The Best New Whiskeys to Drink This June

Including two outstanding centennial releases from House of Suntory. Plus, Buffalo Trace tries a peated bourbon.

Hakushu 18 Year Old Peated Malt / Yamazaki 18 Year Old Mizunara

Two new limited-edition releases from the House of Suntory, celebrating 100 years

By Kirk Miller

Welcome back to our best new whiskeys monthly guide to all things whisk(e)y. This month, House of Suntory celebrates 100 years, Tattersall tries out an experimental grain and American whiskies embrace peat.

Hakushu 18 Year Old Peated Malt / Yamazaki 18 Year Old Mizunara
House of Suntory

Hakushu 18 Year Old Peated Malt / Yamazaki 18 Year Old Mizunara

Celebrating 100 years (with some help from Sofia Coppola and Keanu Reeves, no less), the House of Suntory just debuted two exceptional new, limited-edition whiskies, created by fifth-generation Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo. The Yamazaki ($1,800) is a single malt aged exclusively in rare Mizunara oak casks — it’s an exquisite mixture of fruit, cloves and sandalwood, with a soft and warm mouthfeel. The Hakushu ($1,200) takes a moment — at first, the smoke dominates, but let it sit in the glass for a moment. It’s still a bit smoky and herbal, but you’ll find plenty of apple and tropical fruit notes for balance.

Buffalo Trace Experimental Peated Bourbon
Buffalo Trace

Buffalo Trace Experimental Peated Bourbon

The 26th release from the Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection started in 2006, is a high-rye Kentucky straight bourbon that utilizes smoked peated malt as a flavoring grain instead of traditional barley. Aged for nearly ten years in new charred white oak casks and bottled (in 375 ml bottles only) at 90 proof, this one is heavy on the tobacco, ashtray and leather notes, with some toffee and a bit of mint and roasted coffee sneaking in near the end. 

Tattersall Kernza Perennial Grain Whiskey
Tattersall

Tattersall Kernza Perennial Grain Whiskey

This Minneapolis distillery is all about sustainability; they claim to have the largest solar array of any craft distillery in the country. And now, they’re making whiskey from a perennial grain — Kernza (which also makes for a nice beer) does not need to be replanted every year, which improves soil health and water quality. Their 100% Kernza Perennial Grain Whiskey (90 proof) is nutty, fruity and full of baking spices.

Booker’s Batch 2023-01 “Charlie’s Batch”
James B. Beam Distilling Co.

Booker’s Batch 2023-01 “Charlie’s Batch”

The latest uncut and unfiltered bourbon release from Booker’s is named in honor of Charlie Hutchens, the craftsman behind the signature wooden box in which each Booker’s bottle arrives. Coming in at 126.6 proof and aged for a bit over seven years, this one (the first of the 2023 Collection) is full of butterscotch, vanilla, toasted oak and a spicy kick that’s almost akin to ginger. 

Diageo Distiller Edition Collection
Diageo

Diageo Distiller Edition Collection

Drinks giant Diageo just released its annual limited-edition Distiller Edition Collection, featuring rare single malts from the likes of Talisker, Lagavulin and more, all double-matured in different types of cask wood. The standout here? The Oban release, aged in refilled American Oak & European Oak casks and finished in Montilla Fino-seasoned re-charred American Oak casks with heavily re-charred new AO ends. It’s certainly smooth and a bit fruity, but that oak shines through and there’s a nice salinity and a bit of toffee.

And five more best new whiskeys to try:

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