This Tennessee bourbon brings a lot to the table, opening with a nose of bubble gum sweetness and spicy complexity. Cloves, cinnamon, and brown sugar mingle with raisins and raspberries. The palate is balanced and the flavors are well integrated with strawberry jam, raspberry iced tea, peanuts, and black pepper. Water highlights fruity and jammy sweetness. The finish balances spice and fruit with good length. (17,000 bottles)

Reviewed by: Shane English (Spring 2022)

Glazed apricots and pears, clementines, and other subtle ripe fruits on the nose, with dusty oak and a hint of barrel char. On the palate, there’s allspice, brown sugar, baking spice, cola, and vanilla ice cream drizzled with caramel. Sweet flavors do battle with heat and spice, but it’s smooth and becomes more so with water—toasted marshmallows, vanilla cream, and almond nuttiness. A long, well-spiced finish, with notes of mixed fruit tart. (1,853 bottles)

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Spring 2022)

Bright zingy lemon greets the nose, mingled with hints of baked apple and sugar cookies. Stick with it, and earthier herbaceous notes present themselves. On the palate, more fresh lemon is balanced beautifully by powdered sugar, bold cinnamon spice, and, at the tail end, bitter dark chocolate. The finish is lengthy, softening out from the zippy citrus and spice to a lighter honeyed sweetness and a delicious dollop of milk chocolate. (120,000 bottles)

Reviewed by: Julia Higgins (Spring 2022)

Soft, delicate, fresh, and citrusy on the nose, with aromas of satsuma orange and lemonade. The palate is sweet, balanced, and very smooth, balancing orange and cooked pear with cocoa powder, roasted coffee beans, coffee ice cream, light nuttiness, and white pepper. The finish is long, spicy, smooth, and polished, with cinnamon stick, milk chocolate, and plenty of spice. Well-built and unified, with a marvelous chocolate sweetness as a finale.

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Spring 2022)

Sweet lemon drops and key lime pie on a fruit-forward nose, with hints of licorice and fragrant oak. Water brings out vanilla, bitter cherry, and sweeter notes of fruit cocktail. Spice and sweetness on the palate—and finish—of vanilla cream, citrus, and red berry notes, plus cinnamon cake, allspice, and coffee, balanced with pleasant oak and earthiness. Well made, with pronounced but balanced and well-integrated flavors. (120,000 bottles) Editor's Choice

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Spring 2022)

Fresh and grain-forward on the nose, with orange slices, lemon peel, and a hint of pineapple. Very sweet and honeyed on the front palate with chocolate custard, pepper spice, and toasted oak, accented by bright notes of fresh citrus. A mid-length finish offers the sweetness of lemon cream pie and lots of spice at the back. Steady and flavorful progression of balanced sweetness and spice, a rock-solid rye.

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Spring 2022)

Juicy orchard fruit, vanilla pod, creamed coconut, light floral notes, and white chocolate on the nose. Those Chateau du Briel casks impart a velvety texture of vanilla, apple pie, double cream, cinnamon, and a spicy finish. Certainly no apparent difficulties matching the quality of the first batch, as this bottling achieves a fine harmony with imperceptible shifts between the flavors: It feels like time stands still when you sip. (3,000 bottles for the U.S.)

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Spring 2022)

A spicy nose that’s plentiful with fruit too: There are notes of orange peel, lime, cherry Starburst, watermelon Jolly Ranchers, and apricot marmalade. From here, the silky-smooth palate drops off in fruitiness, with a light sweetness taking over and summoning notes of crème brûlée, yellow birthday cake, burnt walnuts, and a touch of earthiness. Dark chocolate, espresso, toasted almonds, and bright red fruit reign on the finish.

Reviewed by: Julia Higgins (Spring 2022)

An agreeable combination of crystalized honey, melon, and conference pear develops, with vanilla sponge cake, beeswax candles, cream soda, and light baking spices. The balance and contrast work well, highlighting gentle honeyed fruits, a strong vanilla flavor, dried fruits, and a surge in peppery spice. The latter phase comes close to Tree 2 in this release, with soothing mocha notes.

