Collecting whiskey can be a tricky hobby, particularly when it comes to figuring out what bottles are worth hunting down and how much to pay for them. Some of the low-hanging fruit—think Blanton’s, Pappy, or the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection—are already on most people’s radar. And that includes your local retailer, which is sure to be marking these bottles up way past their suggested retail prices. There is so much whiskey out there to choose from, so part of collecting is figuring out how to chart your own course and develop your own blueprint.

This takes time, of course, not to mention browsing experience, but it’s not an impossible task. For me, it starts with ruling out the bottles that most collectors are chasing and determining early on what isn’t right for me (or within my budget). For example, I remember seeing Yamazaki 12 on the shelf for $125 years ago—too rich for my blood then—and now it’s up to $175 (and sometimes more). Bottles like this have achieved a near mythical status where they will forever be the objects of fascination for many collectors, so I've tried to direct my sights elsewhere.

And that’s part of the fun. Collecting should be about finding great bottles at decent prices and, in some cases, getting to them before others do. Which is not to say that all of the bottles on this list will necessarily represent tremendous values or be sleeper finds. Instead, these groupings are meant to help you navigate the new landscape of modern-day whiskey collecting, guideposts to refine your search and bolster your collection. These include special editions from established or rising brands that are available at a relatively low price. And while they may increase in value over time, go ahead and open them on a special occasion (or even a random weeknight)—after all, whiskey is meant to be enjoyed. 

The New Ten-Year-Olds

Westland Garryana 10th Edition/Angel's Envy 10 Year Cask Strength Bourbon

Michter’s 10 Year Rye and Bourbon have both become collectors’ favorites, particularly when the brand held stocks back and opted to let a couple of years lapse between releases. Age isn’t everything in whiskey, of course, but there is a new class of 10-year-olds from unexpected brands and distilleries.

In October, Seattle-based American single malt producer Westland released the 10th edition of its Garryana whiskey, and for the first time it came with a 10-year age statement. Garryana is partially matured in Quercus garryana oak, a species native to the Pacific Northwest, and is meant to highlight the effects of this particular type of wood on the flavor of the whiskey.

Angel’s Envy, meanwhile, has been releasing its limited-edition Cask Strength Bourbon since 2012. In October, the Bacardi-owned brand released a 10-year-old version of this whiskey, marking the first Angel’s Envy release to carry an age statement.

Even if you can’t nab these particular bottles, the standard editions of Westland Garryana and Angel’s Envy Cask Strength are both worth seeking out. At auction, various Garryana releases have gone for between $80 and $110, while Cask Strength usually sells for upwards of $125.  

Key takeaway: Take note as brands reach significant milestones.

What's Old Is New Again

Old Overholt Cask Strength/Old Grand-Dad 16 Year

Suntory Global Spirits and the Jim Beam whiskey team have taken these once-forgotten, historic brands and reframed them with an eye towards more collectible status. Old Overholt and Old Grand-Dad are classic bargain bottles, cost-effective whiskeys that you could stock by the handle—and both are perfect for cocktails and well pours. 

Which makes this turn towards premiumization all the more enticing. In November of 2023, Old Overholt released a 10-year-old cask-strength rye, and has followed that up with 11 and 12-year expressions. These are part of Suntory’s larger effort to revitalize the Old Overholt brand, including an investment in the West Overton Village and Museum which preserves Abraham Overholt’s legacy and contributions to American whiskey. 

Old Grand-Dad, meanwhile, released a 16-year-old bourbon in November 2024. A combination of quality and scarcity make this one a fun and high-impact addition to the brand. While vintage dusties of both of these labels often command very high prices at auctions, these new additions are much more attainable. Old Grand-Dad 16 can often be found for around $200, while Old Overholt Cask Strength is going for under $100 in most cases.  

Key takeaway: Don’t sleep on a brand pivot. 

Wild Cards From Mainstream Favorites

Jack Single Single Barrel Special Release/Macallan Harmony Collection

These well-known brands might seem too normcore for seasoned collectors—or in the case of the Macallan, too expensive—to land on your radar. But that is quickly changing. 

In recent years, Jack Daniel’s has launched a range of new premium products, including a trio of age statements (the first for the distillery in about a century). Concurrently, Jack has been releasing its Single Barrel Special Releases, typically high-proof variants (sometimes even venturing into hazmat territory) like the cult-ish Coy Hill release which debuted in 2021. More recently, Jack moved its Heritage Barrel expression from a special release to part of its core single barrel lineup, proving that the special release collection is a good testing ground for innovation.

Meanwhile, over at Scottish distillery the Macallan, innovation is on display with the brand’s Harmony Collection, which also launched in 2021. The series focuses on evoking specific flavors like coffee, chocolate, and tea through careful cask selection and using different proportions of sherry-seasoned European and American oak. The Harmony Collection can usually be found for about $115 to $150 at auction, while Jack Daniel’s single barrels vary based on the release.

Key takeaway: Popular brands can do more than just crowd please.

A Discontinued Series

Glenmorangie Private Edition/Wild Turkey Master's Keep

From 2009 to 2019, scotch whisky maker Glenmorangie released an annual Private Edition featuring different innovations cooked up by Dr. Bill Lumsden, director of distilling, whiskey creation, and whiskey stocks. These included special cask finishes, the use of different barley varietals, and even the application of wild yeast during the fermentation process. Glenmorangie has since pivoted to its Tale series— while fun and enjoyable, it doesn’t quite hold the luster of the Private Editions, especially with their now throwback labels.

Wild Turkey’s Master’s Keep collection ran from 2015 to 2025, and included some exceptional standouts like Voyage, Unforgotten, and the much celebrated 17-year-old Bottled in Bond. These are going for $300 to $500 at auction, but I think there’s a larger principle here: no series lasts forever, so if you like what a distillery is putting out now, it’s wise to purchase a bottle at the suggested retail price upon release whenever possible.  

Glenmorangie’s Private Editions can be found at a more reasonable cost, usually around $125 to $200. It can be hard to target a discontinued series once it's ended, but it’s not impossible. And with so much variance between releases, it’s always smart to do your research and understand which innovation best fits your palate. Sometimes less popular releases can be easier to find (and more affordable when you do).

Key takeaway: Nothing lasts forever, and rarity only increases with time.

Worldly Collabs

Bardstown x Amrut/Starward x Lagavulin

Given the category’s expense and rarity, these days for most people it doesn’t make sense to chase Japanese whisky. So the next logical question is—what country will be next? In general, I like to collect whiskeys from India, Australia, or England—anywhere that isn’t a major producing country. These world whiskeys are often rare without being extremely expensive. 

If you aren’t sure how to tap into the world whiskey market, a few collaborations between well-known producers have surfaced to help guide you. Bardstown Bourbon Company teamed up with Amrut Distilleries in 2024 to create a blend of bourbon and rye finished in Indian single malt whisky barrels. A year earlier, Islay powerhouse Lagavulin provided barrels to Australia’s Starward distillery, which finished its red-wine-aged single malt in the peated casks for 18 months. 

The Bardstown x Amrut collaboration goes for a minimum of $85 at auction, while the Starward and Lagavulin collab clocks in at around $100.

Key takeaway: Collaboration can unlock exploration, especially on a global stage.