Top 10 Most Memorable Whiskies of 2024

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My Top 10 list isn’t like most other “Top __” lists on the internet. If it was, all you would have to do is go through the reviews I’ve published over the last 365 days and sort through which ones I’ve ranked the highest. My method boils down to picking the bottles that stood out to me throughout the year and left an impression that I continued to think about long after they were gone. I also factor in things like price and exclusivity in an effort to only highlight bottles that an average enthusiast (that puts in a little bit of effort) should be able to obtain.

Defining a “Memorable” Bottle

How would I quantify a memorable bottle? I typically begin making a list of new whiskies that surprised me throughout the year. Sure, any bourbon or rye whiskey can be excellent or even flawless, but there’s nothing memorable about them if they taste similar to the batches that came before them. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with the ones that are consistently great, but my list rewards new recipes, blending techniques or finishing barrels to achieve something that stands out among so many similar whiskies.

How do I narrow down such a large field of competitors? Here’s my list of rules:

5 simple rules to make the Top 10 Most Memorable List

Here are a set of self-imposed rules I came up with a few years ago. They really haven’t changed, but here they are again:

1. No highly allocated bottles – This specifically includes BTAC, Pappy, Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition, King of Kentucky, William Heaven Hill… you get the idea. If it’s a highly allocated, rare whiskey that’s at the top of a brand’s food chain, it’s not going to be included. I have made exceptions in the past if it was available at the distillery gift shop. I believe that is the great equalizer in terms of access because any average enthusiast can get one that way. Technically, Four Roses Small Batch Limited Edition could be included in my list since the distillery now does a big release. But the reason why it can’t make my list is due to the second rule…
2. Cannot be over $180 retail – Last year I raised my maximum retail price from $150 to $180 due to inflation. Since inflation has started to cool off this year, I’m still sticking to the $180 cap. I’m not going to apply secondary market valuations into this number, just know that if it has a retail price anywhere in the United States under $180, it can make the list. But don’t think this list is going to be full of bottles at that price. On the contrary, the average price of a bottle on my list this year is $90. Even more surprisingly, the lowest priced one is just a measly $35.
3. Obtainable for the average enthusiasts (with a little bit of work) – A bottle can be hard to find if its production was limited, but the average enthusiast should be able to see these bottles on this list and know that with a little work or a little luck, they could purchase them if they were in the right place at the right time. I will also count any bottle that was available at the distillery gift shop as obtainable. Unfortunately, many distilleries don’t do this anymore.
4. No single barrels – The bottles you see here were all batched. My reasoning is that a memorable bottle should be able to be explored by as many palates as possible. I will make an exception to “runs” of single barrels. This has been known to happen from time to time with brands like Four Roses or Russell’s Reserve.
5. It has to be released in the last 365 days (November 2023 to November 2024)… give or take –  My first “Cake Day Roundup” (which is what I call this list on Reddit) in 2019 was a hodgepodge of bottles that I really liked that year.  Only a handful were actually released from 2018 to 2019.  I decided to add this rule while writing my second year’s ‘Roundup because I wanted the list to be relevant.  Bottle distribution is not uniform from state to state, but if it came out in the last year, there was a chance you could still find one. My hope is that people can read my Top 10 list and be able to actually find a majority of the bottles on this list.

Now that the rules are set up, let’s dive in! Which bottles will make the list? And do you agree? Read on!

#10 – A. Overholt Monongahela Mash Rye Whiskey

I can’t say enough about how much Jim Beam has absolutely crushed it in 2024. Most enthusiasts will concentrate on the high-priced releases that were bottled at cask strength and/or contain old age statements. But on the opposite end of the spectrum are the revitalized bottom-shelf brands that enthusiasts sometimes overlook. Beam has put a lot of effort into releases like Jim Beam Winter Reserve, A. Overholt Monongahela Mash and their campaign to reintroduce age statements across the board.

A. Overholt Monongahela Mash Rye Whiskey was a surprise to the entire community because it showed that Jim Beam is committed to bringing back the essence of how rye whiskey used to be made in Pennsylvania a generation ago. And you know what? They nailed it. This (young) rye whiskey is proof that Beam does listen to enthusiasts who long for a proper Pennsylvania Rye Whiskey with no corn in the mash bill.

Everything from the spice to the fruits and the herbal notes taste totally unlike anything Beam has ever made before. They’ve truly brought back the magic to this once storied brand. I expect this is only the beginning, though. Keep your eye open over the next 5 years for even more Overholt products to be using this mash bill.

