TOP 100 SPIRITS of 2015 The best choices for your cocktail and glass this year. BY KARA NEWMAN aking the decision to double our annual Top 50 Spirits list was easy. Narrowing the list of stellar spirits down to an even 100? That was the hard part. Never before have there been so many great spirits from which to choose. It seems like I say that every year, but this year in particular, I’ve been lucky to sample a handful of spirits from distillers who’ve declared, “This bottle represents the apex of my experience.” MConsider, for example, Don Pancho Origenes Reserva Rum Aged 30 Years. After more than 50 years as a hired gun making rum for a wide range of companies, this was the rum that Francisco “Don Pancho” Fernandez yearned to bottle—and it’s delicious, redolent with toffee and spice. Another astonishing bottle: Angel’s Envy Finished in Port Wine Barrels, a sip-worthy magnum opus Bourbon from the late Lincoln Henderson. It’s difficult to not be in awe of these distillers. And as a critic, I’m deeply appreciative of their work. It’s also impossible not to declare the spirits class of 2015 as the best and brightest yet. Then again, there’s always next year. SANJAY O’VACY SANJAY TOP 100 SPIRITS 2015 American Born Moonshine Dixie (USA; Windy sings with honeysuckle sweetness up front, turn- Mulligan’s Bourbon (USA; Golden Bever- 90 Hill Spirits, Nashville, TN). A dead ringer for ing smoky, then fruity, with Sherry-like accents that Bourbon 92 age Group, Ballwin, MO). Despite the hokey Other American Southern-style sweet tea, this has just a hint of alco- eventually fade into a smooth vanilla-caramel exit. golf logo on the bottle, this four-year-old Kentucky hol to it. This dark amber whiskey has a steeped-tea Matured in former Bourbon and Sherry casks. Best Elijah Craig 23-Year-Old Single Barrel (USA; Bourbon was a pleasant surprise. Bottled in Mis- Whiskey scent and flavor and goes down ridiculously easily. Buy. Heaven Hill Distillery, Bardstown, KY). This souri and sold by Mulligan’s Grill, a golf-themed bar abv: 41.5% Price: $25 abv: 46% Price: $45 97 limited-edition bottling of rare extra-aged Bourbons and grill in Ellisville, MO, this is a light, balanced Hillrock Single Malt Whiskey (USA; Hillrock becomes more concentrated and rich when allowed sipper that features bold caramel with hints of or- Estate Distillery, Hudson Valley, NY). This The Dalmore Cigar Malt Reserve (Scotland; 97 to open up in the glass: look for coconut, vanilla, oak ange and grapefruit peel, almost like a head start on bold and flavorful sipping whiskey is made from New Whyte & Mackay Americas, North Miami, FL). 95 and a dry finish accented with cocoa and leather. citrusy cocktails. Best Buy. York State-grown malt smoked for eight hours over Aged in a series of barrels—first American oak, then Just a splash of branchwater, and this is a sipper to abv: 40% Price: $24 Scottish peat (an 18-hour version is in the works transferred to a former oloroso Sherry cask and fin- savor. too). Bold smoky-sweet campfire notes lead into tof- Canadian Whisky ished in used Cabernet Sauvignon barriques—this abv: 45% Price: $200 Parker’s Heritage Collection 2014 Release fee, chocolate and espresso before drying to a gentle Scotch is intended “to complement a fine cigar,” but (USA; Heaven Hill Distillery, Bardstown, KY). exhale of smoke. Crown Royal Hand Selected Barrel Canadian it would be an outstanding dessert accompaniment 92 Old Grand-Dad Bonded Bourbon (USA; Jim This 13-year-old straight-wheat whiskey is a limit- abv: 43% Price: $100 Whisky (Canada; Diageo, New York, NY). One too. Look for dusty cocoa and lots of Sherried dark 98 Beam Distilling, Clermont, KY). This high- ed-edition release to raise funds for ALS research, of 50 component whiskies that go into the standard fruit, like figs and dates, wrapped in caramel and 94 rye, 100-proof Bourbon features a brown-sugar in honor of Heaven Hill Master Distiller Emeritus Swift Single Malt Texas Whiskey (USA; Swift Crown Royal blend, this complex, delicious sipping baking tones that linger on the spicy finish. aroma and bold, mouthwatering notes of cocoa, Parker Beam. It’s full of luxe caramel charm, with Distillery, Dripping Springs, TX). Light gold in whisky starts out with maple and vanilla aromas abv: 44% Price: $125 95 hazelnut and toffee, finishing long. Smoother than vanilla, crème brûlée and a touch of orange peel. It’s the glass, this single malt made in Texas from Scot- that then transition into enticing notes of tropi- expected from a high-proof whiskey, it holds up bottled at cask strength; be prepared to add plenty of tish malted barley is scented with apples, pears and cal fruit