The 12 Best Whiskeys We Tasted In October 2024, Ranked

It’s hard to believe we’re at the end of October. Thus far, it’s been a banner year for whiskey, and October’s selection is an eclectic mix of head-turning expressions.

From scotches to bourbons to wheat whiskeys and American single malts — this list features quite an incredible selection. We’ve ranked the 12 best whiskeys we tasted in October, and there’s nothing spooky about this list!

Rankings explanation: Bottles are ranked by the house scores given by our spirits critics. When ties arise in the house scores, they are broken by Raided Score®. In instances where the Raided Scores® are equal, the whiskey with the highest number of reviews aggregated is ranked higher. In an instance where all of those factors are equal, alphabetization is used as a final tiebreaker.

The 12 Best Whiskeys We Tasted in October 2024, Ranked

12. Aberlour A’Bunadh Batch 46

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This scotch from the Speyside whisky brand Aberlour was matured in Spanish Oloroso sherry butts and bottled at a fairly hefty 120.8 proof. The release is part of the scotch brand’s limited-availability A’bundah series, which is a celebration of the distiller’s founder, James Fleming.

Wine-Searcher reports Aberlour A’Bunadh Batch 46 sells for an average price of $101, making it a bit of a splurge, yet we’d say this scotch is worth the buy due to its incredible complexity.

On the nose, picture a mixture of honey and cherry jam, coupled with an oak spine adding structure. The palate is luscious, with blackberries drizzled with honey, figs and tobacco. On the finish, there’s a prickle of heat, coupled with more figs and caramel, making it the perfect Autumn dram.

11. Michter’s Toasted Barrel Finish Bourbon

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Just in this week: Michter’s earned the coveted title of “The World’s Most Admired Whiskey” from Drinks International for the second consecutive year — and with releases like this one, it’s no surprise.

Bottled at 91.4 proof, this bourbon features a second maturation in gently toasted 18-month air-dried barrels. Though this bourbon hosts a suggested retail price of $110, it’s possible it might cost you a bit more on the secondary market.

With a rich nose that boasts aromas of marshmallow and honey, coupled with brown sugar, it’s clear this bourbon will appeal to dessert aficionados at first whiff. The palate is moderate and not too complicated, with more marshmallows and cinnamon for a bit of a kick. Michter’s Toasted Barrel Finish Bourbon finishes with a bit more oak and buttercream, coupled with some pepper.

This latest release from Michter’s Toasted Barrel series is dangerously crushable and liquid proof that Michter’s has earned its title.

10. Old Grand Dad 16 Year Old

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Beam shared on its socials in September that it was releasing a vintage-inspired 16-year-old whiskey: Old Grand-Dad Bourbon. Fans went wild in the social sphere, and we had to see if this bourbon lived up to the hype.

Beam simply describes the bourbon as possessing a “high rye” mashbill, but the exact percentages are a mystery (although it’s probably the usual Old Grand Dad mashbill of 63% corn, 27% rye and 10% malted barley). The bourbon is bottled at 50% ABV, and Wine-Searcher cites an average price of $213.

It has a stunning nose that boasts flavors of honey-roasted peanuts and graham cracker, coupled with a whiff of tobacco. The palate boasts a nice low proof with an attractive viscous quality. Picture sweet caramel drizzled with brown butter that segues to the finish — which is nothing short of incredible. Loads of salted caramel, toffee, cake batter and tobacco make this bourbon go out with a bang.

9. Remus Repeal Reserve VIII

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This next limited-edition bourbon whiskey is meant to celebrate Repeal Day, which takes place on Dec. 5. Repeal Day honors the end of Prohibition, and we can’t think of a whiskey more fitting for such a celebration.

Made at MGP in Indiana, this latest edition dropped in September 2024. It hosts a suggested retail price of $99.99 and clocks in at 50.7% ABV. This is a blend of three bourbons from 10 to 17 years of age. The blend consists of 67% of a 10-year bourbon with 36% rye in the mashbill; 24% of a 10-year bourbon with 21% rye; and 9% of a 17-year-old bourbon with 21% rye.

The nose boasts buttercream, caramel and honey interlaced with red fruits, like raspberries and strawberries. On the palate, picture pepper, ginger and graham cracker. Remus Repeal Reserve VIII finishes with cocoa, pepper and toffee.

8. Bernheim Barrel Proof Original Wheat Whiskey Batch B924

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Released from Heaven Hill twice a year, Bernheim Barrel Proof is made at the brand’s Bernheim Distillery and uses winter wheat as its primary grain.

This whiskey spent seven to nine years aging after being distilled from a mashbill of 51% wheat, 37% corn and 12% malted barley. Bernheim Barrel Proof Original Wheat Whiskey hosts an ABV of 56.3% and boasts a traditional, wheated profile.

With aromas of cake batter, icing, and maple coupled with a palate that boasts brown sugar and nougat — this whiskey is decadent dessert all the way. Bernheim Barrel Proof finishes with buttercream, brown sugar and pralines. Best of yet, this richly dessert-driven whiskey is fairly affordable and hosts a suggested retail price of $65.

7. WhistlePig Boss Hog XI: The Juggernaut

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This latest offering from WhistlePig proves that weird can be good. Boss Hog XI: The Juggernaut was distilled by a Canadian producer and finished in barrels from an unusual spirit distilled by the Vermont-based WhistlePig.

The spirit was inspired by Thandai, a South Asian drink popular in India. WhistlePig seasoned the barrels with a blend of rye whiskey mixed with saffron, cardamom, fennel, poppy, black peppercorn and cinnamon.

With a suggested retail price of $599.99, this rye whiskey is going to cost you a pretty penny. The Juggernaut is bottled between 103.8 and 105.2 proof, and it’s one heck of a wild ride.

