It’s right there in the lyrics of his inescapable hit single “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” after all: As Shaboozey sings, “they know me and Jack Daniel’s got a history.” The song has been positively everywhere since its release just last April, spending 19 non-consecutive weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, and leading to four Grammy nominations, including Best New Artist, for the singer (real name: Collins Obinna Chibueze).

In fitting fashion, its success led Shaboozey to team up with the iconic Tennesse whiskey maker as part of the Jack Daniel’s “Highway No. 7” cross-country music series. Ahead of a show sponsored by Old No. 7 at New York City’s Terminal 5 earlier this month, Shaboozey was grateful to see his dreams and hard work taking shape and paying off, saying Jack Daniel’s is “like my number one fan.”

For the singer, it’s still all about being authentic as he kicks his “The Great American Roadshow” Tour into high gear. “I’m big on just putting parts of myself in the music,” he told Maxim as he prepared to head to New York City. “It’s just really cool that… with, the mention of Jack Daniel’s, so much support could come from it.”

The ultra-stylish 30-year-old singer added that working with Jack Daniel’s feels like family, and feels like a more-than-natural fit. “That’s something I’ve kind of done my whole career is… putting some of my favorite things in life into my music,” he added.

More than 1,000 guests got to see the singer-songwriter debut a new song, “Move On,” and the Grammy-nominated artist naturally brought plenty of Old No. 7 onstage. For a distillery with as much heritage (and modern innovation) as Jack Daniel’s, Shaboozey favors the classics when it comes to whiskey. “I like JD, you know what I mean? Some of my friends call me… the Jack Man,” he said with a laugh.

Of a hectic past year, Shaboozey described it as “rewarding” and “exhilarating,” and notes that he’s eager for more, describing his mindset as “go, go, go, go” as he works to build off the success of his breakout third album, Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going.

Musically, the singer lists everyone from Gillian Welch to Johnny Cash as inspirations, along with the gritty outlaw country of Townes Van Zandt, and naturally, the singer is a fan of any music with a focus on “great storytelling,” he says. Those inspirations should give the artist plenty to go off as he plots his next album, and Shaboozey noted his band will bring a mobile recording rig to try out new songs on tour for the first time.

His perspective goes well beyond whiskey and songwriting, though. The self-described “jeanhead” is also a big fan of Levi’s and even starred in a short film for the brand’s recent Global Icons campaign. “I wear a lot of jeans, a lot of Western shirts, and it’s always about style and how I can feel good up on stage,” he said.

Shaboozey’s rise in the music scene has taken him to the likes of legendary rock clubs like Washington, D.C.’s 9:30 Club, and helped him dial in his setlist and stage design (Jack Daniel’s whiskey bottles, like any good rock show, are certainly par for the course).

“The set is really awesome. We spent a lot of time dialing it in and trying to make it as great as possible,” Shaboozey added, noting that “it takes a village to get here.” As Shaboozey brings his global smash hit (and plenty more fun) out on the road, check out his setlist here and be sure to bring your dancin’ boots (and an appetite for Jack Daniel’s whiskey).

The Great American Roadshow Setlist

1. “Last Of My Kind”
2. “Anabelle”
3. “Blink Twice”
4. “Tall Boy”
5. “Drink Don’t Need No Mix”
6. “Vegas”
7. “Highway”
8. “Move On” (with Kevin Powers)
9. “Family Traditions” (Hank Williams Jr cover)
10. “Amen”
11. “Finally Over”
12. “Fire And Gasoline”
13. “East Of The Massanutten”
14. “Horses & Hellcats”
15. “Good News”
16. “Let It Burn”
17. “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”

Jack Daniel’s is expanding its flavor portfolio with the launch of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Blackberry, a new expression that blends the brand’s signature whiskey with fruity flavor notes of fresh blackberries. The iconic Tennessee brand’s latest bottle follows their other flavored whiskeys, including Tennessee Honey, Tennessee Fire, and Tennessee Apple.

The summer-ready new spirit is made with the distillery’s classic Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, distilled from an 80 percent corn, 12 percent malted barley, and 8 percent rye mash bill. The whiskey undergoes Jack Daniel’s signature mellowing process, filtering through ten feet of sugar maple charcoal, before being aged in new, charred American oak barrels. The result is a smooth, 70-proof whiskey that the Lynchburg-based brand hopes is the perfect foundation for the new blackberry infusion.

“The smooth, well-rounded finish of our Tennessee Whiskey makes it one of the most versatile expressions to pair with unexpected flavor,” said Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller, Chris Fletcher. “By adding the ripe notes of blackberries, we’ve created an approachable spirit that’s full of character, easy to enjoy with friends and perfect for any season.”

