After decades of consolidation, Ireland is experiencing a craft whiskey renaissance. Founded in 2014, The Shed Distillery delivers the first whiskey from the western province of Connacht in over a century. Polished creamy sweetness and aromatic spices herald this striking dram, which has been triple-distilled and then matured in first-fill bourbon and oloroso sherry casks. Aromas of caramel, brioche, satsuma, and dried apricot draw you in, ushering in a luscious palate of pear, apple, and freewheeling spices bolstered by dried citrus, lime, and toasted coconut. Number 14 in the 2020 Top 20

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Winter 2020)

This phenomenal debut is one of the best new single pot still whiskeys around. Caramel, brioche, satsuma, dried apricot, aromatic spices, canned pears, and spiced apple peelings. The palate is creamy, lively, and fruity with pear, apple, dried citrus, lime, fresh plum, and toasted coconut, accompanied by a formidable pot still spiciness. With the inclusion of Irish barra oats and the balance of sherry and bourbon characteristics, this is masterful. (Individual reviewer rating: 93)

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Winter 2020)

Perfumed with orange blossoms and dripping with nectar, the nose also has watermelon, pistachio pudding, coconut, vanilla bean, and apple-scented tobacco; new aromas reveal themselves with every sniff. Tropical fruit mingles with dried chiles, cocoa powder, coffee bean, barrel char, cinnamon, and jalapeños on the palate. The finish has good length, highlighting chile-chocolate, coffee bean, charred oak, and grilled pineapple. Warming and complex, with good development, though it never feels heavy.

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Winter 2020)

The oily nose yields intense tropical fruits, vanilla, nougat, and pine. Rich peach notes on the full palate, with a light sprinkling of white pepper, and hazelnuts dipped in milk chocolate. Spicy in the medium-length finish. Matured in first-fill bourbon barrels. (7,056 bottles)

Reviewed by: Gavin Smith (Winter 2020)

Burning straw, berries, and allspice, but the smoke from the double- and triple-distilled peated malts beckons you in deeper, adding peppery barbecued meats, tree bark, and earthiness. The delicious palate brings stewed apple, currants, conference pear, raisin turnover, and brown sugar. Peat smoke infiltrates stealthily, leaving a finish of dried strawberries and pepper. This is a superb nightcap dram, and a great champion for smoky Irish blends. Editors' Choice

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Winter 2020)

Malted rye is a rarity in whiskey, and at 60% of the mashbill here, this earns high marks for originality. The nose has lively notes of chili powder, pepper, and paprika, along with licorice, pfeffernüsse, candied dark berries, orange peel, and spearmint. The palate begins gently enough, then whips into a spice storm of chile peppers and spicy cooked meats, with flavors of roasted pecan, dark chocolate, blackberry jam, more orange peel, and rich oak, before a finish of dried oranges, vanilla syrup, and well-integrated spice. Number 18 in the 2020 Top 20

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Winter 2020)

An effusive nose, with aromatic notes that become almost incense-like—cardamom, cedar, pine resin—as well as sweet berry notes, lemon, milk chocolate, and graham cracker. The palate is fresh and intense; breathe out mint on the exhale. Licorice tea, cacao, horehound candy, and plenty of oak are carried by the chewy, full texture. Peppery mint, oak char, baking chocolate, and pine on the fairly lengthy finish. Sprightly, original, and exciting.

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Winter 2020)

The nose is sweet with vanilla cupcake, crushed almonds, pecan sandies, Granny Smith apples, and Chinese coconut jelly. There’s a rancio element that pervades through the palate and finish—a bit like toasted oak, brown sugar, and even mothballs—that gives the whiskey gravitas to counterbalance the marshmallow and lemon bar flavors. Mellow and sweet, it has a lengthy finish that displays gentle finesse. (500 bottles)

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Winter 2020)

A very pretty and delicate whiskey that becomes more beguiling with each sniff. Following the initial peanut, vanilla, and caramel notes, it slowly reveals incense, dried pineapple, and stone fruits sprinkled with spice. The palate is generously sweet, with peach tea and soft wood tannins lending lovely texture, before a finish of zesty citrus, tobacco leaf, and exotic spice. Finished for two years in new charred mizunara oak.

