What does it take for a bourbon to earn unanimous Gold votes from industry professionals? Only five straight bourbons achieved this feat at the 2025 LA Spirits Awards.

A few years ago, Bardstown Bourbon Company launched its own in-house-produced lineup of whiskeys called the Origin Series. These are very good, but the distillery is better known for its sourced products, blends of whiskeys from various distilleries that are often given a unique cask finish. The latest BBC release falls into that category, and it happens to be one of the better Cognac cask-finished whiskeys you can find at the moment.

JINRO soju has constantly held its place as the No. 1 Soju brand in Korea, since its launch in 1924 retaining its title as the No. 1 selling spirit brand. It is Korea’s most famous and most consumed alcoholic beverage!

When Cognac producer Maison Ferrand of France decided to launch a gin in 1996, most people scoffed at the idea. Yet here we are, almost three decades later, and Citadelle Gin is thriving. Their bottles have racked up a trophy room of awards. Their latest was the Gin of the Year Trophy from the 2024 Bartender Spirit Awards for their Jardin dÉté, which translates to ‘Summer Garden.’

Produced in the Italian Alps using locally sourced wheat and alpine spring water, Verità’s profile is clear, sharp, and fresh.