This is it. We’ve reached the end of the road, folks. Today is my last day as a full-time spirits writer at Uproxx. I’ll be leaving you to work for a Kentucky-based whiskey brand as their Chief Brand Officer and VP of International Sales. In times like these, you can’t help but look back — I’ve been writing about travel, food, and drinks at Uproxx since early 2016 — and reflect on what has been one hell of a run.

Over the last eight years at UPROXX, I’ve tasted close to ten thousand whiskeys. Last year alone, I racked up around 2,500 individual pours. While I was writing tasting notes for Uproxx, I was also judging whiskey (along with other spirits, RTDs, beer, and cocktails) at events like the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and the IWSC. That all was piled on decades of traveling the world, eating and drinking while learning to cook local cuisines everywhere from Kyrgyzstan to Kerala to Krakow to California. There was a good half-decade of bar work in there, too — I had the pleasure of learning behind the stick at two of the best bars in Europe: Victoria Bar and Rum Trader in Berlin. All told, I’ve had a blessed life when it comes to tasting food and drink and it’s been an honor sharing that with you all these years.

Below, I’m calling out 100 whiskeys that I love deeply. It’s my all-timers club. But I’m not ranking a bourbon above a Scotch single malt or rye or Japanese malt — they all have different qualities. So, I’ve put these 100 whiskeys into four sections with 25 whiskeys in each. Call this my Swan Song, my goodbye, my final answers on all things whiskey for Uproxx.

One last time, let’s dive in!

• The 100 Best Bourbon Whiskeys Of 2023, Ranked
• The 100 Best Kentucky Bourbons, Ranked
• The Absolute Best Tasting Bourbons Under $50, Ranked
• The Absolute Best Bottle Of Whiskey From Each Of The 50 States
• The Best Bourbons Under $100 For Thanksgiving Dinner, Ranked

PART 1 — THE BEST MISCELLANEOUS WHISKEYS

25. Penderyn Rhiannon Single Malt Welsh Whisky

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $90

The Whisky:

This Welsh whisky is part of the distillery’s “Icons of Wales” line. The seventh release in that series is a malted barley whisky aged in sherrywood grand cru barrels and proofed with local Welsh spring water. The bottle is named after the Celtic horse goddess which means “Great Queen.”

Tasting Notes:

Nose: This hits hard, with a big oak char that immediately fades towards red and blackberries plus a hint of pear that’s then emboldened by creamy walnut sauce from a Chiles en Nogada on the nose.

Palate: The taste touches on rich marzipan and walnut cake as a creamy caramel leads towards plums, more berries, chocolate-covered espresso beans, and a hint of dry oak.

Finish: The end leans back into the spiced creamy sauce with a nice touch of toffee that’s just kissed with salt and cinnamon before a supple chewing tobacco cut with honey sneaks in late.

Bottom Line:

This is a great outlier malt from Wales. While this is only really going to be available in the UK and EU, it’s worth tracking down to get a sense of the great work Penderyn is doing in the malt scene outside of Scotland.

24. Indri Single Malt Indian Whisky Diwali Collector’s Edition 2023 PX Sherry Peat

ABV: 60.5%

Average Price: $135

The Whisky:

This peated malt from India is made with 6-row Barley that’s locally grown and peated before fermentation and running through old copper pot stills. That hot whisky is then filled in old PX sherry casks and left to age in the sub-tropical climate of Northern India.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: A medley of homemade trail mix with really good nuts, raisins, and chocolates drives the nose toward deeply earthy oakiness with a smoldering sense of a sweet brush fire off in the distance.

Palate: Candied ginger and red berries lead the palate toward toasted walnuts and cashews with a flake of salt before spiced oak staves lead back to the trail mix with way more dark chocolate in it.

Finish: That dark chocolate gets creamy on the finish as spiced nuts and dried berries drive the finish toward a whisp of the sweet brush fire that almost feels like burning sugar cane.

