The 2024 Rolling Stone Spirits Awards
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It’s been an exciting few years for spirits releases, from craft distilleries experimenting with cask finishes, to additive-free natural and orange wines showing up on menus everywhere, and yes, of course, a seemingly endless sea of celebrity-backed booze launches. But even while we’re in the midst of an unprecedented “damp” movement, there’s still a plethora of new expressions and unique spirits to get excited about (barrel-aged limoncello anyone?).
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Our editors have sipped and tasted plenty over the past year, and though our bar carts are fully stocked (seriously, don’t bring over anymore wine to the house party), there are a few bottles we keep coming back to again and again (or some that have recently caught our eye). That’s why we’ve rounded up the best spirits and alcohol of 2024 worth sipping during your next happy hour, no matter your preferred libation.
Our picks are curated based on new, exciting, unique and noteworthy spirits we’ve tried in the last year from a broad range of categories (whiskey, cognac, mezcal, etc). This includes both new, lesser-known, and legacy spirits brands. While we judged primarily on flavor, we also took into consideration brands whose special distilling or brewing process also stands out in the industry. All spirits included on this list have been vetted and taste-approved for their nominating categories by spirits review expert, Virginia Miller.
So while we’re in good spirits, let’s raise a glass (or two) to these best-in-class bevvies — you’re all top shelf in our hearts.
Written and Contributed by:
Sage Anderson, Nishka Dhawan, Oscar Hartzog, Alexander Hellman, John Lonsdale, Virginia Miller, Jasmin Sandal, Jessica Seib
Best Tequilas
BEST REPOSADO
Alma del Jaguar Reposado
One of their most understated expressions, if you’re in the market for a light Reposado that still has a bit of bite, look no further than Alma del Jaguar’s Reposado tequila. This caramel-forward spirit starts sweet on the tongue, but a palette of cola spices (allspice, ginger, clove, etc) gives it a peppery edge. Simple at first glance, its complexities prowl and sneak up on you after a few sips, much like the wild jaguars the brand aims to protect in northern Mexico.
BEST AñEJO
Mijenta Añejo
A rare female distiller in the world of tequila (aka maestra tequilera), Ana Maria Romero is a shining star for the future of small-batch tequila, especially thanks to her craft Mijenta Añejo. They went the extra mile with the Añejo being aged around 18 months in four different casks: American white oak, French oak, acacia and cherry — and it paid off. With tobacco, caramel, cacao, dried fruits and coffee, it all hits your tongue silky and elegant as a moonbeam hitting your eye.
BEST EXTRA AñEJO
El Tequileño Extra Añejo
El Tequileño Extra Añejo is the gold standard of aging craftsmanship, a sophisticated and complex añejo that looks (and sips) like a work of art. Boasting an aroma of a crème brûlée that’s torched to perfection, its quality in taste doesn’t mask the notes of agave either, which can sometimes be the case with this style. Instead there’s almost a savory quality to this añejo that’s complemented by a smoky citrus and toffee palette that highlights the distinguished influence of the oak.
BEST BLANCO
Volans Blanco Tequila
Volans Tequila is a family affair: founded by Jalisco-based Chad and Cristina Allen with Chad’s mother and Cristina’s father, an agronomist in Mexico who helped source the location to grow their agaves and secure a sustainable, multi-generational family distillery, El Pandillo, to produce their tequila. Their Blanco is a supreme example of additive-free, small batch tequila using ancient methods like a handmade tahona wheel to crush the agave plants. The agave shines as you sip, backed by floral, citrus and black pepper notes.
Best Mezcals
BEST MEZCAL ARTESANAL
Paquera Barril Mezcal Artesanal
A bottle of mezcal you’ll want to spare for only your most special guests — Paquera Barril is made from agave that is matured 12-14 years prior harvesting and the taste is well worth the wait. Each sip unearths a flavor from the story of its making. Paquera Barril is noticeably muskier, and richer than competitor mezcals while still maintaining a light floral essence. This spirit indulges your full palette and will leave any drinker pleasantly surprised.
BEST MEZCAL ANCESTRAL
El Jolgorio Mezcal Coyote Ancestral
This mezcal is nothing short of a playful surprise. Originally distilled by a woman and served in clay pots, El Jolgorio Coyote tastes almost exactly like the circumstances it’s created under — woody, earthy and even leathery butter notes with a warm bodied bbq finish. Extremely unique with an unforgettable taste that is natural to its origin.