With “sweet and tangy” blackberry notes, Jack Daniel’s latest whiskey is meant for sipping neat, on the rocks, or as a key cocktail ingredient. Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Blackberry hits liquor store shelves nationwide this month at the very accessible price of $21.99 per bottle.

“This is one of the most rewarding things that I’ve ever done in whiskey, in my 20 something years in distilleries, that we’re doing a whiskey that hasn’t been done in Lynchburg, Tennessee, since Jack Daniel did it himself,” Chris Fletcher shares in his friendly drawl. “It’s one of the things that as a distiller, you just have to pinch yourself.”

What Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller is discussing is the latest edition of their fairly new Aged Series, which sees the label mature its beloved Tennessee Whiskey in new, charred American oak barrels beyond the usual (at least) four years employed in its famed “Old No. 7” juice. 

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Launched in 2021 with a 10-Year-Old Batch, then the following year with a 12-Year-Old, we are now lucky enough to live in an era where we get to taste the newest Aged Series: Jack Daniel’s 14-Year-Old Tennessee Whiskey. What a time to be alive. 

For this is the first time since the early-1900s that Jack Daniel’s has offered an expression of this age. And it is a truly remarkable whiskey, taking the already superb 12-year version and adding even more richness and complexity, further dialing up its core vanilla, butterscotch and caramel flavors while somehow adding more subwoofers of abundant depth. 

Instant fanatics of the 12-Year-Old Aged Series as soon as we took our very first sip, we were astounded to learn this was the same exact same juice that produced their ubiquitous ‘Old No. 7’ flagship bottle. Not that we don’t appreciate that trusted expression – unlike a lot of bourbon connoisseurs who dismiss the base Jack Daniels offering, we’ve always been appreciative of the level of quality their team manages to maintain throughout such a voluminous production. 

Imagine, every drop crafted in that bucolic Lynchburg campus — all 2,000 barrels distilled and dumped every single day. And yet you cannot find a cocktail lounge, dive bar, cantina, bodega, or gin joint anywhere on the planet that seemingly does not have a bottle on its shelf. That unimpeachable level of quality control is worthy of acclaim. 

But the fact that that same whiskey — with the exact same classic recipe of 80% corn, 12% malted barley and 8% rye — can mature into what you will taste in the 12- and 14-Year-Old juice is truly astounding. For not only do these further aged spirits stand brightly on their own, but they also speak volumes to the quality of that Old No. 7 sitting on your shelf.

Of course there is one small twist to the alchemy. Fletcher explains that most, if not all, the Aged Series barrels come from a top floor of their rick houses, where they’re left to age for about eight years. At that point they’ve lost a good amount of angel’s share in the torrid Kentucky summers, so the barrels are moved to the ground floor where they’re allowed to continue aging more slowly. 

“Think of that top floor like you’re grilling a steak,” Fletcher suggests. “Like you’re searing that steak with hot temperature right on that top floor, and then we move it down to that bottom floor and just let it simmer for the rest of its time.” 

If it works for wagyu, it works for this sublime classic mash bill. Jack Daniel’s eighth Master Distiller, who took over from previous MD Jeff Arnett in 2020, goes on to note that process has now become standard operating procedure in Lynchburg, so Jack Daniel’s can hopefully continue to recreate this family of age stated whiskey in perpetuity.

“I’m excited about how much balance of flavor, and how much inherent sweetness made its way all the way through to the 14,” Fletcher adds. 

“It’s amazing to think that we can take this grain bill and still evolve it today and create these different offerings, and put these different spins on the flavor.”

Fletcher largely credits the 12% malt in the grain bills to convert the starches, and especially their in-house yeast grown fresh every week for the “big, bright fruit notes.” 

“It’s been really fun to follow along with the 10, and now the multiple batches of the 12, and see how they are evolving and just kind of shifting,” Fletcher continues. “They each kind of have their own personality each year, which is so much a part of the fun — and that we’ll continue to enjoy as the years go on.”

Jack Daniel’s 14-Year-Old Tennessee Whiskey comes bottled at a potent but shockingly smooth 63.15% ABV (126.3 proof), with a SRP of $150. 

Follow our Deputy Editor on Instagram at @nickstecher and @boozeoftheday. 

From a bottled-in-bond rye to a 12-year-old Tennessee elixir, the Jack Daniel’s portfolio is filled with innovative expressions that build on the brand’s flagship Old No. 7. The latest new addition expands JD’s Distillery Series Selection range, which previously yielded a tequila twist on an otherwise thoroughly American whiskey.

