The 14 Best New Bourbons and Whiskeys of 2020 (So Far)

Wilderness Trail, Buffalo Trace Distillery, Heaven Hill Distillery

The year is more than three-quarters over and, despite an actual pandemic, the American whiskey boom hasn’t slowed. Big and small, producers are releasing great whiskeys on a weekly basis. These are the 14 best I’ve had so far.

Weller Single Barrel

Weller Single Barrel is the brand’s Goldilocks expression. It’s proof is high (97) but manageable, and you get more vanilla-y wood characteristic than you do with Antique 107 or Special Reserve. It’s impossible to say how much it’ll be available for at stores, but it’ll certainly go for more than its $50 asking price for the Weller name alone. Buffalo Trace Distillery said bottles will ship to stores in June.

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Knob Creek 9-Year Bourbon Whiskey

Jim Beam Distillery’s Knob Creek line was in the news recently for bringing a 9- and 12-year age statement bourbon back to its permanent lineup, a sure sign of supply creeping up on the outrageous demand of the bourbon boom. And while the 12-year is also excellent, the 9-year, 100 proof roughly $35 bourbon is immediately one of the best values on the shelf. It’s rich, peanuty and priced at a point where you can mix it, drink on the rocks or sip neat.

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Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series 2020

Less than a decade ago, Maker’s was firm in its belief that its solitary classic expression was enough. Today, bourbon drinkers are glad the brand had a change a heart. The result of select wood staves maturing in the barrel with the whiskey, this whiskey was designed in a lab to be a vanilla bomb. The second of Maker’s Mark’s new annual limited edition release landed on shelves in September and is available for about $60.

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Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Bourbon

Classic, 94 proof Elijah Craig Small Batch, but finished in a toasted barrel. Don’t know what a toasted barrel is? Read this. I’m not exaggerating when I say the whiskey tastes like a slightly burnt marshmallow drizzled in honey. Heaven Hill collaborated with the coopers at Independent Stave Company to create a new barrel to dump fully matured Small Batch whiskey into. Available in September in limited quantities.

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Sweeten’s Cove Tennessee Bourbon

Sweetens Cove is a new spirits brand and its first product is a 13-year-old bourbon blended by Marianne Eaves, a former taster at Brown-Forman (the company that owns Old Forester, Jack Daniel’s, Woodford Reserve and others). And while the company has received more press on its founding members (Andy Roddick, some of the Mannings and Jim Nantz among them), it’s the whiskey that does the talking. It’s heavy on vanilla, peanuts and baking spices on the nose and tastes like a peanut butter and banana sandwich in a glass.

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Wolves Wally Blend

Hopes were tempered when I first heard of a whiskey brand launched by sneakerheads, but Wolves’ whiskey blending and sourcing partnership with Charbay Distillery has proven fruitful three releases straight. The Wally Blend – a mix of 8-year-old whiskey distilled from stout beer and aged in French oak, 5-year-old whiskey distilled from pilsner beer and aged in new charred American oak, 9-year-old single malt whiskey aged in second-use French oak and MGP rye whiskey – tastes as different as it sounds. Spicy on the fore, malty in the middle and syrupy sweet vanilla-flavored on the backend.

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Larceny Barrel Proof Bourbon




A beefier version of a favored budget wheater from Heaven Hill was always going to be good. New to 2020, the distillery says it plans to release three batches a year at $50. Drink it with an ice cube.

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Russell’s Reserve 2003




What entered barrels at 107 proof 16 years ago comes out below 90 proof and spicy as hell. It’s smoky, it’s hot and it reeks of old school Wild Turkey (you know, the bottles that sell for thousands now). Unfortunately it’ll run you $250 to buy a bottle, if you even find it.

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Sagamore Spirit Calvados Finish Rye




If they’re not the best, Sagamore Spirit are among the very best at barrel finishing whiskey. The brand’s cognac-finished and port-finished ryes have raked in awards, and I fully expect the calvados-finished to follow. It’s a mix of four and five year old ryes that spend almost a year in ex-calvados barrels, a brandy made from apples or pears. The result is a lively, spicy rye flavor with a mellow, sweet backbone. It’s dessert whiskey.

