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Winnowed down from hundreds of bottles reviewed over the past 12 months, these 100 selections represent the brightest and most memorable spirits of 2024.
You won’t want to miss these special sips. To name a few: An absinthe distilled during a full moon. A 25th-anniversary bourbon that glows with notes of toffee and spice. A luxury vodka that will have you craving icy martinis. A lemony Italian liqueur to mix into summer spritzes.
By the numbers, all scored 90+ and prices ranged from $500 (for a special single-vintage Jamaican rum) to a mere $11 (for a dessert-ready coffee liqueur). Overall, this might be one of the most affordable Top 100s we’ve ever compiled, with more than half the list priced at $60 or below.
These are the spirits to snap up now. Whether you’re seeking to shake up celebratory cocktails, gift a special bottle or just try something different, you’ll likely find a new favorite among these top 100 picks.
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This 40th anniversary release is made from black and English walnuts. A coffee hue and a warmly spiced nose leads to a distinctly herbaceous palate, with rootsy hints of sarsaparilla, cinnamon bark and clove. |
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Warm vanilla aromas welcome this limited release bourbon. The velvety palate echoes that vanilla note, layering it with hazelnut, cocoa powder and oak, polished with cinnamon sparkle and a hint of orange peel. |
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It's impossible to ignore the sculptural, sea-green ceramic bottle, with a vaguely humanoid shape that requires beheading to pour the golden and bright liquid. |
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This is a blend of Kentucky straight bourbon and Tennessee bourbon, finished with French oak staves. The result is a powerful sip, opening with luscious caramel on the nose and palate. |
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With a golden hue and mild almond aroma, this soft, silky repo suggests flavors of buttered brioche sprinkled with sea salt, leading into a lip-smacking butterscotch hint on the exit shored up with gingery snap. |
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This bourbon is distilled and aged in Kentucky, then brought to Napa Valley to finish in port barrels. The result is a deep amber hue and palate-coating caramel corn and toffee notes studded with roasted peanuts that might leave you craving a candy bar. |
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Pineapple and coconut aromas lead into a silky palate that echoes those tropical notes. Distinct salinity carries through to the mellow finish framed by ginger and a puff of smoke. |
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Typically, fassionola is a tropical fruit-flavored syrup used to fill out tiki drinks. Here, it's transformed into a vivid rosy-pink liqueur. |
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Best Buy |
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Just right for dry martinis, this golden vermouth entices with fresh apple and pear aromas. The zesty, zingy palate shows lemon peel and green apple, plus hints of dried thyme and sage, finishing bracing and fresh. |
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Aged a total of six months in a mix of white Bordeaux, white Burgundy and Chardonnay barrels, this golden tequila offers a zesty, slightly funky aroma that suggests sun-dried tomato and a waft of smoke. |
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Expect a honey hue and vanilla aroma, with a smoky hint. The bold, rich palate opens with butterscotch and cayenne zing, finishing long and mentholated, with a final burst of vanilla cream. |
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This sherry-cask-finished whiskey opens with mild vanilla and fresh apple aromas. The flavor veers closer to fresh pear, coupled with almond and ginger heat, leading into a tingly, even fiery finish. |
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Distilled with Yen Ben lemons, this silky gin offers mild honeydew and lavender. The warming, even numbing finish shows black pepper, licorice and citrus peel. |
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Rich toffee and maple tempered by oak lead to a quick burst of juicy red fruit. Adding water brings light baking spice to warm the finish. |
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