BEST ESPADíN
Palomo Maguey Espadín Joven Mezcal
An extremely approachable mezcal for both seasoned and newer mezcal drinkers. The smokiness of this spirit is more subtle, providing an ease of entry to those less familiar with mezcals. Palomo Maguey is the more likely mezcal to be a favorite among traditional tequila drinkers. This spirit leads with lighter and fruitier notes like a tequila but still maintains undertones of smoke and spice that are more commonly associated with mezcals. A perfect addition to a well balanced, agave-forward bar cart.
BEST ENSAMBLE
Madre Mezcal Artesanal Ensamble
This smooth sipping tequila is like a welcome guest at your door, with a sweet build that’s accompanied by a slight Cuishe-y funkiness that knocks on the finish. While Madre Mezcal’s Ensamble is known best for its smoky forwardness, the earthy florals gives this mezcal a more three-dimensional profile. It’s best enjoyed slowly to fully appreciate its depth of flavor, but you’ll want to savor every sip, anyways.
BEST TOBALA
Del Maguey Tobala
It’s been around long enough to be considered an oldie, but will forever be a goodie — this mezcal combines a unique fruit-forward nose with a smooth cinnamon and mango finish. Del Maguey provides a soft cream-like experience that makes it perfect for pairing with dinner or dessert and gives the drinker the adventure of sipping and sniffing slowly to find each of the unique and hidden, surprise notes.
BEST CUISHE
Mala Mia Cuishe
While Mala Mia Cuishe is the more boldly woody mezcal of this Mala Mia family of four, the only thing more beautiful than the bottle is the taste. This spirit hosts bold and smoky flavors that are rooted in citrus and other tangy notes. This spirit brings you as close to having the warm of crisp a bonfire in your mouth as you can likely get.
BEST TEPEXTATE
Rey Campero Tepextate Mezcal
Rey Campero provides a mezcal tasting journey that confronts you subtly with vegetable notes and finishes firmly with notes of green peppers and jalapeños. It’s like a hug that comes with a hard yet welcomed back slap. The food forward taste also allows for some funkiness that is well enjoyed.
BEST MEXICANO
Catedral de mi Padre Mexicano Mezcal
Slightly aggressive and smoke-forward, this is a mezcal that does not disappoint when it comes to its flavor. This beautiful spirit is the birthing of a father-daughter project who’s sister varieties of mezcal offer everything from lighter and sweeter flavors, to husky wood-bearen aromas. Their Mexicano mezcal falls on the heartier end of the spectrum that takes drinkers through full body vegetal notes before closing with robust firewood flavors. Perfect notes for a warm evening indoors or as an accompaniment to a hearty dinner.
Best Whiskeys
BEST BOURBON
Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style Bourbon Whiskey
Bursting with quintessential dark bourbon notes like warm wood, vanilla, and maple syrup, Old Forester’s 1920 Prohibition Style bourbon is a real treat — especially at around $50-$80, depending on where you’re shopping. Bottled at 115 proof, the 1920 is a throwback to the style of bourbon Old Forester was producing for medicinal purposes during prohibition. Although no longer considered medicinal, we’d prescribe it to every bourbon-lovers bar shelf.
BEST BARREL PROOF WHISKEY
Wild Turkey Rare Breed Bourbon
It’s been out for a while now, but Wild Turkey Rare Breed is a bullet-proof option if you’re looking for a widely-available barrel proof whiskey. Comprised of six, eight, and 12-year-old stocks, the bourbon delivers exactly the kind of thick, rich profile that we turn to barrel proof whiskey for. On the nose you’ll find charred wood, chocolate, and fruit, while the palate brings cinnamon, more burnt wood, and sweet flavors like licorice and apple.
BEST RYE
The Beverly High Rye
Bottled in small batches at the illustrious Cedar Ridge Distillery in Swisher, Iowa, Beverly High Rye is an exciting young brand out of Los Angeles. You get a healthy dose of rye spice, but also other elements of oak, vanilla, and caramel. It’s a fresh, welcomed addition to the rye category — and surprisingly good in an old fashioned.
BEST SCOTCH
Loch Lomond 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Loch Lomond’s 18 year is a steal at under $100, but it also happens to be an amazing Scotch — even if it had cost twice as much. It’s on the sweet side with plenty of fruit notes, but there’s a deep complexity here with leather, a bit of peat, and a unique, faint bitterness.
