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 5/2/26
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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Ardnamurchan 10 Year (2025)
Well now. I’d tried Ardnamurchan’s excellent affordable blend, MacLean’s Nose, and quite liked its easygoing maritime character. I’d eyed several other Ardnamurchan releases over the past few years, most aged around 5 years or so. And I’ve been listening to Roy of Aqvavitae evangelize about the distillery for quite some time. So when I picked up this 2025 10 Year release, it was about dang time. And what an introduction! I’d rank this right up there with Springbank for balance and complexity, and actually give it extra points for its slightly grittier character that nevertheless presents no jagged edges. This is one I’d be glad to make a permanent fixture on my home shelf. 93.6 proof. Ardnamurchan. $95 🔗
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof RYE (Fall 2025)
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 🔗
Laphroaig Càirdeas “Cask Favorites” Aged 10 Years (2024)
I’m on my second bottle of this stuff. Laphroaig’s wildly medicinal peat is tamed here by the sweetness of sherry cask aging. Aged an even 10 years, it offers the brightness of youth grounded by maturity. And bottled at a very approachable cask strength, the flavors are allowed their full robust range of smoky fruity goodness. 104.8 proof. Laphroaig Distillery. ~$100
Maclean’s Nose Blended Scotch Whisky
Ardnamurchan Distillery is doing its part to make blended scotch whisky cool again. Their very affordable Maclean’s Nose is made up of 70% malt and 30% grain whisky, and could very well pass for a ~5-year single malt. On a thick foundation of complex vanilla, the blend layers on maritime salt and sandy notes, peach, beach wood, and subtle smoke. It’s delightful neat, and makes an excellent base for a Penicillin or other scotch cocktail. 92 proof. Ardnamurchan Distillery. $35
Westward PX Sherry Cask Finished (2026)
I’m a big ol’ Westward fan. Their standard single malt release is a celebration of fruity and nutty barley. It takes to cask finishings very well. And the Westward folks know their way around cask finishing, never overwhelming the original whiskey with it but rather teasing out more of what’s already there. Some sherry-finished scotch and Japanese whiskies can be such sherry bombs, I’m left wondering why I didn’t save some money and just buy a bottle of sherry. So I was curious what Westward would do with PX Sherry casks, so ubiquitously used in scotch. Sure enough, this release is beautifully balanced. The PX sherry pulls forward the Westward barley’s own fruitiness, darkening it, without converting it to straight-up sherry. I predict this bottle will go fast! 100 Proof. Westward Whiskey Co. $100 🔗
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 🔗
Maclean’s Nose Blended Scotch Whisky – Ardnamurchan Distillery, $35
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 🔗
Woodinville Port Cask Finished Bourbon – Woodinville Whiskey Co., $50 🔗
The Right Spirit 