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Some of the worlds most iconic cocktails employ whiskey as their base liquor. But there are many other whiskey cocktails, many with historic roots, that have enjoyed a quiet revival along with the boom of craft cocktail culture. So we tapped 12 bartenders to find out which whiskey cocktails they felt werent getting enough accolades.
This nearly 200-year-old technique also known as charcoal mellowing involves filtering fresh whiskey through sugar maple charcoal before it goes into the barrel. Its a defining step that turns bourbon made in Tennessee into Tennessee Whiskey, and its practiced by almost every distillery in the state.
7 put the distillery on the map, todays whiskey landscape is more competitive than ever, leading to an expanded lineup that caters to a variety of tastes. This ranking is entirely personalso take it as a guided exploration rather than a definitive verdict. The Jack Daniels liqueurs get a bad rep from whiskey purists.
In the world of American whiskey , few terms create more confusion than “small batch” and “single barrel.” “Single barrel” whiskey comes entirely from one individual barrel, offering a unique experience that can’t be replicated. “Small batch,” however, lacks legal definition.
Beyond its warming properties, this combination of hot water or tea, lemon, honey or sugar, and whiskey has a long history of use as a cure for the all-too-common winter cold. It makes sense all the cocktails ingredients, even whiskey at one point, have been used as home remedies to treat the unpleasant symptoms of a cold.
In 2024, our reviews team tasted and reviewed 81 different American whiskeys including ryes, blends, and American single malts. At our inaugural Whiskey Wash Awards , 31 of these whiskeys were awarded medals, with some achieving Double Gold and Gold. You can find a full list of the medal-winning American whiskeys here.
The whiskey world is like that. Whether youre talking about bourbon , Irish whiskey , or single malt Scotch , you can probably name a bottle that makes you utter meh, even though the public loves it or the taters doggedly chase it down. Plenty of bartenders and bar professionals have at least one whiskey they feel is overrated.
The event was sponsored by Traverse City Whiskey Co. As well as being able to taste a selection of whiskeys, we enjoyed a flight of cocktails featuring some of Traverse City Whiskey Co. Kahlua coffee liqueur, TCWC Cherry whiskey, Grand Marnier and Amaretto combined to make the perfect ending to a perfect evening.
In the inaugural Whiskey Wash Awards , 45 bourbons were awarded a medal – Double Gold, Gold, or Silver. Nino Kilgore-Marchetti, The Whiskey Wash founder and reviewer, sampled this expression in June 2024, and was truly blown away. Although the age statement is 5 years, there are a number of older whiskeys in this bottle.
Before bourbon, rye whiskey was America’s first native spirit. But with the rediscovery of classic, rye-based drinks during the early-aughts cocktail renaissance, bartenders fell back in love with the bold, spicy style of whiskey — and with that, rye’s comeback began. Rye’s resurgence shows no signs of slowing down.
This lackluster experience isnt limited to bottles sometimes, a drinker may not click with a specific whiskey style or a certain production technique. The hype definitely doesnt live up to the expectations, and the price tag isnt justified especially when theres always a great alternative or two at a better cost.
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) has ratified a ruling that will officially create a recognized category for American single malt whiskey (ASM). Many ASM producers, as well as the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission ( ASMWC ), have applauded the long-coming decision.
The mash bill contains 18 percent rye and 10 percent malted barley to flesh out the 72 percent corn, and you can definitely taste all three grains along with the classic caramel, brown sugar, and oak frame. Most liquor stores I’ve seen sell OGD for about $25, which is a solid price point for how nicely the whiskey drinks!
We at VinePair have put together the definitive modern Urban Dictionary of all things agave. It’s regularly played at the brand’s bars and pop-ups throughout North America and offers definitive proof that if drinking has a soulmate, it’s gambling. It’s enough to make any self-respecting drinker reach for the salt and lime.
Bourbon might be known as Americas native spirit, but before it was the booming industry we know today, rye was the preferred whiskey on U.S. While the spirit may have fallen out of favor post-Prohibition, rye whiskey is back in full force, with volumes swelling in the past decade and a half.