and Sherry on the palate. It finishes long, Glenfiddich The Original Single Malt Scotch to dilution, still showing lots of flavor even with water to enjoy, otherwise it’s quite fiery. Woodford Reserve Rye (USA; Brown-Forman, vanilla. On the palate, these notes are echoed along warming and spicy. Whisky (Scotland; William Grant & Sons, 94 branchwater added. Launched with new orange- abv: 63.7% Price: $90 Louisville, KY). The latest addition to the with a lightly charred, smoky note and a touch of co- abv: 51.5% Price: $55 New York, NY). This burnished gold whisky, ideal 93 and-green label in January 2015. Best Buy. Woodford line has a sweet aroma, evoking allspice, coa mixed with the vanilla. It has a silky, oily feel. for a dessert pairing, boasts pleasant scents of va- abv: 50% Price: $25 root beer and caramel. The palate shows plenty of abv: 43% Price: $55 Lot No. 40 Canadian Rye Whisky (Canada; nilla, apple and pear. On the palate, look for custardy vanilla and caramel but finishes bracingly dry and Pernod Ricard USA, New York, NY). This full- sweetness, a faint banana note and a rich vanilla 97 Angel’s Envy Finished in Port Wine Barrels spicy, with bitter chocolate, clove and a tongue- Westland Sherry Wood American Single Malt bodied blended whisky hits all the right notes, start- fade that’s perked up by a spark of sweet cinnamon. 94 (USA; Louisville Distilling Company, Louis- numbing touch of cayenne. 95 Whiskey (USA; Westland Distillery, Seattle, ing with plenty of rich caramel and oak tones on the This limited-edition bottling was inspired by a 1963 ville, KY). Luxe and velvety, this port-finished Bour- Rye Whiskey abv: 45.2% Price: $38 WA). Made from 100% malted barley and aged in nose and palate, plus touches of butterscotch, spicy single-malt release, which Glenfiddich credits as the bon shows bold caramel and toffee up front, mor- former sherry casks, this amber whiskey has a dry, cinnamon and clove. It finishes long, slightly oily first single-malt Scotch to be released worldwide. phing into notes of sherry, honey and rounded red A Midwinter Night’s Dram (USA; High West Russell’s Reserve Rye Small Batch 6 Year Old bracing scent brushed with dried apricot and brown and mouthfilling. Sip it straight or add a splash of abv: 40% Price: $200 fruit. Plush and very soft, it needs little more than Distillery, Salt Lake City, UT). This limited- (USA; Wild Turkey Distilling, Lawrenceburg, sugar. Just a splash of water brings out custard-like sweet vermouth. 98 92 an ice cube. edition blend of straight rye whiskeys finished in KY). The warm and fruity scent is reminiscent of notes, alongside vanilla, chamomile tea and stone abv: 43% Price: $45 The Balvenie DoubleWood Aged 12 Years Sin- abv: 43.3% Price: $46 French oak and former port barrels offers huge, fresh apples drizzled with caramel. On the palate, fruit, finishing with a wisp of smoke. gle Malt Scotch Whisky (Scotland; William 94 rounded notes of rich toffee, dark fruit, orange peel spicy cinnamon leads, softening to caramel midpal- abv: 46% Price: $70 Caribou Crossing Single Barrel Canadian Whis- Grant & Sons, New York, NY). Silky and downright Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel Bourbon and mulling spices. It’s almost like a wintry whiskey ate and finishing with sizzling cinnamon, clove and ky (Canada; Sazerac Company, Louisville, KY). succulent, this Scotch is made with two types of oak 91 (USA; Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort, punch in a bottle. The language on the label winks at cayenne. Adjusted with water, a saline note emerges, St. George Single Malt Whiskey Lot 14 (USA; Dark honey in the glass, this whisky boasts maple casks—as the DoubleWood name suggests—but it’s 93 KY). Relatively smooth for 100 proof, this light, Shakespeare, making this a special gift for a theater creating a pleasing salted caramel-like sipper. St. George Spirits, Alameda, CA). St. George and cedar aromas in the bouquet. Expect lots of really all about the influence of the ex-Sherry cask. 93 silky Bourbon shows bold vanilla and toffee, plus a lover as well as a whiskey lover. abv: 45% Price: $42 releases its single malts annually. The 2014 edition spice on the palate, including clove, cinnamon, nut- Aromas suggest golden raisins and dried apricots. mouthwatering baking-spice finish. It’s a good sip- abv: 42% Price: $80 has a golden hue and morphs from tropical notes of meg, cayenne and black pepper, all smoothed over by The silky palate starts out moderately smoky, but per with an ice cube, or mix into a top-flight old Dad’s Hat Pennsyl- pineapple, lemon peel, coconut and vanilla to lightly a ribbon of maple and honey.