BEST SINGLE MALT
Balblair 12 Year Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
One of Scotland’s oldest distilleries dating back to 1790, Balblair remains a “sleeper hit” whisky for Scotch aficionados, distilled on a remote hillside in the Scottish Highlands. Their 12 year single malt is their most affordable Scotch, its base going through an unusually long 62 hour fermentation and 4 ½ hours of “low and slow” distillation that’ll give you the most intense, pure Highland flavors of spices, orange and honey possible from the first sip.
BEST BLENDED SCOTCH
Compass Box Hedonism Blended Grain Scotch Whisky
John Glaser brought back respect for the long-held art of blended Scotch back in 2000 when he launched Compass Box Scotch whiskies. Hedonism remains one of his most beloved blends, and for good reason — a whisky creamy in texture and vanillans, but also shining with dried fruit, coconut, caramel, black cherry and toasted wood, makes every sip better than the last.
BEST TENNESSEE WHISKEY
Uncle Nearest 1856
Uncle Nearest got enthusiasts’ attention as a Black-owned brand named after the first Black master distiller — and Jack Daniels’ mentor — Nathan “Nearest” Green. But it kept everyone’s attention (and started winning awards) because they make truly delicious whiskeys that generally come with very accessible price tags.
BEST IRISH WHISKEY
Bushmills 25 Year
You won’t find a better single malt Irish whiskey than Bushmills’ 25 Year, a dreamlike dram that’s a coveted bottle worthy of your highest shelf on the bar. What you get is a pour of delicious dark fruit and a special whiskey finished in port pipe oak casks from one of the world’s best whiskey makers — transporting you to the Giant’s Causeway with each sip.
BEST INTERNATIONAL WHISKEY
Starward Ginger Beer Cask #7
It’s hardly a surprise that Starward’s Ginger Beer Cask #7 is sold out – every spirits lover across the globe wants a taste of the stuff. But what’s up with the name? The whisky was finished with barrels that used to contain the distiller’s very own ginger beer – making for a rare batch each and every time. If you’re lucky enough to get a drop yourself, you’ll get a taste of what makes it so special with fruit-forward notes and a candied ginger finish.
Best Vodkas
BEST OVERALL
Harridan Handcrafted Vodka
The New York-based, woman-owned brand Harridan is my new go-to vodka. It has a buttery mouthfeel and a bit of subtle corn sweetness that’s easily noticeable, even if you’re not an enthusiast. It’s one of the only bottles in my (very large) collection that friends will request another drink from when visiting, and I always get two glasses.
BEST FOR COCKTAILS
Haku Vodka
If you’re buying a big-name vodka for cocktails, go with Haku. It’s extremely crisp and clean with just a hint of sweetness — exactly what you want in a great vodka martini, Moscow mule, or lemon drop.
BEST FOR SIPPING
Wooden Walls Distilling Evening Tide Vodka
Distilled in St. John’s on a Newfoundland island off of Canada’s Atlantic coast, Wooden Walls Distilling tributes the island’s seafaring history named after local 1800’s oak-hulled steamers. Their Evening Tide Vodka is a multi-grain vodka showcasing Canada-grown oats, rye and wheat. Evening Tide benefits from a creamy vanilla texture and roundness on the palate, with a sip so smooth it should be coveted.
Best Rums
BEST WHITE RUM
Ten To One
When shopping for a good white white rum, we look for staple flavors — light tropical fruits (maybe on the underripe side) and a bit of spice — and a reasonable price tag. Ten To One’s White Rum is a great example of this. The brand (backed by Ciara) shines even brighter than its celebrity story, and makes an excellent go-to for mojitos and other classic white rum cocktails.
BEST DARK RUM
Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva
The popular Venezuelan rum, Diplomático Reserva Exclusiva is a molasses-based rum distilled in copper pot stills and aged 12 years in whiskey barrels. While sweet tooths among you will appreciate notes of caramelized brown sugar, toffee and banana, the rum is incredibly balanced, with hints of orange, chocolate, oak and spice. It’s arguably one of the best things we’ve tried throughout the year.
BEST GOLD RUM
The Lovers Rum
Gold rum is a funny category, with its biggest use by far being for Daiquiris. And that’s why we love The Lovers Rum — it’s flavorful and amply complex, but not too rich (like a dark rum), making it the perfect base for delicious Daiquiris.
BEST SPICED RUM
Don Q Oak Barrel Spiced Rum
Rum geeks love to hate on spiced rum, often with good reason. Don Q Oak Barrel Spiced is a more balanced spiced rum, aged three years in American white oak barrels. It exudes the vanilla and baking spices you’d assume, while whispers of coffee, toasty oak, pear and ginger add some wonderful nuance.