Lost Irish burst on the scene a few years ago as the brain child of whiskey expert and writer Tim Herlihy, who figured he could do something a little different in what has long been the relatively sleepy yet growing category of Irish whiskey. There’s a hint of fruit about the whiskey, but it remains elusive on the nose.
Kentucky may be the heartland of bourbon, but distillers outside the Bluegrass State are proving that world-class whiskey knows no borders. The World Whiskies Awards USA 2025 recently announced its winners, recognizing the best American whiskeys across a range of categories. Among them were a number of non-Kentucky bourbons.
Jump to Recipe Photo courtesy of Angel’s Envy Bourbon Apparently every June 14th , whiskey enthusiasts get a chance to celebrate one of the United States’ most beloved spirits. This day is specifically dedicated to appreciating bourbon, a whiskey that has become deeply ingrained in American history and culture.
For this seventh release, this American whiskey that threads the needle between bourbon and rye comes with its origin story, which I don’t recall ever reading. And here it is: In 2010, co-founder David DeFazio requested Wyoming Whiskey’s distiller at the time, Bourbon Hall of Famer Steve Nally, to develop a rye. 100 proof.
Whiskey has continued to grow in popularity over the years, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to slow down anytime soon! Within the whiskey category, two of the most celebrated types are bourbon and rye. They both have their specific qualities that make whiskey lovers loyal to one or the other.
If the answer is none – then you are most definitely missing out! Each expression offered a different experience and brought to the glass a style of bourbon that showed off both the traditional history behind this whiskey, and a glimpse into the sophistication new techniques can contribute.
When we first reviewed The Busker Irish Whiskey line in 2021 we found their Single Pot Still variety our favorite of their four offerings. The whiskey does not have an age statement, but it was aged in first-fill bourbon casks and then finished in Oloroso sherry casks. It’s definitely worth tracking down.
image via Cedar Ridge) Editor’s Note: We received a review sample of this whiskey from the brand. Iowa’s Cedar Ridge is an American whiskey distillery with some history behind it, at least by craft distilling history standards. Read the full article at Whiskey Review: Cedar Ridge The QuintEssential Portside
Jameson is the world’s bestselling Irish whiskey brand, selling 31 million bottles annually. If you’ve ever been curious about this monumentally popular Irish whiskey, we explore Jameson’s origins, distillery history, and production. million cases of Jameson whisky produced each year.
Batch With an emphasis that could be considered hedonism at its finest, Batch puts its focus on two things: whiskey and doughnuts. Opened in 2016 by Tucson natives Ronnie and Christian Spece, Batch boasts one of the largest whiskey collections in the state, with more than 1,000 unique labels and counting. s flagship hazy IPA.
The world of whiskey is wonderfully vast, which is why it can often be intimidating — even for aficionados. When it comes to whiskey, underrated really means what overdelivers for the price. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a diverse flavor profile from the typical whiskey we’re used to.” It tends to be a crowd pleaser.
When Grain and Barrel Spirits launched Chicken C**k Whiskey in 2018, the branding drew plenty of amused chatter. To revive Chicken C**k Whiskey, Grain and Barrel and Gregg Snyder worked with Bardstown Bourbon Company’s collaborative distilling program.
Bourbon, scotch, Canadian whisky, Irish whiskey , tequila , Cognac, and armagnac are by international agreement all made within a single country, and sometimes one area within a country. Photo by Richard Wadey Now compare rum to whiskey. Think of whiskey as the genus, and bourbon, rye, scotch, and so forth, as species.
Most American whiskey makers face a seemingly inevitable fork in the road: One path is marked “bourbon,” and the other is marked “rye.” And if your mash bill doesn’t fit neatly into the federally regulated definitions of either — at least 51 percent corn in the case of bourbon, or else a minimum of 51 percent rye — then tough luck.
