Ray Isle (@islewine on Twitter) is Food & Wine's executive wine editor. We trust his every cork pop and decant – and the man can sniff out a bargain to boot. Take it away, Ray.

Not too long ago, on a dark day for Scotsmen everywhere, workers at the Chivas Brothers distillery in Dumbarton, Scotland, inadvertently flushed about 6,000 gallons of whisky into the plant’s wastewater system. For Scotch lovers with a pessimistic cast of mind, this event immediately brings to mind the possibility of a worldwide whisky shortage, with riots in the streets, hoodlums setting fire to trash cans and feeble cries of “Please, help me, just a wee dram…” from one-time high-living single malt fanatics now reduced to drinking Natty Light from cans.

For less apocalyptically minded folks, the loss of several thousand gallons of high-end whisky is merely a fine excuse for pouring oneself a drop of the good stuff. Raise a glass in honor of their loss, and whatnot. Conveniently, several good whiskies of various sorts have recently hit the market; here are a few highlights.

Johnnie Walker Double Black ($40)
This intensified version of the classic Johnnie Walker Black was a limited release back in 2011, but proved popular enough that the JW folks brought it back nationwide this past November. It accentuates the Black’s familiar smoke and peat characteristics by increasing the percentage of island whiskies in the blend.

Highland Park Loki ($249)
Last year, Highland Park released its Norse mythology-inspired Thor whisky, and this year it’s Loki. Next up is Freia, though my hope is for one called Ragnarok, which would burst into flames when you opened it, then re-create itself. (This might possibly be beyond the skills of the Highland Park master distiller, talented fellow that he is, but who knows?) Loki, while not remotely cheap, is mighty good: 15 years old, aged in a combination of sherry casks and heavily peated casks, with smoky-citrus-spice notes and 48.7% alcohol. But if Highland Park’s Norse-god whiskies are too expensive, the distillery’s 12 year old is also a superb single malt and costs only $50. Though it doesn’t come with a bizarre wooden Norse-box-frame-object around it, which might be a deal breaker - if you’re into that sort of thing.

Beyond those two, there’s also been a recent influx of Japanese single malt whiskies, which, contrary to one’s possible expectations, are really very good. The Nikka Taketsuru Pure Malt ($69, imported by the folks at Anchor Brewing, oddly enough) is a round, generous whisky with a silky texture, very good indeed. Then there’s the Hakushu 12 Year Old ($60) from Suntory: powerful, peaty, smoky but balanced as well. Plus, it comes in a green bottle. Japanese whisky for St. Patrick’s Day? Oh, why the heck not.

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