BEST CRAFT RUM
KōHana Koa
One of the most exciting things about rum is how unrestricted its production is. Good rhum agricoles, like this KōHana Koa, is a great way to understand how exciting rum can be. It’s at once earthy and briny, sweet and peppery, and, of course, sugarcane forward. If you’re looking to liven up your evening dram, give this one a try.
Best Sakes
BEST JUNMAI
Brooklyn Kura "Occidental" Dry-hopped Junmai Ginjo
Brooklyn Kura in NYC has come out with some fascinating sakes recently, most notably this dry-hopped bottle. That process gives this the yeasty nose of an IPA with the look of a rosé — and yet it still remains one of the most well-balanced experimental sakes out there. It’s light, with a rice-forward taste including notes of tropical fruit. The texture itself is so silky smooth it’s almost velvety, and it leaves a refreshingly floral taste on your palette once you’re done sipping.
BEST GINJO
Okunomatsu Ginjo
Accessible but still more complex and “cult” than other bottles, nothing about Okunomatsu Ginjo’s brew is average. This aromatic sake manages to balance both minerality and fruity notes, with a subtle melon-y finish. But take a sip, and that bright, initial burst of juicy flavor dances on the tongue, and then all at once, vanishes like a wisp of smoke. Of the lighter-bodied sakes out there, this is an exceptional option for first-time sake drinkers thanks to its ethereal sipping experience.
BEST DAIGINJO
Dassai "39"
This extremely sippable sake exhibits some of the best qualities from the previous Dassai “23” and “45” to create a sake that’s more luscious and aromatic than ever. It has notes of pear, red apple and mango, but is still restrained in its sweetness. The surprisingly bright finish also lingers well on the tongue, which makes it pairs nicely with most cuisines in our opinion (especially shellfish and sashimi).
BEST KIMOTO
Kurosawa "Junmai" Kimoto Sake
If you’re a fan of rich, dry sake you’ll love this Kurosawa brew. Cool and clean, this tastes like sipping from a rushing river — no, really — and thus has some wonderful earthy notes, too. The finish is, of course, refreshing, and you’re left with an aftertaste that balances the vegetalness with some minerality that will make you want to dive in for another sip.
BEST NIGORI
Keigetsu Junmai Daiginjo Nigori 50
This nigori version of Keigetsu’s famous Junmai Daiginjo is every bit as elegant and refreshing as you’d expect. It’s creamy and cloudy, but some light fizz adds another textural element that instantly lifts the palette, taking it above and beyond anything else in its category. It’s also just so incredibly aromatic — those tropical lychee and pineapple notes waft up to let you know you’re in for a treat as soon as you open up the bottle.
BEST FRUITY
Yaegaki "Mu" Junmai Daiginjo
“Mu” (which means “nothingness”) represents a return to the basics for Yaegaki, who concentrate on traditional hand-craftsmanship rather than a machine-forward sake brewing process. While not as heavy as other ultra-daiginjo, this delicate junmai daiginjo is fruity enough for the sake-curious while still delivering a solid depth of flavor. It’s a soft, smooth sake where the initial sweetness of the green apples and Asian pear are skillfully balanced with a clean finish.
BEST CUP SAKE
Kikusui Funaguchi Ginjo Nama Genshu Aged "Red" Sake
An aged nama classic, Kikusui Funaguchi “Red” is distinct from the other three cans in this series due to being aged one year, which mellows the brew out a bit. It’s still pleasantly acidic on the tongue though, with a rice-forward taste and notes of plum. I’ve also found that the earthy finish counteracts the head of the alcohol. More smooth and sessionable than “Gold” or “Green,” this is the kind of sake you’ll want to crack open and sip surrounded by friends.
Best Soju
BEST SOJU
Tokki Soju
First established in 2017, Tokki (which means rabbit in Korean) serves up four tantalizing bottles that’ll make you rethink everything you knew about soju. From hints of vanilla and the light earthiness we discovered in the White Label variety, to the full body and rich mouthfeel we experienced with the eucalyptus finish of the Black Label, we favor this complex collection of sojus that leaves our taste buds wanting more.
