COVID-19 or not, the whiskey boom rolls on. These are the best new bottles of brown to seek out this year.
This story is part of our end-of-year series This Year in Gear rounding up the most notable releases of 2020. For more stories like this, click here.
The year is more than three-quarters over and, despite an actual pandemic, the American whiskey boom hasn’t slowed. Big and small, producers are releasing great whiskeys on a weekly basis. These are the 15 best I’ve had so far.
Presented by Oak & Eden
If you have yet to try a bourbon that swaps rye for wheat in its mashbill, you're missing out. It's an entirely different drinking experience from a traditional bourbon, which typically makes use of rye for a spicy note. Oak & Eden's Wheat & Spire offers a healthy dose of non-GMO wheat to its mashbill, providing a pleasant sweetness and creaminess to the palette. It's also quite unique in the fact that it's finished with a fired French oak spire added to the bottle, which layers in silky botanicals to the whisky.
Price: $40+
SHOP NOW
Weller Single Barrel is the brand’s Goldilocks expression. It’s proof is high (97) but manageable, and you get more vanilla-y wood characteristic than you do with Antique 107 or Special Reserve. It’s impossible to say how much it’ll be available for at stores, but it’ll certainly go for more than its $50 asking price for the Weller name alone. Buffalo Trace Distillery said bottles will ship to stores in June.
LEARN MORE
Jim Beam Distillery’s Knob Creek line was in the news recently for bringing a 9- and 12-year age statement bourbon back to its permanent lineup, a sure sign of supply creeping up on the outrageous demand of the bourbon boom. And while the 12-year is also excellent, the 9-year, 100 proof roughly $35 bourbon is immediately one of the best values on the shelf. It’s rich, peanuty and priced at a point where you can mix it, drink on the rocks or sip neat.
LEARN MORE | SHOP NOW
Less than a decade ago, Maker's was firm in its belief that its solitary classic expression was enough. Today, bourbon drinkers are glad the brand had a change a heart. The result of select wood staves maturing in the barrel with the whiskey, this whiskey was designed in a lab to be a vanilla bomb. The second of Maker's Mark's new annual limited edition release landed on shelves in September and is available for about $60.
"The guy who designed Nike's Air Force Ones, a former Facebook director and a bourbon legend walk into a bar..." sounds like the beginning of a bad joke. Blue Run Spirits first expression — a 13-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon bottled at 113 proof — is no joke. Crafted by Jim Rutledge, whose 50-plus-year experience blending, distilling and managing Four Roses is nearly unrivaled, Blue Run's bourbon has all the flavor of high-proof bourbon without the usual sting. How? No clue; it tastes like vanilla cream pie, cinnamon and mint. It is exceptional whiskey, but it's also only available in Kentucky and Georgia for the time being.
Learn More
Classic, 94 proof Elijah Craig Small Batch, but finished in a toasted barrel. Don't know what a toasted barrel is? Read this. I'm not exaggerating when I say the whiskey tastes like a slightly burnt marshmallow drizzled in honey. Heaven Hill collaborated with the coopers at Independent Stave Company to create a new barrel to dump fully matured Small Batch whiskey into. Available in September in limited quantities.
Sweetens Cove is a new spirits brand and its first product is a 13-year-old bourbon blended by Marianne Eaves, a former taster at Brown-Forman (the company that owns Old Forester, Jack Daniel’s, Woodford Reserve and others). And while the company has received more press on its founding members (Andy Roddick, some of the Mannings and Jim Nantz among them), it's the whiskey that does the talking. It's heavy on vanilla, peanuts and baking spices on the nose and tastes like a peanut butter and banana sandwich in a glass.
Hopes were tempered when I first heard of a whiskey brand launched by sneakerheads, but Wolves' whiskey blending and sourcing partnership with Charbay Distillery has proven fruitful three releases straight. The Wally Blend – a mix of 8-year-old whiskey distilled from stout beer and aged in French oak, 5-year-old whiskey distilled from pilsner beer and aged in new charred American oak, 9-year-old single malt whiskey aged in second-use French oak and MGP rye whiskey – tastes as different as it sounds. Spicy on the fore, malty in the middle and syrupy sweet vanilla-flavored on the backend.
A beefier version of a favored budget wheater from Heaven Hill was always going to be good. New to 2020, the distillery says it plans to release three batches a year at $50. Drink it with an ice cube.