Bottom Line:

There are a lot of great Indri malts. This is a recent expression that is simply delicious. I like breaking this out as a pairing whiskey with big spicy food flavors — Fishhead Vindaloo, Nasi Goreng, Szechuan Pork, Camarones a la Diabla, etc.

23. Rare Perfection 15 Years Old Cask Strength Canadian Whiskey

ABV: 59.85%

Average Price: $194

The Whiskey:

This very rare whiskey from Preservation Distilling is a Canadian whiskey that was hidden away in Canada for a long time. The whiskey in the batch is a 15-year-old whiskey that’s batched to highlight dark and deep fruitiness while feeling like something deeply familiar to the American bourbon lover.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Dark orange chocolate balls open the nose toward rich vanilla buttercream, smoldering oak staves, and a whisper of dry green tea leaves with this whisper of strawberry shortcake lurking in the background.

Palate: The orange takes on a candied vibe with a hint of ginger on the palate as creamy eggnog lattes mingle with pear brandy-soaked marzipan dipped in dark chocolate next to a moment tart red fruit tobacco.

Finish: A deep oakiness arrives late with warming spice barks and rich tobacco leaves before the orange returns with a bright zestiness that accentuates the warming spices and old oak.

Bottom Line:

Canadian whisky remains very hit-and-miss. Luckily, we’re starting to get some gems down here and this is a prime example of the amazing old barrels waiting to be bottled from up in the frigid North.

22. Pōkeno New Zealand Single Malt Whisky Single Cask Double Bourbon Cask

ABV: 56%

Average Price: $112

The Whisky:

The New Zealand malt is made with local barley. That hot juice is then aged in first-fill bourbon barrels for just under three years before it’s re-barreled in fresh first-fill bourbon barrels for an additional six months of mellowing. One barrel was then bottled completely as-is for this special U.S.-only release.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Old vanilla pods and dark cacao nibs mingle with honeysuckle, nasturtium, and old sweet oak staves with a hint of nutmeg, espresso, and creamed salted caramel filling out the deep nose.

Palate: That honeysuckle and dark cacao drive the malty palate toward a rich sense of malted cookies dipped in toffee candy and rolled in spice barks and dried red berries with a whisper of coconut tobacco lurking in the far background.

Finish: The finish leans into the spice barks and old sweet oak staves with a fluttering of coastal rocky brininess that somehow just works with the sweet and spicy malts, providing a lovely balance on the finish.

Bottom Line:

Pōkeno is one of the most exciting single malt whiskies right now. They’re killing it with these special finishes.

21. Waterford Irish Single Malt Whisky Peated Fenniscourt 1.1

ABV: 50%

Average Price: $105

The Whiskey:

This Irish whisky is extraordinarily special. The whisky is made with Arcadian barley grown in Fenniscourt in County Carlow on the Byrne Family farm near the River Barrow. The barley was kilned with peat from Niall Carroll’s cuttings at Ballyteige in County Kildare before mashing and distilling. The whisky was then aged in first-fill bourbon barrels, French oak, and Vin Doux Naturel casks.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose opens with a bold sense of a football field after a rainstorm that’s accented by fresh lemonade, moist marzipan, buttermilk biscuits, pancake syrup, and dried pear slices kissed with sea salt and olive oil with these fleeting sense of roasting herbs.

Palate: Those roasting herbs take on a fatty smoked pork vibe on the palate as old tobacco leather and salty chili spice lead to dark cherry and lychee with a mild sense of plum jam.

Finish: The end circles back around to that rainy field with a sense of warming spices, old tobacco, and soft salted creaminess.

Bottom Line:

Waterford is a real whisky-nerd whisky. This is all about learning about soils, grains, and processes with each new expression from the brand. That does make these whiskies feel a little like homework, but it’s important work for the whole industry.

