This Saturday (Might 17), World Whisky Day takes place, and whisky lovers across the globe will hopefully have some pours of their favourite tried and true drams with household and buddies. For World Whisky Day 2025, CASSIUS is leaning into whisky made in Scotland, Canada, and Japan, and we’ll shine a light-weight on American and Irish whiskey at a later time.
Now that I’m a yr faraway from this World Whisky Day put up, I’ve gotten extra publicity to whisky made within the aforementioned nations. Armed with a bit extra information concerning the broad world of whisky, I really feel assured suggesting the bottles I’ve compiled on this explicit roundup.
I’ll share what I wrote final yr as a primer:
…the time period whisky applies to spirits made in Scotland, Japan, or Canada, whereas whiskey applies to spirits made in the US and Eire. Including to this, bourbon can solely be made in the US and should function a mash invoice of 51 p.c corn earlier than different grains are launched. Additional, Kentucky bourbon, as you may get from the identify, can solely be referred to as as such if it’s made within the state.
Sufficient nerding out about that for now. Let’s get into the historical past of World Whisky Day.
The vacation was formally established in March 2012 by College of Aberdeen pupil Blair Bowman, who was 21 on the time. In accordance with Whiskey Companions, Bowman was finding out in Barcelona and remarked that whiskey didn’t have a world vacation like different grownup drinks, so he took it upon himself to create an internet site to get the ball rolling.
After researching the vacation extra, I’m comfy in saying that Bowman was not contemplating American or Irish-made whiskey in his celebration, and final yr, I did embody whiskies from all around the world. This yr, I’m sticking to the whisky weapons and solely that includes juice with out the “e.”
I want to return to the Spirit.Ed area and share what I’ve realized about Scotland’s completely different whisky-producing areas at a later date.
For now, I hope you uncover a brand new favourite or see a well-recognized model in our World Whisky Day 2025 roundup. Cheers!
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Picture: Supply: Motortion / Getty
Rejoice World Whisky Day 2025 With These Wonderful Choices
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1. Aberfeldy
Supply:D.L. Chandler
Aberfeldy is a Highland Single Malt Scotch whisky generally known as the “Golden Dram” because of its colour but in addition due to its water supply, the Pitilie Burn, which accommodates tiny bits of gold. I’ve had your complete core vary of Aberfeldy and whereas they’re all wonderful, I all the time return to the 12 12 months expression for my sundown dram.
Be taught extra right here.
2. Ardbeg Uigeadail
Supply:Ardbeg
I’ve had my justifiable share of Ardbeg whisky and of the model’s premium Single Malt Scotch choices, and I’ve turn out to be an enormous fan of its Uigeadail expression. Uigeadail (Oog-a-dal) is a non-age assertion whisky aged in Oloroso Sherry and Ex-Bourbon Casks barrels that includes quite a lot of peat. I all the time really feel stylish having a glass of Uigeadail.
Be taught extra right here.
3. Crown Royal Reserve
Supply:Crown Royal
As I grew up in a selected kind of neighborhood in a selected vogue, I might see my uncles and his buddies having yard events with loads of purple baggage of Crown Royal’s core whisky on deck. As I’m older and with refined tastes, I appreciated my few encounters with Crown Royal’s higher-end Reserve expression. This weekend, I’ll be testing Crown Royal’s limited-edition Marquis expression, so keep tuned for that.
Be taught extra right here.
4. Glenfiddich 12-12 months-Outdated Sherry Cask End
Supply:Glenfiddich
Glenfiddich is a distillery that produces Single Malt Scotch whisky in Scotland’s Speyside area, and their 12-12 months-Outdated Sherry Cask End is a advantageous begin to be taught concerning the model. At 86 proof, I typically surprise how the whisky would style with at, say 95 or so, however this pours a strong dram.
Be taught extra right here.
5. Glenglassaugh Portsoy
Supply:Glenglassaugh
Glenglassaugh makes a speciality of Scotch whisky crafted off the coasts of Scotland, named after a village close to the model’s distillery. At slightly below 100 proof, the Portsoy, a part of Glenglassaugh’s core expression, this whisky has a few of these briny notes from the coastal winds. Aged in former sherry, bourbon, and port casks, all of these candy notes from the used barrels nonetheless shine by means of the peat smoke. It is a winner.
Be taught extra right here.
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6. Glengoyne 12 12 months Outdated
Supply:Glengoyne
I’m utterly new to the Glengoyne model as of the final 48 hours. I don’t have the deepest of dives simply but, and what I can say is that this Highland Single Malt Scotch whisky is value in search of out. There isn’t any peat, which is a side of most whiskies produced in that area, however I suppose Scotch drinkers know this getting in. It’s additionally priced excellent regardless of being an adequately aged product.
