A Guide to Popular Whiskey Brands
from http://cocktails.about.com/ (now https://www.thespruceeats.com/)
The world of whiskey is filled with a complicated collection of various styles, bottles, ages, and specialties and every bottle is priced differently. It can be difficult to navigate all of the choices available and this guide is designed to help you get started.
In the following page you will find a listing of popular whiskey brands and the general price range you can expect to find them at. It is, by no means, a complete guide to every whiskey available, but should give you a general idea of what to expect.
The whiskies are listed by style (Irish, Scotch, bourbon, Candadian, etc.) and within each are different price points. Many also have links to reviews that we have published on About.com so you can get a better sense of what they taste like.
When choosing whiskey, remember that price will often (not always) reflect quality. The less expensive to mid-range whiskies will be good for your everyday drinking and are probably your best choices for whiskey cocktails. The high-end whiskey is typically reserved for sipping straight, though everyone will have a different opinion based on their own budgets.
A few notes about pricing whiskey:
- All price ranges are an average of what a bottle may sell for at a retailer.
- Whiskey prices do change over time. For instance, a rare or limited bottling may go up in price as the supply dwindles.
- Some bottlings may have similar offerings that will be at a different price. For instance, an 18YO from a brand may also be available as a "Limited Reserve" bottling with a higher price range.
- Climate has a large impact on time needed to age a whiskey. You may notice that some Scotch and Irish whiskies spend 3-5 decades in the barrel, while American whiskies may max out at just around 10 years. It depends on the distiller's desired whiskey within their regional conditions.
- Single malts tend to be higher priced than blended whiskies (especially under the same brand).
- "YO" is an abbreviation for 'Year Old" which indicates how many years the whiskey has aged in a barrel. In the case of some blended whiskies, it may refer to an average of the individual whiskies in the blend or, in rare cases, the oldest whiskey in the blend.
- "NAS" is an abbreviation for "no age statement" and while this is typically not on the label, you will find it in many pricing guides and retailers. Some style of whiskey are not required to indicate an age and some distillers choose not to. Maker's Mark is a good example, as Bill Samuels once told me, "It ages until it's done, which is about 9 years."
- Whiskey is an ever-changing market.
Irish Whiskey Brands
Irish whiskey is generally thought of as one of the smoother styles of whiskey available. No matter the price range, you will find that these whiskies are good either straight, on the rocks, or in a cocktail.
One of the more interesting aspects about Irish whiskey is that all of these brands are produced at one of just three distilleries in Ireland: Bushmills, Cooley, and Midleton. Yet, each brand has their own distinct characteristics.
Around $30 and Under
2 Gingers
Bushmills Original
Feckin
Finian's
Jameson
John L. Sullivan
Kavanagh Single Grain
Kilbeggan
Merry's
Michael Collins Blended
Power and Son
The Knot 100 Proof
Tullamore Dew
$30-40 Range
Black Bush
Clontarf Single Malt
Connemara Peated Single Malt
Glendalough Double Barrel Single Grain
Jameson 1780 12 YO
Kavanagh Single Malt
Knappogue Castle Single Malt 12 YO
Michael Collins Single Malt 10 YO
Slieve Foy Single Malt 8 YO
The Irishman The Original Clan
Tullamore Dew 12 YO
Tyrconnell Single Malt
$50 and Up
Bushmills Single Malt 10 YO
Connemara Cask Strength Peated Single Malt
Glendalough Single Malt 13 YO
Greenore Single Grain 8 YO
Green Spot Pot Still
Jameson 12 YO
Jameson 18 YO
Jameson Gold Reserve
Knappogue Castle Single Malt 12 YO
Powers John's Lane
Red Breast 12 YO
Teeling Single Grain
Teeling Single Malt
The Irishman Single Malt 12 YO
Luxury Over $100
Bushmills 1608
Bushmills 21 YO
Connemara Turf Mor
Greenore Single Grain 18 YO
Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve
Kilbeggan 18 YO
Middleton Very Rare
Scotch Whisky Brands
If you thought that whiskey in general was complicated, allow me to introduce you to the crazy web that is Scotch whisky. Beyond the fact that Scotch is the whiskey without an 'e,' we also have single malt versus blended, regional differences, and many, many limited edition releases to contend with.
