Top spirits 2024: The liquors we loved, the most surprising tastings, and more!
Happy New Year! We can’t believe that 2024 is coming to a close, and with that, it’s time to look back on all the bottles we tried over the past 12 months. Some impressed us, others made us want to gag, and the rest were somewhere in between. Regardless, we were grateful for every single sip!
So what are our top spirits of 2024? Keep reading to see our favorite bottles by spirit category, biggest surprises, favorite cocktails, and more. Let’s dive in!
Our Top Whiskey Choice 2024
Wayward Single Malt Whiskey
Although we experienced a large variety of whiskies this year, it wasn’t difficult to select our favorite: Wayward Single Malt.
The Santa Cruz, California based Venus Spirits took inspiration from both Scotch and Bourbon traditions to create a unique whiskey that’s bursting with flavors like chocolate, cherry, mint, and vanilla. And, being bottled at 92 proof also makes Wayward Single Malt an ideal choice for a variety of cocktails.
Our Top Tequila Choice 2024
Grand Mayan Tequila Extra Aged
This year, the competition for our top tequila was fierce, but the luxurious drinking experience of Grand Mayan Tequila made it stand out among other great tequilas. The flavor is complex and effortlessly evolves from sweet to earthy notes while still remaining smooth. And, the beautifully painted ceramic bottle completes the entire package.
Our Top Gin Choice 2024
Bayab Classic Dry Gin
When all was said and done, we only gave a 5 star rating to one bottle of gin this year, and that was Bayab African Grown Classic Dry Gin. If you’re a fan of interesting, unique gins, this is definitely one that you need to try ASAP! Bayab is delicious, inspiring, and complements every gin cocktail that we have made with it thus far.
Our Top Liqueur Choice 2024
Ancho Reyes Original Liqueur
In 2024, we tried several different liqueurs, and Ancho Reyes Original definitely stood out amongst the pack. This chile liqueur boasts a warm and spicy flavor that is unique and surprisingly versatile in cocktails. It is really something special!
Our Top Non-Alcoholic Choice 2024
Lyre’s Orange Sec
In the past couple of years, we have started to branch out to non-alcoholic spirits on the blog, with mixed results. This year, one NA spirit in particular impressed us, and that is Lyre’s Orange Sec. This product is a triple sec (orange liqueur) alternative that actually makes a great 1:1 replacement without the need for recipe adjustments. It’s tasty, useful, and balances well just like a good triple sec. We love it!
Our Top cocktail spirit 2024
G4 Blanco Tequila
This year, making the choice for top mixing spirit was exceedingly difficult, as we tried some great bottles of vodka, gin, and even rum. But ultimately, we feel that G4 Blanco deserves the shout out.
G4 is a brand with a lot of hype surrounding it, but somehow it still managed to exceed our expectations. Not only that, but the flavor is surprisingly clean and neutral for a tequila. It is simply great for mixing!
Our favorite cocktails in 2024
EMMELINE'S TOP CHOICE
Mexican Firing Squad
I’ll be honest, my cocktail choices in 2024 were a little less inspired than previous years, with a few notable exceptions. I spent this year largely mixing up old favorites and variations that, while tasty, were not particularly new or different.
However, there were a small handful of drinks that did spark my excitement, with my favorite being the Mexican Firing Squad.
This tequila-based drink also features lime juice, grenadine, and angostura bitters, which turns out to be a killer combination.
JOSH'S TOP CHOICE
Scofflaw
Although I experienced a wide variety of cocktails this year, there was one in particular that kept me coming back for more, the Scofflaw.
This rye whiskey-based cocktail also includes lemon juice, dry vermouth, and grenadine, and the balance in flavor is what impressed me the most. At first, I was skeptical of the inclusion of dry vermouth, but it works particularly well with the fresh, fruity notes in grenadine.
Our biggest surprise this year
MONOPOLOWA VODKA
When Emmeline first saw this bottle of Monopolowa Vodka on the shelves, she was honestly expecting it to be a cheap, mediocre product due to it’s price point and modest bottle design. However, it really blew her away! Monopolowa is incredibly smooth and clean tasting, even compared to many vodkas that are over twice the price. It’s simply amazing!
Our biggest disappointment this year
GREY GOOSE VODKA
While we’re on the subject of vodka, that also leads us into to our biggest disappointment of 2024: Grey Goose. It was disgusting. Really disgusting. If you want a more eloquent explanation about why, go read Emmeline’s full review.
Our favorite bottle design in 2024
Sababa Mezcal
When it comes to our choice for top bottle design, Sababa Mezcal had very little competition this year. It’s beautiful, vibrant, and made of vitrified porcelain.
The bottle shape depicts an alebrije in the form of a hybrid owl, rooster, and bat. It’s a true work of art!
This year's company shout-out
Copalli Rum
Though there were a handful of companies that impressed us with their social and environmental efforts this year, Copalli Rum came out on top due to its zero waste distillery!
Their rums are completely farm to bottle, and made with organic sugar cane. They also use various strategies to keep a low carbon footprint overall. In addition, they engage in philanthropic efforts such as supporting education, cultural preservation, and rainforest conservation.
Well, that’s the list! Those were our top spirits for 2024. What about you? What were your favorite bottles this year? What do you want to see us review in 2025? Let us know in the comments!
As always, drink responsibly.
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