Looking for recommendations?
This page is meant to serve as a quick reference for two areas of whiskey—new or recent faves, and perennial faves.
Whose faves? My faves! And perhaps they’ll be yours as well.
Cheers!
NEW & RECENT FAVES
updated 12/13/25
Some of these might be limited releases, others new additions to the standard worldwide whisk(e)y portfolio. All are currently open on my home shelf, and most are currently to be found somewhere somehow.
This list is updated as new bottles land on my personal faves radar. Notes are brief, with a 🔗 to more detailed notes when available.
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Elijah Craig Barrel Proof RYE
When the standard release Elijah Craig Rye came out in 2021 it seemed only a matter of time before Heaven Hill would get to a Barrel Proof edition. That time has finally come. The inaugural batch A925 is all chocolate and spice. Aged an impressive 12 years 3 months, it has both weight and ease to it. I’m a fan. 108 Proof. Heaven Hill Distillery. $80 🔗
Jim Beam Black 8 Year Bourbon – from 2003
I found an old 375ml bottle of Jim Beam Black at a local corner store. Age stated at 8 years, it was bottled in 2003 and distilled in 1995. After cracking it and giving it a taste, I went back to that corner store and bought the other eight bottles they had sitting there. If a bourbon could be the embodiment of a great dive bar, this is it. So much richer and more complex than contemporary Jim Beam Black. I love it. Keep your eyes on those dusty corner store shelves. There are still treasures out there. 86 proof. Jim Beam. $14 (If you can find it!) 🔗
Sagamore 10 Year Cask Strength Rye
I love pretty much everything about this whiskey. The deep fiery red-orange color. The fragrant aromas of rye and oak spice, caramel fudge, cherry and vanilla. How all the spices get drenched by the cherry note on the taste, stirring a rich thick hot chocolate note into the mix. The syrupy texture helping the finish to linger with chocolate, coffee, cherry, the spices… Might need a back-up! 110.8 proof. Sagamore Spirit. $80 🔗
Westward Whiskey Tokaji Cask Finished
Westward crafts dependable flavor-bomb single malt whiskeys, often finished in excellent used casks. In this instance it’s an ex Tokaji cask, a sweet Hungarian wine. The cask brings a bright sweet glint to the darker classic Westward notes of chocolate, coffee, and their signature fruity-nutty barley. Another winner. 90 proof. Westward Whiskey Co. $100
Wild Turkey 101 8 Year (US Release 2025)
Finally! An age-stated Wild Turkey 101 as a standard US release, and at a reasonable price. If this isn’t a sign that the Bourbon Boom has busted, I don’t know what is. Age statements are gradually returning to many big name brands, and few are more welcomed back than this one. It’s been available in Japan for years. Now readily available again in the US, we can enjoy those classic Wild Turkey cherry, caramel, baking spice, and sweet oak notes without having to hop a plane to Tokyo. This will be a staple on my shelf for sure. 101 Proof. Wild Turkey. $45
PERENNIAL FAVES
These are generally readily found (depending on your region) and range in price from bargains to “special occasion” pours. Any of these make a good place to start, or a good standard for the home shelf.
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Campbeltown Loch Blended Malt – Springbank, $80
Eagle Rare Bourbon – Buffalo Trace, $50 🔗
Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon – Heaven Hill, $35 🔗
Four Roses Small Batch Select – Four Roses, $60 🔗
Home Base Bourbon – Home Base Spirits, $60 🔗
Kilchoman Sanaig Single Malt Scotch – Kilchoman, $70-$100 🔗
Laphroaig 10 Year Sherry Oak Finish Single Malt Scotch – Laphroaig, $90 🔗
Maker’s Mark No. 46 Wheated Bourbon – Maker’s Mark, $40
Nikka “From The Barrel” Blended Whisky – Nikka, $75
Old Forester 1920 Bourbon – Old Forester, $60 🔗
Old Forester Rye – Old Forester, $25
Port Charlotte 10 Year Heavily Peated Single Malt Scotch – Bruichladdich, $60. 🔗
Redbreast 12 Year Cask Strength Irish Whiskey – Midleton Distillery, $100 🔗
Rittenhouse Bottled in Bond Rye – Heaven Hill, $30 🔗
Rubicon Rye – Dry Diggings, $80 🔗
Russell’s Reserve 10 Year Bourbon – Wild Turkey, $50 🔗
Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Rye – Wild Turkey, $70 🔗
Uncle Nearest 1856 Tennessee Whisky – Uncle Nearest, $60 🔗
Westward Single Malt Whiskey (literally anything they make) – Westward, $60-$100 🔗
Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon – Wild Turkey, $25 🔗
Willett 4 Year Rye – Willett Distillery, $65 🔗
Woodinville Port Cask Finished Bourbon – Woodinville Whiskey Co., $50 🔗
The Right Spirit 