Best Vermouths
BEST BIANCO
Contratto Bianco Vermouth
Carrying on the rich tradition of vermouth in Piedmont, Italy, Contratto uses the same recipes since the early 1900s. Their white wine and Italian brandy-based Bianco vermouth benefits from a subtle infusion of over 50 herbs, spices and seeds, including bitter orange, hibiscus flower, sage, liquorice, coriander, chamomile, aloe, cinnamon and cardamom. It’s beautifully mixable in cocktails but just as winning drinking it the traditional way: on its own on the rocks.
BEST DRY
Quady VYA Whisper Dry Vermouth
Andrew and Laurel Quady pioneered U.S.-made vermouth in Madera, California (inland between Fresno and Modesto), back in 1975 when they opened Quady Winery. While they produce ports and dessert wines, they’re more widely known in the craft bartending world for Vya Vermouth with three expressions since 1999, long before the vermouth resurgence. Whisper Dry Vermouth is everything you’d want out of an aperitif and more — herbaceous and aromatic with orris root, linden and fir needles in their Quady Essensia Orange Muscat base.
BEST SWEET
Del Professore Rosso
This Del Professore sweet vermouth is like a summertime hug. It’s warm and playful, but still brings a characteristic helping of gentian bitterness. Take a sip neat, then try it in a negroni or a Manhattan.
Best Gins
BEST LONDON DRY
Martin Miller Westbourne Strength Gin
Expertly balanced, if you’re mixing up classic cocktails, there’s no better London Dry to add to your bar cart arsenal than Martin Miller’s Westbourne Strength Gin. Designed for bartenders who wanted a higher ABV version of Martin Miller’s classic, it still retains that juniper-forward flavor and fresh vegetal aroma, just with a little extra punch. Contemporary style gin enjoyers should come for the nuance from those clean citrus and cucumber notes, while classic gin drinkers should stay for that botanical kick.
BEST CONTEMPORARY
Monkey 47 13th Edition Distiller's Cut Gin
Every year, Monkey 47 adds one new, out-of-left-field ingredient to their annual release — and their 13th edition pairing is set to be their finest yet. Distilled in Germany’s Black Forest region, they took a 4,000-mile leap, adding pure Canadian maple syrup to the 47 different botanicals. So did it work? Rather than cloying sweetness, the addition of maple imparts a soft, caramel-like flavor, which complements (rather than dominates) an already stellar herbaceous gin.
BEST OLD TOM
Hernö Gin
The first exclusive gin distillery in Sweden is turning out an Old Tom that deserves every bit of success it’s received over the past few years. The gin has an almost transportational quality to it that reminds us of sipping on a lush, tranquil mountainside, with lemon peel that coats the tongue and freshy, pine notes in tow. There’s the familiarity of London Dry about it, but the addition of more meadowsweet to the distillation gives it a sweetness that elevates all the floral notes to new heights.
BEST CRAFT GIN
Jettywave California Botanical Gin
Half Moon Bay is an idyllic Bay Area farming town on the California Coast, just south of San Francisco. Their Jettywave California Botanical Gin is incredibly successful as a showcase of the wealth of herbs and produce grown around them with the touch of sea air. It’s distilled from organic American corn in a one-of-a-kind pistachio corn mash, and you can thank Mother Nature (and the Jettywave team) for the delightful mix of juniper-forward, coriander seed, cardamom, ginger root, thyme, black pepper, meyer lemon, shiso and nasturtium blossoms.
Best Amaro
BEST AMARO
broVo Amaro #1
Feeling like a more small batch Campari or younger sibling to Tempus Fugit’s Gran Classico, broVo Amaro #1 is leading the pack in the amaro space from pioneering Woodinville, Washington, distillery’s line of amari, vermouth and herbal liqueurs. They partnered early on with bartenders around the U.S. to craft their unique amari, and with Amaro #1, it’s John Ueding. Orange, fall baking spices, galangal, pink peppercorn and lemon keep it bright and complex, playing off a rhubarb-infused distillate base.
Best Cognac
BEST COGNAC
Martingale Cognac
Despite a more than 100-year-old history of producing eaux-de-vie in the small village of Ars for other prestigious houses, if you’re a cognac-drinker, you may have unknowingly sipped a blend from Martingale’s cru without even knowing it. But with the release of their own cognac, which delivers a fresh and surprisingly complex taste, they’ve successfully made something more youthful for what can be a stodgy (yet still amazing) category. Martingale rightfully deserves the attention of cognac sippers, new and old alike.
Best Brandy
BEST BRANDY
Germain-Robin
Germain-Robin turned us into brandy fans, and we think it’s still the best widely-available option on the market. It’s balanced and full in the mouth, delivering oak spice, ripe fruit, and some floral notes, but it’s light enough overall to sip neat (no over-sugariness at all, like you get with some brandy).