The Distillery Series Twice Barreled Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey begins with Jack Daniel’s rye recipe, featuring a grain bill of 70 percent rye, 12 percent malted barley and 18 percent corn. The whiskey is charcoal-mellowed and aged in a charred American white oak barrel before—as the name suggests—it finishes in a second charred American white oak barrel for an additional two and a half years. According to JD, the second barreling imparts sweet smoke/burnt sugar aromas, intensifies the charred oak flavor, and brings out blackstrap molasses notes. The finish features spearmint, anise, and dry baking spices.

“Our Tennessee Rye is a take on rye whiskey that is uniquely Jack Daniel’s. The 70 percent rye grain bill allows the whiskey to shine through with just the right amount of spiciness and boldness,” said Chris Fletcher, Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller. “We’re excited to add a limited-edition expression to our rye lineup with this release, which introduces the whiskey to a second barreling to create a profile with even more depth and character.”

Bottled at 53.7 percent ABV in 375-ml quantities, Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series Twice Barreled Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey is available in select Tennessee stores and at the JD distillery’s White Rabbit Bottle Shop for $41.99.

The release of the new Jack Daniel’s Bottled-In-Bond Rye Whiskey isthe latest step forward into a new future for the iconic distillery, nodding to that heritage while at the same time throwing down the gauntlet in the booming rye whiskey market.

Jack Daniel’s has long been in the business of innovation in its humble home of Lynchburg, Tennessee, as we found out during a visit to the distillery last month.

That includes pioneering efforts like releasing its highest ABV whiskey ever last year, along with revving up a collaboration with McLaren Racing in 2023.

This latest whiskey joins Jack Daniel’s popular Bonded Series, and new though this rye expression might be, it hews to the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897 (a whiskey distilled by a single distiller in a single season, aged at least four years in a federally bonded warehouse, and bottled at 100 proof).

Chris Fletcher, Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller, said the rye grain bill of 70 percent rye, 18 percent corn and 12 percent malted barley delivers “a unique and balanced profile that drinkers have come to expect and seek out from our rye releases.”

Indeed, consistency is king at Jack Daniel’s, as the spirit travels the world, adorns the stages of rock stars and sits handsomely in bar carts of loyal JD fans.

Everything from the limestone water to the charcoal mellowing process to the way Jack Daniel’s crafts its barrels at its Alabama cooperage speaks to attention to detail, an appreciation of the past and a relentless focus on getting it right every single time.

In fact, that charcoal mellowing process, where JD lets its whiskey drip through multiple feet of hard sugar maple charcoal, is a testament to patience, technique and again, reliability.

There’s also a wistful sense of peace that washes over one throughout the famed Lynchburg distillery grounds: If the land helps make the whiskey, then Jack Daniel’s has long been in a prime spot among Lynchburg’s lovely, rolling hills.

And despite the impressive amount of science and behind-the-scenes research that goes into, say, generating the Jack Daniel’s signature yeast strain, it’s up to the barrels and rackhouses to quietly do the work of cultivating the distillery’s iconic whiskey.

Among the rackhouse barrels, it’s the magic of rich wood, narrow walkways, tight corridors and the ebb and flow of Tennessee weather that ultimately weave the narrative of the iconic whiskey maker, the same way it’s been since the late 1800s.

And yet, Jack Daniel’s certainly isn’t resting on its laurels.

“We’re going to continue to experiment with grain, all the way through maturation,” Fletcher said during an intimate tasting of the new rye expression and other Jack Daniel’s expressions.

In the case of the new release, rye spice lands nicely on the finish, with toffee and dried fruit on the palate. Other as-yet-unreleased expressions are no slouch, and sipping whiskey straight from its famed barrels in Lynchburg remains a rare treat.

The bottled-in-bond rye expression is a uniquely Jack Daniel’s take on rye whiskey, as its flagship Old No. 7 also has dried fruit notes and a touch of sweet spiciness (again, consistency is king in Tennessee).

As to the future for the whiskey giant, Fletcher wants to continue to push the envelope, in a literal and figurative sense.

“Let’s push it, let’s challenge it,” Fletcher said as the distillery charts a course with even more innovative whiskey launches in the years ahead. “There’s a really nice, full pipeline of stuff coming. For me, it’s about getting the best grain we can get.”

If Fletcher and Jack Daniel’s have anything to say about it, the best grain and the best whiskey will certainly lend themselves to well-stocked bar carts in the years ahead.

For now, get your own bottle of Jack Daniel’s Bottled-in-Bond Rye online at ReserveBar for a highly agreeable, even legendary, price.

