We all love the Top 5, 10, and 100 lists. The legendary David Letterman was known for the crazy top 10 lists he presented on his show, and every musician dreams of having a song reach the Billboard Top 100 list. Distilleries, Wineries, and Cigar blenders get excited when one of their creations ends up on a Top list from their fans and publications. 

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However, every list can be subjective to the author’s taste or preference. Does the author like Ryes? Do they prefer old-world wines over new-world wines? When it comes to the world of whiskies, how does their profile differ from yours? As you read my Top 5 American Whiskies, you will likely ask yourself these questions.

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In creating this list, I looked back to the whiskies I had tried throughout the year and which ones left a memory. I then went back to revisit several different whiskies. Was that memory worth revisiting, looking for overall balance in the profile, and most importantly, was this a whisky that I found worthy of wanting to share with my friends? Ultimately, I had to narrow the list down to five whiskies. This was challenging. I eliminated some excellent expressions, such as Blue Run Golden Rye, Larceny Barrel Proof Batch B-251, and Jack Daniels Single Barrel Select. Once I had my selections narrowed down to the following five, I returned to the memories, sat down with each of them individually, shared them with my friends, and began taking notes on the expressions themselves. 

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So, as I sit here with a dram poured, putting the finishing touches on this article, I present my top five American Whiskies for 2022.