top shelf spirits and liquors — Jon Whittle

Ultra-Premium Spirits

These favorites could have you challenging the moderation theory

July 23, 2018

Although rum is an enduring favorite with the offshore fishing community, scotch, bourbon and tequila have also joined the ranks of ultrapremium liquors. So when it’s time to toast your success in the cockpit or in the boardroom, we suggest you reach for one of these top-shelf spirits. Some are best with a splash of water, but most can be enjoyed neat, or with a cube of ice. All things in moderation, of course.

Read about the world's best rum here

Michter’s 10 Year Kentucky Bourbon — Mature in age and exceptional in quality, Michter’s 10-year-old bourbon is aged for a decade in signature American white oak barrels, yielding a bold yet spicy body of nutmeg, fennel and cinnamon, with hints of lemon and grapefruit and a molasses finish.Jon Whittle

Remy Martin XO Cognac — Made exclusively from grapes grown in the Cognac region of France, which are known for their aromatic superiority, Remy Martin XO is one of the finest cognac brands in the world. Under French law, it is twice distilled, and aged in oak barrels for at least two years. It is rich and long on the palate.Jon Whittle

Dewar’s White Label Scotch Whisky — From one of the world’s most acclaimed scotch brands, Dewar’s White Label has a subtle sweetness with a curl of peat smoke and Scottish heather. The flavors are rich and warm: fresh vanilla and honey, with a slight fruitiness. Overall, it is well-balanced and satisfying.Jon Whittle

Cask & Crew Blended Whiskey — This small-batch whiskey is blended from 51 percent 3-year-old Canadian rye and 49 percent barrel-aged Kentucky corn whiskey. This makes for an incredibly smooth blend with a clean nose and a memorable finish, with a satisfying flash of heat.Jon Whittle

Herradura Ultra Añejo Tequila — This premium tequila is made using a base of Herradura Añejo blended with Extra Añejo, which has been barrel-aged for up to 49 months. Agave nectar is added prior to filtering, giving Ultra Añejo its full-bodied yet smooth taste, with flavors of caramel, honey and vanilla.Jon Whittle

Grander 12-Year-Old Rum — This favorite is made from carefully selected Panamanian rums that have aged for at least 12 years in ex-bourbon barrels. This delivers unique nutty flavors of toasted almond and nutmeg. On the nose, Grander offers leather and oak; the finish is sweet yet dry.Jon Whittle

Flor De Caña 25-Year Añejo Rum — Named 2017 Best Rum of the Year by the International Rum Conference in Madrid, Spain, this is an ultrapremium, elegant spirit. The aroma integrates vanilla, wood and dark cocoa notes, which mingle smoothly with fruity, nutty and caramel palate notes.Jon Whittle

Ron Zacapa XO Añejo Rum — Crafted in the highlands of Guatemala, Ron Zacapa develops its complex flavor and character in part due to its location, 6,900 feet above sea level. XO is a blend of rums from 6 to 25 years old, with an extra aging step in ex-French cognac oak barrels. The taste is perfectly balanced and very smooth.Jon Whittle

Gran Patron Piedra — This premium tequila is made from the finest 100 percent Weber blue agave, and is crafted using the centuries-old tahona process at the famed Hacienda Patrón distillery in Jalisco, Mexico. It is aged in a combination of French Limousin and new American oak barrels for four years. The taste is sweet yet complex, with notes of agave, vanilla and mushroom.Jon Whittle

Mount Gay XO Barbados Rum — An opulent blend of the finest spirits, which are aged from eight to 15 years, XO uses older barrels of double pot distillates that have softened the once-crisp notes into a subtler balance. This offers a true flavor of a top-shelf Caribbean rum.Jon Whittle

Papa’s Pilar Dark Rum — Sourced from rums in Florida, Central America and the Caribbean, Papa’s Pilar Dark is solera-aged in bourbon barrels and port wine casks, then finished in Spanish sherry casks before it’s bottled at the Hemingway Rum Co. in Key West, Florida.Jon Whittle

Latest

Three Great Fillet Knives for Any Angler

How to Select Your Next Pair of Foul Weather Fishing Bibs

Best Saltwater Spinning Reels

Visions of Granders: Joe Yee

Gyro Stabilizer for Boats

Top Offshore Saltwater Teaser and Dredge Reels

The Pageantry of the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament

High-Speed Trolling for Wahoo