Top 10 Best Flavored Whiskeys
There are few things more polarizing in the whiskey community than the idea of flavored whiskey. Purists think its not even whiskey, others find it delicious. In reality, it might be both.
Most flavored whiskeys are produced in the United States and Canada. The reason for this is quite simple: Scottish regulations do not allow any additional flavors to be added to whiskey. If anything else other than E150 (caramel coloring) is added, it is not allowed to be labeled as ‘whisky’ anymore. The regulations in most other countries, including the US and Canada, is not as strict.
Whether you are just getting acquainted with whiskey, or if you’ve already tasted just about everything, you might want to try a whiskey with a twist. With the wide range of flavored whiskeys to choose from, there are plenty of ways to experience new flavors!
10. Canadian Club Apple
While apple flavored spirits are pretty common, Apple flavored Canadian Whisky? Kicking off our list of the Top 10 Best Flavored Whiskeys is just that, from Canadian Club.
Not to be confused with whiskeys finished in apple cider or brandy barrels, Canadian Club Apple has additional flavoring blended in the standard Canadian Club. The result is a bit overpowering apple flavored liquor, with a hint of Canadian Whisky.
9. Jeremiah Weed Sarsaparilla
If you feel like you need to Google what sarsparilla is, you aren’t alone. To save you a little time, we’ll just tell you it is the main flavor ingredient in Root Beer.
Basically, Jeremiah Weed just picked a fancy way of saying Root Beer flavored whiskey. And for what it is, it is delicious!
If this list tells you anything, it is that you can add pretty much any flavor to a base whiskey. This one is soo chocolatey, they call it Double Chocolate Bourbon.
Chocolate and bourbon is actually a fairly complimentary pairing. What would you actually do with a chocolate flavored bourbon? Spiked chocolate milk? Chocolate old fashioned? The possibilities are endless.
7. Forty Creek Spike
Number 7 on our list of the Top 10 Best Flavored Whiskeys is Forty Creek Spike. A honey spiced Canadian Whisky, this is another one squarely on the sweet side of things.
What makes this bottle unique is that, unlike other honey flavored whiskeys, Forty Creek tries to balance the strong honey notes with a blend of other rich spices.
6. Crown Royal Peach
This is another flavored Canadian Whisky that has grown wildly popular in recent years. One of only two fruit flavored drams on the list, next is Crown Royal Peach.
Crown Royal gets a bad rap as a low quality whisky suitable only for mixing. While it definitely a massively produced, blended style of whisky, they do have some tasty and unique offerings. And if you like peach flavors, you are sure to love this one!
5. Virgil Kaine Ginger Infused Bourbon
For our next flavored whiskey, we head to the southeastern United States, and specifically Charleston, South Carolina, home of the Virgil Kaine distillery.
Known for their craft bourbons, their unique ginger infused bourbon is what gets them on this list today.
Whiskey and ginger ale is a pretty classic combination, so why not bring the ginger flavoring directly to the whiskey itself?!
4. Wolfhead Craft Whisky Coffee Café
Another pretty timeless combination, that being coffee and whiskey. Coffee flavored liqueurs, like Mr. Black, have absolutely exploded in popularity as of late, so it’s not surprising a coffee flavored whiskey would make the list.
Wolfhead is a small distillery in Ontario, Canada. They offer a standard Canadian Rye, along with a number of other flavored whiskeys to try.
3. FEW Immortal Rye
Number 3 is possibly the most interesting flavored whiskey, and it is the only flavored American Rye that made the Top 10. From FEW Distillery outside Chicago, Illinois comes FEW Immortal Rye.
What makes this one unique is that there isn’t a specific, common flavor like apple or ginger being added, but instead their FEW Rye is infused with Eight Immortals Tea.
Sounds strange at first, but its a completely genius pairing. Herbal tea added to already herbal and spicy rye creates an even bolder whiskey
2. Coureur des Bois
With all the Canadian Whiskies on the list, did you really think we’d make it through without including a maple syrup flavored one?
Coureur des Bois, which translates to “runners of the woods” refers to French Canadian fur trappers. What better name for this very Canadian dram.
Although the maple syrup is omni-present, its actually very well balanced and not as overly sweetened as one might expect.
1. Old Dominick Memphis Toddy
Rounding out the Top 10 Best Flavored Whiskeys is Memphis Toddy from Tennessee distillery, Old Dominick. The name comes from the cocktail, “a hot toddy, also known as hot whiskey in Ireland, is typically a mixed drink made of liquor and water with honey, lemon, herbs and spices, and served hot”.
This flavored whiskey is a riff on that very drink, taking a bourbon base and infusing natural spices like clove, cinnamon, and cardamom. Sounds like a perfect winter weather whiskey!
A controversial list, no doubt, but one worth exploring. Everyone has their own palate, and while some can tolerate high alcohol hazmat whiskey, others prefer something sweet and flavored.
Our personal experience with flavored whiskeys has been a mixed bag. Some our quite tasty, while others are too sugary for our taste. Generally, we’ve found mixing them into cocktails (with more straight whiskey) is a great way to enjoy these.
What about you? Do you enjoy flavored whiskeys? Let us know your favorite in the comments below!
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