Whisky Advocate Winter 2021

Have we all had a good 2021? Well, it may not have been perfect, but we’ve still got many, many reasons to be thankful. And yes, great whisky is one of them. This magical liquid always manages to defy the storms, and is doing so once again. So we think there is plenty of cause for cheer, and in that spirit, we are delighted to present our Top 20 Whiskies of 2021—headlined by the star of the show, our Whisky of the Year. Each year, our editors convene for a days-long series of meetings to blind taste, discuss, and ultimately choose the Whisky of the Year. The finalists have been selected beforehand from the year’s crop of whiskies scoring 90 points or above, but it should be noted that scores are…

CHEERS TO WHISKY CLUBS Dear Whisky Advocate, Well, first I just want to say thank you so much for featuring our club in the latest issue! We’ve had three new people join because of the feature, and several others join our mailing list. What a delight! Cheers, Beks Opperman Founder, Los Angeles Whisky Club Hi Beks, We’re glad you enjoyed the piece, and we had fun covering your club too. We’re also happy to hear that your group is a growing concern! Keep in touch and send us pics and news in the future. FOCUS ON THE AFFORDABLE Dear Whisky Advocate, I am a subscriber and enjoy the magazine very much. What I don’t like is the over promoting of exclusive products that I will probably never see in any store in my market and most likely will never have…

Last year, all four WhiskyFest events—Big Smoke Meets WhiskyFest in Hollywood, Florida and the shows in Chicago, New York, and San Francisco—were postponed due to the pandemic. But this autumn WhiskyFest was back, as enthusiastic crowds gathered to taste and enjoy whiskies from around the world and reconnect for the first time since 2019. Perfect Pairing Big Smoke Meets WhiskyFest kicked off this fall whirlwind at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida on October 30th. It was a day filled with exquisite cigars, world class whisky, and great company. A bounty of whiskies was poured at the event, alongside collectible cigars from some of the world’s top makers. The morning sessions featured a slew of sold-out cigar seminars with such luminaries as Jorge Padron, Rocky Patel, and Carlos Fuente…

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Minneapolis was the flour milling capital of the world. No spirits enthusiast should write this off as mere trivia. Minneapolis’s legacy as the linchpin of America’s breadbasket is echoed in its local food and drinks scene today, and the city is also now a brightening star on the country’s whisky map. Like most Midwestern cities, Minneapolis is a sprawling patchwork of neighborhoods. There are buses and a light rail system, and Nice Ride Minnesota is a dependable bike and e-bike rental service—although rideshare is the best bet for making optimal use of your time. Minneapolis is also a good walking city, except when a deep freeze sets in. Throughout its neighborhoods and riverside paths, antique signs and other vestiges of old immigrant communities…

A Simple Cocktail Made Extraordinary In essence, a Highball is just a fancy way to ask for the good old fashioned whiskey & soda. It's a simple drink, yes, but it's long been a ubiquitous one thanks to the unexpected magic that occurs when fizzy water unlocks a bourbon's flavors and aromas. Jim Beam® is the quintessential bourbon for the task, with its mellow and approachable notes of caramel and vanilla. Yet a highball need not only pair this great bourbon with flavorless soda water and ice from the door of your fridge. With a few quick and easy substitutions, you can turn an old standard into something sublime. Classic Jim Beam® & Ginger Highball 1 part Jim Beam9 Bourbon3 parts ginger aleServe in a Highball glass over Ice.Garnish with a lemon slice. Fresh…

Cake and whisky may not seem to have much in common. But sit with a snifter and a slice for a few minutes, and you’ll realize the two “share so many similarities,” says Eryn Reece, head bartender of Banzarbar in New York City. “Spices, fruits, nuts, and the fact that their shared base ingredient is grain.” Plus there’s vanilla, caramel, sweetness, dryness…you get the drift. Savor these cake-inspired cocktails. The Elephant Key Created by Steva Casey, bartender, Atomic Lounge, Birmingham, Ala. Rich baking spices from scotch and a homemade syrup meld together to create full-flavored, slightly earthy notes reinforced by the carrot eau de vie in this cocktail inspired by carrot cake. 1½ oz. Aberfeldy 12 year old (or other Highland scotch)½ oz. carrot eau de vie½ oz. calvados½ oz. lemon juice½ oz. orange…