Types of Whiskey Brands

A well-stocked liquor store offers dozens, if not hundreds of whiskey bottles, each label promising something different. The sheer variety can overwhelm anyone trying to understand what makes each bottle unique.

However, the whiskey world operates on recognizable patterns. Most great whiskeys fall into clear categories defined by their country of origin, primary grains, and production methods. Within each category, certain brands define what that particular style should taste like.

Let’s walk you through the top names and their standout bottles so you can find your next favorite sip.

Bourbon

Bourbon is American whiskey, plain and simple. It must contain at least 51% corn in its mash bill and age exclusively in new charred oak containers. This legal requirement, combined with America's climate and craftsmanship, creates the sweet, vanilla-forward profile bourbon lovers cherish.

Buffalo Trace

This Kentucky distillery has built a reputation as one of America’s finest, perfecting whiskey for over two centuries. They’re masters of consistency and innovation, crafting everything from everyday pours to once-in-a-lifetime bottles.

Key Expressions

• Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon: A flagship whiskey loved for its caramel, vanilla, and gentle oak, bottled at a very approachable 90 proof.

• Eagle Rare 10 Year: Elegant and complex, with notes of toffee, orange peel, honey, and cocoa. A drier, bolder bourbon with real depth.

• Blanton's Single Barrel: The world’s first single barrel bourbon, famous for its horse-stopper caps and the unique character each barrel brings.

Old Forester

First bottled in 1870, Old Forester was America’s first sealed, labeled bourbon, designed to guarantee consistency in an era when whiskey quality varied wildly. Today, it balances tradition and innovation, honoring its roots while creating new favorites.

Key Expressions

• Old Forester 86 Proof: A gentle entry point to the brand, balancing sweet vanilla with light spice.

• Old Forester 100 Proof: More intensity, more spice, and more body, a bourbon for those who want bolder flavors.

• Old Forester 1924: A limited 10-year-old release commemorating a key year in the brand’s survival through Prohibition.

W.L. Weller

Weller deserves credit for shaping an entire style of bourbon. By swapping rye for wheat in the mashbill, Weller created what’s now known as “wheated bourbon,” which is softer, smoother, and incredibly approachable.

Key Expressions

• Weller Special Reserve: Affordable, smooth, and perfect for newcomers exploring wheated bourbon.

• Weller Antique 107: Higher proof, more heat, and more complexity without losing the wheat’s softness.

Pappy Van Winkle

Produced in limited quantities and aged far longer than most bourbons on the market, Pappy’s whiskeys are as much a cultural phenomenon as they are spirits. They’re rich, velvety, and layered, with bottles that vanish from shelves the second they appear.

Key Expressions

• Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 15 Year: Bold, buttery, with deep caramel and oak complexity.

• Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 20 Year: Elegantly balanced, delivering layers of toffee, chocolate, and spice.

• Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 23 Year: The rarest of the rare, with astonishing depth and a finish that lingers for minutes.

1792

1792 rounds out our bourbon selection with its focus on high-rye bourbon that delivers spice and complexity in equal measure. Named after the year Kentucky became a state, 1792 adds punchy spice and boldness, offering a contrast to softer, corn-heavy bourbons.

Key Expressions

• 1792 Small Batch: Balanced high-rye bourbon with excellent spice and complexity.

• 1792 Full Proof: Bottled at barrel strength for maximum flavor intensity.

• 1792 12 Year: Extended aging that transforms rye spice into deep, mature complexity.

Rye Whiskey

If bourbon is sweet, rye is fiery. By law, rye whiskey must be made from at least 51% rye grain. The result is typically a spicier and more peppery flavor, perfect for cocktails like the Manhattan or Sazerac.

WhistlePig

WhistlePig proved that this grain can compete with the best whiskeys in the world. From their Vermont farm, they focus on 100% rye whiskeys that show off the grain’s bold, spicy, and layered potential.

Key Expressions

• WhistlePig Straight Rye 18 Year: A rich, aromatic experience with toasted almonds, caramel, and a lingering honey finish.

Michter's

Michter's approaches rye with the same attention to detail they bring to all their whiskeys. This Pennsylvania-based brand focuses on small-batch production and meticulous quality control that results in consistently exceptional whiskeys.

Key Expressions

• Michter's US*1 Rye: Spicy but balanced, perfect for those new to rye whiskey.

• Michter's 10 Year Single Barrel Rye: Aged to perfection, showing what time can do for rye.

