10 Best Whiskeys We Tasted in June 2024
We are halfway through 2024, and we’ve tasted a whole lot of whiskey. So far, 2024 has thrilled us with plenty of distinctive releases, from scotches to bourbons to everything in between. June was a sizzling hot month, not just in terms of temperature but in terms of red-hot whiskey releases.
This month’s list features a lot of sleeper brands you may not be familiar with. Be sure to check out the following 10 whiskeys, because we believe they might be the next big thing. Without further ado, here are the best whiskeys we tasted in June 2024.
The 10 Best Whiskeys We Tasted in June 2024, Ranked
10. 2XO Whiskey The Kiawah Blend
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What better way to start our summery list than with a whiskey named after the favorite vacation spot of 2XO Whiskey’s founder, Dixon Dedman? 2XO Whiskey’s The Kiawah Blend is named for the South Carolina island, a tranquil vacation spot 25 miles away from Charleston.
The Kiawah Blend is part of Dedman’s Icon Series, in which each expression is named after something special in the prolific bourbon bourbon blender’s life. 2XO’s The Kiawah Blend hosts a suggested retail price of $99.99. It is a blend of two bourbons, which have 35% and 18% rye content in their mashbills. The majority of the blend features the higher-rye mashbill, and the finished product is bottled at 104 proof.
On the nose, picture fudge dusted with espresso and cinnamon. Fudge is a dominant player here, and carries out through the palate of this bourbon, with custard, toasted marshmallow and mocha. The whiskey finishes with cocoa, clove and luxardo. Consider this the perfect bourbon for chocolate lovers, and one sip transports you to an evening of making s’mores by a roaring campfire.
9. Hard Truth Sweet Mash Four Grain Bourbon Bottled in Bond
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Hard Truth’s Sweet Mash Four Grain Bourbon Bottled in Bond hit shelves in February, and it’s definitely a bourbon that will put this brand on your radar. The bottling is made with the brand’s calling card: a signature sweet mash process that uses fresh grains.
Hard Truth’s Sweet Mash Four Grain Bourbon Bottled in Bond is distilled from a mashbill of 78% corn, 9% rye, 9% wheat and 4% malted barley. This release clocks in at an ABV of 50% and is around 5 years old.
As far as the juice inside, get ready for a wild ride. On the nose, picture plenty of candy corn aromas, with espresso, nutmeg and a savory cheesecake throughline that segues into the palate. In addition to that creamy cheesecake goodness, the pour hosts flavors of blueberries, cinnamon, cola and clove.
Hard Truth Sweet Mash Four Grain Bourbon Bottled in Bond finishes beautifully with vanilla ice cream, black pepper and mocha — talk about complexity!
8. 15 STARS Vino de Naranja Bourbon Aged 8 Years
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15 STARS is an indie bottler whose star is definitely on the rise — see what we did there?
This 8-year-old bourbon was finished in a single cask that once contained Vino de Naranja, a sweet type of Spanish orange wine that’s not to be confused with the hipster juice popping up in bars of late. Vino de Naranja is made by macerating orange peels in white wine, and the finish gives this bourbon the vibe of an orange creamsicle on a hot day.
On the nose, picture orange ice cream, caramel, waffle cone and whiffs of orange blossom. The palate has plenty of vanilla cake, clove and rye spice, and that orange zest plays throughout. The bourbon finishes with a combination of creamy custard, cinnamon and cracked pepper.
Just 316 bottles of this 102.8-proof bourbon exist, and you can pick one up for $139.
7. High Wire Distilling Jimmy Red Bottled In Bond Bourbon
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Our next pick hails from South Carolina’s High Wire Distilling. This bourbon is composed exclusively of an heirloom varietal of corn called Jimmy Red. Jimmy Red was a favorite of bootleggers back in the day, and the corn nearly went extinct until it was revitalized.
The Jimmy Red Corn imbues the pour with plenty of cherry aromas. Think big cherry pie, coupled with powdered sugar, doughnuts, and wisps of cappuccino. The palate has plenty of big nutty almond notes, coupled with more cherries front and center. The bourbon finishes with more powdered sugar, buttercream and cappuccino.
Jimmy Red Bottled In Bond hosts a proof of 100 due to its Bottled In Bond status and can be purchased for $89.99 directly from the distillery. Just one sip, and you’ll be so glad someone saved this heirloom corn varietal from the verge of extinction.
6. Penelope Rio Batch 24-091 (2024)
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Amburana releases are always hit or miss, but this one from Penelope Bourbon definitely falls within the “hit” category.
The Brazilian wood usually used for maturing cachaça often imparts plenty of spice, though some fans in the anti-Amburana camp find it detracts from the whiskey due to its overpowering nature. Penelope seems to have struck the balance of using this trending wood in a way that doesn’t distract from the spirit inside.
