World’s Best Spirits According to the 2026 L.A. Spirits Awards

By Mike Gorman, The Best Drink Ever Presented by L.A. Spirits Awards

Published May 05, 2026

These Spirits Cut Through the Noise. Here’s What Made the List.

Walk into any liquor store or scroll through an endless online aisle. Bottles stack up fast, each one asking for your attention. Most get lost. A few rise above. That’s where a medal matters. But not all medals carry the same weight. The L.A. Spirits Awards does, because of who’s behind it. A panel of industry professionals including bartenders, buyers, educators, and operators. Real-world perspective. Sharp, trained palates. No politics. No back-label bias. Just what’s in the glass. When something wins here, it’s earned.

The 2026 competition raised the bar. Bigger categories, tighter competition, and stronger entries across the board. From precise, additive-free tequilas to layered, boundary-pushing whiskeys and standout ready-to-drink cocktails, the field left little room for error. Medals were awarded across Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Only a handful pushed past this to compete for Best in Show. They held up under pressure, blind, against the best in the room.

Best Añejo Tequila, Best Blanco Tequila, Best Tequila, Best Bourbon, Best Single Barrel Bourbon, Best Extra Añejo Tequila, Best Gin, Best Liqueur, Best Mezcal, Best Agave Spirit, Best Best Ready-To-Drink, Best Ready-To-Serve, Best Reposado Tequila, Best Rum, Best Rye Whiskey, Best Whiskey, Best Small Batch Bourbon, Best Straight Bourbon, Best Tennessee Whiskey, Best Unique Barrel-Finished Bourbon, Best Vodka

Best Añejo Tequila: Pezuña Blanca – Organic Añejo Tequila

Pezuña Blanca doesn’t come from a story inspired by the legend of the single white hoof, a symbol of luck and discernment, the brand is rooted in the traditions of Mexican charros and the volcanic soils of the Amatitán Valley. Crafted at NOM 1480, it leans into heritage without getting stuck in it, bridging old-world craftsmanship with a modern, deliberate hand. Even the presentation nods to that balance, with earthenware-inspired design that feels closer to something made than manufactured.

Pezuña Blanca’s Organic Añejo Tequila is layered with depth and character. Aromas of freshly cut pepper move into soft oak with a hint of citrus, setting up a palate where nutmeg and vanilla round out the agave’s natural brightness. There’s a richness here, but it never drifts too far—everything stays in balance. The finish lands with a smooth peppery heat, lingering just long enough to remind you it’s there. Structured, expressive, and grounded in tradition—this is añejo with a point of view.

Best Blanco Tequila & Best Tequila: VOZUL – Blanco Tequila

The name VOZUL blends “Voz” (voice) and “Azul” (blue), a nod to both the people behind it and the Blue Weber agave at its core. Founded by Mexican families with deep ties to culture, business, and music, VOZUL is built on something rare—shared values, handshake trust, and a commitment to doing it right. From agave fields across Los Altos and the Tequila Valley to the final bottle, every step reflects a balance of heritage and precision. Built with purpose. Made para nosotros..

VOZUL’s Blanco Tequila delivers clarity and character. Cooked low and slow using both autoclaves and traditional ovens, then naturally fermented and distilled in stainless steel pot stills, it opens with bright, expressive aromatics of fresh agave. The palate is crisp and layered, with a clean structure that carries through to a smooth, polished finish. Versatile enough for cocktails, but with enough integrity to stand on its own,this is tequila that knows exactly where it comes from.

Best Bourbon & Best Single Barrel Bourbon: Augusta Distillery – Wheated Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Set along the Ohio River and rooted in Kentucky tradition, Augusta Distillery’s approach is simple: one barrel at a time, no blending, no dilution, no shortcuts. This wheated expression swaps rye for wheat, softening the edges without losing structure, but still holds the line on what matters—single barrel, cask strength, unfiltered. Every release is shaped by time, temperature, and the barrel itself. No two are the same, and that’s the point.

Augusta Distillery’s Wheated Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon leans into elegance without giving up character. The nose opens with honeyed grain, fresh-baked bread, and vanilla cream, layered with soft orchard fruit and toasted oak. On the palate, it’s round and composed—caramel and vanilla carry through with a gentle warmth, balanced by a touch of baking spice. The finish lingers smooth and steady, with just enough weight to remind you this is still cask strength. Uncompromised, unfiltered, and distinctly its own—this is single barrel bourbon doing exactly what it should.

