Industry experts just named the best bourbon in a blind tasting—and it’s under $70
Every year, the Beverage Testing Institute convenes a blind tasting panel to evaluate thousands of American whiskeys, judging each bottle anonymously to determine which truly stand above the rest. Without the influence of brand reputation or marketing hype, the process has become a respected benchmark in the spirits industry.
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.”
Despite its earning the top bourbon award, Cream of Kentucky retails for $69.99—sometimes as low as $60.
Best American single malt: Stranahan’s 10 Year Old Mountain Angel, batch no. 4
Also scoring 96 out of 100 and earning a platinum medal, this label was named the best American single malt whiskey of 2025. Mountain Angel, Stranahan’s ultra-premium American single malt, is aged for a full decade in new charred American oak barrels stored at high altitude in Colorado, where the region’s dramatic temperature swings intensify the aging process.
Judges described the nose as inviting and layered, blending warm cream, citrus zest, and caramelized sugar with hints of mountain pine, dried fruit, and spiced oak. On the palate, the whiskey is direct yet well-balanced, revealing silky malt sweetness alongside candied raspberry, orange peel, caramel, toasted barley, and honey. Notes of oak spice, dark chocolate, and a subtle warmth add depth without overpowering the spirit’s core fruit and malt character.
The texture is thick, velvety, and mouth-coating, reflecting both the whiskey’s extended aging and the concentration produced by Colorado’s high-altitude climate. The BevTest panel noted aromas of butterscotch, cinnamon, poached pear, and maple, alongside flavors of white pepper, marzipan, and nutmeg, describing the whiskey as “warm, fruity, and nutty with a lightly spiced confectionery note—perfect for sipping by a fireplace.”
Best cask-finished bourbon: Kentucky 10 Barrel Strength Hand Selected
With a score of 92 out of 100, this Kentucky 10 Year Barrel-Strength Hand-Selected Straight Bourbon is a classic small-batch pick, bottled at full cask proof, usually chosen for its rich flavor and structure. It received a gold medal and was named the best cask-finished straight bourbon whiskey of 2025.
On the nose, the whiskey is rich and aromatic, with bold notes of caramel, vanilla, dark brown sugar, and maple syrup layered with ripe stone fruit, apple, baking spices, and well-charred oak. On the palate, it is robust and sweet, revealing caramel corn, toffee, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove before deepening into darker notes of cocoa, roasted peanuts, tobacco, and leather.
With a smooth, oily texture, the whiskey coats the tongue with sweetness and oak tannin. The finish is long and warming with a hunt of barrel char, which makes it a wonderful whiskey for slow sipping or an old fashioned.
The BevTest Judging Panel described the whiskey as having “aromas of buttery roasted nuts, chocolate cake with peach sauce, and saffron-spiced fruits. The flavors include chocolate crème brûlée with mint, cola nut, and marzipan. A charming, fruity, spicy bourbon with instant appeal and good versatility.”
Best flavored whiskey: Hardhide Chilton County Peach Whiskey
Receiving a gold medal and a score of 94 out of 100, Hardhide Chilton County Peach Whiskey was named the best flavored whiskey of 2025. The label is crafted using fresh peaches from Alabama’s Chilton County, which are blended with three-year-old wheat whiskey and light American whiskey at Sugarfield Distillery in Louisiana.
From the first sip, the whiskey evokes freshly picked ripe peach, with aromas of honey, caramel, and stone fruit layered over subtle grain and oak, while the smooth palate carries natural peach alongside caramel, brown sugar, toffee, and gentle baking spices without drifting into liqueur-like sweetness.
The texture is soft and slightly viscous, reflecting the fruit and sugars integrated into the spirit. The BevTest panel noted aromas of pear flesh, peach, and golden pineapple alongside flavors of nectarine, lychee tea, and butterscotch, describing it as “a bright, balanced, fruity peach whiskey that adds a touch of orchard fruit to cocktails.”
—Leila Sheridan
This article originally appeared on Fast Company’s sister website, Inc.com.
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