What are the best whiskey brands?
There is no single best whiskey, because taste and budget differ. The most reliable evidence we found is the Drinks International bar poll of 100 top bars: in Scotch, Johnnie Walker leads (22 million 9-litre cases shipped), then The Macallan and Laphroaig; in American whiskey, Michter's, Bulleit and Maker's Mark; in Irish whiskey, Jameson was the bestseller in 50% of bars. Pick by style, then taste a few.
Free download
Home Bar Storage Chart (PDF): How long liqueurs, spirits, wine and mixers last, opened and unopened. 25 rows, each with its source.
Thank you
Your chart is ready
We use your email only for this download.Also free:
Milk and Dairy Storage Chart (PDF)Juice, Soda and Water Storage Chart (PDF)Coffee, Tea and Hot Drinks Storage Chart (PDF)Drink Strength, Calories and Units Cheat Sheet (PDF)Want the full pack? About 10 printable sheets: a larger chart for each drink type, a “has it gone off?” checklist, date labels, a party planner and an inventory sheet.
In this article
The short answer: there is no single best whiskey. The most trustworthy evidence we found is an annual poll of 100 leading bars, and it points to a few names in each style. Below you will find those names, how the styles differ, and how to choose one.
Contents
The brands bars use most
Drinks International asks bar owners and head bartenders at 100 top bars to rank their three bestselling products each year. The results below come from its reports; they describe what bars sell, not what tastes best.
| Style | Brands named in the report | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Scotch (2025 report) | Johnnie Walker, The Macallan, Laphroaig | Johnnie Walker shipped 22 million 9-litre cases and was the house pour in almost 30% of bars; Macallan 2nd, Laphroaig 3rd. |
| American (2025 report) | Michter’s, Bulleit, Maker’s Mark, Woodford Reserve | Michter’s is first, Bulleit second for the third year, Maker’s Mark third, Woodford Reserve fourth. |
| Irish (2024 report) | Jameson, Bushmills, Redbreast, Green Spot, Powers | Jameson was the bestseller in 50% of bars and a top three pick in 74%; Bushmills is its biggest rival. |
Want brands within one style? See our guides to the best bourbon brands and the best Irish whiskey brands.
Whiskey styles
Scotch is made in Scotland, Irish whiskey in Ireland and bourbon in the United States. The US legal standard says bourbon must come from a mash of at least 51% corn, be distilled at no more than 160 proof and be aged in new charred oak barrels entered at no more than 125 proof.
“Straight” bourbon must also be aged at least two years. Those figures come from the US federal whisky standards (27 CFR 5.143). A style is a legal category, not a quality grade.
How to choose
Start with the style you like the sound of, then pick one popular bottle from the table. These steps are our advice, not an agency rule.
- Taste first. Try a small bottle or a pour at a bar before buying a full bottle.
- Set a budget. Higher price does not guarantee you will like it more.
- Read the label. Look for the style, the strength (ABV) and any age statement the maker gives.
Calories, strength and units
USDA lists 86-proof (43% alcohol) whiskey at 250 kcal and no sugar per 100 g. A 1.5 fl oz shot (42 g) is about 105 kcal.
Example, units in one shot:
Volume: 44 ml
x ABV 40% = 17.6 ml of pure alcohol
17.6 ml / 10 ml per unit
= 1.8 UK units
The NHS advises no more than 14 units a week. Want the numbers for your own bottle? Use our calories, sugar and units tool, the units calculator or the ABV and proof converter.
Conclusion
No official source crowns a best whiskey. Bartender polls show Johnnie Walker, Michter’s and Jameson lead their styles, but your taste decides. Choose a style, try a popular bottle, and drink within the NHS limit.
General information, not medical advice. The WHO says no level of alcohol is free of health risk. This page is not an invitation to drink, and it is not a guide to whether you can drive.
What are the best types of whiskey?
No official source ranks whiskey types as best or worst. The rules only define what each type is, so choosing a type is a matter of taste.
What are the main kinds of whiskey in the US?
The US federal standard (27 CFR 5.143) defines whiskey by grain, still strength and barrel. All types are bottled at not less than 40% ABV (80 proof).
| Type | What the rule says |
|---|---|
| Bourbon | Mash of at least 51% corn, distilled at 160 proof or less, stored in charred new oak at 125 proof or less |
| Rye | Mash of at least 51% rye, same limits as bourbon |
| Wheat | Mash of at least 51% wheat, same limits |
| Malt | Mash of at least 51% malted barley, same limits |
| Corn whiskey | Mash of at least 80% corn, distilled at 160 proof or less |
| Straight whiskey | Aged at least 2 years in charred new oak |
What are the types of Scotch whisky?
The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 set five categories:
- Single malt: made at one distillery from water and malted barley only, in pot stills.
- Single grain: made at one distillery, but not a single malt or a blend.
- Blended malt: two or more single malts from more than one distillery.
- Blended grain: two or more single grains from more than one distillery.
- Blended Scotch: one or more single malts blended with one or more single grains.
These sources define types, not brands. For well-known brands, see the bar-poll table above.
People also ask
What is the best whiskey brand?
There is no single best. In the 2025 Drinks International bar poll the Scotch bestseller is Johnnie Walker and the American bestseller is Michter's. Choose by style and budget, and taste before you commit.
What are good whiskey brands for beginners?
Our advice (not a poll result): start with a widely available blended or lighter style and add water or ice. The brands below are the ones bartenders report using and selling most.
What is the difference between whiskey and whisky?
Spelling only: whiskey is usual for Irish and American, whisky for Scotch, Canadian and Japanese. The spirit categories have their own legal rules.
How many calories are in whiskey?
USDA lists 86-proof whiskey at 250 kcal per 100 g, about 105 kcal in a 1.5 oz shot, with no sugar. A flavoured whiskey liqueur is different; check the label.
What is the best type of whiskey?
We found no official source that ranks types. US and Scotch rules only define what each type is, so the best type is the one you like.
What are the types of whiskey?
In the US, the standard defines bourbon, rye, wheat, malt, corn, straight and blended whiskey. Scotch has five legal categories, from single malt to blended Scotch.
Sources
- Drinks International: Brands Report 2025, Scotch whisky (bar poll, published 15 January 2025)
- Drinks International: Brands Report 2025, American whiskey (bar poll)
- Drinks International: Brands Report 2024, Irish whiskey (bar poll)
- US eCFR / Government Publishing Office: 27 CFR 5.143 Whisky (standards of identity, 2025 edition)
- USDA FoodData Central: Alcoholic beverage, distilled, whiskey, 86 proof (174819)
- WHO: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (4 January 2023)
- NHS: Calculating alcohol units (14 units a week)
- eCFR: 27 CFR Part 5, section 5.143 (standards of identity for whisky), read 5 Nov 2026
- legislation.gov.uk: The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009, regulation 3, read 5 Nov 2026
About · How we verify this · Editorial policy · Corrections
What would help you most next?
One tap. Anonymous. It helps us decide what to build.
Thank you. The free charts above are yours to keep.
