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Whiskies to Drink on the Rocks: 20 Picks
Over a large ice cube, whisky starts crisp and chilled and slowly softens as the ice melts. This page lists the whiskies we recommend on the rocks, starting with those that suit it best.
How to choose and enjoy
Use one large, slow-melting cube and chill the glass first so the drink does not get watery too quickly.
- 1
Black Nikka Deep Blend
ブラックニッカ ディープブレンド
Japan / Blended / NAS / 45%
A richer take on Black Nikka, using malt matured in new casks. Woody oak and vanilla sweetness meld with dense, malty richness.
SweetOn the rocksHighballWith water - 2
Black Nikka Rich Blend
ブラックニッカ リッチブレンド
Japan / Blended / NAS / 40%
A Black Nikka built around sherry-cask malt, married with Nikka's Coffey grain. Fruity, floral aromas and smooth, sweet richness — designed to be enjoyed on the rocks.
SweetOn the rocksHighballWith water - 3
Buffalo Trace
USA / Kentucky / Bourbon / NAS / 45%
The flagship bourbon of a historic Frankfort, Kentucky distillery. Vanilla, caramel and toffee with gentle spice.
SweetOn the rocksNeatCocktails - 4
Chivas Regal 12 Year Old
Scotland / Blended / 12 yrs / 40%
A 12-year-old blended Scotch built around Strathisla and other Speyside malts. Smooth and generous, with honey, ripe apple and vanilla sweetness.
On the rocksHighballNeat - 5
Jameson Black Barrel
Ireland / County Cork / Blended / NAS / 40%
Jameson's richer step up, matured in double-charred bourbon barrels for deep butterscotch, toffee and vanilla.
SweetOn the rocksNeatCocktails - 6
Maker's Mark
USA / Kentucky / Bourbon / NAS / 45%
A softly sweet bourbon made with winter wheat instead of rye. Famous for its red wax-dipped bottle.
SweetOn the rocksHighballCocktails - 7
Nikka From the Barrel
ニッカ フロム・ザ・バレル
Japan / Blended / NAS / 51.4%
Launched in 1985 and known for its square bottle — "a small block of whisky". Rich and mellow thanks to 51.4% ABV and a post-blending marriage in cask.
RichOn the rocksNeatHighball - 8
Slane Irish Whiskey Triple Casked
Ireland / Blended / NAS / 40%
A blend matured in three casks — virgin oak, seasoned American-whiskey casks and oloroso sherry. Layers of caramel, vanilla and raisin.
SweetOn the rocksHighballCocktails - 9
Wild Turkey 8 Year Old
USA / Kentucky / Bourbon / 8 yrs / 50.5%
The 8-year-old, 101-proof bourbon associated with Wild Turkey's legendary master distiller Jimmy Russell. Powerful and rich, with oak, honey and cinnamon.
SpicyRichOn the rocksNeatHighball - 10
Ardmore Legacy
Scotland / Highlands / Single Malt / NAS / 40%
From Ardmore, a rare peated Highland distillery. A mix of peated and unpeated malt — honeyed sweetness with gentle smoke.
HighballOn the rocksNeat - 11
Ballantine's 17 Year Old
Scotland / Blended / 17 yrs / 40%
Ballantine's premium blend of 40+ malts and grains, all aged 17 years or more. Honey and dried fruit with a whisper of smoke.
SweetNeatOn the rocksWith water - 12
Bushmills 10 Year Old Single Malt
Ireland / Northern Ireland / Single Malt / 10 yrs / 40%
A benchmark Irish single malt: triple-distilled malt aged at least 10 years in bourbon and sherry casks. Smooth honey, vanilla and ripe fruit.
FruityNeatOn the rocksHighball - 13
Bushmills Black Bush
Ireland / Blended / NAS / 40%
A rich Irish blend with a very high malt content, matured in oloroso sherry casks. Dried-fruit sweetness and smooth depth.
SweetNeatOn the rocksHighball - 14
Bushmills Original
Ireland / Northern Ireland / Blended / NAS / 40%
The core blend from Northern Ireland's Bushmills Distillery. A high malt content gives fruity sweetness and smoothness in a light style.
HighballOn the rocksCocktails - 15
Chita
知多
Japan / Grain / NAS / 43%
Suntory's single grain whisky from Chita Distillery in Aichi. Light with a gently sweet aroma, it truly blooms in a highball.
HighballOn the rocksWith water - 16
Dewar's White Label
Scotland / Blended / NAS / 40%
A "double-aged" blended Scotch built on Aberfeldy malt, marrying up to 40 whiskies and resting them again in cask. Smooth honey and vanilla.
HighballOn the rocksCocktails - 17
Ichiro's Malt & Grain White Label
イチローズモルト&グレーン ホワイトラベル
Japan / Blended / NAS / 46%
A world blend with Chichibu malt at its heart, combining whiskies from the five great whisky nations. Fresh and elegant — great in a highball.
HighballOn the rocksWith water - 18
Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Year Old
Scotland / Blended / 12 yrs / 40%
The benchmark blended Scotch: around 40 malts and grains from across Scotland, each aged 12 years or more. Smoke, dried fruit and caramel in harmony.
HighballOn the rocksWith water - 19
Johnnie Walker Double Black
Scotland / Blended / NAS / 40%
Built on Black Label with more peaty West Coast and Islay malts, matured in heavily charred casks for a smokier blend.
HighballOn the rocksNeat - 20
Kavalan Classic
Taiwan / Single Malt / NAS / 40%
The flagship single malt from Kavalan in Yilan, Taiwan. Rapid subtropical maturation gives lush tropical fruit, vanilla and coconut.
SweetFruityNeatOn the rocksHighball
Order and flavour profiles are our editorial guide.