Top 20
The Most Exciting Whiskies of 2024
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Our Top 20 whiskies represent a curated collection that deserves your notice. This assortment features hidden gems offering exceptional value, standout examples leading their respective styles, and superbly crafted bottles worth seeking out. Above all, each whisky in this list stands out as a beacon of excitement, highlighting the pinnacle of a year filled with remarkable tastings.
Lagavulin 12 year old The Ink of Legends (Special Releases 2023)
Score: 94
56.4% ● $170
Scotland
Heaven Hill Grain to Glass (Distilled in 2017; 2024 Release)
Score: 94
53.5% ● $100
Kentucky
Wild Turkey 8 year old Jimmy Russell 70th Anniversary
Score: 94
50.5% ● $50
Kentucky
Angel's Envy Cask Strength Port Wine Barrel Finished (2023)
Score: 93
59.1% ● $230
Kentucky
Virginia Distillery Co. Brewer's Coalition Hardywood Gingerbread Stout Cask
Score: 93
50% ● $50
Virginia
Bushmills 10 year old Private Reserve Bordeaux Cask
Score: 93
46.5% ● $60
Ireland
Westland Cask Exploration Wine Cask Finished (Batch 1)
Score: 92
46% ● $75
Washington
Each year, the Whisky Advocate Buying Guide's expert team samples an array of whiskies, encompassing rare, limited editions, and up-and-coming brands likely to hit store shelves nationwide. Our Top 20 list starts with whiskies scoring 90 or above (“outstanding”) on our 100-point scale. But, this list isn't just our highest-rated whiskies; many are too rare for general access. Hence, we also weigh in value (price) and accessibility.
A crucial step in assessing these whiskies' true worth is a blind tasting by an international panel. Reviewers taste the contenders in a series of blind flights, unaware of each whisky's producer, origin, age, or price. This panel's average ratings take precedence over the initial Buying Guide scores, although individual reviews remain recorded. The final Top 20 ranking is based on a balanced consideration of average score, price, and availability.