Best Extra Añejo Tequila: Pantalones – Organic Extra Añejo Tequila

Pantalones Organic Extra Añejo Tequila is made from 100% organic Blue Weber agave and aged extensively before being finished in Texas bourbon barrels. The aging process adds depth and barrel character while still allowing the agave profile to come through clearly.

Pantalones’ Organic Extra Añejo Tequila has real depth and a sense of ease. Aromas of dried fruit, almond, and orange citrus open into a richer core of butterscotch and toasted oak. On the palate, layers of cooked agave carry through alongside dark chocolate and warm barrel influence, giving it weight without losing clarity. The finish lingers smooth, with a soft warmth that builds rather than bites. Refined, but relaxed—this is tequila that knows how to have a good time without cutting corners.

Best Gin: Bluff Distillery – Bluff London Dry Gin

At the southernmost tip of New Zealand, where the Pacific Ocean collides with the Tasman Sea, conditions are rugged, unpredictable, and unforgiving. That environment shapes both the spirit and the people behind Bluff Distillery’s London Dry Gin.

The name “Bluff” references the local fishermen known as “Bluffys,” who were famous for braving rough southern waters and the dangerous Hell’s Gate strait to cut loose floating glass buoys from foreign fishing nets. It’s a story rooted in resilience, grit, and life lived close to the sea — qualities reflected in the gin itself.

Bluff Distillery’s London Dry Gin stays true to the classic style while carrying a distinct coastal character. Juniper leads clearly on the nose and palate, supported by coriander, licorice root, and layered floral and earthy botanicals. A subtle salinity runs through the mid-palate, adding freshness and a sense of place without overpowering the spirit. The finish is dry, savory, and clean, with a structured profile that feels precise and confident.

This is a classic London Dry Gin with a distinctly southern edge — bold, balanced, and shaped by the wild coastline it comes from.

Best Liqueur: De Moncy – Orange Liqueur

Built on seven generations of Cognac distilling, De Moncy is less about sweetness and more about structure. The base matters here: real Cognac eaux-de-vie layered with orange, handled with the kind of restraint that comes from experience. It’s French in the way that counts—measured, balanced, and quietly confident in what it is.

De Moncy’s Orange Liqueur moves beyond the expected. It opens with fresh, sweet orange and candied zest, followed by soft floral notes that give it lift. On the palate, citrus leads but never overwhelms, rounded out by subtle spice and a touch of vanilla from the Cognac. The finish brings in a gentle bitterness of curaçao orange, keeping everything in check. Smooth, composed, and versatile. This is orange liqueur with a backbone.

Best Mezcal & Best Agave Spirit: Eléctrico – Tobalá Joven Mezcal

Eléctrico Tobalá Joven Mezcal is produced in San Baltazar Guelavila, Oaxaca, under Maestro Mezcalero Cirino using traditional small-batch methods. Made from wild Tobalá agave, the mezcal reflects both the varietal and the region it comes from.

Eléctrico’s Tobalá Joven Mezcal balances delicacy with depth. The nose opens lightly smoked but fresh, carrying hints of soft fruit, and green botanicals. On the palate, it’s alive. Herbal, mineral, and slightly grassy, with a gentle heat that builds and then settles into a clean, honeyed finish. There’s precision here, but also soul. Expressive, grounded, and unmistakably of its place. This is mezcal that speaks for itself.

Best Ready-To-Drink Cocktail: Cutwater – White Russian

Cutwater built its reputation by taking bar-quality cocktails out of the bar and bringing them straight to your home. What started as a distiller tinkering in the back of a brewery turned into one of the brands that defined the modern RTD category, Serious spirits, no shortcuts, and a clear point of view. 

Cutwater’s White Russian is exactly what you want it to be. Rich, smooth, and dialed in with real vodka, real coffee cream liqueur, and a classic recipe that doesn’t try to reinvent itself. The nose leans into roasted coffee and sweet cream, while the palate delivers a balanced mix of silky texture, light sweetness, and a clean vodka backbone. It finishes soft and lingering, with just enough weight to feel indulgent without tipping over. Familiar, done right, and ready when you are. This is a classic that holds up, no matter where you open it.

