July's Top Rated Whisk(e)ys

This July we had the opportunity to sample and review hundreds of whisk(e)ys from all over the world. These 10 were ranked highest by the Tasting Table!
Jul 31, 2016
  • 10
    79
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    Sweet
    The Easter Townships of Quebec, Canada is home to Domaine Pinnacle, a stone’s throw from Vermont. They’re famous for their award winning apple and ice cider but have recently branched out into spirits including this blended Canadian Whisky. It’s distilled and aged in small batches using 100% natural Canadian ingredients.
  • 9
    86
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    Sweet
    Blackfish Spirits Distillery in Auburn, Washington distills from locally grown grain. Their Brewer's Rye is made from malted rye and barley.
  • 8
    87
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    Fruity & Rich
    The Pulteney Distillery was built in 1826 on the northernmost area of mainland Scotland. Old Pulteney 17 Year predominantly contains whisky matured in ex-bourbon barrels, but also includes whisky matured exclusively in Spanish sherry casks--Pedro Ximenez and oloroso, in particular. This Highland single malt is non-chill-filtered and bottled at 92 proof. Note: This has been discontinued due to insufficient stock as of June 2017.
  • 7
    77
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    Sweet
    The story goes that David Nicholson was a grocer out of St. Louis who started selling his own bourbon in 1843. The spirit was popular and eventually the name was sold to Julian Van Winkle. In 2000, the brand was bought by Luxco who has been producing the bourbon ever since. Other than that we don't have much to say about this 100-proof Kentucky straight bourbon, but don't let that deter you from trying it!
  • 6
    83
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    Vanilla
    Double Diamond Limited Edition Rye 111 was distilled by Downslope Distilling on October 1, 2012 and aged two years in an American oak cask (cask no. WR-187).
  • 5
    89
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    Rich & Full Bodied
    OYO Dark Pumpernickel Rye Whiskey is distilled from dark rye grown in the Ohio River Valley. Produced by Middle West Spirits in Columbus, Ohio, this 90-proof whiskey has aged for at least 3 years in American oak.
  • 4
    82
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    Rich & Full Bodied
    Brothers Billy, David, Ben and Darian Kaufman founded their distillery as a way of creating jobs for the local farming community in Short Mountain, Tennessee. The grain used for their products is all grown locally with sustainable practices. Though known for their unaged whiskey, this is their first bourbon, aged 22 months.
  • 3
    92
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    Fruity & Vanilla
    This expression from Suntory's Yamazaki Distillery is a blend of various single malts that have aged in casks of American oak, Mizunara (Japanese oak), sherry oak, and French oak casks that previously held Bordeaux wine. Some peated single malt is also blended in. Released in 2014, Yamazaki Distiller's Reserve carries no age statement.
  • 2
    77
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    Smoky
    O'Begley has been making Irish-style whiskeys in Pittsford, New York since 2011. They use a mash bill of 75% unmalted barley, 15% malted barley, and 10% oats for this whiskey. "Dubh," or black, is the name of this expression and it is aged in new, charred oak barrels and bottled at cask strength.
  • 1
    92
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    Rich & Full Bodied
    During the years of 1999 to 2001, Sullivans Cove worked under the name of Highland Holdings. At that time, they employed Bill Lark (the godfather of Australian whisky and founder of Lark Distillery) as Master Distiller and Patrick Macguire (current Master Distiller) who produced some 600 barrels of whisky, 300 of which were sold as private investment barrels. Some of these owners, such as Heartwood and Trappers Hut, retained their barrels and bottled them privately for their own release. This French Oak Cask Single Malt (Barrel HH0556) matured and distilled by Bill Lark himself is surely a rarity.