ oz Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon
¼ oz Pimm’s Liqueur
½ oz Elderflower Cordial
¼ oz Woodford Reserve Mint Julep Simple Syrup
1 dash Earl Grey bitters
Handful of mint
Garnish: Baby’s breath, mint, and dehydrated edible blue cornflowers

DIRECTIONS
Rub mint around the julep cup, expressing the essential oils. Add remaining ingredients and top with crushed ice. Churn ingredients with a bar spoon distributing the flavor. Top with additional crushed ice. Garnish with a bundle of baby’s breath and mint. Sprinkle with dehydrated edible blue...

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...

The Winter 2018 issue of Whisky Advocate includes over 175 reviews across all styles, including several special sections: the 2018 Top 20, dozens of private-label whiskies from big-box stores like Costco and Trader Joe's, the 2018 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, and the 2018 Diageo Special Releases. While some of these whiskies rank among the highest scores in the Buying Guide, they aren't included on this list; rather, we're calling out the scotch, bourbon, and Irish whiskies that scored 94 points and above.Bushmills 21 year old Single Malt Irish Whiskey96 points, 40% ABV, $150Bushmills' sumptuous magnum opus spins aromas of sultana, brown sugar, walnut oil, date slice, chocolate-covered cranberries, leather gloves, and a hint of espresso. The dark, crepuscular mystique continues in the syrupy mouthfeel redolent of forest honey, banana bread, nuts, browned butter, sultana, date, and blackberry. Utterly beguiling, the Madeira finish works wonders here, right through to the last...

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...

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...

Although the year is winding down, there are still new whiskies to be had.Retired hockey star Ed Belfour has partnered with Southern Distilling in North Carolina to produce the first whiskeys in the Belfour Spirits line. The bourbon and rye are each priced at $89, with availability in Texas and Illinois for now.Fashion house Tommy Bahama is launching a new line of spirits, including whiskey, under the banner of Coral Cay Distilling. Made in Washington, Tommy Bahama straight bourbon ($100) and rye with blended rum ($45) are available in a few states to start, with expansion planned.Finally, Brain Brew Distilling of Ohio is launching its WoodCraft Spirits line in the UK. While sold as whiskey in the U.S., these aren't considered as such overseas, as they're not aged at least three years. The WoodCraft line uses Brain Brew's alternative aging technology to impart barrel characteristics more quickly. Priced at £40 to £50, the four spirits are rolling out in the UK, and are also...

Rare whisky season is in full swing with the annual Van Winkle releases announced earlier this week.Meanwhile, more luxury than rare, after first launching it at Travel Retail last year, Woodford Reserve is releasing its Baccarat Edition in select liquor stores. The cognac cask-finished bourbon is priced at $2,000 and packaged in a custom Baccarat decanter (of course).On to new releases. Ireland's Teeling Whiskey is unveiling its first peated single malt. Blackpitts Batch 1 will hit the states in early 2021 with 6,000 bottles available at $75.Cascade Hollow Distilling, home to George Dickel, has a new blended whiskey. Cascade Moon Edition No. 1 will cost $90 and is available in California, Tennessee, and Texas.Balvenie has released the seventh batch in its Tun 1509 series. There are a limited number of bottles available for $420 each.Renowned blender Barrell Craft Spirits has a new finished bourbon that includes three Tennessee bourbons, each finished separately in Jamaican rum, pear...

Stranahan's makes only one style of whiskey—American single malt—and uses local barley from the town of Golden in the foothills of the Rockies, yeast from Colorado Springs, and snowmelt from Boulder’s Eldorado Canyon for its water. The distillery offers a number of expressions: Original, Snowflake, Diamond Peak, Sherry Cask, Blue Peak, and Mountain Angel 10 year old.
Put Stranahan’s at the top of your Colorado whiskey visit list. Tour the facility, which is located just one mile south of Denver's city center, and taste its whiskeys, including distillery exclusives. As the state’s oldest distillery, Stranahan’s has mature whiskeys to offer. Ask about tastings specifically geared toward these older expressions, and taste the difference between its 4, 7, and 10 year olds. Or you can relax in the rustic atmosphere of the Cocktail Lounge, the distillery’s watering hole. Participate in a Distiller’s Experimental Guided Tasting that...

Kentucky is America’s most revered whiskey region, and the state’s Bourbon Trail has long been anchored by the sister cities of Louisville and Lexington. There you’ll find great food, whiskey bars, and two of the most famous horse racing grounds in the world, Churchill Downs in Louisville and Keeneland in  Lexington. In recent years Louisville has seen a slew of high-profile hotel openings, including the Omni, Distil, Grady, and Moxy. Now Lexington is catching up, and June 2023 saw the debut of whiskey and equine-centric The Manchester hotel.
In real estate they say location is everything, and The Manchester is the first and only hotel within the city’s Distillery District, a 25-acre campus on the site of the historic James E. Pepper Distillery, which opened in 1879 and shuttered in 1958. After half a century of inactivity, the industrial park underwent a massive renovation and now has two working distilleries, the reborn James E. Pepper and Barrel...

Bagpipes, haggis, and drams, oh my! Some of the biggest names in scotch whisky gathered at a private members club in New York City on October 4 to toast Scotland’s national spirit. This was the second banquet of the U.S. chapter of the Keepers of the Quaich, the Edinburgh-based group that recognizes those who work, write, and otherwise spread the good word about scotch.
The Keepers of the Quaich (pronounced kwaik) was founded in 1988 as a celebration of Scottish culture, tradition, and whisky, and those who have contributed to its success. Marvin R. Shanken, editor and publisher of Whisky Advocate, was inducted into the Keepers at the group’s ceremony in that first year at Blair Castle in Scotland, and today serves as vice chair of the USA chapter. 
At last night’s gala, Scotch whisky luminaries were aplenty, starting with the cocktail hour. There were rarefied pours from Laphroaig (Single Cask—The Jack Rose and Ian Hunter 33 year old) and...

