It’s that time again: Fred Minnick will taste his favorite American whiskeys of 2024 and rank them in his annual Top 100 American Whiskeys.

The Fred Minnick Top 100 taste-off takes place Friday, Dec. 27, at 8 p.m. at YouTube (see below), with Fred tasting all 100 whiskeys and slowly whittling the list of contenders to just a few heavy-hitters.

The 2023 Top 100 was led by this Top 10:

1: Buffalo Trace Prohibition: Old Stagg, 132.4 Proof, $1,000

2: Larceny C923, 126.4 Proof, $60.00

3: Larceny A123, 125.8 Proof, $59.00

4: Nashville Barrel Company Cask Batch, 123.7 Proof, $75.00

5: Nelson Bros. 15 Year Rye, 108.4 Proof, $300.00

6: Barrell Batch 35,  117.5 proof, $85.00

7: Woodford Reserve Batch Proof, 124.7 proof, $130.00

8: Stagg Jr. 22A, 132.2 Proof, $70.00

9: Elijah Craig C923, 133 Proof, $70.00

10: 291 All Rye, 132.6 Proof, $115.00

Fred Minnick Top 100 Criteria / How They Will Be Chosen

• Tasted by me between November 2022 and November 2023.
• Blind Bourbon winners receive automatic bids into Top 100.
• High Scores and Best in Show from ASCOTs and Marzipan Club whiskeys earn automatic bids.
• Must have at least 500 bottles. (Eliminates single barrels)
• The whiskey excites me.