And just like that, another year is over. How we got to the year 2023 we’ll never know. It feels like a far-off futuristic year from an over-the-top sci-fi movie if you ask us. Regardless, that’s the year the calendar will turn to when all the epic, bright, ear-shatteringly-loud fireworks explode over the Sydney Harbour Bridge as December turns to January. A ton of things happened in 2022. And while we could spend days writing about all of the FIFA World Cup and all of the historical events that transpired, we’re more concerned with the potent potables that made an impact on us in 2022. If you didn’t gather it already, we’re going to talk about the drinks (specifically, alcohol-based drinks, one non-alcoholic drink, and even an alcohol-related storage device) that we couldn’t get enough of this year.
This is an all-encompassing list as well. We didn’t just make a list of our favourite single malt whiskies, our favourite lagers, or even our most coveted wines of the year. We picked and chose some of each and used this to craft this epic list of our twelve top drink releases of 2022. Keep scrolling to see all of these boozy gems. Use this list, seek them out and give each one a try. You’ll be really happy you did.
Best Drinks Releases of 2022
Our list of the best drinks releases of 2022 includes the following.
- Best Overall: Yamazaki Limited Edition Tsukuriwake Selection
- Best Australian Whisky: Starward Vitalis
- Best Scotch: The GlenDronach 50 Year Old
- Best Wine: Penfolds 2022 Collection
Table of contents
- Best Drinks Releases of 2022
- 1. Yamazaki Limited Edition Tsukuriwake Selection
- 2. The GlenDronach 50 Year Old
- 3. Penfolds 2022 Collection
- 4. The Macallan M Single Malt Scotch Whisky
- 5. Heaps Normal Another Lager
- 6. Man Of Many x Westward Limited-Edition Single Barrel Whiskey
- 7. Mumm Cordon Rouge Stellar
- 8. Starward Vitalis
- 9. Daniel Ricciardo DR3 x St Hugo
- 10. Lark Legacy Cask 20-Year Aged Single Malt
- 11. RIMOWA One Bottle Case
- 12. Talisker 44-Year-Old ‘Forests of the Deep’
- How Man of Many Chose the Best Drinks Releases of 2022
- General FAQs
Now we’ve rounded up our favourites, let’s check out the full list.
1. Yamazaki Limited Edition Tsukuriwake Selection
While there’s no wrong time to get into Japanese whisky, 2022 was an exceptionally great year. The 2022 Yamazaki Tsukuriwake Selection Limited Edition collection is made up of four different single malts. Puncheon, Peated Malt, Spanish Oak, and Mizunara. The Puncheon is our favourite. This expression is a blend of single malts that were matured in American oak puncheons. The result is a highly complex, balanced single malt whisky with notes of candy apples, honey, vanilla, caramel, and oak. It’s a truly elegant slow sipping whisky.
Brand: Yamazaki
Release: Limited Edition Tsukuriwake Selection
Type: Japanese whisky
Price: AUD$2,800
2. The GlenDronach 50 Year Old
We understand that a fifty-year-old single malt Scotch whisky is probably out of most drinkers’ price range. This doesn’t change the fact that this is one of the most sublime, delicate whiskies released this year and one to seek out if you have quite a bit of extra cash laying around. If you know anything about GlenDronach, it’s likely the distillery’s affinity for aging its whisky in ex-sherry casks. Of course, its 50-Year-Old is no different. Matured for at least fifty years in rare Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks before being married together and finished in a single Pedro Ximénez cask, this wildly limited edition expression (only 198 bottles available) is well-known for its flavour profile of pipe tobacco, dried cherries, ripe plums, dark chocolate, and coffee.