Chip Tate, who founded Texas whiskey maker Balcones Distilling in 2008 and departed in 2014 after an acrimonious dispute with his investors, has been named master distiller for innovation at Foley Family Wines, the California-based wine company that has recently moved into spirits.
Tate took the craft whiskey world by storm as the creative force behind Waco, Texas-based Balcones, initially with Baby Blue in 2010, which is made from a mashbill of roasted blue corn, and later with Texas single malts, bourbons, ryes, and other styles. Jared Himstedt, a friend from Tate’s brewing days who’s been at Balcones from the beginning, became master distiller after Tate’s departure and still has that role today.
Tate went on to found Tate & Co. Distillery, just down the road from Balcones in Waco, gaining a distillery license in 2017 and opening in 2018. Tate & Co. is both a distillery and a copperworks, with Tate and his team building stills and equipment with...

Growing up, a toffee was always a welcome treat. Twists of waxy or shiny colored paper were pinched between forefingers and thumbs and pulled apart until the glossy, golden cube was revealed. Deftly popped into the mouth with sticky fingers, they were sucked until they dissolved. Then came trays of English toffee, coated in chocolate and sprinkled with chopped nuts, a slab cracked by a hammer into long, angular shards. Later still, those familiar flavors returned to me, this time in whisky. Sweet aromas leapt from the glass, a rich creaminess bathed the palate, and the finish lingered with burnt sugar notes. Toffee flavors registered sweetness beyond honey, maple syrup, and caramel, pushing deeper into butterscotch, but falling short of those farthest reaches of sweetness, molasses and treacle.
Whenever you see whisky notes mentioning caramel, fudge, or toffee, think about those subtle differences in confectionary flavors the taster is trying to convey. Simply put, a caramel is...

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...

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...

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

The problem of fake whisky is very real—and it can cost honest whisky lovers a lot of money, time, and agony. But there are ways to protect yourself from being duped, especially if you can examine the bottle yourself. Here's how to spot a counterfeit whisky.Conduct a Strip SearchCounterfeiters often transfer a genuine tax strip from an old wine bottle to cover up a refill. If a tax strip is in place, carefully feel around the neck for sticky patches, which could indicate where the original strip was removed.Be Level MindedFill level is a good indication of the condition of a whisky. On release, most bottles are filled to the mid-neck, although some, like Karuizawa, are filled only to the shoulder. Ullage (the airspace in the bottle) can increase over time. Be suspicious of bottles from the 1960s or earlier with high neck fills.Magnify the ProblemUsing a magnifying glass, jeweler's loupe, or a handheld digital microscope, check the printing for vertical ridges or pixilation...

Auctions are the most straightforward way to acquire rare and expensive whiskies. Although whisky had sold at auction before, it was only in 1989 that Christie's held the first auction in Scotland dedicated to whisky. By 1997, International Whisky Auction started in Germany, later to become whiskyauction.com. These are some prized bottles that fetched record-breaking prices at auction. (Foreign currencies reflected in equivalent U.S. dollars at time of sale.)Macallan 1926 60 year old$21,874—2001, GlasgowNew record for standard sized bottle of whiskyDalmore 62 year old The Kildermorie$34,518—2002, GlasgowNew record for standard sized bottle of whisky19th century Mutter Bowmore$50,968—2007, GlasgowNew record for standard sized bottle of whisky1.5 liter decanter of Macallan 64 year old in Lalique Cire Perdue$460,000—2010, New YorkNew record for any whisky lotGlenfiddich 1955 Janet Sheed Roberts 55 year old$94,000—2012, New YorkNew record for standard sized bottle of...

When shopping for the whisky lover(s) in your life, it might be tempting to get them a bottle of whisky and call it a day. A beloved bottling is a thoughtful gift, to be sure (and our Top 20 list is a great place to look when going that route), but there are plenty of whisky-centric presents that are more personalized to certain interests, hobbies, or livelihoods. From whisky-themed jewelry and apparel to whisky-infused chocolates, whisky-scented candles, and even whisky-branded golf putters, there are a number of more distinctive gifts for all the pals and loved ones in your life who appreciate whisky.
Stuff Those Stockings
Tasting Note Notebook ($15)

Great for either the blossoming whisky taster in your life or the seasoned pro, this 48-page memo book from Field Notes is a fantastic way to log a whisky journey, and the notes tasted along the way. As a bonus, it's waterproof, so there's no need to cry over spilled whisky (unless it's more than a splash, of...

If you haven't noticed already, bourbon and rye are not alone on American whiskey shelves. Among the first intruders was unaged whiskey, fancifully labeled as “white whiskey” and “moonshine,” extremely popular late in the last decade.As the moonshine movement struggled, classic American whiskey skyrocketed, and producers unable to distill and age their own whiskey purchased bourbon and rye from large distillers with existing stocks of aged whiskey. But due to demand those whiskey sources started to dry up around 2012, forcing American independent bottlers to think outside the stillroom.The result is a new focus on non-traditional and nearly forgotten styles of whiskey.Corn WhiskeyCorn whiskey's rustic charm draws a certain grain-loving consumer.In contrast to bourbon's 51%, corn whiskey requires a much greater minimum of 80% corn. The distillation method, however, follows bourbon's off-the-still 160 proof maximum and no more than 125 proof as it enters a barrel, if it enters a...

