Looking for the perfect sipping whiskey to tantalize your taste buds? Nothing beats exploring the unique flavors and aromas that different types of whiskey can offer.
But whiskeys aren’t created equal. Different types of whiskey have their own unique characteristics and production methods. So it takes some exploring to develop personal tastes and preferences.
And we’ve got the perfect list to help you embark on a journey to explore and appreciate the unique qualities of this popular alcoholic beverage.
1. Bulleit Bourbon
If you’re looking for a deep, spicy, and smooth sipping experience, try Bulleit Bourbon. It features a unique blend of corn, rye, and barley malt, giving it bold-tasting notes and sweet oak aromas.
When you sip Bulleit Bourbon, you’ll get oak, maple, and nutmeg taste notes while the finish is long and dry with a light toffee flavor.
If you want to enjoy the spiciness, you can serve Bulleit Bourbon with a little ice or a splash of water.
2. Lagavulin 16 Single Malt Scotch
Don’t mind a deep smoky flavor that hits your nose from the first sip? Then Lagavulin 16 Single Malt Scotch will activate the whiskey-tasting hobby in you.
Lagavulin Distillery, established in 1816, is behind this iconic drink. Lagavulin 16 Single Malt Scotch is one of the world’s most highly-regarded single malt whiskies. The distinctive smoky and peaty flavor results from the distillery’s traditional production methods of drying malted barley over a peat fire.
It’s aged in oak casks for at least 16 years. Sipping this drink gives a powerful peat taste, hints of oak and malt, and a medium-length spicy finish. The dry earthly notes are offset by hints of cherry sweetness, making it a well-balanced drink.
Most people enjoy it neat or with a few drops of water.
3. Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
The Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is a good sipping whiskey, even for beginners. It has a soft and classic Bourbon flavor, making it ideal for anyone who prefers to stick to less adventurous tastes.
It’s aged for six to seven years, but the bottle doesn’t have an age statement.
Sipping Woodford Reserve gives a complex aroma of rich dried fruit and faint vanilla and tobacco spice. It has toffee, chocolate, and spicy notes with a smooth, creamy finish.
The most common serving suggestions for Woodford Reserve are straight, on the rocks, a little water, ginger ale, and club soda.
4. Johnnie Walker Blue Label
The Johnnie Walker Blue Label doesn’t need an introduction to whiskey fans. Its palette is as bold as its popularity.
It’s matured in oak casks for at least three years to achieve the deep amber color and rich spice flavors.
Johnnie Walker Blue Label aroma has notes of spice, vanilla, and honey. It has tasting notes of peat, dark chocolate, and hazelnuts with a long smoky finish.
If you want the best Johnnie Walker Blue Label sipping experience, serve it neat or with ice-cold water.
5. Michter’s US-1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon
When you want a Bourbon with a light and pleasant aroma, try Mitchter’s US-1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon. It’s a whiskey without much public information on the distillation process and age, but it still has great reviews.
Mitchter’s US-1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon starts with sweet corn, subtle burnt caramel, honey, and vanilla taste and blends wonderfully into black pepper spice and dry oak notes. The finish is long and lingering with a warm sensation. You can expect oak, honey, and pepper notes to linger a while in your mouth after the sip.
Most Mitchter’s US-1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon lovers recommend serving it neat or on the rocks.
6. Westland Peated Whiskey
Westland Peated Whiskey is matured in oak casks and first-fill ex-bourbon casks for a minimum of three years. However, the rich and pleasant flavors would make you think it’s more mature than its age.
Westland Peated Whiskey starts with an orange-lemon peel aroma and blends into a smoky peat one as you sip more. Its mid-palate is smoky peanut shells, malt, and leafy mint with a long, peaty, fruity finish.
The peaty notes linger in the mouth after the sip, but it’s still balanced enough to sip neat or on the rocks.
7. Colonel E.H. Taylor Straight Rye
The Colonel E.H. Taylor Straight Rye is a good option if you want a no-corn sipping whiskey. Its recipe uses rye and malted barley.
Colonel E.H. Taylor Straight Rye will fill your nose with an aroma of dried fruit, freshly cracked pepper, and fresh dill. As you sip, you’ll get various savory and sweet flavors, including cinnamon, rye spice, and dark fruits. The finish is dark, with an oaky dryness that lingers for a while.
Colonel E.H. Taylor Straight Rye is best served straight.
8. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon is one of the best sipping whiskeys worth trying. It’s made up of corn, rye, and malted barley. Fans describe it as mouth-filling and deeply satisfying.
The taste is sweet with caramel and vanilla, then blends into cinnamon, clove, oak, and cherry notes.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon is a 12-year-old Bourbon bottled straight from the barrel. While it has an alcohol percentage close to 70, it is strong but not overpowering.
You can serve it neat or on ice and sip slowly to experience the rich flavors.
9. Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve Bourbon
Knob Creek whiskey is aged in white oak barrels with maximum char for nine years to achieve a russet muscat color and signature sweetness. It’s made of 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% barley.
The aroma is a combination of honey, cinnamon, and allspice. The taste includes vanilla, caramel, and nutty flavors. The finish leaves with a little spicy and bitter taste that lingers briefly.
10. High West Campfire Whiskey
High West is a good sipping whiskey to try when you want something unusual yet delicious. It’s a fine blend of scotch, bourbon, and rye whiskeys. It’s aged four to eight years.
The aroma starts with soft peaty and fruity notes and blends into sweet cone, toffee, and caramel notes.
When you sip High West Campfire Whiskey, you’ll taste a sweet, spicy, and smoky mix of honey, vanilla, and toffee with a touch of fruits like blueberries.
You can’t miss the smoke and peat finish, but they’re not overpowering. They linger after every sip and might still be there on your next sip. The finish also has a touch of cedar, light clove, and maple notes.
You can sip the whiskey straight or add a little water.
11. J&B Rare Blended Scotch Whisky
J&B Rare is a perfect sipping whiskey if you like a classic drink. It’s a blend of 42 Scotch single malts and grains and Speyside whisky.
When sipping, you’ll smell toffee apples, walnut, cedar wood, malt, and orange zest. The palate is a balance of fruity, toffee, and malt with a finish of oak and cinnamon notes.
The flavor is pleasant enough to enjoy J&B Rare near or on the rocks.
12. Redbreast 12-Year-Old Single Pot Irish Whiskey
Redbreast 12 is made up of a mash of malted and unmalted barley. It’s matured for 12 years in both Bourbon-seasoned American Oak barrels and Oloroso Sherry seasoned Spanish oak butts.
Redbreast 12 has a mix of fruity and spicy aroma notes. The palette has fruity, sherry, and spicy notes. The finish is long and lingers for a while after the sip.
Conclusion
We have compiled a list of 12 great sipping whiskeys to suit every preference. Whether you want to stick with a familiar favorite or try something new, we’ve got you covered. Let us know which one is your favorite and which one you’re excited to try next!
