Two whiskeys-make that one whiskey and one whisky-have tied for the top spot in the 2013 Spirit Journal’s World’s Top 120 Spirits. The big winners are Angel’s Envy, the Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (60.5% ABV; $149), and Scotland’s Highland Park 25 Year Old Orkney Islands Single Malt Whisky (48.1% ABV; $250).
This is the first time there’s been a tie at the top of the annual spirits ranking, which was revealed in the June 2013 issue of F. Paul Pacult’s Spirit Journal. In fact, all of the top this year were either Bourbon whiskeys Scotch whiskys except two: #4 Christian Drouin 1992 Pays d’Auge Calvados (France); and # 8 Brugal Papa Andres 2013 Edition Rum (Dominican Republic).
Russell Henry London Dry Gin (USA) is #11, while #12 is Italian grappa Jacopo Poli Sarpa di Poli and #13 is Lysholm Linie Aquavit from Norway. Ron Abuelo Centuria Reserva de la Familia Rum (Panama) is ranked #14 and Jean Fillioux Tres Vieux Tres Vieille Grande Champagne Cognac (France) is #15.
A quarterly publication, The Spirit Journal: The Independent Guide to Distilled Spirits, Beer, and Fortified Wines was established in February 1991 by F. Paul Pacult, a wine, beer and spirits journalist, author, educator, lecturer and consultant. For the full list of the 2013 Spirit Journal’s World’s Top 120 Spirits, visit The Spirit Journal.
