Gift-giving season has finally arrived! While some folks are busy trimming trees and baking cookies, we’re making our whiskey shopping lists and checking them twice. Over the years, we’ve had the great pleasure of tasting thousands of whiskeys and discovering a wide range of flavors. With that in mind, our recommendations this year are listed by flavor rather than by style.
This list takes a closer look at fruity whiskey. Recommendations include limited-editions released this year, as well as some of our all-time favorites. Along with our flavor graph, you can find more details like bottle descriptions, expert tasting notes, and community ratings by clicking on each spirit link. Note: prices listed are suggested retail prices in the US. If you’re elsewhere in the world be sure to check for availability in your area.
Fruity Whiskey
Fruity whiskeys can be found in a variety of styles from bourbon to single malt Scotch whisky. Sometimes those flavors are rich and fruity with notes of orange peel, dates, and figs. But there are other whiskeys that display more fresh fruit tastes like pears, apples, or tropical fruits. You can find these whiskeys and more by filtering by flavor within the Distiller app.
Light & Fruity
You’ll find many blended whiskeys that have light and fruity whiskey flavors, but there are some American whiskeys that fit the brief as well.
True Story Finished Bourbon ($59.99)
springtime flavors of white peaches and mixed berries
The Glenlivet Rum & Bourbon Fusion Cask Selection ($99.99)
moderately sweet with dried fruit flavors
Bernheim Barrel Proof Wheat Whiskey ($64.99)
summery fruity cobbler alongside baking spices and breakfast flakes
Bushmills 12 Year Single Malt ($59.99)
creamy vanilla pudding & honey followed by chocolate covered berries and figs
Smoky & Fruity
Smoky and fruity whiskey flavors can be found in bottles made by our mates across the pond, but you can find some US examples as well.
Benriach The Smoky Ten ($59.99)
salty smoke complimented with apricots and candied orange peel
FEW Chicago Smokeworks ($50)
cherrywood smoke, bright red fruits, and malty flavors
Johnnie Walker Black Label ($29.99-34.99)
vanilla, citrus fruits, and golden raisins surrounded by smoky malt
Jameson Black Barrel ($37.99)
charred barrel notes balanced with apples, citrus, and toasted grains
Rich & Fruity
Rich and fruity whiskeys often are made with wine barrel finishes to obtain those decadent flavors. These drams make wonderful nightcaps.
Waterford Cuvée Koffi ($89.99)
earthy barley and black tea notes balanced with cherries, pineapple, and coconut
High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 12 ($149.99)
grassy rye notes highlighted with rich dark berries & vanilla
Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Bourbon Finished in Port Wine Barrels (2024 Edition) ($229.99)
rich dried fruits, warm spices, and caramel-covered popcorn
Redbreast 18 Year ($249.99)
dates, orange peel, and vanilla pair nicely with toasted barrel spices
Of course, there are dozens of additional fruity whiskey suggestions that we could make — hundreds, in fact! If you’re ready to dive deeper, you to discover them all with our Flavor Search feature available to all Distiller Pro users. You could even dive a little deeper and search for a whiskey with many flavors like apples, spice, smoke and honey. Hint: Oban 14 Year fits the bill!
With Distiller, you’ll always know what’s in the bottle before you spend a cent. Rate, Review and Discover spirits! Head on over to Distiller, or download the app for iOS and Android today!
