These are the 50 best whiskeys of 2020. These expressions include the best Bourbon, best Rye Whiskey, best Single Malt Scotch, and more. Today we join together in harmony to pay tribute to the finest expressions of whiskey you can find anywhere in 2020. We are taking a look at the best Bourbon, Single Malt Scotch Whiskey, Rye, and Irish Whiskey.
And what makes this a particularly special roundup of 2020’s best whiskey (of every type) is you can be the proud owner of any of these bottles by following the links below. Since we’re living in a time where shopping at home is the new normal I thought I’d save you all some time and energy and put together my collection of the best whiskey you can buy online right now.
I have broken down each section of whiskey into five bottles at a time. I’ve mostly sorted them out into the best Bourbon, Best Rye Whiskey, Best Irish Whiskey, and the Best Single Malt Scotch Whiskey that money can buy but there are a few exceptions below. Many of these whiskey expressions have descriptions below but not all of them. My goal isn’t to get too caught up in setting up this article because you already know why you’re here: to appreciate 2020’s best whiskey, the 50 best bottles of whiskey you can buy online right now. So let’s dive into it.
Best Whiskey Of 2020: Bourbon
I couldn’t put together a list of the best whiskey on the planet without including Bookers Batch Bourbon. Their annual ‘batch’ releases are the highlights of my year and Teresa’s Batch has been divine. The latest expression has a dark amber color and carries flavor notes of vanilla, nuts, and oak.
The Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Revival came out a while back and I still have a few remaining pours on my shelf that I’m saving for a special tasting because this is one of the finest bottles released. The 291 Colorado Bourbon Whiskey is a unique expression that comes from the Rocky Mountains and their entire portfolio is amongst the most award-winning whiskeys out there so definitely check those out as well. And the Little Book Chapter 3! what could I say other than it’s utter perfection.
[1] Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Revival [Price May Vary]
[2] Booker’s Batch Bourbon [$79]
[3] 291 Colorado Bourbon Whiskey [$79]
[4] Little Book Bourbon Chapter 3 “The Road Home” [$99-$300]
[5] Basil Hayden’s 10 Year Bourbon [$80]
Best Whiskey Of 2020: Best Rye
The Caribbean Reserve Rye is well balanced between vanilla, caramel, and brown sugar on the nose and it’s sweet but robust on the tongue. This is a blend 8-year-old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, 4-year-old Canadian Rye, and it’s finished by adding Black Strap Rum.
The Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Cornerstone Rye is hard to find but it just might change your life forever and I sincerely mean that because it’s that good. The Heaven’s Door Straight Rye Whiskey has been my go-to bottle over the past six or so months and I don’t know what took me so long to start sipping this regularly because it’s one of the smoothest expressions around.
[1] Basil Hayden’s Caribbean Rye Whiskey [$47]
[2] Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Cornerstone Rye [Hard to Find]
[3] Knob Creek Twice Barreled Rye [$45]
[4] Angels Envy Rum Cask Rye [$99]
[5] Heavens Door Straight Rye Whiskey [$80]
Best Whiskey Of 2020: Best Single Malt Scotch Whiskey
Highland Park produces some of the finest Single Malt expressions around. When someone asks me what to get someone as a gift I often point them in this direction. I wasn’t quite sure which expression to choose for this roundup because they’re all so good but the beauty with HP is you can’t choose wrongly because they’re all amazing.
Laphroaig is a strong Islay Single Malt. I’ve included their Lore and Cask Strength here. These are two of my favorite Single Malts that money can buy and if you appreciate strong wood flavors that open up with each sip you’re going to absolutely love Laphroaig.
[1] Highland Park 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky [$150]
[2] The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old [$68]
[3] Laphroaig Lore Islay Single Malt Scotch Whiskey [$137]
[4] Lagavulin 16 Year [$120]
[5] Laphroaig Cask Strength Islay Single Malt Scotch Whiskey 10 Year [$75]
Best Whiskey Of 2020: Affordable Bourbon
The Four Roses Small Batch Select Bourbon mixes six recipes, each aged a minimum of 6 years. This expression launched in select states across America in 2019 but has moved into new markets (online as well) in 2020 and you can find this across America now. 100% check this one out.
The Knob Creek Quarter Oak Straight Bourbon is crafted in a pre-prohibition style that I’ve come to know and appreciate from Knob Creek. This expression is an excellent pickup. At just $28, it’s hard to top the Bulleit Bourbon, I’ll leave it at that.
