Finding the world’s best whiskies isn’t about chasing the most expensive bottles or following marketing hype. It’s about understanding what separates truly exceptional spirits from the rest.
The problem is knowing where to start. With thousands of expressions across dozens of distilleries, even experienced drinkers can feel overwhelmed by choice.
Sebastian Jaeger, Co-Founder of Wu DRAM Clan, has spent years hunting exceptional casks across distilleries and private collections. His picks range from affordable everyday drams to rare vintage releases that collectors dream about.
Here’s what made his list of the world’s best whiskies.
Best Everyday Whisky: Cragganmore 12 Year Old
“Nothing says ‘Scotch’ more lovingly than that,” says Jaeger about his house whisky. For good reason, this is what he reaches for most evenings.
Cragganmore strikes that sweet spot between sophistication and comfort. “It’s malty, honeyed, comforting, and just as happy in a nosing glass as in a tumbler with mates,” he explains.
At around £43 in the UK and $75 in the US, this Speyside classic punches well above its weight. The 12-year maturation delivers layers of honey, vanilla and gentle smoke without any pretension.
Most importantly for an everyday dram? It’s reliable. You can find it at most decent whisky shops, and it never disappoints. Some whiskies demand special occasions, this one creates them.
Signup now to make sure you don't miss out on the latest whiskey news and deals.
By Signing up, you accept and agree to our Terms of Services and you acknowledge our Privacy Statement. The Whiskey Wash is protected by reCAPTCHA, and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Best Peated Whisky: Ardbeg 10
When Jaeger wants smoke, he reaches for the opposite end of the spectrum. “If the mood calls for a smoky counterpoint, then Ardbeg 10 joins the party (preferably on opposite ends of the table).”
This Islay powerhouse delivers everything Cragganmore doesn’t, bold peat, maritime salt and medicinal intensity. At around £45-50, it’s the perfect foil to genteel Speyside elegance.
Jaeger treats it like a palate reset. After sipping honeyed malts all evening, Ardbeg 10 cuts through with surgical precision. It’s not subtle, but that’s entirely the point.
The beauty lies in having both extremes available, gentle comfort and fierce intensity, each serving their moment perfectly.
Best Hidden Gem: Benromach 15
“I call it ‘the Springbank of Speyside,'” says Jaeger with obvious affection. “It’s delightfully grubby, in all the right ways.”
While most Speyside distilleries chase elegance and refinement, Benromach takes a different path. This 15-year-old embraces character over polish, delivering what Jaeger describes as “malty, oily, a bit rebellious, just how I like it.”
The distillery’s traditional approach, using lightly peated malt and taking time with maturation, creates something genuinely distinctive. At around £80-90, it’s not cheap, but you’re paying for individuality in a region often accused of playing it safe.
“Many of our best bottlings were born this way: by accident, curiosity, and a bit of cheeky persuasion,” Jaeger notes. Benromach 15 captures that same spirit of happy accidents and stubborn independence.
For whisky drinkers tired of predictable Speyside sweetness, this is your antidote.
Best Cask Style: First-Fill Bourbon 20+ Years
“As of 2025, I’ll say this without blinking: Bourbon cask is king—ideally first-fill and matured for over 20 years,” declares Jaeger.
It wasn’t always this way. Sherry casks once delivered the creamy, cozy characteristics that made them legendary. “Back in the day, sure, Sherry casks were glorious. But that was when the casks were soaked through with proper, ancient Sherry, stuff that spent 50 to 70 years getting deliciously grumpy.”
Those old casks had time to absorb the rich, mellow qualities that created genuinely creamy whiskies. Modern sherry cask treatment simply can’t replicate this. “These days? It’s more like a power-shower than a soak. Too many modern Sherry casks taste hot, sharp, and confused.”
Bourbon casks now deliver what old sherry casks used to, reliable creaminess without the inconsistency. “I want tobacco, nuts, that creamy-cozy hug,” he explains. First-fill bourbon barrels provide exactly those characteristics that modern sherry casks promise but fail to deliver.
“Honest, classic, and pure”; exactly what sherry casks once were, and bourbon casks still are.
Best Whisky Experience: Brora Triptych 1972
Jaeger visited Brora distillery twice at Diageo’s invitation, where he encountered what he calls “the whisky of my life.”
The Brora Triptych, released in 2021 to mark the distillery’s reopening, comprises three expressions spanning 1972, 1977 and 1982. Only 300 sets were produced, priced at £30,000 per collection.
The 1972 component, titled “Elusive Legacy,” represents a 48-year-old single malt and the oldest public release from the distillery. This expression captures the earthy, heavily peated style that made 1972 vintage Brora legendary among collectors.
The release marked the distillery’s reopening 36 years after closure, with Diageo noting “this type of bottling is so rare and special” that it cannot be replicated for another half century Brora.
For Jaeger, this wasn’t just exceptional whisky, it was transformative. “Some whiskies are drinks. That one’s a pilgrimage.”
Best Underrated Distillery: Glen Ord
While whisky enthusiasts chase Macallan and Glenfiddich, Jaeger champions a distillery most drinkers overlook entirely.
“Glen Ord’s the creamy, waxy, cuddly type, especially when left alone in bourbon casks. No silly finishes needed,” he explains. The Highland distillery produces what he describes as “breakfast cereal for grown-ups”, a reference that becomes clear once you taste the malty sweetness.
Jaeger recalls a memorable evening at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society where he and fellow enthusiast Angus sampled “gloriously malty old Ords, sweet as sugar.” The experience nearly ended in chaos when they produced an 1800s Cognac from a rucksack, but the Glen Ord left a lasting impression.
The distillery’s approach favours simplicity over showmanship. Single malt expressions typically retail for £40-60, offering exceptional value for aged Highland whisky. Jaeger particularly rates older bourbon cask matured bottlings for their waxy texture and honeyed character.
Best American Spirit: Old Van Winkle Rye
Jaeger’s American whiskey credentials rest on an impressive collection acquired years ago. “I had the fortune (or mischief?) to acquire half a cellar’s worth of old Van Winkles and Weller Ryes, yes, those ones, from the Lawrenceburg days.”
These 1980s bottles represent American rye at its finest, before the rush and hype. “I’ve kept them all and crack one open each summer during BBQ season,” he says.
“There’s magic in those dusty old bottles: the kind of gentle oxidation that rounds everything out like a Sinatra ballad in liquid form.”
For Jaeger, they embody patience and craftsmanship from a bygone era.
The Warehouse Hunter’s Philosophy
“For me, nothing beats a warehouse rummage. I turn into a giddy little treasure hunter, darting between casks like a kid in a sweet shop.”
That curiosity-driven approach defines Jaeger’s success. “Many of our best bottlings were born this way: by accident, curiosity, and a bit of cheeky persuasion.”
Latest On The Whiskey Wash
