The best whiskey releases from July 2022.

July was a big month for whiskey releases, with many brands debuting new expressions. Some were better than others, but overall, it was a great month for fans of the spirit. Here are the six best whiskeys that we tasted in July, some released in July, some not.

Booker’s 2022-02 ‘The Lumberyard Batch’

The bottle is named in honor of the lumberyard where the distillery’s founder, Booker Noe, worked before starting his career in whiskey, an experience credited for instilling his strong work ethic.

The Lumberyard Batch is Booker’s deepest and darkest amber color yet. It is said to have complex vanilla, nuts, and oak flavors, with robust vanilla and caramel notes. The finish is long and full, making it perfect for easygoing sipping. This batch was aged for six years in newly charred American white oak barrels. The barrels were then broken down and reassembled by hand to create a unique flavor profile.

We gave the newest release from Booker’s a score of 90, saying, “This is a killer pour that leans a touch more into oak and bold character.”

Balcones ZZ Top Tres Hombres

The collab between ZZ Top and Balcones is the best example of a great celebrity whiskey. It achieved a Raiders score of 90. We wrote, “An understated, enjoyable, complex bottling that does a great job of delivering good whiskey first, and a celebrity collaboration second,” about Tres Hombres.

Purchase a bottle here.

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B522

The Barrel Proof is the second of three releases in 2022’s Limited Edition lineup. Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B522 has been aged 12 years.

“Overall, B522 is one of the best of recent releases. The combination of char, maple, nougat and viscosity is a winner, and at 60.5% ABV, there’s no shortage of flavor,” wrote Jay West, our spirits critic.

Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection Batch Proof 2022

A consistent favorite among fans of Woodford, the 2022 release of Woodford Reserve’s Master’s Collection did not disappoint. This Batch Proof bottling is released at 59.2% ABV.

“An oaky maple bomb with great undercurrents of baking spice, clove and a touch of root beer and cherry, this Master’s Collection is masterful for sure.” West wrote of the expression.

Calumet 16yr Bourbon

Hand-selected barrels from a large private stock of premium Kentucky straight bourbon, Calumet delivers an outstanding bottle with its newest 16-year-old expression.

Collectors have long prized Calumet Bourbon for its exceptional quality and flavor. The 16-year-old expression is the latest release from this much-loved brand, and it does not disappoint. Made from hand-selected barrels of premium Kentucky straight bourbon, this bourbon features a high percentage of rye in its mashbill, resulting in a complex and delicious flavor profile.

Barrell 20yr Gold Label Seagrass

It better be great for $500 per bottle, and Barrell delivers just that with this 16-year-old bourbon, made to be the pinnacle of Barrell Craft Spirits’ Seagrass series.

Rye whiskey is finished in Martinique Rhum, Madeira, and apricot brandy casks and matured for 20 years. Barrell describes the cask strength rye bottled at 128.12 as “old and layered, with savory, herbaceous notes behind the trademark Seagrass tropical freshness.”

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