Top 10 Most Popular Whiskeys
Updated for 2023
At Abov, we are often looking forward to the next hot whiskey, following the trends, and trying to recommend timely and relevant drams. But sometimes, we need to look back and revisit the all-time classics. Updated for 2023, here are the Top 10 Most Popular Whiskeys of all time, as determined by the Abov Community.
To compile this list, we looked at the whiskeys most frequently added to our users’ collections over the app’s entire existence and arrived at this list of highly sought-after whiskeys.
The following are the most popular whiskeys on Abov. Want to track your own collection of whiskeys? Download the Abov App to update your collection and rate your favorites!
We’ll start our list of the Top 10 Most Popular Whiskeys with another highly owned blended whiskey, Chivas Regal 12 Year Old. According to their website, the blend contains single malt from Strathisla and single grain from Strathclyde, among other whiskeys.
This is highly popular blend, known for being a very approachable easy drinker. Lots of subtle notes of honey, vanilla, toffee, and a touch of oak.
The second oldest dram on the list, number 9 is the Dalwhinnie 15 Year Old. It is produced using malted barley that is dried over peat fires, which imparts a subtle smokiness to the whiskey. It is then distilled in copper pot stills and aged for 15 years in ex-bourbon casks, which gives it a rich, complex flavor profile.
Dalwhinnie 15 Year Old has won numerous awards and accolades over the years, and is highly-regarded by whiskey enthusiasts and connoisseurs. It is often praised for its smooth, approachable flavor profile, and would make a great addition to any collection.
The flagship expression of the Glenmorangie range, and known for its smooth, delicate flavor profile, number 8 on the list of the Top 10 Most Popular Whiskeys is Glenmorangie 10 Year Old The Original.
The whiskey is aged for 10 years in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, which gives it a subtle sweetness and a creamy texture.
On the nose, Glenmorangie 10 Year Old has a delicate aroma, with notes of vanilla, honey, and citrus. On the palate, it is smooth and well-balanced, with flavors of creamy vanilla, honey, and a hint of spice. The finish is long and warming, with a gentle sweetness and a touch of oak.
The only whiskey on the list not from Scotland, at number seven, we have the classic Jameson Irish Whiskey. A blend of grain and single pot still whiskey, this one is quintessentially Irish, and is many drinkers first experience when it comes to whiskey from Ireland.
While it certainly is not the most complex flavored whiskey out there, it is smooth, sweet, and easy drinking, with a hint of Irish shortbread.
The Abov community sure does love it’s Islay peat! A classic from Laphroaig, you cannot go wrong with the Laphroaig 10 Year Old.
On the nose, Laphroaig 10 Year Old has a strong and complex aroma, with notes of peat smoke, iodine, and sea salt. On the palate, it is bold and flavorful, with flavors of smoke, oak, and brine, as well as a hint of sweetness from the sherry casks. The finish is long and warming, with a lingering smoky aftertaste.
It is often cited as a benchmark for peated Islay whiskey, and is a must-try for anyone who enjoys smoky, full-bodied single malts.
Monkey Shoulder is a blended Scotch whiskey that is made from a combination of three different single malts. According to Master of Malt, this blend is sourced from Glenfiddich, Balvenie, and Kininvie, all from Speyside.
It has a smooth and mellow flavor profile, with notes of vanilla, honey, and spices. Monkey Shoulder is a versatile whiskey that can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or in a cocktail.
From Islay to the Islands, number four on the list of Most Popular Whiskeys is the 10 year old expression from Talisker.
A different take on the peated style of Scotch, Talisker takes on the “maritime” character, as emphasized by the seaside imagery in all their branding.
A flavor profile that is bit less smokey, and more sea air, sea salt, and spice, this is a uniquely delicious dram.
Another strong offering from Islay, this one from the legendary Ardbeg distillery. If you enjoy peated Scotch, chances are you’ve owned a bottle of Ardbeg 10 at some point.
Spending 10 years in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, it’s flavor is full-bodied and robust, with intense notes of smoke, sea salt, and a hint of sweetness.
Glenfiddich 12 Year Old is a classic single malt Scotch whiskey that is matured in American Oak bourbon barrels and European Oak sherry casks for at least 12 years. It’s flavor profile has a fruity and floral aroma, with notes of pear, vanilla, and oak. On the palate, it is smooth and mellow, with a sweet and creamy taste and a hint of spice on the finish.
A great entry point to the Speyside style, it’s no wonder this bottle has found its way into many of your collections.
Lagavulin 16 is a highly regarded and very popular whiskey in general, so it’s no surprise this one still tops our list. You can also find it at number one in our Top 10 Peated Whiskeys list.
This single malt whiskey is produced in Islay, Scotland and it’s flavor profile is characterized by its rich, smoky flavor that comes from the peat used during the distillation process. The whiskey is aged for a minimum of 16 years in oak casks, which imparts a deep golden color and a complex flavor profile.
While these aren’t necessarily the most highly rated whiskeys out there, they are certainly bottles you’ll want on your shelf or in your cabinet as you build your whiskey collection. Maybe more importantly, you can get these bottles on your shelf, as opposed to some of the more rare or unique bottlings out there. Whether you are getting started or have been trying whiskey for years, you can’t go wrong with any of these popular whiskeys.
How many of the Top 10 Most Popular Whiskeys have you tried? Let us know in the comments below, or visit one of our great partner stores to pick up a new bottle so you can try them all!
One Comment
I am sorry but this hurts me a bit. I have typed into a search “Top 10 Whiskeys”. I get this list, which is called “Top 10 Most Popular Whiskeys” and only one out of the 10 is actually a whiskey the other 9 would be called whisky. The vast majority of American and Irish are whiskey (I will admit not all) but Scotch is whisky.
Kind of makes it difficult to get the right list. Imagine how excited I was, as an American Whiskey drinker, about this title. Only to find that I have been hit with a list of scotch…