Reviewed by: Jeffery Lindenmuth (Winter 2020)

It’s the 100th anniversary of the marriage of Masataka and Rita Taketsuru, and there’s plenty to celebrate, with sweet red apples and soft pear on the nose, plus festive spices, peppercorn, cinnamon stick, warmed apple slices, apricot, lemon zest, and lightly charred oak. Creamy, with cooked fruit dipped in sweet syrup, vanilla, toffee apple, and honey, with just a prickle of spices swimming against the weight of the fruit.

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Winter 2020)

Distilled above 80% ABV from 99% corn and aged in used barrels, this qualifies as light whiskey. Expressive nose of butterscotch, brown sugar, vanilla, coconut cream, candied pecan, and maple syrup on hot pancakes. Gripped by its proof from the first sip, you may find your mouth puckering from tannins and tingling with heat, but the sweet flavors of dark caramel, maple syrup, and candied nuts offer softening balance. Generous watering is highly recommended; you won’t miss a single flavor, but your tongue will recover more quickly from the high-octane ABV. (106 bottles)

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Winter 2020)

The golden-sweet wine finish works like a sunbeam from heaven. The nose basks in summer meadow flowers, sweet honey, light citrus, lemon curd, and vanilla. It’s finely structured on the palate, with apricot pastries, runny honey, sugar-coated orange, peach cobbler, candied peel, and the lightest of spices. These Legacy bottlings are pretty special, but this beguiling whiskey is really one to fall for. (1,000 bottles)

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Winter 2020)

A wonderful balance of red wine and malt notes on this Australian shiraz finish: black currant, cooked apple, blackberry, After Eight mints, black tea, chocolate praline, cherry compote, and dark toffee. Malty, with soft fruits and strawberry jam flavors, then cinnamon, blackberry, dark toffee, clove, pepper, and oak char, with the brighter red summer fruits kept in reserve until the final stages. (9,000 bottles)€140

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Winter 2020)

This 29 year old expression was matured in six oloroso sherry casks before a final period of finishing in Pedro Ximénez casks. The nose yields black currant juice spilled onto old leather, then cigar boxes along with plump sultanas soaked in sherry. Voluptuous and silky on the palate, with rich sherry, dates, walnuts, and black treacle. Tingling spices, molasses, and licorice in the lengthy, satisfying finish. (3,052 bottles)

Reviewed by: Gavin Smith (Winter 2020)

The 20th release of Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, from 95 barrels filled in 2010 and aged 10 years. Light earthiness, dried herbs, and leather on the nose, with notes of black cherry and mint. The palate is surprisingly delicate, but rich with flavors of apple, blackberry, dark chocolate cake, mocha, butterscotch, and aged oak. More earthiness mixes with spice on the finish, followed by buttered pecans, chocolate syrup, caramel, and balanced oak.

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Winter 2020)

From Bardstown Bourbon Co.’s very creative Collaborative Series—this one finished in oloroso sherry casks used by Louisville’s Copper & Kings to age its brandy. Mocha, oak char, roasted coffee beans, grilled herbs, leather, orange peel, and dried raspberries on the nose. The palate melds baked apple, more herbs, grilled meats, and pleasant oak. Raspberry and orange ride atop a bed of spice, bitter chocolate, and coffee to the finish.

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Winter 2020)

The nose opens with relatively light sweet woodsmoke, then red apples, sherry, iodine, sea salt, and lively spices emerge. Spicy citrus fruits, toffee, and more sweet smoke on the palate. The finish carries citrus fruits, with sherry, spice, and peat smoke. (12,400 bottles, 1,440 for U.S.)

Reviewed by: Gavin Smith (Winter 2020)

The reticent nose reveals little at first, but eventually a few aromas emerge: vanilla, licorice tea, furniture polish, and a slightly tart note, like gooseberry or kumquat. That’s borne out with the palate’s tart and citric character, showcasing plum, pear, lemon, gooseberry, and kumquat, with an herbal tinge, toasted oak, and a hint of almond. The finish is mouthwatering—almost mouth-puckering—and continues the tart fruit theme. This is an odd but intriguing whiskey, showing great consistency and novelty.

Reviewed by: Susannah Skiver Barton (Winter 2020)