The best whiskey
Our selection of the best whiskeys
Whiskey is one of the most appreciated and consumed beverages around the world. It is full of nuances, flavors and aromas, and its preparation is a complete tradition, with combinations and recipes that have been passed down from father to son for many generations. If you are a lover of good whiskey, sit down and enjoy this selection of the best spirits.
1. Laphroaig 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch
Laphroaig is considered by many fans to be one of the best whiskeys of 2022. It is a different Scotch whisky, with a very strong personality, thanks to its smoky aromas and flavors.
Aged 10 years in barrels used to make Bourbon, it is a single malt whiskey, with notes of wet earth, vanilla, honey and a bitter final touch, in which the flavors of smoke and the personal aroma of peat smoke, pepper black and, above all, the sea air.
Distilled on Islay, an island to the west of Scotland, it is a single malt highly appreciated by whiskey lovers. Water from the Kilbride Dam River is used for its distillation and it is made with the same techniques that were used in 1800, when the distillery was opened, that is why it has its light golden color and its so different flavor.
2. Lagavulin 16 Year Old Scotch Whiskey
Lagavulin is one of the world’s most recognized whiskey brands. From its distilleries on the island of Islay, one of the whiskeys with the most flavor and personality comes out, made with pure malt, it is rich and intense, ideal for those quiet evenings at home or with friends.
It has a unique and intense flavor, between sweet and salty, with a final touch of smoked peat. If you have to give a gift and you are wondering what whiskey to buy, with this you will never fail. It is an intense malt, thanks to its 16-year maturation in oak barrels, which give it an intense, dry smoke flavor with a lot of character. Like all Islay smoked whiskies, they have a final aroma reminiscent of the sea and the sea breeze.
Best enjoyed in a tall glass, with a little still water, or on its own.
3. Johnnie Walker Black Scotch Whiskey
Johnnie Walker is considered by many to be the best whiskey brand of all time. Its square bottle is unmistakable and its malts are recognized and appreciated throughout the world. Unlike other brands, Johnnie Walker does not distill its own whiskeys, but rather they are the result of the mixture of other malts.
The result is a balanced whisky, combining intense flavors to create a unique and highly rewarding experience. The best master blenders are involved in its production and 30 of the best malt and grain whiskeys from across Scotland are used, all aged for over 30 years.
Black Label is one of the most appreciated, with a slightly smoky flavor thanks to the black fruits and spicy vanilla. On the nose it has notes of orange peel, spices and raisins and, on the palate, it has a very intense final aftertaste of peat and smoke.
4. Talisker 10 Scotch Whiskey
Talisker could be the best whiskey of the moment, distilled since 1830 on the Scottish island of Skye, it has a marked marine character, with an intense and complex flavor, typical of whiskeys made on the islands. On the nose it has notes of sea salt, peat and smoke, with a final touch of black pepper.
It is an unmistakable whiskey, with a sweet and spicy flavor thanks to the nuts, pepper and malt. Like all whiskeys from the islands, it has a final smoky touch, which makes it a highly appreciated drink for its dry and personal taste. It is a classic drink, awarded the gold medal at the World Whiskey Awards in 2018.
It can be enjoyed neat, appreciating the notes of the sea and the pure malt, with ice, with a little still water or with a hot chocolate.
5. Japanese Whiskey Nikka From The Barrel
Nikka Japanese whiskey might be the best value for money whisky. It is a “blended”, that is to say that it is made with the mixture of some of the best liquors. Masataka Taketsuru, founder of the Nikka Distillery traveled to Scotland where he learned the trade of whiskey blender.
It has a smooth flavor, reminiscent of the best bourbons and that allows you to enjoy it without adding a drop of water. On the palate it is elegant, although hard, with a dry and warm background, although soft on the palate, thanks to its mixture of single malt and grain whiskeys from the Yoichi and Miyagikyo distilleries.
It is a different whiskey, very rich in nuances and with a presentation that exudes Japanese spirit, with a bottle that looks like a perfume bottle.
6. Jack Daniels Single Barrel Whiskey
If you are wondering which is the best whisky, Jack Daniels is always a good option. Although the brand is known for its bourbon, this time it presents a Tennessee whiskey, a very different liquor from the one made in Scotland, but just as interesting.
It is made with spring water following the traditional method that Jack Daniels has been using since 1866 and which gives its drinks a very mild flavor, thanks to a unique drop-by-drop filtering process using saccharin maple charcoal. Each batch comes from the same barrel, reinforcing its quality.
Every batch is different, as every barrel is too; both because of its chemical composition and because of its place in the storage area. The result is a pure whisky, with aromas of spices, caramel and toasted oak, perfect for sipping neat.
7. Jameson Original Irish Whiskey
Among the cheapest, this might be the best whisky. Through a triple artisanal distillation process, this whiskey obtains a smooth and balanced flavor, which makes it a very suitable liquor for mixtures and combinations, especially with Ginger Ale.
It is a unique blend, which passes through centuries-old stills and is aged in oak barrels, according to tradition, for 4 years. It has a very personal golden color, reminiscent of a warm autumn sunset.
It is a typically Irish whiskey, with a soft aroma, with sweet notes of toasted wood and sherry, with final touches of flowers. On the palate it is delicate, with flavors of vanilla, oak and honey, very balanced.
8. Cardhu Gold Reserve Scotch Whiskey
Cardhu distilleries are the oldest in Scotland and this is some of the best whiskey produced there. It is a pure malt liquor, with an intense and delicious flavor, slightly dry in the mouth, with a flavor reminiscent of oak and evoking the taste of cookies and cinnamon.
