Do you know the difference between a whiskey sour and a whiskey neat? Probably not. Now, let’s say that some real differences do exist between both those kinds of drink – but we assume you had never tried any of them before. Our point is that the number of cocktailing recipes is endless, which is particularly true when it comes to whiskies. You’re lucky, though, because today we have to teach you something about 15 top-shelf liquors every gentleman must try at least once.
There are many types of fine liquor out there, but only a few can be considered the best. Aside from their great taste, they also have a sophisticated pedigree. Brandy is a distilled drink that is made by distilling wine or fruit. When the fruit used to produce brandies comes from high-quality grapes, the liquor is given a superior flavor and aroma. This article will discuss the top 15 brands of finest liquors, which every gentleman must try at least once in his lifetime. Whether you are into alcohol or not, these liquors will cater to every person’s taste buds, that’s for sure!
15. Ketel One
Manufacturer: | Nolet Distillery |
Type: | Vodka |
Country Of Origin: | Schiedam, The Netherlands |
Variants: | Regular, Citron, Oranje |
Introduced: | 1983 |
Ketel One Shelf is one of the top-shelf liquor brands where you only need to put it on a shelf. You don’t need to chill it, mix it, drink it with ice or use blenders. It is a simple and strong cocktail for people who like strong drinks. This is regarded as one of the finest vodkas in the world. Ketel One is a happy medium between the uber-premium end of the shelf and your ever-popular vodka brands that you can buy for less than $15. A top-shelf liquor brand that doesn’t bust your budget is a rare delight in the distilled spirit aisle and always makes your next social gathering with friends and family more enjoyable.
14. Bombay Sapphire
Manufacturer: | Bombay Spirits Co., Ltd. |
Type: | Gin |
Country Of Origin: | England |
Variants: | – |
Introduced: | 1986 |
Bombay Sapphire is defined as one of the best liquors that are luxurious too. It is a brand that has been creating and marketing premium liquors for many years now. This dedication to the crafting of fine drinks has given Bombay Sapphire five different liquor awards. This liquor was recently named ‘Best Liquor Bottle Design’ at the International Wine & Spirit Competition in London. The Bombay Sapphire lifestyle is elegance and refinement, and each unique bottle evokes the same level of glamour and exclusivity that accompanies every glass. This award-winning liquor has stood the taste test of time, perfecting the art of the cocktail. Whether you are a novice or veteran mixologist, Bombay Sapphire is your best choice for premium liquors.
13. Gentleman Jack
Manufacturer: | Jack Daniel’s |
Type: | Whisky |
Country Of Origin: | U.S. |
Variants: | Double mellowing’ |
Introduced: | 1988 |
The Gentleman Jack Shelf Liquor is the most desired globally and ranked on our premium liquors list. Gentleman Jack Shelf Liquor has been around for ages and is one of the best-selling liquor brands in the world. This premium whiskey is distilled by Heaven Hill and has won multiple awards. Many people enjoy alcohol. A good drink can be the contrast between a decent night and one that you’ll remember for years. If quality drinks are what you go for, Gentleman Jack is guaranteed to excite your taste buds. It offers you everything from classic regional cocktails crafted by hand with their authentic American Whiskey to delicious barrel-aged rums and tequilas hand-selected by some of the best distillers in the country.
12. Glenlivet
Manufacturer: | The Glenlivet distillery |
Type: | Single Malt Scotch whisky |
Country Of Origin: | Scotland |
Variants: | Founder’s Reserve, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 21, 25 year old |
Introduced: | 1824 |
Our next one of the best liquors is Glenlivet. Few things in life compare to the pleasure of whisking back a glass of truly fine liquor. Whether you’re lounging back with friends or drinking alone, there’s something truly indulgent about enjoying a glass of fine Glenlivet Shelf Liquor. The term “shelf liquor” is typically used to describe alcohol in a fancy bottle. This means it looks cheap from the outside, but once you taste it, you’ll be impressed by how tasty and smooth it is. Whether or not you are a lover of Scotch Whiskey, Glenlivet is an excellent choice, to begin with when venturing into the world of world-class Whiskey for your first time. It is a lot smoother. With only 10% alcohol, it gets you relaxed without losing your composure. It’s amazing what a little bit of alcohol can do while reducing unwanted stress.
11. Macallan
Manufacturer: | The Macallan distillery |
Type: | Single-malt Scotch |
Country Of Origin: | Scotland |
Variants: | Core range, Travel retail exclusives, Limited releases |
Introduced: | 1824 |
Coming to our next top-shelf liquor brand, it is none but Macallan. When it comes to Whiskey, you will find that several bottles are highly sought after. Some have caused people to rush to stores and others to become violent. But a Macallan shelf liquor is a whisky with a deep amber color, and it is aged in sherry oak casks. The color is usually a cloudy hue of rich, golden browns and darker hues of reddish browns – this all depends on how long the whisky has been aged. You may think that all whiskies have that pale coloring to them. This is not true. Whisky coloring comes all from the oak casks that they are aged in. Well, this liquor is manufactured and distributed by a reputable parent company, Edrington. This company has been in operation for a very long time.