Available in select Formula 1 global markets, the whiskey builds off the 2022 partnership between the famed distiller and the high-performance automaker, and arrives right as Formula One racing mania is hitting a fever pitch in the United States.

A custom label and packaging updates the classic Jack Daniel’s design in speedy fashion, while the whiskey contained therein is the distiller’s Tennessee Whiskey grain bill, featuring a blend of 80 percent corn, 12 percent malted barley and 8 percent rye.

The partnership builds off a sense of unity between the distiller and the auto maker, and both of the company’s pioneering founders.

“McLaren and Jack Daniel’s are two of the most iconic brands known around the world, and
we’re excited to celebrate our partnership with a special bottle that nods to our shared spirit of
independence, authenticity and boldness,” said Sophia Angelis, Jack Daniel’s SVP, Global
Managing Director.

The whiskey also nods to six decades of McLaren Racing, and the bottle and packaging are “another fantastic way to share these celebrations with our fans, remembering both
Bruce and Jack,” said Louise McEwen, the executive director, of Mc Laren Racing’s Brand & Marketing division.

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This whiskey very well might be hard to come by for Formula 1 fans and whiskey enthusiasts in equal measure, hitting U.S. Formula 1 race markets (and Formula 1 global cities) in May.

If you can’t make it out to a Formula 1 race in the months ahead, this limited-edition whiskey might be your best bet in the meantime.

Jack Daniel’s 10-Year-Old Tennessee Whiskey was first released in 2021, marking the first time in 100 years that the legendary distillery included an age statement on the label. Those bottles currently trade for several hundred dollars above SRP on the aftermarket, if you can find one.

Fortunately, Jack Daniel’s recently announced the arrival of two more age-stated expressions to meet the considerable demand. The first is Batch 2 of the 10-Year-Old, and the second is a new 12-Year-Old that now serves as JD’s oldest whiskey in over a century.

“The Jack Daniel Distillery is one of the most complete whiskey distilleries in the world, and we’re fortunate to have a deep history to draw inspiration from and craft premium whiskeys in a way that stays true to our heritage of quality and innovation,” said master distiller Chris Fletcher in a statement announcing the new bottles.

“We released our first age-stated whiskey since the early 1900s in this series about a year ago and were thrilled with the overwhelmingly positive response. We know there is a lot of excitement for our Aged Series, and we can’t wait to share Batch 2 of our 10-Year-Old Tennessee Whiskey along with the first release of our 12-Year-Old Tennessee Whiskey.” 

Made with a grain bill of 80 percent corn, 12 percent malted barley, and 8 percent rye, both whiskeys were charcoal-mellowed before being aged in toasted and charred American white oak barrels.

According to the brand, the 12-Year-Old, which clocks in at 107-proof/53.5-percent ABV, boasts sweet and creamy notes of pipe tobacco, seasoned oak, and butterscotch. The 10-Year-Old Batch 2, bottled at 97-proof/48.5 percent ABV, is oak-forward with layers of dark fruit and bittersweet cocoa.

It’s worth noting that Jack Daniel’s 10-Year-Old Batch 1 was almost universally praised by critics, with Whiskey Reviewer writing, “It is recognizable as Jack, but also recognizable as much more than Old No. 7.”

“What I say to fans of Jack Daniel’s is go snag a bottle of this right now, because it is what you should pour to convince your skeptical, bourbon-loving friends to give that distillery in Lynchburg a second look,” the A- review concluded.

Jack Daniel’s 12-Year-Old Tennessee Whiskey and 10-Year-Old Tennessee Whiskey Batch 2 go on sale across the United States in March for $70 and $80, respectively.

Head to Jack Daniel’s website to learn more.

Following Best in Rye and Best in Second Finishes, the third chapter in Maxim’s guide to the best American Whiskeys of 2022 combines two smaller but still growing categories: Tennessee Whiskey and American Single Malt (ASM). The former is one of the oldest categories of American distilling, while the latter is officially brand new—after decades of petitioning this year ASM finally received its own official recognition from the Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). Here are the best from both categories for 2022.  

Tennessee Whiskeys

George Dickel 17 Year Old Reserve

Back in 2016 we visited Cascade Hollow and fell in love with this tiny, rudimentary distillery (at the time computer-free, might still be). A babbling brook, a small still, a couple single-story rickhouses and a shop, wherein we found only two bottles of a super rare, distillery-only 17-year-old expression. At the time the oldest Tennessee Whiskey ever sold. We snatched up both and were lifted to the clouds when we finally opened and finished a bottle after a wedding (the other bottle remains locked in a safe).

