Top 20 Whiskeys of 2024
The nomad nature of our channel always makes these lists tricky for us. We don’t get to try all the things that other publications get to try. Many of the whiskeys we review are from smaller distilleries we discover on our travels. Some of these items may be hard to find, and some of them are not readily available, but we believe they deserve a mention on this list. We order this list based on the value we find in these bottles. That means that while we might love the flavor of one whiskey above all the others, if the price is too high, we may not place that whiskey as highly. The most important thing to keep in mind is this: These are our opinions. We are not experts. If we all agreed 100% of the time, the whiskey community would be a pretty boring place. Let’s get to the list.
#20 GLENGLASSAUGH SANDEND AND PORTSOY HIGHLAND SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
The only whisky not produced in America on this list, Glenglassaugh Distillery blew us away this year. Sandend is the non-smoked version and was Whisky Advocate’s 2023 Whisky of the Year. We’re thrilled that we gave this one a chance, because we found it delicious and well-balanced. The honey sweetness paired with seaside accents provided a very satisfying and flavorful sip. We were so enamored with Sandend that we decided to give Portsoy a whirl. The smoke and peat come through in waves on this whisky. We’re not well-versed in Scotch whisky, but we were thrilled with this brand in 2024 and we’ll continue to keep our eyes out for anything Glenglassaugh produces.
LUCKY SEVEN THE FRENCHMAN BOURBON BINNY’S SINGLE BARREL SB#20
While we usually shy away from including single barrel selections on this list, Lucky Seven The Frenchman Bourbon was so good, we couldn’t help ourselves. If we were choosing a top bourbon based on flavor alone, this might top our list. We found this bottle for $65 at Binny’s in Evanston, IL. 116.2 proof and loaded with french toast and maple syrup flavor, we couldn’t believe how delicious and satisfying this whiskey was. We almost never purchase a backup of a whiskey, but we couldn’t help ourselves with this one.
#18 BALCONES 15th ANNIVERSARY CATALEJA TEXAS SINGLE MALT WHISKY
Aged in various casks that held several types of sherry, the flavors of Balcones Cataleja are at once bizarre and remarkable. This is a unique and polarizing whisky, with many tasters turned off by a note of sulfur on the nose. Pushing through the nose rewarded us with juicy notes of grapefruit, and a river of butterscotch on the palate. The finish lasts forever, giving you plenty of time to enjoy all that this whisky has to offer. Thanks to our friend Mary S. for gifting us this whisky.
#17 CEDAR RIDGE BARREL PROOF BOURBON BATCH 5
Cedar Ridge Distillery of Swisher, IA surprised us multiple times this year. While visiting this distillery in September, we purchased a bottle of Batch 5 of their Barrel Proof Bourbon for $45. Coming in at a powerful 116 proof, this whiskey sips considerably easier than expected. The flavors are rich and decadent, with notes of oak, vanilla, caramel, and brown sugar. $45 is an outstanding value for this flavor bomb.
#16 NEW RIFF BARREL PROOF MALTED RYE WHISKEY SHERRY FINISH
This is a bottle we never thought to purchase for ourselves, but we’re so glad it landed in our collection. Juicy, flavorful, satisfying, and decadent, this rye whiskey will take your taste buds on a journey. With a beautiful balance of sweetness and spice, this rye whiskey might seem tasty, but a little boring at first. In our experience, the sherry finishing shows up on the back of the palate and on the finish, rewarding the drinker with an extended experience unlike any other rye whiskey we tried this year. A special thank you to our friend Kurt from SLB Drinks for gifting us this bottle.
#15 WHISKEY ACRES ARTISAN SERIES BLOODY BUTCHER AND BLUE POPCORN BOURBONS
Whiskey Acres Distilling Co of DeKalb, IL has been churning out great craft whiskey the past few years. We couldn’t agree on which bottle deserved to be on this list. Julie loves the balance of sweetness and spice of the Bloody Butcher Bourbon, while Phil loves the wild movie theater popcorn experience of the Blue Popcorn Bourbon. We love seeing distilleries experiment with unique grains, and Whiskey Acres delivers seed-to-spirit goodness as well as anybody.