20. Virginia Distillery Co. American Single Malt Whisky Courage & Conviction Double Cask Reserve

ABV: 48%

Average Price: $71

The Whiskey:

This new fall release from Virginia Distillery Co. features double asking. That means that the whiskey was aged a minimum of five years in first-fill bourbon casks and European red wine Cuvée casks before slow batching with a touch of water.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose opens with deep honey and candied orange next to apricot jam over scones with a hint of malted spice and brandy-soaked oak staves.

Palate: Black Forest cake by way of honey-pear-floral malted crackers drives the palate toward winter spice barks, soft milk chocolate sauce, and a dash of lemon malt meringue.

Finish: Fresh gingerbread and soft oak round out the finish with a nice dose of spice, chocolate, and malt.

Bottom Line:

This is one of the best single malts in America. The work they’re doing in Virginia is as close as you’ll get to a great Scotch whisky in the U.S.

19. The Macklowe American Single Malt Whiskey 6th Edition

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $1,699

The Whiskey:

This is a super rare American single malt that’s filtered through a masterful Scotch whisky POV. The barrel was chosen by Master Blender Ian MacMillan and American beauty entrepreneur, socialite, and whiskey master Julie Macklowe. MacMillan and Macklowe chose a seven-year-old toasted barrel single malt aged in new American white oak in Kentucky. That whiskey was cut with local water and bottled as-is otherwise, creating only 237 bottles.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose is all about sweet oak sugars (think brown sugar and rock candy) with a sense of burnt orange, marzipan, and salted caramel next to this moment of spicy honey with a twinge of dried florals and pecans.

Palate: Bitter yet sweet orange drives the taste toward soft stick toffee pudding with good salted caramel, orange zest, and walnut next to real maple syrup and old woody holiday spice barks.

Finish: Those holiday spices blend with the marzipan and dried orange for a cake vibe that’s accented by soft malted whisky with a sense of bourbon cream.

Bottom Line:

This is another great example of the single malt burgeoning in the U.S. right now. It’s supple and classic, which makes it a great sipper for Scotch fans looking for something local.

18. The Hakushu Single Malt Japanese Whisky Peated Malt Aged 18 Years 100th Anniversary Suntory Whisky

ABV: 48%

Average Price: $1,199

The Whisky:

This whisky was blended from 18-year-old peated single malt casks (a lot of different woods in play) to celebrate the centenary of Suntory. Once vatted, the peated whisky was mellowed with super soft mountain water that has spent millennia filtering through granite.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Bright fruit greets you on the nose with fresh and tart apples leading to juicy pineapple with a hint of woody honey, smoked pear, and a light sense of roasting sage.

Palate: The peatiness layers through roasting herbs, grapefruit peels, and more woody honey but never overpowers while minor keys of white flowers and creamed honey create a luscious texture.

Finish: Pomelo and grapefruit oils linger on the finish with a line of smoke that’s … clean. It’s like a thin whisp of smoke from whisky-soaked coal that wafts through an apple orchard in full bloom while you sip from green tea just kissed with fresh honey.

Bottom Line:

This is a beautiful pour of unique whisky. It’s 100% its own thing and worthwhile in that it’ll expand your palate with subtle flavors you may have never tasted in whisky before.

17. Triple Eight Distillery The Notch Nantucket Island Single Malt Whisky 12 Years Old

ABV: 48%

Average Price: $399

The Whiskey:

This is classic The Notch single malt made with Maris Otter barley. In this case, the barrels are left seaside for 12 years before batching, proofing, and bottling in slightly larger runs than the famed eight-year-old expression from the brand.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Creamy toffee with a flake of salt leads to red berries and stewed apples with a hint of floral honey, old oak staves, and cellar funk.

Palate: The taste is immediately pure silk and lush with a sense of creamy yet floral honey, creamed berries stewed in a pie, and malted vanilla wafers layered with nougat next to a fruit orchard on a bright summer day.