[1] High West American Prairie Bourbon Whiskey [$40]
[2] Angel’s Envy Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey [$56+]
[3] Knob Creek Quarter Oak Straight Bourbon [$57]
[4] Bulleit Bourbon Frontier Whiskey [$28+]
[5] Four Roses Small Batch Select Bourbon [$80]
Best Whiskey Of 2020: Best Of The Rest
I’ve been absolutely adoring the Teeling Single Grain Irish Whiskey for a few months now. This bottle sits on my shelf and I’ve recently been sipping it on my nightly walks with the dog. The Redbreast 21-Year-Old is an expression I’ve only ever sipped in Dublin where I ordered a single pour with a friend when we were there a little while back and it was beyond comparison.
[1] Powers Signature Release Whiskey [$55]
[2] Talisker 10 Year [$65]
[3] Teeling Single Grain Irish Whiskey [$55]
[4] Redbreast 21 Year [$321]
[5] Talisker Storm [$85]
Best Whiskey Of 2020: Interesting Bourbons
This is a collection of some of my favorite interesting Bourbons. I say interesting because you can sip them neat or mix these into cocktails that will blow people away. I don’t know how much entertaining will be done in the near future but it’s nice to have some incredible options at home like the Widow Jane 10 Year Straight Bourbon or the top-shelf Basil Hayden’s 10 Year Bourbon.
[1] Basil Hayden’s 10 Year Bourbon [$80]
[2] Michter’s US-1 Bourbon [$45]
[3] Russell’s Reserve 10 Year Old Bourbon [$32]
[4] Widow Jane 10 Year Straight Bourbon [$70]
[5] Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon [$60]
Best Whiskey Of 2020: Top Rye Whiskey
Here we see several of my favorite Rye expressions. By law, an official ‘Rye Whiskey’ must be made from a mash of at least 51% Rye and all of these qualify. The Knob Creek Rye Whiskey is a fantastic sipping or mixing rye and the Basil Hayden’s Dark Rye Whiskey which has been on my bar shelf since the month it came out. I love this Dark Rye which carries a finish of lingering fruit and has a complex taste of caramel, oak, spice, and dried fruit.
Whistle Pig and Willett are two expressions that if you can find them available online in your area they are so special you should 100% pick these bottles up and save them for special occasions.
[1] Knob Creek Rye Whiskey [$28]
[2] Basil Hayden’s Dark Rye Whiskey [$39]
[3] George Dickel Rye Whisky [$28]
[4] Whistle Pig 15 Year Rye Whiskey [$210]
[5] Willett Family Estate Bottled Rye 4 Year [Price Varies]
Best Whiskey Of 2020: Unique Bourbon Expressions
Some of these Bourbons you might know and recognize, others you might be interested in sampling. I’ve tasted all of these and gifted some out as Christmas presents in the past. These are all excellent expressions with the Four Roses Single Barrel and Jefferson’s Ocean Aged at Sea Bourbon really moving the needle for me.
[1] Jefferson’s Ocean Aged at Sea Bourbon [Prices Vary]
[2] Pinhook Bourbon: Bourbon Country [$40]
[3] George Dickel No. 8 Whiskey [$21]
[4] E.H. Taylor, Jr. Single Barrel Bourbon [Availability Varies]
[5] Four Roses Single Barrel [$45]
Best Whiskey Of 2020: Best Single Malt Scotch Whiskey
At just $50, the The Glenrothes 12 Year Old Single Malt is a complete steal. This complex Single Malt is amongst my favorite 12-year-old expressions on the planet. The Glenrothes collection is solid from top to bottom and if you’re looking for a place to start drinking your way through their portfolio this is the perfect launching pad.
[1] The Glenrothes 12 Year Old Single Malt [$50]
[2] The Dalmore 12 Year [$65]
[3] Glenfiddich Single Malt IPA Cask Edition [$50]
[4] The Macallan Rare Cask [$300]
[5] Caol Ila 12 Year Single Malt Scotch [$70]
Best Whiskey Of 2020: Some More Personal Favorites
I picked up the George Dickel Barrel Select on a road trip through Tennessee at one point and it was a game changer for me. I couldn’t put this list together without including it. And the 291 Colorado Whiskey is new to my bottle collection but it’s already amongst my favorite unique expressions that I’ve come across in the past year.
[1] Bulleit Bourbon 10 Year [$43]
[2] Black Maple Hill Oregon Bourbon Whiskey [$99]
[3] Craigellachie® 13 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky [$60]
[4] 291 Colorado Whiskey [Prices Vary]
[5] George Dickel Barrel Select [Prices Vary]
That wraps up my coverage of the best Whiskey out there right now but if you want to take a step back and look at the Best Whiskeys Of 2019 and pick up one of those bottles then click that link and thank me later!
Cass is a partner at BroBible and he’s been found here for the better part of a decade. He’s based out of Florida and you can contact him on Twitter at @casspa or via email cass@brobible.com
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