That spirit was all but impossible to find—until this year, as George Dickel finally revisits that gem with a brand new 17 Year Old Reserve expression. To pay homage to that original 17 year old juice, Cascade Hollow General Manager and Distiller Nicole Austin plumbed the rickhouses for barrels that captured the similar flavor notes of crème brûlée, apricots and juniper. Start your search for George Dickel 17 Year Old Reserve (46% ABV) at its SRP of $250. $260

Uncle Nearest ‘Master Blend Edition’

While Uncle Nearest hit the whiskey scene with a bang in 2017, until now all their juice has been meticulously sourced by the Uncle Nearest team from outside distilleries. For the first time ever in 2022 Uncle Nearest began selling whiskey they distilled, aged and bottled at their own distillery in Shelbyville, Tennessee—to be sold only at that 323-acre campus.

Crafted from barrels distilled and laid down in 2017, Uncle Nearest ‘Master Blend Edition’ continues the mission to honor Nearest Green, Jack Daniel’s first Master Distiller and the first known African American Master Distiller. This Blend #5 comes in at 59.2% ABV, and hopefully inspires other BIPOC who are trying to pave their own way in the spirit industry. Credit the sugar maple charcoal filtration for its high-proof smoothness. $45

Jack Daniel’s Small Batch Coy Hill High Proof

For decades relying steadily (and handsomely) on their world-famous ‘Old No. 7’ label, the American whiskey juggernaut known as Jack Daniels recently pivoted with a slew of new offerings and quick-hit LTOs. For their latest JD wanders deep into the fields with one of the smallest LTOs they’ve ever offered—both in size (only 375ml bottles) and reach, making Coy Hill available only in Tennessee. However don’t dismiss, as it may be small but it’s also explosive like Wolverine in its tiny package: Jack Daniel’s Small Batch Special Release Coy Hill High Proof is the highest proof whiskey ever released by Jack Daniel’s. 

The LTO gets its name from being matured in the highest reaches of the barrelhouses on Coy Hill, the highest point of elevation at the Lynchburg campus, where more water evaporates than alcohol. The resulting Tennessee Whiskey is being bottled at 143.6 – 155.1 proof. Jack Daniel’s Special Release Coy Hill whiffs of burnt sugar, with notes of molasses and barrel oak, and finishes with layers of char, dried fruit and caramel. Find it only in Tennessee with a SRP of $55 or elsewhere at a premium. $600

Sweetens Cove Kennessee

For 2022 Sweetens Cove releases their most accessible expression to date: Kennessee. Once again blended by Marianne Eaves, Kentucky’s first female Master Distiller since Prohibition, Kennessee was inspired by the “union of Kentucky and Tennessee Bourbons.” Eaves sourced, experimented with and blended whiskies from the two most foundational states in American whiskey. 

The final twist? Eaves tossed in Toasted Sugar Maplewood spirals into the spirit aging in American oak to further tweak flavor profiles. “Almost like a Kentucky expression of the Lincoln County process—doing the toasted sugar maple as opposed to the charred sugar maple to really emphasize the flavors that that wood can contribute,” explains Eaves. “It was fun to think about all the ways that that we could bring Kentucky and Tennessee together and honor the styles and signatures of both of these places.” Sweetens Cove Kennessee comes proofed at 110.7-proof at a SRP of $60, considerably more approachable than previous Sweetens Cove offerings. $55

American Single Malts

St. George Spirits ‘40th Anniversary Edition’

Leading California’s—and arguably America’s—indie spirits movement, St. George Distillery conjures some serious heaters (their Baller whiskey, Terroir Gin and Absinthe among our favorites), and this year the Alameda distillery celebrates four decades of existence. It all started in 1982 when a young German judge by the name of Jörg Rupf moved to UC Berkeley on assignment from his Ministry of Culture. Raised in the Black Forest, Rupf grew up distilling eau-de-vie from local forest berries—and quickly fell in love with California’s wide bouquet of produce. He soon began distilling pears, raspberries, cherries and even kiwis in his backyard. St. George Spirits was born. 

Then in 1997 an eager ex-nuclear engineer named Lance Winters knocked on his door with an audacious request: to hire him, which Rupf did. Soon Winters was convincing Rupf to begin distilling single malts—decades before the American Single Malt category would even be recognized. 