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Spring 2022)

An attractive nose of vanilla, fresh oak, butterscotch, lemon balm, bread crust, caramel, coconut, and dried banana places this example in the middle ground. Smooth on the taste buds with a continuity of flavors from sniff to swallow, there is honey, butterscotch, orange peel, soft oak, peppery spice, and stone fruits; it brings in vanilla and caramel and ends with notes of oak, spice, and dried fruit.

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Spring 2022)

Returning this stalwart, the first new Cutty Sark since La Martiniquaise took charge of the ship, seemed a safe bet, but they’ve done it so well. Apricot, golden sultana, caramel, honeydew melon, honey, and vanilla meet cumin, cardamom, Parma violets, and orange jelly bean aromas. Richly flavored but lightly textured, there’s lemon bonbon, sugar-dusted churro, vanilla custard, cinder toffee, hazelnut, and sharp apple acidity. It’s like sunshine rippling on the ocean. Best Values

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Spring 2022)

Loaded with lime, grapefruit, lemon, and a hint of ripe melon—followed by bold notes of roasted rye grains. A smooth, balanced palate of lemon drops, candied orange slices, deeper berry notes, and spice aplenty. The fruit wins out, creating a soft profile with hints of bitter chocolate and grain. A long explosion of balanced spice punctuates a finish of honeyed lemon, butterscotch, and rye grain. Smooth, tasty, and well-balanced.

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Spring 2022)

Buttery and creamy on the nose, with fresh herbal notes of coriander, vanilla, baked pastries, apricot, and dried fruits, though the herbal notes intensify over time. The palate mingles fresh fruit-salad flavors, vanilla, honey, fudge, sweet citrus, taffy, and a delicate pepperiness. This expression has a fantastic texture, balancing soft fruits, fudge sweetness, and citrus, to finish with sweet melon, icing sugar, and a dynamic spiciness.

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Spring 2022)

Biodynamic barley is “like muck and magic” according to one of Waterford’s farmers, but a compelling nose of ripe pear, blossom honey, butterscotch, floral notes, orange peel, and dry spices is the reward for their efforts. Assisted by a cask mix that includes port, amarone, and Chateau Lafite Rothschild, this drinks exceptionally well without water and supplies flavors of sweet citrus, orchard fruit, clove, pepper, and Whoppers. (4,000 bottles for the U.S.)

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Spring 2022)

Produced in Penderyn’s Faraday still, the nose detects rose water, incense sticks, red grape, nutmeg, charred oak, and a hint of treacle. At full strength, intense peppery spice whirls around flavors of red berries, black cherry, and cranberry, diluting to unearth black currant, black coffee, oak, and chocolate sprinkles. The finish is dry, like a shot of espresso. Water unlocks greater red fruitiness from the port cask, adding brighter cherry and sweet watermelon notes. (300 bottles)

Reviewed by: Jonny McCormick (Spring 2022)

Rustic and wild on the nose, with barrel char, burnt-rubber smokiness, and raspberry and green banana emerging. Rich, full, and honey-textured on a palate of milk chocolate, almond nuttiness, and spice, with notes of dried leaves and old oak. Dark rather than bright, with the cask influence lending a certain profundity. Spice and tobacco leaf accent a finish of dried dark fruits and more chocolate, with cherry and spice at the end.

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Spring 2022)

Ripe fruit on the nose—almost overripe, but it blows off to bring fresher hints of vanilla, cardamom, chocolate, lime, and faint baking spice. The palate is somewhat dry at first, but then develops to bring Toblerone, taffy, circus peanuts, and butterscotch syrup. The finish is the best part—lengthy and smooth, with loads of chocolate and a sweet subtle finale of candied lime. (3,000 bottles)

Reviewed by: David Fleming (Spring 2022)

All manners of orange are here, with orange peel, Creamsicle, and a hint of orange soda right up front. This citrus is joined by sweeter elements: a drizzle of maple syrup and inviting wood spice. The palate is creamy, and that tangy, zesty citrus carries on, though there’s also blueberry cobbler, a burst of Red Hots, and buttered toast sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon. A moderate-length finish balances oak with tart red fruit. (3,000 bottles)

Reviewed by: Julia Higgins (Spring 2022)