–> SEE REVIEW FOR A. OVERHOLT MONONGAHELA MASH RYE WHISKEY HERE

#9 – Copper and Kings Apple Brandy Finished

If there’s one bottle on this list that is going to draw some ire, it’s this Apple Brandy Finished Bourbon made by Copper & Kings. I fully admit that half of my friends dislike this bottle and the other half really like it. I happen to fall in the latter camp because I found the flavor to taste just like an apple pie – all the way down to the buttery pie crust.

It’s a blend of various Kentucky bourbons (Heaven Hill, Barton and Beam) and frankly the value for what you get is phenomenal. I bought mine for the ridiculously low price of $45 before tax at a Kroger in Kentucky. Other states have started to sell it as well, so it’s not as exclusive as I once thought. I described it to most people as “THE bottle to get if you’re visiting Kentucky,” but now you don’t need to.

If you’re a fan of finished bourbons and you love orchard fruits, Copper & Kings Apple Brandy Finished Bourbon is a bottle you need to check out.

–> SEE REVIEW FOR COPPER & KINGS BOURBON FINISHED IN APPLE BRANDY BARRELS HERE

#8 – Old Forester 1924

In 2020, Brown-Forman decided to sell the brand Early Times to the Sazerac Company. This business deal included tons of young barrels of the 79/11/10 mash bill so that they could keep putting it out until their own product came of age. But the deal didn’t prohibit Brown-Forman from continuing to make that recipe. After all, it was now the recipe responsible for the wildly popular King of Kentucky release. But KoK used barrels aged 14 to 18 years old. And if you know anything about how a premium product like that comes about, it’s the result of culling barrels year after year until only the best remain.

So what do you do with all of the barrels you’ve “culled?” You need to put them into other products. Brown-Forman decided to create a whole new label to use these “KoK reject barrels” in and came up with Old Forester 1924. The minimum age for them will be 10 years old, but it tastes like it has bourbon much older in it.

The first release in January 2024 was a hit with me due to the layers of oak and fruit that it carried. It is quite the opposite of the heavy, spicy and tannic profile of similar Old Forester barrels (72/18/10 mash bill). Many people disagreed with me on this, but it’s one of my favorite 100 proof bourbons and *gasp* my favorite bourbon from the Whiskey Row Series *double gasp*

–> SEE REVIEW FOR OLD FORESTER 1924 HERE

#7 – “95/5” Rye Whiskey produced by Bardstown Bourbon Company

Bardstown Bourbon Company does so many things at their distillery, it’s kind of hard to keep up with. I think most readers are aware of their Discovery and Collaboration releases due to their high price tags and usage of highly-aged Kentucky bourbons in the blend. But Bardstown has primarily used this sourced bourbon as a stopgap until their own whiskey comes of age. As of January last year, the wait is finally over.

One of the best whiskies that they’ve produced so far has actually been what I call a “copycat rye” of MGP’s popular 95/5 rye whiskey. Even though it uses the same ratio of rye grain to malted barley, the rye whiskey that Bardstown Bourbon Company makes is distinctly different. It’s not as rich in mouthfeel, but the herbal and botanical notes are off the charts. It’s so much more interesting for it. This has the best of both worlds with a very sweet and spicy profile that tastes undeniably “Green.” And I don’t mean that in a bad way either – just nosing the glass will make you think you’re frolicking in a springtime meadow whilst munching on a handful of Cinnamon Red Hots. Talk about sensory overload.

The best part about all of this is that Bardstown Bourbon Company has been distilling this recipe for many of their clients which means that even if you can’t find their own “Origins” Rye Whiskey on the shelf, chances are that random bottle of 95/5 rye whiskey made by a Non-Distiller Producer that says “Distilled in Bardstown Kentucky” was likely produced by them. Some of my favorites from last year are the Rosewood Rye Whiskey single barrels and some Rare Character releases that have also been bottled as single barrels. All are great and all have had the notes that I described above. They’re among the best rye whiskey coming out of Kentucky these days.

–> SEE THE REVIEW FOR BARDSTOWN BOURBON COMPANY 95/5 RYE WHISKEY HERE AND HERE

#6 – Russell’s Reserve 10 Year Old Bourbon (LL/ME laser code)

I don’t know how much I need to say about this bottle – it was my second most-read review of 2024. I’ve received piles of messages asking about specifics on it or other laser codes that are close to it. The bottom line is that if you can find the correct laser code (LL/ME), then this is the best $35 you’ll ever spend on a bourbon in 2024. The rumor behind these Russell’s Reserve bottles is that this particular batch contains rejected barrels of Russell’s 15 dumped into it. The result is a batch that offers significantly improved taste to previous batches of RR10.

