Start spreading the news: WhiskyFest New York on november 16th will be the premier whisky event of the year. After all, it’s WhiskyFest’s 20th anniversary, and there will be over 115 tables tables pouring more than 480 whiskies to celebrate. And scotch lovers, rejoice—WhiskyFest New York will have a truly stupendous selection of single malts, blended malts, and blends for you to explore. These highlights are just a small portion of what’s on offer, so be sure to check out the full list —and don’t miss our guide to WhiskyFest , which will help you get the most out of...

The 2017 release of the most coveted whiskeys in the world has arrived: the annual allocation of Pappy Van Winkle and Old Rip Van Winkle will be available for sale starting this month, although the exact timing will vary by state and you’ll have a tough time finding them on the shelf at most stores anyway. The 2017 lineup for Pappy and Old Rip Van Winkle, which are both made at the Buffalo Trace distillery , is as follows, with recommended retail prices noted:

Old Rip Van Winkle 10 year old bourbon 53.5% ABV, $60 Van Winkle Special Reserve 12...

American whiskey drinkers can easily locate the proof of their favorite whiskey on the bottle label, but more elusive is its barrel entry proof, the alcohol strength at which it enters the wood barrel. You see, before they dump it into barrels, distillers are legally required to reduce the proof of their bourbon or rye distillate by adding water. Reducing the proof in turn increases the total volume of liquid. Thus, the lower the proof of the whiskey, the more barrels that are required, adding greatly to the final production cost.

In 1962, the U.S. Treasury raised the legal maximum...

Whisky lovers will descend on New York’s Marriott Marquis on november 16 for the 20th anniversary of WhiskyFest. With nearly 500 whiskies (and even a few other spirits and wine) available, there will be something for everyone, whether you’re a scotch lover , a craft whiskey fan, a whiskey veteran looking to try the next big thing, or a bourbon aficionado. If bourbon is your drink of choice, you’ll have a vast array to choose from—so where do you start?

Many folks will head straight for the Pappy Van Winkle table—especially since the 2017 releases are just coming out. If...

“There’s nothing quite like fresh blueberries, and Knoxville has some of the country’s finest. It’s only natural that Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey pairs perfectly with them,” says Gates Otsuji, co-founder of...

“Much like the city of New Orleans, whose Bywater District lends its name here, this Bywater Spritz is a collection of seemingly disparate ingredients which fit together in a mellow and surprising way,” says Gates Otsuji, co-founder of...

“At first glance, this Seelbach Cocktail appears to be a whiskey cocktail, but it’s the first cousin of the classic Champagne Cocktail,” explains Kent Westmoreland, head mixologist at...

“The Fare Thee Well is smooth, tangy, and features a subtle hint of sweetness from the fruit,” says Michael Loomis, corporate beverage director for...

This week brings a mixed bag of new whiskies, from limited-edition scotch to a whole range of Japanese blended malts and a couple of craft whiskeys.

Ardbeg is releasing a well-aged single malt called Twenty Something. Available in limited quantities for the Ardbeg Committee and at U.S. retailers, Twenty Something costs $450 and is made up of whiskies aged at least 23 years. This is remarkable not only because of its age, but because Ardbeg Distillery operated very infrequently during the 1980s and ’90s, even closing down completely between 1981 and 1989. So stocks this old are tiny, and this...

Few commodities are as precious to 21st-century life as convenience and dependability, and whisky subscription services combine the two to benefit your bar. What’s better than returning home to find a new bottle of whisky that literally has your name on it?

For a monthly fee, these subscription services send curated whisky picks right to your doorstep. Each offers a unique spin that’s sure to appeal to a particular type of dram devotee. Whether you’re new to the world of whisky or looking to expand your base of knowledge and experience, these services can provide guideposts for the onward journey....

I n order to bag a rare bourbon, Ricky Nash endured ridicule. The Georgia native walked into liquor stores and asked for “Elmer T. Lee.” The store associates laughed. He asked for “Pappy,” and they teased the whiskey enthusiast like he was stalking a unicorn.

Nash tracked Internet rumors and the online secondary market, drove across several states, and looked inside more than two dozen liquor stores in search of any limited edition or hard-to-find bourbon. Then, one day in late november, it happened. He stepped inside one of the stores he’d been eyeing and there was the entire Van...

We need to talk about how many bottles of whisky you own. Can we be honest with each other? First there were too many for the drinks shelf, then you couldn’t close the closet doors, then they took over the basement den—and now you spend more time searching for whiskies than enjoying them. It’s time to start keeping track of what you’ve got. Whisky collectors are capable of amassing thousands of bottles, and a well-catalogued collection is one you can enjoy in an instant.