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Wilderness Trail Straight Bourbon Whiskey




It’s not necessarily new whiskey, but it’s new to most people. The relatively young Danville, Kentucky operation is finally expanding broadly outside its homestate, and its straight bourbon is only getting better with age. This year’s bottles are six years old and serve as proof that good bourbon isn’t reserved for the macro distillers.

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Bulleit Blender’s Select 001 Straight Bourbon




Long synonymous with ultra-spicy and affordable ryes, Bulleit is steering into the premium market now. Blender’s select is a new limited offering made with more than 10 whiskeys, all aged for at least 9 years. Somewhat surprisingly, it’s an excellent pour, and shows the brand can create bourbons with some finesse just as well as it does fiery rye bombs.

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Woodfoord Reserve Batch Proof 2020




Last year’s was the second release of Woodford’s full strength, annually released bourbon and it earned itself a top 10 ranking in Whisky Advocate’s best of the year. This year’s, IMO at least, is better. Opening a sample flooded my kitchen with the smell of banana pudding and vanilla wafers, and the taste followed through on that promise. Because it’s available in limited quantities and priced at a stout $130 retail, it’s best-suited for Woodford completionists.

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Elijah Craig Barrel Proof (Batch A120)




First of all, I know the image is not Batch A120. Don’t email me about it. Secondly, while I’m aware it’s redundant to say Elijah Craig’s Barrel Proof bottlings are the most underrated bourbons on the shelf, it bears repeating: this is 12-year-old bourbon dumped at full strength that can be had anywhere for about $60 to $70. It has won every award that matters, and 2020’s first batch, A120, will win more. Like Tiger Woods in the early aughts or Lebron James for the last 15 years, its greatness is so regular we’re numbed to it. Buy a bottle and remind yourself.

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Blanton’s Gold Edition




Available summer 2020, Blanton’s Gold isn’t technically new whiskey, but it’s new to most. Blanton’s has a long history overseas and distributes a number of bottles to international markets exclusively. Until this year, Gold was a part of that groups, along with Straight From the Barrel, Special Reserve and others. Gold is aged slightly longer than regular Blanton’s and proofed higher as well. The result is a fattier, deeper bourbon.

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Anyone Who Bakes Needs This Chef-Approved $20 Staple

This is Chef Staples, where professional chefs dish on the gear they couldn’t cook without. This week: Petra Paredez of Petee’s Pie Company.

Pie basically comprises three F’s: flour, fat and fun (or filling). Petra Paredez, head baker and co-owner of New York’s Petee’s Pie Company, has mastered the three F’s. And it seems pie making runs in the Paredez family — her parents own Mom’s Apple Pie Company a trio of if-you-know-you-know pie shops in Virginia.

Since opening her first pie shop in the Lower East Side of New York city in 2014, she also opened Petee’s Cafe in Brooklyn where she serves pies, cocktails and natural wine. Now she wants to share her knowledge of pie making with her loyal New York pie eaters and those who haven’t had a chance to try a slice. In her recently released book Pie for Everyone ($28), Paredez offers up over 80 at-home pie recipes that even amateur bakers can tackle. With sweet pies and savory ones, humble apple fillings to exotic custards, there’s literally a pie for everyone. We caught up with Paredez who shared the kitchen essentials she uses to make some of New York’s best pies — and now you know the tools of the trade.

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OXO Silicone Pastry Mat

“This thing is great because it has multiple uses: it keeps your counter clean as you roll out dough, the handy guide helps you measure as you roll, you use it to transfer delicate dough into a pan without breaking, and it’s oven safe so you can line a baking tray with it to catch drips when the pie filling bubbles over. It’s super easy to clean, too.”

Buy Now: $20

Norpro Silicone Basting Brush

“I always brush the top crust with egg wash before baking. Natural bristle pastry brushes are hard to clean thoroughly and the egg wash can stick to the bristles and make them clump together. This brush is easy to clean and super gentle, which is great for a tender, delicate dough.”

Buy Now: $7

Mrs. Anderson’s Baking Pie Crust Protector Shield

“Pie crust bakes consistently in the commercial convection ovens in my bakery. In a regular home oven, though, the edge crust can cook a lot faster than the rest of the pie. This pie crust shield is perfect for my delicate butter crust because it’s lightweight enough that it won’t crush the edge.:

Buy Now: $13

Ozeri Touch Waterproof Digital Kitchen Scale

“All of my recipes use weight instead of volume to measure ingredients such as flour and fruit. Having a scale that is easy to clean and you don’t have to worry about spilling on is a must.”