Finish: That orchard drives the finish toward a soft honeyed sweetness with a touch of apple and raspberry cobbler with a soft dollop of vanilla ice cream that’s just kissed with salt and caramel.

Bottom Line:

The Notch is probably the best hidden gem single malt in the U.S. This whiskey is very niche and you kind of have to be in Massachusetts to even get it (from a brewery no less).

16. Nikka Whisky Single Malt Yoichi 10 Years Old

ABV: 45%

Average Price: $175

The Whisky:

The Yoichi facility is perched on the Hokkaido coast in the far north of Japan. The whisky is made very slowly with lightly peated local malt. The mash is made with local spring water and slowly distilled in pot stills with direct coal heating underneath. That whisky is then left to age for 10 years by the sea but also in the forest, in used oak, until it’s just right. The barrels are then vatted in a large wooden tank and bottled with a touch of that local water.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: There’s a clear sense of an old herb spice cupboard with a hint of mint and sage that leads to fresh tart apples and red berries with a touch of smoked plums and apricots next to fresh pain au chocolate dipped in floral honey.

Palate: That buttery pastry opens the taste with a hint of white pepper and dried strawberries dipped in milk chocolate and drizzled with a spiced caramel before this thin whisper of smoked mushroom powder sneaks in.

Finish: That smoked umami vibe attaches to a dry oakiness with a sense of apricot leather just kissed with sweet orchard wood smoke and soft pepperiness tied to malted honey digestive biscuits before a final rush of creamy yet still floral honey softens everything.

Bottom Line:

This is the whisky I’m most likely to bring to a dinner party. It pairs wonderfully with any type of meal, especially a cheese board, and is an unbelievably easy sipper.

15. Balcones Pilgrimage Texas Single Malt Whisky

ABV: 58.5%

Average Price: $76

The Whisky:

This single malt starts with Golden Promise malted barley in the mash with proprietary ale yeast and local Texas water. The distilled juice is then loaded into used barrels like all of the world’s great single malts. After a few years of aging under the hot Texas sun, the whisky is transferred into French Sauternes casks, bringing a distinct dessert wine vibe to the whiskey. Finally, the whisky is bottled at cask strength from very small, one-off batches.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose is all sweet honey, soft white grapes, stewed peaches in syrup, light leather, ripe pear, and a touch of salted caramel candy. There’s also this fleeting moment of milk chocolate.

Palate: The taste starts off a bit slow with an initial moment of sweet grains that translate to very clear pear notes by the mid-palate before ascending towards honeyed malts, Caro syrup roasted pecans, apple blossoms, and a small dusting of egg nog spices.

Finish: All of that sweetness and fruitiness completely hides the ABVs under a wall of lusciousness. The end does have a spicy edge but it’s still tied to the sweet honey and orchard fruits and leaves you with this sense of a refined apple soda and more milk chocolate at the very end.

Bottom Line:

This release is where Balcones truly came into their own. This is planting a flag for Texas Single Malt in the whisky world, and it’s goddamn delicious.

14. Kavalan Oloroso Sherry Oak Single Malt Whisky

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $209

The Whiskey:

This version of Kavalan takes their iconic Solist release and adds a touch of local mountain spring water to just proof it down. That sherry-finished whisky is then bottled for this iconic release.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Dried red berries, figs, and dates lead to marzipan richness and soft winter spice powders that are just kissed with red mulled wine and vanilla cakes.

Palate: The palate is lush from the jump with layers of moist holiday fruit and nut cakes, candied orange, brandy-soaked cherry, soft marzipan, and plummy jams over soft buttermilk scones.

Finish: A hint of dark salted chocolate pops on the finish with a sense of clove-laced berry cobbler, soft vanilla buttercream, and a fleeting sense of old oak cellars with sweet dirt floors.

Bottom Line:

Kavalan is one of those whiskies that hasn’t quite popped in the U.S. yet but is amazing. Start here and then try them all (that you can get your hands on).