#14 ANDALUSIA STRYKER SMOKED SINGLE MALT WHISKEY
Andalusia Stryker is one of those bottles we purchased on a whim that completely took us by surprise. Smoked with oak, mesquite, and apple woods, you might expect this to be uncomfortably smoky, but we were pleasantly surprised by the gentle flavors on this whiskey. For $56, we discovered a well-balanced, fruity, woody delight. This is such an unusual whiskey, and one we love to share. We were fortunate to find this one on the shelf in El Paso, TX, and we hope to find more of this on the shelf as we travel through Texas again in 2025.
#13 RUSSELL’S RESERVE 15 YEARS OLD BOURBON
While this whiskey will no doubt top many lists this year, we didn’t find the experience we were hoping for. At $250, we were surprised by the lack of character on this whiskey. We loved the flavor, the slight bitterness of the aging, and the elongated finish. But we found the spice to be somewhat aggressive. We found a better sipping experience from Russell’s 13 Year Bourbon back in 2023, and that bottle cost $70 less. As much as we’re fans of all things Wild Turkey, we simply didn’t find the value in this one.
#12 BIRD CREEK BARONESSE CASK STRENGTH AMERICAN SINGLE MALT WHISKEY
Distilled in Portland, OR, we’ve been hearing rumblings about Bird Creek for a couple years now. We finally got the opportunity to see what all the fuss was about at Oregon Whiskey Fest. We’re fans of any and all Bird Creek Cask Strength offerings, but the Baronesse bottle is something else. Malty, fruity, and hugely flavorful, this whiskey clings to the palate and provides an amazing sipping experience. From the compass in the bottle topper to the 3D Mt. Adams in the bottom of the glass bottle, this is a distillery that minds the details, something that won’t come as a surprise once you taste their whiskey.
#11 15 STARS PLATINUM BOURBON BATCH 2
Simply put: this is the finest bourbon blend we’ve ever sipped. Well-aged and wildly flavorful, this whiskey feels like velvet on the palate. The oak and brown sugar notes offer one of the most satisfying sips of the year. If it wasn’t for the $280 price tag, this whiskey would likely land in the top 3 on this list. Even so, this whiskey provides an amazing experience for the serious bourbon drinker, and we’ve seen it for less than $250 on the shelf. If you’re a whiskey collector and this bottle suits your budget, it’s a must-try. Our thanks to 15 Stars for providing this whiskey to us this year.
#10 HOLLADAY SOFT RED WHEAT RICKHOUSE PROOF BOURBON
One of the biggest surprises of the year for us. A Missouri bourbon, sold at over 125 proof, aged more than 6 years, selling for $75. We tried this one for the first time during a blind 5 Sip Friday tasting, and we were thrilled. The nose reminded us of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, and the palate was reminiscent of Taylor Barrel Proof Bourbon. We found value, flavor, and great satisfaction in this bottle, and we look forward to exploring more of Holladay’s offerings in the future.
#9 REMUS REPEAL RESERVE BOURBON BATCH VIII
Though Remus Repeal Reserve Bourbon has been a bit hit-or-miss over the years, 2024 marked a return to greatness. Bottled at 101 proof instead of 100, and blended from three very well-aged bourbons, this whiskey showed incredible flavors of brown sugar, vanilla, and rich oak. We purchased this bottle for $120. Even though the price increased by $20 this year, we found great satisfaction from the huge nose, decadent palate, and elongated finish. Remus Repeal Reserve is always worth a try, but this year’s bottle is a buy.
#8 BARDSTOWN COLLABORATIVE SERIES AMRUT WHISKEY
Bardstown Amrut is one of those whiskeys we would never have looked twice at if somebody hadn’t sent us a sample. A $170 blend of rye whiskeys finished in Amrut Indian Single Malt Whisky casks, then blended with bourbon, isn’t the type of thing that interests us on paper. Once we tried a sample though, we were hooked. The price is tricky on this one, but the reward is incredible. This is one of the most well-balanced whiskeys of the year, with a beautiful blend of sweetness and spice, and a satisfying hint of peat on the finish.
#7 STILL AUSTIN BOTTLED IN BOND RYE WHISKEY (SPRING 2024 RELEASE)
Still Austin’s Bottled in Bond Whiskey Series has been a revelation in whiskey. The Blue Corn Bourbon sat near the top of our list last year, and this year, the Straight Rye Whiskey earns a place. Balanced and versatile, we love this whiskey for the decadent note of vanilla buttercream frosting that lasts from nose to finish. Still Austin continues to thrill and surprise our palates, and we’re eager to select our own Single Barrel Selection from this incredible distillery in 2025.
