100 Best Whiskeys of 2024, According to the Internet’s Most Trusted Spirits Critics

Welcome to the Bottle Raiders best whiskeys of 2024 list. For the uninitiated, Bottle Raiders is an app and website that tracks reviews of spirits from notable critics across the internet. We aggregate scores from different outlets to form one number to help consumers understand the quality of a spirit in an easily digestible manner.

Thus, we decided to present the top 100 whiskeys of 2024 as ranked by notable critics from across the internet.

Methodology: For this list, only whiskeys we personally reviewed that were released in 2024 or during the second half of 2023 (but that we didn’t review until 2024) are considered.

These rankings are sorted, first and foremost, by each bottle’s Raided Score®. The Raided Score® is a score on a scale of 50-100 that is assigned to each bottle by averaging the scores given from critics across the internet, using a proprietary formula developed by Bottle Raiders. When ties arise in the Raided Score®, they are broken by our in-house scores. When a spirit’s Raided Score® and house score are both tied, that tie is broken by the number of reviews aggregated. If all those factors are tied, alphabetical order splits the tie.

The 100 Best Whiskeys of 2024

 

 

100. Hard Truth Sweet Mash Four Grain Bourbon Bottled in Bond

One of the first homemade bourbons from a fantastic Indiana distillery known for its rye whiskeys. Read more or buy it now.

99. Blackened x Rabbit Hole

A calvados-finished bourbon blend made in collaboration between Metallica’s brand and the Louisville-based Rabbit Hole. Read more or buy it now.

98. Larceny Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch A124

The first of many entries from Heaven Hill on this list. Read more.

97. Penelope Rio Batch 24-901 (2024)

The popular but contentious trend of amburana meets sweet honey casks. Read more.

96. Heaven’s Door Exploration Series 1

This calvados-finished bourbon from Bob Dylan is a sweet treat. Read more or buy it now. 

95. Knob Creek Bourbon x Rye

Knob Creek’s Bourye is a smash hit at a great price point. Read more or buy it now.

94. Bernheim Barrel Proof Wheat Whiskey Batch Batch B924

Whiskey enthusiasts waited years for a barrel-proof Bernheim. Read more.

93. Pinhook Tiz Rye Time Vertical Series 8 Year Rye 2024 Release

Pinhook’s Vertical Series is one of the most fun experiments going in American whiskey. Read more or buy it now.

92. Lost Lantern Single Cask Series Cedar Ridge Iowa Straight Wheat Whiskey 6 Years Old

Lost Lantern is bringing the Scottish tradition of independent bottling to America and doing a wonderful job. Read more or buy it now.

91. Waterford Peated Cuvée Fumo

Rest in peace to Waterford Whiskey, a great Irish distillery that shuttered its doors in 2024. Read more or buy it now.

90. Jacob’s Pardon 18 Year Old Small Batch Recipe #3

This whiskey is bottled at a blistering 71.25% ABV. Read more or buy it now.

89. Sagamore Spirit Manhattan Finish Rye Whiskey (2024)

Accomplishes its goal of tasting like a Manhattan in neat whiskey form. Read more or buy it now

88. O.H. Ingram Flagship 2024

O.H. Ingram is known for maturing its whiskeys in a barge rickhouse that floats on the Mississippi River. Learn more or buy it now.

87. World Whiskey Society 12 Year Rye Finished in Awamori Casks

A great rye whiskey in an extremely cool bottle. Learn more or buy it now.

86. Natterjack Cask Strength Irish Whiskey

An Irish whiskey brand founded by a bourbon fan, Natterjack is an Americanized approach to the category — and it’s damn good. Learn more or buy it now.

85. Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ice Chalet

A tasty premium scotch released alongside the luxury skiwear brand, Perfect Moment. Learn more or buy it now.

84. Blue Run Flight Series II Yosemite Pine

A flashy young brand impresses with a barrel-proof bourbon. Learn more.

83. High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 12

2024’s edition of the culty port-finished rye whiskey out of Park City, Utah. Learn more or buy it now.

82. Green River Full Proof Bourbon

One of those “new but actually super old” brands, Green River was originally founded in 1885 but revived in 2020. Since then, it’s been putting out killer whiskeys at great prices, like this one. Learn more or buy it now.

