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The top 10 best value for money American whiskeys

Demand for American whiskey has hit a 50­-year high, and within a category thriving from the continued growth of cocktail culture, the craft movement, and ardent consumer interest in brown spirits, quality is key. Which expressions offer the most bang for buck?

Demand for American whiskey has hit a 50­-year high – we pick out some of the market’s best bottlings

The Spirits Business held its annual American Whiskey Masters last month, where an experienced panel of judges recognised the best bottlings in the business.

Looking across multiple categories, from single malt to moonshine, Bourbon to rye, a wide range of whiskeys were awarded the top accolades of Master and Gold medals for their quality.

The individual scores of each entrant have not been revealed, however these are 10 of the highest rated medalists in the competition, in no particular order.

While some expressions are not standard priced, our judges have given each American whiskey listed here the seal of approval for offering excellent quality within their respective price categories.

Click through to the following pages to view the top 10 best value for money American whiskeys of 2017.

Woodford Reserve Double Oaked

Price: approx US$63
The first Master medals of the competition were found in the Bourbon – Super Premium round. Brown-Forman-owned Woodford Reserve Double Oaked won unanimous praise from the panel for its “silky, deep, intense and complex” character. The whiskey is first matured in new charred white oak barrels before finishing in a bespoke heavily toasted, lightly charred barrel.

Ole Smoky Blue Flame Moonshine

Price: approx US$42
Produced by Ole Smoky Distillery in Tennessee, Ole Smoky Blue Flame Moonshine secured a Master medal in the Moonshine & Other Un­-Aged Whiskeys flight. The spirit won praise from the panel for its “hot, zesty and peppery profile”. “I would love to see more of this sort of product,” one judge remarked. “I was pleasantly surprised; this is a very under­appreciated category.” Bottled at 64% abv, Ole Smoky Blue Flame Moonshine is the distillery’s strongest moonshine yet.

Balcones Blue Corn Bourbon

Price: approx US$95
Master medallist Balcones Blue Corn Bourbon was described as a “storm in a glass”, with “a lot of chocolate on the nose” as well as “dark fruits, polished leather, and spices”. Produced in Texas by Balcones Distillery, this Bourbon is distilled from a blue corn mash and aged in new charred American oak barrels before being bottled at 64.5%.

Dead Guy Whiskey

Price: approx US$50
Rogue Ales & Spirits’ “deep and malty” Dead Guy Whiskey is brewed and distilled using the same four grains that are used to make the producer’s Rogue Dead Guy Ale. Presented within a flight of Single Malt – Aged up to 7 Years expressions, Dead Guy Whiskey secured a Master medal for its efforts. “This is not necessarily what you would associate with American whiskey, but this category is stunning,” one judge noted.

Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel

Price: approx US$55
Bottled at 65% abv – cask strength – Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel attracted a Master medal in the Bourbon – Ultra Premium flight. Created at the Buffalo Trace Distillery, the liquid was described as “whiskey on steroids” by one judge, who added: “It shows that if you pay more, you can get more flavour.”

Westland Sherry Wood

Price: approx US$84
Aged in former Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks hailing from Tonelería del Sur in Montilla, Spain; the “rich and smoky” Westland Sherry Wood was awarded a Master medal in the Single Malt – Aged up to 7 Years flight. The whiskey is the third addition to Westland Distillery’s portfolio, based in Seattle, Washington.

 

Rebel Yell Small Batch Reserve

Price: approx US$30
Rebel Yell Small Batch Reserve secured a Gold in the Bourbon – Aged up to 7 Years round for its “complex nose” and “good depth”. Made at the Bernheim distillery by Heaven Hill on behalf of Luxco, the whiskey is produced according to the original Rebel Yell recipe hailing from 1849, and bottled at the slightly higher abv of 45.3%

Peat Week 2016

Price: approx US$80
To celebrate their love of peat, Westland Distillery throws an annual ‘Peat Week’ event spanning events, parties, and dinners – and the release of a commemorative whiskey. This particular bottling has a mash bill made up of at least 51% malted barley and has been aged in new charred oak barrels. The “delicate and floral” Peat Week 2016 was awarded a Master medal in the Single Malt – Aged up to 7 Years round.

Old Forester Statesman Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Price: approx US$45
Finding success in the Bourbon – Super Premium flight, Brown-Forman-owned Master medalist Old Forester Statesman Kentucky Straight Bourbon was deemed to be a “solid, sweet, and fruity Bourbon”. “Distillers seem to be much more adventurous with flavours in this price bracket, which is really exciting to see,” one judge remarked. “And others are creating brilliantly made ‘typical’­ style Bourbons, which are utterly delicious, full of flavour and complexity, and well worth spending your money on.”

Wild Turkey Rye

Price: approx US$45
Gruppo Campari-owned Wild Turkey Rye secured a Gold medal in the Rye – Premium category. The expression has a mash bill comprising 51% rye, 37% corn and 12% malted barley, and is aged in “alligator” charred barrels before being bottled at 40.5% abv. “I thought this was very elegant and approachable,” one judge noted.

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