The Best American Whiskeys of 2022 (That Aren’t Bourbon or Rye)

InsideHook | Kirk Miller | December 22, 2022

[Excerpt]

We’ve already discussed our favorite bourbons and ryes of 2022. Now, we get to the fun stuff: Everything else in the American whiskey world. 

Wheated whiskey, single malts, peated malts, bottled whiskey cocktails, whiskey with unusual barrel finishes — these are the areas where distillers (and blenders) can loosen the industry shackles and show some creativity.

If you’re looking for overarching themes, I noticed the influence and ideas of the craft beer world seeping deeper into the craft whiskey world, a newfound appreciation for smokiness and the creativity and flavor that some distillers are achieving with younger whiskeys. That last fact is important — it means we should increasingly find excellent bottles from newer distilleries in the future, as age will simply become a number, not an obstacle. 

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Old Elk Double Wheat Straight Whiskey

A combination of Old Elk Straight Wheat Whiskey (aged 6-8 years) and Old Elk Wheated Bourbon (aged 6 years), this 107.1 proof release features a blend breakdown of 71.5% wheat, 25% corn and 3.5% barley. Candied fruit and butterscotch on the nose, this one delivers pepper, burnt caramel and some bready and jammy notes on the palate, complete with a rich mouthfeel and some lingering fruit.

Read the full article at insidehook.com