Brand: The GlenDronach
Release: Aged 50-Years
Type: Scotch whisky
Region: Highland
Alcohol Volume: 43.8%
Age: 50 Year Old
3. Penfolds 2022 Collection
Instead of simply picking one outstanding wine from Penfolds, we decided to pay tribute to its whole 2022 Collection. This memorable collection is a true collaboration between iconic wine regions: Australia and California. Of the collection, one of the most exciting is Bin 149 Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, a blend of South Australian and Napa Valley (California) grapes. Known for its high tannins, dark fruits, and bold oak, it’s a bottle of wine worth splurging for. If that one isn’t for you, there are myriad other bottles to choose from in this memorable collection of wines.
Brand: Penfolds
Release: 2022 Collection
Type: Wine
4. The Macallan M Single Malt Scotch Whisky
If you’re a fan of The Macallan (or single malt Scotch whisky in general), you probably eagerly await new, exciting releases of The Macallan M. The 2022 limited-edition expression was aged in ex-sherry casks between twenty-five and seventy-five years. It’s bottled in hand-made Lalique crystal decanters and carries a bold, rich flavour palate of butterscotch, dried cherries, cocoa, toasted vanilla beans candied orange peels, rich leather, and wintry spices. The finish is sweet, rich, and effortlessly warming. There’s a reason this expression sells for thousands of dollars.
Brand: The Macallan
Release: Aged 50-Years
Type: Scotch whisky
Region: Highland
Alcohol Volume: 43.8%
Age: 50 Year Old
5. Heaps Normal Another Lager
This lager might carry the name “Another Lager”, but it’s definitely not just another lager. That’s because Heaps Normal Another Lager is a non-alcoholic lager. And this crisp, easy-drinking lager proves that the days of fizzy, yellow, flavorless watery non-alcoholic beers are long gone. The palate is bright and refreshing with citrus zest, sweet malts, and floral, earthy herbal hops on the finish. Overall, it’s a surprisingly drinkable alternative to drinking regular alcohol-filled lagers.
Brand: Heaps Normal
Release: Another Lager
Type: Beer
Region: Australia
Alcohol Volume: 0%
6. Man Of Many x Westward Limited-Edition Single Barrel Whiskey
If you didn’t know it already, this year Man of Many collaborated with well-known Portland, Oregon-based Westward Whiskey to create a limited edition whiskey that was made up of barrels selected specifically by Man of Many co-founders Scott Purcell and Frank Arthur. This limited release expression was limited to only 300 bottles and carries a bold, complex flavour profile of malted barley, butterscotch, chocolate, coffee beans, and almond cookies. It’s a truly unique whiskey and one you should try if you get a chance.
Brand: Westward Whiskey
Type: American whiskey
Region: Oregon
Alcohol Volume: 50%
Price: AUD$175
7. Mumm Cordon Rouge Stellar
2022 was a great year for unique experiences. One that we truly enjoyed was Mumm Cordon Rouge Stellar. This French Champagne got its out-of-this-world name because it’s “the first champagne bottle and tasting experience designed for space travel and human spaceflight”. Yes, you read that right. Designer Octave de Gaulle created a bottle that was wrapped in aeronautical-grade aluminum to guarantee a fresh bottle even if you somehow get snatched up by a passing spaceship. While the bottle itself is unique, the wine inside is just as noteworthy. This blend of Mumm Cordon Rouge is made up mostly of Pinot Noir grapes from the 2016 harvest.
Brand: Mumm
Release: Cordon Rogue Stellar
Type: Champagne
Region: France
Alcohol Volume: 12%
8. Starward Vitalis
Starward Whisky celebrated its 15th anniversary this year with the release of Starward Vitalis. This 52 percent ABV single malt whisky is a limited-edition expression made up of a blend of six different hand-picked whiskies. It’s known for its rich, indulgent flavour profile of coffee, dried fruits, chocolate fudge, dried orange peels, caramel, and oaky wood. It’s an exceptional expression that’s worth seeking out. It’s bold, high-in ABV, and is best enjoyed neat with a few drops of water to open it up a bit.
