The Best Bourbons of 2025, According to the Prestigious L.A. Spirits Awards
There’s something timeless about bourbon. It’s bold yet nuanced, steeped in tradition but constantly evolving.
Whether you prefer it neat, on the rocks, or mixed into a classic cocktail, a great bourbon delivers more than flavor—it delivers a story.
And in 2025, that story is richer than ever. Distillers are pushing boundaries with heritage grains, experimental finishes, and age statements that speak to patience and purpose. From wheated expressions to rum cask finishes, today’s bourbons are more diverse, daring, and downright delicious than ever before.
At the center of this renaissance stands the L.A. Spirits Awards, where some of the country’s top tasters blind-judge the best of the best. The result? A list of standout bottles that represent the pinnacle of the craft. These are all Platinum Medal Winners, recognized for their excellence in aroma, flavor, balance, and complexity.
If you’re looking to discover a new favorite—or just want to see who’s setting the bar—these are The Best Bourbons of 2025, as recognized by the esteemed judges of the L.A. Spirits Awards.
15 STARS | Platinum Straight Bourbon
15 STARS Platinum Straight Bourbon is a masterclass in American whiskey blending. With bourbons aged 19, 15, and 10 years, it balances power with poise, delivering layers of maple, peanut brittle, and baking spice. A rich, expressive pour, this limited release captures the bold, pioneering spirit of America.
Angel's Envy | Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Finished in Port Wine Barrels
Angel’s Envy finishes this cask strength bourbon in ruby port casks, producing a velvety, refined expression that lingers like a great conversation. Notes of honey latte, light fruit syrup, and toasted oak deliver polish without pretension. It's a standout in their portfolio—sweet, balanced, and effortlessly elegant.
Angel's Envy | Cask Strength Bottled-In-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon
This limited edition release from Angel’s Envy rewrites the playbook. Bold and rich, it combines tradition with innovation in a pour that refuses to play it safe. Available only at their Louisville distillery—this one’s worth the trip.
Bardstown Bourbon Company | Origin Series Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon
With 20% wheat in the mash bill and six years in the barrel, Bardstown’s Origin Series Wheated Bourbon is smooth, balanced, and deeply flavorful. Expect notes of baked peach, cocoa, and stone fruit in every sip. A modern classic, proudly rooted in Kentucky grain and tradition.
Barrel | Foundation Double Barrel Bourbon
Barrel’s Foundation Double Barrel Bourbon showcases the brand’s blending expertise with whiskies sourced from Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, and Maryland. A second maturation in new American oak adds depth and complexity. Dark chocolate, dried fruit, and toasted marshmallow notes build a pour that’s rich, layered, and built for sipping.
Forbidden | Single Barrel Wheated Bourbon
Crafted by Marianne Eaves, Forbidden’s Single Barrel Wheated Bourbon packs a 114 proof punch and delivers delivers creamy butterscotch and a warm, chest-hugging finish. Made from white corn, white wheat, and malted barley, each barrel is its own story. Bold and soulful, it’s bourbon with mystery and finesse.
Green River | Full Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Also Won: Best Straight Bourbon and Best Bourbon
Green River Full Proof is a bold, full-bodied bourbon from one of Kentucky’s oldest distilleries, revived with modern craftsmanship. Notes of vanilla, caramel, chocolate-coated peppermints, and dried cherry unfold into a warm, slightly sweet finish. It’s a heritage-rich pour brought to life with power, balance, and finesse.
Hirsch Selected Whiskeys | The Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Double Oak
Also Won: Best Single Barrel Bourbon
Hirsch’s Double Oak expression is a bold single-barrel bourbon aged first in American oak, then finished in a freshly charred second barrel. The result is complex and layered: maple, fig, tobacco, vanilla, and dark chocolate all dance on the palate. Bottled unblended and unfiltered, it’s whiskey with character and conviction.
Lasso Motel | Sherry Cask Finish Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Aged in Pedro Ximénez casks, this Sherry Cask bourbon opens with white grape, dried apricot, and peach, carried home by warm baking spice. Elegant and expressive, it rewards slow sipping and close attention. A quiet standout that lingers long after the glass is empty.
Lasso Motel | Caribbean Rum Cask Finish Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Finished in Barbencourt 15 Rhum barrels, Lasso Motel blends Kentucky grit with tropical ease. Expect candied molasses, baked spice, and stone fruit wrapped in a kiss of island sweetness. It’s sun-drenched, rum-kissed, and full of swagger.
New Dawn Distilling | 6-Year-Old New York Bourbon
Distilled, aged, and bottled in Bethel, NY, this rich 6-year-old bourbon pairs flavor with a conscience. Notes of cherry, almond, apricot, and buttery croissant deliver a smooth, introspective pour, while the brand’s commitment to sustainable practices and community-minded initiatives ensures it’s as good for the world as it is in the glass. A small-batch spirit with a big heart—and a mission to do things differently
Redwood Empire | Screaming Titan Wheated Bourbon
Part of Redwood Empire’s Small Lot Series, Screaming Titan highlights a softer grain profile without losing its punch. Expertly blended and boundary-pushing, it brings balance and boldness in equal measure. A wheated bourbon that roars.
Shucked | Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Shucked Straight Bourbon brings Broadway flair with notes of white pepper, lavender, and kettle corn. Aged 7 years, it’s smooth, bold, and bursting with character. Made for center stage—and maybe a standing ovation.
Warbringer | Mesquite Smoked Southwest Bourbon
Also Won: Best Small Batch Bourbon
Smoked with mesquite and pot distilled, Warbringer delivers a campfire-in-a-glass experience. Barbecue, dark chocolate, roasted corn, and peppery spice blaze through the palate, while the finish lingers with leather and licorice. It’s not refined—it’s unforgettable. And that’s exactly the point.
READY TO DISCOVER OTHER GREAT SPIRITS?
Head over to the L.A. Spirits Awards website to explore the full list of 2025 medal winners and delve into the world of exceptional spirits.