Be taught extra right here.
7. Glenmorangie 12 12 months Outdated The Unique
Supply:Glenmorangie
I do know that skilled Scotch whisky drinkers can admire a bracing, biting sip of their drams, however for folk nonetheless getting their coaching wheels on, discovering one thing simple to sip is an effective way to be taught. The Glenmorangie 12 12 months Outdated The Unique expression is a part of the famed Highlands distillery’s core lineup and is an reasonably priced sipper that doesn’t fuss about an excessive amount of. It’s additionally fairly sneaky, so make these pours smart.
Be taught extra right here.
8. Hibiki Japanese Concord
Supply:Suntory
The Home of Suntory makes a speciality of an array of spirits produced in Japan, together with its award-winning Yamazaki and Hakushu whiskies. I’m truly extra accustomed to Suntory’s Japanese gin than I’m their whisky, however I’ve had loads of Concord as my neighbors all the time have it stocked. It’s a mix of whiskies produced in Japan, and it’s a simple sipper neat or on the rocks. Excited to be taught extra about this model sooner or later.
Be taught extra right here.
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9. Isle of Skye 8 Years Outdated
Supply:Isle of Skye
Isle of Skye produces a variety of whisky, and their 8 Years Outdated expression is the one one I’ve tried to date, pretty not too long ago at that. This bottle options whisky from the islands and the Speyside area, and there’s a pleasant quantity of smoky peat in there. Priced for finances shoppers, it definitely doesn’t drink that means.
Be taught extra right here.
10. Monkey Shoulder Blended Scotch Whisky
Supply:Monkey Shoulder
Monkey Shoulder Blended Scotch Whisky is alleged to be made strictly for mixing, and it does a fantastic job as a base for the Outdated Usual, a Whisky Bitter, or a Rob Roy. I’ve even began to have a pour over a big rock and it nonetheless kicks enough ass.
Be taught extra right here.
11. Outdated Parr
Supply:Outdated Parr
Outdated Parr retains it easy with simply two expressions in its lineup: Aged 12 Years and Aged 18 Years. I’ve had each, and this can be a actually approachable whisky for individuals nonetheless studying the class, like myself. Additionally, the 12 makes a killer highball, which is my most well-liked technique to have it.
Be taught extra right here.
12. SirDavis American Whisky
Okay, so I stated I wasn’t going to function any American whiskey. Please observe the “e” in that sentence. Beyoncé’s SirDavis is an American Rye whisky (their spelling) with a mashbill of 51 p.c rye and 49 p.c malted barley. To some, that a lot spicy rye in a dram may flip off some, however SirDavis was created underneath the watchful eye of Dr. Invoice Lumsden, who has labored with Scotch whiskey manufacturers Ardbeg and Glenmorangie. I say this qualifies as whisky with out the “e” and is a dram that works nicely with the sherry cask end. My whisky purists are definitely balking at this, however I’m supporting this loud and proud, as a result of, Black, initially, and secondly, it’s Beyoncé!
Be taught extra right here.
13. Smokehead Tequila Cask Terminado
Supply:Smokehead
I not too long ago had a bourbon completed in barrels that beforehand held tequila, and the outcomes have been nice. Smokehead’s Tequila Cask Terminado expression pairs single malt in former tequila barrels, and the dance of the famed Mexican spirit’s vegetal notes alongside the peated whisky works nicely regardless of not being a proof bomb. Personally, the decrease proof works for me.
Be taught extra right here.
14. The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14-12 months-Outdated
Supply:The Balvenie
The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14-12 months-Outdated is without doubt one of the Highlands Single Malt Scotch whisky producer’s core choices and nails its rum cask ending idea. This isn’t the primary whisky to make use of barrels that beforehand held rum for maturing, nevertheless it does stand far aside from most.
Be taught extra right here.
15. The GlenDronach Unique Aged 12 Years
Supply:The GlenDronach
The GlenDronach is a Single Malt Scotch whisky from Scotland’s Highland area, and aged for 12 years in Spanish Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks. It is a sweeter fashion of whisky, and might be a pleasant gateway for brand spanking new Scotch drinkers. I’ve solely had their 12 yr as I’m by no means a baller like that. I’ll vouch for this bottle.
Be taught extra right here.
16. The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Outdated
Supply:The Macallan
The Macallan is a notable identify on the planet of Single Malt Scotch whisky and for good cause. I’ve had the entire model’s core collections and even a few of its restricted version releases because of associates who additionally love The Macallan’s basic whisky choices. I’m that includes the Double Cask 12 Years Outdated expression because it’s available and showcases what this model’s whisky is all about from the bottom ground.
Be taught extra right here.