13. Teeling Whiskey Single Malt Aged 33 Years Pineau Des Charentes Finish

ABV: 49.7%

Average Price: $3,795

The Whiskey:

This latest release from Teeling’s ultra-rare whiskey line is an oldie but a goodie. The whiskey was distilled back in 1989 and spent 30 years mellowing in ex-rum casks before it was batched and re-barreled into Pineau Des Charentes wine casks for three more years of rest.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Black tea-soaked dates, stewed prunes with cardamom and clove, and white mulled wine drive the nose toward floral honey that’s so fresh you can still feel the honeycomb and this whisper of dried apricot rolled with roasted almonds.

Palate: That medley of apricot and almond pops on the palate as grilled pineapple combines with clove-laden tobacco and spice cakes with a hint of brandied cherries dipped in salted dark chocolate with a whisper of orange oils lurking in the background.

Finish: That cherry vibes carry on throughout the finish as the winter spices get woody and dry and attach to sharp and spice tobacco with a hint of old worn boot leather, soft marzipan, and a touch more of that honeycomb.

Bottom Line:

These ultra-rare releases from Teeling are the jewel in the crown of the Irish whiskey brand. This is just incredible sipping whiskey with beautiful depth.

12. Little Book Chapter 5: “The Invitation”

ABV: 58.4%

Average Price: $299

The Whiskey:

The whiskey in this vintage Little Book is a blend of four whiskeys — three straight bourbons and one straight rye. The rye is a 100% malted rye that’s three years old. The bourbons are two, five, and 15 years old.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose opens with a Pecan Sandie vibe with a flake of salt, spiciness derived from fresh ginger juice, and dark chocolate laced with raw sugar and apple-soaked cinnamon sticks that have been ground to a fine powder.

Palate: The palate builds on that cinnamon spice with a touch of nutmeg and clove that ties to a vanilla pudding-esque svelte body next to little pops of dried pecan shells, faux maple syrup, cinnamon toast with plenty of butter, more of that ginger, and a touch of subtle red fruit.

Finish: The mid-palate leans creamy with light milk chocolate that leads back to the warmth with a dried red peppercorn pepperiness next to a rush of cedar boxes full of vanilla tobacco leaves with the slightest echo of menthol and dried reeds on the very deep back end.

Bottom Line:

Of the seven Little Books, so far, this was my favorite. The balance of bourbon and rye just sings on the palate and delivers a quintessential Kentucky vibe.

11. Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 2nd Edition Kentucky Straight Corn Whiskey Aged 20 Years

ABV: 57.5%

Average Price: $289

The Whiskey:

The 2nd edition of Heaven Hill’s Heritage Collection asks what budget brand Mellow Corn would taste like when left alone for 20 years and treated like an elite whiskey. The results from the mash of 80% corn, 12% malted barley, and 8% rye ended up in 110 barrels back in October 2002. After 20 long years in Heaven Hill’s famed Rickhouse 1K, they were batched and bottled.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: There’s a mix of sweet white grits cut with salted caramel and old oak on the nose next to a slight nuttiness with a hint of sweetgrass dipped in Caro Syrup.

Palate: That dry grassy nature continues on the palate as burnt orange and dry nuts balance out next to sweet dry white hominy and a hint of vanilla pods.

Finish: The end leans into the burnt orange and nuttiness with a creamy edge and a mild sense of powdered winter spices.

Bottom Line:

Heaven Hill makes amazing whiskey. Their corn whiskey is no exception. This ultra-rare release from 2023 is a prime example of how you can step outside of the norm and still deliver an exceptional product.