81. George Dickel Bourbon Aged 18 Years

A good whiskey. There are better ways to spend $500, though. Learn more or buy it now.

80. Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series #12 Straight Tennessee Whiskey Finished in Oloroso Sherry Casks

Jack Daniel’s is making some of the best whiskey on the planet, and many consumers don’t realize it thanks to interference from the basic Old No. 7 and Gentleman Jack. Learn more.

79. Bruichladdich Octomore 15.1 Super Heavily Peated Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

A peaty smoke bomb. Learn more or buy it now.

78. Blood Oath Pact No. 10

This high-rye bourbon was finished in Cabernet Franc and Merlot casks — a red wine and bourbon lover’s dream (or dram, rather?) come true. Learn more or buy it now.

77. Old Forester 1924 10 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon

At 10 years, this is the oldest release yet in Old Forester’s Whiskey Row Series. Also, the mashbill may surprise OFo diehards. Learn more or buy it now.

76. Middle West Spirits Cask Strength Wheat Whiskey

The Ohio-based Middle West Spirits proved it’s one America’s best under-the-radar distilleries with 2024’s Cask Strength Collection. Learn more or buy it now.

75. Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey 2024 (Buffalo Trace Antique Collection)

The first member of the lauded Buffalo Trace Antique Collection to crack this list. No, it won’t be the last. Learn more.

74. Bruichladdich Port Charlotte 18 Year (2024)

This is Bruichladdich’s oldest ever release under the Port Charlotte label. Learn more.

73. Westland Solum Edition 2

A peated single malt from… America? Unusual but delicious. Learn more.

72. Wild Turkey Jimmy Russell’s 70th Anniversary Release Kentucky Straight Bourbon Aged 8 Years

This expression was released to mark Master Distiller Jimmy Russell’s 70th year with Wild Turkey. It’s quite a feat, and this is quite a bourbon. Learn more or buy it now.

71. Bernheim Barrel Proof Wheat Whiskey Batch A224

The second batch of Bernheim Barrel Proof on this list. Learn more.

70. Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2024

Old Forester’s Birthday Bourbon is released annually in honor of founder George Garvin Brown’s birthday on Sept. 2. Learn more.

69. Compass Box Art & Decadence

Compass Box is blending some of the best scotch around, and Art & Decadence was a special release. Learn more.

68. Yellowstone 2024 Limited Edition Bourbon

This blend of 7- and 17-year-old bourbons is finished in French brandy and cognac casks. Learn more or buy it now.

67. Virginia Distillery The Brewer’s Coalition Hardywood Gingerbread Stout Cask Finish Single Malt Whisky

One of the biggest moments in whiskey in 2024 came late in the year, when the TTB officially ratified American Single Malt as an American whiskey category. This malt from Virginia Distillery is finished in Gingerbread Stout casks from a local brewery, and it’s damn good.

66. Old Grand Dad 16 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon

This blend of 7- and 17-year-old bourbons is finished in French brandy and cognac casks. Learn more or buy it now.

Much anticipated and quietly rolled out, did this extra-aged Beam product live up to the hype? Learn more or buy it now.

65. Garrison Brothers Lady Bird (2024)

Lady Bird is Garrison Brothers bourbon infused with honey and finished in cognac casks. The result is a sweet, delightful flavored bourbon. Learn more or buy it now.

64. Bulleit 95 Rye Frontier Whiskey 12 Year Old

This excellent 12-year-old rye is priced around $55 – a remarkable value bottle. Learn more or buy it now.

63. New Riff 8 Year Old Bourbon

Founded in 2014, New Riff is one of the most exciting new-age Kentucky bourbon brands. Learn more.

62. Jack Daniel’s Distillery Series #13 Twice Barreled Straight Rye Whiskey

Distilled from a mashbill of 70% rye, 18% corn and 12% malted barley, this double-oaked rye is aged for an additional 2.5 years in a secondary new charred oak barrel. Learn more.

61. Bruichladdich Octomore 15.3 Super Heavily Peated Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

The second member of Bruichladdich’s Octomore series to crack the list. This peat monster is matured in a combination of first-fill bourbon casks and Oloroso hogsheads. Learn more or buy it now.

60. Michter’s US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Bourbon

The first entry from the World’s Most Admired Whiskey Brand. Learn more.

