The Whiskeys We’re Drinking on New Year’s Eve

by Margarett Waterbury
December 28, 2017

Well, if you’re reading this, you did it: You survived 2017. Congratulations!

It feels like we all deserve a little reward for making it all the way through one of the most trying years in recent memory. And while we haven’t the foggiest what 2018 will hold, it sure feels good to be turning a fresh page.

So, in a spirit of optimism, here’s what we’ll be sipping as we ring in the New Year.

Glendronach Parliament

We are unashamed Glendronach lovers at The Whiskey Wash, and our editor-in-chief Nino notes one great whisky to enjoy is a dram of Glendronach Parliament as the clock strikes midnight this year. This 21-year-old whisky is matured in a combination of Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez casks, giving it rich, nutty flavor and a slight sweetness that makes it easy to love.

Michter’s Toasted Barrel Rye

One of my favorite whiskeys of the year, Michter’s Toasted Barrel rye has everything I look for in a special occasion drink: Big flavor, distinctive character, and flexibility. It’s good neat, on the rocks, or in an over-the-top, too-expensive-for-the-bar cocktail.

Lagavulin 16

We get it; there are probably a lot of you out there who aren’t feeling particularly celebratory this year. Maybe you endured a hurricane or a wildfire. Maybe you lost too much sleep over your hacked Equifax report or your health insurance or that long-overdue raise. If that’s you, we suggest joining noted curmudgeon Nick Offerman in his annual silent, solitary Lagavulin-drinking party, still one of the most successful celebrity endorsements of a whisky brand of all time.

Basil Hayden Dark Rye

When Jeff isn’t keeping our website running in tip-top shape, he’s mixing cocktails in his amazing home bar, and this year, he’s perfected a holiday Vieux Carré featuring Basil Hayden Dark Rye, which blends rye whiskey with a touch of Canadian whisky and port. He says it’s a little bit softer than a standard rye, which makes for a particularly sophisticated mixer.

Little Book The Easy

New Year’s Eve is all about new beginnings and looking forward to the future, which makes Little Book The Easy all the more apropos. It’s Freddie Noe’s first signature whiskey for Jim Beam, which he’s poised to take over after his dad, current master distiller Fred Noe, decides to retire.