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byPaul Kushnerupdated 0 Comments
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Welcome to a journey through the world of smooth whiskeys, where each sip promises a symphony of flavors and a velvet-like finish. Our curated list showcases the finest whiskeys, each renowned for their exceptional smoothness. Whether you’re a connoisseur or a curious newcomer, these selections promise to deliver a luxurious experience. Dive into our guide to discover the artistry and craftsmanship behind the smoothest whiskeys that elevate every occasion.
Auchentoshan 21-Year-Old
Photo Credit:auchentoshan.com
Auchentoshan 21 Year Old is a single malt Scotch whiskey that ages 21 years in American bourbon and Spanish sherry casks. The Auchentoshan Distillery in Scotland produces the whiskey.The aging process gives the copper-colored whiskey complex notes of gooseberries, vanilla, oak, and honey. Like other whiskeys on this list, Auchentoshan 21-Year-Old is exceptionally smooth and has a delicate mouthfeel, making it perfect for sipping neat.
Balvenie 14-Year-Old Caribbean Cask
Photo Credit:thebalvenie.com
Balvenie 14-Year-Old Caribbean Cask is a unique entry on this list because of its rum flavors. It’s a single-malt whisky that ages in traditional oak whiskey barrels for 14 years, but then finishes in barrels that previously held West Indian Caribbean Rum. The Balvenie Distillery in Dufftown, Scotland produces this whisky. It has prominent flavors of toffee and fruit.
Buffalo Trace Bourbon
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Buffalo Trace is a Kentucky Bourbon style of low-rye whiskey. The manufacturer – Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky– does not disclose how long they age the whiskey in new oak barrels.Buffalo Trace has a rich taste, less delicate than some of its competitors on this list. It is a sweet-tasting whiskey, with honey, caramel, brown sugar, and dried fruit and flavors.
Bushmills 21-Year-Old
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Bushmills 21-Year-Old is an Irish Whiskey that ages for a minimum of 19 years in Oloroso Sherry casks. The Bushmills Distillery is a 400-year-old whiskey producer in Northern Ireland. After aging the whiskey, the producers transfer it into Madeira casks for another two years. Unlike its sweeter competitors, the extensive aging process gives this whiskey a lot of depth and notes of baking spices and nutty raisins.
Glen Moray Elgin Classic
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Glen Moray Elgin Classic is single-malt Scotch whisky. Compared to some of the other entries on this list, Glen Moray Elgin Classic is more of a beginner’s whiskey. The Glen Moray Distillery, in Elgin, Moray, Scotland produces an entry-level Scotch without skimping on quality. The producers created a light, fruity, introduction to single malt. The distillery does not disclose how long they age this whisky.
Glenmorangie 18-Year-Old Extremely Rare
Photo Credit:glenmorangie.com
Glenmorangie 18-Year-Old Extremely Rare is an exceptional Scotch whisky that ages for 15 years in American Oak casts, and then finishes for three years in oloroso sherry casks. The Glenmorangie Distillery is in Taine, Ross-shire, Scotland. Glenmorangie 18 has a complex, warm, and rich taste with notes of marmalade, honey, fig, caramelized orange, and campfire smoke.
Redbreast 12-Year-Old
Photo Credit:redbreastwhiskey.com
Redbreast 12-Year-Old is one of the smoothest whiskeys you can find. It’s a single-pot, Irish still whiskey that is triple-distilled in copper stills. The producer – Irish Distillers in Dublin, Ireland – ages Redbreast for 12 years in bourbon, American Oak, Oloroso Sherry, and Spanish Oak butts. Compared to some of its competitors, it is a full-bodied, spicy whiskey. It has notes of fruit and toasted wood.
Jameson Irish Whiskey
Photo Credit:jamesonwhiskey.com
Few whiskeys have more name recognition than Jameson Irish Whiskey. Jameson is a triple-distilled, smooth Irish whiskey that has been around since the 1700s. The manufacturer is the Jameson Distillery in Dublin, Ireland. Jameson is a blend of pot still and fine grain whiskeys that age for a minimum of four years in oak casks. Jameson drinkers will notice its spice, nuttiness, vanilla, and slight notes of sherry from the casks.
Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
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Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is another classic smooth whiskey and one of the newer entries on the list. The producers, the Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versaille, Kentucky, started making it in 1996 at the old Labrot and Graham Distillery in the early 1800s.It has over 200 detectable flavor notes, including grain, wood, spice, fruit, cinnamon, citrus cocoa, coffee, and caramel. Woodford Reserve is a full-bodied whiskey with a rich taste and mouthfeel.
Westland Single Malt Whiskey
Photo Credit:westlanddistillery.com
Westland Single Malt Whiskey is a single malt whiskey from the Westland Distillery in Seattle, Washington. The producers make the whiskey with one hundred percent malted barley. It ages for a minimum of 40 months in American Oak and sherry casks. Westland is on the sweeter side and has flavors of almond nougat, creme brulee, black tea, white flower petals, and malted milk balls.
