5 Great Whiskies to Sip This Summer
The best whiskies to sip this summer
Hot, humid days usually call for something fruity and refreshing rather than a warm, oaky flavor profile. In the summer, that often means enjoying whiskey in lighter cocktails, like a Kentucky Mule or a Whiskey Sour, rather than sipping it neat or on the rocks.
But whiskey doesn’t have to hide away on your bar cart until the temperature drops and cozy season arrives. Some bottles offer bright summer flavors without fruit, citrus, or syrups, making them perfect for sipping around the campfire.
We’ve sampled a range of whiskies to put them to the test. If you’re craving a whiskey to sip on these last long days of summer, whether by the pool or with your current beach read, here are our top five bottles to try.
Breckenridge Peach Whiskey
72 Proof | $34.99
Breckenridge Peach Whiskey
Nothing says summer quite like a juicy, ripe peach. Breckenridge Peach Whiskey provides that in a bottle. Known as the “World’s Highest Distillery,” Breckenridge Distillery sits at 9,600 feet above sea level and has a reputation for a mean blended bourbon whiskey. Its latest expression marks the second addition to its flavored whiskey line following Breckenridge Honey Whiskey, and it captures Colorado’s late-summer harvest in its flavor.
Crafted with real Palisade peaches, expect an aroma of ripe peach and vanilla that leads into an equally smooth and sweet palate with a lasting finish. It’s definitely a sipper.
The Whistler Irish Honey
66 Proof | $30.99
Located in Ireland’s Boyne Valley, Boann Distillery has created a sweet sip for summer that’s ideal on its own or in a cocktail. The Whistler Irish Honey is made with ex-bourbon-matured, sherry-finished Irish whiskey infused with honey harvested from the family’s own orchards. That addition brings a buttery aroma of honeycomb and caramel, followed by lingering notes of butterscotch and honey.
The Deacon
80 Proof | $39.99
The Deacon alongside a smoky Margarita
If you thought a smoky whisky was best served during the colder months, it’s time to reconsider. The Deacon, brought to you by the New York-based wine and spirits company Sovereign Brands, is a Scotch that combines the fruity, sweet notes of Speyside malt whisky with the smoke and brine of Islay malt whisky.
Here, you’ll find scents of char and orange with soft, warm spices, all delivering a bold, earthy mezcal profile. Now, you can swap your go-to agave spirit for a summertime smoky Margarita made with Scotch.
2XO Whiskey’s White Oak Rye
92 Proof | $49.99
White Oak Rye can get you through the rest of summer without needing to be put away come fall. Whiskey blender Dixon Dedman’s 2XO Whiskey uses a double-oak method for this expression, adding charred American white oak to straight rye barrels for additional maturation and a balanced result.
Aromas of apple cobbler and baking spice may hit your nose first, giving you autumnal vibes, but the spearmint and vanilla notes keep it light and refreshing for summer, especially on ice.
Orchard House
92 Proof | $60.77
Orchard House Blended Malt Scotch whisky
Compass Box, a London-based blending room, serves an entire summer harvest in a bottle of Orchard House. This blended malt Scotch whisky uses first-fill bourbon barrels from several Scotland-based distilleries, including Linkwood and Caol Ila, delivering a soft sweetness with bright, fruity notes.
Crisp apple and pear will hit the nose immediately, with vanilla and ginger on the palate, rounding out to a long finish of pepper and a hint of smoke. Cocktail lovers may also enjoy this in a Pear Highball.