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Best of 2023: Top 10 Best Selling World Whiskies
10. Redbreast Tawny Port Cask Edition
Now sold out, this very special expression from Redbreast, distilled at Midleton distillery in Ireland, was snapped up fast. The second release in Redbreast’s Iberian Series, the Tawny Port Edition is a small batch pot still Irish whiskey, aged between 8 and 10 years, that has been treated to a finish in a collection of sublime Tawny Port Hogsheads.
9. Blanton's Original Single Barrel
This Kentucky bourbon was once only available to those closest to Colonel Blanton himself, as it is his private reserve, matured in a single barrel placed in the perfect middle sections of the warehouse. Introduced to the world in 1984, Blanton’s namesake bourbon was the first ever Single Barrel Bourbon sold commercially. Decanted by hand into a striking bottle, the premium American whiskey stands out many bourbon-lovers whiskey cabinets.
8. Nikka from the Barrel
One of our International Customer Favourites, Nikka from the Barrel is a Japanese blend which combines multiple types of malt and grain whisky that are then married in used casks for between 3 and 6 months to allow the elements to stabilise and harmonise. With flavours of orange, caramel, raspberries and mixed spice, it also perfectly suits an engraving - making it a superb gift.
7. Maker's Mark Cellar Aged 2023 Release
This exciting first release from Maker's Mark in Kentucky was quickly added to baskets, and sold out fast. As the distillery's very first long-aged expression, it is made from a combination of 11 and 12 year old bourbons aged in their made-for-purpose cellar. They created an older expression that is richer and more complex whilst staying true to the founder's taste vision of bourbon without the bite.
6. Redbreast 15 Year Old
This single pot still Irish whiskey began life as a limited edition in Paris, before finding its way into the Redbreast core range. The award-winning expression is matured in both ex-sherry and ex-bourbon casks for 15 years, resulting in a palate full of sweet spices like ginger, fennel and cinnamon, with touches of sherry, toffee and oak.
5. Midleton Very Rare 2023
Crafted by Kevin O'Gorman, Midleton's Master Distiller, this balanced blend of rare and hand-selected single pot still and single grain Irish whiskey's from Midleton's exclusive inventory creates 2023's spectacular vintage. This year was the first since 1990 that the expression has been presented in a cardboard box, as the distillery went back to its roots for the sake of sustainability.
4. Yamazaki Distiller's Reserve
As 2023 was Suntory whisky's centenary year, it's not surprising that our customers had a taste for their flagship single malt, hailing from Japan's first whisky distillery. Spiritual and deep, its signature multi-layered taste is highly praised by whisky connoisseurs all over the world. Today, Yamazaki is not only the No.1 single malt whisky in Japan, but is enjoyed in more than thirty-five countries.
3. The Sexton
Created by Alex Thomas, this thoroughly modern Irish single malt whiskey is triple distilled and matured in Oloroso sherry casks sourced from Jerez de la Frontera in Spain. Buyers may have been drawn to its flavours of dried fruit, nuts, spice and citrus oil, or it's message. In Irish folklore, The Sexton is the guardian of the graveyard, serving as the final person you see before you move on to the afterlife and to whom you tell your life story. The Sexton whiskey invites you to live a life with a story worth telling.
2. Redbreast 12 Year Old
The second-best selling whiskey of 2023, is Redbreast 12 Year Old. Folk couldn't get enough of the iconic whisky brand this year, with their award-winning 12 year old taking the (Christmas) cake. With it's festive flavours and full bodied mouthfeel, from its Oloroso sherry cask maturation, it's no wonder that it places so highly.
1. Yamazaki 12 Year Old Suntory 100th Anniversary Release
And No.1 is a very special limited release, bottled by Suntory to celebrate their 100th birthday. This dram was the third-best selling whisky at The Whisky Shop overall, as Japanese whisky lovers sought to add this once-in-a-lifetime single malt to their collection. This bottle featured a special new label design in honour of Suntory's strive for quality and ingenuity, with the liquid boasting their signature note of Mizanara (Japanese oak).