Buy Now: $19

Breville Control Grip Hand Blender

“We use massive commercial immersion blenders at Petee’s to make enough filling for, say, 100 pumpkin pies at a time. At home, though, the Breville immersion blender is pretty perfect. It doesn’t take up much space, and it can do many of the same jobs as a stand mixer, food processor and standard blender. I use immersion blenders to make smooth pie fillings (everything from sweet potato to chocolate chess), to whip cream or meringue with the whisk attachment and to make purees.”

Buy Now: $100

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This Chef-Designed Cast-Iron Pan Might Actually Be Perfect

In late June, chef, cookbook writer and television host Matty Matheson teased on his Youtube channel a cast-iron pan he had designed to take you to Frothtown. Just shy of four months after its preview, Matheson Cookware is live and its inaugural product, a lidded 10-inch cast-iron pan, is available to buy now.

Matheson Cookware

The pan, and the Matheson brand in general, is a collaborative effort between Matheson and Castor Design, a Toronto-based design that makes everything from lighting to cookware. The 10-inch cast-iron pan features a black enamel finish that will take on seasoning for years and years. The pan’s distinctive features are an elongated lip by the handle, which makes it easier to baste and stir, and an elongated grippy handle to protect your hand from oil splatter. And the price for a ticket to Frothtown? $200. It’s more expensive than your standard Lodge fare, but it’s comparable to our Just Get This pick for cast iron, Field Company, which is also a really good value.

Matheson Cookware

Matheson Cookware

The first production run of the pans consists of 500 units and costs $250 because it includes an additional cast iron trivet and recipe book. This run is expected to ship out in December 2020, and will likely make it in time before Christmas. If you only want the pan and lid, it’ll cost $200, but will be part of the second production run in 2021.

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This Is One of the Best Coffee Roasters in the US, According to Coffee Experts

For its annual Roaster of the Years competition, coffee trade publication Roast magazine announced Texas-based Greater Goods Coffee Co. as the best micro roaster of 2021.

“It feels amazing and a bit surreal,” Khanh Trang, Greater Goods co-founder and head of cafe, says. “We’re truly honored and humbled to be named alongside such great roasters we look up to.”

The awards, held annually for the last 17 years, gives recognition to the coffee roasters that not only produce exceptionally good coffee, but those that also invest in the community, its employees and the world at large.

To be considered a micro roaster, roasters must produce less than 100,000 pounds of coffee a year; Greater Goods annually roasts about 90,900 pounds of coffee a year. Roast also awarded its best macro roaster of the year award to Washington state-based Tony’s Coffee, which puts out 1.1 million pounds of roasted coffee per year.

Trang and her husband Trey Cobb, who is also head of operations, founded Greater Goods in 2015 to fulfill their dreams of starting a coffee company. The company sources its beans from producers who are aligned with Greater Goods’ mission in providing fair wages and engaging in sustainable practices.

“We love coffee, and we want it to continue to be a part of our daily lives,” Trang says. “But that can only happen if we take good care of our environment, farmers at origin, the product itself, our customers and our community at home. We try to walk the tightrope of just being all googly-eyed in love with coffee and taking our responsibility to it seriously.”

As a SCA Premier Training Campus, Greater Goods also teaches individuals on brewing, roasting and tasting. And since COVID-19 hit, things have been looking different at its cafes. It’s moved in-person learnings mostly to online and its cafe sales aren’t what they used to be. But Trang remains optimistic.

“It’s been an emotional challenge with a lot of ups and downs, but we try to focus on gratitude,” Trang says. “We took a financial hit at the cafes, but we’ve seen growth through our web sales. We’ve managed to keep our doors open — with strict safety protocols — and our team employed, and our customers have been so supportive. There’s a lot to be thankful for.”

Danielle Chloe Potts

For now, Greater Goods will continue to put out great coffee, and Trang hopes more people will “nerdy about coffee with us.” Those outside of the Texas area can shop Greater Goods coffee online. If you’re indecisive about what to buy, get Halo Beriti or Pick-Me Up – two of the coffees that got them awarded Roasts’ micro roaster of the year.

