In this article, we are going to discuss the 15 best whiskeys for beginners in 2024. You can skip our detailed analysis of the global whiskey market, the record year for American spirits, and a recent sustainability initiative in the American whiskey industry, and go directly to the 5 Best Whiskeys for Beginners in 2024.
Whether it’s the sharp burn of single malt or the smooth, woody aroma of a blended Scotch, the scent of whisky is enough to invigorate even the weariest of souls. Part of the popularity of the beloved golden tipple comes from the sheer amount of tradition that it has behind it. Making whisky is an age-old craft and one that goes back many centuries. Its origin began over a millennium ago, when distillation migrated from mainland Europe into Ireland and Scotland via traveling monks. The Scottish and Irish monasteries, lacking the vineyards and grapes of the continent, turned to fermenting grain mash, resulting in the first distillation of modern whisky.
Global Whiskey Market:
Whiskey is one of the Most Consumed Alcohols in the World, with the global whiskey market valued at $64 billion in 2022 and expected to reach $91.3 billion by 2028, with a CAGR of 6% during the forecast period.
The consumption of alcohol is shifting away from beer and wine and millennials are more likely to experiment with other alcoholic beverages, resulting in the growth of a ‘cocktail culture’. As a result of this tendency, the use of whiskey as a premium ingredient has increased. Product innovations, such as flavored whiskeys, and organic and sustainable options are also some of the major factors propelling the market.
2022 was also a great year for Scotch whisky, and exports of Scotland’s native spirit hit $7.5 billion that year, making Scotland the Largest Exporter of Whisky in the World. Exports by volume rose substantially as well, with the number of 700 ml bottles shipped overseas up by 21%, to 1.67 billion.
Similarly, as we mentioned in our article – 20 Countries that Import the Most Whiskey – Bourbon is a $9 billion signature industry in Kentucky that generates more than 22,500 jobs. And if we’re looking at production and consumption, the state receives more than $286 million in tax revenue each year from its iconic whiskey.
The positive economic impact of the beloved golden liquor is something we seldom consider when having a drink, but, given the facts, maybe it’s time we all raised a glass to it.
Record Year for American Spirits:
The U.S. spirits exports reached a record-high of $2.2 billion in 2023, up 8% compared to the previous year, according to an American Spirits Export Report released by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. American whiskey exports also increased by 9% over 2022 to reach a record $1.4 billion.
Exports are continuing to rebuild after plummeting from the devastating retaliatory tariffs on American spirits imposed by the E.U. and the U.K. These tariffs were suspended two years ago and as a result, American whiskey exports to the E.U. surged by more than 60%, climbing from $439 million in 2021 to $705 million in 2023. However, the European Union announced in December 2023 that it would continue the suspension of tariffs on American whiskeys in the steel and aluminum dispute for 15 months, until March 31st 2025. If no agreement is reached by then, the E.U. will reimpose its tariff on American whiskeys at 50%, up from the previously imposed 25%.
Sustainability in the American Whiskey Industry:
The modern consumer has become increasingly aware of the climate emergency we unfortunately find ourselves in, and actively seeks out sustainable brands, even if it means paying extra. So, as whiskey makers find themselves in an increasingly competitive market, committing psychologically and economically to reducing their impact on the planet may also be the only means to make their businesses sustainable in the long run.
Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) announced in April that it has launched the first phase of its ‘Don’t Trash Glass’ programme at its Bulleit Bourbon distillery in Shelbyville, KY. ‘Don’t Trash Glass’ is a bar, restaurant, and local business glass recycling programme, aiming to collect used glass bottles and improve regional recycling rates. Since its launch almost three years ago, the programme has collected 2.2 million pounds of glass in Illinois, and is set to continue to make a difference as it expands through the Bluegrass State, which, at 15%, has one of the lowest glass recycling rates in the country. Since 2019, the spirits giant has invested nearly $290 million in the state of Kentucky, and its operations support over 1,700 local jobs across the distribution, retail, and hospitality sectors.
Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) announced a 10-year sustainability action plan in November 2020 – titled Society 2030: Spirit of Progress – which aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions across direct operations and a 20% reduction in water used to produce every drink, while also working with suppliers in order to reduce indirect carbon emissions by 50%.
Diageo plc (NYSE:DEO) is placed among the Best Brewery and Distillery Stocks to Buy Now.
With that said, here are the Best Whiskeys in the World for Beginners.
Methodology:
To collect data for this article, we have referred to a number of sources, such as Liquor, VinePair, Men’s Journal, Reddit etc., looking for the Best Whiskeys for Beginners. To make sure we give you the best of the best, we shortlisted whiskeys that appeared multiple times in the aforementioned sources, assigned them a score of 1 each time they were recommended on these websites, and then summed up the scores and ranked our list accordingly. When two or more whiskeys had the same score, we ranked them by the price (excluding tax) of their 750 ml bottles.
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15. Hibiki Japanese Harmony
Insider Monkey Score: 3
Heralded as the foundation of the Hibiki range, Japanese Harmony is a blend of Japanese malt and grain whiskies from Yamazaki, Hakushu, and Chita. Thanks to its light and delicate mouthfeel, the Hibiki JH is a Great Whiskey for Beginners to Drink Straight.