10. Johnnie Walker
Manufacturer: | Diageo |
Type: | Scotch whisky |
Country Of Origin: | Scotland |
Variants: | Johnnie Walker Red Label, Johnnie Walker Black Label, Double Black, Johnnie Walker Swing, Green Label & Green Label 180 Cask, Gold Label Reserve, Platinum Label, Blue Label |
Introduced: | 1865: Whisky blending,1820: Grocery store |
It’s a known fact that Johnnie Walker Shelf Liquor is a favorite drink of many people. That’s why we ranked them on our premium liquors list. The smooth taste of Johnnie Walker Shelf Liquor goes down so well, regardless of how you like it, whether on the rocks, neat, or with water. This makes it very obvious for you to do everything with it, even drink it in the first place. It’s really up to you, though. If you are attending for a source for Johnnie Walker Shelf Liquor, be sure to check out The Whisky Exchange, which offers you some very good options when it comes to buying this great liquor brand. It is smooth, carefully crafted whiskies blended with caramel and maple sugar from the US to create an entirely new blend unlike any other. This liquor maintains and enhances its exceptional complexity while adding richness and flavor that Johnnie Walker fans will love.
9. Maker’s Mark
Manufacturer: | Beam Suntory |
Type: | Bourbon whiskey |
Country Of Origin: | U.S. |
Variants: | Limited edition collector’s sets |
Introduced: | 1958 |
Now, our next Top Shelf Booze is Maker’s Mark. This Shelf Liquor was created to provide individuals with the widest selection of Maker’s Mark Bourbon, including Maker’s 46, Maker’s Cask Strength, and other hard-to-find bottlings. Maker’s is a fine bourbon whiskey. It is aged to perfection until the taste reaches its peak, and only the makers of this fine liquor know how old it is. No one knows how long it takes to get to the top shelf in a liquor store or what it goes through to get there. People who love Maker’s Mark probably do not desire new varieties so much as they yearn for a way to extend the pleasure of their favorite Whiskey into longer stretches between bottles. The Maker’s Mark Shelf Collection was created to do exactly that. The collection includes Maker’s 46, Maker’s Mark Cask Strength, and now Maker’s Mark Private Select.
8. Belvedere
Manufacturer: | Polmos Żyrardów |
Type: | Vodka |
Country Of Origin: | Poland |
Variants: | Lemon Tea, Mango Passion, Bloody Mary, Black Raspberry, Orange, Citrus, Pink Grapefruit, and Ginger Zest. |
Introduced: | 1993 |
Belvedere shelf is a premium vodka that has come a long way during its production and service to get ranked on our premium liquors list. Belvedere Vodka has brands of other variants, namely Belvedere Peach, Belvedere Citrus, and Belvedere Cranberry. It also has a special collection that is very rare globally, including Belvedere Moet Imperial, Belvedere Napa Valley, and Belvedere Pure. Belvedere Vodka is an Ultra-Premium vodka brand made from European winter wheat using a continuous distillation process. The current Belvedere bottle and packaging was designed in 2001 by Christian Schwartz, who also redesigned Absolut Vodka’s bottle. The brand positioning and marketing campaign are also very impressive.
7. Ciroc
Manufacturer: | Diageo |
Type: | Vodka |
Country Of Origin: | France |
Variants: | French Vanilla (Beige),Snap Frost (Blue),Red Berry (Red),Amaretto (Brown),Black Raspberry (black) [Limited],White Grape (gold),Summer Watermelon (red) |
Introduced: | 2003 |
If you’re a vodka fan, you might be familiar with Ciroc; the brand refers to itself as “ultra-premium super-premium vodka.” But do people use the word Cîroc and if so, how often? We used Google Trends to find out the search volume for “Ciroc vodka” and “Ciroc Shelf liquor” in the United States for this experiment. In addition to looking at search volume for these phrases over time, we also looked at their relative popularity compared to other brands. So, we ranked it on our list of top-shelf liquors. Ciroc Shelf Liquor is a strong and citrus vodka that has a nice spicy taste to it. It’s great for mixed drinks or on the rocks. The bottle is sleek and stylish, and the branding is nice. This top-shelf liquor brand is perfect for people who prefer highballs and mixers (such as soda) over shots.
6. Woodford Reserve
Manufacturer: | Brown-Forman |
Type: | Bourbon Whiskey |
Country Of Origin: | U.S. |
Variants: | Straight bourbon whiskey |
Introduced: | 1996 |
If you’re looking for top-shelf liquor at the best prices anywhere, make sure to check out the top-shelf booze named Woodford Reserve Shelf. The company has some of the top-shelf liquor at a very reasonable price, and they deliver it directly to your home as well. So if you abide in the area, we would recommend checking them out. Woodford Reserve is one of the most popular shelf liquor on the market. It is produced in Kentucky, and this brand is unique. It was founded by a club of friends that wanted to create a premium brand of bourbon. It was named after a popular thoroughbred horse from Kentucky.