Best Wines
BEST WHITE
Tapi Sauvignon Blanc (2023)
Marlborough is a region known for its fantastic Sauvignon Blancs, and Tapi does not disappoint. Though this producer is fairly new to the wine scene, they’re coming out of the gate strong with sustainable and organic growing practices. The sipping experience is exceptionally crisp and refreshing, so this would pair nicely with fresh fruits and vegetables, or seafood. The high acidity and minerality combined with citrus notes is a match made in Sauvignon Blanc heaven.
BEST ROSé
A Tribute to Grace Grenache Rosé (2023)
A respected and quality Santa Barbara female winemaker, A Tribute to Grace’s latest rosé is very, very delicate — light enough to sip for days. An extremely elegant and drinkable rosé, this wine has beautiful, perfumed notes of fresh berries and anise. This wine is made from a single vineyard old-vine Grenache, which is then foot-read before fermentation. This gives it a creamy, pillow-soft finish that even dry wine drinkers will adore.
BEST RED
Realm Cellars The Bard Vintage (2021)
Respected at hip wine bars, this dense and weighty Cab is an excellent showing for a Napa Valley wine. The Bard’s unique blend offers notes of black berry fruits like black currants and blackberries, as well as grounded graphite and the soft edge of oak. It’s an incredibly versatile wine, but it also commands presence, and nothing pairs with it better than just a simple, seared piece of meat.
BEST SPARKLING
Jansz Premium Sparkling Rosé
This Tasmanian wine is a bonafide crowd-pleaser, meant to be passed around on a tray at a party. Made from a mix of several small batch vintages, all the vintages are kept separate in the winemaking process before blending to preserve their unique character. With this sweet wine, you should expect notes of wild strawberries and rose petals, as well as an unexpected hint of brioche. This is the result of its traditional sparkling wine-making method, which incorporates yeast in its second fermentation process. Supremely sippable (and cheers-able).
BEST NATURAL
Santa Julia La Oveja Torrontes Natural (2023)
One of our favorite natural winemakers, Santa Julia, is kind not only to the environment, but to its employees as well. They provide childcare for their workers’ children, adult learning opportunities, and access to health and fitness centers. For their La Oveja Torrontes, we were drawn to its green-gold hue, along with its bright aroma. Expect notes of lychee, orange, and white flowers, with a long, citrusy finish. It’s everything you want out of a vegan wine, with none of the added sulfites you don’t.
BEST ORANGE
Wavy Wines LS Gris Skin Contact (2022)
There’s a fun, playful quality about Wavy Wines that we just can’t get enough of, most of all the intoxicating flavor of their LS Gris Skin Contact. This 13-day skin contact wine was co-fermented together in stainless steel vats, and consists of 80% Pinot Gris and 20% Chardonnay. Beyond the technical, a glass just feels like summer in a fruit grove, the initial juicy nectarine and peach tasting juicy before tannins dry the taste buds. A ripe strawberry finish makes this one of the best sips of the summer.
BEST DESSERT
Château Coutet Sauternes Blend (2022)
In 1787, former U.S. President Thomas Jefferson, then ambassador to France, celebrated Château Coutet as the best Sauternes. Even centuries later, Château Coutet still creates some of the best dessert wines out there, including this Sauternes Blend. This style of wine is known for its thick texture and honey-sweet flavor, and this particular label also has notes of citrus, flowers and vanilla. If you’d like to have a sip of history, we’d recommend pouring a glass of this classic, quality blend after your next meal.
Best Premixed Drink
BEST PREMIXED DRINK
Via Carota
Via Carota’s at-home beverage collection is much more than you’d expect from any assortment of premixed drinks. If you’ve ever struggled with making the perfect Negroni or a Manhattan on your own, you’ll gladly find that these Via Carota drinks are like having a world class bartender in a bottle. Bottom line? Via Carota cocktails eliminate the harder parts of hosting.
Best Hard Cider
BEST HARD CIDER
Tepache Sazón
Tepache Sazón is made in the coastal town of San Pancho, Nayarit, just 50 kilometers from where the pineapple for this sessionable bevvy is grown. While regional Mexican spirits like raicilla, charanda, and sotol are tantalizingly close to breaking into the mainstream U.S. palette, we wouldn’t be surprised if this ready-to-drink version of tepache becomes a standard at your next backyard BBQ. Made with piloncillo (raw cane sugar) and canela (commonly known as “Mexican cinnamon”), the result is a slightly sweet, refreshingly fizzy crowd-pleaser that’s perfect for sipping on a hot day.
