Top 10 Best Whiskeys in the World

Distilled at the Macallan distillery in Craigellachie, Speyside, Scotland, the 25 Year Sherry Oak is matured exclusively in hand-selected sherry-seasoned oak casks from Jerez, Spain — the defining characteristic of Macallan's house style. The result is a whisky of extraordinary richness: dried fruits, orange peel, dark chocolate, ginger, and a long warming spice finish. It has received near-perfect scores from every major spirits publication and is considered one of the essential benchmarks of single malt Scotch.

Produced at Suntory's Yamazaki distillery near Osaka — Japan's oldest whisky distillery, founded in 1923 — the 18 Year is a blended single malt that showcases the facility's extraordinary range of cask types: mizunara oak, sherry, bourbon, and wine casks all contributing to a uniquely complex profile. Tasting notes include plum, fig, clove, coconut, and a honeyed sweetness that is unmistakably Japanese in its delicacy. Jim Murray awarded it 97.5 points in his Whisky Bible 2015 edition, triggering a global shortage that has persisted for years.

Made at the Glenfiddich distillery in Dufftown, Speyside, Scotland — the world's best-selling single malt — the 21 Year Gran Reserva finishes its long maturation in Caribbean rum casks, adding a tropical sweetness that is unlike anything else in the Speyside portfolio. Tasting notes span banana, toffee, vanilla, citrus zest, and a warming oak spice finish. It has won multiple gold medals at the International Spirits Challenge and the International Wine and Spirits Competition.

Released annually as part of the coveted Buffalo Trace Antique Collection from the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, William Larue Weller is an uncut, unfiltered wheated bourbon that typically clocks in between 120 and 135 proof after 12 or more years in barrel. The high proof amplifies the already intense profile of dark caramel, ripe cherry, tobacco, leather, and baking spice in ways that watered-down bottlings cannot match. It consistently receives scores above 95 from every major publication and sells out within minutes of release.

Produced at the Midleton Distillery in County Cork, Ireland, by Irish Distillers, Redbreast 21 Year is the flagship of the single pot still Irish whiskey category — a style unique to Ireland, combining malted and unmalted barley in a copper pot still. The 21 years of maturation in a combination of ex-bourbon American oak and ex-Oloroso sherry butts produces extraordinary depth: orchard fruits, dark chocolate, toasted nuts, cinnamon, and a creamy texture that is distinctively Irish. It won the World Whisky of the Year title at the 2022 World Whiskies Awards.

Blended at Suntory's facilities using whiskies from the Yamazaki, Hakushu, and Chita distilleries, Hibiki 21 Year is a masterpiece of Japanese blending art — the craft of creating complexity and harmony from dozens of individual casks that might each be extraordinary on their own. Notes of rosewood, sandalwood, dried berries, white chocolate, and a long silky finish reflect the influence of rare mizunara oak casks unique to Japan. It has won the World's Best Blended Whisky title multiple times at the World Whiskies Awards.

Distilled at Ardbeg distillery on the Isle of Islay, Scotland, Uigeadail (pronounced "oog-a-dal") is a non-age-statement expression that combines ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks to balance the distillery's legendary heavily peated, phenolic smoke with a rich sweetness. Tasting notes include smoked dark chocolate, espresso, dried fruits, sea salt, and a finish that is simultaneously medicinal and warming. Jim Murray named it World Whisky of the Year in 2009 and it earned a score of 97.5 — a result that shocked the Scotch whisky establishment and put Islay on the world map.

Released annually as part of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, Eagle Rare 17 Year is produced at the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, from an undisclosed low-rye mash bill. The extended 17-year aging in new charred American oak barrels produces a deep amber whiskey with complex notes of oak tannins, vanilla, leather, dark fruit, and a dry, long finish that bourbon enthusiasts describe as perfectly calibrated. It has won gold medals or Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition virtually every year it has been released.

Produced at The Balvenie distillery in Dufftown, Speyside, Scotland, the 21 Year PortWood spends its final months of maturation in casks that previously held tawny port wine, imparting a distinctive dried fruit and sweet spice character to the existing honeyed, vanilla-rich Balvenie base. Malt master David Stewart — who has worked at the distillery since 1962 — developed the finish technique that is now widely imitated across the industry. Tasting notes include dried apricot, toffee, cinnamon, rose petals, and a warm, rounded oak finish. It has won multiple awards at the International Spirits Challenge.