10. Bushmills Aged 25 Years Irish Single Malt Whiskey

ABV: 46%

Average Price: $949

The Whiskey:

This small-batch high-age-statement whiskey from north Ireland is a bold pour. The whiskey in the bottle is made from a whiskey that spent about four years in both ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks before batching and re-barreling into ruby port casks for 21 long years of “finishing”. Those casks were small-batched, proofed, and bottled as-is.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: There’s a huge old tannic oak note on the nose that leads to old dark fruit leathers, a hint of old honey, and plenty of dark espresso beans just kissed with dark chocolate and winter spice.

Palate: The taste is silky but dominated by chewy old oak staves dipped in stewed dark fruits cut with winter spice barks, burnt orange, and bitter chocolate sauce.

Finish: That chocolate and barky spice merge on the finish and swing back toward that old oak with a sense of dry tobacco packed into an old cedar humidor with this fleeting sense of dried roasting sage and singed rosemary.

Bottom Line:

Of all the Bushmill special editions, this is the sweet spot. There are older whiskeys in the lineup, but this is where they peak with the most beauty and depth (and sippability).

9. Bardstown Bourbon Company Chateau Doisy Daene A Blend Of Straight Whiskeys Finished In Sauternes Barrels And Toasted Oak Barrels

ABV: 54.5%

Average Price: $159

The Whiskey:

This collab is a blend of 10-year-old Kentucky bourbon with six-year-old Indiana rye (with a high-corn mash bill). Those whiskeys were batched and then re-barreled into Chateau Doisy Daene Sauternes barrels for another seven months of aging before another batching session. Then that whiskey was re-barreled again into a new toasted oak barrel for a final four months before batching and bottling as-is.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Rum raisin and black-tea-soaked dates drive the nose toward bitter marmalade, brandy-soaked marzipan, cinnamon-laced apple cider, and creamed honey with a fleeting sense of white wildflowers in the summer.

Palate: Semi-fermented raisins fresh off the vine open the palate toward caramel candies cut with freshly ground cinnamon and nutmeg next to soft vanilla pound cake drizzled with toffee cut with orange and salt.

Finish: The finish leans gently toward old oak staves in a sunny grape orchard with a light sense of orange blossom, Earl Grey tea, and fresh honeycomb with a nice vanilla lush underbelly.

Bottom Line:

Bardstown Bourbon Company makes some of the best collab whiskeys in the game right now. Their Chateau Doisy Daene collab is an amazing sipper that showcases the prowess of the team at BBCo and how much they care about flavor above all else.

8. Michter’s Celebration Sour Mash 2022

ABV: 56.4%

Average Price: $19,999

The Whiskey:

The fourth ever Michter’s Celebration release — and the first one since 2019 — was finally released in early 2023. The bottle was slightly delayed, making it a February 2023 release this time around. This American whiskey is a collaboration between Michter’s Master Distiller Dan McKee and Master of Maturation Andrea Wilson. The duo chose seven whiskeys for this special blend that ranged from twelve to thirty-plus years old. Those barrels were batched and bottled without any cutting with water, creating only 328 bottles for the whole world.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose subtly opens with a sense of dark chocolate cut with brown butter, Saigon cinnamon bark, and a light note of crème brûlée made with just a drop of cognac.

Palate: That boozy vanilla opens the luxurious palate toward a dusting of winter spices — clove, anise, nutmeg — next to stewed peached and burnt orange over singed marshmallows, old smoldering hickory, and orchards full of falling leaves next to whisper of creamy black cherry and candied pecans.

Finish: Those pecans meld with woody maple syrup, more cinnamon bark, orange-studded cloves, and a sense of bushels of orchard fruits mixed with nuts and dried fruits in an old wooden basket and wrapped with thick old twine and leather next to a spiced chocolate cherry tobacco leaf dropped in the middle of it all.

Bottom Line:

I was going to put an older vintage of Michter’s Celebration here, but this one feels like the right one for this list. This is approachable yet feels like a deeply nuanced representation of the expression. It’s so easy to sip and yet it delivers almost endless flavor notes that massage into your senses more deeply with every return.