Best Hard Seltzers
BEST HARD SELTZER
Amass Botanical Hard Seltzer
Amass’ hard seltzers are particularly sophisticated and almost cocktail-like, which sip as if you were on your own private island. The carbonation here is almost as light as champagne, with refined botanical ingredients like the herbal zest of green cardamom and holy basil in their “Faerie Fizz.” These intriguing and subtle flavors make Amass a welcome Copenhagen meets LA tie-in.
BEST TEQUILA SELTZER
Volley Tequila Seltzer
Volley Tequila Seltzer is the graduate school of seltzers, when you want to move on to more elevated tastes and leave your old-school days of malt beverages behind. The quality just can’t be beat here, sourcing tequila from Jalisco and flavoring with organic juices — it just gives it a crisp, clean taste that feels more like sipping a real, refreshing cocktail than a seltzer. Ideal for rooftop parties and late nights, this is your ultimate tequila soda replacement.
BEST RUM SELTZER
Casalú Rum Seltzer
You can throw a stone and hit seltzers a-plenty made from vodka or tequila, but you’d be hard-pressed to find any rum-based varieties. Enter Casalú, a very necessary “tropicalization” of hard seltzer. With a smooth and refreshing taste, their “Limón” seltzer is crafted with dark aged rum, a hint of limón, sparkling water, and agave. Crack open a can (or two), and disfrútalo — like most things in our community, Casalú is an experience meant to be shared.
BEST VODKA SELTZER
NÜTRL Vodka Seltzer
Looking for a way to replace your standard summer bar order? Nütrl’s vodka-based (rather than malt-based) seltzer feels like a club cocktail you could serve in a red solo cup, or in an ice-filled tasting glass — and we mean this in the best way possible. Focusing on simple vodka, blended with sparkling water and real fruit juice, these seltzers smell and taste remarkably flavorful (especially the pineapple and watermelon). It’s great when you’re looking for a drink that doesn’t just taste like a hint of a hint of a hint of fruit.
BEST WHISKEY SELTZER
HaiBall Whiskey Seltzer
Capturing the delicate art of Japanese whiskey in a can, we can confidently say HaiBall is a seltzer tailored to perfection. Using cherry-pick barrels juices blended with near-obsessive care, you can taste the oakiness and sweet vanilla of Bourbon right off the bat, then the spiciness of Rye, with just a hint of Scottish smoke to round out the palette. Complex yet unfussy, layered yet refreshing, and dare we even say a little sexy, these are what you break out when the in-laws come over.
BEST GIN SELTZER
The Finnish Long Drink Traditional Citrus
Created with the mission of bringing the “national drink of Finland” to America, the Finnish Long Drink is delightful proof that sipping on simple beverages doesn’t have to be boring. As with other versions of the long drink, this one is a combination of grapefruit soda and gin, but it’s got a pleasant tartness that’s even a bit sour. There’s no bitterness here, though — it goes down as easy as a Fresca, but feels more elegant and refined.
BEST WINE SPRITZER
Pampelonne Wine Spritzers
Pampelonne successfully harkens back to old-world wine cocktails, all with a playful, modern twist. Their Rosé is not just a rosé, it’s Rosé Lime, while their cherry sparkling wine is combined with tart Yuzu juice. Crisp, dry and not cloyingly sweet, Pampelonne is bringing a refreshing level of fun to fine French wine.
Best Beers
BEST INDIA PALE ALE
Russian River Pliny the Younger
When you see Russian River’s Pliny on the beer menu, there’s a rule among beer lovers that you order it. The brewer’s Pliny the Younger turns just shy of legal drinking age in 2024 – and the beermakers continue to push the envelope with each and every release. Packed with loads of hops, the hard-to-get 10.25% Triple IPA is “loaded with citrus, orange, stone fruit, nectarine, mango, and strong pine/resinous aromatics,” as the brewer notes. Put another way, no one’s doing it quite like Russian River.
BEST HAZY IPA
Tree House Brewing Company Very Hazy
Very Hazy delivers all the beauty of Tree House Brewing’s classic Haze IPA, but with an even greater depth of flavor (and a more potent hoppy punch to boot). You’ll get that vibrant, tropical orange-mango nose along with dank hops on the first sip, all of which provide a powerful flavor spotlight. But their team knows just when to pull back, and that slow and easy transition into an earthier palette feels like sinking into the center of a pleasantly smooth galaxy.