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...

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...

To some whisky connoisseurs, “blended” is seen as a dirty word, and that's not without reason. A blend typically combines robust malt or flavoring whisky with lighter grain whisky. Historically, many blended whiskies included a large proportion of youthful, high-proof spirits, but some were comprised of a majority of neutral grain spirit and a lot of caramel coloring. In fact, according to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), which lays down the rules for alcohol in the U.S., “blended whisky” can contain as little as 20% straight whisky, with the rest being neutral grain spirits.But just because it's allowed to be that way doesn't mean that has to. In fact, many whisky-making nations, like Scotland, Ireland, Canada, and Japan, have long and proud legacies of making excellent blends. These whiskies show off the blender's skill in the art of creating balance and layered complexity. They work splendidly in cocktails, and many can be sipped neat or on ice. Best of...

Happy 4th of July! If you're entertaining this weekend—or even if you're not—consider our selection of cool, refreshing American whiskey cocktails that are a perfect complement. If barbecue is on the menu, we've mapped out some great pairing ideas. And if you're looking to crack open something new, two stars of American whiskey are out this week, with Booker’s releasing its second bourbon batch of 2023 and Wild Turkey unveiling the latest Master's Keep expression, a rum-finished bourbon. From Scotland come cask-finished whiskies aplenty by Kilchoman, Old Pulteney, and Glenmorangie. Read on for more details. 
 
Booker’s Batch 2023-02 Apprentice Batch
Style: Bourbon
Origin: Kentucky
Age: 7 year old
ABV: 62.75%
Price: $90
Release: June 2023
Availability: Limited 
Need to know:
Apprentice Batch is the newest limited release from Booker’s. It comes from barrels selected...

Founded in Jacksonville, Florida in 1969, The Allman Brothers Band grew to be one of the most influential rock groups in American music. An early Southern rock pioneer, the band’s run spanned 45 years, and their music inspired prominent musicians like Lynyrd Skynyrd, Widespread Panic, The Marshall Tucker Band, and Tom Petty, in addition to a slew of spin-off groups including Gov’t Mule and The Allman Betts Band.
Today marks a milestone for the band: the 53rd anniversary of its third studio album, “Eat a Peach.” On top of having hits like “Melissa” and “Blue Sky,” the record was also a defining moment in the group’s history, as it was the first album released following the death of founding member and lead guitarist Duane Allman, who died in a tragic motorcycle accident at the age of 24 while the album was still being recorded. To commemorate the anniversary, the Allman Brothers estate has partnered with Three Chord...

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...

As we roll toward the July 4th weekend, there's plenty of Americana among this current crop of new releases. Separately, we've also put together a list of whiskeys that capture the spirit of July 4th, many through their part in the American story. As for this group, we have new expressions of the long-standing Michter's Legacy Series, a toasted barrel whiskey from Old Potrero and a toasted barrel bourbon from Peerless, a barrel proof rye from E.H. Taylor, and a new Babe Ruth commemorative edition from George Remus. From Scotland, we have another wine cask finished item from Glenmorangie, this one aged 23  years.
Not listed here is the partnership between Oregon-based Pendleton Whisky and the Bob Woodruff Foundation, a collaboration that began in 2021 and has just released a new Military Edition label to honor and support our veterans. A portion of every bottle sold (up to $100,000) will go to support veterans programs around the nation. The Bob...

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

This week came word of a new Dickel Bottled in Bond (BIB) release, a welcome return after its last sighting in September of 2022. These Dickel BIB releases, which first appeared in 2019,  are of a quality that vaulted the once-maligned Dickel back into the American whiskey game. Its price has crept up to $45 from the 2019 level of $35, but folks, this is still an unbelievable deal for a beautifully aged American whiskey. Elsewhere around the  American whiskey scene, Basil Hayden is back with a second release of its Subtle Smoke expression, which uses hickory smoke infused barrels. Barrell has a new mizunara finished bourbon, and  Seattle's Copperworks Distilling Co. is out with three new single malts, albeit in very limited quantities. And from Scotlland, single malt maker Aberfeldy has ventured into Bordeaux for the latest effort in its wine cask-finishing work. Read on.
Aberfeldy Limited Edition 15 Year Old Cadillac White Wine...

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

This week sees a handful of new releases that meld two different places within the same bottle. Old Forester has returned with a new 117 Series bourbon, this one finished in scotch whisky casks, marking a first for the distillery. Texas-based Milam & Greene has released its latest Wildlife Collection whiskey; while the series highlights local Texas wildlife, it's also an exploration into how extreme weather in the Texas Hill Country impacts whiskey maturation. This new single barrel bourbon was distilled in Tennessee but spent its final months aging amidst the highs and lows of Texas weather. Across the pond, UK-based Never Say Die has made its U.S. debut with a Kentucky bourbon that aged in the state for five years before being shipped across the ocean, finishing its maturation in England. 
Elsewhere, there are two new cask-strength whiskeys out this week, one a blended bourbon and the other rye. Read on for full details.
 
Old Forester 117 Series: Scotch...