59. Middle West Spirits Cask Strength Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey Michelone Reserve

A tremendous cask-strength bourbon at a reasonable price. Learn more or buy it now.

58. The Perfect Fifth Canongate 14 Year Old Single Barrel American Whiskey

Scotland meets Kentucky. This whiskey was distilled by Heaven Hill in Bardstown, where it was barreled and aged for three years. After three years, it was shipped to Scotland to mature for an additional 11 years. Learn more.

57. WhistlePig The Boss Hog XI: The Juggernaut

2024’s Boss Hog release from WhistlePig is a rye whiskey finished in experimental barrels that contained a concoction WhistlePig made inspired by Thandai, a South Asian drink. WhistlePig seasoned the barrels with rye whiskey mixed with saffron, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, fennel, poppy and black peppercorn, and then finished The Juggernaut in those casks after its initial maturation in new oak barrels. Learn more.

56. Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Bourbon 2024

2024’s batch of Angel’s Envy Cask Strength introduced a new spin by introducing a Tawny port finish alongside the usual Ruby port. Learn more.

55. WhistlePig The Badonkadonk 25 Year Old Single Malt

Known for its rye whiskeys, WhistlePig stepped out of its comfort zone with this sillily named 25-year-old single malt. Read more or buy it now.

54. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch C924

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, if found near its suggested retail price of $75, remains one of the steadiest, best bang-for-your-buck whiskeys on the American market. Read more.

53. Bardstown Bourbon Co. Discovery Series #12

Bardstown Bourbon Company consistently captivates drinkers with bold, flavorful blends. Learn more.

52. 15 STARS Fine Aged Bourbon Private Stock Aged 8 & 15 Years

15 STARS is a young non-distilling producer that’s quickly rising the American whiskey ranks. This bottle was released in March and is a true oaky Kentucky bourbon lover’s bourbon all the way through. Learn more or buy it now.

51. Bruichladdich Re/Define Eighteen 18 Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

This 18-year-old single malt is aged in a blend of ex-bourbon and wine casks and bottled at 100 proof. Learn more or buy it now.

50. Booker’s 2024-02 ‘The Beam House Batch’

Released in July, this edition of Booker’s Bourbon is named “The Beam House Batch” for the Noe family home in Bardstown, Kentucky. Learn more.

49. High Bank Distillery Whiskey War Cigar Cask

Aged at least five years and bottled at 116 proof, this whiskey from the Columbus-Ohio-based High Bank Distillery undergoes secondary maturation in Brazilian amburana barrels. Learn more.

48. William Larue Weller Bourbon 2024 (Buffalo Trace Antique Collection)

2024’s edition of the highly sought-after W.L. Weller is delicious but doesn’t reach the heights of some past releases. Learn more.

47. Virginia Distillery Co. The Brewer’s Coalition Goose Island Stout Cask Finish

A single malt whiskey finished in barrels that previously held the beloved Goose Island Bourbon County barrel-aged stout. Learn more.

46. 15 STARS Platinum Bourbon

The second entry from 15 STARS on this list, this blend of 10-, 15- and 18-year-old bourbons is a dynamite bottle. Learn more or buy it now.

45. Remus Repeal Reserve VIII

A pleasant blend of 10- to 17-year-old bourbons released to celebrate the anniversary of the repeal of Prohibition. Learn more or buy it now.

44. Barrell Bourbon New Year 2024

Name an American non-distilling producer that’s doing it like Barrell Craft Spirits. We dare you. Learn more or buy it now.

43. Jack Daniel’s 12 Years Old Batch 2

Good ol’ Jack has shifted strategy in recent years, beginning to release some astounding, cool whiskey in addition to the usual mid-to-low-shelf suspects. We’re very grateful for that, and this 12-year-old whiskey is the oldest Jack release in modern history. Although, we hear a 14-year-old is in the works. Learn more or buy it now.

42. WhistlePig 10 PiggyBank Rye 2024

A lot of people would buy a golden, pigshaped decanter for the novelty alone, but it helps that the rye inside the bottle is dynamite. Learn more or buy it now.

41. Seelbach’s 9 Year Old Private Reserve Batch 006 Kentucky Straight Bourbon

The sixth release in the Private Reserve Series from the retailer, Seelbach’s, only 608 bottles of this 9-year, 5-month-old bourbon were produced. Learn more.

