6 Best Whiskeys, According to a Spirits Expert

"Uncle Nearest" was the nickname for Nathan Green, an enslaved person who was a founding figure of Tennessee whiskey. Tennessee whiskey, like bourbon, is made primarily from corn and aged in new charred oak but sees an extra step: charcoal filtration before aging, giving it a softer overall expression. This whiskey is quite versatile — it makes a fantastic whiskey sour but is also wonderful on the rocks, where the whiskey’s luxurious apricot-and-caramel notes really shine through.

Compass Box is an iconoclastic Scotch whisky blender based in London. This expression was their first release, and it remains some of their best liquid. It’s made from a blend of "grain" whiskies, which are lighter than those used to make single malts. Hedonism is an unsurprisingly luxurious drinking experience with an ethereal fruitiness and wonderful mouthfeel. This is one to pour neat and sip slowly.

"Single Malt" refers to a whisky that’s made at a single distillery from 100% malted barley. This results in a more idiosyncratic expression when compared to a blend, which can be more consistent year after year. Lagavulin is located on the Scottish island of Islay, known for producing intensely smoky and peaty whiskies. This special release is true to style, with powerful smoke on the nose and gently sweet citrus and pear elements on the palate. Best to sip this with a small splash of water to open everything up.

I know what you’re thinking — "Why would anyone bother with a non-alcoholic spirit?" Hear me out. Not everyone drinks alcohol. Whether they’re taking a break or never touch the stuff, lifestyles that exclude alcohol are increasingly normal. And even for those that do drink alcohol, it’s essential to have a non-alcoholic yet flavorful option when making lower-proof cocktails. Spiritless Kentucky 74 is made similarly to other whiskies: by aging a high-proof spirit in oak barrels. The alcohol is then removed via distillation and the resulting liquid is then blended and bottled. This will never be a replacement for traditional whiskey, but when incorporated with other ingredients in cocktails, it’s a worthy stand-in for the higher-octane stuff.

Whisky might not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of Wales, but this whisky is one of my all-time favorites. It’s made in a single malt style and finished in casks that were previously used to make Madeira, a fortified wine from the Portuguese island of Madeira. This elegant whiskey gives rich floral-buttery notes with a plush texture on the palate. You’ll want to sip this neat or incorporate into an exceedingly elegant old fashioned.

It’s been nearly a century since Japan learned whisky production from the Scots, and now they make some of the best in the world. The Yamazaki distillery is located on the outskirts of Kyoto and this expression is aged in Japanese, American and Spanish oak, imparting a rich complexity that’s hard to match. While this bottle may be a bit pricey and hard to track down, it’s well worth it. Drink this neat or in a classic Japanese highball.