A single bottle of Macallan sold for $2.7 million at Sotheby’s in London over the weekend—setting a new world record for the most expensive bottle of whisky ever sold at auction.
The item in question is the highly coveted Macallan Valerio Adami 1926 60 year old. It’s one of 40 bottles of Macallan 1926 60 year old, an expression released by the distillery in 1986. Fourteen bottles were given a Macallan Fine & Rare label, and this version previously held the record as the most valuable bottling. A dozen bottles received labels designed by British pop artist Sir Peter Blake who is most famous for creating the cover art for The Beatles album “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club Band.” A further 12 were adorned with labels created by Italian artist Valerio Adami, recommended by Macallan’s Italian importer at the time. The remaining 2 bottles were unlabeled, though one of these bottles was hand painted by Michael...

Despite the current challenges faced by the whisky industry, the auction market made solid gains in March, providing some much-needed positive news. The combined value of the 20-highest hammer price lists for the first three months of 2025 was up 18% on the equivalent first quarter results of 2024. The 20 hammer prices of the month topped a million dollars for the first time in 2025, fetching a combined sum of $1,093,156. Three bottles, from Hanyu, Macallan, and Old Rip Van Winkle, each sold for $100,000 or more. Sotheby’s claimed the $100,000 bid on the Van Winkle bottle to be the most valuable single bottle of post-Prohibition American whiskey ever sold at auction, but as our 20-highest hammer prices of 2024 show, Unicorn Auctions sold a bottle of Buffalo Trace O.F.C. 1982 for a hammer price of $122,900. Even when the different buyer’s premiums are added for each bottle, the 6-liter O.F.C. 1982 is still a bigger deal. 
While the headline makes for good...

Christmas is nearly upon us, but there's still time to buy a whisky gift or two if you hurry—our gift guide makes recommendations both large and small.If whisky-related accoutrements aren't enough, however, there are many new whiskies coming out that will provide delicious excitement—that is, if you can afford them. This week, there are four whiskies aged for at least a half-century, and several others with advanced double-digit ages as well. The prices on these bottles vary widely, although, of course, none are inexpensive. (If you're wondering why whiskies of similar ages can be priced so differently, you're not alone. We explored the dynamics of luxury whisky pricing, and found a whole world of variables.)Two super-aged bottles from Macallan lead the pack. The Macallan 52 year old clocks in a whopping $53,500, while its younger sibling, the Fine & Rare Vintage 1978, is 40 years old and costs quite a bit less—$11,750. Naturally, both whiskies are available in very limited...

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

In its Fine Wine & Rare Spirits sale on February 16th in Massachusetts, Bonhams Skinner sold 391 whisky lots­–or 90% of its 436 lots on offer—for a total hammer price of $345,820. The sold lots totaled 628 bottles of whisky, making an average hammer price of $551 a bottle. The 45 unsold whisky lots were worth $60,800–$87,950 and a further 19 whisky lots were withdrawn from sale.
The Bonhams Skinner sale’s highest hammer price was the Berkeley Hundred 10 year old, a commemorative edition distilled and bottled by Stitzel-Weller Distillery, which fetched $12,000. American whiskey outperformed scotch with sell-through rates of 92% versus 85% respectively. At $11,000, a bottle of Glenfarclas 1955 50 year old was the highest hammer price for a scotch whisky. From Japan, the winner was Nikka Taketsuru 25 year old ($1,800), while Knappogue Castle 1949 30 year old ($1,300) topped the Irish tables, Crown Royal Cask No.16 ($600) was the Canadian winner, and...

Multi-bottle lots have had a resurgence, drawing the highest bids in several recent auctions. Irish Whiskey Auctions sold a 32-bottle collection of Midleton Very Rare vintages for $45,982 this month, and Scotch Whisky Auctions attracted $27,680 for a 6-bottle set of Macallan The Archival Series. There are pros and cons to selling bottles as a set as opposed to individually. Sets offer the convenience for bidders to buy a ready-made collection, but for sellers, the pool of buyers may shrink as the price goes up, and collectors might not bid if they have a partial set already. In Just Whisky’s March sale, a trio of Macallan The Red Collection aged 71, 74, and 78 years failed to reach its reserve price, despite attracting a substantial bid of $196,096. In November 2022, Whisky Auctioneer sold the Macallan James Bond Collection in the Globe Trotter travel case with archival prints for $52,154; there are more sets on sale at Whisky Hammer and The Grand Whisky Auction this...

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...

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

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

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

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

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...

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

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...

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

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...

Whisky will never qualify as a sports drink, but that shouldn't limit your barroom sipping to leather couches and cozy firesides. A fine dram can be made even more exhilarating by bowling a strike, putting a hole-in-one, or even heaving an ax at a target. We've rounded up a handful of bars that offer activities guaranteed to get you moving and encourage some friendly competition, each offering a respectable selection of whiskies—whether neat or in a cocktail.This article was originally published in October 2019. COVID-related restrictions may affect some of the opening times and offerings of these venues, so check in advance of a visit.Bowl some old-school strikesPinewood Social—Nashville, Tenn.This industrial-looking bar and restaurant offers Southern comfort fare, craft beer, and six vintage bowling lanes. The solid whisky list includes American, Japanese, Irish, and scotch, ranging in price from $9 to $63 for a two-ounce pour. Each lane accommodates groups of up to eight people...

March is shaping up to be a buoyant month in the secondary market, with Scotch Whisky Auctions, Whisky Auctioneer, and Sotheby’s, Hong Kong already posting strong results. Today sees the action switch back to New York, where Sotheby’s is holding its Whisky & Whiskey sale that includes bottles from the Richard Gooding collection. If that name rings a bell, it will be for The Perfect Collection. Whisky Auctioneer handled the 3,900 bottle Richard Gooding Collection split across two sales in 2020, which raised a combined hammer price of $9.1 million. Notably, the sale also generated Whisky Auctioneer’s first million-dollar Macallan bottle. There’s no million-dollar bottle on the block at Sotheby’s Whisky & Whisky sale, but we do expect bottles such as Macallan in Lalique 50 year old, other scotch rarities, and American whiskeys to generate a number of the month’s highest hammer prices.
Whisky Auctioneer February 2024 Auction
Auction...