So it’s fitting Rupf, Winters and company are releasing their St. George Spirits 40th Anniversary Edition Single Malt to celebrate their 40 years of existence—being the first American craft distiller to reach this momentous landmark. Winters and Head Distiller Dave Smith tasted over 600 casks for this super limited release expression, with only 14 honey barrels of their single malt making the final cut—including California Sauternes-style and umeshu cask finished whiskies. All were pot-distilled between 1997 and 2017, meaning juice from some of St. George’s original ASM barrels are included in the blend. Bottled with a punch at 48% ABV, only 1,982 bottles of St. George Spirits ‘40th Anniversary Edition’ American Single Malt will be sold for an SRP of $500. $1,200

Westward ‘American Two Malts Chocolate Rye’

The first release from Westward’s superb Whiskey Club hit mailboxes early in the year, making eager fans of ASM celebrate like that galactic party scene at the end of Return of the Jedi. Only with whiskey. Launched in 2004 by Founder and Master Distiller Christian Krogstad, Westward’s goal has long been to craft an ASM that most deliciously reps the terroir of the Pacific Northwest. As an experienced brewer and winemaker Krogstad applied all he knows to the endeavor—which is where this Spring 2022 release from the Westward Whiskey Club, ‘American Two Malts Chocolate Rye’, was inspired.

“As former brewers our distillers know just how much flavor can be unlocked when grains are hydrated and kilned in the malting process,” Krogstad explains. “Caramelization and toasting brings out delicious notes from the malt that would otherwise not be present. Rye, too, is enhanced in this way, accentuating earthy spice and stone fruit notes to develop nutty biscuit flavors that race through the palate.”

Only 2.5% of chocolate roasted rye added to their grain bill was enough to add complex chocolate notes to this latest Westward ASM, giving American Two Malts Chocolate Rye a character—and color—worthy of its name. $110

10th Street Distillery ‘Peated Wine Cask Finish’

One of the true leaders of the American Single Malt revolution, 10th Street Distillery this summer dropped a new spin on their signature Peated single malt. For their aptly named Wine Cask Finish the well-awarded San Jose distillery starts with their lauded Peated expression—a very traditional, Islay Scotch-like single malt of the old leather and pipe tobacco world/ That’s initially aged in first-fill charred American oak bourbon casks and then completed with a second finish in French oak Pinot Noir casks from a local California vintner. The French wood smoothly tempers the smoke while also imbuing the ASM with whiffs of strawberry jam and brown sugar oatmeal—a unique profile that earned ‘Best Whisky in Show’ at the 2021 New York Wine and Spirits. 10th Street Distillery Peated Wine Cask Finish comes bottled at 50% ABV. $65

Bear Fight

We’re not ones to normally champion celebrity spirits, but this one feels different. Seth McFarlane is so obscenely wealthy from his Family Guy empire you gotta think this isn’t a money grab, but more because he just really likes the whiskey—so he joined Bear Fight as not only a stakeholder but also its Chief Storyteller. As Seth notes:

“There’s a lot of whiskey out there. So for me to put my name on it, you know it’s either great, or I’m getting paid a ton of money,” explains MacFarlane of his new American Single Malt. “Well, they’re paying me almost nothing which means Bear Fight is damn good whiskey. I don’t always stare off to the left side of a photo at something off-camera while holding a bottle, but when I do, that bottle is Bear Fight whiskey.” 

Sounds about right. Aged for at least three years in first-fill bourbon barrels, Bear Fight is then finished in peated-smoked oak and sherry casks. The idea being to converge the new-world flavors of American Whiskey and Bourbon with the old-world flavor notes and traditions of Scotch single malts. The result is a profile that offers bourbon notes of candied pecans and honey with the scotch wisps of sweet sherry, red apples and Islay peat. $40

Westland ‘Colere Edition 2’ Outpost Range

Few distilleries play with American terroir to the degree of Westland, who’ve carved a name for themselves among the ASM pioneers by continuously seeking new ways to incorporate local Pacific Northwest ingredients into their spirits. The Seattle distillery has investigated thousands of “unchartered” barley varietals, and have distilled over 20 different strains in just the last decade—most developed with Washington State University’s Bread Lab and local farmers.

You see this experimentation manifested most notably in their Outpost Range, where this summer Westland welcomed Colere Edition 2. For the second Colere in the new series Westland focused on a two-row winter variety of barley called Talisman, matured in used casks (42% second-fill ISC Cooper’s Reserve / 58% first-fill ex-bourbon) that will enhance the particular flavor notes of the Talisman. For Westland Colere Edition 2 look for strong notes of malted barley, followed by vanilla, brown sugar, bitter chocolate and lemon zest. Unfortunately there are only 3,000 bottles (50% ABV) made in 2022 of this small run whiskey available at $150 SRP. $145

Stranahan’s ‘Diamond Peak Bushmills Irish Cask Finish’ 2022

Every year annual releases from Stranahan’s write headlines, their Mountain Angel 10-Year and Snowflake among the most notable. But this year we preferred their Diamond Peak expression, which for 2022 gets an interesting twist of second aging in casks that used to hold Bushmills Irish single malt.

