Fred took to YouTube on Wednesday night to recap the best whiskeys he tasted in Q3 of 2020, a year that most would agree could use all the good whiskey it can get.

Here’s a rundown by category of what he especially liked, and bear in mind some of them may have been released earlier, but he didn’t have access to them until the third quarter.

American Single Malt:

Westland Distillery Garryana Edition 5. He didn’t do a tasting video on it, but said, “It was so complex, so spicy, so beautiful I just had to put it in.”

Rye:

Buffalo Trace Antique Collection Sazerac 18 Year Old. Fared well in his BTAC competition and also fared very well in a blind taste-off of rye whiskeys.

Rabbit Hole Founders Collection Rye. “On the buttery and sweeter side.”

Barrel Finished:

Spirits of French Lick Unpretentious. High rye bourbon finished in port wine casks. A 2020 favorite of Fred’s.

Yellowstone Straight Bourbon Finished in Armagnac Casks. A seven-year bourbon finished for six months in armagnac.

Others:

George Remus Repeal Reserve Batch 4. “I thought this was just absolutely gorgeous. … The best Remus I’ve had.”

Barrell Bourbon Batch 25. Best since Batch 11?

Old Forester 150th Anniversary. Batches 1 and 2 both in the running.

William Larue Weller. Another contender from BTAC. “It is phenomenal,” Fred said. “Best Weller since 2018.”

Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch. “I daresay this one is the best I have tasted out of the portfolio since the Al Young.” (Al Young Edition made Fred’s Best Bourbons of the Century list.