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Whisky Advocate Top 20 Whiskies of Year!

Each year, Whisky Advocate Buying Guide reviewers collectively sample hundreds of whiskies. These include rare and extremely limited releases, as well as new and emerging labels that will find their way to shelves across the nation. To determine their Top 20, they begin by looking only at whiskies that rated "outstanding" (90 points or higher on Whisky Advocate's 100-point scale). However, the Top 20 is not simply a collection of their highest-rated whiskies, because many of those are so limited they would be impossible for most readers to locate or purchase. Therefore, in addition to quality (based on score), their selection also prioritizes value (based on price) and availability.

An important step in gauging the true merit of these whiskies is blind tasting review by a panel of international reviewers. The review panel tasted the eligible whiskies in a series of blind tasting flights to arrive at the final list. The panel did not know the identity of the whiskies being tasted—not their producer, country of origin, age, nor price. The average rating from the blind tasting panel supersedes the original Buying Guide rating. The individual reviewer rating will remain noted in the Buying Guide for the record. The final decision for placement considers average score, price, and availability.

The Top 20 is a selection of whiskies worthy of attention. The list includes great values that might otherwise be overlooked, whiskies that are best in class for their style, and highly accomplished bottles consumers should be looking for. Most importantly, each of these whiskies generates excitement and marks a highlight across a year of tasting.

20 items in this collection.

Each year, Whisky Advocate Buying Guide reviewers collectively sample hundreds of whiskies. These include rare and extremely limited releases, as well as new and emerging labels that will find their way to shelves across the nation. To determine their Top 20, they begin by looking only at whiskies that rated "outstanding" (90 points or higher on Whisky Advocate's 100-point scale). However, the Top 20 is not simply a collection of their highest-rated whiskies, because many of those are so limited they would be impossible for most readers to locate or purchase. Therefore, in addition to quality (based on score), their selection also prioritizes value (based on price) and availability.

An important step in gauging the true merit of these whiskies is blind tasting review by a panel of international reviewers. The review panel tasted the eligible whiskies in a series of blind tasting flights to arrive at the final list. The panel did not know the identity of the whiskies being tasted—not their producer, country of origin, age, nor price. The average rating from the blind tasting panel supersedes the original Buying Guide rating. The individual reviewer rating will remain noted in the Buying Guide for the record. The final decision for placement considers average score, price, and availability.

The Top 20 is a selection of whiskies worthy of attention. The list includes great values that might otherwise be overlooked, whiskies that are best in class for their style, and highly accomplished bottles consumers should be looking for. Most importantly, each of these whiskies generates excitement and marks a highlight across a year of tasting.

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Ardbeg 'The Spectacular' Single Malt Scotch Whisky - ForWhiskeyLovers.com
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Compass Box Crimson Casks Blended Malt Scotch Whisky - ForWhiskeyLovers.com
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Lagavulin 12 YO The Ink of Legends 2023 Special Release 750mL - ForWhiskeyLovers.com
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Bruichladdich 'Re/Define Eighteen' 18 Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky - ForWhiskeyLovers.com
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Knob Creek Bourbon x Rye Blended Whiskey - ForWhiskeyLovers.com
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Bushmills 10 Year Old Private Reserve Bordeaux Cask Finish Irish Single Malt - ForWhiskeyLovers.com
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Heaven Hill Straight Bourbon Grain To Glass 6 Year - ForWhiskeyLovers.com
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Angel's Envy Cask Strength Bourbon - ForWhiskeyLovers.com
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Bardstown Bourbon Co. 'Collaborative Series Amrut' Blended Whiskey - ForWhiskeyLovers.com
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Starward Australian Whisky Single Malt '100 Proof' - ForWhiskeyLovers.com
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Westland 'Wine Cask Finish' American Single Malt Whiskey - ForWhiskeyLovers.com
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2XO The Kiawah Blend - ForWhiskeyLovers.com
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Bernheim Original Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey A224 - ForWhiskeyLovers.com
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Booker's 'Springfield Batch' 2024-01 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey - ForWhiskeyLovers.com
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Glenmorangie The Nectar 16 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky - ForWhiskeyLovers.com
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Laphroaig Elements 2.0 Islay Single Malt Scotch - ForWhiskeyLovers.com
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Redbreast Missouri Oak Edition Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey - ForWhiskeyLovers.com
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Still Austin 5 Year Old Red Corn Bottled In Bond - ForWhiskeyLovers.com
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Still Austin 5 Year Old Red Corn Bottled In Bond

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Virginia Distillery Co. Brewer's Coalition Hardywood Gingerbread Stout Cask - ForWhiskeyLovers.com
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Wild Turkey 'Jimmy Russell's 70th Anniversary 8-Year-Old' Kentucky Straight Bourbon - ForWhiskeyLovers.com
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