Welcome to 2025! We're as amazed as you are that we've already closed the book on 2024, it feels like just yesterday we were thinking about all the whiskey we were going to drink over the year... On the bright side, we did have a number of amazing whiskies over the last year, and so did you! Over 12,000 reviews and 25,000 whiskies added to your collections, that's a lot of whiskey.
It’s been 80 years since this Schenley Reserve ad was first run, but we still think whiskey is the right toast for a bright new year!
Top Whiskies of 2024
The lists (and the whiskies) are plentiful!
Everyone who’s anyone had some whiskey to drink in 2024, since it’s the end of the year, they’ve all got their thoughts on what the best ones were. Our opinion? Try as many as possible and decide for yourself!
Whiskey Advocate, who throws the best whiskey party here in the US (www.whiskyfest.com) has a list that includes everything from the expected, Bookers 2024-01, to the creative, Bardstown/Amrut collab. We’ve had a few of these and will be adding the rest to our wishlist! https://whiskyadvocate.com/top20/2024
Bourbon legend Fred Minnick copied our idea of a top 100 countdown and has his own list of 100(!!!) American whiskies which cover nearly every budget and palate. Don’t just skip to the top of that list, there are some gems hidden in the middle!
Not just a Stateside phenomenon, The Whisky Exchange revealed what its top-selling whiskies which span both single malt and bourbons. Nothing too surprising on this list, but it goes to show that good taste is never out of style!
Most Anticipated Whiskies in 2025 (so far)
No early-2025 newsletter would be complete without a look ahead to what we’re anticipating this year. While “to be released” whiskies are typically a closer guarded secret than what’s in Area 51. Knowing that, we found a couple unique takes on the year to come. The first one from Forbes takes a look at what investor bottles it expects to gain value across the next year. For all you collectors out there (and we know you’re out there!) it may be a chance to pay for next year’s whiskey!
For the rest of us, this list from liquorloot provides a solid if unspectacular list of brands to look at. I’m being 100% serious when I say #6 may surprise you, because it definitely surprised us!
We Are Once Again Asking You to Help Abov
Ok, we’re gonna level with you. Running this app is not cheap and we are doing everything we can to keep the app (mostly) ad-free. There are a few things you can do to help us, which we feel like are win-wins.
Buy your next whiskey from one of our affiliates!
Have you checked out the Abov Top 100 list yet? If not, it’s a doozy that caused quite a stir with the whiskey that landed in the #1 spot. We know a few of you must be wanting to try a couple of these delicious bottles. Save yourself the trouble of bottle hunting and help us out by using the links on the page.
Join our Patreon!
This one is a little more transactional, you join our Patreon at the $2 tier: you get a cool new profile and our undying love and affection. Not enough for you? At our $5 tier you get priority whiskey adds meaning that your whiskey submissions will all be addressed within 2 weeks of you submitting them.
Buy from us!
This one is the MOST transactional, but it still goes to support us! You’ve got three different places to purchase our wares:
(1) WhiskeyTheif, for custom barrel-made furniture
(2) AbovWhiskey shop, for whiskey-related apparel and merch
(3) DeWine Spot, the perfect gift for the whiskey lover in your life
What’s in your glass?
One of the most understated yet most recognizable bottles out there, Nikka from the Barrel is many people’s introduction to Japanese Whisky. With powerful sherry and citrus flavors, it’s a fan favorite for a reason!
User review of the month
Astoxb - Macallan 18 Year Old Sherry Oak Cask - 95/100
“Pure sherry bomb. Ridiculously smooth melted in my mouth. Chocolatey orangey cherry toffee with sherry spices. Best whisky I’ve had to date. If price wasn’t an issue this would be in my rotation. This is the benchmark for my other reviews.”
Most wanted whiskey
Legends never die. Back in 2023, we did a Whiskey Madness bracket where we had every whiskey go head-to-head in a vote on twitter. Lagavulin 16 came out on top and is one of the undisputed legends of whisky.
