Top 20 Whiskey
About The Whisky Advocate's TOP 20
Each year, the Whisky Advocate Buying Guide's expert team samples an array of whiskeys, encompassing rare, limited editions, and up-and-coming brands likely to hit store shelves nationwide. Our Top 20 list starts with whiskies scoring 90 or above (“outstanding”) on our 100-point scale. But, this list isn't just our highest-rated whiskey's; many are too rare for general access. Hence, we also weigh in value (price) and accessibility.
A crucial step in assessing these whiskey's true worth is a blind tasting by an international panel. Reviewers taste the contenders in a series of blind flights, unaware of each whiskey's producer, origin, age, or price. This panel's average ratings take precedence over the initial Buying Guide scores, although individual reviews remain recorded. The final Top 20 ranking is based on a balanced consideration of average score, price, and availability.