40. The Yamazaki 18 Year Mizunara 2024 Edition

An 18-year-old whisky from Japan, this single malt was aged in Mizunara, one of the rarest and most expensive woods in the world. Learn more.

39. Westland Garryana Edition 9

This whiskey comes from the Seattle, Washington-based American single malt trailblazer, Westland Distillery. Garryana incorporates aging in Quercus garryana, a species of oak found only in the Pacific Northwest. Learn more.

38. Milam & Greene Castle Hill Series Batch 3 Bourbon

Aged for 15 years, this bourbon spent most of its time maturing in Tennessee before a final five months in Blanco, Texas. Learn more.

37. Hard Truth Barrel Finish Reserve 2024 Blend

This spectacular rye whiskey is finished in a combination of Cognac, Pedro Ximénez Sherry, Pedro Ximénez Brandy, and Sauternes barrels before being rested on toasted Jupilles French oak. Learn more.

36. Larceny Barrel Proof Batch C924

Larceny’s final barrel-proof release of 2024 was its best. Learn more.

35. Little Book The Infinite

Little Book The Infinite pays homage to the legacies of Freddie Noe and his forefathers. This bourbon is crafted from whiskeys distilled by three generations of Noe family master distillers. The components in the blend are aged between seven and 20 years. Learn more or buy it now.

34. Bruichladdich Octomore 15.2

Bruichladdich went three for three with its Octomore 15 series, in regards to making this list. Learn more or buy it now.

33. Shenk’s Homestead Kentucky Sour Mash Whiskey 2024

A “secret Michter’s” bottling, the 2024 release of Shenk’s Homestead incorporated caramel malt in its mashbill for the first time, paired with rye and malted rye. Learn more.

32. Ardbeg Spectacular 2024 Ardbeg Day Release

“Spectacular” is a fitting name for this beautiful scotch, which incorporates port casks for the first time in Ardbeg history. Learn more or buy it now.

31. Bomberger’s Declaration Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (2024)

Bomberger’s Declaration is an unheralded release from Michter’s (alongside Shenk’s Homestead), which has as good of an argument as anyone for being America’s best whiskey distillery. Bomberger’s Declaration is named for a former iteration of the Michter’s Distillery, which was called Bomberger’s Distillery. Learn more.

30. Larceny Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch B524

Another knockout release of Heaven Hill wheater. Learn more.

29. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch A124

Heaven Hill’s dominant 2024 run continues with ECBP A124, aged 10 years and nine months and bottled just shy of 120 proof. Learn more.

28. Woodinville Whiskey Co. 8 Year Old Limited Edition Straight Bourbon

Produced by the Washington-based Woodinville Whiskey Co., this bourbon is distilled from a mashbill of 55% corn, 35% rye and 10% malted barley. It’s a fantastic addition to the brand’s portfolio. Learn more.

27. 2XO Whiskey The Kiawah Blend

2XO (which stands for two times the oak, because the brand double-oaks all of its whiskeys) is an exciting young brand founded by Dixon Dedman, the blender who revived Kentucky Owl and sold it to Stoli. Learn more or buy it now.

26. Booker’s The Reserves 2024

Booker’s Bourbon “The Reserves” is a new series honoring Booker Noe, the grandfather of Freddie Noe, eighth-generation master distiller at Beam. Learn more or buy it now.

25. Hard Truth Master Distiller’s Reserve Sweet Mash Rye 2024

If you’re discussing America’s best craft rye whiskey producers, Hard Truth needs to be in the conversation. Learn more.

24. Still Austin Bottled In Bond Red Corn Aged 5 Years

The Austin, Texas-based Still Austin Whiskey Co. will be celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, and yet it’s already established itself as one of the premier must-watch craft distilleries on the American whiskey scene. Learn more or buy it now.

23. Baker’s 13 Years Old Limited Edition Single Barrel Bourbon (2024 Release)

A 13-year-old Beam product, this single-barrel bourbon returned this year to the delight of all who managed to get their hands on a bottle. Learn more.

22. Little Book Chapter 7 ‘In Retrospect’

The seventh chapter in Beam’s “Little Book” series is a blend of 4-year-old Kentucky rye, 4-year-old Kentucky bourbon, 5-year-old malt finished in applewood smoked barrels, 9-year-old Kentucky bourbon, 10-year-old Kentucky rye, 17-year-old Kentucky bourbon and 18-year-old Kentucky bourbon. The blend is made up of seven cask-strength whiskeys, one from each of Little Book’s previous releases and a seventh new one. Learn more.