Distilled at the Macallan distillery in Craigellachie, Speyside, Scotland, the 25 Year Sherry Oak is matured exclusively in hand-selected sherry-seasoned oak casks from Jerez, Spain — the defining characteristic of Macallan's house style. The result is a whisky of extraordinary richness: dried fruits, orange peel, dark chocolate, ginger, and a long warming spice finish. It has received near-perfect scores from every major spirits publication and is considered one of the essential benchmarks of single malt Scotch.

Produced at Suntory's Yamazaki distillery near Osaka — Japan's oldest whisky distillery, founded in 1923 — the 18 Year is a blended single malt that showcases the facility's extraordinary range of cask types: mizunara oak, sherry, bourbon, and wine casks all contributing to a uniquely complex profile. Tasting notes include plum, fig, clove, coconut, and a honeyed sweetness that is unmistakably Japanese in its delicacy. Jim Murray awarded it 97.5 points in his Whisky Bible 2015 edition, triggering a global shortage that has persisted for years.

Made at the Glenfiddich distillery in Dufftown, Speyside, Scotland — the world's best-selling single malt — the 21 Year Gran Reserva finishes its long maturation in Caribbean rum casks, adding a tropical sweetness that is unlike anything else in the Speyside portfolio. Tasting notes span banana, toffee, vanilla, citrus zest, and a warming oak spice finish. It has won multiple gold medals at the International Spirits Challenge and the International Wine and Spirits Competition.

Released annually as part of the coveted Buffalo Trace Antique Collection from the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, William Larue Weller is an uncut, unfiltered wheated bourbon that typically clocks in between 120 and 135 proof after 12 or more years in barrel. The high proof amplifies the already intense profile of dark caramel, ripe cherry, tobacco, leather, and baking spice in ways that watered-down bottlings cannot match. It consistently receives scores above 95 from every major publication and sells out within minutes of release.

Produced at the Midleton Distillery in County Cork, Ireland, by Irish Distillers, Redbreast 21 Year is the flagship of the single pot still Irish whiskey category — a style unique to Ireland, combining malted and unmalted barley in a copper pot still. The 21 years of maturation in a combination of ex-bourbon American oak and ex-Oloroso sherry butts produces extraordinary depth: orchard fruits, dark chocolate, toasted nuts, cinnamon, and a creamy texture that is distinctively Irish. It won the World Whisky of the Year title at the 2022 World Whiskies Awards.

Blended at Suntory's facilities using whiskies from the Yamazaki, Hakushu, and Chita distilleries, Hibiki 21 Year is a masterpiece of Japanese blending art — the craft of creating complexity and harmony from dozens of individual casks that might each be extraordinary on their own. Notes of rosewood, sandalwood, dried berries, white chocolate, and a long silky finish reflect the influence of rare mizunara oak casks unique to Japan. It has won the World's Best Blended Whisky title multiple times at the World Whiskies Awards.

Distilled at Ardbeg distillery on the Isle of Islay, Scotland, Uigeadail (pronounced "oog-a-dal") is a non-age-statement expression that combines ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks to balance the distillery's legendary heavily peated, phenolic smoke with a rich sweetness. Tasting notes include smoked dark chocolate, espresso, dried fruits, sea salt, and a finish that is simultaneously medicinal and warming. Jim Murray named it World Whisky of the Year in 2009 and it earned a score of 97.5 — a result that shocked the Scotch whisky establishment and put Islay on the world map.

Released annually as part of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, Eagle Rare 17 Year is produced at the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, from an undisclosed low-rye mash bill. The extended 17-year aging in new charred American oak barrels produces a deep amber whiskey with complex notes of oak tannins, vanilla, leather, dark fruit, and a dry, long finish that bourbon enthusiasts describe as perfectly calibrated. It has won gold medals or Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition virtually every year it has been released.

Produced at The Balvenie distillery in Dufftown, Speyside, Scotland, the 21 Year PortWood spends its final months of maturation in casks that previously held tawny port wine, imparting a distinctive dried fruit and sweet spice character to the existing honeyed, vanilla-rich Balvenie base. Malt master David Stewart — who has worked at the distillery since 1962 — developed the finish technique that is now widely imitated across the industry. Tasting notes include dried apricot, toffee, cinnamon, rose petals, and a warm, rounded oak finish. It has won multiple awards at the International Spirits Challenge.