The Top 10 Whiskeys of 2022
The Top 10 Whiskeys of 2022
The mad fanaticism over all things whiskey continued unabated in 2022, but with quality like this on the market, it’s hard not to see why. Some of this stuff is so insanely good that we can fully understand the wild price hikes and long lines and lotteries just to win the chance at buying a bottle… though, gulp, I can’t say that anyone on the staff is ready to plunk down four figures for 750ml of whiskey, no matter how good it is. That’s a long way of apologizing for the high prices and extreme rarity of a few of the whiskeys on this list, but with our top 10 whiskeys of the year list, our goal has always been to celebrate the absolute best quality products that hit the market in the last year, even if they do come at an extreme cost. (For more affordable picks, please refer to our holiday shopping guide.)
As always, we’re revealing one whiskey each day over the next 10 days until we hit #1 on Christmas Eve. While you’re preparing for the big reveal, feel free to indulge in some of our previous top 10 whiskey lists: 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, and 2017. You can also search multiple stores at wine-searcher to find the best prices on all these products and more.
That’s all, folks! See you next year!
1. Hardin’s Creek Jacob’s Well Bourbon – Earlier this year, Jim Beam quietly launched a new brand called Hardin’s Creek. It’s a weird idea, helped by Freddie Noe, pushing annual releases that will showcase “the breadth and depth” of Beam’s production skills. Bizarrely, one of these releases, Colonel James B. Beam, was a two year old whiskey that couldn’t have been less interesting at $80. The other, Jacob’s Well, is a whiskey to pay attention to, a powerhouse blend of 15- and 16-year old bourbons that pours on fruit and oak flavors before culminating with the richest notes of chocolate and baking spice we’ve seen in a bourbon for years. How this limited release whiskey has managed to remain available on the market is a mystery – though prices have been creeping up in the last month or so. Still a solid buy even at the new asking price – and our clear #1 for the year. 104 proof. $200 -CN [BUY IT NOW FROM RESERVEBAR] [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]
2. WhistlePig “The Boss Hog IX: Siren’s Song” Rye Whiskey 2022 – We love to celebrate uniqueness with our top 10 whiskeys list, and there’s been nothing more unique this year – or maybe in the last five years – than WhistlePig’s latest special edition rye. Boss Hog IX is finished in two types of Greece-inspired barrels, one containing fig nectar, and one containing a Greek-style liqueur called tentura. The fruit and spice of those barrels, respectively, is impossible to miss here – and equally impossible not to love. Filled with all the flavors of the holiday, its incredibly lengthy palate and finish reminded us of mulled wine, maple syrup, amaretto, and, of course, figs. I haven’t talked more (or revisited more) any other whiskey this year. 106.2 proof (varies). $610 -CN [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]
3. Teeling Single Malt Irish Whiskey Purple Muscat Finish 32 Years Old – The most expensive whiskey (at introduction) on the list this year is this gem from Teeling, which sourced a single barrel of Irish single malt nearly a third of a century old, four of its years spent mellowing in a “purple” Muscat wine cask. Explosive on the tongue, the Muscat wine is redolent, pouring on raisin and floral notes in equal proportion before moving to a more traditional Irish honey, vanilla, and brown butter finish. Impossible to find now, but if you do, it’s a sip to remember for the ages. 107.4 proof. $2100 -CN [BUY IT NOW FROM RESERVEBAR] [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]
4. Yamazaki Limited Edition Tsukuriwake Selection 2022 – Mizunara – Japan’s Yamazaki surprised this holiday season with this collection of four whiskies, each introducing the “foundational pillars” of the company’s single malt production. The pinnacle of those pillars is built around mizunara oak aging, one of the most essential and unique elements of Japanese whiskymaking. All the classic flavors of Yamazaki are here, from floral tea leaf to gentle baking spices, all drenched in perfume notes. Smoldering and soothing and just about perfectly built. Sadly, bottles are selling for well into the four figures. 96 proof. $5000 -CN [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]
5. Heaven Hill Heritage Collection Bourbon 17 Years Old (2022) – Heaven Hill hit it out of the park with the first installment in its new annual release series, a springtime counterpart to the prized Parker’s Heritage line called the Heaven Hill Heritage Collection. With a focus on traditional mashbills and very old age statements, this 17 year old bottling is no spring chicken, and you can taste the intensity and austerity from the get-go. A powerhouse of dark chocolate, molasses, and spiced raisins, it’s got a lengthy finish unlike anything else we tried this year. 118.2 proof. $1000 -CN [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]
6. Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Unforgotten – Gotta love the Russell boys and their devotion to experimentation. This year’s Master’s Keep release is a follow-up to an old and now obscure blend of bourbon and rye called Forgiven, only now it’s extra-aged and higher in proof and priced accordingly. It’s fantastic stuff, showcasing the best of both worlds – gently woody but layered with spice, never overtly grassy or hard-edged, with a delightfully candylike finish. 105 proof. $500 -CN [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]
7. Gold Spot Irish Whiskey 9 Years Old – The “Spot” Irish whiskey line has yet to disappoint, and this year’s release, Gold Spot, earns its place on our list with a brilliant pot still spice character coupled with a well-integrated range of flavors. Aged in four different types of casks (bourbon, port, sherry, and Bordeaux wine), Gold Spot oozes caramel and toasted marshmallow but balances those sweeter notes with baking spices as well as gentle wood tannins. Some apple and raisin fruit arrive soon after, and the crème brûlée finish seals the deal. Gold Spot has a lot going on, but it keeps its flavors distinct and delicious. 102.8 proof. $105 -RL [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]