5. Don Julio
Manufacturer: | Diageo Brands |
Type: | Premium tequila |
Country Of Origin: | Mexico |
Variants: | Don Julio Blanco, Reposado, Añejo, 70 Añejo, 1942 Añejo, Real Extra Añejo |
Introduced: | 1942 |
We always liked the simple yet elegant design of a Don Julio tequila bottle. It was a tequila bottle that caught our attention every time we went to the liquor store. The Don Julio shelf liquor is a tequila that has it all: price, appearance, and taste. This tequila will bring you back to an old memory of yours- the childhood memory of sipping lemon juice while eating calamari. This is one of the top-shelf drinks brands distilled with agave nectar and made in Mexico. It is a multifaceted product that can be used for sipping and or mixing into different cocktails. Making it involves fermentation, where the enzymes break down the carbohydrates to produce alcohol that gives it the unique taste compared to other brands.
4. Hennessy
Manufacturer: | Jas Hennessy & Co. |
Type: | Brandy |
Country Of Origin: | France |
Variants: | Classic, Pure White, Black, Ellipse, Richard Hennessy, James Hennessy, Master Blender’s selection, X.X.O |
Introduced: | 1765 |
Hennessy Shelf Liquor is a new brand of liquor being introduced in the United States. The company, Hennessy, has been around since 1765 and originates from France. It’s one of the most purchased liquors globally and one of the top-shelf alcohol. For you who don’t know, Hennessy is a brand of cognac widely distributed around the world. The Hennessy family has been making cognac for at least 250 years now, so it’s safe to say they recognize a thing or two about making good cognac. Hennessy is going after the liquor cabinets of every guy in America, with a new line it says is designed for mixing cocktails.
3. Crown Royal
Manufacturer: | Diageo |
Type: | Canadian whisky |
Country Of Origin: | Canada |
Variants: | Limited Edition, Deluxe, Special Reserve, Honey, Salted Caramel, XO, XR, Northern Harvest Rye, Black, Maple, Regal Apple, Vanilla, Peach |
Introduced: | 1939 |
Crown Royal Shelf Liquor is a very effective component, which can ensure you certainly have excellent personalizing of your Crown Royal Shelf Liquor! These bottles might be expected to be found on a shelf somewhere, but they are unique and special with their clear bottles and their royal branding. Apart from the milk jug, it is probably one of the most obvious examples of a brand being used creatively for packaging. Although there are so many brands available on the market today, Crown Royal Shelf Liquor is one of the top-shelf drinks and best-selling liquor brands in the world to date. If you’ve grown up in a drinking family, you have probably tried this brand at least once.
2. Grey Goose
Manufacturer: | Bacardi |
Type: | Vodka |
Country Of Origin: | France |
Variants: | L’Orange, La Poire, Cherry Noir, Le Citron, Le Melon |
Introduced: | 1997 |
Now coming to our next top-shelf alcohol, Grey Goose Vodka is world-renowned for its taste. First launched in France in 1998, it soon became an internationally recognized drink. It’s created from French wheat and polished underground spring water drawn from beneath the roots of the Château de la Martiniere vineyard. Mention the words “Grey Goose,” and a sense of luxury, class, or status is likely to come to mind. Some might even salivate or develop a craving for the flavored vodka brand. Still distilled from French wheat, Grey Goose is made using ancient techniques. This premium vodka livened up by hints of anise and citrus, giving you a smooth drink that doesn’t get boring.
1. Patron
Manufacturer: | Bacardi (The Patrón Spirits Company) |
Type: | Premium tequila |
Country Of Origin: | Mexico |
Variants: | Gran Platinum, XO Cafe, Anejo, Burdeos, Citronge, XO Cafe Dark Cocoam, Reposado, Silver |
Introduced: | 1989 |
Our leading brand on the list of top-shelf liquors is Patron. If you’re looking for a high-quality tequila, you have to try the Patrón Shelf Liquor. The company has a reputation for its expert production, and it shows this particular elixir. Many other top brands incorporate Patrón’s methods into their production to achieve success. The shelf liquor has been around since 1989, and the unique flavor and taste are still unmatched. You can get the perfect balance between spicy and fruity without being overwhelming or watered down from pepper or citrus. It’s made from regional terroir in Jalisco, Mexico, which yields an opulent agave aroma that complements every sip. Patron Anejo is a shelf liquor that can be served well chilled, or you can keep it at room temperature.
Conclusion!
Top shelf liquor makes for a great cocktail, but it’s not just for your favorite cocktail. Their complex flavors can be enjoyed alone, the way they are meant to be. These 15 top-shelf liquors every gentleman must try at least once. Some people believe that it takes years to acquire the taste of the best Shelf liquors globally, but that does not have to be true. If you know one or two tips and tricks along the way, then you will enjoy tasting your favorite drink.