Even if you don’t believe that RR15 barrels were dumped into the batching tank of Russell’s 10, most people do detect a much-improved profile compared to previous batches. The news has seen dormant taters dig themselves out of the ground and into their local liquor stores to search every bottle for this specific laser code. So what are you waiting for?

–> SEE REVIEW FOR RUSSELL’S RESERVE 10 YEAR (LL/ME) HERE

#5 – Raconteur Rye

In my rules for bottles that couldn’t make the list, I mentioned that I wasn’t going to consider any single barrel releases. I believe good whiskey should have the opportunity to be shared with as many enthusiasts as possible. Single barrels tend to be hoarded by enthusiast groups or store owners which kills their reach. That’s why I was hesitant about listing Raconteur Rye on this list. It’s not a single barrel, but the bottle count for Batch 1 is just under 600 produced for the first batch.

I apologize for those who feel like I’m toeing the line on my own rule. However, Raconteur Rye isn’t just a one-off because a second batch was released a few months later. David Jennings (aka Rarebird101, the person behind this brand) has also hinted that he’s going to continue blending new batches as well. And spoiler alert, I have sampled the second batch and it’s just as good as the first, so I expect a certain level of consistency for all future releases.

Raconteur Rye is a remarkable rye whiskey that takes ordinary components (7 year old MGP rye whiskey) and uses finishing barrels and careful blending to create something that tastes worlds apart from what it started as. How on earth did David manage to get the fruit flavors (strawberry, rhubarb, cherry Twizzlers?!) to come out in this blend? It must be sorcery.

–> SEE REVIEW FOR RACONTEUR RYE HERE

#4 – Boulder Spirits Cask Strength Bourbon (2024)

Each year since I’ve been doing this list, I will inevitably have one or two craft distilleries that surprise me with their offerings. In reality, I’d love this list to be at least half full of bottles from craft distilleries. Unfortunately, there’s too many for me to ever get around to trying. Thankfully, I have good friends who I rely on to have their ear on the ground throughout the year to get a sense of which ones are better than others. Then I try them. Boulder Spirits was one of those brands I was told I had to check out.

Their high-malt bourbon recipe devotes an incredible 44% of the mash bill to malted barley. There’s just a tiny bit of rye to offset it and the bare minimum of corn (51%). But the strength of this mash and the way they distilled it resulted in a beautifully crafted bourbon that has an oily texture coupled with rich notes of pastry dough and honey. The craziest part is the retail price wasn’t that far off from $80 which is an incredible value for craft whiskey which always tends to be more expensive. Is the distillery even making a profit off of these?!

–> SEE REVIEW FOR BOULDER SPIRITS CASK STRENGTH BOURBON HERE

#3 – Jack Daniel’s Special Release: Coy Hill (2024)

This one is tough to put on the list because to so many people, it will seem unobtainable. At the time of writing, the secondary market is hovering around the $500 mark for a bottle, too. But Jack Daniel’s latest Special Release can still be found for retail at most stores who don’t know that this is more than just a fancier label for Jack Daniel’s. Even the gift shop has sold it for retail (around $80), so I feel justified in putting it on this list.

The 2024 Coy Hill (Barrelhouse 8) release is – up to this point – the most flavorful, balanced and complete Tennessee Whiskey that Jack Daniel’s has ever produced. It’s just shy of 11-years-old and wears an impressive proof. No, it’s not as high in proof as the 2021 Coy Hill Single Barrels, but it’s close enough.

I typically find Jack’s Tennessee Whiskey to be a little one-dimensional because it seems like it lacks the oak or more nuanced flavors of a comparable Kentucky bourbon (I blame this on the filtering done by the Lincoln County Process). But Coy Hill gets it right this year and for the first time I’m finding these notes. Was more years in the barrel all it needed to finally turn the corner and become great? I don’t know, but what I do know is that this is my most-favorite Tennessee Whiskey released by them, ever.

–> SEE REVIEW FOR JACK DANIEL’S COY HILL (2024) HERE

#2 – Little Book Chapter 8 “Path Not Taken”

So here it is, we’ve made it to the final two on my list. Honestly, these releases battled each other in my mind for months. I could make the case for either one to be my #1 Most Memorable Release of 2024. Truthfully, there’s no winner or loser here. If you own this bottle, you’re not only gazing at a fantastic whiskey, you’re also holding what may be the best Little Book release yet.