What entered barrels at 107 proof 16 years ago comes out below 90 proof and spicy as hell. It's smoky, it's hot and it reeks of old school Wild Turkey (you know, the bottles that sell for thousands now). Unfortunately it'll run you $250 to buy a bottle, if you even find it.
If they’re not the best, Sagamore Spirit are among the very best at barrel finishing whiskey. The brand’s cognac-finished and port-finished ryes have raked in awards, and I fully expect the calvados-finished to follow. It’s a mix of four and five year old ryes that spend almost a year in ex-calvados barrels, a brandy made from apples or pears. The result is a lively, spicy rye flavor with a mellow, sweet backbone. It’s dessert whiskey.
It’s not necessarily new whiskey, but it’s new to most people. The relatively young Danville, Kentucky operation is finally expanding broadly outside its homestate, and its straight bourbon is only getting better with age. This year’s bottles are six years old and serve as proof that good bourbon isn’t reserved for the macro distillers.
Long synonymous with ultra-spicy and affordable ryes, Bulleit is steering into the premium market now. Blender’s select is a new limited offering made with more than 10 whiskeys, all aged for at least 9 years. Somewhat surprisingly, it’s an excellent pour, and shows the brand can create bourbons with some finesse just as well as it does fiery rye bombs.
Last year’s was the second release of Woodford’s full strength, annually released bourbon and it earned itself a top 10 ranking in Whisky Advocate’s best of the year. This year’s, IMO at least, is better. Opening a sample flooded my kitchen with the smell of banana pudding and vanilla wafers, and the taste followed through on that promise. Because it’s available in limited quantities and priced at a stout $130 retail, it’s best-suited for Woodford completionists.
First of all, I know the image is not Batch A120. Don’t email me about it. Secondly, while I’m aware it’s redundant to say Elijah Craig’s Barrel Proof bottlings are the most underrated bourbons on the shelf, it bears repeating: this is 12-year-old bourbon dumped at full strength that can be had anywhere for about $60 to $70. It has won every award that matters, and 2020’s first batch, A120, will win more. Like Tiger Woods in the early aughts or Lebron James for the last 15 years, its greatness is so regular we’re numbed to it. Buy a bottle and remind yourself.
Available summer 2020, Blanton’s Gold isn’t technically new whiskey, but it’s new to most. Blanton’s has a long history overseas and distributes a number of bottles to international markets exclusively. Until this year, Gold was a part of that groups, along with Straight From the Barrel, Special Reserve and others. Gold is aged slightly longer than regular Blanton’s and proofed higher as well. The result is a fattier, deeper bourbon.
$70 OFF (13%)
The V10 used to be Dyson's top-tier stick vacuum, but it was eventually replaced by the slightly more powerful (and much more expensive) V11. This makes the V10 a great value, as it's usually $150 less than the V11. Thanks to this sale, it's even a better value than the V11 right now.
READ OUR GUIDE TO DYSON VACUUMS
$329 OFF W/ CODE SALE30 (83%)
The CPO jacket is a classic silhouette that never goes out of style. Todd Snyder upgraded this one with premium a cotton-linen Herringbone that will break in and only get better over time.
READ ABOUT THE BEST STYLE DEALS RIGHT NOW
$125 OFF (56%)
All-Clad's big factory seconds sale is on, which means there's no better time to buy factory seconds from the superior cookware brand. Like this Copper Core 10-inch Fry Pan, which is a big-time upgrade for your kitchen that you can score for just a Benjamin.
READ WHAT MAKES ALL-CLAD COOKWARE BETTER
$974 OFF (15%)
Is anything left to be said about the Eames chair? This is one of the most iconic pieces of furniture to come out of the 20th century and is a must-have for any furniture aficionados (if you can afford it).
READ ABOUT THE MOST IMPORTANT MID-CENTURY PIECES TO KNOW
$62 OFF (38%)
These are loaded with some of Nike's best features, including React outsoles for ultimate efficiency on the road and Flyknit uppers for a lightweight, sock-like feel.
READ ABOUT THE BEST FACE MASKS FOR RUNNING
$58 OFF (40%)
Colorblocking is in and we love the color combo on this half-zip fleece. Plus you get pockets to keep your hands warm, which isn't a common feature on a fleece like this.
READ ABOUT SOME OF OUR FAVORITE FLEECE
$98 OFF (50%)
Using half bison fiber and half wool, the Bison Ultralight weighs less than a pound and offers extremely well insulation. It also sports a recycled ripstop shell with a PFC-free DWR coating and compactly folds into its own pocket. At half off, this is a steal. READ OUR DOWN JACKETS GUIDE
$2 OFF (11%)
Get started on spring cleaning a little early and organize your home with these HDX Storage Bins. They're tough, stackable, and dang cheap.
