10 Best Sweet Whiskey Brands Listed & Ranked (2023)
Last Updated on August 22, 2023 by Lydia Martin
You may love or hate sweet whiskeys, but a good, sweet whiskey can be a great introduction to bourbon and Scotch.
Stop wasting money and time with all the options marketed as the best sweet whiskey, as we streamlined whiskeys worth drinking.
Read on to find the sweet whiskeys you should not miss out on.
Top 10 Sweet Whiskeys On The Market
10. Glen Grant 12-Year-Old Whisky
Average Price: Roughly $52.99 (Caskers)
Alcohol Content: 43%
Why We Like It:
Glen Grant 12-Year-Old Whisky is consistently praised and awarded for being a sweet and smooth Single Malt Scotch whisky.
The bright gold distilled spirit from the Speyside region has a rich aroma of honey, pear, apple, almond, and candied citrus.
On the palate, we like the apple-pie crust, vanilla, and caramel taste, along with the lingering fruit and hints of spice.
The Scotch whisky has a fragrant malt and enough sweetness, so you can enjoy it neat or on the rocks.
9. The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14
Average Price: Roughly $76.99 (Total Wine)
Alcohol Content: 43%
Why We Like It:
The Balvenie Caribbean Cask is a Single Malt whisky aged in a traditional oak cask and finished in an ex-Caribbean rum.
The 14-year-old single malt whisky has a well-balanced sweetness and nice notes of fruit, toffee, and caramel with a lingering finish.
On the nose, the Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14 has a sweet, rich, and creamy toffee with fresh fruit notes.
On the palate, the Scotch whisky is rounded with sweet oak notes, vanilla, and a fruity character that develops over time.
Read: Top Vanilla Whiskey Brands
8. Kentucky Owl The Wiseman
Average Price: Roughly $42.49 (Total Wine)
Alcohol Content: 45.4%
Why We Like It:
The Kentucky Owl The Wiseman combines four Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey.
It has a nice blend of flavor profile, and its sweetness is remarkable.
The bourbon whiskey has nice tasting notes of caramel, vanilla, allspice, and some citrus notes, thanks to its aging in unused oak barrels [1].
We tried drinking it neat, and the cinnamon and nutmeg gave way to the vanilla and pepper spice.
7. Collier & McKeel Tennessee Whiskey
Average Price: Roughly $47.99 (Caskers)
Alcohol Content: 43%
Why We Like It:
Collier & McKell Tennessee whiskey comes from 70% corn, 15% rye, and 15% malted barley.
It has a nice spice from the rye, but the dominating grain makes the Tennessee whiskey sweeter.
The ingredients came from local farms, and Mike Williams is the Master Distiller that is in charge of the whole whiskey production.
“It’s a labor of love… we have our hands in every step of the process, from grinding the corn to bottling” – Mike Williams, Master Distiller.
The whiskey is sweet and smoky with faint notes of spiciness and sweet corn.
Read: Popular Tennessee Whiskey Brands
6. Woodford Reserve Double Oak
Average Price: Roughly $47.99 (Total Wine)
Alcohol Content: 45.2%
Why We Like It:
Woodford Reserve Double Oak is an innovative approach to bourbon, resulting in a rich and colorful flavor.
After the initial maturation in oak barrels, the second barrel is deeply toasted before charring for a sweeter and softer bourbon character.
The deep amber Woodford Reserve whiskey has a rich aroma of caramel, honey, chocolate, and toasted oak.
In addition, it has a potent mix of dark caramel, hazelnut, vanilla, apple, and fruit.
5. Old Forester 100
Average Price: Roughly $26.99 (Total Wine)
Alcohol Content: 50%
Why We Like It:
Old Forester 100 is made to commemorate the legacy of George Gavin Brown, and this bourbon whiskey is one of the favorites of bartenders.
The bourbon whiskey has a rich and complex flavor profile that blends well in cocktails. It has a nice blend of sweetness, spiciness, and boldness.
Since it is bottled at 100 proof, the bourbon whiskey has a distinct character and flavor profile.
You can consume it neat, on the rocks, or as a base liquor for cocktails. But what’s the best Old Forester bourbon?
4. Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey Whiskey
Average Price: Roughly $31.99 (Total Wine)
Alcohol Content: 35%
Why We Like It:
Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey Whiskey blends Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 and honey liqueur for a rich, smooth, sweet whiskey.
With hints of all-natural honey, the whiskey becomes smoother and sweeter.
On the nose and palate, Jack Daniel’s whiskey has rich notes of sweet molasses and natural honey.
We like it more on the rocks because the ice melt brings out the aromas and flavors of the whiskey. But what can you mix with Jack Daniel’s Honey whiskey?
3. Old Forester 1910
Average Price: Roughly $58.99 (Total Wine)
Alcohol Content: 46.5%
Why We Like It:
Old Forester 1910 is a delightful and remarkable whiskey because of its rich and sweet flavor.
It is a unique expression that underwent second barreling that lends exceptional character.
The Old Fine Whiskey has a smooth mingling of milk chocolate, caramel corn, sweet oatmeal, and evolving spice.
2. Glenmorangie 14 Port Cask
Average Price: Roughly $56.99 (Total Wine)
Alcohol Content: 46%
Why We Like It:
Glenmorangie 14 Port Cask is a Single Malt Scotch whisky from Scotland, and it is expertly matured in oak casks for 14 years and finished in Port Cask.
Glenmorangie Scotch whisky has a complex balance of dry and sweet flavors.
On the nose, it has dried dark fruit, malt vanilla citrus, baking spice, candied pecans, and oak.
It is sweet with notes of cocoa, candied pecans, port wine sweetness, leather, baking spice, and sweet tobacco on the palate.
1. Angel’s Envy Rye Whiskey
Average Price: Roughly $82.99 (Total Wine)
Alcohol Content: 50%
Why We Like It:
Angel’s Envy Rye whiskey is a distilled spirit finished in Caribbean rum casks for a unique flavor profile and remarkable taste.
The whiskey has a mingling spiciness and earthiness with mellow sweetness from rum finishing.
It has nice aromas of caramel candy, maple sugar, citrus, hazelnut, and sherry wood.
The soft oak, sweet rum, and sherry wood are notable, along with the sweet and dry finish on the palate.
FAQs
What’s the sweetest whiskey type?
Bourbon is the sweetest whiskey type. Since the dominant grain of bourbon is corn and due to its maturation in charred oak barrels [2], it has a sweet flavor profile.
Bourbon has rich caramel notes with vanilla tones which makes it the sweetest of the whiskey family.
What’s the best sweet whiskey for beginners?
Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey Whiskey is the best sweet whiskey for beginners.
It has a lower alcohol proof and a nice blend of whiskey and real honey.
Final Verdict
Sweet whiskeys have an exciting flavor profile, and with all the options on the market, you must not miss out on Old Forester and Jack Daniel’s.
Glenmorangie and Woodford Reserve can be good options because, aside from sweetness, they have a nice kick and bold tasting notes.
However, Angel’s Envy Rye whiskey is the best sweet whiskey worth drinking.
Aside from the mellowness and sweetness of the Caribbean rum casks, it has a nice blend of spiciness from the rye.
References:
- https://www.britannica.com/topic/whiskey
- https://www.cnbc.com/2015/06/04/5-rules-that-make-it-bourbon.html
