Whisky Advocate Winter 2024

Our Top 20 Whiskies of the Year for 2024 are hereby announced, representing the culmination of a year-long process of tastings and evaluations in our quest for the year’s most exciting new whiskies. This particular roll call reflects the ever-widening array of flavor variety on the market—whiskies finished in many different types of wine and spirits casks, whiskies made with interesting grains like wheat and red corn, whiskies aged in barrels made with wood from unusual places, and much more. Still, some are just solid old-school expressions without any shiny new bells and whistles, and their place is equally well deserved. Our congratulations go to all the producers, for these outstanding contributions to the joys of great whisky. Beyond the Top 20, our Winter issue has plenty more. It features…

Chicago has a long-standing reputation for being a great place to eat and drink. While that used to mean highly acclaimed dining at one place and expert mixologists slinging cocktails at another, today the line between fine dining and fine drinking has been blurred. Now there are venues that combine elevated cuisine alongside curated spirits selections and creative cocktails. And with its thriving craft distillery scene, Chicago makes a great destination for a whisky weekend. The city is big but compact, so use the train system (known to Chicagoans as the “L”) and rideshares to see all of it. Day 1 In the Windy City there are plenty of hotels with good bars, so you might as well stay where there’s a whisky focus. Hotel Zachary, across from Wrigley Field,…

Warming a whisky cocktail is the equivalent of sitting in front of the fireplace or wrapping up in your favorite blanket on a frigid day. The heat tempers the spirit’s alcohol bite, leading to a more comforting quality. “It almost feels more like medicine than a beverage,” says Timothy Goolsby, bar manager of Post Oak Barbecue in Denver. Warmth also releases more aromatics, which in turn set free the full spectrum of flavors. The result? A harmonious, integrated drink featuring a different side of whisky than you may be used to. Combined with tea, coffee, cocoa, or cider, it’s a relaxing way to take the chill off and get better acquainted with your favorite spirit. Royal Robes Created by George Reilly, owner and mixologist, The Twisted Tail, Philadelphia Queen Elizabeth…

Ginger manifests as an earthy, pungent, and spicy influence in whisky, but it’s a flavor with the versatility to complement savory and sweet flavors too. Unquestionably, it can be hot and fiery, yet it can yield citrus, herbal, and woody notes as well. It’s one of the world’s most familiar spices, and has strong associations with cooking, baking, and drinking traditions. There’s fresh ginger, with its bulbous, gnarly rhizomes, there’s ground ginger sitting in the spice rack, and there’s the sweetness of crystalized or candied ginger. Many associate ginger with comforting treats such as gingersnap cookies, ginger cake, and gingerbread, and its close cousins lebkuchen and pfeffernüsse. For others, it’s about the fresh ginger that perks up stir-fries, broths, salads, and curries in Asian and Indian cuisine, or the slivers…

The International Olive Council lists 139 types of olives in its “World Catalogue of Olive Varieties,” but chances are that even the most committed olive enthusiasts will encounter only a handful of them. (Have you ever come across an Egyptian Toffahi or Albanian Kalinjo olive? I didn’t think so.) More likely, the olives we eat will simply be green, black, or stuffed, with not much focus on country or variety. But Americans certainly do love their olives—so much, in fact, that the U.S. ranks fourth in the world in olive consumption, after Egypt, Algeria, and Turkey. The standard martini olive is generally one of three types: Castelvetrano, Queen, or Manzanilla. The first is Italy’s most popular snacking olive, with buttery flesh and relatively mild flavor. The latter two are similar…

For a whisky lover, a trip to Scotland typically involves visiting distilleries scattered across the country. But don’t overlook the chance to visit some truly special whisky bars, both in the cities and the countryside, sometimes with a distillery nearby. The list below provides a look at some of Scotland’s best watering holes, where ambience and quality whisky go hand in hand—regardless of whether you want a simple dram or a hard to find pour. Ardshiel Hotel Campbeltown Within walking distance from Campbel-town’s three classic distilleries—Springbank, Glengyle, and Glen Scotia—lies this legendary hotel bar located in an original Victorian-era villa, decorated with blue and white tartan wallpaper and light wood furniture. With a 2,000-bottle rotating collection, it has about 500 whiskies available at a time. Single malts start at £3.50/$5/1.18…