The earthy sweetness of the carrot juice plays beautifully with Wicked White Whiskey, which has an almost sweet, more complex nose than others that I had been experimenting with,” says Ali Koppel, resort mixologist at Crystal Springs Resort in Hamburg, New Jersey. “I found it very fun to mix with, here adding the pickled flavor of a dill syrup I created.”
INGREDIENTS

2 oz. Wicked White Whiskey (or other white corn whiskey)
1 oz. carrot juice
½ oz. lemon juice
½ oz. orange juice
½ oz. dill syrup (recipe below)
Garnish: dill sprig

DIRECTIONS
Combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake. Double strain into a coupe glass and garnish with dill sprig.
To make dill syrup:
Place 2 cups of sugar in a mixing container. Stir in 1 cup of hot water and add one bunch of dill. Steep for 1 hour. Strain. Keep...

Happy New Year—again! The Lunar New Year happens on Saturday, Jan. 25 and commences the Year of the Rat. Both Johnnie Walker and Macallan have rolled out limited-edition packages of existing whiskies in celebration. The special Johnnie Walker Blue Label ($250) features an intricate design by Shirley Gong, while Macallan's two-pack of 12 year old Double Cask ($140) includes knot symbols that represent longevity and eternity. Both are available in limited amounts.Also limited, but in this case, new and novel, is the latest Jack Daniel's Tennessee Tasters' Collection release, a Tennessee whiskey finished in oatmeal stout casks. Priced at $40 for a 375-ml bottle, the whiskey is mainly for sale at the distillery in Lynchburg.Colorado-based Tincup is launching its first rye whiskey, distilled in Indiana. Tincup straight rye is widely available, priced at $30.Two new barrel-proof bourbons, also made in Indiana, are hitting shelves: The Justice 14 year old ($99) and Tumblin' Dice 4 year old...

One is the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery, with over 400 years of history. The other is a pioneering American distillery barely two decades old. Yet, both Bushmills Irish Whiskey and Stranahan’s American Single Malt are redefining the single malt landscape. And neither are from Scotland.
First distilling whiskey as far back as 1608, today Bushmills owns the largest reserves of aged Irish single malt whiskey in the entire world. That’s one reason they continue to be the only Irish whiskey producer able to continually release novel, aged whiskeys on an annual basis. But the distillery is not resting on its laurels.
Bushmills is the #1 most-awarded Irish single malt and continues to honor its steadfast commitment to making some of the world’s greatest single malt whiskey for over 400 years. Over the past few years, Bushmills has released the Rare Cask Series, the limited edition Private Reserve Collection, and multiple permanent...

Good news for stateside scotch lovers: The pound recently fell to its lowest position against the dollar in 37 years (dropping below $1.14 at times), meaning that whisky aficionados can benefit from substantial savings at retail, in duty-free, and the auction market abroad. In UK travel retail, savings can soar as high as 59%; a 1-liter bottle of Caol Ila 12 year old, for example, will set you back just $39 at Heathrow, compared to $97 in U.S. stores. If you're visiting the UK in the near future, it will be well worth it to do some whisky shopping—either in duty free or local stores—to score some whisky at prices below U.S. retail prices. Meanwhile, there's plenty on offer among this week's new releases. Metallica's Blackened has collaborated with Angel's Envy co-founder Wes Henderson on a port cask-finished bourbon, Glenfiddich has added a sherry cask-finished single malt to its core range, and Dewar’s has reintroduced its flagship 12 year old blended scotch...

Today, Buffalo Trace announces the launch of two Weller expressions: Weller Millennium No. 2 and Weller 18 year old, the latter representing the oldest age statement in the brand's history. Today’s announcement coincides with the 200th birthday of William Larue Weller, the legendary distiller who pioneered the use of wheat in his whiskey making. Both releases pay homage to Weller's original mashbill recipe from 1847, which revolutionized American whiskey by substituting wheat for rye in the mashbill, creating the famously smooth wheated bourbon profile.
What Exactly Is Weller Millennium No. 2?

Weller Millennium No. 2 follows its inaugural release from last May, which presented a marriage of vintage straight wheated bourbon and wheat whiskey, with the components distilled at Buffalo Trace in 2001, 2003, and 2006. The liquid was specifically earmarked for this project. The suggested retail price for Weller Millennium No. 2 is the same as the first edition...

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

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

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

Whether it's James Stewart's surprise that his doctor prefers beer to whisky in Harvey, Bogart sipping bourbon while pining for Bergman in Casablanca, or William Bendix ordering a bourbon with a bourbon chaser “in two separate glasses” in The Blue Dahlia, whisky makes many cameos on the silver screen. But a few films feature whisky to an extent that's sure to equally delight cinephiles and whisky lovers alike. Whether your tastes lean toward westerns or horror, single malt or bourbon, we have the perfect movie—and a whisky to match.The Angels' Share (2012)Ken Loach's British comedy/drama is a must-see for whisky lovers. A Glaswegian delinquent with a discerning palate for whisky tries to start fresh after becoming a dad. He and his friends from a community service group embark on a caper to make money by stealing from a rare barrel of fictional “Malt Mill” whisky.Pair with: Auchentoshan Three Wood ($70), a well-rounded Lowland known as ‘Glasgow's malt whisky.'The Bank Dick...

