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2025 Top 100 — Ranked
American whiskey keeps getting better.
In 2025, the year of a market correction, I saw so many small independent brands rise with their whiskey absolutely capturing my palate. My Top 100 for 2025 is heavy on craft distillers, such as Frey Ranch and Leipers Fork, and independent blenders, such as Dark Arts and K. Luke. And one year after American Single Malt earns its federal definition, Brothers Justus American Single Malt garners my highest ranking of an ASM since I started my Top 100.
While these smaller companies grow and flourish, the larger brands still have something to say, garnering four of the Top 5 spots in my Top 100. In fact, for the first time, I selected in a blind tasting two whiskeys from the same distillery for my No. 1 and No. 2.
All that is to say, I absolutely love where American whiskey is right now, from a quality perspective. The business side of things will work itself out. But it’s a helluva time to be a whiskey fan.
Read Why Top 100 was late and criteria to make list.
100. SirDavis American Whisky, 88 proof, $80
99. Yellowstone Special Finishes: Rum, 100 proof, $100
98. MB Roland Straight Corn Whiskey, 108 proof, $50
97. Rieger Straight Bourbon, 90 proof, $35
96. Bywater Four Grain Louisiana Bourbon, 93 proof, $50
95. Cedar Ridge Double Barrel Iowa Rye Whiskey, 105 proof, $60
94. Chicken Cock Mizunara Bourbon, 105 proof, $249.99
93. Frey Ranch Quad Malt – Batch #2, 90 proof, $80
92. J. Mattingly 1845 Classic Bourbon Whiskey, 119 proof, $110
91. Jackson Purchase, 117.8 proof, $40
90. Minden Mill Nevada Straight Rye, 94 proof, $80
89. Old Dominick Tennessee Whiskey, 85 proof, $40
88. Three Chord: Strange Collab, 99 proof, $50
87. Willett Small Batch 4 year old, varying proof, $50
86. Michter’s Sour Mash Toasted, 86 proof, $150
85. Kentucky Senator John Edwards, 107 proof, $50
84. Iron Fish Four Cask Whiskey, 115 proof, $85
83. Leipers Fork Tennessee whiskey bottled in bond, 100 proof, $60
82. Forbidden Batch 3, 95.2 proof, $100
81. Blue Note Special Reserve Bourbon, 116.3 proof, $50
80. 291 Big Horn Colorado Bourbon, 132.8 proof, $129
79. Brothers Bond: Regenerative Bourbon, 95 proof, $50
78. Hard Truth High Road Rye, 93 proof, $60
77. Garrison Brothers Guadalupe, 107 proof, $150
76. J.T. Meleck American Rice Whiskey, High Proof Small Batch, 118 proof, $60
75. Calumet 15 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 105 proof, $150
74. Peg Leg Porker Tennessee Straight Bourbon Whiskey Black Label, 90 proof, $60
73. Westland Wine Cask Finish, 92 proof, $75
72. Seelbach’s Private Reserve 8 Year, 118.3 proof, $100
71. Rabbit Hole Amrûlé Sour Mash Rye, 104 Proof, $40
70. Remus Repeal, 104 proof, $100
69. Central Standard Craft Distillery: Cabin Strength Bourbon Whiskey, 115 Proof, $70
68. Starlight Toasted Barrel Limited Release, 106 proof, $80
67. Woodinville 8 Year Rye, 100 proof, $100
66. Bulleit Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 120 proof, $60
65. Fathertime Bourbon / Second Child Syndrome / Empty Nester Strength, 118 proof, $80
64. Circle City 12 year Rye Whiskey, 122 proof, $150
63. Garrison Brothers Sonora, 108 proof, $130
62. Larceny C925, 119.6 proof, $50
61. Castle & Key 7-year Cask Strength Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 120 proof, $100
60. Dark Arts Blend of Sour Mash finished in Honey Cask, 102.8 proof, $100
59. Old Forester 1920, 115 proof, $60
58. Palmer’s Stretch Rye, 97 proof, $70