This whiskey bears the signature of master blender Matthew Crow, who has been in charge of carefully selecting the best barrels to produce a single malt whisky, sweet, delicate and full of nuances.
It is an ideal liquor to give to any whiskey lover, thanks to its characteristics and luxurious bottle. It can be enjoyed with a little still water or on its own, which will allow you to better appreciate the fruity flavors and nuances.
9. Jameson Black Barrel Irish Whiskey
Jameson Black Barrel is one of the cheapest options and also one of the most appreciated by many fans. It is a blended Irish whiskey, triple blended, matured in burnt American oak casks used for sherry and bourbon.
The barrels are specially selected and go through a charring process that is responsible for giving this whiskey its deep and personal flavor. In this liqueur, the aromas of caramel, cream and pepper stand out, coming from the stills, and those of nectarine and ripe fruit, which come from the sherry barrels.
The flavor is very intense, spicy and concentrated, with final notes of hazelnuts and vanilla. This whiskey can be used in cocktails, although it can also be enjoyed neat.
10. Macallan Double Cask 12 Year Old Single Malt
Macallan is considered by some experts to be the best whiskey in the world, holder of the Civic Trust, one of the most prestigious whiskey awards. Its straw and gold color, together with its bottle with elegant lines, are unmistakable. Macallan is one of those Single Malts that cannot be missing from the shelves of any whiskey aficionado.
Once made, it is matured for 12 years in American and European oak barrels, in which sherry has previously been made, creating the distinctive notes of this single malt whisky. On the palate it is sweet, with notes of wood, spices and hints of citrus, all balanced with notes of raisins and caramel, with a warm, sweet and dry finish.
On the nose it is aromatic and very soft, with hints of caramel, apple and caramelized orange. It is a whiskey to drink neat or with ice.
Origin and Use
Whiskey is one of the oldest drinks known to man and also one of the most appreciated. Fans of this liquor are truly passionate about the subject and not only know the main distilleries, but are also capable of appreciating the nuances of each elaboration.
History
No guide to buying the best whiskey can forget the origin of this drink. Although the most famous whiskey is Scotch, it was actually born in Ireland, although its production soon spread to Scotland. It is a distillate of cereal aged in wooden barrels, the most normal is that they are white oak. The first to distill whiskey and formalize the production process were the monks, from them it passed to the peasants who installed homemade stills, to continue the tradition.
The word whiskey in Gaelic means water of life and legends say that it comes from the first drinks distilled by the Celtic peoples, who revived and warmed the body during the winter. A writing from 1494 indicates that whiskey was first distilled by the friar John Cor who obtained 6 bushels of malt, approximately 1500 bottles, although it is known that this is not true, since whiskey was already distilled much earlier.
Initially, whiskey was distributed among the population as a medicine and in the 18th century it was used to preserve the bodies that were used in anatomy classes. The English Parliament and the church, seeking to control consumption habits, enacted laws against alcohol and increased taxes on beverages, increasing smuggling, until in 1823 the king began to grant the first licenses to distilleries, legalizing trade.
The whiskey distillation process consists of mixing water with barley and letting it ferment and age for at least three years. The best distilleries use pure spring water, which adds a lot of richness and body to the resulting whiskeys. The barley used is malted, that is, it is soaked and drained several times at a temperature of 13 degrees for three days.
To be considered whiskey, the result of fermentation and distillation must pass to the barrels. In the case of malt whiskey, it must be aged in oak barrels that have been used to make sherry or bourbon.
blends
We continue with our comparison of whiskeys talking about the mixes and cocktails that can be made with them. Of all, the most famous is the Old Fashioned, the drink drunk by Don Draper, the protagonist of Mad Men and one of the reasons why whiskey has regained its popularity in recent times. The Old Fashioned is a mix of whiskey, Angostura and ice water, with a sugar cube and a Maraschino cherry.
The next cocktail on the list is the Whiskey Sour, a mix that dates back to 1872 and is made with whiskey, lemon juice, sugar syrup and an egg white. As famous as the Whiskey Sour is the Rusty Nail, which takes its name from the legend that it was taken by train workers, who used a rusty rail nail to remove it. This cocktail is made with Scotch whiskey, Drambuie, ice and lemon.
And if you want something different, you will surely love the Irish Coffee that is made with espresso, whiskey and whipped cream. Ideal for those rainy and cold days when you want something warm.
Conservation
Whiskey is an aged drink. In fact, the aging process affects how much a bottle costs, the longer the age, the more expensive the whisky. This drink is alive, so it will be affected by temperature and oxygen that can spoil its flavor.
Air is a natural enemy of whisky, as it changes its flavor. Fortunately, whiskey does not oxidize, although you should always make sure that the bottle is tightly closed. In the same way, you should always keep the bottles vertical and in a cool and dry space. Even an inexpensive whiskey, once opened, can last up to a year without degrading.
Nutritional value
Whiskey is low in calories, as it only has 58 kcal per 10 ml serving, it has no protein, fat or sodium. They contain only 0.1 grams of carbohydrates and have vasodilator properties, thus helping the body to release stress, while improving circulation. It is an antioxidant and reduces the possibility of stroke by up to 50%.
drink responsibly
The human body is capable of processing a 10ml glass of whiskey every hour. That is, if consumption is reduced, the worst effects of alcohol will not be noticed. In any case, you should never drive under the influence of alcohol, nor should you consume whiskey during pregnancy, lactation or if you are taking medication.