While whisky opinions vary as widely as the flavors that come from a barrel, every whisky lover I know shares this one: Producers should be open and honest about what they're putting in the bottle. The demand for transparency is strong and abiding. But what happens when clear language runs head-on into protected terminology?Earlier this month, the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of Delaware against Virginia Distillery Co. (VDC), alleging that the American distillery was misleading consumers to believe their Virginia-Highland whisky is scotch. The complaint opens by pointing out two specific words on the label—“Highland” and “whisky”—as problematic. The Highlands are one of Scotland's five legally protected whisky regions, while the spelling of “whisky” without an E is used for scotch. (“Whiskey” is more common in the U.S., although both spellings are permitted.) The lawsuit also notes that VDC has a product called...

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

This week welcomes a handful of unique cask finishes that aim to sweeten the deal. In Kentucky, Woodford is releasing the latest edition of Double Double Oaked, a fan-favorite bourbon that’s finished for an additional year in heavily toasted, lightly charred new oak. From Tennessee, the Nelson’s Green Brier Cask Series gets a maple syrup cask-finished bourbon, adding a touch of natural sugary sweetness to its flagship whiskey. And across the pond, there’s a brand new range of peated Speyside single malts from Glenallachie Distillery, each of which is finished in a different combination of casks but with the intent of drawing out a sweet, smoky house style. Elsewhere, there are new ryes from Green River in Kentucky and Texas’ Devil River, as well as blended American whiskey from Buzzard’s Roost. There's also Lodestar, founded by cousins and entertainment industry veterans Anna Axster and Wendelin von Schroderthe. Read on for more details.
Green...

Waterford Distillery, the terroir specialist of Irish whiskey, has fallen into receivership following unsuccessful attempts to raise more funding to keep it afloat. The Irish Times reported that the business entered receivership following an emergency board meeting this week, and distillery staff were informed of the news on November 27th. The Waterford online shop was taken offline the same day. The receivers will seek a new buyer for the business, but if that doesn’t materialize, the distillery and its stocks could be put up for sale.
 Located in the city of Waterford in the southeast of Ireland, Waterford was launched by Mark Reynier in January 2016 from a former Guinness brewery along the city’s riverfront. Four years earlier, Reynier had exited his position at Islay’s Bruichladdich Distillery, having voted against its acquisition by Rémy Cointreau. From the outset, Waterford enabled Reynier to take his vision of terroir-driven whiskey...

With its lush fruit and layered spices, no other spirit elevates the moment quite like a bottle of whiskey. Whether entertaining guests, savoring a private sip, or searching for that perfect collectable bottle, these expressions from around the world are sure to please even the most discerning aficionados. Our Top Shelf spirits offer an expression for every mood and moment, from a blended Scotch, to a cask-strength single malt, to an ocean-aged bourbon. You’ll find quality in every bottle. 
Jefferson’s Ocean Aged At Sea
Taking inspiration from the past, barrels of straight bourbon travel round the world on an ocean voyage. Heat, humidity and the gentle rocking of the sea hyper-age the whiskey, imparting a rich, dark hue and lush notes of caramelized sugar, honeyed fruit and a subtle brininess. 
Longmorn 22 Year Old, 2023 Annual Release
This single malt Speyside Scotch expands on the complexity of the region’s signature floral-citrus style...

Things at the Buffalo Trace Distillery aren't fully back to normal, with production at limited capacity until restoration is complete. Ongoing ventilation efforts in a few warehouses and electrical repairs are also in the works. Tours will also remain modified, but reservations aren’t required anymore to visit, and walk-ins are once again welcome.
Buffalo Trace is, for the most part, back on its feet after the massive flooding that inundated the distillery in early April. Now, over six weeks later, restoration efforts are nearly complete, and the distillery is looking to bolster support for communities across the state that were also impacted by the same severe storms. The distillery has partnered with BlockBar, an e-commerce marketplace for wine and spirits, to host an online charity fundraiser called “Pour It Forward for Kentucky.” Every dollar made from the fundraiser will directly benefit the American Red Cross and the Franklin County Flood Relief Fund held...

International travel opens up a world of unforgettable experiences and a world of opportunity for whisky shoppers. Airports, border shops, ports, airplanes, cruise ships, and ferries all offer a chance to buy whisky in Travel Retail with no taxes or duties, and thus potentially cheaper than what you’d pay at home. Over the years, Travel Retail has become very big business, with airports in particular offering sophisticated high-end shopping venues.
Modern Travel Retail is engineered to steer a captive audience through a gauntlet of eager salespeople and flashy advertising for alcohol, tobacco, fragrances, cosmetics, oversized chocolate bars, toys, gifts, souvenirs, sunglasses, electronics, and travel accessories. In some airports, passengers must pass through the shopping areas right after security before they can reach the main lounge.
But even the most time-pressed traveler will note that not every bottle offers a fabulous deal. The savings are nearly impossible to...

The Kentucky Derby is known as “the greatest two minutes in sports,” but for whiskey drinkers it’s a good reason to pour some bourbon. No Derby party would be complete without the race’s trademark drink, the Mint Julep, but for those who like their whiskey straight, Woodford Reserve releases an annual bottle featuring custom artwork, with this year’s edition paying homage to the famed racehorse Secretariat.
The 2023 Woodford Reserve Derby Bottle features artwork from Kentucky native Jaime Corum, the label celebrating the 50th anniversary of Secretariat’s 1973 Derby win by depicting the horse covered in roses in the Winner’s Circle at Churchill Downs. Secretariat is widely considered one of the greatest thoroughbred horses to ever race, winning the Triple Crown with record-breaking times at the Derby, Preakness, and Belmont. Woodford Reserve master distiller Elizabeth McCall calls this the distillery’s most collectible Derby...

