Top 10 Most Wanted Whiskeys
Updated for 2023
As whiskey fans, we always seem to have an eye out for our next whiskey, even when are home bars are fully stocked. It is part of the fun and allure of the hobby. With the Abov App, we make it easy for you to create a wishlist to track all those whiskeys you are dying to get your hands on!
Looking at all the whiskeys in all of the Abov community’s wishlists, we put together an updated list of the Top 10 Most Wanted Whiskeys.
First on the Most Wanted Whiskeys list is the Balvenie 14 Year Old Carribean Cask. The Carribean cask name comes from the rum cask finish used in this release.
This finishing process imparts a unique flavor profile to the whiskey, with notes of tropical fruit, vanilla, and toffee, as well as a subtle hint of spice.
Overall, Balvenie 14 Year Old Caribbean Cask is a unique and enjoyable whiskey that is perfect for those who enjoy a sweeter, more fruity flavor profile. It can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or with a splash of water, and is also a great choice for pairing with sweet or spicy foods.
Highland Park 12 Year Old is a single malt Scotch produced on the Orkney Islands in the northernmost part of Scotland. It is known for its distinctively smooth and balanced flavor profile.
Made from a blend of peated malted barley, which adds a smoky flavor, and unpeated malted barley, which contributes to its sweetness, it is then aged for 12 years in oak casks, which imparts further complexity to the flavor profile.
Monkey Shoulder is an affordable but sought after blended malt. This blend is sourced from Speyside distilleries Glenfiddich, Balvenie, and Kininvie, according to Master of Malt.
With notes of vanilla, honey, and spices, Monkey Shoulder is a smooth and mellow dram. It’s highly approachable for those starting their Scotch journey, and also excellent for use in cocktails and other mixed drinks.
Shifting to the Highlands region, next on the list of the Top 10 Most Wanted Whiskeys is the Oban 14 Year Old. This single malt is made from 100% malted barley and is aged for 14 years in oak casks, which contributes to its rich and complex flavor.
On the nose, Oban 14 Year Old has a distinctively fruity aroma, with notes of orange peel, apricot, and honey. There is also a hint of smoke and brine, which is characteristic of whiskies from the Western Highlands.
Up next? You guessed it. Another Islay single malt. Caol Ila 12 Year Old is often considered one of the more approachable Islay whiskeys however, thanks to its balance of smoky and sweet flavors.
On the nose, Caol Ila 12 Year Old has a smoky aroma, with notes of seaweed, brine, and a subtle sweetness. On the palate, it is full-bodied and complex, with flavors of smoke, peat, and a hint of citrus. The finish is long and warming, with a lingering smoky flavor and a touch of spice. A maturation of 12 years in oak casks helps to mellow and balance the flavors.
We’ll step away from Scotland very briefly for number 5, Ireland’s Redbreast 12 Year Old. This sherry aged single pot still Irish Whiskey is only the entry point to Redbreast’s amazing lineup of whiskeys, but it is one that you all still need to get your hands on.
With notes of delicious fruits, gingerbread, honey, banana, crème brule, and sherry, this sweet but well balanced whiskey will please newbies and experienced whiskey drinkers alike. It’s smooth and easy drinking, and a consistent favorite among Irish Whiskey fans.
We head to the Islands region of Scotland with the maritime inspired Talisker 10 Year Old. Smoke, peat, sea air, sea salt, and spice are all prominent in this unique single malt.
Talisker 10 Year Old is often considered one of the most distinctive and unique single malt Scotch whiskeys, and is a great choice for anyone looking to explore the world of peaty and smoky drams.
Three legends of peat in the the top three? You bet! Next up on our list of the Top 10 Most Wanted Whiskeys is another from Ardbeg, the Uigeadail.
This no age statement expression from Ardbeg’s core range is as robust and intense in flavor as the tempestuous whirlpool it is named after.
Similar to the Ten, but blended to amp up the tarry, ashy notes, the Uigeadail is only for the brave and bold peatheads to enjoy.
If you enjoy your peat, you cannot go wrong with the classic Ardbeg 10 Year Old. A masterfully peated malt plus 10 years in a combo of bourbon barrels and sherry casks comes together in a sweet and smoky dram that Abov users can’t get enough of.
On the nose, Ardbeg 10 Year Old has a strong, smoky aroma, with notes of peat, tar, and iodine. On the palate, it is full-bodied and complex, with flavors of smoke, brine, and a hint of sweetness. The finish is long and warming, with a lingering smoky flavor and a touch of pepper.
Another list, another peak position for Lagavulin 16. You can also find it at number one in our Top 10 Peated Whiskeys list, as well as our Top 10 Most Wanted Whiskeys list.
The rich, smoky, peated flavor is enhanced after 16 years in the oak. It is a quintessential Islay single malt, and a perfect representation of a well aged peated Scotch that won’t break the bank.
Most of us who enjoy whiskey want to find new whiskeys, but these are the Top 10 Most Wanted Whiskeys according to all the Abov community. How many of these are currently on your wishlist, and how many have you had to opportunity to actually try or purchase? Let us know in the comments below!
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