The 10 Best Spirits of the Year, From Michter’s Bourbon to Procera Gin

Kentucky’s Buffalo Trace Distillery produces a wide array of coveted whiskeys, including Pappy Van Winkle, the Antique Collection, and W. L. Weller. Yet there’s a fan favorite that doesn’t get nearly as much attention: E. H. Taylor, Jr. The brand’s lineup consists mostly of bottled-in-bond whiskeys, but there are some barrel-proof expressions in the mix, including this fantastic new rye. This uncut, unfiltered whiskey clocks in at 126 proof and is a superlative example of Kentucky-style rye that expertly balances notes of sweetness and spice. $78 

Pechuga is a specific term that refers to mezcal that has been redistilled with fruits, grains, nuts, and often raw poultry to infuse the agave spirit with a novel range of flavors. In the case of Convite’s new Pechuga expression, the smoky core of the spirit interacts with savory baking-spice notes and a burst of stone- and tropical-fruit flavors to round out the palate. This is an intriguing sipping spirit and a wonderful introduction to this lesser-known style of mezcal. $80 

Scotch distillery Glengoyne has a knack for maturing its single-malt whisky in sherry casks, but the new White Oak expression took a different route to your bottle—it was aged in ex-bourbon barrels along with a small amount of whisky aged in virgin American oak. The result is very different from what you might expect from this underrated distillery: a complex single malt with notes of vanilla, citrus, and maple on the palate. This is a whisky you will want to revisit over and over again. $400 

Louisville’s Barrell Craft Spirits achieved a milestone with this incredible cask-finished whiskey. The bourbon was initially matured for 15 years in new charred-oak barrels before being put into toasted oak for an additional five years, really more of a double-barrel process than a cask finish. That last step has given this spirit a deep, dark color and imbued the liquid with notes of pine, roasted pecans, dark chocolate, and caramelized brown sugar. $200 

Kenyan gin brand Procera uses fresh juniper berries instead of dried as the lead botanical for its spirits, and releases in vintages to highlight seasonality and terroir. The juniper for the 2023 vintage came from a single tree, a highly unusual practice that makes it stand out from its competitors. Green Dot 2023 is a gin that you should certainly try sipping neat, but it’s also a great cocktail component with a complex palate of citrusy, earthy, and woody notes. $159 

After spending a few decades aging through Kentucky’s cold winters and hot summers, bourbon runs the risk of turning into a tannic oak bomb. Fortunately, that is not the case with Michter’s first 20-year-old-bourbon release since 2022. At just over 57 percent ABV, there is some heat to this whiskey, but the palate is rich with notes of tobacco, dried fruit, dark berries, caramel, and roasted espresso bean. This decadent and complex bourbon is well worth the expense—if you are lucky enough to come across one of these elusive bottles. $1,200

For this outstanding expression Hine debuted last fall, the Cognac house blended eaux-de-vie made from grapes grown in the Grande Champagne region that was aged for a minimum of 10 years in lightly toasted oak barrels. The XO 1er Cru Cognac is a lovely and delicate new entry into the wider world of this classic Gallic spirit, a rich and fruity expression that maintains a balance of big fruit notes, soft spice flavors, and the tannic caress of French oak. $300 

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With so many tequila brands debuting each year, it takes something truly exceptional to rise above the fray. That is the case with Alto Canto, an additive-free brand that is produced at high elevation. The tequila is fermented using wild yeast, and the agave is milled with a tahona stone, a traditional method meant to extract more flavor from the pulp. The reposado expression is aged in new American oak as opposed to the usual ex-bourbon barrels, resulting in a delicate palate with notes of toasted wood, pepper, grass, and caramelized agave. $105 

Nikka might be overshadowed by Suntory, but the distilleries it operates across Japan produce a range of delicate malt and grain whiskies. This new release was 90 years in the making: It’s a blend of more than 50 whiskies from Japan and Scotland that were produced from the 1940s through the 2020s. That balance of old and young spirits yields a palate that leads with sweet vanilla and cherry notes and ends with baking spice and ripe apple, a must try for Japanese-whisky fans. $3,000 

Luxury rum as a category continues to expand apace and turn heads with beautiful new bottlings. This release from Brugal follows a series of delicious expressions from this Dominican brand that has shown itself to be a leader in the world of high-end rums. Andrés Brugal Edition 02 is a blend of liquid aged in just three ex-bourbon barrels and one virgin-oak cask, culminating in an exquisite sipping rum with notes of brown sugar, toasted almond, and cocoa powder on the palate. $3,000