• Michter's Barrel Strength Rye: Uncut, unfiltered rye for maximum flavor intensity.

Tennessee Whiskey

Tennessee whiskey follows bourbon's basic rules but adds the Lincoln County Process, filtering new-make spirit through maple charcoal before aging. This extra step creates the smooth, mellow character Tennessee whiskey is famous for.

Jack Daniel's

Jack Daniel's practically owns the Tennessee whiskey category. Founded in 1866, Jack Daniel's perfected the Lincoln County Process, which filters their whiskey through 10 feet of sugar maple charcoal before aging. This creates Jack's distinctive smoothness that has won over millions of fans worldwide.

Key Expressions

• Jack Daniel's Old No. 7: Sweet, mellow, and approachable.

• Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Select: Each barrel is unique, offering whiskey lovers a taste of variety.

• Jack Daniel's Bonded: A higher-proof expression that adds muscle without losing smoothness.

American Single Malt

American single malt whiskey is a relatively new category that follows Scotch whiskey's single malt template but uses American ingredients and techniques. This creates entirely new flavor profiles that reflect the regions where the whiskeys are made.

Garrison Brothers

Garrison Brothers leads the Texas charge with their intensely flavorful single malt whiskey expressions. The hot summers and cold winters accelerate aging, creating whiskey with remarkable depth in just a few years.

Key Expressions

• Garrison Brothers Honey Dew Texas Wildflower Bourbon: Smooth and light, with a sweet honey finish.

• Garrison Brothers Small Batch: Craft-driven, with careful selection of barrels.

• Garrison Brothers Single Barrel: Unique expressions drawn from individual barrels.

Redwood Empire

On the other coast, Redwood Empire represents California’s creativity. They blend tradition with West Coast innovation, creating unique expressions that taste like their diverse climate.

• Redwood Empire Lost Monarch: A blend of straight whiskeys that capture California’s variety.

• Redwood Empire Emerald Giant: A rye with a softer, more nuanced character.

Scotch Whiskey

Scotland's whiskey regions each bring their own personality to the bottle, from the light and approachable Speyside malts to the heavily peated expressions of Islay. The distinctive size and shape of copper pot stills contribute rich and fruity character, while Scotland's climate and water sources create the perfect conditions for whiskey maturation.

The Macallan

If there’s one Scotch that commands instant respect, it’s The Macallan. Founded in 1824, this Speyside distillery has become legendary for its sherry oak maturation. Their obsession with wood, seasoning casks in Spain for years before use, gives Macallan its unmistakable richness.

Key Expressions

• The Macallan 12 Year Sherry Oak: Fruity, spicy, and deeply satisfying.

• The Macallan 18 Year Sherry Oak: A step deeper, with layers of dried fruit, leather, and spice.

• The Macallan 25 Year Sherry Oak: A rare, complex whiskey with years of careful aging.

Irish Whiskey

The signature smoothness of Irish whiskey comes from triple distilling the best pot still and fine grain whiskeys, then aging in oak barrels. But don’t mistake smooth for simple. Ireland produces some of the most nuanced whiskeys in the world.

Jameson

John Jameson founded his eponymous distillery in Dublin in 1780, creating a legacy that spans over two centuries. The original Jameson is the world's number one Irish whiskey, highlighting everything great about Irish whiskey blends: approachable, smooth, but with enough character to keep things interesting.

Key Expressions

• Jameson Original: Triple distilled, with a smooth, balanced flavor ideal for all occasions.

• Jameson Orange: Smooth, triple-distilled Jameson blended with natural orange flavor.

Redbreast

Redbreast's history dates back to the 1800s in London and Dublin, with a legacy spanning over a century. Redbreast represents the pinnacle of Irish single pot still whiskey, a uniquely Irish category that combines malted and unmalted barley.

Key Expressions

• Redbreast 12 Year: Crafted using a unique mix of malted and unmalted barley, triple distilled in copper pot stills, and matured in both bourbon and sherry casks.

Japanese Whiskey

Japanese whiskey combines Scotch whiskey techniques with Japanese precision and unique local ingredients. It’s elegant, thoughtful, and full of detail.

Suntory Yamazaki

Founded in 1923 by Suntory's founder Shinjiro Torii, the Yamazaki Distillery is Japan's first and oldest malt whiskey distillery. The distillery pioneered the use of Mizunara oak, creating flavor profiles impossible to find elsewhere.