8. Remus Repeal Reserve VI – Ross & Squibb (nee MGP) did a great job this year of distracting drinkers from their unusual renaming by releasing back-to-back bourbon beauties. It started with this bottle, the sixth edition of Remus Repeal Reserve, which hit shelves in September. The first Repeal Reserve produced under the stewardship of new master distiller Ian Stirsman continued the brand’s tradition of blending several (five in this case) high-rye bourbons to create a final product greater than the sum of its parts. Constructed from comparatively younger stocks (8 to 10 years old) than previous releases, this edition was vibrant and fruit-forward while still showcasing an impressive balance of seasoned oak and dark baking spice that never allowed things to skew too bright or sweet. Apparently, Mr. Stirsman decided to save his older stocks this year for another Gilded Age-inspired stunner, Gatsby Reserve, which very nearly made the cut, as well. 100 proof. $150 – DB [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]
9. Laphroaig Cairdeas Warehouse 1 Edition 2022 – If the 52.5% abv wasn’t enough to dial in a warning of caution, a big blast of phenolic and lemon notes on the nose immediately informs drinkers this Laphroaig is an intense variation that pushes beyond what its core range offers. The smoke here is relentless, with hints of coastal waters, peat, and spice on the palate all attempting to claw their way to the surface. All of the distinctive and signature marks Laphroaig lovers enjoy are present, just amplified. With Laphroaig returning to ex-bourbon casks this year, one would think oak influence would play a significant factor in the entire tasting experience. It doesn’t, and the complexity and intensity on display throughout are all the better for it. 105 proof. $80 -RT [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]
10. M&H Apex Dead Sea – Israel is not a country that one commonly associates with whiskey, and sure enough, M&H (aka Milk & Honey) has to date produced a series of serviceable but not wholly memorable offerings. That changes with Apex Dead Sea, an experimental whiskey aged near the ultra-hot Dead Sea. The whiskey pours on wood and filters it through notes of apricot, banana, and orange peel. Racy at full proof, but always evocative. 112.4 proof. $120 -CN [BUY IT NOW FROM FROOTBAT]
Seriously, stop creating Top 10 lists with thousand dollar + whiskies. Until a few years ago, the idea that any whisky should/could/would cost this much was laughable and frankly, celebrating the current crop of criminally overpriced, sadly overrated products is obscene. Like the cryptocurrency industry and countless tech companies, this website is contributing to an economic bubble that needs to end as soon as possible.
Seriously, stop.
Totally hear you. A debate we have every year, and none of those prices were “on release.” The secondary market is what it is. I know this is no great excuse, but our holiday guide this year is devoted to more affordable bottlings.
We will be launching Drinkcoin next week, however. Too soon?
Don’t worry, your not missing much with the Yamazaki mizunara cask. The reason for the price is because they are running out of it and the casks. Want a mizunara cask that’s amazing for a price thats not based on vanity and the DeBeers business model, try Matsui Mizunara Cask. Runs about $95-120/ btl is available year round in the US and is a wonderfully good sip. Reminds me of Christmas. Or you could try some of the Koji whiskies that are available.
Thank you…this has long since gotten beyond ridiculous.
Thank you!
Todd
Top 10 list of assorted unicorns. Please stop posting these types of stories. They only interest the select few that can even look upon these ultra expensive/rare selections.
I appreciate your list. I travel for work and keep the list to try at nice bars or restaurants if I see them on the list. I was also able to find a Weller SiB last year and ended up trading it for HH17. Everyone doesn’t always get lucky but it’s nice to have a bucket list of solid pours to try and compare.
How hard would it be to do two lists. One for the masses, say less than 150, maybe 200 for a splurge day. Then one for the ones with more money than they know what to do with.
It wouldn’t be hard, and we’re working on doing a “value” list as well, but whether that will be seasonal (top values of 2023) or perennial (top values you can buy right now) we’re still working out. That said, half of the whiskeys on this list do meet your sub-$200 criteria, so there should be something for just about every taste and budget represented on the list.
That said, as I noted in the introduction, our goal with the top 10 is to reward excellence, and while I wish all the whiskeys were affordable — and many have vastly lower MSRPs, of course — we can’t control what the secondary market does. We will keep this all in mind going forward, and thank you for your comment.
A LOT of these spirits are so overated, hyped and priced. People are hording and driving prices even higher. I have found reputable distillers brewing very good bourbons for fractions of what people are paying for. I’m not going to share my list of favorites under $40 because everyone would run out and purchase and the p/p/b would go up. So, stick to YOUR own favorites and keep it to yourself. There’s no problem in getting a pricey bottle to try or to say you have, but quit paying attention “to lists” on any platform.
For all the unhappy readers , there’s several other people who post reviews. Write this down “ if you don’t like what you see close your eyes “ click on a different link because your comments stink! Haters right? I can’t afford the stuff myself but if I ever get the chance to swipe a sip from someone else’s stash I’ll know how much my drop means to my host. Thanks for sharing your experience sir keep doing what you’re doing.
poooo pooo bum weee…$100000000