Top Summer Whiskeys

Lost Irish is the debut release from entrepreneur Neil Sands and Irish whiskey ambassador and author Tim Herlihy in partnership with Casa Lumbre. It is a blend of all three styles of Irish whiskey – grain, malt, and pot still — matured in casks sourced from Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, Oceania, and South America. It is bottled at 40% ABV with a release in select U.S. markets as of November 2021 with plans for further expansion in 2022. (SRP $39.99)

Nikka Days is a blended whisky primarily made with Coffey grain and non-peated Miyagikyo malts along with a small amount of Coffey malt whisky and Yoichi peated malt whisky. Overall, it is lightly peated and bottled at 80 proof. Introduced to the EU market in fall 2018. It debuted in the US as of July 2020 in select markets with a larger expansion expected in 2021.

Located less than 20 miles southeast of Edinburgh, Glenkinchie is one of three remaining distilleries in the area called the Lowlands. They only have two stills at the distillery, but they are fat and large producing over 1 million liters per year. The size and shape of the still lends the spirit to be light in nature as it comes off the still.

Glendalough is an independent distillery founded by five friends that has lead the craft revival in Ireland. Having made a splash with their poitín styles, this double-barrel whiskey is a step in a new direction. It's made from a mash bill of malted barley and corn distilled in Coffey stills. It's matured in ex-bourbon American oak barrels and then finished in first-fill Spanish oloroso sherry casks from Montilla. (SRP $34.99)

Traveller Whiskey was made in collaboration with American singer/songwriter Chris Stapleton and Buffalo Trace Distillery. After experimenting with 50 different blends, Blend No. 40 was selected for bottling under the supervision of Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley. Bottled and blended at Buffalo Trace Distillery at 90 proof, this blended whiskey is available nationwide beginning January 1, 2024. (SRP $39.99)

Suntory Whisky Toki is a blend of selected malt and grain whiskies from the Hakushu, Yamazaki, and Chita distilleries. Unlike their previous blended expressions that focus on malt from Yamazaki as the key component, Toki highlights Hakushu malt aged in American oak and balances that with grain whisky from Chita distillery. Single malts from Yamazaki that have aged in American and Spanish oak complement the blend.

Launched in fall 2024, Nectarosity is one of two new additions to the Compass Box core collection joining Orchard House and Peat Monster. Among the parcels of whisky in this blend is single grain whisky from Girvan as well as Clynelish malt whisky aged in custom-toasted and charred oak which was seasoned with new make grain whisky. Whiskies aged in first-fill bourbon and palo cortado sherry-seasoned casks are also incorporated in the blend. Available nationwide beginning September 2024. (SRP $64.99)

First introduced into the market in 2005, this is the first wheat whiskey released in the US. The mash bill is predominantly winter wheat with corn and malted barley taking supporting roles. Recently (Spring 2014) this whiskey has gone from having no age statement to having one of 7 years, quite the reverse of what large whiskey brands are releasing.

Produced at Starward Distillery in Melbourne, Australia, Two-Fold is a double grain whisky made from wheat (60%) and malted barley (40%), each distilled and matured separately in Australian red wine barrels before being blended and bottled. First released in Australia in 2018, it is bottled at 80 proof.

BEARFACE Triple Oak is a Canadian whisky brand released by the Mark Anthony Group. The brand sources single grain whisky from distilleries in Canada which have aged in American oak ex-bourbon barrels for seven years. Then the whisky is transferred to French oak barrels which held Bordeaux-style red wine from British Columbia winery Mission Hill. Finally, the whisky finishes its maturation in air-dried virgin Hungarian oak barrels. Available across Canada from fall 2018 with international markets to follow.