Scotch is a complex line-up of whiskies, but they are very fun to explore. Despite this style's reputation as a sophisticated spirit, there are many budget-friendly options available and there is no reason why you should not mix Scotch into cocktails.
Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Around $30 and Under
Bowmore Legend
Deanston 12 YO
Glenfiddich 12 YO
(The) Macallen Select Oak
Speyburn 10 YO
$40-50 Range
Aberlour 10 YO
Ardmore Traditional Cask
Auchentoshan American Oak
Bowmore Small Batch
Glenlivet 12 YO
Highland Park 12 YO
Laphroaig Quarter Cask 10 YO
Macallan Fin Oak 12 YO
(The) Macallan Whisky Maker's Edition
Scapa 14 YO
$60-100 Range
Ardberg 10 YO
Bowmore 16 YO
Bruichladdich 15 YO
Glendronach 12 YO
Glenlivet 18 YO
Haig Club
Highland Park 18 YO
Isle of Jura Prophecy
Laphroaig Cairdeas
Oban 14 YO and Little Bay
Old Pulteney 17 YO
Scapa 16 YO
Luxury Over $100
(The) Balvenie Madeira Cask 17 YO
Glenfarclas 25 YO
Glenfiddich 50 YO
Glen Garioch 1991
Glendronach 1989
(The) Glenrothes 1975
Highland Park 40 YO
Macallan 25 YO
(The) Macallan Estate Reserve
Mortlach - 18 YO, 25 YO, Rare Old
Springbank 15 YO
Blended Scotch Whisky
Around $20
Ballantines Finest
(The) Black Grouse
Cutty Sark
Dewars White Label
Grant's 8 YO
J&B
Johnnie Walker Red Label
Lauder's
$30-40 Range
Chivas Regal 12 YO
Compass Box Orangerie
Compass Box Peat Monster
Famous Grouse 12 YO
Highland Harvest Organic
Johnnie Walker Black Label
Johnnie Walker Double Black
$50-70 Range
Ambassador 25 YO
Buchanan's 18 YO
Chivas Regal 18 YO
Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve
Tomintoul Oloroso 12 YO
$80-100 Range
Compass Box Hedonism
Wild Scotsman
Luxury Over $100
Ballantine's 30 YO
Black Bull 30 YO
Chivas Regal 25 YO
Johnnie Walker Platinum Label
Johnnie Walker Blue Label
Kings Crest 25 YO
The Antiquary 21 YO
Bourbon Whiskey Brands
Bourbon is one of the most popular styles of whiskey and there is a great range of brands available. From budget-friendly brands for everyday mixing to reliable brands that are great in any cocktail, and even those fine, high-end bottlings that are best reserved for sipping straight, there is a bourbon out there for everyone.
Though the majority of these brands are distilled in Kentucky, it is only a requirement by law that bourbon be produced in the United States.
There are some craft distilleries throughout the country who are producing wonderful bourbons as well.
Around $20
Ancient Age
Benchmark
Buffalo Trace
Eagle Rare
Early Times 354
Four Roses Yellow Label
Jim Beam White Label
Jim Beam Devil's Cut
Jim Beam Distiller's Series
Old Forester Signature
Red Stag by Jim Beam (cherry-flavored)
Ten High
Wild Turkey 101
$30-40 Range
Angel's Envy
Baker's 7 year
Basil Hayden's
Blanton's Single Barrel
Bulleit
Four Rose's Single Barrel
Jim Beam Black
Jim Beam Signature Craft
Knob Creek
Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve
Maker's Mark
Maker's 46
Old Rip VanWinkle 15 year
Woodford Reserve
$50-60 Range
Booker's Small Batch
Dry Fly Bourbon 101
Eagle Rare 17 year
Jefferson's Reserve
Michter's 10 year
Noah Mill's 15 year
Old Forester Birthday Bourbon
$70 and Up
AH Hirsch 16 year
Angel's Envy Cask Strength
Longrow Cask 10 year
Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 20 year
Willet 28 year
Woodford Reserve Master's Collection
Tennessee Whiskey Brands
Tennessee whiskey is extremely more limited than any other style because of the distinct "Lincoln County Process" of charcoal filtering. There are only two distilleries in the state of Tennessee that produce this whiskey, George Dickel and Jack Daniel's, though each produces a variety of bottlings.