21. Michter’s 10 Year Old Single Barrel Rye (2024)

Michter’s 10-year-old single barrel rye whiskey is beloved for good reason. This classic Kentucky-style rye is delicious, with a beautiful balance of sweetness and spice. Learn more.

20. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch B524

The best batch of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof in recent memory. Learn more.

19. Eagle Rare 17 Year Old Bourbon 2024 (Buffalo Trace Antique Collection)

The consensus doesn’t agree, but in our opinion, this was the best bottle in the 2024 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. Learn more.

18. Teeling 33 Year Old Very Rare Cask Pineau des Charentes Finish Single Malt Whiskey

This extra-rare Irish whiskey from Teeling spent 30 years aging in ex-rum casks before being finished for three years in casks that previously contained Pineau des Charentes, a French aperitif. Learn more or buy it now.

17. Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse 2024 Camp Nelson B

This bourbon was aged on the sixth floor of Wild Turkey’s Camp Nelson Rickhouse B, and the increased elevation and greater sun exposure yielded a bourbon that clocks in at 120.2 proof, the highest-proof whiskey to ever release from the Russell’s Reserve label. Learn more or buy it now.

16. The Yamazaki 18 Year Old Mizunara 100th Anniversary Suntory Whisky

Yamazaki released this remarkable whisky to celebrate Suntory’s 100th anniversary. It’s a huge milestone, and this whisky is worthy of such an occasion. Learn more or buy it now.

15. Rabbit Hole Mizunara Founder’s Collection 2024

An infusion of Japanese oak makes this a masterpiece. Learn more or buy it now.

14. Whiskey JYPSI Legacy Batch 002: The Alchemist

The best celebrity whiskey brand around? Country singer Eric Church’s Whiskey JYPSI. This sublime bottling is an eclectic blend of 11-year-old Tennessee whiskey; 18.5-year-old Canadian rye whisky finished in a mix of port, Spanish vermouth and sherry casks; and 10-year-old Indian single malt whisky aged in ex-bourbon casks (4%). Learn more or buy it now.

13. Bushmills 31 Year The Rare Casks No. 04

A gorgeous 31-year-old bottling from the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery. Learn more or buy it now.

12. Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged Bourbon 2024

Maker’s has released two batches of Cellar Aged so far. While 2023’s debut was spectacular, the 2024 release might just have eclipsed it. Learn more.

11. Daftmill 2010 Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky

A bombshell scotch from a young brand. This brand hasn’t been on our radar for long, but this release was incredible. Learn more.

10. Sazerac 18 Year Old Rye Whiskey 2024 (Buffalo Trace Antique Collection)

This 18-year-old rye whiskey has been a favorite of last year’s BTAC among critics. Learn more.

9. Michter’s 10 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon 2024

An exquisitely flavorful bourbon sure to be adored by aficionados and novices alike. Learn more.

8. Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2024

2024’s Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch is a blend of bourbons ranging from 12 to 20 years of age. Learn more.

7. Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Special Release 2024 — Coy Hill Barrelhouse 8

The best Jack Daniel’s ever? It’s certainly in the conversation. Learn more.

6. Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Triumph

The best rye whiskey of 2024 was this beauty from Wild Turkey. Learn more.

5. Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 2024 18 Year Old

This bottle has everything you could ask for from an extra-aged, high-proof bourbon. Learn more.

4. Westward Whiskey Milestone American Single Malt Edition No. 2

Westward Whiskey’s second Milestone is somehow even better than its first. Learn more.

3. Brown-Forman King Of Kentucky 2024 Bourbon

The King of Kentucky was also 2024’s king of bourbon. Excellent work, Brown-Forman. Learn more.

2. George T. Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon 2024 (Buffalo Trace Antique Collection)

This year’s George T. Stagg release is a touch hotter than recent years, but damn is it good.

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1. Russell’s Reserve 15 Year Old Bourbon (2024)

According to the internet’s most trusted spirits critics, Russell’s Reserve 15 Year Old was the best whiskey of 2024 with a Raided Score® of 96. Learn more.