BEST OF CATEGORY SPIRITS 2026
Our judges determined, through careful tasting, that these exemplary spirits outperform the other spirits of a similar type. They represent the achtype of their style.
Coffee Liqueur
Coffee Liqueur10
Torr Distilling & Brewing
Cachaça
WiBA! BrancaAlambique
Ouro Fino Ltda
Citrus Liqueur
Ixchel Botanical Dry Curacao
As Above So Below
Flavored Bourbon
Blackland Texas Pecan Brown Sugar Bourbon
Blackland Distillery
Non-Potable Bitters
5-Spice Orange Bitters
Bluegrass Bitters
Mixers, Syrup
Smoky Simple Syrup
Bluegrass Bitters
Overproof Rum
Distiller's Reserve Rum
Circle Hook Distilling
Aged Rum from Fresh Cane Juice
Agricole-Style Rum
Circle Hook Distilling
Eau de Vie
Clear Creek Pear Brandy
Clear Creek Distillery
VodkaZemzicki
Polish Family Vodka
Commerce Brewing
Carbonated Vodka Ready to Drink
Cutwater Vodka Mule
Cutwater
Tequila Extra Añejo
Cutwater Tequila Extra Añejo
Cutwater
Tequila Añejo
Cutwater Tequila Añejo
Cutwater
Rice Spirit
Ruou De Cali Premium
Dao Distillery
Herbal Liqueur
Vidisha's Masala
Dismal Harmony Distilling
Classic Gin
Nouveau Gin
Distillery of Modern Art
Aquavit
Batch 22 American Aquavit
Downtime Cocktails, Inc.
Bourbon No Age Statement
TX Straight Bourbon
Firestone & Roberston Distilling Co.
Mezcal, Other Varietal
Grulani Mezcal Mexicano
Grulani
Contemporary Gin from a Grain Base
Bluecoat American Dry Gin
Heaven Hill Distillery
Mezcal,
EspadinMezcal Vago Espadin Joel Barriga
Heaven Hill Distillery
Wheated Bourbon
Larceny Barrel Proof C925
Heaven Hill Distillery
Wheat Whiskey
Bernheim Original Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey
Heaven Hill Distillery
Cask-strength Rye Whiskey
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Rye A925
Heaven Hill Distillery
Cask-strength Bourbon
K.LUKE Batch 15 Barrel Strength Bourbon
K.LUKE Whiskey Company
Absinthe
Death in the Afternoon Absinthe
Key West Trading Company
Grape Brandy
Cognac Ferrand Double Cask Reserve
Maison Ferrand
Fruit Liqueur
Pineau de Charentes Blanc
Maison Ferrand
Amaro
Barrel Rested Eno Amaro
Murrell’s Row Spirits
Signature Botanical Gin
Tulsi Gin
Murrell’s Row Spirits
Carbonated Tequila Ready to Drink NOËL Louisiana Strawberry & Satsuma Margarita RTD Cocktail
NOËL Spirits
Contemporary Gin from a Fruit Base
Gin Orion
Pegasus Distillerie
Vodka from Grain
Poetry Vodka
Poetry Spirits AG
Bourbon Bottled in Bond
Tumblin' Dice 11 Year Old Bottled in Bond Bourbon
Proof and Wood
Cask-finished Rye Whiskey
Tumblin' Dice Rye Finished in Laird's Apple Brandy
Proof and Wood
Rhum Agricole
Rhum Clement VO
Rhum Clement
Rye Whiskey
Sagamore Whiskey 10-Year-Old Straight Rye Whiskey
Sagamore Whiskey
No and Low Alcohol Elixir
Joy’s Island Spice Sorrel Hibiscus Elixir
Spring Street Producers, LLC
Apple Brandy
Single Barrel Estate Bottled-in-Bond Apple Brandy
Starlight Distillery
Cask-finished bourbon
Japanese Mizunara Reserve Bourbon Whiskey
Starlight Distillery
American Single Malt
Starlight Distillery American Single Malt Whiskey
Starlight Distillery
Unaged Rum from Cane Juice
Belle Rose Cane Juice 2024
Sugarfield Spirits
Bourbon, 6-10 YO
Low Gap Straight Bourbon, Old Fussbudget 8 Years Old
Tamar Distillery, Inc.
Ready to Serve Cocktail
Fluid Dynamics 1850 Cocktail
Tamar Distillery, Inc.
Single Malt Scotch Whisky
The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old
The Balvenie
Tequila Reposado
Casa Obsidiana Reposado
Tierra de Agaves
Still Agave Cocktail
Tip Top Proper Cocktails Naked & Famous
Tip Top Proper Cocktails
Still Rum Cocktail
Tip Top Proper Cocktails Mai Tai
Tip Top Proper Cocktails
Still Vodka Cocktail
Tip Top Proper Cocktails Espresso Martini
Tip Top Proper Cocktails
Tequila Blanco
Folcklore Jalisciense
Union Distillery