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9 Best American Whiskies 2026: Uncorked
The Number One Spot . . .
Up next on our list of top USA Whiskies in 2025 - Jack Daniels 10 Year Old.
So why is Jack Daniels 10 Year Old the bestseller of 2025? Well, it's made using the iconic Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey recipe of 80% corn, 12% malted barley, and 8% rye, this liquid has experienced life at every level of the distillery’s barrelhouse, having been housed on the upper floors for a number of years before relocating to lower ricks to extend the aging process.
Bottled at 48.5% ABV, the sugar maple charcoal straining of this liquid has imparted aromas of caramel apple, a flavour of molasses, and a warming finish to this impeccable release.
Predictions for 2026...
So who's going to be the next Highland phenomenon? Which whiskies will be top of the leader board in 2026's best Highland single malts? Let our industry experts gaze into the future and tell you our predictions. . .
1. Blanton's Original Single Barrel
This single barrel bourbon, taken from the middle sections of Blanton's Warehouse H, was once the preserve of ambassadors, dignitaries and friends and family of Colonel Blanton himself. Now accessible to everyone, Blanton's Original Single Barrel is created from a sour mash of corn, rye and malted barley.
Spicy dried citrus fruits and orange peel on the nose, with a hint of caramel and vanilla. The palate is full and soft, burnt sugar and caramel mixing with orange and cloves. The finish is a delightful balance of vanilla, honey and citrus.
2. Four Roses Small Batch
We are delighted to offer this Kentucky straight bourbon from Four Roses’ core range. With a signature smoothness that one can expect from Four Roses, this is blended from four barrels. Aged for a minimum of six years in American virgin oak, four select bourbons are precisely mingled together to create the perfectly smooth spirit.
Sweet and spicy, with a helping of vanilla, there is not much you can do wrong with this one. Perfect over ice or in a mixed drink, this is a testament to the expertise of the blenders at Four Roses.
3. Eagle Rare
This Kentucky straight bourbon is produced by the Buffalo Trace distillery. Aged for a minimum of 10 years it is bottled at a strength of 45% abv and has regularly won gold medals at spirit competitions around the world.
The nose is complex, with sweet toffee, orange peel, herbs, honey, leather and oak. The palate is bold and dry with delicate notes of candied almonds and very rich cocoa. The finish is dry and long lasting.
4. Blanton's Gold Edition
Created for exceptional smoothness and a clean finish, this bourbon is made with a sour mash of corn, rye and malted barley before maturing in American White Oak casks.
The nose is powerful and dry with honey, rye, dried fruits, vanilla and chocolate. The palate is full and rich with sharp apricot notes alongside butter, pepper, honey and oak. The finish is long with toffee apples developing to pecan and caramel.
5. Maker's Mark 46
A totally new kind of bourbon, bold and complex yet approachable and easy to drink, this expression of Maker's Mark was the fruit of Bill Samuels Jr. and Brad Boswell of Independent Stave, the cooperage that has made oak barrels to Maker's Mark specifications since its founding in 1953.
In the 46th different recipe explored, finished Maker's Mark was added to barrels with 10 "seared" French oak staves and returned to the coolest part of the warehouse. This process lends natural flavours of caramel, vanilla and spice to the familiar Maker's Mark profile, giving something bigger and bolder than before.
6. Widow Jane 10 Year Old Bourbon
A wonderful release from Widow Jane Distillery in Brooklyn! This is a delectable ten-year-old bourbon that masterfully balances its intricate flavour profile. Every bottle has been drawn from a '5 barrel batch', meaning that this is truly a unique, small batch dram. The whiskey is bottled at 45.5% abv.
Expect aromas of baking spices, tobacco, and freshly baked bread. The palate brings sandalwood, butterscotch, sea salt, and Madagascan vanilla before leading into the pleasant and smooth finish full of Demerara sugar.
7. Four Roses Single Barrel
A phenomenal single barrel bourbon from Four Roses. Beautifully balanced and smooth as silk, this is sweet, rich and potent with very appealing menthol notes, precious woods and delicious spices. Instead of using a mixture of recipes and bourbons, this whiskey is what it says on the bottle: one cask, one recipe.
Aged for a minimum of seven years, the recipe comes from a ratio of 60% corn, 35% rye, and 5% malted barley. A high rye content gives this single barrel a kick of spice and expect some fruit and oak notes to follow. This award-winning expression will give any bourbon a run for its money.
8. Leiper's Fork Bourbon Whiskey Bottled In Bond
Hailing from Leiper's Fork distillery in Tennessee, this five-year-old bourbon was made with a mashbill of 70% corn, 15% wheat and 15% toasted malted barley, and has been pot distilled for a full-bodied pre-prohibition style. Bottled-in-bond at 50% abv, the expression is free from chill filtration.
Rich aromas of freshly made pralines coated in rich chocolate beautifully blends with notes of antique oak and fig jam. Delightfully rich flavors of butterscotch, sweet herbs, and dried citrus smoothly coats the palate, before a complex finish of fresh mint, luxardo cherries and maple cinnamon cookies.
9. Woodford Reserve
The only bourbon in the world to be triple-distilled in traditional copper pots, Woodford Reserve is made from the finest corn, barley and rye.
It is handcrafted in small batches before maturing through the extreme hot and cold of the Kentucky seasons in hand-selected barrels made from American white oak.
A highly-awarded bourbon recognised and loved by whiskey connoisseurs.
Enjoy the rich taste. Perfect in the Woodford Old Fashioned.