Brand: Starward Whisky
Release: Vitalis
Type: Australian whisky
Region: Victoria
9. Daniel Ricciardo DR3 x St Hugo
This limited-edition wine from St Hugo is a collaboration with Australian Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo. This is the second release of the DR3 x St Hugo wine collection. This isn’t simply a celebrity-endorsed wine. Ricciardo actually worked with St Hugo Chief Winemaker Peter Munro to blend the DR3 South Australian Shiraz 2020. One of two wines in this release (the is DR3 x ST HUGO COONAWARRA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2018), it’s known for floral and berry aroma and a palate of ripe blackberries and plums.
Brand: St Hugo
Release: Daniel Ricciardo DR3
Type: Wine
Region: Adelaide
10. Lark Legacy Cask 20-Year Aged Single Malt
Created to pay homage to Bill Lark’s thirty years as a master distiller, Lark Legacy Cask 20 is a complex, and well-balanced whisky. First, it was matured for fifteen years in French oak before being moved to first-fill bourbon casks for another five years. This results in a rich, sipping whisky with hints of dried fruits, toasted vanilla beans, orange peels, cherries, oak, and caramel. To add to the appeal, each bottle is signed and numbered by Bill Lark himself. Give him some respect and sip his legacy neat on a cool summer evening.
Brand: Lark Distilling Co.
Release: Legacy
Type: Australian whisky
Region: Tasmania
Alcohol Volume: 65.8%
Age: 20 Year Old
11. RIMOWA One Bottle Case
If you’ve ever had a bottle of wine or whisky that was so important to you that you wanted it protected by more than simply wrapping a t-shirt around it in your luggage, the RIMOWA One Bottle Case is for you. This is like the Fort Knox of bottle cases. This German-made, anodized grooved aluminum case has foam cushioning inside it and room for one very special bottle. On top that that, it wasn’t simply designed to keep your beloved bottle safe, it will also keep it insulated and cool for hours while you travel. Sleek, rugged, and perfect for travel.
Brand: RIMOWA
Release: One Bottle Case
Price: AUD$2,445
12. Talisker 44-Year-Old ‘Forests of the Deep’
Single malt Scotch whisky drinkers know all about the appeal of the Isle of Skye-based distillery Talisker. It makes myriad award-winning, noteworthy whiskies. This year, however, it went above and beyond with its release of Talisker 44-Year-Old ‘Forests of the Deep’. Its name is a reference to the sea kelp forests below the surface and it was matured for more than forty years before finishing in marina oak barrels. The result is a complex, flavourful whisky with notes of salted caramel, vanilla, candied orange peels, oak, and gentle smoke.
Brand: Talisker
Release: 44-Year-Old ‘Forests of the Deep’
Type: Scotch whisky
Region: Isle of Skye
Alcohol Volume: 49.1%
Age: 44 Year Old
How Man of Many Chose the Best Drinks Releases of 2022
To arrive at this list of products, the Man of Many team went through hours and rigorous testing, implementation and analysis before culling it down to the very best. Over the last 12 months, we’ve worked on curated products that push boundaries and pioneer new fronts, across the automotive, fashion, lifestyle and technology verticals. Sure, we love getting the latest piece of kit in our hands, but being able to point out the benefits and shortfalls objectively is at the heart of what we do.
As a result, the Top 100 Products is primarily comprised of products that we tested in-house and use extensively first-hand. While there are a few exceptions to the rule, generally due to scarcity and availability, we made note of the cultural significance surrounding each product should we not have been able to review it personally.
General FAQs
In a year when so many single malt Scotch whiskies were released, it’s difficult to select just one. While you can’t go wrong with some of the over-the-top long-aged expressions, we think one of the best releases (besides the aforementioned GlenDronach 50) of 2022 was Loch Lomond 14. This award-winning single malt whisky is known for its mix of dried fruit, caramel, and oak.
This is even more difficult than picking the best Scotch of the year. 2022 gave us so many great wines we’d feel bad picking just one. If you twisted our arm, we’d say Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame Brut 2015 because we’re partial to the sparkling, fruity, light acidity of this well-made champagne.
