Stranahan’s Mountain Angel 10 Year Old ($130)
Exceptionally complex, with hints of sandalwood and caramelized sugar in alternating turns, this age-statement single malt out of Denver is also exceptionally elusive. An initial release consisted of just 500 bottles, available in New York, California, and Colorado. More should soon be coming, as this is intended to become a permanent brand extension. So if you do manage to track it down, it’s worth more to savor than save. Verdict: Pour It
The Macallan Double Cask 18 Years Old ($330)
Macallan’s Double Cask range features liquids that have been matured in both American and European oak, each previously seasoned with sherry. The lineup consists of a 12-year, a 15-year, and this elder statesman, which is the most sophisticated of the bunch. This 86-proof liquid drinks exceptionally easily, unfurling a smidge of sultana and ginger spice from its auburn body. It’s also readily available as part of the brand’s core expressions. Verdict: Pour It
Old Forester 150th Anniversary ($550)
To celebrate its sesquicentennial birthday, this beloved Kentucky distillery unveiled three separate batches of limited-edition barrel-proof bourbon—each with its own nuances and exceptional in its own right. Although they won’t be bottled again, there’s no age statement here, which tends to temper investment potential. And since it’s such a joy to drink, it will do you far many more favors in the glass now than it will at some future affair. Verdict: Pour It
Balblair 25 Year Old ($600)
This Highland distillery has been overlooked by American drinkers for far too long. A recent rebranding looks to change that. Having formerly sold a series of vintage releases, it’s now pursuing the age-statement route, deploying sleek, stylish bottles to highlight the elegant, rounded liquid within. The most mature of the lineup is a medium-bodied malt aged for a quarter-century in ex-bourbon casks before finishing for several months in Spanish oak. Many of its scotch counterparts—of comparable age and quality—currently fetch more than double the cost cited here. Verdict: Store It
Michter’s 25-Year ($1,000)
When it comes to collectibility, few American producers can claim the credentials of Michter’s. The Kentucky whiskey maker’s special editions routinely climb five times above retail price within a year or so of initial release. This one is a prime example: a velvety melange of burnt sugar and winter spice. It’s been three years since a barrel was last deemed spectacular enough to sell, so pounce if you find one of 348 new bottles anywhere near the $1,000 retail price; they’re already seven times that on the secondary market. Verdict: Store It
O.F.C. 1995 Vintage ($2,500)
Bourbon does not age the way scotch does. Because it rests in virgin cooperage and endures wide climactic shifts between seasons, the whiskey of Kentucky tends to be over-oaked by the time its Scottish cousin is just getting warmed up (around the 10-to-12-year mark). O.F.C. exists as a stunning exception to this rule. Buffalo Trace’s little-known second luxury label makes Pappy Van Winkle seem like Bud Light. And although this bottle was laid down during Bill Clinton’s first term as U.S. president, it remains entirely unimpeachable: tobacco, leather, and candied cherry on the palate, with a slight tinge of smoke tapering the finish. With such a high starting price, there’s not much room to roar as an appreciating asset, so if you’re willing to lay down $2,500 on a bourbon at retail, chances are you can afford to enjoy it, too. Verdict: Pour It
The Last Drop 1968 Glenrothes Single Malt ($6,000)
Here’s something you won’t readily find: an impeccably stewarded Scotch malt holding a half-century’s worth of maturity. Bottled at a cask strength of 51.3% ABV, its noses evokes the fresh floral bloom of Scotland in spring. On the tongue hums marzipan, with the slightest intimation of toasted coconut along the edge. (That’s the least it should do, considering the price.) But here’s the thing: This liquid is almost criminally undervalued. While it comes by way of an independent bottler who hunts down rare casks, the Speyside distillery from which it was sourced just released its own 50-year-old counterpart … for $35,000! This one is essentially the exact same liquid for less than 1/6th the cost. Plus, the Last Drop mercifully accompanies all of its ultra-luxe releases with a 50 ml miniature. So you can pour and store. Everyone loves a happy ending. Verdict: Store It
This article was provided by Bloomberg News.