Whiskeys

July 12, 2020

The Bear loves whiskey, and drinks mainly bourbon and scotch. Rye is a recent addition to his world. This page lists some of The Bear’s favorite whiskeys, considering both taste and price. The prices will vary depending on your location and type of store.

The first two numbers in each row are average customer ratings and the cost based on the Total Wine website. When there were fewer than 6 reviews, I used the median to minimize the influence of outlier ratings. When there were no reviews, I put in ?.?. The list is for the most part sorted according to customer ratings and price, but The Bear imposed his own judgment at times. The bolded one are the Bear’s “go to” whiskies – ones he buys and stocks frequently.

The Bear recommends adding a drop or two of water to the whiskey because doing so “releases the flavor”. Alternatively, you can add a small ice cube.

Scotch
4.4   $50   Balvenie 12-year Double Wood.  This is The Bear’s “go-to” scotch.  It is a Speyside single-malt that tastes great and, with a little shopping around, can be found at a reasonable price for the quality.  It is matured in oak casks initially, then transferred to Spanish oak sherry casks. https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/balvenie/balvenie-doublewood-12-year-old-whisky/?srh=1

4.3   $43   Johnnie Walker Double Black  This is a blended scotch that is yummy with a great price point.  https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/johnnie-walker-double-black-whisky/

4.8   $70   Oban 14-Year   A West Highland single-malt.
https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/oban-14-year-old-whisky/?srh=1

4.6   $60   Macallan 12-year Double Cask https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/the-macallan/the-macallan-12-year-old-double-cask-whisky/?srh=1

4.6   $70   Dalwhinnie 15 Year Old  A Highlands single-malt. https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/dalwhinnie-15-year-old-whisky/?recommended_by=2571

4.5   $65   The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14-Year-Old Single Malt  This scotch is matured for 14 years in oak casks, then finished in casks that had previously held Caribbean rum.
https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/balvenie/balvenie-14-year-old-caribbean-cask-whisky/?srh=1

4.2   $47   Glenfiddich 15-Year Old Solera  Another single-malt Speyside that is matured in several types of casks. https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/glenfiddich/glenfiddich-15-year-old-solera-whisky/?srh=1

4.9   $95   The Glenlivet 18-Year Another single-malt Speyside that is matured in two types of oak casks.  https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/the-glenlivet-18-year-old-whisky/?srh=1

4.1   $30   Monkey Shoulder   A blend of three Speyside single malts. https://www.masterofmalt.com/search/#search=Monkey%2520Shoulder&page=1&sort=_score&direction=desc

4.4   $180   Johnnie Walker Blue Label  This is another blended scotch.  It has an amazing quality, but is high priced.  It is not an “every day” scotch given the price; it is best saved for a special occasion and is one you need to try at some point in your life.
https://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/johnnie-walker/johnnie-walker-blue-label-whisky/?srh=1

Rye
4.5   $40   Basil Hayden’s Dark Rye
4.2   $86   Angel’s Envy Rye (this one is much better than the rating suggests)
4.5   $30   Knob Creek Rye
4.5   $25   Rittenhouse Rye 100
4.2   $16   Old Overholt Rye
4.2   $32   Woodford Reserve
4.4   $70   WhistlePig 10 Year Straight Rye
4.3   $26   George Dickel Rye
4.3   $41   Michter’s 10-Year Single Barrel Rye

Bourbon
4.1   $50   Angel’s Envy Bourbon
4.4   $30   Woodford Reserve
4.4   $44   Woodford Reserve Double Oaked
4.6   $28   Knob Creek
4.8   $32   Basil Hayden’s
4.5   $28   Elijah Craig
4.5   $36   Willet, Pot Still Reserve
4.4   $33   Rowan’s Creek
4.8   $70   Blanton’s
?.? $25   Buffalo Trace
4.2   $26   Jefferson’s
4.0   $40   Smooth Ambler

Go to:
The Bear Knows Best home page:  http://thebearknowsbest.com/
Drinks Menu:  http://thebearknowsbest.com/drinks/