Best Ready-To-Serve Cocktail: Tip Top Proper Cocktails – Mai Tai

Built by a team that understands what it takes to serve at scale without losing quality, Tip Top set out to do something deceptively hard: make classic cocktails that actually taste like the originals. For the Mai Tai, that means going back to Trader Vic’s blueprint—before it got buried under syrup and shortcuts—and treating it with the same balance and restraint you’d expect from a serious bar. Small format, high proof, no compromises.

Tip Top’s Mai Tai brings the category back into focus. Bright citrus hits first, followed by layers of fresh sugar cane, mandarin, and toasted almond that give it depth without weighing it down. There’s a subtle richness—marzipan, a touch of tropical warmth—but it stays clean and structured from start to finish. Strong, refreshing, and unmistakably intentional—this is a classic done the way it was meant to be.

Best Reposado Tequila: Alto Canto – Reposado Tequila

Distilled at 9,000 feet in the Sierra del Tigre mountains, Alto Canto’s the first true “Tequila de Altura,” where altitude, pressure, and climate all play a role in shaping the final spirit. But for all the innovation, the foundation stays traditional: tahona-crushed agave, wild fermentation, and careful double distillation. Organic agave, mountain spring water, and a hands-on approach that lets the environment do part of the work. It’s not forced, it’s earned.

Alto Canto’s Reposado Tequila has clarity and lift, balanced by quiet depth. The agave comes through clean and expressive, layered with soft oak from four months in new American barrels. There’s a natural mineral edge that’s subtle, but distinct, giving structure to the palate, while gentle warmth rounds everything out. The finish is smooth, composed, and lightly lingering, with just enough barrel influence to add complexity without overshadowing the spirit. Elevated in every sense—this is reposado shaped by place as much as process.

Best Rum: Ten To One – Caribbean White Rum

Built on the idea that the Caribbean is stronger together, Ten To One blends rums from across islands and traditions, pulling from both column and pot still distillation to create something more layered than expected. No additives, no sugar, no shortcuts. Just a modern approach rooted in culture, craft, and a clear point of view.

Ten To One’s Caribbean White Rum delivers a crisp, vibrant profile with real dimension. Aromatics open with jasmine, honeysuckle, and lemongrass, lifted by white pepper, citrus zest, and a touch of fresh herbs. On the palate, it’s clean and refreshing, with bright acidity and a subtle minerality that keeps everything tight and structured. It works effortlessly in classics like daiquiris and mojitos, but holds enough character to push into more inventive territory. Precise, expressive, and quietly complex. This is white rum with something to say.

Best Rye Whiskey & Best Whiskey: Bardstown Bourbon Company – Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Cherry & Oak Barrels (Origin Series)

Bardstown Bourbon Company is known for balancing traditional Kentucky whiskey-making with a more modern approach to blending, finishing, and product development. Based in Bardstown, Kentucky, the company has built a reputation for producing both its own bourbon and collaborative releases that experiment with different aging techniques, cask finishes, and flavor profiles.

Bardstown ‘s Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Cherry & Oak Barrels pushes past the usual boundaries without losing its footing. The nose opens with warm spice and toasted wood, layered with subtle fruit and a hint of sweetness from the cherry finish. On the palate, it’s structured but expressive. Classic rye spice up front, followed by deeper notes of dark fruit, soft oak, and a gentle richness that rounds the edges. The finish lingers with a balanced warmth, where spice and sweetness meet without either taking over. Bold, composed, and quietly inventive. This is rye with something new to say.

Best Small Batch Bourbon: Barrell Craft Spirits – Aged 12 Years Bourbon Finished in Toasted American Oak

Barrell Craft Spirits is known for pushing the boundaries of blending. The team works barrel by barrel, building expressions that feel intentional rather than formulaic. This release pulls from 12 to 15-year-old bourbons, each selected for maturity and depth, then brought together and finished in slow-toasted American oak. It’s not about masking flaws—it’s about amplifying what’s already there. Precision over process for the sake of it.

Barrell’s Aged 12 Years Bourbon Finished in Toasted American Oak leans fully into its age without losing control. The nose opens rich and layered—toasted oak, maple sweetness, and baking spice, with hints of cherry and citrus tucked underneath. On the palate, it’s dense and structured, moving through woodsy notes, cocoa, and dark fruit, balanced by a subtle thread of freshness that keeps it from settling too heavy. The finish lingers long, evolving from bright, almost lifted notes into a creamy, rounded close. Complex, deliberate, and deeply composed—this is blending at its highest level.

