The 75 Best American Whiskeys Released in 2023
With 2023 all wrapped up, we’re taking a some time to look back at our favorite American whiskeys of the year. Without further ado, here are — in our opinion — the 75 best American whiskeys released in 2023.
The Best American Whiskeys of 2023
Editor’s note: The following whiskeys are separated by tiers but are not ranked within those tiers. Within the tiers, they are listed in alphabetical order.
Tier 4: The Very Very Good American Whiskeys of 2023 (A Cut Above)
75. Barrell Bourbon Foundation: Review
74. Copper and Kings Bourbon: Review
73. Lost Lantern ‘Gentle Giant’ Balcones Distilling Texas Single Malt: Review
72. Wild Turkey Generations: Review
Tier 3: The Great American Whiskeys of 2023 (Well Above Average)
71. 15 STARS Sherry Cask Finish Bourbon: Review
70 2XO The Tribute Blend Bourbon: Review
69. Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Bourbon 2023 Finished in Port Wine Barrels: Review
68. Baker’s 13 Year Old Limited Edition Bourbon: Review
67. Balcones Cataleja Texas Single Malt: Review
66. Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery #10: Review
65. Bardstown Bourbon Co. Foursquare Collaborative Series: Review
64. Barrell Bourbon Batch 035: Review
63. Barrell Bourbon New Year 2023: Review
62. Barrell Rye Batch 004: Review
61. Ben Holladay Soft Red Wheat 6 Year Old Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon: Review
60. Blue Run Spirits Trifecta Bourbon: Review
59. Chicken Cock Red Stave Petite Sirah Barrel Finish: Review
58. Clermont Steep American Single Malt Whiskey: Review
57. Corbin Cash 1917 Merced Rye: Review
56. Dancing Goat 8 Year Old Corn Whiskey Finished In Spanish Oak: Review
55. Dancing Goat Maized & Confused: Review
54. Dancing Goat Very Old Goat 20 Year Old Light Whiskey Finished in Port Barrels: Review
53. Green River Wheated Bourbon: Review
52. Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye Finished in French Oak Cognac Barrels: Review
51. Heaven’s Door Bootleg Volume V: Review
50. High West A Midwinter Night’s Dram Act 11 Scene 1: Review
49. Jack Daniel’s Twice Barreled Special Release Heritage Rye Whiskey: Review
48. K.LUKE Blended Bourbon Small Batch Barrel Strength Batch 5: Review
47. Larceny Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch B523: Review
46. Lost Lantern Ironroot Republic Texas Straight Bourbon: Review
45. Michter’s 10 Year Old Single Barrel Rye: Review
44. Michter’s US*1 Barrel Strength Toasted Barrel Finish Rye 2023 Review
43. Old Charter Oak Spanish Oak Bourbon: Review
42. Old Fitzgerald 10 Year Old Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon Spring 2023: Review
41. Old Forester 117 Series: Bottled in Bond: Review
40. Old Forester Birthday Bourbon: Review
39. Peerless Double Oak Rye: Review
38. Penelope Rio: Review
37. Penelope Private Select 9 Year Old Barrel Strength Bourbon: Review
36. Rabbit Hole Tenniel Bourbon: Review
35. Remus Repeal Reserve Series VII Bourbon: Review
34. Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old (2023 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection): Review
33. Still Austin Bottled in Bond High Rye Bourbon: Review
32. Still Austin Bottled in Bond Red Corn Bourbon: Review
31. Still Austin Cask Strength Rye: Review
30. Uncle Nearest Single Barrel Whiskey (Barrel #7): Review
29. Westland Solum: Review
28. Westward Whiskey Single Barrel Selection Grand Cru Sauternes Cask Finish: Review
27. Whiskey JYPSI Legacy: Review
26. Widow Jane Decadence 2023: Review
25. Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Voyage: Review
24. Wolves Whiskey California Single Malt Lot One: Review
Tier 2: The Excellent American Whiskeys of 2023 (Really Quite Exceptional)
23. Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #11: Review
22. Barrell Bourbon Batch 034: Review
21. Bernheim Barrel Proof Wheat Whiskey Batch A223: Review
20. Booker’s Bourbon 2023-01 ‘Charlie’s Batch’: Review
19. Brown-Forman King of Kentucky 2023 Bourbon: Review
18. Eagle Rare 17 Year Old Bourbon (2023 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection): Review
17. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof 12 Year Batch A123: Review
16. George T. Stagg Bourbon (2023 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection): Review
15. Hardin’s Creek Boston: Review
14. Hardin’s Creek Clermont: Review
13. Hardin’s Creek Frankfort: Review
12. Jack Daniel’s 12 Year Old Tennessee Whiskey: Review
11. Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye: Review
10. Larceny Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch A123: Review
9. Larceny Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch C923: Review
8. Parker’s Heritage Collection Double Barreled Blend Bourbon: Review
7. Thirteenth Colony Double Oaked Bourbon: Review
6. Thomas H. Handy Rye (2023 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection): Review
5. Westward Whiskey Milestone: Review
Tier 1: The Incredible American Whiskeys of 2023 (All-Time Favorites)
4. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Bourbon Batch C923: Review
3. Four Roses 135th Anniversary Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon 2023: Review
2. Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged Bourbon: Review
1. William Larue Weller Bourbon (2023 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection): Review
Do the above whiskeys look great to you? If you find yourself with a tiny bit of spare time around the house and are interested in tasting new whiskey each month, we recommend the Whiskey Raiders Bottle of the Month Club.
By joining the club, each month you will receive hard-to-find bottles curated by Whiskey Raiders staff. To be eligible for Bottle of the Month Club consideration, a whiskey must be rated 90 or higher, putting it in at least Tier 3 on this list.
Each month, members enjoy a live virtual tasting with our Editor-in-Chief Jay West, who shares his insights and untold stories about each whiskey and is often joined by guests from the distilleries themselves.
Click here to subscribe to the club.