The final month of the year delivered the 20-highest hammer prices with a combined value of $1,189,554, and a balanced spread of Japanese, scotch, and American whiskies. Yamazaki topped the chart for the first time since March, with a bottle of Yamazaki 55 year old. Rare rye and bourbon placed highly, led by a new record for LeNell’s Red Hook Rye. Ardbeg made its first appearance of the year, as did one bottle of Blair Castle whisky sold at Whisky Auctioneer.
We have reported the 20 highest hammer prices every month this year, and using this as our guide, we can reveal that Macallan, Karuizawa, and Bowmore were the top high-value bottlings at auction in 2023. The 240 bottles that made the monthly lists throughout 2023 sold for a combined sum of $15,630,931, and a median hammer price of $34,027.
December 2023 – Top 20 Highest Single Bottle Hammer Prices
Results converted to dollars using xe.com
20. Old Rip Van Winkle 23 year old
Sold on: December 10th...

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

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

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

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...

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

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

Once you acquire more than a handful of whisky bottles, you have to start thinking about the best way to keep them organized. Even more important, storing whisky in the right conditions helps keep open bottles tasting their best, while maintaining those you may be saving for a special occasion or as a collection. Being well organized allows you to easily locate specific bottles, avoid cluttering your living space, and protect your most valuable whiskies. Use this guide to avoid lackluster flavors, evaporating fill levels, sun-bleached labels, and calamitous leaks while also showing off your connoisseurship.Storage BasicsCompared with wine, storing whisky is easy and doesn't require any specialized equipment. Whisky is much more durable than wine and should not mature or spoil within a sealed bottle.Store bottles upright—never on their side—to protect the cork. Otherwise, contact with the high strength alcohol could cause the cork to degrade or impart unpleasant flavors onto the...

Olivier Humbrecht, the owner and winemaker of the renowned Domaine Zind-Humbrecht in Alsace, knows a thing or two about taste. Many of his wines have scored over 95 in Wine Spectator, and the 2001 Zind-HumbrechtPinot Gris Alsace Clos Windsbuhl Sélection des Grains Nobles earned a coveted 100 points in 2004. With such a well-honed and refined taste in wine, it's no wonder that the boisterous and friendly Frenchman also loves whisky—specifically Scotch single malts—which he collects with a passion.Short weekend trips through the Highlands with his Scottish wife inculcated Humbrecht's love of scotch. “I developed a taste for it pretty quickly,” he says. His whisky selection slowly grew from a shelf, to a cabinet, to more cabinets, to an entire room in his cellar. But it was an interest in older bottlings that transformed Humbrecht into a bona fide collector. “It's like when you buy a current vintage of a wine and you like it and you say, ‘Oh, how was it in 2010 or how was it...

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...

Shieldaig 18 year old will delight fans of Speyside scotch with its flower bouquet, candied fruit, nuts, and sweet oak flavors. Just as impressive is its bargain price—$47, a fraction of what other 18 year old single malts command. According to its label, Shieldaig is from “the Loch of Herring,” a place in the Torridon Hills of Scotland's northwest Highlands—far from Speyside, or from Islay, where Shieldaig's 14 year old single malt is made.No one has ever seen the mysterious Shieldaig Distillery: it doesn't exist. The whisky was created for mega-retailer Total Wine & More. Big-box stores like Costco and Walmart and grocers like Trader Joe's also sell their own private-label whiskies. These bottles are created specifically and exclusively for large retailers and go by either a fictitious brand name (like Shieldaig) or a store brand, like Costco's Kirkland.Blind Taste Test: The Best Big Box WhiskiesAn educated whisky drinker might feel she's rightfully suspicious of...

The Japanese whisky auction record just got higher—a lot higher—and it's all down to an audacious whisky flipper. Just weeks after its release, a bottle of Yamazaki 55 year old demolished the existing record at the Bonhams sale in Hong Kong on Aug. 21, 2020. The rare Japanese single malt whisky attracted a hammer price of HK$5 million/$645,125; add on the additional 24% buyer's premium, and the number nears $800,000. As far as the secondary market for whisky is concerned, this is one of the most lucrative acts of flipping—purchasing whisky at retail price to resell at a much higher amount—to date. While the current world record for any bottle of whisky at auction hasn't shifted—1926 Macallan 60 year old Fine & Rare in October 2019 which sold for a hammer price of $1.54 million—the success of the Yamazaki 55 year old considerably narrows the gap between the Japanese and scotch whisky records.As detailed in our auction preview, Beam Suntory released just 100 bottles of...

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...

Yamazaki 55 year old set a new highest auction price of the year this month, with Sotheby’s Hong Kong achieving a hammer price of $256,162; nearly $46,000 more than Unicorn Auctions’ June sale in Chicago. Meanwhile, Whisky Auctioneer set a new highest price of the year for Macallan The Reach 81 year old, nudging the 2024 record for this expression higher by $775 over the price set by Sotheby’s in April. To date, these Yamazaki and Macallan bottlings, both the oldest expressions ever released by the respective distilleries, make up 6 of the 7 highest auction prices of the year with a combined value of $1.2 million (a bottle of Macallan The Red Collection 60 year old just squeaked into sixth place). 
New 2024 releases have been making their way to auction this month, with bottlings of Weller Millennium wheat whiskey, released with a suggested retail price of $7,500, making $9,000, and bottles of Double Eagle Rare 20 year old, released at $3,000, fetching...