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Building a Kitchen Setup From Scratch? Start Here

Cooking is a fundamental life skill. You can’t be relying on takeout and other people’s cooking for the rest of your life. Especially since more people have start making meals at home since the coronavirus pandemic, sales of cookware, especially cookware sets, have soared. For those looking to get in on the fun, these are all of the things you need to buy to get breakfast, lunch and dinner on the table every day. And even if you’re already well-stocked on cookware essentials, there are some upgrades in here for you, too.

Cookware Sets

Cookware is such a huge industry that a number of celebrities have slapped their name on pots and pans and made bank. In theory, cookware sets are great. They contain everything you need — from varying sizes of pots and pans — and each piece is built nearly the same for consistency of use. Then again, some sets don’t let you customize exactly what you want or need. Luckily there are a few good sets out there if you’re really not looking to get into the nitty gritty of shopping for pots and pans.

The Budget Pick: Calphalon Simply Pots and Pans Set

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When it comes to cookware, keep in mind that lids count as a “piece.” So this 10-piecee Calphalon set is really four lids, three pots, two pans and a skillet — and frankly, that’s more than enough to whip up an amazing meal. Calphalon has a reputation for being a high-performing, yet affordable, cookware brand that can hold its own among the heavy hitters. Its Simply collection is made of hard-anodized aluminum that’s as durable as it is nice. Plus, each piece can withstand temperatures up to 400° so they go from stovetop to oven without a problem.

Buy Now: $180

The Value Play: Equal Parts The Cookware Set

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Simply put, when your cookware looks nice, you’re more likely to use it. Equal Parts’ original selling point was giving those who bought their cookware access to the Text-a-Chef program, which granted them access to instant help from cooking coaches. It turned out most people already had a fairly good grasp on cooking, so the brand went about changing its cookware in response to reader feed back. Now, the non-stick, Teflon-free, line of pots and pans are better than before. They have a chip-resistant interior, ergonomic handles, smoothed-out edges, streamlined lids, and yes, they look really good.

Buy Now: $325

The Best: All-Clad Copper Core

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All-Clad is the Holy Grail of stainless steel cookware. The brand did invent cladded cookware in 1967, which means metals are layered to give optimal stovetop performance (i.e. fewer heat spots, even heating, screaming hot temperatures). The Copper Core line takes things to another level because of the aforementioned copper core. The use of copper takes the regular stainless steel to another level. Expect faster heating, even better temperature control and exceptionally even heating. You don’t need to be a Michelin-starred chef to own this line, but you do need a fairly big wallet.

Buy Now: $1,000

Pans

You could get away with owning one pan. Whether it’s stainless steel, non-stick or cast iron, you can make do with whatever pan you decide to buy. Here are three that’ll work as hard as you do.

The Budget Pick: Made In 10″ Frying Pan

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Made In is to cookware what Everlane is to clothing. The brand might not say it outright, but Made In is basically a direct response to the exuberant price of All-Clad pieces. Thanks to its direct-to-consumer model, Made In’s prices are much more approachable than the legacy cookware company, but its pieces operate pretty much identically. There are even cheaper stainless steel skillets, but few come close to Made In’s.

Buy Now: $75

The Value Play: All-Clad 10″ Skillet

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At one point, we would’ve said get an All-Clad skillet over Made In if you care more about brand names than anything else. Now that Made In has reached nearly the same notoriety as All-Clad, it’s hard to make the same argument. But if you absolutely need to get a pan that says “All-Clad” on it, then feel free to spend the extra money on it. The brand’s been around for over half a century, and no single company will ever bring down its legendary status.

Buy Now: $100

The Best: Our Place Always Pan

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The Always Pan is less of a pan and more of an all-in-one cooking tool. The 10-inch pan has a domed lid, nesting steam basket and a detachable wooden spoon. If you need to sauté, sear, steam, boil, fry or braise, you can do it with this. At $145, it’s not expensive per se, but when you take into account how many pieces of cookware it replaces, it’s a pretty good deal.