Whisky fans can be extremely spirited (if you’ll pardon the pun), and in whisky circles, there are great debates surrounding the spelling of the word ‘whisky’ or ‘whiskey’, and the differences are between the two. So, here is a breakdown of the whisky vs. whiskey debate and the questions that arise from it. Well, it is both.
Like the rest of the country, the whiskey trails in the Western part of the United States are vast and full of options to explore. Drawing from local ingredients and influenced by local microclimates, the distilleries — and the whiskeys they make — reflect a relaxed and creative attitude common in this part of the country.
From the very beginning, as one of the oldest distilleries in Tennessee, George Dickel was determined to do things differently — rethink American whiskey using fresh spring water as well as tried-and-true distillation techniques. Case in point: the Improved Whiskey Cocktail — and “improved” cocktails in general.
American whiskey is in a weird place. It’s not uncommon to say that the whiskey industry is five to seven years behind craft beer in terms of trends. Does all this spell trouble for American whiskey? The whiskey industry is subject to fluctuations in spending, like anything else. whiskey industry? “I
In just about eight months, seven different whiskeys have arrived at Drinkhacker HQ, and today we’re finally getting down to reviewing them all. Let’s fire away at this septet of whiskeys. This is without doubt a whiskey that requires time and patience to open up and evolve. Definitely a solid, if slow-starting, rye.
The Edinburgh Whisky Academy (EWA) has partnered with the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission to launch an online, educational course about American single malt whiskey. This pack includes six American single malt whiskeys from Virginia Distillery Co., Sign up for your place on the course here.
If there’s one thing whiskey fans love, it’s superlatives. All spirits must be American rye whiskeys. It must be a rye whiskey under the definition during the period in which it was bottled. Interviewees could only choose rye whiskeys they’ve personally sampled. Oldest, highest proof, rarest — we covet them all.
However, you can put your own personal spin on your Manhattan cocktail just by changing the rye whiskey used in the recipe. Find the perfect 6 rye whiskeys to get you started, here. Old Overholt Rye, 40% ABV BUY NOW: $16.99 The definition of a session product. Sometimes, the classic method is a classic for a reason.
But in the past decade, tucked among the various bourbons and ryes, more bottles carrying the indeterminate “American whiskey” label have appeared. It’s a tempting prospect for whiskey nerds looking for novelty and affordable spirits in the decade-plus age range. s MGP Ingredients (MGP). Low calorie, it is not.
Editor’s Note: The Whiskey Wash acquired this whiskey as an independent review sample not supplied by the related brand. One of the more fascinating sub-categories of whiskey these days is the so-called “cigar blend.” Read the full article at Whiskey Review: Wheel Horse Cigar Blend Bourbon
There are thousands of whiskeys out in the world. Not all of them appeal to every whiskey drinker, regardless of how popular they are or how ubiquitous they may be on back bars, and this is fine, of course. Whiskey is subjective. This doesn’t make the whiskey bad. Also, any whiskey with peat is just not good to me.
The TAG Global Spirits Awards 2024 judges have named the ‘Best In Show’ bourbons and American whiskeys. Previously, I broke down the best American whiskeys and bourbons as named in the 2023 TAG Global Spirits Awards. Looking for more award-winning whiskeys? Check out the rest of my Awards Series.
A good theme isn’t a requisite for a standout cocktail menu, but it definitely makes cocktail hour more fun. The cocktail, called the Flora Volcanica—made with two types of whiskey, genepy, manzanilla sherry—evokes not only of the volcanic landscape but the flavors of the shrubs growing from it.
Elijah Craig Whiskey is a big name in bourbon. Its an American whiskey that has proved to be a reliable, versatile, affordable sipper and a bartender’s go-to for Old Fashioneds and Manhattan cocktails. According to legend, in 1789, Craig became the first distiller to age whiskey in new charred oak barrels.
With some 200 whiskeys available for tasting, you can’t possible sample everything on offer. Gentle sweet with ripe raisin notes and just a bit of funk, it’s a beautiful expression of the best of two worlds — burly bourbon whiskey and a soothing, sweet brandy. One sip and you’ll find out soon enough.
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