It was one other robust yr for the whisky nerds amongst us – which is, effectively, all of us – as we tried to pare down the a whole lot of choices we reviewed all through 2023 and provide you with an inventory of the ten that excited us probably the most. Sure, we heard your cries from final yr: Too many luxe unicorns, not sufficient attainable juice. We’ve tempered our style for four-figure spirits this time round, and whereas many of the whiskeys we picked for 2023 value greater than $100, just one lands in what we’d take into account unicorn territory. That stated, it actually deserves to be represented right here, so we couldn’t depart it out. Need extra choices? Try our vacation purchasing information.
As all the time, we’re revealing one whiskey every day over the subsequent 10 days till we hit #1 on Christmas Eve. When you’re getting ready for the massive reveal, be at liberty to bask in a few of our earlier prime 10 whiskey lists: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, and 2017. You too can search a number of shops at wine-searcher to search out one of the best costs on all these merchandise and extra.
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Keep tuned for tomorrow after we’ll replace the checklist with our #7 decide, counting down the highest 10 till Christmas Eve!
8. Bruichladdich Octomore 14.2 – Whereas latest expressions have come extremely shut to creating our checklist in recent times, Octomore hasn’t made an look in our prime 10 since our inaugural checklist in 2017, when the second model of the 10-year-old knocked our socks off. There’s been fairly a little bit of time and lots of choices between from time to time, and eventually we arrive on the masterpiece of model 14.2. The distinction of 14.2 to its siblings 14.1 and 14.3 is sort of compelling. A comparatively low degree of peat (128.9 ppm) lets notes of spiced fruitcake, tobacco leaf, and pink berry shine by way of earlier than the normal coastal notes of campfire, seaweed, iodine, and lemon zest oscillate their strategy to a lingering and extremely satisfying end. It doesn’t have the no-nonsense, uncooked phenolic throat punch Octomore often doles out, however extra experimentation alongside these strains is a most welcome expertise. I’m sure we’ll be seeing Octomore once more on this checklist earlier than 2030. 115.4 proof. $260 -RT
9. Cragganmore Distillers Version 2023 – Perennially underrated, Cragganmore is likely one of the greatest offers in Scotch whisky because of its poor title recognition – and with this particular version from the 2023 Distillers Version assortment, it will get even higher because of ending in Port-seasoned American oak casks. It’s not too heavy on the fruity Port notes, because the malt at its core does the heavy lifting, plus it’s a mere 80 proof, which additional ensures a delicate, easygoing expertise. These in search of a brand new every day dram from the world of single malt gained’t discover a higher possibility launched this yr. 80 proof. $90 -CN [BUY IT NOW FROM RESERVEBAR]
10. Filibuster Triple Cask Bourbon Tokaji Completed – I needed to battle fairly laborious to get this whiskey on the checklist over various different wonderful contenders, however since I’m the boss round right here, I gained the battle ultimately. A part of that battle stems from the truth that this was a restricted launch that’s more and more laborious (however not unimaginable) to search out. And it’s a pity, as a result of it’s one in all my favourite bourbons of the yr, mixing Filibuster’s Virginia-born distillate with some MGP inventory and letting all of it simmer in a Hungarian Tokaji wine barrel to complete issues off. The outcomes are magical, making for an intensely candy, nutty, fruity, and fragrant whiskey that can problem every part you assume you already know about bourbon. Right here’s hoping Filibuster tries one thing comparable once more subsequent yr. 112.8 proof. $120 -CN
Extra reporting by Drew Beard, Frank Dobbins, and Rob Theakston.
