Independent whisky reviews and buying guides

Whisky Brands Directory

Discover the stories, heritage, and craftsmanship behind the world's finest whisky brands. From historic bourbon distilleries to innovative craft producers, explore our comprehensive guide to whisky makers.

Total Brands: 48
Categories: 6

Browse by Category

Bourbon Brands

American bourbon whiskey brands, primarily from Kentucky, offering everything from budget-friendly classics to ultra-premium expressions.

Jim Beam

Beam Suntory

Featured

One of the world's best-selling bourbon brands with over 200 years of distilling heritage. Jim Beam offers a range of bourbon expressions from the classic White Label to premium small batch varieties.

Region: Kentucky

Maker's Mark

Beam Suntory

Featured

Iconic wheated bourbon known for its signature red wax seal. Maker's Mark uses wheat instead of rye in its mash bill, creating a softer, sweeter bourbon with less spice.

Region: Kentucky

Buffalo Trace

Sazerac Company

Featured

Highly acclaimed bourbon offering exceptional quality at an accessible price point. Buffalo Trace Distillery produces some of the most sought-after bourbons including Pappy Van Winkle and Eagle Rare.

Region: Kentucky

Wild Turkey

Campari Group

Featured

Known for higher proof expressions and bold, full-flavored bourbon. Wild Turkey maintains traditional production methods and offers excellent value across its range.

Region: Kentucky

Woodford Reserve

Brown-Forman Corporation

Featured

Premium small batch bourbon that's triple-distilled in copper pot stills. Woodford Reserve is the official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby and known for its refined, balanced character.

Region: Kentucky

Old Forester

Brown-Forman Corporation

America's first bottled bourbon, established in 1870. Old Forester has never stopped producing bourbon, even during Prohibition when it was sold for medicinal purposes.

Region: Kentucky

Four Roses

Kirin Holdings Company

Featured

Unique among bourbon producers, Four Roses uses 10 distinct bourbon recipes (combinations of 5 yeast strains and 2 mash bills) to create complex, floral bourbons.

Region: Kentucky

Evan Williams

Heaven Hill Distillery

Second largest-selling bourbon in the United States. Named after Evan Williams, who established Kentucky's first commercial distillery on the banks of the Ohio River in 1783.

Region: Kentucky

Elijah Craig

Heaven Hill Distillery

Featured

Named after the Baptist minister credited with being the 'Father of Bourbon.' Elijah Craig Small Batch is a consistently excellent bourbon with a loyal following.

Region: Kentucky

Knob Creek

Beam Suntory

Featured

Part of Jim Beam's Small Batch Collection, Knob Creek is aged for 9 years and bottled at 100 proof, delivering bold, full-flavored bourbon.

Region: Kentucky

Basil Hayden's

Beam Suntory

High-rye bourbon with a lighter, spicier profile. Named after a Maryland Catholic who emigrated to Kentucky and became a master distiller, establishing a distillery in 1796.

Region: Kentucky

Bulleit

Diageo

Featured

Distinctive high-rye bourbon with 68% corn and 28% rye mash bill. Bulleit's frontier-inspired branding and spicy character have made it a favorite among bartenders and craft cocktail enthusiasts.

Region: Kentucky

Pappy Van Winkle

Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery

Legendary ultra-premium bourbon produced at Buffalo Trace Distillery. Pappy Van Winkle is among the most sought-after and allocated bourbons in the world, with limited annual releases.

Region: Kentucky

Eagle Rare

Sazerac Company

Featured

Ten-year aged bourbon from Buffalo Trace offering exceptional quality and complexity. Eagle Rare has gained cult status for delivering premium bourbon character at a mid-range price.

Region: Kentucky

Blanton's

Sazerac Company

Featured

The first single barrel bourbon ever produced, introduced in 1984. Each bottle features a collectible horse and jockey stopper, with eight different letters spelling 'BLANTONS.'

Region: Kentucky

1792 Bourbon

Sazerac Company

Named after the year Kentucky became a state. 1792 produces a range of small batch bourbons at the historic Barton 1792 Distillery.

Region: Kentucky

Garrison Brothers

Independent

Featured

First legal bourbon distillery in Texas. Garrison Brothers produces small batch bourbon using Texas corn, wheat, and barley aged in the intense Texas heat.

