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This year\u2019s 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\u2014and competitive\u2014the modern American whiskey landscape has become.<\/p>\n
BevTest\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Whether you\u2019re stocking a bar cart or searching for your next great pour, these four bottles\u2014especially the best bourbon\u2014stood out among the many that impressed the judges most this year, according to\u00a0Forbes<\/em><\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n 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 \u201cdouble-rich\u201d house style.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Bottled at 100 proof, the BevTest panel praised the whiskey\u2019s complexity, noting \u201caromas of caramel, chocolate, rice cookie, spiced poached apricots, and apples, along with flavors of spice cake with cr\u00e8me anglaise, praline with dried fruits, and a hint of white ash.\u201d The judges concluded it is \u201ca sumptuous, finely balanced bourbon with tremendous flavor and length\u2014one that can handle anything you throw at it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\nBest Bourbon: Cream of Kentucky Small Batch<\/h2>\n