Whiskeys Worth The Price Tag

First released in 2008, this whisky is aged exclusively in refilled ex-sherry casks. With a latitude on the Orkney Islands mirroring that of Anchorage, Alaska and Oslo, Norway; the angels share is just a little less per year than most of Scotland (1% vs 2% per year,respectively). This means more whisky can age for a longer time at Highland Park.

Unlike the 25 Year Old Highland Park which ages half of its whisky in 1st fill ex-sherry casks, the 30 Year Old is aged entirely in refill ex-sherry casks so as not to overwhelm the classic Highland Park signature.

The Macallan selects European and American oak barrels, dry them for 2 years then send them to Spain. Once there, they have Sherry producers age their Oloroso Sherry in them for 2 more years before they get sent to the distillery for the barrels to be filled. In twenty five years, the angels take more than their share. When you open up a bottle of The Macallan 25, THAT is the special occasion, do not wait for one.

Legend has it that the head of the Mackenzie clan saved King Alexander III, King of Scots, from a stag during a hunting expedition. The Mackenzie clan eventually came to own The Dalmore Distillery for almost a century and The Stag symbol is proudly displayed on their bottles. This bottling is aged in SIX different casks: bourbon, sherry, Marsala, Madeira, port, and cabernet sauvignon.

The Portwood 21 Year is aged initially in American ex-bourbon barrels before finishing their aging in Port pipes. A pipe is the name of the oak container and holds 500-600 liters where an American oak barrel is only about 120 liters. The port finishing will give the whisky a pinkish hue.

A limited, annual release with just 50 casks bottled each year, Midleton Very Rare is a blended whiskey comprised of single pot still and grain whiskeys. The whiskeys are between 12-25 years old and are hand selected from the vast inventory at Midleton by their Master Distiller, Barry Crockett.

Talisker 25 Year Old is an annual release from Talisker Distillery on the Isle of Skye. As part of Diageo's series of six 'Classic Malts' (along with Cragganmore, Dalwhinnie, Glenkinchie, Oban and Lagavulin), Talisker gained a loyal following in the 90s. The malted barley used to make Talisker whisky is peated at a medium level.

Elijah Craig’s claim to fame was discovering the benefits of ageing bourbon in charred oak barrels. When Heaven Hill originally released this whiskey in the mid 1990s, it was touted as the oldest single barrel bourbon in the world. Its cult status and shortage prior to the 2015 release has tripled this bourbon’s retail price.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label is blended with old and young whisky and from rare stock containing extinct distilleries. According to parent company Diageo, only one in 10,000 casks makes the cut for inclusion in the blend. Released in 1992, Johnnie Walker Blue has become one of the most recognizable and prestigious whiskies on the market. (SRP $249.99 for 750ml)

The James Buchanan Whisky Co. was founded in the late 1880s by its namesake in an effort to create Scotch blended from mature, lighter flavored whiskies as an alternative to the dark, heavier-tasting ones dominating the market at the time. Red Seal is their premium blend, inspired by the Royal Household whisky made for the court of King Edward VII in 1901. The blend is a selection of Islay and Highland malts (including a rare expression of Dalwhinnie) as old as 21 years as well as mature grain whiskies. Its ornate, etched amber bottle is presented in a gate-fold box.