This is no two-week second aging, mind you—the Colorado distillery first ages their 100% malted barley ASM between two to seven years in American oak, and then adds another additional four years in the Bushmills wood. Stranahan’s then proofs the liquid with nearby Eldorado Springs Rocky Mountain water, crafting an ASM rich in notes of cereal and toffee. Stranahans now plans to make Diamond Peak a yearly, but still limited edition, expression — each time profiling a different, unique finish curated by Head Distiller Owen Martin. $70

Lost Lantern 2021 Single Cask #6: McCarthy’s 6 Year Old Oregon Peated

We’ll close out the ASM category with one of the best peated single malts—from Islay, India, America, Australia, doesn’t matter—of 2022. Lost Lantern Co-Founders Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski launched their endeavor to shine a light on smaller American distilleries, collaborating with them on limited run and single cask releases. It shouldn’t surprise that their project with McCarthy’s, the Godfathers of American Single Malt, would be such a stunner.

Nora and Adam walked Clear Creek Distillery’s rickhouses with McCarthy’s Master Distiller Joe O’Sullivan and Head Distiller Caitlin Bartlemay searching for the perfect cask for their collab and decided upon a McCarthy’s 6 Year Old Oregon Peated American Single Malt, distilled in Clear Creek’s Portland distillery, aged in third-fill Oregon oak and aged in both Portland and Hood River. However using Scottish malted barley and Islay peat, the finished product—one of the oldest whiskies ever released by McCarthy’s—is like a quintessential Islay whiskey filtered through a Pacific Northwest lens. The oils are thick, coating your mouth with a slippery smoky sheen, and layering your palate with waves of tobacco, bright pear and campfire memories. 

Lost Lantern Single Cask #6: McCarthy’s 6 Year Old Oregon Peated ASM is but one of seven single cask releases from six distilleries that Lost Lantern released in their Summer 2022 Single Cask Collection, and frankly all are worthy seeking—this just happened to be our favorite.

Not to mention, the Lost Lantern project and ethos of illuminating ambitious, handcrafted independent distilleries is a fantastic project to support. Only 248 bottles (55.6% ABV) of Lost Lantern Single Cask #6 were released at SRP of $140, with an almost as tasty McCarthy’s 3-Year Old Oregon Peated Single Cask available for $90. 

Follow Contributing Spirits Editor Nicolas Stecher on Instagram at @nickstecher and @boozeoftheday.

The arms race in the world of whisky (or would you call it a barrel race?) is one that tends to happen at two different paces, so to speak: Gradually, and then all at once.

Spirits mature and develop complexities, they hit the market, sometimes selling out quickly, and then the fun begins: Enjoying the finished product, of course.

To help make sense of it all, Whisky Advocate just released its list of the best whiskies of 2022, something rabid whisky enthusiasts and special-occasion sippers alike can appreciate.

From American single malts to Irish blends and a coveted release from industry titan Jack Daniel’s, Whisky Advocate got to work this year (as always) in a series of blind tastings of hundreds of releases.

Top-ranking bottles were scored on a scale of 100 according to quality, value and affordability. The resulting list showcases “the most exciting whiskies of the year,” Whisky Advocate Executive Editor David Fleming said.

“We’ve collected a list of bottles that are best in class for their style as well as great values that might otherwise be overlooked,” Fleming said. “Each of these whiskies generates excitement and marks a highlight across a year of tasting.”  

If it all seems like the perfect bottle awaits for your bar cart, carefully pore over the list below of the top 10 whiskies of the year, as selected by Whisky Advocate.

10. Nelson Bros. Reserve

The Nelson Bros. journey has been more than a decade in the making, and as a matter of fact, this is just the second of two releases bearing the Nelson Bros. name itself. The resulting whiskey delivers chocolate and spice on the finish, with vanilla malt aroma. 93 points, $60

9. Bruichladdich 8-Year-Old Islay Barley 2013

Spend any time among the craggy, beautiful, decidedly rustic coast of Islay and you’ll quickly realize it’s the land that makes the whisky as much as anything else. Whisky Advocate rightfully points out that this 8-year expression is plenty younger than other ultra-aged luxury whisky on the market, yet loses none of the character or quality. 94 points, $75

8. Limavady Single Barrel (0039)

Limavady stands apart in an Irish whiskey scene that continues to roar back to life, namely through a focus on single barrel releases using 100 percent malted Irish barley, like this one. First-fill bourbon casks do the heavy lifting, while sherry casks add a distinct sweetness on the palate and a warm finish. Keep an eye on Limavady for innovation in the world of Irish whiskey. 94 points, $50