Best Straight Bourbon: Unreined – Four Grain Full Proof Bourbon

Born between Kentucky tradition and Texas climate, Unreined leans into blending as a deliberate craft, not a shortcut. Multiple mash bills, different aging environments, and a willingness to step outside convention all come together with a clear goal: flavor first. No rigid formulas, no legacy constraints. Just a focused approach to creating something balanced, expressive, and distinctly its own.

Unreined’s Four Grain Full Proof Bourbon delivers a bold, layered profile shaped by its four-grain foundation of corn, rye, wheat, and malted barley. The nose opens with caramelized banana, red apple, and toasted spice, leading into a palate of decadent caramel, honeyed fig, and vanilla. There’s weight here, but it stays controlled, rich without tipping over. The finish carries through with syrupy sweetness, melted dark chocolate, and a warm baking spice that lingers. Structured, full-flavored, and unapologetically modern. This is bourbon built on blending, done with intent.

Best Tennessee Whiskey: Uncle Nearest – 1856 Premium Aged Whiskey

Uncle Nearest is built to honor Nearest Green, the first known African American master distiller, the brand is rooted in legacy, recognition, and doing things the right way.  This Tennessee whiskey is made with intention and bottled at 100 proof. 

Uncle Nearest’s 1856 Premium Aged Whiskey delivers on both structure and smoothness. The nose opens warm and inviting, with notes of caramel, vanilla and soft oak. On the palate, it’s rounded and balanced. Rich without being heavy, carrying a gentle sweetness layered with spice and toasted wood. The finish is clean and steady, with a lingering warmth that holds without overpowering. Approachable, composed, and grounded in something real. This is Tennessee whiskey with purpose.

Best Unique Barrel-Finished Bourbon: Barrell Craft Spirits – Cigar Blend Bourbon

Barrell’s Cigar Blend Bourbon is built from bourbons aged 7.5 to 18 years, then layered through a series of finishing casks, Madeira, Armagnac, rum, and Hungarian oak each chosen to add something specific – not just something extra. It’s a controlled kind of excess, where every element has a role. The goal isn’t subtlety, it’s balance at scale. Big whiskey, built with intent.

Cigar Blend is dense, expressive, and constantly evolving. The nose opens rich and dark. brandy-soaked fruit, toffee, and warm oak, with hints of tobacco and pastry underneath. On the palate, it’s full and textured, moving through molasses, dried cherry, spice, and layered sweetness, all carried by a weighty, almost chewy mouthfeel. The finish lingers long, unfolding into notes of cocoa, clove, and sweet vermouth, with a subtle mineral edge that keeps it from going too far. Complex, unapologetic, and built to last. This is barrel finishing pushed to its limit, and held together.

Best Vodka: Woody Creek Distillers – 100% Potato Vodka

Built in Basalt, Colorado, Woody Creek starts with ingredients that are close to home: potatoes grown just miles away, distilled on-site, and handled start to finish without outsourcing or shortcuts. It’s distilled once and left unfiltered, a deliberate choice to keep texture and character intact. In a category that often strips things down, this leans the other way. Real ingredients, real process, and a clear connection to where it’s made.

Woody Creek’s 100% Potato Vodka has presence. The nose is clean but grounded, with a subtle earthiness from the potatoes. On the palate, it’s soft and slightly sweet, carrying a creamy texture that sets it apart from the usual neutral profile. The finish is smooth and rounded, lingering just enough to remind you it’s there without getting in the way. Balanced, tactile, and quietly distinctive. This is vodka that doesn’t disappear in the glass.

About L.A. Spirits Awards

L.A. Spirits Awards, renowned for its unbiased and forward-thinking approach, is at the forefront of recognizing outstanding spirits in an ever-evolving industry. With their passion for celebrating the artistry and diversity of craft spirits, they have become a trusted authority and source of inspiration for both industry professionals and spirits enthusiasts alike.

READY TO DISCOVER OTHER GREAT SPIRITS? 

Head over to the L.A. Spirits Awards to explore the full list of 2026 medal winners and delve into the world of exceptional spirits.