The 10 Best Spirits of the Year, From Michter’s 20-Year-Old Bourbon to Alto Canto Tequila
There has been a lot of troubling news for the spirits industry over the past year–younger people are choosing to drink less, distilleries are implementing production pauses and layoffs, and there are repeated threats of tariffs that could negatively impact American whiskey. Despite all of this, there have been some truly fantastic releases in all spirits categories. Buffalo Trace, one of Kentucky’s premier distilleries, added an amazing new barrel-strength rye whiskey to its lineup, lesser known scotch distillery Glengoyne turned to bourbon barrels instead of sherry casks for a remarkable new single malt, new tequila brand Alto Canto released an additive-free reposado aged in virgin oak, and Michter’s dropped its first 20-year-old bourbon in two years. There were even more standouts in Cognac, Japanese whisky, and cask-finished bourbon. Here are the 10 best releases in different spirits categories of the past year.
Tequila: Alto Canto Reposado
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
Read more: https://robbreport.com/food-drink/spirits/lists/2025-best-spirits-1236748647