Most people have spent the past year calling this a “rye whiskey,” but it’s not. This is technically a bourye because it uses that 18-year-old Old Grand Dad bourbon component. Frankly, that might be what has set this over the top in terms of depth and character. The other components are all rye whiskey including some of that Monongahela Mash found in the A. Overholt bottle that’s listed as #10 on my list.

It might be true that you have to be a lover of rye whiskies in order to love this Little Book as much as I did, but I encourage any whiskey drinker to concentrate on the flavors you can find inside of this instead. There are so many components that are in it to enjoy; fruit, spices, botanical/herbal notes, sweetness and oak. It literally checks every box. It’s the most impressive blend of whiskies I’ve tasted yet. At $130, it’s unfortunately not the cheapest bottle on my list, but it’s one that was was worth every penny of its price.

–> SEE REVIEW FOR LITTLE BOOK CHAPTER 8 HERE

#1 – Hardin’s Creek Kentucky Series: Frankfort

I am fully aware that this bottle was released in September, 2023. But I’m taking advantage of my rule that allows for some wiggle room based on when I was first able to get a taste. For me, that occurred at the beginning of 2024 – and what a pour it was!

There were three separate releases for the Hardin’s Creek Kentucky Series – each representing a specific campus owned by Jim Beam. Most people are familiar with the Clermont campus (that’s where the gift shop is, by the way) and some are even familiar with the Boston Campus, but it’s the Frankfort Campus (formerly the Old Grand Dad Distillery) that is often forgotten about. That Campus just happens to be the home of the oldest rickhouse in the Beam arsenal and it’s also where the barrels for this batch were aged.

Frankfort was the immediate winner from a side-by-side-by-side tasting I did half a year ago. It’s not like the other two were slouches, but there was something much deeper about the Frankfort release that saw my entire worldview of Jim Beam shift. At 17 years old and 110 proof, I experienced a bourbon with the profile of almost any other top-tier allocated bottle produced in the last 12 months.

But because it’s a Beam product, enthusiasts seem to have dismissed it in favor of other “status bottles.” This has kept the secondary prices down to earth at a “measly” $250. I know that’s out of reach for many people, but it’s not entirely unreasonable compared to so many Pappy’s, BTACs and Old Forester releases – which this would easily compete with.

For all these reasons and more, Kentucky Series: Frankfort is this year’s winner. It was a tough decision in a crowded field but there hasn’t been a bourbon that I’ve outright enjoyed over and over again quite like it. The bigger story here might just be about Jim Beam’s recent transformation. They used to be a distillery that I gave little thought to, but the past 14 months have shown them to be an absolute titan amongst the Kentucky distilleries. They’ve earned my respect and loyalty for the foreseeable future. No longer should they be ignored in the conversation of great modern-day whiskies; they now wear the crown.

–> SEE REVIEW FOR HARDIN’S CREEK KENTUCKY SERIES: FRANKFORT HERE

Conclusion

I looked back at my previous five years of doing this Top 10 list just to get a feeling with how much preferences have changed during that time. The types of whiskies is more or less an even split between bourbons, ryes and finished whiskies. For the first time, Barrell Craft Spirits is not included in the list. I only have one craft distillery instead of 2 or 3. Buffalo Trace, Barton, Four Roses and any brand from Diageo maintains their streak of being absent from my list – from which you can probably draw your own conclusions. But I did want to take one moment to talk about a distillery that could have possibly walked away with the whole thing if it wasn’t for one glaring reason – Wild Turkey.

The reason why Wild Turkey isn’t represented on this list more has to do with price. The evil Campari overlords have thrown caution to the wind and priced their bottles into oblivion. We already expect that from anything owned by Sazerac, but it’s sad to see Wild Turkey get gobbled up in the same camp. I’m not saying all of their products are overpriced – there have been two excellent releases this year with reasonable prices (that LL/ME RR10 and Jimmy Russell’s 70th Anniversary) – but most have been.

If Campari would have just kept the price for Russell’s 15 about where Russell’s 13 was when it was first released back in 2021, I would’ve given it the top spot. But a $250 entry point (that is often marked up much higher) prevented it from happening. Trivial, I suppose, but I do have the rules in place like this for a reason. Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Triumph was interesting enough for me to consider, but once again the price is just too much for what it is.

I look back fondly at the bottles I’ve had a chance to enjoy this year and am comfortable with all of my choices. If you own any whiskey on this list and feel the same way (or disagree with me), I’d love to hear your thoughts. Until then, enjoy the bottles you find, share with your friends and keep spreading the word about new and interesting releases you find along the way. See you next year!