If you’re new to the whisk(e)y world, you might not realize just how massive it is. In the United States alone, there are over 2,000 distilleries, many of which make bourbon, rye, single malt, and other types of whiskey. So it should come as no surprise that many of these distilleries are constantly dropping new expressions. This doesn’t even include Scotland and its one-hundred-plus distilleries as well as various distilleries in Canada, Ireland, Japan, and all corners of the globe.
Honestly, we’re not here to make you drink anything you don’t want. If you’re all set with your classic Jim Beam White Label or Jack Daniel’s, we’re not going to try to sway you toward something different. But if you’re the type of drinker who craves new, unique, complex, and exciting expressions, you’re in luck.
You might not realize it, but we’re almost done with 2021. Before we know it, we’ll be turning the calendar to 2022. But, before we do, we should all revel in the myriad bourbons, ryes, Scotches, and other whisk(e)ys that dropped this year.
Below, you’ll find twelve of our favorites. In an effort to appeal to all whiskey drinkers, we made sure to add some bourbons, single malt Scotches, blended Scotches, rye whiskeys, and others. Keep reading below to see our choices.
WhistlePig Roadstock Rye
If you’re a fan of rye whiskey, you definitely know all about Vermont’s WhistlePig. Recently, it released its FarmStock Rye and bourbon. But its newest expression is definitely its most unique. WhistlePig RoadStock Rye gets its name because it was finished during a 6,000-mile trip. That’s right, this whiskey, made in collaboration with Jordan Winery and Firestone Walker Brewery, was added to barrels at WhistlePig’s Shoreham, Vermont distillery before traveling in an 18-wheeler “rolling rickhouse” across the country where half was added into Bordeaux blend casks from Jordan Winery in Sonoma’s Alexander Valley before heading back to the east coast.
Laphroaig 10-Year Sherry Oak Finish Single Malt Scotch
If you’ve ever had Laphroaig, you know it’s something completely different. This single malt whisky from Islay off the coast of Scotland is well known for its briny, smoky, and somewhat medicinal flavor. This expression begins as the brand’s iconic 10-year-old offering before being finished in sherry casks. The result is a highly sippable whisky that begins with Laphroaig’s well-known campfire, peaty smoke, and iodine-like flavors that merge with sweet sherry, dried cherries, and mouth-watering caramel candy.
Ezra Brooks 99 Bourbon
This bourbon gets its name because it’s bottled at a highly potent 99 proof. It’s charcoal filtered (similar to well-known Jack Daniel’s) and is distilled with a high-rye mash bill (made up simply of corn, rye, and barley). This results in a supremely smooth (even with the high alcohol content) sipping whiskey with hints of buttery caramel, toasted vanilla beans, chocolate fudge, candied fruits, and just a kiss of cracked black pepper at the finish. It’s the kind of high-proof bourbon that deserves to be savored slowly on a back porch or deck.
Booker’s Donohoe’s Batch Bourbon
If you’re new to bourbon, you might not realize that Jim Beam makes a few well-known brands. One of the best is Booker’s. It’s known for its uncut, unfiltered, high-proof, bold flavor. The best part? Every batch is made up of different barrels and has a different proof. The first of Booker’s 2021 releases was Donohoe’s Batch. Named for a well-known former employee, Donohoe’s Batch is 125.3 proof, and is made up of barrels from two production dates that matured in six different barrel house locations. It was aged for exactly six years, eleven months, and four days and carries bold oak, vanilla, and subtle cinnamon flavors.
Dewar’s Portuguese Smooth Blended Scotch Whisky
Blended isn’t a bad word when it comes to Scotch whisky. What else are you supposed to mix with? Dewar’s Portuguese Smooth Blended Scotch Whisky is the perfect mixer. This 8-year-old blended Scotch whisky was finished in port wine casks. This is the third expression in the Dewar’s cask series and arguably its best. It’s filled with the flavors of dried fruits, sweet honey, vanilla beans, sticky toffee that work perfectly in your favorite cocktail or as a slow sipper in a Glencairn glass.
New Riff Maltster Wheated Bourbon
Wheated bourbon is known for its soft, sweet, approachable flavor. New Riff’s foray into the style definitely lives up to that reputation. For a bit of background, Maltster is New Riff’s project designed to experiment with various malted grains in bourbon recipes. This one is made using three different kinds of wheat, is aged for five years, and is bottled at 100 proof. The result is filled with oak, vanilla, caramel, and raisin-like flavors. This mellow bourbon is perfect for sipping over a single ice cube on a cool, summer or fall evening.
Castle & Key Restoration Rye
This whiskey gets its name because it’s the first whiskey produced, aged, and bottled at Castle & Key, the distillery that opened in the former Old Taylor Distillery back in 2014. Distilled with a mash bill of 63 percent rye, 20 percent malted barley, and only 17 percent corn, this is a spicy, sweet, rich whiskey worthy of the historic space it was created in. This 50.5 percent ABV whiskey has notes of dried cherries, clover honey, caramel, and nice, gentle, peppery rye.
Bluegrass Distillers Bottled in Bond Wheated Bourbon
Lexington, Kentucky-based distillery Bluegrass Distillers dropped its Bottled-In-Bond Wheat Bourbon back in April. This small-batch bourbon has a mash bill of 75 percent corn, 21 percent wheat, and 4 percent malted barley. As bottled-in-bond regulations stipulate, it’s 100 proof. A blend of four barrels that were matured for over four years, it’s filled with brown sugar, sweet cream, buttery caramel, dried fruits, oaky sweetness, and a nice hint of peppery spice.
Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch Bourbon
Evan Williams is a big name in the bourbon world. Well-known as one of the best bargain whiskeys on the market, the brand re-launched its Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch, with a new design and recipe. This small batch whiskey has a mash bill of 78 percent corn, 12 percent malted barley, and 10 percent rye. It’s made up of a blend of barrels between six and eight years old. The result is a rich, mellow, slow-sipping bourbon with hints of caramel corn, honey, and vanilla.
Daviess County Cabernet Barrel Finish bourbon
This is definitely a unique bourbon. It sounds like a gimmick since it’s aged in wine barrels, but it isn’t. Made with a combination of two bourbon mash bills (one wheated and one high-rye), it’s matured in American oak before being finished for six months in cabernet wine casks. The result is a highly nuanced, complex whiskey with notes of dried orange peels, charred oak, dried fruits, fresh leather, and light spice. It’s the kind of whiskey that requires multiple tasting before you find all of the flavors.
Old Forester Single Barrel Rye
Old Forester is well-known for its bourbon prowess. But that shouldn’t make you sleep on this outstanding rye whiskey. This unfiltered single barrel, cask strength rye is bold, spicy, and unforgettable. Its complex palate is highlighted by spicy cinnamon, dried raisins, fresh mint, buttery caramel, and a nice kick of cracked black pepper at the end. It’s a spicy sipper guaranteed to warm you up during the cool (and sometimes downright chilly) evenings ahead.
George Dickel Bourbon
George Dickel and bourbon seem like a strange combination. The brand most known for its Tennessee whiskeys and ryes recently launched a bourbon. The goal was to create something a little different than the usual flavor profile associated with whiskey from the state. This eight-year-old bourbon did just that with notes of vanilla beans, dried cherries, orange peels, and pleasing, nutty sweetness throughout. It’s a great gateway bourbon for Tennessee whiskey drinkers. Best enjoyed neat or on the rocks.
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