With Valentine's Day fast approaching, it's easy to fall on reliable standbys like a dozen roses and a candlelit dinner, or for the whisky lover, a favorite bottle. While all are fitting, this year, go the extra mile for that special someone who enjoys a dram with one of these whisky-centric gifts. Step out of the hours-long florist line and opt for a flower-adorned bourbon cocktail kit, or treat the whiskey lover in your life to a customized bottle with a special message on the label. Single malt scotch lovers will be head over heels with a truffle assortment infused with their favorite whiskies. 
J. Mattingly 1845 Custom Bourbon Experience 
Kentucky-based J. Mattingly 1845 is offering a choice of their signature double staved bourbon or rye in a customized 750ml bottle for $99.00. Send a sweet message with a fully customized label, followed by a selection from three different bottle shape options...

For any gathering, whether it be your next whisky club meeting or an informal tasting with friends, there are better carrying options for your favorite whiskies than a simple cardboard box. This array of carrier bags, which come in a variety of styles and sizes, meet all your practical needs while also offering a bit of style. Most of them have room for tumblers, barware, and other accoutrements, and they also make great gifts.
Leather Whiskey Carrier, $200

(Pictured above left) Crafted from 3.5 mm full-grain cowhide that, in time, will fade to a natural patina. This bag holds a bottle of whisky and four tumblers (not included), making it ideal to share a pour when visiting friends or picnicking. Leather dividers protect the glasses. 
Double Barrel Bottle Tote, $290

(Pictured above right) If you belong to a whisky club, you'll want this sleek tote to transport prized whiskies to bottle shares. Pictured with an optional leather case that includes two...

Trademark disputes involving scotch whisky aren't uncommon, but it's usually the Scotch Whisky Association pursuing non-scotch companies for misuse of protected terms like “Highland.” A new lawsuit, however, sees the roles reversed as Washington, D.C.-based Jos. A. Magnus & Co. is suing Scotland's Highland Distillers Limited over its Highland Park Magnus single malt, which the American whiskey maker says infringes on its copyright and is causing “irreparable harm.” The lawsuit, filed Nov. 6 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, also names as defendant U.S. Beverage Advertising Corp., doing business as Reserve Bar, whose e-commerce platform offers Highland Distillers' whiskies in the U.S.
Jos. A. Magnus bourbonJos. A. Magnus argues that Highland Distillers—a subsidiary of Edrington Group, the company that owns Highland Park, Macallan, and numerous other spirits brands—doesn't have the right to use the mark “Magnus” on the Highland Park...

Rabbis are asked to sign many things—marriage certificates, contracts, and the like—but Rabbi Sholem Fishbane never expected to be scrawling his signature on a bottle of whiskey. A neighbor asked him to sign a bottle of Buffalo Trace kosher whiskey. In some ways, Fishbane had already made his mark on the bottle. He's the kashrus administrator at the Chicago Rabbinical Council (cRc), the kosher-certifying organization that worked with Buffalo Trace to ensure compliance of its trio of kosher whiskeys.
Though not subject to the same rules as wine, whisky—just like any other food or drink—can be kosher. To “keep kosher” is to follow the rules of kashrut (also known as kashrus or kashruth), a set of Jewish dietary laws from the Hebrew bible dictating which foods Jewish people can eat and how those foods may be prepared. “Many, many ingredients are inherently kosher, like water, sugar, salt,” says Rabbi Akiva Niehaus, director of kashrus...

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

A wall of whisky is impressive to behold, but it's not necessary. The truth is, no whisky collection can ever be comprehensive. As long as you have a bottle from each of these representative styles, you'll be well prepared to satisfy almost any whisky drinker, and perhaps create some new ones as well. Even with splurging on a trophy whisky, the average price to complete this impressive lineup is under $500.
1. A Trophy WhiskyEvery collection needs a crown jewel and whether you display it prominently or keep it under lock and key, you'll know precisely when the time is right to bring it out.Glenmorangie Signet—94 points, $220Johnnie Walker Blue Label—97 points, $225Midleton Very Rare 2018—94 points, $200Old Fitzgerald 13 year old Bottled in Bond—93 points, $130Yamazaki 12 year old—93 points, $85
2. Barrel-Proof BourbonIf strength is in numbers, then the ABV here says it all. By starting with full proof, these whiskeys are fine sipped neat, yet also adapt well to ice...

There are some Tennessee whiskey brands you may well be familiar with—Jack Daniel's and George Dickel sitting top of mind. But there's a wide world of Tennessee whiskey to enjoy now, and even those aforementioned legacy labels are experimenting with releases that are redefining just what it means to be a whiskey from the state. Snag one (or more!) of these bottles to explore just what the Volunteer State has to offer.
Take a Sip of Tennessee With These Whiskeys

George Dickel 15 year old Single Barrel (No. L2029-5k-1010)95 points, 52.3%, $60Corn and maple candy. With water, orange peel and Luxardo cherry create an instant Old Fashioned.
Jack Daniel's 10 year old93 points, 48.5%, $70Sweet cherry notes and wood spice swirl around the nose and palate, integrating with baking spice, brown sugar, and candied orange. No. 4 in our 2021 Top 20.
Benjamin Prichard's92 points, 40%, $45The nose reflects bright aromas including caramel, cinnamon, and oak, with sweet...