Buy Now: $145

Pots

If you’re only going to buy one pot, go big or go home. It’ll make it annoying to cook a box of pasta, but you’ll never be scrambling to find something big enough to make soup.

The Budget Pick: Cuisinart Stock Pot

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This classic-looking pot clocks in at a cool $60. It has an aluminum base to help with even heat distribution while the stainless steel interior gives the pot its rust-resistance. The rim is tapered so you don’t wind up with have your food dripping down the side of the pot.

Buy Now: $60

The Value Play: Great Jones Big Deal

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Great Jones’ fully clad pot is like All-Clad but at a significantly lower price. It also differentiates itself with its sleek and ergonomic handles. The etched-in measurements are a smart touch for those who don’t have any measuring cups (or if you just want less to clean). Plus, there’s a cool kid rep that comes with Great Jones and that has to be worth something.

Buy Now: $95

The Best: Le Creuset Dutch Oven

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Each product category has its stalwart brand and product. For Dutch ovens, it’s Le Creuset. These weighty pots aren’t typically an everyday piece of cookware, but they’ll work for pretty much everything. Because it’s so heavy, Dutch ovens retain their heat for a long time, and the enameled cast iron makes sure things get super hot. You may recognize Le Creuset’s Dutch oven as the go-to for braises and stews, but it performs just as well at boiling water for pasta or getting a pot of rice going.

Buy Now: $400

Cooking Utensils

It’s hard to determine what is true necessity when it comes to cooking utensils. Spatulas are a definite must, but everything else kinds a little fuzzy. Do you need a whisk? Some variation of a spoon? At the end of the day, it’s up to you and what you want to cook.

The Budget Pick: Equal Parts The Utensils Set

Equal Parts

At about $13 a piece, this is a true essential kit for cooking utensils. A lay-flat design is meant for easy stow away in drawers (but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a utensil holder), and they’re all dishwasher safe for an easier, faster cleanup.

Buy Now: $59

The Value Play: Oxo Good Grips 15-Piece Everyday Kitchen Utensil Set

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Everything Oxo makes focuses on intuitive designs and high-quality materials. This 15-piece set — 14 utensils and a holder — has everything you need and a couple things you might want in the future. We highly doubt someone just starting a kitchen setup might need a pizza slicer, but hey, it’s there if you need it.

Buy Now: $100

The Best: Material The Icons

Material

These really are iconic cooking utensils. From a slotted spatula to a timeless wooden spoon, Material has you covered so you aren’t scrambling for a tool you don’t have. The additional knives nix the need to buy separate blades, so for $245, this is probably a better deal than you’d expect. Plus, everything is housed in a sleek and slim container because looks are just as important as functional.

Buy Now: $245

Cutting Board

Wooden cutting boards are a classic. Nowadays, cutting boards come in all sorts of shapes and materials, but we find ourselves turning to the humble wooden cutting board more often than not. And we think you should, too.

The Budget Pick: Farberware Hardwood Cutting Board

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For $20 you get a decent hardwood board with a grooved perimeter, so liquids stay on the board and not on the counter. Reviewers note that the board will show signs of wear, but with such a low price tag, you won’t feel so bad about tossing this when it’s cut to death.

Buy Now: $20

The Value Play: Five Two Bamboo Cutting Board

Food52

If you want to make a cutting board that works well for the masses, then reach out to the masses. Five Two, the in-house brand of food blog Food52, makes some pretty good, millennial-appealing kitchenware for their matching budgets, and it reaches out to its audience to get feedback for what they look for in cookware. For the cutting board, it meant a juice groove, a pour spout and a phone holder — so you can follow a recipe or FaceTime your friends.

Buy Now: $59

The Best: John Boos Block BBQBD

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John Boos has been around since 1887, and it’s because the cutting boards are just so damn good. Made in the US, this Boos Block is made of sustainably sourced maple that’s been found to be one of the more durable materials for a cutting board. The board even has naturally occurring bacteria-killing enzymes. Take proper care of this board, preferably with some Boos Oil, and this board will take care of you.

Buy Now: $78

Chef’s Knife

There is no perfect kitchen knife, but there are some pretty great ones out there. A chef’s knife is the first knife you should buy, and it’ll tackle anything from dicing vegetables to carving a chicken. It won’t excel at any one task, but it can successfully navigate whatever ordeal you put it through.