7. Midleton Very Rare Dair Ghaelach Kilranelagh Wood

ABV: 56.8%

Average Price: $476

The Whiskey:

The fifth installment of Midleton’s famed Dair Ghaelach series is here to help you fall in love with Irish whiskey. The whiskey is made with Midleton’s very rare whiskey that’s then aged in very specific barrels made from a single estate in Ireland (Kilranelagh Estate). The new oak barrels hold the whiskey until it’s just right before batching and bottling 100% as-is at cask strength.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: The nose is like walking through a pine forest after the rain with soft notes of fresh honey, freshly cracked black pepper, and soft oolong tea leaves leading to a sense of roasted almonds dipped in vanilla cream and rolled in freshly ground nutmeg and cinnamon.

Palate: The palate leans into a sharp but sweet bell pepper with a hint of candied orange and chocolate leading to soft roasting herbs, a touch of apple pie, and spiced oak staves that are inching toward dried red chili.

Finish: That spiced oak drives the finish toward more candied orange and oolong tea with a honeyed creamy finish that’s light and almost airy with a vanilla foundation.

Bottom Line:

There are a lot of Midleton Very Rares out there but this one is the most fun. It’s delicate and soft — like all good Irish whiskey — while delivering depth and nuance in a way that’ll have you killing a bottle far too quickly.

6. Balcones Cataleja Texas Single Malt Whisky

ABV: 59%

Average Price: $125

The Whisky:

This new release from Balcones down in Waco, Texas celebrates the distillery’s 15th anniversary. The whisky in the bottle is built from 100% Golden Promise malted barley. That whisky was then aged in a variety of old sherry puncheons that held Moscatel, Amontillado Dulce, Oloroso, and Palo Cortado sherries for decades. Once batched, the whisky was bottled as-is with a drop of proofing water.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Brandy-soaked dates, figs, and prunes pop on the nose with a hint of apricot jam, clove-studded oranges, cherry hand pies, and a note of soft pecan wood with this fleeting sense of … I swear … venison backstrap frying in butter in a cast iron skillet.

Palate: Those dates go hard on the palate as marzipan and salted cashews add a deep nuttiness with more of that clove-studded orange, a touch of lemon zest, and maybe some smoldering sandalwood next to eucalyptus and sage aromatic sticks.

Finish: A touch of smudging sage drives the finish toward grilled pineapple and peach with a touch of absinth herbs before a deeply creamy mocha latte leads to a scoop of black cherry ice cream.

Bottom Line:

Where Balcones Pilgrimage planted a flag for Texas Single Malt, this whisky took it to the stratosphere. This is amazingly unique and feels like the future of an entire region of whisky.

5. Hibiki Suntory Whisky 21 Years Old 100th Anniversary Suntory Whisky

ABV: 43%

Average Price: $7,000

The Whisky:

Sticking with Hibiki’s 100th anniversary, this new version of Hibiki 21 is going to be on a collector’s wish list. The whisky in the bottle is a blend of malt and grain whiskies chosen and blended by Suntory’s legendary Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo alongside his blending team. The team specifically chose Mizunara oak casks for the heart of the whisky out of respect for their shared Japanese heritage.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Jasmine blooms draw you in on the nose with a hint of savory fruits like dragonfruit and kumquat with a hint of star fruit next to burning incense coming from a distant sensor on the other side of the room.

Palate: Old potpourri with a hint of sandalwood drives the palate toward a super subtle sense of acacia bark next to a faint whisper of betel nut and maybe some floral honey with an almost crisp edge.

Finish: Spiced whisky wood staves arrive late on the finish with a sense of dried jasmine and lavender next to dried coriander and a fleeting sense of sweet incense in the far distance on a cold night.

Bottom Line:

It should come as no surprise that a 21-year-old Hibiki is amazing. If you’re looking for subtly and grace, this is the pour to have on hand.

4. Shirakawa 1958 Single Malt Japanese Whisky

ABV: 49%