10 Best Whiskeys We Tasted In August 2024, Ranked
Something was in the air in August. We tasted myriad excellent whiskeys for the first time. From indie brands just getting their start to seasoned icons of the whiskey world, August was a red-hot month for some incredible whiskeys.
As we say goodbye to summer, don’t miss these 10 stunning releases that blew us away this month. Some of these were so memorable, they might just be our favorites for the entire year.
10 Best Whiskeys We Tasted in August, Ranked
10. Green River Full Proof
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Our love affair with Green River continued in August, with the Owensboro, Kentucky-based whiskey brand’s full-proof expression. Though Green River was revitalized in 2020, this value-driven whiskey brand has roots that date back to 1885. The distillery faced a lot of setbacks in its early days — a fire and Prohibition — and ended up having to shutter its doors. Yet, fortunately, Green River’s story has a happy ending, as the brand continues to launch killer release after killer release in the 2020s.
This expression hosts a suggested retail price of $49.99 and clocks in at 117.3 proof. Green River shared that because its warehouses are built with tile over bricks and stone, the warehouse hits both warm and cool temperatures, which leads to a deviation in proof and a distinctive maturation process.
Green River Full proof is a liquid snapshot of a cherry ice cream sundae with a waffle cone bowl. Picture bright red maraschino cherries, buttercream and oak on the nose. Then, expect black pepper, some cherry cola and honey throughout the pour. The whiskey finishes beautifully with waffle cone, honey and a little prickle of heat to add some oomph. A beautifully complex and delicious release at a must-buy price!
9. Backbone Bourbon Estate Uncut Straight Bourbon Whiskey
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Backbone Bourbon Company was founded in 2014. The company was born out of frustration when the brand’s Indiana bourbon supplier dropped them and claimed they needed “bigger” and “better representation,” according to Backbone. The founders, Bill Kennedy and Nolan Smith, wished the supplier had more backbone, and thus, Backbone Bourbon was born.
This release dropped in May 2024 and is the inaugural release within a series of “micro batches.” Just 73 cases of this 55%-ABV bourbon were distributed. This bourbon is a blend of a majority of cognac-finished bourbon but includes other batches of double-barreled bourbons. The brand sourced whiskeys from another Indiana producer — we’d venture to guess MGP – and they host three different mashbills. One is composed of 75% corn, 21% rye and 4% malted barley. The second features a mashbill of 51% corn, 45% wheat and 4% malted barley. The final bourbon possesses a mashbill of 60% corn, 36% rye and 4% malted barley.
The nose of this bourbon possesses a rich scent with plenty of toffee, cocoa, nougat, cake batter and just the right amount of oak. The palate is richly sweet with cola, tobacco and toffee, segueing into a finish with sweet tobacco and spice. With a respectable age of 5 years, 8 months, and a price point ranging within $60-$100, this is a great value bourbon.
8. 15 STARS First West Bourbon
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If you’re interested in drinking your dessert, we suggest you consider the latest release from the fledgling whiskey brand, 15 STARS.
Though 15 STARS may be on the younger side as far as bourbon brands go, you’d never know it from their releases, which continue to sweep us off our feet with every sip. The brand’s First West Bourbon is a blended bourbon composed of 7-, 9- and 15-year-old bourbons from Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee.
First West Bourbon was bottled at 106 proof and hosts a suggested retail price of $139. The nose is pure dessert, with brown sugar, ginger and gobs of toffee. On the palate, picture a symphony of cherry, blackberry, maple and spice. The bourbon finishes with caramel, ginger and pepper.
A beautifully rich bourbon, that begs to be enjoyed after dinner.
7. Ardbeg Harpy’s Tale
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This mythical scotch whisky is from Islay distillery, Ardbeg. Harpy’s Tale is the first release within Ardbeg’s Anthology Collection. This scotch whisky celebrates the mythical beast, the Harpy, and is a 13-year-old scotch aged in a composition of bourbon and Sauternes casks .This 46%-ABV scotch hosts a suggested retail price of $164.99.
The nose has plenty of minerality, buttercream and toffee coupled with barbecue smoke and ash. It’s the perfect blend of meaty and sweet, with some citrus peel thrown in the mix. The palate is a heady mixture of rosewater, slate, vanilla and barbecue. The finish goes on and on, and there’s plenty of vanilla cream, lemon zest and buttercream.
Ardbeg’s Harpy’s Tale ingeniously implements Sauternes casks in a way that complements its signature peated style, making this a complicated pour indeed.
6. Ardbeg Unicorn’s Tale
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Ardbeg’s Unicorn’s Tale is the second release within the brand’s Anthology Series, and it is a 14-year-old single malt scotch that was aged in a mixture of bourbon and Madeira wine casks.
This mythical release dropped in July and is dedicated to the unicorn, a creature some individuals swear they’ve seen on Islay. Whether or not unicorns were spotted in Scotland — or those who saw them may have had a few too many drams — remains to be seen. Yet there’s one thing we do know: this scotch is pretty darn good.
This 46%-ABV whisky can be purchased from anywhere between $100 to $200.
