Effectively people, it’s the second that the majority of you appear to have been ready for. Whiskey evaluations had been once more the most well-liked section of protection right here on Drinkhacker in 2025, and who’re we to maintain you hanging? What did we like greatest — the easiest — of the tons of of whiskeys we tasted over the course of the 12 months? We’re about to inform you.
As at all times, this checklist wasn’t straightforward to supply, as dozens of candidates had been up for dialogue, all worthy of reward and sipping by the discriminating drinker. As we did in 2024, we’ve expanded our protection from the same old high 10 to a high 20. We’ve additionally made a concerted effort to function as many fairly priced merchandise as attainable. Sure, a few unicorns made the lower this 12 months — they had been too good to not embrace — however by and huge we predict you’ll discover the picks right here fairly priced and customarily out there in the marketplace.
The enjoyable begins now and we’ll reveal a couple of bottles every day till we hit our lastly on Friday, December 19, revealing the number one whiskey of the 12 months! Examine again every day for updates, and blissful holidays!
Need extra picks? Take a look at the brand new version of our annual vacation purchasing information. And be happy to peruse our earlier high 10 whiskey lists: 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, and 2017. Bear in mind if we don’t have a direct buy hyperlink, you’ll be able to search a number of shops at wine-searcher to search out one of the best costs on all these merchandise and extra.
Agree, disagree? Love us? Hate us? Pontificate right here or on social and tell us what you suppose! And don’t neglect to subscribe to our publication, too, which digests solely one of the best stuff we style every week. Cheers!
Keep tuned for Numbers 1 by way of 5…
Few years cross with out us praising Booker’s and this fastidiously assembled collection created with enter from a few of his closest mates. This launch stands out instantly at 126.5 proof, a daring expression benefitting from somewhat persistence and a drop or two of water to completely reveal its full hand. As soon as it settles, the palate presents beneficiant layers of fruit, adopted by notes of roasted peanuts and cinnamon crimson hots, and the end brings a energetic dose of baking spice to the forefront. There’s a lot to admire right here: It’s sturdy, layered, and totally dedicated to creating an impression, very similar to Booker himself and his legacy. 126.5 proof. $100 -RT [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof is without doubt one of the extra constantly spectacular, restricted launch bourbons in the marketplace, so it’s no shock that it has made our greatest whiskeys checklist not as soon as however twice, touchdown spots in each 2020 and 2021. It returns for a 3rd time with the January 2025 launch which showcased an uncharacteristically low proof for what is sort of at all times a daring, barrel power whiskey. It could be tame on paper by comparability, however this one delivers in a giant manner. The aroma, burly and leathery at first, evolves to brown butter and citrus with time within the glass whereas the palate is completely sweetened and hits all of the basic bourbon excessive notes from chocolate to chewy caramel to the entire menu of baking spice with a beneficiant clove observe that simmers on an extended and enchanting end. 126.5 proof. $85 -DB [BUY IT NOW FROM RESERVEBAR] [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]
Penelope Bourbon’s Omega launch stands as a excessive level for the model and an attention-grabbing assertion of route. Debuting in 2025 (Batch #25-1801), it includes a Kentucky-distilled mashbill of 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley, aged not less than a decade in American oak earlier than receiving a year-long end in tight-grain French oak casks from Tonnellerie Radoux, chosen by way of the OakScan course of for consistency of character. The aroma presents toasted marshmallow, aged leather-based, dried cherry, and nutmeg whereas the palate shifts into chai spice, black-tea tannin, and toasted marshmallow marked by a firmer char, adopted by darkish brown sugar. Reasonably than merely including one other French oak whiskey to the market, Omega reveals how nicely the strategy can work when each stage — from stave choice to remaining mix — is purposefully executed. It’s an assured, top-tier launch that earns its place among the many 12 months’s best whiskeys. 109.8 proof. $292 -JK [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]
We’ve been followers of Nonetheless Austin for the reason that starting, with its Crimson Corn version incomes a particular place in our hearts. The 5 12 months previous model of this whiskey simply missed out on making the highest 20 checklist final 12 months, maybe overshadowed by Excessive Wire’s Jimmy Crimson Bourbon, which was an actual delight. Now at a 12 months older, Nonetheless’s crimson corn-driven launch could also be even higher, a flavor-filled and wholly cohesive exploration of nut butter, banana bread, spice field, and a few tart citrus mentioning the rear. When this inevitably hits 7 years previous subsequent 12 months, we’d have a stroke. 100 proof. $80 -CN [BUY IT NOW FROM RESERVEBAR] [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]
To have a good time 1 / 4 century of whiskymaking, boutique blender Compass Field gave its followers a really particular version of its much-loved Flaming Coronary heart blended malt. Head whisky wizard James Saxon went heavy on the peat for this commemorative launch, mixing largely Talisker with a couple of particular Islay malts and a singular Benrinnes aged in closely toasted French oak. The result’s one the model’s greatest choices in current reminiscence, showcasing a singular melding of seaside bonfire, toasted marshmallow, and earthy funk on the nostril and a sublime palate of pie spice, barbecue, and cigar ash that lingers on an extended end of coastal smoke, lemon oil, and chocolate. Right here’s hoping we received’t have to attend 25 extra years for an additional one like this. 97.8 proof. $161 -DB
Rounding out the highest 20…
[11-20 reveal to come on December 18]
Extra reporting by Drew Beard, Jacob Kiper, and Rob Theakston.
Visited 633 occasions, 249 go to(s) in the present day