BEST SOUR
Killsboro Gimme Gimme Blackberry Peach
Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! a delicious sour ale that’s 7% and the ultimate warm-weather standby. The answer? This tasty blackberry peach dessert brew, complete with vanilla bean, milk sugar, and a refreshing finish that’s like summertime in a can. Dessert never sounded so crushable.
BEST SAISON
Cellar West Brewing Farmhouse Saison
Since 2016, Cellar West has churned out stellar brews that, for anyone who’s tried a cold one, might’ve made them consider packing up and heading out to the Centennial State. Now, the crew from Lafayette, Colorado, have crafted an award-winning, effervescent saison that’ll seal the deal.
BEST PALE ALE
Alvarado Street Brewery Land & Sea XPA
With four California Central Coast locations, Alvarado Street Brewery first hit downtown Monterey as a brewery, gastropub and beer garden, one block from the Pacific Ocean. Their Land & Sea XPA 100% Nelson Extra Pale Ale goes tropical, refreshing and lean with Nelson Sauvin hops — it’s just a damn good Pale ale.
BEST STOUT
Jester King Brewery Doom Forge Coffee Stout
Jester King has been an über-cool cult craft brewery since it opened in Texas Hill Country on the outskirts of Austin in 2010, and produces a stout truly worth seeking out. On 165 farmland acres, they brew farmhouse and barrel-aged ales. The 2024 release of their Doom Forge Coffee Stout sources coffee from another Austin local, Figure 8’s Finca Fatima beans from Veracruz, Mexico, resulting in a nutty, cacao and stone fruit-graced coffee stout.
BEST LAGER
Old Caz Beer Chismosa Mexican Amber Lager
Sonoma might be better known for its wines, but Old Caz just might make your taste buds do a double-take, especially with releases like its Modelo-inspired lager. As for the beer’s name, the brewery notes that it “comes from the Spanish word Chisme, or, to gossip.” That’s only appropriate: After all, this lager’s going to be on everyone’s lips.
BEST PILSNER
Highland Park Brewery High 10 West Coast Pilsner
Take your first sip of Highland Park Brewery’s refreshing, High 10 pilsner, and you instantly find yourself sitting on the brewer’s sun-kissed patio in Los Angeles, with views of the nearby park, Dodgers fans on their way to a game, and the smell of delicious wings passing by your table from the kitchen. It’s a signature beer, made for and by beer lovers, from one of the best breweries on the West Coast.
BEST BOCK
Ayinger Celebrator
Head 30 minutes southeast out of Munich and you’ll find the team behind one of today’s most-celebrated bocks. With a name like “Celebrator,” living up to the hype is no small feat. But Ayinger continues to blow the competition away with its deliciously dark 6.7% bottom-ferment dopplebock. Time to book that plane ticket.
BEST PORTER
Great Lakes Brewing Edmund Fitzgerald Porter
In the mood for a porter to sip along with a side of oysters or a morsel of dark chocolate? Nothing beats Great Lakes’ Edmund Fitzgerald, a flavorful beer complete with eye-catching packaging of a ship in rough water. As the brewery describes it, the porter is a “bittersweet tribute to the legendary freighter’s fallen crew — taken too soon when the gales of November came early.” But don’t worry, a glass of this rich porter goes down like smooth sailing.
BEST KOLSCH
Humble Sea Sunday Sends Kolsch
First launched in the chill NorCal beach town of Santa Cruz by three childhood friends, Humble Sea now has five total taprooms in the region, including their second Pacifica location, another surfer town just minutes south of San Francisco. Their easy-drinking Sunday Sends Kolsch goes tart cherry candy meets malty-crisp, and is the ultimate cure for your Sunday Scaries.
BEST HEFEWEIZEN
Fat Head's Goggle Fogger
With accolades from the World Beer Cup to the Great American Beer Festival, crack open a cold Goggle Fogger and you’re in for a wildly impressive brew. Expect a bit of bubblegum, a bit of wheat – this is a must-try unfiltered German-style Hefeweizen.
BEST WHEAT BEER
Allagash White
Call it the MVP of wheat beers. When you think of the best wheat beer, you probably think of this Belgian-style classic. And while it might not be a new entry, Allagash White is a household name for good reason, a crowd-pleasing crusher that will go with any meal, any time.
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