There seems to be something to celebrate every day of the year these days, from World Whisky Day to World Knitting Day. Don’t get me wrong, any excuse to celebrate is a good thing, but some days are more meaningful than others. The 4th of July may have different meaning for different people, but it is a significant day of the year and gives me a chance to put my American tastes to the fore. This year for me has been a memorable year for American Whiskey, there has been more American whiskey launched in the UK than ever before and in the USA the proliferation of craft distilleries continues. Here are four bottles that I think are the best value bourbon of all time, the best release this year by a long shot, a classic and a curve ball - all of which you’re going to want to try!
The Best Value Whisky of all Time: Woodford Reserve
This is brilliant value and also brilliant quality. With rich caramel and vanilla flavours, the corn flavours really shine. There is still a touch of spice to keep things interesting and it is so smooth considering it is at 43.2%. This is on special offer frequently in the UK, so look out for it in Ocado and Sainsbury’s where it can be found for only £25 a bottle! Usually it is a little more than that, but I still think it represents great value. The Reserve makes a very good whiskey sour and old fashioned and if you’re looking for something a bit different then the Rye Woodford makes incredible Manhattans too.
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 43.2%
Find it Here: UK £36.94 // US $36.99
The Best Release This Year: Whistlepig Boss Hog VIII LapuLapu’s Pacific
This has been a long time coming. I first tasted this in November last year at the IWSC awards ceremony in London with a big bunch of Scotch whiskies and it really shone through. It has big bold flavours but at the same time there is finesse and elegance and great complexity. It is 17 years old and has quite a high abv, but the alcohol is so well integrated that the depth of flavour still shows well. Big, rich caramel and baked orchard fruits, caramelised banana and demerara sugar mix with dark chocolate and soft spice. It’s a blockbuster, but well worth it.
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 52.4%
Find it Here: UK £675 // US $899.99
The Classic: Elijah Craig
Elijah Craig were the first to char barrels in making their whisky, and it has become a classic over the years. So popular in fact that they have had to discontinue their 12 year old release as the pressure on stocks is so high. They replaced it with this brilliant expression. Made in very small batches is oozes smoothness at a reasonably high abv. With flavours of marmalade, honeycomb, baked apples and a dusting of cinnamon and charred oak on the finish, there is a lot to like here. It’s a great introduction to top end bourbon if you’re exploring American whisky, and not so pricy that it can’t find it’s way into the odd cocktail, and the cocktail would thank you for it.
Size: UK 700ml // US 750ml
ABV: 47%
Find it Here: UK £42.94 // US $33.99
The Curve Ball: Never Say Die
Never Say Die is a relatively new brand on our shelves. It is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon (meaning it has had more than 2 years aging). But what makes this different is it’s matured in the UK. The barrels are shipped from the USA, aged and bottled in the UK. It’s a belter of a whiskey, made up from 75% corn, 21% rye and 4% malted barley, with a very high abv, the flavours of vanilla, citrus and spice with leather and caramel all shine through. It’s as close to an English Bourbon as we’ll see. Made in very small batches, there is still some of barrel number four left, but they only made 226 bottles! I suspect, that future releases will be as good as this one.
Size: 700ml
ABV: 47%
Find it Here: £78.90
Words by Colin Hampden-White
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