READ ABOUT ONE OF OUR FAVORITE NEW STORAGE SOLUTIONS
$39 OFF (50%)
Four-way stretch, seamless construction, and extreme breathability make this our pick for the best premium workout shirt. It is simple, and simply good.
READ MORE ABOUT OUR FAVORITE WORKOUT SHIRTS
$36 OFF (25%)
This collab between Outdoor Voices and Hoka One One pairs an award-winning running shoe with OV's sharp eye for design to make a shoe that looks as good as it feels.
READ OUR TAKE ON WHAT RUNNING GEAR IS WORTH THE MONEY
$66 OFF (35%)
Not only is this one of the most versatile packs around, it eschews some of the "ugly" features on a standard outdoor pack for a look that is actually super stylish. We welcome an outdoor pack that values both style and function.
READ ABOUT OUR FAVORITE BAGS OF 2020
$80 OFF (50%)
Perfect for winter, these boots are made with fully waterproof leather and vulcanized rubber, keeping you dry whether you're sloshing through snow on the way to work, doing work in the yard, or going out for a hunt.
READ HOW TO WINTERIZE YOUR BOOTS
$34 OFF (50%)
Everlane does basics extremely well — it's kind of Everlane's thing. The brand's 18-wale corduroy fabric shirt is a great option for the winter months and at half off you truly cannot beat it.READ OUR GUIDE TO CORDUROY SHIRTS
$11 OFF (24%)
Hydro Flask really needs no introduction at this point, so when you can get a 32-ounce wide mouth with its Temp-Shield insulation at 25 percent off, you do it.
READ ABOUT THE BEST WATER BOTTLES AROUND
$30 OFF (17%)
The complete package, this sound bar connects via Bluetooth, has its own subwoofer and passive radiators, is wall-mountable, and can connect via HDMI, optical or AUX connections.
READ ABOUT THE BEST AUDIO PRODUCTS FROM 2020
$15 OFF (25%)
Carhartt is everywhere right now, with good reason. The brand's hardy garments are the epitome of workwear, this shirt jacket included. Flannel speaks for itself, but additional hand pockets and fleece lining round out this wardrobe staple.
READ ABOUT THE NEW WORKWEAR
$71 OFF w/ CODE EXTRA20 (60%)
This chronograph re-issue of Timex's original military-style watch has an aluminum 40mm case that provides strength without the weight. If you're looking for a daily knock around with chronograph features, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better deal.
READ OUR GUIDE TO TIMEX WATCHES
$4 OFF MONTHLY COST (66%)
If you're a student, there's never been a better time to get a Hulu subscription. The discount also doesn't expire — it lasts as long as you're enrolled as a student.
READ ABOUT THE BEST TV'S OF CES 2021
$10 OFF W/ PURCHASE OF 2 MASKS (33%)
If you are working out a lot, you're going to need more than one mask. Under Armour has created one of the best sports-specific masks and right now if you buy two you get a great deal.
READ ABOUT THE BEST MASKS FOR RUNNING
$76 OFF W/ CODE SALE30 (55%)
Todd Snyder's collaborations with Timex always hit. Paired with a vintage military-inspired band, this bullseye design is straight from the Timex archives.
READ THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO MILITARY WATCHES
$50 OFF W/ CODE FRESH20 (33%)
Whether you want to move some of your most frequently used herbs indoors or don't have space outside for a garden, the AeroGarden Harvest is a perfect solution, with clearance for up to a foot of growth and room for 6 plants that grow five times faster than soil.
READ ABOUT THE BEST HOME PRODUCTS OF 2020
$54 OFF (30%)
Adidas used sustainable Parley Primeblue material to make its Primeknit upper even better, then combined it with Boost midsoles to make the ultimate earth-conscious workout shoe.
READ ABOUT THE BEST RUNNING SHOES OF WINTER
$15 OFF (27%)
This plant-based protein is keto-friendly and supports healthy recovery post-workout. The perfect companion to a 2021 fitness resolution.
READ OUR MOST SHOPPED FITNESS GUIDES OF 2020
$50 OFF (42%)
The Jabra Elite Active 65t are sports-focused headphones (IP56) with great sound quality for listening to music and taking calls. Also compatible with Siri, Alexa or Google Assistant, this is one of our top picks for sports-focused earbuds.
READ MORE ABOUT WIRELESS EARBUDS