57. Old Grand-Dad 16 Years, 100 proof, $195
56. Old Soul Tintype 2, 122.2 Proof, $125
55. Bardstown Bourbon Company Ferrand, 111.8 proof, $100
54. Dark Arts Barely Legal Bourbon – Small Batch, Cask Strength – 8 year, 115 proof, $150
53. K. Luke Toasted Rye Barrel Strength Batch 5, 117 proof, $120
52. High Wire Jimmy Red Wheated Bourbon Limited Release 7 Years, 107 proof, $100
51. Old Line Cask Strength American Single Malt, 124 proof, $80
50. OH Ingram River Aged, 105 proof, $60
49. Southern Star Paragon Bottled-In-Bond Wheated Bourbon, 100 proof, $60
48. King’s Family Tennessee Standard Blended Bourbon, 107 proof, $120
47. Pursuit Triple Mash Rye, 121.8 proof, $100
46. Jefferson’s Reserve Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 130 proof, $70
45. Leipers Fork Bourbon bottled in bond, 100 proof, $60
44. Barrell Batch 35
43. Nashville Barrel PSA5342 KEEPSAKE – cask strength small batch, 119 proof, $120
42. Barrel King Fantasy “Nutella Turkey Bour-Rye” Hazelnut Liqueur, Cacao, and Apple Brandy Finished, 114 proof, $125
41. Pinhook Vertical Series Rye – 9 Year, 111.2 proof, $150
40. Clyde Mays 6 Years Bourbon, 110 proof, $50
39. H.K. Young Wheated, 122.4 proof, $75
38. Jack Daniel’s 10 Year, 97 proof, $100
37. Remus Gatsby Reserve, 102.8 proof, $300
36. Elijah Craig A125, 118.2 proof, $75
35. New Riff Balboa Rye, 100 proof, $80
34. Milam & Greene Unabridged Batch 2, 117.6 proof, $100
33. Redemption 18 Year Rye, 109.9 proof, $200
32. Peerless Cognac Finish Bourbon Batch 1, 112.1 Proof, $200
31. Westland 10 Year Garryanna, 100 proof, $150
30. A. Smith Bowman Cask Strength, 139.7 proof, $99.99
29. APW 10 Year, 122.5 proof, $200 (sold as 2 pack. 200 ml)
28. Jack Daniel’s 14 year, 126.3 proof, $150
27. Bardstown Bourbon Company Normandie, 110.8 Proof, $100
26. Still Austin Tanager Cigar Blend Bourbon, 107.5 proof, $150
25. Heaven Hill Unity Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 107 proof, $225
24. Buzzard’s Roost Cigar Rye, 105 proof, $100
23. Brothers Bond Bottled in Bond 7 Year Indiana Bourbon, 100 proof, $60
22. Lasso Motel 18 Year American Whiskey, 121 proof, $200
21. Woodford Sweet Oak, 110.4 proof, $100
20. Booker’s 2025-1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 125.7 proof, $100
19. Frank August Batch 5/9, 104.5 proof, $80
18. Frey Ranch Harvester Series: Anniversary Edition (First Harvest), 121.14 proof, $100
17. Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch, 109 proof, $250
16. The Compromise: Blended Whiskey of Rye & Bourbon (50/50), 122.6 Proof, $100
15. APW 15 Year, 107 proof, $200 (sold as 2 pack. 200 ml
14. K. Luke Batch 14 blended bourbon, 117.2 proof, $80
13. Angel’s Envy Cask Strength, 122.6 proof, $250
12. Barrell 12 Year French Oak Finish, 115 proof, $150
11. Wild Turkey Masters Keep Beacon, 118 Proof, $359
10. Dark Arts Armagnac Finish 16 Years, 125.2 proof, $200
9. Bourbon De Luxe 8 Year Batch 2, 119 proof, $75
8. Booker’s 2025-3 Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 125 proof, $100
7. Maker’s Mark Keepers Release, 109.2 proof, $100
6. Bardstown Bourbon Company Double Barreled Discovery Series #13, 110.8 Proof, $150
5. Heaven Hill 90th Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 107 proof, $125
4. Brother Justus Founders Reserve American Single Malt, 125 proof, $130
3. Bomberger’s PFG Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 100.2 proof, $140
2. Sazerac 18 Year Rye, 90 Proof, $150
1. George T. Stagg, 142.8 proof, $150
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