The 7 Best White Whiskeys To Try Right Now

The history of Whiskey in America is one filled with bootleggers, gangsters, midnight shootouts, and hotted-up police chases. We’ve all familiarized ourselves with this history, dating back even further to the foundation of this very country where controversy arose surrounding the proposed tax on this American spirit. However, it’s the moonshiners that garner the most recognition these days, not for the quality of this potent corn whiskey but for their resilience and perseverance in an innate American will to succeed.

It’s from here that just a few years ago, distillers around the nation began offering up a legalized version of unaged “white dog” whiskey for legal consumption in bars across America. Though when it comes to seemingly unknown niche products such as white whiskey, curiosity naturally takes hold. In return, we decided to uncover the best white whiskeys out there for grabs. Below are the fruits of that endeavor and we hope after reading you decide to take part in toasting such a uniquely American pastime with a dram of legal ‘shine. Cheers.

What Is White Whiskey?

Although no minimum aging requirement is specified for American whiskey, in order to call something “straight whiskey,” it must spend at least 2 years in an oak barrel. For those that don’t make the cut, distilleries may release them anyway as white whiskey. After all, these batches may have valuable flavors in their own right without the need for aging.

What Is White Dog?

Like white whiskey, white dog is unaged. And while there are no official regulations, distillers typically refer to white dog as whiskey that’s come right off the still (i.e., still-proof), and thus much higher in alcohol than whiskies that have been cut with water (or even aged).

White Whiskey vs. Moonshine

Although white whiskey owes a debt of gratitude towards bootlegged moonshine during Prohibition, it’s now sold legally in the U.S. Modern-day moonshine refers to the whiskey that’s made without regulation, aka, illegally. However, some distillers may slap the name “moonshine” on their bottles for marketing purposes.

What Does White Whiskey Taste Like?

Unlike, say, vodka, where you can’t taste the grains used in production, grain whiskey thrives on the taste yielded by its mashbill makeup. Whether it uses corn, rye, wheat, or barley as its dominant grain or has a nice combination of two or more, white whiskey will showcase the flavors of its mashbill grain(s).

Buffalo Trace White Dog

Best from Kentucky: While most white whiskeys come from lesser-known distilleries, one of the most famous is from the behemoth that is Buffalo Trace. From a Kentucky bourbon maker that continues to bring us a myriad of different blends, their White Dog variant is surprisingly on the sweeter side of things. Flavors such as cream of wheat, vanilla, and almond come through on the nose while the palate boasts a granola and rye profile. Buffalo Trace is known for their smooth distillation and even though this dram is un-aged, it runs smoothly across the palate. Also, it’s bottled at a searing 125-proof, so be forewarned.

Troy & Sons Platinum

Best Appalachian: If there’s one spirit closest associated with the Appalachian, it’s moonshine. Back in the day, the remote geography of the mountains allowed farmers to convert their extra corn into whiskey, tax-free. As for Troy & Sons’ Platinum, it’s the only whiskey in the world made from Crooked Creek Corn, an open-pollinated heirloom white corn. Each batch of T&S is distilled from pure Appalachian spring water to produce an American spirit that pays homage to centuries-old tradition. It’s an 80-proof whiskey that boasts a smooth corn nose and flavor profile while leaving drinkers with that pleasant post-shine heat they’re looking for.

George Dickel White Corn Whiskey

Best from Tennessee: With a name like George Dickel you know this corn whiskey is the real deal. It’s a 90-proof batch that’s been charcoal filtered to reduce that harsh nose that corn whiskeys tend to feature. Utilizing Tennessee’s Lincoln County Process, the requisite charcoal filtering adds a bit of a familiar finish to seasoned vodka drinkers but not to worry, this is whiskey through and through. Additional notes include sweet bread at the forefront and a bit of pepper on the mid-palate.

Greenbar Slow Hand White Whiskey

Best Organic: California has been quietly compiling quite the Rolodex of craft whiskey distillers over the past decade, and Greenbar Distillery is a case in point. From the Los Angeles-based label comes Slow Hand White Whiskey, an all-organic version of the famed white lightening blends that’s been aged only for 10 minutes in oak. Yielding a fruity and nutty profile, the grain bill isn’t made from corn, but a combination of oats, malt, and spelt, offering up a balanced liquor that’s 40% ABV and ideal for spiking up some cocktails or sipping over a couple of cubes of ice. Your choice.

Hudson New York Corn Whiskey

Best Overall: Hudson Whiskey started two decades ago as the very first distillery in the Empire State following Prohibition. Distilled entirely from New York corn, Hudson’s white whiskey follows tradition, with no additional sugar, leaving a clear and soft drinking experience. It’s bottled at 46% ABV before the rest of the batch is aged into Tuthilltown Distillery’s popular Hudson Bay Bourbon. And for those who worry that New York might not produce a whiskey of the same quality as the South, remember that tasting is believing.

Finger Lakes White Pike

Most Intriguing: Finger Lakes Distilling actually won awards for its white whiskey expression upon releasing it over a decade ago. Distilled and bottled in upstate New York using locally-sourced corn, spelt, and malted wheat White Pike is never aged for more than 18 minutes and features a smooth finish that’ll give your cocktail some spine. Even if you have never tried white whiskey, this brand looks to ease those untamed palates into the world of white dog. Spike up a cocktail, pour it over ice, or drink it straight out of the jug like the good old days. Either way, you’ll be celebrating an American pastime.

Jack Daniel’s Unaged Rye Whiskey

Best Rye: Where something labeled as “corn whiskey” must have a mashbill of at least 80% corn, rye whiskey, like bourbon, only has to have 51% of its namesake grain. Jack Daniel’s may be the most mainstream American whiskey in the world but it also has a knack for innovation (and luckily can afford to do so). While its Unaged Rye Whiskey expression may not be as coveted as anything from its Single Barrel series or its recent age-statement whiskeys, it’s nevertheless an important entry into the world of white whiskeys. Not many are made from rye, which gives the liquid a specific spicy profile, complemented here with notes of fruit, honey, and baking spice.

The Complete Guide to Bourbon Styles

If you’re just getting into American whiskey, our complete guide to bourbon styles is an excellent place to start your journey.