You need a Whisky Inventory

An inventory that records which site, room, box, or bin holds...

Bay Area whisky lovers had a very good weekend: on Friday, oktober 6 ^th , WhiskyFest San Francisco brought hundreds of whiskies from around the world to San Francisco’s Marriott Marquis.

As usual, eager bourbon lovers flocked to the Old Rip Van Winkle table early on, where Julian and Preston Van Winkle were personally serving up Old Rip Van Winkle 10 year old and 12 year old, as well as the Pappy Van Winkle 15 and 20 year old bourbons. (VIP ticket holders got a chance to try the elusive Pappy Van Winkle 23 year old.) The Buffalo Trace Antique...

Kids aren’t the only ones who love all the candy at Halloween. And the perfect way to heighten the enjoyment of goodies you snag from your children’s trick-or-treat stash (or the leftovers you have from “accidentally” buying too much) is with whisky. But any old whisky and candy combo won’t do. Circus peanuts and Laphroaig ? No thanks.

“A skilled combination of flavors can produce a whole that’s greater than the sum of its parts,” says Tom Geniesse, founder and owner of Bottlerocket Wine & Spirit in New York City . Every oktober since 2006, Geniesse and his team hold...

Big flavors abound in this week’s new releases. First up, Basil Hayden’s is launching Dark Rye, a new whiskey that will be a part of the core line. Read the label closely and you’ll notice a few things that stand out: this is a blend of Kentucky and Canadian ryes, and it includes port-style wine from California. Huh? Don’t feel silly for being confused—it  is unusual. According to the Alcohol & Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau (TTB) , which regulates these things, a non-straight rye whiskey can include up to 2.5% wine by volume and still be labeled as a...

Many whisky enthusiasts frown upon flavored whisky in the same way craft beer lovers dismiss hard root beer, or java drinkers scoff at hazelnut coffee. It’s a fair position, given that until now the majority of flavored whiskies have been saccharine-sweet spirits with a well-earned reputation of catering to neophytes and entry-level drinkers. But flavored whisky isn’t all bad. A new breed of innovative offerings, crafted with real ingredients rather than factory flavorings, offer surprisingly delicious drams. They’re taking aim at discerning drinkers, seeking open-minded converts among their ranks.

Taste It: 6 Flavored Whiskies Worth Trying

“We see a lot...

Flavored whisky is rarely taken seriously, but that’s starting to change as serious distillers eschew the sugar in favor of an all-natural approach. Open your mind, and take a walk on the flavored side, where real ingredients like chocolate, maple, and cherry add spice and profile worthy of consideration.

Alberta Rye Dark Batch —$30 The addition of about 1% sherry wine gives this blend of rye and bourbon whiskies a touch of prune and candied dates. Offers a pleasant richness and supple body quite unlike traditional Canadian ryes.  Whisky Advocate score: 87 points (Fall 2017)

Charbay R5 Hop Flavored Whiskey...

Once upon a time, air travel was a glamorous affair where well-dressed men and women kept their shoes on and idly sipped Manhattans before strolling straight to the gate for takeoff. Nowadays, travelers are lucky if they get to grab some overpriced mixed nuts or a can of Coke before being corralled to their cramped seats.

It doesn’t have to be that way, though. There are options for whisky lovers seeking a good drink and a little dignity before taking off. Next time you’re traveling through one of these airports, check in a little early and relax with a whisky...

Without barrels from the U.S., Scotch whisky as we know it could not exist. Nine out of ten casks used to mature whisky in Scotland today initially matured bourbon or Tennessee whiskey. By law, barrels can be used only once for bourbon, but they still have plenty of flavor to give. Thousands of empty used vessels are shipped to Scotland every year to impart delicious sweetness, scented vanilla, and golden honey flavors to whisky destined for the bourbon barrel. Yet, finding scotch aged in only bourbon requires a keen eye.

Try It: Bourbon Cask-Matured Scotches That Cost $100 or Less...

The scotch industry depends on bourbon to provide flavorful casks for maturing malt and grain whiskies. But among the many bourbon-cask matured scotches out there, which ones provide the best bang for your buck—and allow you to taste the influence of both types of whisky in one glass? Consult this list to find a great bottle that connects America and Scotland.

Glenmorangie Original —$54, 93 points One of the all-time greats, the complexity of this elegant whisky reveals itself with flavors of citrus, lilting florals, vanilla, and peach.

Kilchoman 100% Islay 7th Edition —$100, 89 points Get the full grain-to-glass...