The Best Whiskeys To Chase Down This February

uproxx | ZACH JOHNSTON | February 1, 2024

[Excerpt]

February is the unofficial start to spring releases in the whiskey world. I know, we’re just coming off a few months that were crammed full of whiskey drops. Well, that’s all behind us. 2024 is here. And it’s already looking to be another stellar year for whiskey, folks.

Below, I’m naming 18 whiskeys that you should be drinking right now. There are small-batch bourbons, new American ryes, special edition Lunar New Year Scotch whiskies (for the Year of the Dragon), super old single malts, barrel-proof ABV bombs, and more. Translation: There’s something for everyone. And for the most part, these are all brand-new and upcoming releases with a few gems that slipped through the cracks of late 2023.

I didn’t rank these whiskeys as they’re too broad to face off against each other. But as I mentioned, a lot is going on in the flavor profiles of these whiskeys and you should be able to find something that sparks your interest. Read through my tasting notes, find the whiskey or whiskeys that speak to you, and then hit those price links to see if you can snag a bottle.

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Old Elk Infinity Blend Batch 3

ABV: 57.575%

Average Price: $179

The Whiskey:

The new Old Elk Infinity Blend is here. Though released at the tail end of 2023, it’s actually hitting shelves right now. The whiskey in the bottle is a blend of 15.3% Old Elk 2022 Infinity Blend, 40% Old Elk high malt bourbon aged 8 years, 43.2% Old Elk straight wheat whiskey aged 7 years, and 1.5% Old Elk straight wheat whiskey aged 10 years. Those whiskeys were batched and then bottled 100% as-is.

Tasting Notes:

  • Nose: Orange upside-down cake with a deep and rich caramel opens the nose toward rich and creamy vanilla, cinnamon toast, raw sugar rock candy, and soft winter spices rolled into a tobacco-heavy winter spice cake that’s drizzled with orange and cinnamon syrup.

  • Palate: That orange amps up on the palate with an orange milkshake vibe next to fresh cinnamon cookies, gingerbread, mincemeat pies, and spiced tobacco with a soft oakiness.

  • Finish: The caramelized orange and butteriness really drive the finish toward creamed vanilla, winter spice cakes, and spiced tobacco with a chewiness on the end.

Bottom Line:

This is dessert in a glass, especially a winter dessert. I can see this making one hell of a whiskey-forward cocktail where you draw the sugar back and let the whiskey shine.

Read the full article at uproxx.com