They might not all be available at your local liquor store, but these are some of the whiskies you should try and track down. The World Whiskies Awards recently named all of their 2014 winners, and these are some of ones that took home medals.
World’s Best Single Malt
Sullivans Cove French Oak Cask
The World’s Best Single Malt doesn’t come from Scotland or Japan, it comes from a small distillery in Tasmania. Sullivans Cove French Oak Cask features nice toffee notes and a bit of campfire smoke.
World’s Best American Whiskey
Balcones Brimstone Resurrection
Not for the faint of heart, Balcones Brimstone Resurrection clocks in at 64.50% ABV. Crafted in Texas, the whiskey is just one in the distillery’s line trying to define “Texas whiskey.”
World’s Best Rye Whiskey
Thomas H Handy Sazerac
Any whiskey that is described as having notes of whipped cream and cotton candy sure gets our attention. The $250+ bottle isn’t cheap, but it sure sounds worth it.
Best Irish Pot Still Whiskey
Redbreast 15 Years Old
One of the few on the list that we’ve been lucky enough to try, Redbreast 15 is definitely deserving of this title. And since it finally became available stateside not too long ago, you can even have the chance of finding a bottle.
World’s Best Flavored Whiskey
Sons of Liberty Pumpkin Spice
We don’t usually dabble too much in the flavored whiskey world, but we have had a few that were surprisingly good. Sons of Liberty Pumpkin Spice is reminiscent of cinnamon pastries with a nice alcohol burn and is clearly one we would give a go.
World’s Best Blended Whiskey
The Lost Distilleries Blend
This blend from Scotland is approachable and perfectly balanced. Along with that lovely peat, you’ll get a bit of fruitiness, some clove, and other notes that meld together wonderfully.
Best American Bourbon
Colonel E. H. Taylor Single Bourbon Barrel
If you’re a bourbon man, here’s your white whale. Named after the founder of the bourbon industry, E. H. Taylor Single Barrel is sweet with some tobacco-like spice characteristics. The bottle is even designed after Edmund Haynes Taylor’s original design from over a century ago.
Here are the rest of the winners, and if you want to try some of them, you can get a few samples from Masters of Malt.