Henry McKenna 10-Year Single Barrel Bourbon
Photo Credit:heavenhilldistillery.com
Henry McKenna 10 Year Single Barrel Bourbon is a Kentucky bourbon whiskey that packs a punch at 100 proof. The Heaven Hill Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky produces it. It’s an amber-colored whiskey with a medium mouthfeel and flavor notes of oak, sharp spices, honey, burnt brown sugar, and caramel. Henry McKenna is on the spicier side.
Aberlour 16 Whiskey
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Aberlour 16-Year-Old Whiskey is a Scotch whisky that ages for 16 years in double-cask American Oak and sherry butts. The Aberlour Distillery, in Abelor, Strathspey, Scotland produces it. The extensive aging gives this whiskey deep, complex, floral, and spicy flavors with notes of plum and oak. It’s a full-bodied whisky with a smooth taste.
George Dickel 13-Year-Old Bottle-in-Bond
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George Dickel 13-Year-Old Bottle-in-Bond is a Tennessee whiskey that ages for 13 years in American Oak. The George Dickel distillery in Tullahoma, Tennessee manufactures the whiskey. It clocks in at a potent 100 proof and has a bold, full-bodied mouthfeel. George Dickel has some flavor notes of honey, vanilla, maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, and traces of citrus.
Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon
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Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon is a copper-colored, premium bourbon whiskey from Heaven Hill Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky.The whiskey ages in American Oak for an undisclosed amount of time. It has a light-to-medium mouthfeel and warm spice, caramel, nutmeg, honey, smoke, wildflower, nut, and oak flavors. It has a long, smooth, toasty finish.
Glenlivet 12-Year-Old
Photo Credit:theglenlivet.com
Glenlivet 12-Year-Old is a single-malt scotch whiskey that ages for 12 years in traditional and American Oak casks. The Glenlivet Distillery in Moray, Scotland produces it. Glenlivet has a complex flavor profile – you’ll notice a smooth blend of peaches, pears, vanilla, nuts, and spice. Compared to some of the bold and smokier whiskeys on this list, Glenlivet is a bright and lively whiskey.
Knob Creek 12-Year Bourbon
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Knob Creek-12 Year Bourbon is a copper-colored, small-batch, straight Kentucky bourbon whisky. The Jim Bean Distillery in Clermont, Kentucky produces it. As with its competitors on this list, the extensive 12-year aging process in American white oak barrels gives the whiskey a full-bodied, complex taste and medium-to-heavy mouthfeel with notes of oak, vanilla, caramel, leather, and pepper.
Knappogue Castle 1995
Photo Credit:knappoguewhiskey.com
Knappogue Castle 1995 is a triple-distilled, single-malt Irish whiskey that ages in bourbon wood barrels. Castle Grands Inc. produces it, selecting premium whiskeys from other distilleries like Bushmills. Knappogue Castle makes some of the most exceptional whiskeys on the market and this vintage is no exception. The whiskey is surprisingly soft with notes of malt, vanilla, and fruit.
The GlenDronach Allardice
Photo Credit:glendronachdistillery.com
The GlenDronach Allardice is a Highland single-malt Irish whisky that ages for 18 years in Spanish oloroso sherry casks. The GlenDronach Distillery in Forgue, Aberdeenshire, Scotland produces it. The extensive aging process gives this gold-colored whisky rich and complex flavor notes including stewed fruits, walnut bread, fudge brownie, cherry jam, and baking spices. This whisky packs a punch, and the finish is long and powerful.
The Macallan Old Cask Scotch
Photo Credit:themacallan.com
The Macallan Old Cask Scotch is a double-cask, Highland, single-malt scotch whisky that ages for 12 years in oak barrels. The Macallan Distillery in Craigellachie, Moray, Scotland produces it. Like most Macallan whiskys, the Old Cask Scotch is exceptionally smooth and displays complex flavor notes. This vintage is on the sweeter side and has notes of honey, baking spice, citrus, raisins, caramel, and ginger.
FAQs on Smooth Whiskey
What makes a whiskey ‘smooth’?
Smoothness in whiskey typically refers to a mellow, easy-to-drink quality with minimal harshness or burn in the throat. It often results from careful distillation and aging processes.
How important is aging to the smoothness of whiskey?
Aging plays a crucial role. Generally, longer aging allows for a more rounded, smooth flavor as the whiskey interacts with the wood of the barrels.
Can both expensive and affordable whiskeys be smooth?
Absolutely! Smoothness isn’t exclusively tied to price. Many affordable whiskeys offer a smooth, pleasant experience.
Is smooth whiskey suitable for beginners?
Yes, smooth whiskeys are often recommended for beginners due to their gentle and approachable flavor profiles.
Please drink responsibly, be fully accountable with your alcohol consumption, and show others respect.
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Written by Paul Kushner
Founder and CEO of MyBartender. Graduated from Penn State University. He always had a deep interest in the restaurant and bar industry. His restaurant experience began in 1997 at the age of 14 as a bus boy. By the time he turned 17 he was serving tables, and by 19 he was bartending/bar managing 6-7 nights a week.
In 2012, after a decade and a half of learning all facets of the industry, Paul opened his first restaurant/bar. In 2015, a second location followed, the latter being featured on The Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
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