2024’s release is the third year the brand released this bourbon, and it is distilled from a mashbill of 74% corn, 16% wheat, 7% rye and 3% malted barley. It was finished in a mixture of honey and Amburana casks, so the hardwood doesn’t overpower. On the nose, there’s plenty of baking spice, brown sugar, icing and ginger. The ginger continues throughout the palate, and there’s plenty of spicy pepper with clove.
This bourbon finishes heavy, with plenty of maple, spices, ginger, tobacco and lingering cream. Penelope Rio Batch 24-091 has an ABV of 49% and can be purchased from anywhere within the $60 to $99 range, although it often winds up pricier than that on the secondary market.
5. Green River Single Barrel Full Proof Bourbon
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As far as dollar-for-dollar goes, Green River’s whiskeys are some of the better values around.
The brand’s rich history dates back to 1885. It is the 10th oldest licensed distillery in Kentucky and was resurrected in 2022. Since then, the brand has been knocking it out of the park with a series of killer releases.
This bourbon clocks in at 59.5% ABV, and you can pick up a bottle from anywhere between $60 to $99.99. A characterful whiskey from nose to finish, Green River’s Single Barrel Full Proof Bourbon is a great workhorse whiskey. There’s plenty of spice at first whiff and a palate full of cola, cherries and toffee. The bourbon finishes with oak, pepper and plenty of balance.
4. Old Potrero Single Barrel Reserve Rye Whiskey Whiskey Raiders x Top Flight Single Barrel Selection
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This single-cask, pot-distilled rye from San Francisco-based Old Potrero is big and bold, leaning towards warm spices and dessert over herbaceous peppery rye spice. Old Potrero is a California whiskey brand that often flies under the radar, but this dynamic release is enough to make any whiskey drinker stop and take notice.
With a monster of a nose coupled with oatmeal cookie, toffee, espresso and cola, this rich whiskey promises to be a formidable one. On the palate, this darkly bold and rich whiskey is chewy and viscous coupled with plenty of espresso, cherry cola and salted caramel flavors. Old Potrero’s Single Barrel Reserve Rye’s finish lasts for eons, with vanilla bean and brown butter.
This single-barrel rye hosts a 65.16% ABV.
3. 15 STARS Fine Aged Bourbon Private Stock Aged 8 & 15 Years
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15 STARS managed to nab two spots on our list for June, which is an impressive feat. If you haven’t tried any bourbons from the brand yet, you should.
This under-the-radar bourbon brand consistently knocks it out of the park with amazing releases, and this latest bourbon is no exception. If you’re a fan of big oak, you’re in luck — this offering from 15 STARS will be right up your alley. 15 STARS Fine Aged Bourbon Private Stock Aged 8 & 15 Years has an ABV of 53.5% and can be purchased for $140.
The nose is big and bold, with plenty of brown sugar, bananas foster, cinnamon and cake batter. The pour presents plenty of strawberry candies, toasted marshmallows honey and just a bit of mint leaves. More marshmallows and cherries linger throughout the bourbon’s conclusion.
2. Rabbit Hole Mizunara Founder’s Collection 2024
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Perhaps one of the more luxurious releases of the month was Rabbit Hole’s Mizunara Founder’s Collection. This whiskey is considered one of the “rarest” whiskeys to release in Louisville, and less than 2,200 bottles exist. With an impressive age statement of 15 years, and a price tag that is north of $1,000, this whiskey is definitely a splurge.
Rabbit Hole’s Mizunara Founder’s Collection 2024 clocks in at 103.8 proof, and has a rich nose with plenty of toffee, honey and pepper. The Mizunara oak finish adds plenty of spice and black tea. The palate is aromatic with sandalwood and tobacco layered over dates and figs. The finish is richly layered with cream and spices.
Striking, decadent and luscious, Rabbit Hole’s Mizunara Founder’s Collection is a glamorous whiskey that epitomizes liquid luxury.
1. Heaven Hill Heritage Collection 2024 18 Year Old
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With an 18-year-old age statement and a blisteringly high proof of 120, Heaven Hill’s Heritage Collection 2024 18 Year Old blew us away. The bourbon was distilled from a mashbill of 78% corn, 10% rye and 12% malted barley, and it was drawn from 133 barrels filled in December 2005.
At first whiff, you know this 18-year-old bourbon is going to be big and powerful. Though there’s quite a bit of oak, it does not overpower. Instead, there are plenty of vanilla bean, cream, clove and ginger aromas. The palate is thickly rich with tobacco, cream, maple and a woody backbone. This whiskey hosts a suggested retail price of $300, though you’ll probably have to hunt for a bottle.
With a grippy finish that lingers forever, Heaven Hill’s Heritage Collection Bourbon is a stunning example of a high-proof, extended-aged bourbon that could achieve potential unicorn status in the future.
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