This year’s highest-scoring bottles span the full breadth of American whiskey: classic Kentucky bourbons, bold ryes, high-altitude single malts, Tennessee whiskeys, and even a standout peach-infused spirit. Together, they highlight just how diverse—and competitive—the modern American whiskey landscape has become.
BevTest’s top American whiskeys of 2025 include revived heritage labels, carefully aged single-barrel releases, high-proof bottles built for enthusiasts, and inventive flavored expressions that show how far the category has evolved.
Whether you’re stocking a bar cart or searching for your next great pour, these four bottles—especially the best bourbon—stood out among the many that impressed the judges most this year, according to Forbes.
Best Bourbon: Cream of Kentucky Small Batch
Scoring 96 out of 100 and earning a platinum medal, this label was named the best bourbon whiskey of 2025. Cream of Kentucky revives a historic pre-Prohibition brand under the guidance of former Four Roses master distiller Jim Rutledge, who sources and blends select Kentucky bourbons to craft what he describes as a “double-rich” house style.
The result is a whiskey that leans into classic Kentucky character. Honeyed orchard fruit and orange blossom lead the aroma, layered with caramel apple, vanilla, and subtle oak.
Bottled at 100 proof, the BevTest panel praised the whiskey’s complexity, noting “aromas of caramel, chocolate, rice cookie, spiced poached apricots, and apples, along with flavors of spice cake with crème anglaise, praline with dried fruits, and a hint of white ash.” The judges concluded it is “a sumptuous, finely balanced bourbon with tremendous flavor and length—one that can handle anything you throw at it.”
