Exceptional Whiskeys You Can Actually Buy at Walmart

As global interest in premium whiskey soars, even big box giant Walmart has stepped up its liquor offerings. Despite its bargain-basement reputation, Walmart now sells some shockingly good whiskeys as consumer demand grows.

In 2021 alone, combined global sales of bourbon, Tennessee whiskey, and rye topped $5.23 billion, rising over 10% from the year before according to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. Walmart has taken notice, licensing liquor sales in a growing number of states and devoting more store real estate to quality spirits like whiskey.

So don‘t sleep on Walmart‘s whiskey selection! As a whiskey enthusiast who‘s tried my share of budget bottles and premium brands, I was stunned by some legitimately impressive whiskies I recently discovered browsing my local Walmart liquor aisle.

Here are my picks for the top 5 exceptional whiskeys you can buy for a steal from Walmart right now based on flavor, quality, and value:

1. Legent – The Standout Splurge Bourbon

While you may associate Costco more than Walmart with luxury spirits, new offering Legent Bourbon shattered my expectations of what I could find on Walmart shelves.

Created through a collaboration of whiskey legends, Legent‘s flavor profile is simply sublime. It combines Kentucky straight bourbon aged for 5 years with added California wine cask-aged bourbon and Japanese whisky aged in ex-sherry casks. Tasting Legent reveals an incredibly complex array of flavors ranging from sweet maple syrup to fruitcake spices and charred oak – truly exquisite! Though it comes with a premium price tag even at Walmart, Legent more than holds its own against bourbons costing $80+ elsewhere. If you have money to splurge on one special bottle, this should be it.

• Proof: 94
• Age: Blend of 5 to 13 year old whiskies
• Awards: Double Gold Medal – San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2022

Price: $59 for 750ml

2. Old Forester 1910 – Double Gold Winning Bourbon

For a high-quality sipping bourbon I was delighted to find at Walmart, Old Forester 1910 stands out. Made using the same process since 1870 by founding family members, Old Forester bourbons focus intensely on crafting flavor. 1910 is double barreled, first aged in deeply-charred barrels then finished in lightly-toasted barrels for added complexity. Sweet maple and rich coffee flavors mingle with candied fruit notes followed by a lingering spice. Sourced from Walmart instead of a liquor store, 1910 still impressed whiskey reviewers enough to win two back-to-back Double Gold medals.

• Proof: 93
• Age: Blend of 4 to 12 year old whiskies
• Awards:
  • Double Gold Medal – San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2021 and 2022

Price: $54 for 750ml

3. The Irishman Founder‘s Reserve – Irish Whiskey Landmark

Irish whiskey fans should be excited to discover premium, award-winning The Irishman Founder’s Reserve gracing Walmart liquor aisles. This complex blended Irish whiskey launched one of Ireland’s most beloved distilleries back in 1999. Today, it still earns high praises from whiskey experts. Both approachable and richly flavorful, tasting notes include apple, vanilla, and toasted wood from aging in ex-bourbon casks, then sherry-seasoned casks. I suggest sipping this velvety Irish whiskey slowly to fully savor the well-balanced depth.

• Proof: 80
• Age: Blend of 7 to 10 year old whiskeys
• Awards:
  • Chairman’s Trophy – Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2022
  • Gold Medal – Irish Whiskey Awards 2021

Price: $29 for 1 liter

4. Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel – Bourbon Innovation Standout

Heaven Hill distillery has made history as an innovator of new flavors in bourbon. Case in point – Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel. After aging in a new charred oak barrels, this bourbon finishes for 3 months in specially-made toasted barrels at very low heat. This revolutionary process gives it incredible notes of graham cracker, praline, oak, and smoke. Critics praise this 2022 release for being daringly unique yet pleasantly flavored. It brought home gold medals in its debut year. At just $30, EC Toasted Barrel gifts bold innovation at a bargain.

• Proof: 94
• Age: 12 years
• Awards:
  • Double Gold Medal – New York World Wine and Spirits Competition 2022
  • Gold Medal – Ascot Awards 2022

Price: $30

5. Uncle Nearest 1856 – The Easy Drinking Whiskey

For a smooth and dangerously drinkable whiskey, I‘m impressed by luxury brand Uncle Nearest 1856. This newcomer revived the lost process behind the world‘s first Tennessee Whiskey from over a century ago. Today it earns raves as "the best-tasting American Whiskey. Period" from enthusiasts. Uncle Nearest 1856 glides over the palate with remarkable mellowness considering its 100 proof punch. The complexity of flavors like vanilla bean, cornbread, and fruitcake keep me coming back for more sip after velvety sip. If you want an easy-to-love whiskey, this is it.

• Proof: 100
• Age: Blend of 4 to 14 year old whiskies
• Awards:
  • Best Bourbon – World Whiskies Awards 2022
  • World‘s Top Tennessee Whiskey – World Whiskies Awards 2022

Price: $59 for 750ml

|| Proof | Age | Key Awards | Price |
|—|—|—|—|—|
| Legent | 94 | Blend, up to 13 years | Double Gold Medal – San Francisco Spirits Awards 2022 | $59 for 750ml
| Old Forester 1910 | 93 | Blend, up to 12 years | Double Gold Medal – SF Spirits Competition 2021 & 2022 | $54 for 750ml
| The Irishman Founder‘s Reserve | 80 | Blend, 7-10 years | Chairman‘s Trophy – Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2022 | $29 for 1 liter
| Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel | 94 | 12 years | Double Gold Medal – New York Wine & Spirits Competition 2022 | $30 for 750ml
| Uncle Nearest 1856 | 100 | Blend, 4-14 years | Best Bourbon – World Whiskies Awards 2022 | $59 for 750ml

While I didn‘t expect Walmart‘s liquor selection to compete head-to-head with specialty retailers, consider me thoroughly impressed by these award-winning standout whiskeys offered at my local Walmart store. The flavors and quality rival bottles priced exponentially higher elsewhere.

If you don‘t have access to a well-stocked liquor store or a whiskey bar offering hundreds of labels, don‘t fret. Walmart‘s got you covered with shockingly impressive spirits like these excellent and affordable whiskeys to discover.

So next time you‘re stocking up on party snacks or home goods at Walmart, make sure to peruse the aisles for exceptional and affordable whiskeys too! You might just find a new favorite.

My Scoring

| Uncle Nearest 1856 | 92/100 |
| Old Forester 1910 | 90/100 |
| The Irishman Founder‘s Reserve | 88/100 |
| Legent | 94/100 |
| Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel | 87/100 |