#6 WHISKEY DEL BAC DISTILLER’S CUT SPRING 2024
Whiskey Del Bac’s Distiller’s Cut quarterly releases are quickly becoming must-haves for those in the know. This particular release features their Classic unsmoked American Single Malt, finished in Cognac, PX Sherry, and Rhum Agricole barrels. Secondary finished in Cognac and Calvados barrels before being re-blended, married and bottled at cask strength, this whiskey takes the palate on a delicious journey. Whiskey Del Bac is producing some of the best whiskey in the country, and we’re eager to get back to Tucson in 2025 to see what comes next.
#5 RACONTEUR RYE WHISKEY BATCH #2 “BRAZEN”
Perhaps the most surprising whiskey we tried in 2024 was this delicious 7-year aged MGP rye finished in Mizunara casks. Bottled at barrel proof, “Brazen” is appropriately named. The balance of sweetness and spice, the bold wood profile, and the lengthy finish contribute to one of the finest whiskeys of 2024. Batch 3 is coming soon. Do not sleep on this one. Thanks to Rare Bird 101 for gifting this whiskey to the channel.
#4 CEDAR RIDGE THE QUINTESSENTIAL AMERICAN SINGLE MALT WHISKEY
Murphy Quint and Cedar Ridge Distillery are releasing so many great whiskeys right now, but QuintEssential American Single Malt Whiskey is our absolute favorite. The 92 proof Signature Blend is an incredible tasty offering, selling for a very reasonable $60. Finished in a variety of casks, each batch release is surprising and delicious. Single Barrel and Special Releases are must-buys, as they’re all incredibly unique and delicious. The QuintEssential line of American Single Malt Whiskey might be the most exciting brand in the country.
#3 CORBIN CASH 1917 MERCED RYE BARREL PROOF WHISKEY
Corbin Cash was our first distillery visit of 2024, and while we expected their Merced Rye to drop on this list as the year went on, it never happened. Corbin Cash 1917 Merced Rye Barrel Proof Whiskey is a true grain-to-glass spirit, produced from a very special rye grain. The uniqueness of the grain shows up in the finished product. This delicious rye whiskey surprises on the nose, coats the palate with sweetness, and lasts forever on the finish. Earthy, sweet, and spicy, this whiskey is a wild and thrilling ride from start to finish.
#2 WESTWARD WHISKEY MILESTONE AMERICAN SINGLE MALT WHISKEY SECOND EDITION
Westward Whiskey of Portland, OR is absolutely on fire. Even though this whiskey costs $250 and is incredibly difficult to acquire, we had no choice but to include it near the top of this list. It’s one of the most unique and delicious whiskeys we’ve ever tasted. Master Blender Miles Munroe incorporated exotic woods to amplify the characteristics of their cask finishes – including Stout, Pinot Noir, and Rum. The result is a masterpiece, with each and every sip bringing the palate to new and incredible places. Vintner’s Cuvée, another special release from Westward’s Whiskey Club this year, was a stunning exploration of delicious single malt whiskey featuring stunning wine cask finishing. If you’re a fan of American Single Malt Whiskey, we recommend having a look at Westward’s Whiskey Club. Our thanks to Westward Whiskey for sharing this incredible whiskey with us.
#1 WILD TURKEY JIMMY RUSSELL 70th ANNIVERSARY RELEASE
A true love letter to the bourbon community, Wild Turkey outdid themselves with this release. Blended from Jimmy’s favorite barrels, aged 8 years, and bottled at 101 proof, this bottle was released at an MSRP of $50. Sweet, spicy, balanced, and great from start to finish, this is a prime example of what bourbon should taste like. The reasonable price point makes it that much more special. This is a great way to celebrate a living legend, and cheers to many more special releases for the Russell family.
We’ve said it many times before, but this is an exciting time to be a whiskey drinker. With so many craft distilleries coming of age, rick houses filling up with well-aged whiskey, and American Single Malt finally becoming an official whiskey category, we can’t wait to see what happens in 2025.
Happy New Year!