On the nose, picture chai, vanilla icing, gingersnap cookies and yuzu. The palate boasts plenty of herbal rye interlaced with citrus peel and black tea. There’s just a kick of medicinal cherry, but it works. The finish is fruity, with yuzu and lychee goodness, coupled with coriander and black tea.

Would we label WhistlePig’s latest Boss Hog as bizarre? Yes. But it’s also brilliant and beautiful, earning it its rightful spot on this list.

6. Larceny Barrel Proof Batch B524

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This masterpiece from Heaven Hill dropped in May, and it’s bottled uncut and unfiltered at 125.4 proof.

Distilled from a mashbill of 68% corn, 20% wheat and 12% malted barley and with a suggested retail price of $59.99, this bourbon definitely falls in the “do not miss” category.

The nose is potent, with sweet cream, cinnamon candies, and a maple drizzle. On the palate, that cinnamon kick continues with flavors of red hots, coupled with demerara sugar, vanilla and an oak spine. The finish is punchy and loud — but in the best way possible — with plenty of spice and sweetness.

If you’re a fan of Weller, we always recommend giving Larceny Barrel Proof a shot. With its wheated mashbill and bruising ABV, it can go toe to toe with the best of ’em easily.

5. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch B524

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October was a good month for us when it came to tasting excellent Heaven Hill releases. This banger of a bourbon from the Elijah Craig brand was aged for 11 years and 2 months before being bottled at a blistering 130.6 proof.

Made from a mashbill of 78% corn, 12% malted barley and 10% rye, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch B524 hosts a suggested retail price of $75.

With a darkly rich nose that boasts rich espresso, tobacco and black fruits like plum and raisin, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch B524 promises quite a bit upfront. The palate lives up to that promise with date syrup, blackberry and heat. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch B524 finishes with more blackberry and orange peel, coupled with toffee.

We’ll be remembering this batch of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof for years to come.

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

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Jack Daniel’s Coy Hill Single Barrel Series boasts an exceptionally high proof because the brand’s Coy Hill barrelhouse sits on the highest elevation of the Jack Daniel’s property in Lynchburg, Tennessee. The site is often exposed to extreme temperature shifts, and the whiskey is a rich and dynamic reflection of that.

Jack Daniel’s Coy Hill Barrelhouse 8 has a suggested retail price of $79.99 — though chances are on the secondary market, it will retail for significantly higher. This expression clocks in at a hefty proof that ranges from 122 all the way to 137.5.

If there was one word that could describe the Tennessee whiskey brand’s latest Coy Hill release, it would be “rich.” The nose is massive, with char, honey-roasted peanuts and butterscotch. Bold and showy, the palate boasts créme brûlée, banana, tobacco, cinnamon and more of that honey-roasted peanut throughline. Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Special Release 2024 — Coy Hill Barrelhouse 8 finishes with char, toffee and oak aplenty

3. Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged Bourbon 2024

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Fans of Maker’s Mark have long begged for an extended-age bourbon from the whiskey brand and in 2023, Maker’s Mark finally answered their prayers with the release of the brand’s first cellar-aged expression.

This bourbon has a suggested retail price of $175 and is a blend of bourbons aged for 12 and 13 years. Eight-five percent of this blend is composed of 13-year-old bourbon, and the remaining 15% is 12-year-old bourbon that were both aged in the brand’s temperature-controlled limestone cellar.

With a nose that’s nothing short of opulent, layered with old parchment, black tea, sweet cream and soft pepper, there’s plenty of complexity at first whiff. The palate is powerful, with toffee, tea, a dusty sweetness and a pinch of ginger. The lingering finish is layered, with caramel, sweet tea, black tea and brown sugar, making this whiskey a modern classic.

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

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Oregon’s Westward Whiskey is one of the best American single malt producers around, and nothing exemplifies that fact better than its annual Milestone release, which debuted last year. For Milestone, Westward implements a 21-barrel solera system in the production process.

The 2023 release is called “A Discovery of Spice,” and exotic woods and finishes are incorporated into the maturation process. It was finished in a mixture of stout, pinot noir and rum barrels, and the brand refers to it as “by far the most ambitious, limited and exclusive whiskey we will ever craft.”

Westward’s Milestone American Single Malt Edition No. 2 hosts a suggested retail price of $249.95, but we’d say it’s worth the buy. This dreamy release boasts a dessert-forward nose full of sugar, sweet malt, maple and cereal, coupled with ginger spice.

The palate is moderate, with major Cinnabon flavors, coupled with ginger, pepper and tobacco. Westward’s Milestone finishes with brown butter, toffee, sweet cream and an attractive kick of well-integrated amburana spice.

Westward’s Milestone American Single Malt No. 2 is a benchmark expression for the category, earning it the No. 2 spot on our list for October.

1. Brown-Forman King of Kentucky 2024 Bourbon

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The King of Kentucky brand hosts a long and storied history with roots that go back almost 200 years. It was founded in 1881 and acquired by Brown-Forman in 1936. King of Kentucky was discontinued in 1968 until Brown-Forman took a chance and decided to bring it back — and boy, are we glad they did.

This latest release is 16 years old and clocks in at a monster proof of 130.4. A limited amount of 5,100 bottles exist, and its suggested retail price is $349.99, though it will probably set you back a bit more in the secondary market.

If you’re looking for a masterclass on what a bourbon should be, look no further. The nose is nothing short of gorgeous. With powerful dessert, dark cherries, root beer, tobacco and dusty candy, it’s clear this bourbon is a head-turner. The palate is loaded with cherry cola, brown sugar, and tobacco. It finishes rich and powerful, with black fruits like figs, interlaced with espresso and butterscotch.

Without a doubt, this bourbon lives up to its name, claiming its spot as not only the King of Kentucky, but the King of October whiskeys.