Produced in Japan by Beam Suntory, the Hibiki whisky range is a harmonious blend of several malt and grain whiskies which are meticulously blended to create a full orchestra of flavors and aromas.
14. Laphroaig 10 Years Old
Insider Monkey Score: 3
One of the Best Whiskeys for Your Home Bar, Laphroaig 10 is the definitive Islay peated single malt, distilled following traditions laid over the last 200 years by passionate master distillers. Its unique flavor profile is conjured from malted barley which is first cold-smoked over peat fires, like only a handful of distilleries.
The Laphroaig distillery and brand are owned and operated by Beam Suntory, the American subsidiary of Japan’s Suntory Holdings.
13. Michter’s US★1 Unblended American Whiskey
Insider Monkey Score: 4
Unlike its Bourbon or rye counterparts, Michter’s Unblended American Whiskey is aged in a way that utilizes whiskey-soaked barrels to achieve a rich and unique flavor profile. Due to its balanced profile, this whiskey is a great option for newcomers and seasoned connoisseurs alike.
Michter’s only became a brand in the 1990s but is now, despite deliberately keeping stocks low and releases in small batches, the fourth-fastest rising brand in the Bourbon market. Distilled to Master Distiller Dan McKee’s exacting specifications, Michter’s is counted among the Highest Quality Whiskey Brands in the US.
12. Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey
Insider Monkey Score: 4
Tullamore D.E.W. prides itself on its complex yet approachable flavors, which it credits to its use of three types of grain, a triple distillation, and the blending of three types of Irish whiskey – single malt, single grain, and pot still. Its sweet, soft, faint, and easy-to-drink character makes it a Great Irish Whiskey for Beginners in 2024.
Set in the heart of Ireland, the Tullamore distillery spans a whopping 58 acres where 11 million liters of whiskey are produced each year, making Tullamore D.E.W. one of the finest examples of Ireland’s whiskey renaissance.
11. Wild Turkey 101
Insider Monkey Score: 4
For over 60 years, Wild Turkey has been making 101 the same way, the right way! Aged in American White Oak barrels coated in the deepest alligator char, Wild Turkey 101 has an impossible-to-miss character. Given its high proof and low price, this whiskey is a great choice for someone taking their baby steps into the alluring world of Bourbon.
In 1980, Wild Turkey’s original owner, Austin Nichols & Co., was sold to the French spirits conglomerate Pernod Ricard for a reported $100 million. In 2009, the distillery changed hands again, when Italy’s Gruppo Campari acquired it for an eye-watering $575 million.
10. Johnny Walker Black Label
Insider Monkey Score: 5
Johnny Walker’s prestige status was trumped with the launch of the super swanky Blue Label in the late 1980s, but the iconic Black Label also never lost its cache. Across the world today, a bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label is a recognized currency and symbol of excellence.
With 22.7 million 9-liter cases sold worldwide, Johnnie Walker is the Best-Selling Scotch Whisky Brand in the World.
9. Elijah Craig Small Batch
Insider Monkey Score: 5
Elijah Craig is credited as the first distiller to age his whiskey in charred oak barrels, earning his place in history as the ‘Father of Bourbon.’ The charred barrel transformed the clear liquid inside into an intense amber whiskey made rich with the flavors of the wood, which we now recognize as Bourbon.
Elijah Craig Small Batch is distilled, aged, and bottled in Kentucky from a traditional Bourbon mash bill of 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley, and then aged for 8 to 12 years in Level 3 charred oak barrels. The liquor’s smooth taste and easy-to-drink character, coupled with its affordability and accessibility, make it a Good Cheap Whiskey for Beginners.
8. Glenfiddich 12 Years Old
Insider Monkey Score: 6
Aged for 12 years in American and European oak casks, Glenfiddich 12 is a great choice for seasoned sippers or those who are new to whisky, with lots of light and fruity flavors.
Owned by William Grant & Sons, Glenfiddich had global sales of 1.6 million 9-liter cases in 2022, making it the world’s second-best-selling single malt.
Glenfiddich 12 is included among the Top 10 Whiskies for Newcomers.
7. Suntory Toki
Insider Monkey Score: 6
Toki is a vivid blend of carefully selected whiskies from the House of Suntory’s globally acclaimed Hakushu, Yamazaki, and Chita distilleries. It has a different composition to another Suntory blend, Hibiki, as its main components are Hakushu single malt and Chita grain whisky.
With a revenue of over $19.7 billion in 2022, Suntory Holdings Limited is included among the Largest Alcohol Companies in the World.
6. Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight
Insider Monkey Score: 6
The art of making fine Bourbon first took place on the site of the Woodford Reserve Distillery, a National Historic Landmark, in 1812. The perfectly balanced taste of this Kentucky Straight Bourbon comprises more than 200 detectable flavor notes, from bold grain and wood, to sweet aromatics, spice, and fruit and floral notes.
This soft and easy-to-drink Bourbon ranks 6th in our list of Best Whiskeys for First Time Drinkers.
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