The Top 100 Most Sought-After Whiskeys in 2022

It’s one of the fastest-growing commodities on the planet, with American Whiskey sales rising more than 10% in 2022. The U.S. saw volume across all spirits rise approximately 5% last year, indicating a heightened market appetite for premium bourbon and rye whiskey, an appetite that shows no sign of slowing in 2023. The largest distilleries continued to dominate in 2022, tightening their hold over the U.S. market. What’s perhaps most interesting about whiskey trends in 2022 is that collectors and connoisseurs of bourbon and rye whiskey didn’t just seek out the newest releases of the year but rather continued to search en masse for highly collectible, coveted archive releases. So what were the most searched-for whiskeys of 2022? Let's take a dive into some of the data:

Most popular whiskeys in the U.S based on search volume representation 2022

Kentucky Bourbon dominates again in 2022

Looking at 12 months of data based on search volume*, the most sought-after whiskeys of 2022 were predominantly Kentucky straight bourbon whiskeys made by a select handful of distillers. The familiar household names of Buffalo Trace’s brand portfolio, think Weller, Taylor, Eagle Rare, and particularly Blanton’s and Pappy Van Winkle, were prominent, alongside Wild Turkey, Elijah Craig and Michter’s. Pretty much what we'd expect, right? Interestingly, the most sought-after single brand of whiskey in 2022 (based on the number of individual entries) was actually Jack Daniel’s, with the Tennessee distiller accounting for 11% of the Top 100 most sought-after whiskeys. Let's take a look at the full list breakdown in order of most searched bourbon:

1. Blanton's The Original Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
2. George T. Stagg Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky, USA
3. Eagle Rare 10 Year Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
4. Buffalo Trace Distillery Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky, USA
5. W. L. Weller 12 Year Old Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey, USA
6. Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky, USA
7. Old Rip Van Winkle 'Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve' 23 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
8. William Larue Weller Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
9. Stagg JR Barrel Proof Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky, USA
10. W. L. Weller Special Reserve Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey, USA
11. Old Rip Van Winkle 'Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve' 15 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
12. Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
13. Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade 10 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
14. Jack Daniel's Gold Medal Series Tennessee Whiskey Vintage, Tennessee, USA
15. W. L. Weller 'Old Weller Antique 107' Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey, USA
16. Old Rip Van Winkle 'Van Winkle Special Reserve Lot B' 12 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
17. Jack Daniel's Black Label Old No.7 Brand Sour Mash Whiskey, Tennessee, USA
18. Colonel E.H. Taylor Barrel Proof Uncut & Unfiltered Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
19. W. L. Weller Full Proof Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey, USA
20. Blanton's Gold Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
21. Old Forester 'Birthday Bourbon' Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
22. Eagle Rare 17 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
23. Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Sour Mash Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky, USA
24. Old Rip Van Winkle 'Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve' 20 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
25. Wild Turkey Russell's Reserve 13 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
26. Michter's 20 Years Old Limited Release-Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky, USA
27. Colonel E.H. Taylor Single Barrel Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky, USA
28. Angel's Envy Cask Strength Port Wine Barrel Finish Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky, USA
29. Henry McKenna Single Barrel 10 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky, USA
30. Buffalo Trace Distillery O.F.C. Old Fashioned Copper Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky, USA
31. Booker's True Barrel Small Batch Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky, USA
32. W. L. Weller Single Barrel Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky, USA
33. Knob Creek Small Batch Limited Edition 18 Year Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky, USA
34. Willett Family Estate Bottled Single-Barrel 9 Year Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky, USA
35. Blanton's Straight From The Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
36. Elijah Craig 18 Year Old Single Barrel Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky, USA
37. Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond 17 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky, USA
38. Michter's 10 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey, USA
39. Eagle Rare 'Double Eagle Very Rare' 20 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
40. Maker's Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky, USA
41. Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky, USA
42. Elijah Craig Small Batch Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
43. Willett Family Estate Bottled Single-Barrel 8 Year Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky, USA
44. Jim Beam Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
45. Jack Daniel's Holiday Select Vintage Limited Edition Whiskey, Tennessee, USA
46. Four Roses 'Private Selection' Single Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
47. Jack Daniel's Bottled in Bonded 100 Proof Sour Mash Whiskey, Tennessee, USA
48. Basil Hayden's Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
49. Bomberger's Declaration Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
50. Rock Hill Farms Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
51. Jos. A. Magnus & Co. 'Joseph Magnus' Cigar Blend Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Washington DC, USA
52. Jack Daniel's Sinatra Select Tennessee Whiskey, Tennessee, USA
53. Jack Daniel's No. 27 Gold Double Barreled Tennessee Whiskey, Tennessee, USA
54. Heaven Hill Distilleries Heritage Collection 17 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
55. John E. Fitzgerald Larceny Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Very Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey, USA
56. Michter's US-1 Limited Release Toasted Barrel Finish Bourbon Whiskey, USA
57. Willett Pot Still Reserve Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky, USA
58. Maker's Mark Wood Finishing Series Limited Release Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky, USA
59. Jack Daniel's 'Gentleman Jack' Rare Double Mellowed Tennessee Whiskey, Tennessee, USA
60. Yellowstone Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
61. Blanton's Special Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
62. George Remus Repeal Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Indiana, USA
63. Lucky Seven 'The Propietor' Single Barrel 14 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
64. Old Rip Van Winkle 25 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
65. Hancocks Presidents Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky, USA
66. Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby Edition Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
67. Blood Oath Pact No. 8 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
68. Old Forester Single Barrel Barrel Strength Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky, USA
69. Widow Jane Decadence Straight Bourbon Whiskey, New York, USA
70. Jack Daniel's 'Single Barrel' Select Tennessee Whiskey, Tennessee, USA
71. Booker's Batch 2022-02 The Lumberyard Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
72. Old Fitzgerald Bottled in Bond 11 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky, USA
73. Yellowstone Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
74. George Remus Gatsby Reserve 15 Year Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Indiana, USA
75. Yellowstone Limited Edition 7 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
76. Michter's US-1 Limited Release Toasted Barrel Finish Sour Mash Bourbon Whiskey, USA
77. Old Ezra Brooks 7 Years Old Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
78. Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
79. Four Roses Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
80. Wild Turkey 'Master's Keep' 17 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
81. Willett 8 Year Old Wheated Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky, USA
82. Blanton's 'Black label' Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
83. Jack Daniel's 'Single Barrel' Barrel Strength - Barrel Proof Whiskey, Tennessee, USA
84. Wild Turkey Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
85. Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky, USA
86. Wild Turkey 12 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
87. Knob Creek 12 Year Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky, USA
88. Knob Creek 15 Year Old Straight Bourbon Whisky, Kentucky, USA
89. Woodford Reserve Master's Collection 'Batch Proof' Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
90. Willett Family Estate Bottled Single-Barrel 6 Year Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky, USA
91. Colonel E.H. Taylor Warehouse C Tornado Surviving Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky, USA
92. Hardin's Creek Jacob's Well 184 Months Aged Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
93. Jack Daniel's 10 Year Old Tennessee Whisky, USA
94. A. Smith Bowman Distillery 'John J. Bowman' Pioneer Spirit Single Barrel Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Virginia, USA
95. Elijah Craig 12 Year Old Straight Bourbon Whisky, Kentucky, USA
96. Angel's Envy Port Wine Barrel Finish Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky, USA
97. Jefferson's 'Ocean' Aged at Sea Very Small Batch Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky, USA
98. Wild Turkey Russell's Reserve Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, USA
99. Jack Daniel's Sinatra Century Limited Edition Tennessee Whiskey, Tennessee, USA
100. Knob Creek Small Batch 9 Year Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky, USA

Rising 'craft whiskey' distillers emerge in 2022

While it can be argued that this dataset omits ‘search’ interest pertaining to physical whiskey hunting, and therefore doesn't fully represent the true Top 100 most sought-after whiskeys of 2022, it still has the ability to infer with a high degree of probability what the most likely sought-after whiskeys are in terms of this physical ‘search’ appetite. With this being said, it's interesting to note the emergence of a few names, such as Widow Jane and Lucky Seven that are potentially destabilizing the stronghold that the big distilleries and whiskey producers have over the market.

There's no doubt that the dominance of the big hitters will continue in 2023, but it wouldn't surprise us to see more small players enter the arena, particularly when the supply and shortage of the most sought-after bottles, Blanton's for example, means that access is so limited that enthusiasts begin to seek alternatives.

Which of these highly sought-after bottles did you manage to get your hands on in 2022? Will you be seeking more of the same in 2023, or will you be planning on branching out and exploring alternatives to the hype machine that is Buffalo Trace? Let us know in the comments.

*The dataset and associated list above are based on 2022 search volume in the U.S. accessible from wine-searcher’s public interface.