Under $30
George Dickel No. 8
George Dickel No. 12
George Dickel Cascade Hollow
Jack Daniels Old No. 7 Black Label
Jack Daniel's Tennessee Fire - cinnamon flavored
Over $30
Gentleman Jack
Gentleman Jack Rare Tennessee
George Dickel 14 YO
George Dickel Special Barrel
Jack Daniels Single Barrel
Rye Whiskey Brands
Rye whiskey is a classic style of whiskey that fell out of favor for a number of years, but it is back in full force.
In recent years, the list of rye whiskey brands went from just a few to a growing list of fantastic whiskies that are fun to explore. One of the best things about this rye explosion is that we can taste many of the classic whiskey cocktails the way they were originally made.
Under $30
Bulleit Rye
Old Overholt
Jim Beam Rye
Pikesville Rye
Rittenhouse Rye
Sazerac Kentucky Straight Rye
Wild Turkey Rye
Over $30
Abraham Bowman Rye
Alberta Rye Whisky Dark Batch
Anchor Old Potrero 18th Century Style
Angel's Envy Rye
AH Hirsch 21 YO
Black Maple Hill 23 YO
Charbay R5
High West Double Rye
Knob Creek Rye
Michter's 10 YO
Old Potrero 18th Century Style Rye
(rī)1 Kentucky Straight Rye
Sazerac 18 YO
Templeton Rye
Thomas H. Handy Kentucky Straight Rye
Vintage Rye 21 YO
WhistlePig 100-100 Straight Rye
Woodford Reserve Rye
Yellow Rose Straight Rye
Canadian Whisky Brands
Typically thought of as smooth and cheap, the blended Canadian whiskies are a quiet, often looked over bunch of spirits. While a number of the bottlings available do fall into these two stereotypes, there are some very nice Canadian whiskies on the market.
Most brands of this style of whiskey have a vast range that includes their affordable and reliable label, which is perfect for almost any cocktail.
Then, that same brand will release special, high-end editions on a regular or rotating basis and these are the whiskies that you really want to look for because they are often spectacular.
$20 and Under
Canadian Club Reserve
Canadian Club Classic 12 YO
Canadian Mist
Canadian Mist Black Diamond
Collingwood Select
Black Velvet
Forty Creek Barrel Select
Mountain Rock
Pendelton
Seagrams VO
Windsor Canadian
$30-40 Range
8 Seconds
Canadian Club Sherry Cask 8 YO
Crown Royal
Forty Creek Three Grain
Tangle Ridge Double Cask
Seagrams VO
Wisers Deluxe 18 YO
$50 and Up
Crown Royal Special Reserve
Glen Breton Rare Single Malt
Luxury Over $100
Canadian Club 30 YO
Crown Royal XR
J.P. Wiser's Red Letter
More Whiskey Brands
North America, Scotland, and Ireland may be the best known and highly regarded locations for whiskey production, but whiskey can be made anywhere in the world. There are also a growing number of American craft distilleries that produce whiskey that rivals anything found within the defined styles.
Around $20
Bain's Cape Mountain Whiskey (South Africa)
House Spirits White Dog (United States)
Derevenski Samogon Single Rye Pot Still (France)
Three Ships Select (South Africa)
$30-40 Range
Bastille 1789 Blended (France)
Dry Fly Straight Whiskey (United States)
Dry Fly Washington Wheat Whiskey (United States)
House Spirits Cask Strength (United States)
(The) One Deluxe Blend (United Kingdom)
P&M Blended and Single Malt (France)
Three Ships Single Malt 5 YO (South Africa)
Yamazaki 12 YO (Japan)
Over $50
Adnams Single Malt (United Kingdom)
Amrut Single Malt (India)
Armorik Classic (France)
English Whisky Co. Classic Single Malt (United Kingdom)
Kavalan Single Malt (Taiwan)
King Car Single Malt (Taiwan)
New Zealand Whisky Collection (New Zealand)
Sullivans Cove Single Malt (Australia)
Three Ships Single Malt 10 YO (South Africa)
Yamazaki 18 YO (Japan)