On the nose, picture butterscotch, minerality, and cherry interlaced with currant. The palate is balanced — and those hesitant to taste peaty Islay whiskies will be pleasantly surprised by the flavors of berries and stewed fruits interlaced with blackberry-glazed barbecued meats. The finish lingers for eons and hosts plenty of buttercream, custard and charred oak flavors.
5. Yellowstone 2024 Limited Edition Bourbon
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Each year, Yellowstone offers an annual limited edition release, and the 2024 expression is finished in a mixture of French brandy and cognac casks. This year’s Yellowstone Limited Edition Bourbon is a mixture of 7- and 17-year-old bourbons, and it hosts a suggested retail price of $99.99 for each 750-milliliter bottle.
Clocking in at 101 proof, the nose is lifted, with aromas of brioche, caramel apple and pepper. The palate is beautifully opulent and honeyed, with caramel apple, honeycomb and pipe tobacco. Decadent spice adds a pleasant kick. This whiskey finishes with a prickle of heat but is beautifully laid back and easygoing.
A stunning and rich bourbon, with the cognac adding a level of elegance that makes this offering a true standout from Limestone Branch.
4. KLUKE Barrel Strength Toasted Rye Batch 3
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K.LUKE is definitely on our “brands to watch” list, and this blend of eight whiskeys sourced from Kentucky and Indiana spent three months finishing in toasted barrels before it was bottled at 114.6 proof and released in May. If you’re interested in purchasing a bottle, expect to spend around $100.
A beautifully rich rye, with potent spices, pepper, cloves, and a luscious sweetness on the nose. The toasted oak adds depth, complexity and structure to the aromas fn this rye whiskey. The palate has loads of vanilla cream, waffle cones and raisin bread, leading to a lengthy finish with the perfect blend of sweetness and spice.
K.LUKE is no stranger to impressive releases, and we believe this might be the brand’s best whiskey yet.
3. Booker’s Beam House Batch
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This release from Booker’s Bourbon dropped in July, and it’s not only on our “best-of” list for August, but it might just be one of our favorites for 2024. That’s no small feat.
A blend of bourbons that aged for 7 years, 2 months, and 22 days, this bourbon is well-aged and full of peanut butter, toffee, and creamy sweet aromas from start to finish.
If you want to know just exactly where the bourbons were pulled from, Booker’s Beam House Batch features 14% of bourbons from the fifth floor of 7-story warehouse Z, 28% from the fourth floor of 7-story warehouse 3, 14% from the fourth floor of 7-story warehouse 3, 19% from the fifth floor of 7-story warehouse Q and 25% from floor seven of 9-story warehouse H.
The blend of different bourbons is incredibly layered and beautifully aged. There’s plenty of buttercream, brûlée, and sweet oak on the nose. The thickly rich palate has a bit of heat — but it works beautifully with the layers of vanilla cake and toffee. The finish is full of rich creamy sweetness and a little bit of clove for that extra kick.
If you’re interested in scoring a bottle of this 62.3%-ABV whiskey, you can pick one up for anywhere within the $60-$100 range. But don’t wait too long; whiskey from Bookers are known to go up in price due to high demand.
2. Little Book Chapter 7
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“In Retrospect” marks the seventh chapter within Beam’s “Little Book” whiskey series. Without question, this blend of whiskeys is experimental — but it works.
This bonkers whiskey features a composition of 4-year-old Kentucky rye, 4-year-old Kentucky bourbon, 5-year-old malt whiskey with an applewood smoked barrel finish, 9-year-old Kentucky bourbon, 10-year-old Kentucky rye, 17-year-old Kentucky bourbon and 18-year-old Kentucky bourbon. Yeah, say that five times fast.
Little Book Chapter 7 clocks in at 118.1 proof, and hosts a massive nose, with graham cracker, toffee, and mega oak. On the thickly rich palate, that oak wave continues, yet it’s well-balanced with apple, char, butterscotch and toffee. Little Book Chapter 7 finishes beautifully, and all the flavors are well-integrated, with buttercream, tobacco and brown sugar.
Though Little Book Chapter 7 falls within the “splurge” category, typically priced within the $100-$200 range, we’d say it’s worth it.
1. Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2024
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Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2024 is a beautiful beast of a bourbon. Each year, the brand drops exceedingly limited quantities of this stuff, and just 16,000 bottles were released into the wild.
This year’s blend is a mixture of 12-year OBSV, 15-year OESK, 16-year OESF and 20-year OBSV. It hosts an ABV of 54.1% and a suggested retail price of around $220.
The nose is richly fruited, with a blend of citrus fruit and plums. Toffee drizzle, lavender and honey add complexity. The palate matches what the nose promises, with crisp apples, caramel, honey and more of that citrus fruit. Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch 2024 finishes in a delicate way, with vanilla, bread pudding and sweet oak.
2024’s Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition is quite possibly one of the most sessionable releases in a long time, and it is definitely higher-toned than previous Small Batch Limited Editions from the brand. We’re going to raise a glass to Four Roses’ Brent Elliot and the brand’s blending team for creating a brilliant departure from previous releases that leaves a memorable impression.
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