Region: Texas

Kings County Distillery

Independent

NYC's oldest operating whiskey distillery since Prohibition. Located in Brooklyn, Kings County produces bourbon, moonshine, and flavored whiskeys using New York grains.

Region: New York

Scotch Whisky Brands

Single malt and blended scotch whisky from Scotland's diverse regions, from smooth Speyside to smoky Islay expressions.

Johnnie Walker

Diageo

Featured

The world's best-selling scotch whisky, known for its color-coded range from Red Label to Blue Label. Johnnie Walker blends whiskies from across Scotland to create consistent, high-quality expressions.

Type: Blended Scotch Whisky

Glenlivet

Pernod Ricard

Featured

The best-selling single malt scotch in the United States. Glenlivet pioneered legal distilling in Scotland and is known for smooth, fruity, approachable single malts.

Type: Speyside Single Malt

Glenfiddich

William Grant & Sons

Featured

World's most awarded single malt scotch whisky and a pioneer of single malt marketing. Family-owned and operated since 1887.

Type: Speyside Single Malt

The Macallan

Edrington Group

Featured

Luxury single malt scotch renowned for sherry cask maturation. The Macallan is one of the most prestigious and collectible scotch brands in the world.

Type: Speyside Single Malt (Premium)

Laphroaig

Beam Suntory

Featured

Intensely peated Islay single malt with medicinal, smoky character. Laphroaig divides opinion but has a devoted cult following who love its bold, uncompromising style.

Type: Islay Single Malt (Peated)

Highland Park

Edrington Group

Featured

From the Orkney Islands, Highland Park balances sweet honey notes with gentle peat smoke. One of the few distilleries that still malts its own barley using traditional floor maltings.

Type: Island Single Malt

Chivas Regal

Pernod Ricard

Premium blended scotch known for smooth, rich character. Chivas Regal was a pioneer in aged blended scotch, with the 12-year-old expression setting quality standards.

Type: Blended Scotch Whisky

Ballantine's

Pernod Ricard

Third best-selling scotch whisky worldwide. Ballantine's offers a range of blended scotch from the accessible Finest to aged premium expressions.

Type: Blended Scotch Whisky

Glenmorangie

LVMH (Moët Hennessy)

Featured

Pioneer of cask finishing techniques, Glenmorangie uses Scotland's tallest stills to create elegant, complex Highland single malts. Known for innovative wood management.

Type: Highland Single Malt

Balvenie

William Grant & Sons

Featured

Handcrafted single malt using traditional methods including floor malting. The Balvenie is one of the few distilleries growing its own barley and employing a coppersmith and team of coopers.

Type: Speyside Single Malt

Irish Whiskey Brands

Triple-distilled Irish whiskeys known for their smoothness, from global bestsellers to premium pot still expressions.

Japanese Whisky Brands

Award-winning Japanese whiskies from Suntory, Nikka, and emerging distilleries, blending tradition with innovation.

Canadian Whisky Brands

Smooth Canadian whiskies from classic brands to innovative craft distillers, known for their approachable character.

American Craft & Artisan Whiskey

Innovative American craft distilleries producing single malt, bourbon, rye, and experimental whiskeys with local ingredients.

About Whisky Brands

What's the difference between bourbon and scotch brands?

Bourbon brands are American (mostly Kentucky) and must be made from at least 51% corn, resulting in sweeter, vanilla-forward whiskey. Scotch brands are from Scotland, made from malted barley, with flavors ranging from fruity and smooth (Speyside) to smoky and peaty (Islay).

Which whisky brands are best for beginners?

Buffalo Trace, Maker's Mark, and Jim Beam are excellent bourbon starting points. For scotch, try Glenlivet or Glenfiddich. Irish whiskey brands like Jameson and Tullamore Dew are very approachable due to triple distillation.

What are craft whiskey brands?

Craft whiskey brands are typically smaller, independent distilleries that focus on small-batch production, local ingredients, and innovative techniques. Examples include Stranahan's (Colorado), Balcones (Texas), and WhistlePig (Vermont).

Which companies own the most whisky brands?

Major spirits conglomerates dominate: Diageo (Johnnie Walker, Bulleit, Crown Royal), Beam Suntory (Jim Beam, Maker's Mark, Laphroaig), Pernod Ricard (Glenlivet, Jameson, Chivas), Brown-Forman (Woodford Reserve, Old Forester), and Sazerac (Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare, Pappy Van Winkle).