Whisky Advocate Summer 2025

We’ve kicked whisky into travel mode for summer, discovering things and places near and far. We cover trains, airports, cruise ships, great golfing, and more, all in the name of expanding your whisky horizons. Our main story takes us to Ireland, where we explore how the Irish whiskey scene is faring after its renaissance of the past 15-20 years. We check in with three newer whiskey makers—Natterjack, Ardara, and Two Stacks—for a close-up on their progress in a market that’s grown a bit tighter over the last couple of years. These three companies are fairly representative of the broader Irish landscape, where distillers are refining their techniques to make new and different whiskeys. And it’s not just Ireland’s newcomers who are hard at work: The country’s two major players, Irish…

Denver was one of the birthplaces of the craft brewing movement, which led to craft distilleries, some helmed by pioneering brewers. The city boasts some of the nation’s oldest craft distilleries, with an unusually strong focus on whiskey compared to other spirits, especially American single malt. But, from distilleries to bars with elaborate cocktails, Denver covers all the bases and is arguably the nation’s best big city for whiskey lovers. It’s also quite affordable. Making Denver even more appealing is a reliable international airport with non-stop flights from around the country and the world. It has the best public transport connection to downtown of any U.S. airport, with direct rail service into the city’s Union Station, the heart of downtown, at just $10 for the 37-minute ride. Once there, most…

Ask someone what fruit they associate with whisky, and chances are their answer will be a dried, citrus, or stone fruit. After all, they are common tasting notes and cocktail garnishes. But the humble banana surely deserves a shout-out. “While they may seem an unlikely combo, whisky and banana present similar flavor components and, as a result, go well together,” explains Wil Schultz, bar manager of Oak Steakhouse in Nashville. That hint of banana you may detect in a bourbon or Irish whiskey? That’s isoamyl acetate, an oily liquid that naturally forms during the fermentation process and tastes like the fruit. Adding a banana syrup or liqueur to your cocktail can easily bring this subtle flavor to the forefront, says Colin Bugbee, bartender at Cure in New Orleans. And since…

Generally speaking, whisky’s ingredient list is pretty simple, comprising water, cereal grains, and yeast. But sometimes there’s more: Depending on the country of origin, there can be a few additives in the mix. The most common additive is a coloring agent named E150a, known simply as caramel coloring. E150a is made by heating carbohydrates like sugar or molasses. Distillers may use it in small amounts to darken a whisky’s color, or to maintain consistent color from batch to batch. Other additives are used to change the flavor profile. In some whisky-making regions, flavoring agents like spices, molasses, honey, and fruit juice are used to sweeten a whisky or add specific notes. There are also more substantial additives, like wine and other spirits, that are used in higher quantities to…

Drambuie is a scotch-based liqueur infused with honey, herbs, and spices, resulting in a sweet but complex flavor profile. “You get rich, golden sweetness from the honey and smooth, herbal notes that come through in the background, and it also carries a subtle hint of warmth from the whisky itself,” notes Zak Lindahl, beverage director at the National Autograph Collection Hotel in Oklahoma City. “In cocktails, Drambuie brings balance and depth, offering sweetness with a spicy edge that’s not overwhelmingly sugary.” Drambuie and scotch are a natural pair, like in the classic Rusty Nail, a simple mix of the two ingredients. “The herbal and honeyed elements in Drambuie enhance the natural warmth and smokiness of scotch, creating a more rounded and harmonious drink,” Lindahl says, adding that he prefers using…

Cruising the high seas and sipping fine whisky may seem like something from the movies, but nowadays it’s a reality. Led by luxury lines like Holland America, Regent Seven Seas, and Celebrity, today’s ships offer a full range of exclusive whiskies, including private barrels and allocated labels that are sometimes hard for even landlubbers to find. Holland America recently added several single barrels to its fleet, served aboard its ships in venues like the Ocean Bar and Gallery Bar. Holland’s whisky cruising started last year with just one private barrel—Buffalo Trace bourbon—which sold out in two months. It has since expanded to include nine single barrel offerings. The current lineup includes Weller Full Proof, Weller Antique 107, two Angel’s Envy port barrel finishes and a madeira finished, plus single barrels…