The Budget Pick: Victorinox Fibrox Pro Chef’s Knife

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Hands down, Fibrox makes the some of the best affordable knives on the market. They work really well as in they stay sharp for a long time and they’re not a pain to use. It may chip sooner than you’d like, but then it’s just time to upgrade to the mid-tier pick.

Buy Now: $35

The Value Play: Tojiro DP Gyuto

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Welcome to the world of Japanese knives. The Tojiro combines the style of German knives with the capabilities of its Japanese counterparts. It’s a full tang knife, so expertly balancer, and comes with a stainless steel handle that’s easy to care for but still maintains its sharp-as-hell edge.

Buy Now: $85

The Best: Mac Professional Hollow Edge Knife

Amazon

There are Mac knives, and then there are Mac Pro knives. With a 25-year warranty, the hollow edge is expected to last a long time. It has a high carbon stainless steel blade so it’s sharp and dangerous without being prone to rust and corrosion. The dimpled metal takes cues from santoku knives so wet food doesn’t get stuck as you’re chopping.

Buy Now: $175

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This New Spirit Will Shake Your Allegiance To Whiskey

Courtesy of Mount Gay Rum

Imagine a spirit — it’s oaky and distinct with notes of cherry, dried fruit, prune and almond on the palette and a rich caramel appearance. If you’re like us, you’re probably picturing some form of whiskey, but Trudiann Branker, Mount Gay’s Master Blender, is looking to change that perception. The spirit we just described is not whiskey — it’s rum. Her latest work, and her second edition in the limited series, the Mount Gay Master Blender Collection: The Port Cask Expression, is aimed at appealing to whiskey drinkers with a genre-bending expression that stays true to Mount Gay’s roots while simultaneously pushing the distillery in new directions.

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Courtesy Mount Gay Rum

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The Master Blender Collection: The Port Cask Expression is an incredibly unique limited-edition spirit, which celebrates over 300 years of expertise, as well as innovation at Mount Gay. To craft it, Branker blended a selection of different rums distilled at the Mount Gay Distillery in Barbados — including a traditional column still rum aged for 5 years in Tawny Port casks and a rum double-distilled in a copper pot still before being aged for 14 years in American whiskey casks and finished in Tawny Port casks. The result is nothing short of eye opening, with notes of vanilla, caramel and almond on the nose, and cherry, dried fruit, oak, prune and almond on the palate. The best part? What you get in the glass is exactly as Branker intended — no additives for color or flavor and bottled at cask strength (55% ABV).

To learn more about the work Branker does for Mount Gay, what The Port Cask Expression aims to achieve and how a sipping rum can convert whiskey drinkers, we sat down with Branker to share a glass and have our minds opened.

How did the Master Blender Collection: Port Cask Expression come about?

Trudiann Branker: “The Master Blender Collection showcases innovation, so I wanted to create something unique, while staying true to brand heritage. I wanted to create something unique, while staying true to brand heritage. It was going through barrels that are new, that are different, and then taking those and coming up with something that’s so complimentary to rum that you’re like — ‘Wow, great idea. Let’s have this marriage happen.’ I selected Tawny Port casks, which we don’t usually work with, for their bold expression of notes. And that’s what really happened for Port Cask — that’s how it came about. For me it was really having the experience be about rum first and port after, but being very recognizable about what that finish really is.”

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Courtesy of Mount Gay Rum

Buy Now: $175

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What’s the biggest challenge in trying to change the stigma of rum, and trying to get people to see rum as a sipping spirit?

TB: “I think the biggest challenge is that everyone is not transparent. There are some producers that are, I will say that — but there are too many who aren’t. I’m not saying there is anything wrong with that [mass produced] model, but it’s really not aiding us in being able to elevate the category. For me the only way that’s going to happen is through transparency, education and more conversations happening.”

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What’s the most rewarding part of your job?

TB: “The most rewarding part of my job, I would have to say is when distillers and the people in the distillery come up to me and say, ‘This is a great one. We’re going to do amazing things.’ It’s that support, because it really is a team effort. It’s great liquid, but there’s so much more that goes into it than that. And for me, it’s really about doing them proud.”

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