Whiskey has succumbed to the endless scroll. New bottles come out constantly, and people buy them for that quality alone; novelty, these days, trumps flavor, especially when someone’s showing off on social media. And that’s led to a mountain of mediocre whiskies with no way to know whether any are worth buying.

Frankly, I’ve become exhausted by the mostly fruitless search for exciting, high-quality new whiskey. But it’s pushed me back to drinking the bottles that I know will never let me down—whiskey that’s delicious, easy to find, and well within budget.

These are bourbons, scotches, and other whiskies that have maintained their quality over the years, regardless of the fluctuations in age statements and inventory that have hit many distilleries. They are widely available, which has kept their pricing largely consistent, once you take moderate inflation into account. And they’re all just really, really good: bottles you can rely on to satisfy and delight no matter how many times you drink them.

What’s on your never-fail whiskey list? Tell us over at the New Wine Review’s Slack channel.

Everyday Whiskies to Seek Out

Best Everyday Bourbon and Rye

Wild Turkey Rare Breed Bourbon and Rye ($55)

It’s always a pleasant surprise to see these bottles on the shelf, next to good old 101 (which is also worthy of inclusion on this list, if money’s tight). The bourbon is a blend of 6-, 8-, and 12-year-old whiskey; the rye combines 4-, 6-, and 8-year-old whiskey; and both are bottled at barrel proof. There was a moment, when Rare Breed Rye dropped back in 2020, that demand seemed to outpace supply, but it didn’t last. Rare Breed is a batched product, and while some people claim that quality has gone down in recent years, the leading Wild Turkey expert says that isn’t the case. And I concur.

Four Roses Small Batch Select ($55)

This bourbon came out in 2019, so it’s still fairly new compared to the others on this list, but it more or less immediately cemented a permanent place on my shelf. Frankly, any of Four Roses’ core lineup would fit here, but this one happens to be my favorite: proofed a little higher, at 52 percent ABV, and available just about everywhere. That’s kept its price steady and the clout-chasers at bay, leaving more for the rest of us.

Maker’s Mark Cask Strength ($45)

While cask strength often means power at the expense of balance, in this case, the bourbon’s nutty warmth and sweet fruit flourish within a muscular restraint. This wheated bourbon retains its creaminess even at proofs as high as 114, and juxtaposes milk chocolate and cherries with savory leather, oak, and tea leaf. There might be sexier barrel-proof bourbons these days, but Maker’s Cask Strength is timeless.

Russell’s Reserve Bourbon ($40)

Longbranch aside, Wild Turkey releases nothing but bangers so, yeah, they have three bottles on this list. Russell’s Reserve is always 10 years old and 45 percent ABV—unless it’s a single barrel—and a reliably high-quality choice for an everyday drinker. The 6-year-old Russell’s Reserve rye is also excellent, but not as easy to find. And I do love an RR single barrel, but the price premium ($59) and more scattershot availability keeps it off this list.

Best Everyday Scotch

Glenfarclas 12-Year-Old ($75)

Some reasons to love Glenfarclas: it’s been owned by the same family since 1865. Its stills are heated by direct fire—a total anachronism that absolutely affects the flavor. And, yeah, that flavor is freaking awesome. If you like full-bodied, rich single malt that’s aged in beefy sherry casks—and you dislike the price, or pedestrian-ness, of Macallan—you will love Glenfarclas. Want something stronger? Look for Glenfarclas 105, which is 60 percent ABV, and honestly kind of dangerous in how easy it goes down.

Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban ($65)

A recent change to Glenmorangie’s flagship may be a harbinger of tough times for scotch, but that’s no reason to forgo buying this perennially awesome single malt, its elder sibling, which is 14 years old and finished in port casks. In addition to serving as the spirituous talent behind Beyonce’s new whiskey, SirDavis, Glenmorangie’s master distiller, Bill Lumsden, was also one of the first two people to practice cask finishing. Ergo, this is probably the best port cask-finished scotch that you can find everywhere.

Clynelish 14-Year-Old ($75)

While other Diageo brands like Lagavulin and Talisker have raised their prices considerably recently, this under-the-radar single malt remains a shockingly good deal. And good lord, it’s delicious. Waxy, fruity, just-ever-so-slightly briny. Most of the distillery’s output goes into blends (including many offerings from Compass Box; Clynelish is a favorite of founder John Glaser) which is why it’s so unknown, but I’ve never met a serious scotch drinker who didn’t love this whisky.

Best Everyday Japanese Whisky

Nikka Coffey Malt ($80)

Although there’s more Japanese whisky available now than any time in the past, most won’t make this list because it’s either too new and untried, or too expensive. Nikka’s Coffey Malt, though, fits the bill. The price has gone up since a decade ago, but not too much: it’s still one of the best deals in Japanese whisky. It also has one of the most appealing flavor profiles, one set apart from other Japanese single malts because it’s distilled in a column instead of a pot. This results in a fruity and honeyed sweetness, buoyed by an airy silky body.

Best Everyday Irish Whiskey

Teeling Single Grain ($50)

The core characteristics of single grain whiskey—creamy sweetness and a silky texture—are enriched and elevated by full maturation in Cabernet Sauvignon casks. It’s an unusual combination; grain whiskey is much more commonly treated as filler for blends, matured in second- or third-fill ex-bourbon barrels, which impart light flavor. When Teeling launched this whiskey in 2013, just after the company was founded, it set the tone for what was to follow: a vibrant new era of Irish whiskey that puts flavor first.

Green Spot ($60)

For a time the last soldier standing among a field of fallen single pot still whiskies, Green Spot has enjoyed a gratifying renaissance this century. And it’s spawned the revival, and genesis, of several Spot siblings: Red, Yellow, Blue, and Gold, featuring different ages, proofs, and maturation programs—and often much more limited availability. Green Spot, though, remains steadfast, as it has for all these years, boasting a sweet and spicy profile, mouth-filling body, and satisfying roundness.

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