7. Blue Note Juke Joint Uncut

Few whiskies go through a journey quite like the spirit that became Blue Note’s Juke Joint Uncut. The whiskey is the product of “survivor barrels” that made it through the collapse of Juke Joint’s rickhouse in a 2019 summer storm, barrels which were then exposed to extreme heat and thunderstorms while the wreckage was cleaned up. It’s remarkable that any bourbon even made it through, and the final product is a remarkable four-year whiskey. 92 points, $42.99

6. Midleton Very Rare 2022 Edition

Whiskey enthusiasts eagerly await the release of Midleton’s Very Rare expression each year, and it’s anyone’s guess which of the 38 editions consumers and collectors most prefer. In this case, the 2022 iteration blends Irish single-pot still and single-grain whiskies, aged in ex-bourbon American Oak barrels and ranging from 12 to 33 years in age. Call it a “very rare” masterclass in hitting just the right, ultra-delicate balance. 94 points, $200

5. Westward Cask Strength

Westward describes its Cask Strength as “unfiltered, upstanding and uncut,” perhaps a nod to its roots working to pioneer the American Single Malt category for a wider audience. The resulting 125-proof whiskey sticks with you, with a bold palate that’s utterly distinctive and of course, uniquely American. 94 points, $91.95

4. Dewar’s 12-Year-Old

Throw out what you might have thought of Dewar’s in the past, or rather, set aside the idea that all Scotch needs a price tag worthy of sticker shock. For just $30, Dewar’s is introducing a delightful, revamped take on its 12-Year-Old expression that drinks like a charm in an array of cocktails, or sipped neat. It punches above its weight. and then some. 94 points, $30

3. Barrell Vantage

Those who value a little variety in their blended bourbon will surely find something to appreciate in a wondrous bottle of Barrell Vantage. Mizunara casks, made of extremely rare Japanese Mizunara wood, impart deep woody, spicy notes that play nicely off French and toasted American Oak casks. It’s an approach that seems to state that fortune favors the bold. 95 points, $80

2. Redbreast Kentucky Oak Edition

What do you get when you take an Irish whiskey and age it in Kentucky bourbon barrels? Well, a groundbreaking whiskey, for starters, and the first release in a series of American Oak-aged whiskies from Redbreast. That American Oak imparts a sweetness that interacts nicely with more spiced notes from the copper pot still process. It’s a close runner-up to the top whiskey of the year from Whisky Advocate. 96 points, $95

1. Jack Daniel’s Bonded

Jack Daniel’s looms over the American whiskey scene (and indeed, globally) with the world’s best-selling American whiskey, No. 7. They still found time to spearhead a bottled-in-bond whiskey that passes muster every step of the way. The key with bonded whiskey?

It must hail from a single distillery and distillation season, be aged in a federally bonded warehouse for at least four years, and be bottled at 100 proof. Easier said than done, but the resulting spirit boasts bold notes of caramel, spice and oak for a distinctly amped-up Jack Daniel’s sipping experience. Best of all might be the fact that it’s a downright steal for the blend of quality and price. 97 points, $30

In September 2018, Maxim.com revealed the exclusive first look at Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Heritage Barrel Tennessee Whiskey. Now, fans of the 100-proof hooch that was named one of 2018’s best bottles by Whisky Advocate is returning for another limited edition run while supplies last.

Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller Jeff Arnett and his team selected less than 200 barrels of the latest batch of Single Barrel Heritage Barrel whiskey, which was aged in barrels that were crafted in the classic style pioneered by Jack Daniel himself in the company’s early days. And what’s more, the brand claims the new bottles are even better than they were last year, according to a statement announcing the re-release.

With an extra year aged at the highest altitude of the Jack Daniel Distillery’s warmest barrelhouse, this year’s iteration of Heritage Barrel will have a greater depth of color and character for fans of the original run to enjoy. 

The rich vanilla, oak spice and sweet caramel flavors are derived from a unique barrel toasting you won’t find in any other Single Barrel expression. Each heritage barrel is slowly heated to achieve a deeper, richer toasted layer before being charred, evoking the barrels of the distillery’s earliest coopers.

“The second release of Heritage Barrel will be everything that the first issue was, and then some,” Arnett added. “As the angels share grows, each drop becomes more precious and this whiskey is guaranteed to not disappoint.”

Jack Daniel’s limited-edition Single Barrel Heritage Barrel bottle will hit shelves in mid-October available in a 750ml size with a suggested retail price of $64.99.