Key Expressions

• Yamazaki 12 Year: Fruity and delicate, with signature Japanese balance.

• Yamazaki 18 Year: Deep amber color, rich fruit flavors, notes of vanilla, café au lait, Mizunara oak on the nose, and dark chocolate on the palate.

Suntory Hakushu

Built in the mountains, Hakushu produces fresher, greener whiskeys. They’re crisp, herbal, and lightly smoky, reflecting their alpine environment.

Key Expressions

• Hakushu 12 Year: Clean, herbal, with a touch of smoke.

• Hakushu 18 Year: Deeper and more complex, but still fresh and light.

Canadian Whiskey

Canadian whiskey often gets overlooked, but the category offers incredible diversity and value, with regulations allowing for creative blending and innovative production techniques.

Crown Royal

Crown Royal is Canada's most famous whiskey export, created in 1939 to honor King George VI and Queen Elizabeth's visit to Canada. Their Original expression delivers the smooth, approachable character Canadian whiskey is known for, while their premium expressions show off the category's potential for complexity.

Key Expressions

• Crown Royal Original: Light, smooth, perfect for cocktails.

• Crown Royal Reserve: A richer, more refined blend.

Single Barrel and Specialty Expressions

The single barrel category deserves special attention because it represents whiskey at its most individual. Each barrel ages differently due to warehouse location, wood characteristics, and environmental factors, creating unique expressions that capture a specific moment in time and place.

Smoke Wagon

From Nevada, Smoke Wagon has become a cult favorite in the single-barrel scene. Their whiskeys embrace natural variation, making every pour a unique experience.

Key Expressions

• Smoke Wagon Straight Bourbon: Each barrel offers its own personality.

• Smoke Wagon Uncut Unfiltered: Full-strength and full-flavored for whiskey purists.

Premium and Limited Collections

Some brands focus exclusively on the premium end of the market, creating limited releases that push the boundaries of what whiskey can be.

Blue Run

Blue Run represents the ultra-premium approach to American whiskey, creating small-batch releases that often sell out quickly due to their limited nature and exceptional quality. These whiskeys show that when cost isn't the primary concern, distillers can focus purely on creating the best possible product.

Key Expressions

• Blue Run Trifecta Blend: An exquisite small-batch masterpiece, blending a top-quality six-year-old bourbon with mature “wood heat” whiskeys.

• Blue Run Emerald Single Barrel Rye: Toffee, decadent caramel, and crushed walnuts accented by clove and nutmeg, a bready yeast essence, and a roasted corn finish.

FAQs About Whiskey Brands and Varieties

Which whiskey brands should beginners try?

Buffalo Trace Distillery is a great entry point for bourbon, while Jack Daniel’s remains the face of Tennessee whiskey. For variety, explore single malt, blended Scotch, or malt whiskeys depending on your flavor preferences.

Is it whiskey or whisky?

Both are correct. “Whisky” is traditional in Scotland and Japan, while “whiskey” is common elsewhere, like in the US and Ireland. It’s just a style choice, not a taste difference.

What role does malted barley play in whiskey?

Malted barley is the foundation of Scotch whiskey and many single malt styles. It provides the grain sugars needed for a fermented grain mash, which is then distilled into rich, complex spirits.

What is corn whiskey?

Corn whiskey is a uniquely American style made from at least 80% corn. Unlike bourbon, it doesn’t have to age in new oak barrels, which gives it a lighter, sweeter flavor profile.

Why do some whiskeys have a smoky flavor?

That’s usually from peat. In Scotch whisky, especially from Islay, malted barley is dried over burning peat, giving the spirit its signature smoky flavor.

How is wheat whiskey different?

Wheat whiskey uses a mash bill dominated by wheat. It’s softer and smoother than rye or corn-forward styles, perfect for those who prefer a gentle sip.

How is Scotch whiskey different from Irish whiskey styles?

Irish whiskey is triple-distilled and often uses malted and unmalted barley, giving it a softer finish. Scotch whiskey is usually bolder, with single malt Scotch prized for depth and complexity.

Final Thoughts

The brands represent milestones in whiskey’s long history. Wherever you start, you’ll never run out of new "drams" to explore.

And while some unicorn bottles may be nearly impossible to track down, there are always great whiskey deals & bundles that let you discover new flavors without breaking the bank. After all, sometimes the best experiences come from exploring what’s within reach.