We Asked 15 Bartenders: What’s the Best Whiskey for Beginners? (2026)

Getting into whiskey usually requires a gentle approach. We may have a friend who kicked off their journey with a bottle of Laphroaig 10 and immediately appreciated its pronounced smoke and Band-Aid notes, but these intrepid souls are an anomaly. It takes time and experience for most folks to develop an appreciation for whiskeys with funky, aggressive profiles. It also requires trying delicious expressions of bourbon, rye, and other whiskey subcategories. Deliciousness is the prime mover here — starting a whiskey journey with a couple bottles of crummy juice will likely lead to a short excursion. The article We Asked 15 Bartenders: What’s the Best Whiskey for Beginners? (2026) appeared first on VinePair.