Meet Our Top 20 Sweepstakes Winner

After our Top 20 most exciting whiskies of the year are revealed toward year-end, readers are invited to enter Whisky Advocate’s sweepstakes to win the top three from the list. We’re pleased to announce that Jeremy Diller of Grand Rapids, Michigan is this year’s lucky winner.

As a seasoned whisky drinker, Diller got the whisky bug about a decade ago, and it has blossomed into a full-on hobby that’s grown stronger each year. Though he enjoys a wide range of whiskies, Diller gravitates toward wheated bourbon’s sweeter, softer, and less spicy flavor profile. “Buffalo Trace and Wild Turkey are two brands I come back to often; pours like Weller, Eagle Rare, and Stagg on the Buffalo Trace side, and Rare Breed or Russell’s Reserve from Wild Turkey tend to really align with my palate.” No frills or water for Diller: He prefers it neat, in a Glencairn.

Given his preference for wheaters, Diller was particularly excited to try the Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged, The non-age statement blend of 11, 13, and 14 year old bourbons, “absolutely did not disappoint. While everything was great in its own right, that one stood out as my favorite.” Variety was part of the overall allure, as Diller enjoyed No.-2 Oban 15 year old finished for 4 years in oloroso sherry casks, and the winning bottle of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, the first rye to take the number one spot on Whisky Advocate's Top 20 list.