One of the most popular scotch whiskeys is Jameson. In most bars ordering a top shelf whiskey will get you a glass of Jameson. It is very smooth and agreeable so it’s hard not to like. Keep a bottle in your liquor cabinet and even the pickiest drinker will enjoy it.

Another standard is Johnny Walker red or black label. Johnny walker is one of the best known whiskeys in American and one of the best sellers worldwide. It is a bit more tart and flavorful then Jameson but still had broad appear. It’s great for sipping or for cocktails. At just $25 a bottle, Red Label is a great value.

With a bounty of fresh spring flavors about to hit the produce department of your local supermarket now is a good time to start thinking about making infused whiskey.

Infusion become popular a few years ago but was mainly applied to vodka and gin. Increasingly people are making infused whiskeys, bourbons, and single malt scotches. Many people infuse scotch whiskey with fruits. Two popular choices are fig or peach infused whiskey. Infusing whiskey with fruit is easy and usually entails letting cut up pieces of the fruit soak in whiskey for 3 to 4 days. For strong flavors like vanilla bean or cinnamon only 1 to 2 days are necessary. Another popular choice is infusing whiskey with herbs like mint. Mint infused whiskey is great for mint juleps. Since mint is not a strong flavor most people would suggest soaking the mint in the whiskey for 3 – 4 weeks. You can also create mint syrup and add that to whiskey.

Don’t think that your only infusion options are sweet, however. Bacon infused whiskey has become extremely popular in the past few years. Some people will put bacon bits in whiskey while other recipes call for mixing a bit of bacon grease into whiskey and scooping it off the top when it re-congeals. Look online for a host of infusion recipes.

For $1,699 you can enjoy some of the finest single malt scotches ever to grace the earth. I am talking about the Glenlivet Cellar Collection Year 1964. This aged selection from Glenlivet is sweet, floral, and has a smooth, oaky finish. It is lively and changes as you sip it. $1,699 may seem like a lot but you can share it with a few friends and treat yourselves to single malt scotch of extremely high quality. You earned it.

For something a bit darker and warmer, not to mention cheaper, go with the Glendronach 33 Year Old for $420. This will be a real treat for fans of heavy, full bodies, robust whiskeys. It has a strong taste that is equal parts fruit and spice. This whiskey is warm, soothing and filling.

These are only two of the fancier whiskeys out there. Don’t be afraid to treat yourself every now and then. Remember you can defray the cost by splitting the bottle with fellow whiskey enthusiast.

The most widely available Canadian whiskey is Canadian Club. It is something of a standard barer when it comes to Canadian whiskey. It is light, smooth, and a bit smoky. It has a less grainy taste than most other whiskeys. Canadian Club is good for cocktails because its taste does not overpower that of other ingredients; and under $20 a bottle is a good deal.

Crown Royal is a Canadian scotch whiskey that has a bit more body and is designed to be sipped. It is exceptionally smooth and has a bit less bite than other scotch whiskey brands. For a Canadian scotch whiskey with a stronger flavor, try the Crown Royal Special Reserve, Black, or Cask varieties. The Black and Cask especially have a smooth Canadian flavor but are substantive enough for sipping.

Pendleton and McAdams are also popular Canadian brands that fall on the cheaper end of the cost spectrum. If you like Crown Royal and Canadian Club, make sure to give them a try.

At just around $20 Kellan Irish Whiskey is a great deal. Aged in bourbon casks Kellan has a very woody taste and lingers on the palate. Unlike other woody whiskeys, however, Kellan’s flavor is not too strong or overpowering. This makes it ideal for sipping but less ideal for cocktail making. For something with a soft taste and a fruitier flavor try the McAdams Canadian Whiskey also $20.

For $15 you can enjoy the Grant’s Blended Scotch Whiskey. For $15 you get a sweet and Smokey blend of 50 single malts and grains. This scotch whiskey is caramel in color and in finish. It has been popular since its inception in 1968 due mainly to the fact it is an incredible value and great for sipping and cocktail making.

For an affordable and spicy blend pick up McIvor Classic. This off the beaten path whiskey can be hard to find so ordering it online is a good idea. Don’t let the lack of availability fool you however, it taste great.

Honey whiskey is obviously sweeter than regular whiskey but also has far less bite. Its alcohol content is usually a bit less (usually around 35% ABV to the standard 40% of most hard alcohols) which you could attribute to the lesser bite. Although many of the products marketed as honey scotch whiskey are technically honey liquors, they are marketed as whiskey or sometimes called whiskey liquor because of the similarities in taste and production process. These should not be confused with scotch whiskey blends that add honey during the fermentation process or for flavoring.

These new honey concoctions are popular for people enjoying the warming weather. Are they a trend or a lasting development on the whiskey scene? Only time will tell.

A great single malt scotch for our early spring is the Sheep Dip Single Malt Blended Whiskey. This whiskey is described as “fresh but sweet.” Sounds like an ideal spring day to me. What could be better than marrying a fresh but sweet spring day with an equally fresh but sweet whiskey? Nothing.

For something a bit richer and more floral, I would go with the Speyburn 10 year old. Although it is a bit heavier it has a gentle body and floral nose, making it ideal for pollen heavy, sweet, spring air. Nothing goes with a gulp of Speyburn blended scotch whiskey like a deep inhalation of fresh spring air.

Now that spring is here you are also going to make different whiskey cocktails. Next time you go to pour a whiskey and water, try adding a splash of rose water. It goes great with rye.

Rye is typically spicier, dryer, and lighter than traditional single malt scotch or bourbon.  It can be used in almost any traditional whiskey drink like a whiskey sour, old fashioned, or Manhattan. Many people who don’t like their liquor too sweet will choose rye over other whiskey.

With spring fast approaching you will want to stock up one rye. Drinking whiskey when it’s hot out can make you feel full, sluggish, and bloated. Rye has a bit more bite to keep you lucid during those warm spring days. It also is a lot lighter, making it perfect for spring.

The rye trend doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon. Rye whiskey is being served at more bars and more distillers than ever are producing rye whiskey. You should try some; you will probably like it. Even if you don’t you will understand what all the fuss is about.

One excellent beer and scotch whiskey combination is Ardbeg 10 Year Old and any sort of red beer or amber stout. Since red beer is a bit on the sweeter side and Ardbeg is bit more savory, the two play well off each other. Ardbeg also is not as filling as some of the heavier single malt scotch whiskey in the market so you can have it with a few beers and not feel bloated.

If you want a truly light and fresh whiskey beer combo, I would suggest trying a wheat beer with BenRiach 12 Year Old. Wheat beer is not often paired with whiskey because it is so light, but with an equally ephemeral whiskey it can be very good. Some people find the combination of sweet whiskey and sweet beer a bit much, so you may want to find a dryer wheat beer, or a dryer whiskey.

If the world does go on, single malt scotch whiskey will be a valuable commodity. Remember that whiskey is made of grain so when all the farms on earth are destroyed, making whiskey will become impossible. Alcohol will also be prized for is antiseptic and medicinal qualities.

Now, some of you may be thinking “If the world doesn’t end, boy will my face be red.” That may be the case but your stash of whiskey isn’t going to decrease in value. You can just sip your stockpile of whiskey until the next predicted apocalypse, which I believe is set for 2020. See you then!