BevTest's 2023 Best Spirits, Wines, & Beers

Below are the Top 25 Beverage Testing Institute (BevTest) winners from their 2023 World Spirits Championships, 2023 World Wine Championships, and US Regional Wines from the 2023 state competitions run by BevTest, plus the top 12 Beers from their 2023 World Beer Championships.

Each year BevTest uses blind panels of trained drinks experts to review thousands of beverages for its in-house competitions as well as the competitions it runs for other organizations. When the panelists have put down their glasses for the year, what rises to the top are these lists of the best drinks of the year for your imbibing pleasure. BevTest does the heavy lifting (and pouring) so you don't have to, so seek out and treasure these liquid gems for your upcoming holiday parties, dinners, and get-togethers (or just for yourself :).

Cheers, The Editors at tastings.com

Best of Year For:
1st
Blue Spot 7 Year Old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
99 POINTS
Blue Spot 7 Year Old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey 58.9% (Ireland) $90.
The cuvee of barrels is really special here, further proof that barrels and blending are more important than age. More than just delicious whiskey, We wish our offices could just smell like this.
2nd
Bhakta Spirits 1973 Single Vintage Armagnac
98 POINTS
Bhakta Spirits 1973 Single Vintage Armagnac 50.3% (France) $399.
People have tried to make Armagnac popular before and failed but with expressions like this the world of luxury libations will be hard pressed not to talk about what Bhakta is doing here all year round.
3rd
Fuenteseca 2014 Reserva 7 Year Aged Extra Añejo Tequila
98 POINTS
Fuenteseca 2014 Reserva 7 Year Aged Extra Añejo Tequila 41.7% (Mexico) $259.
Incredible agave flavors stand up to and harmonize with the diverse aromas and flavors of the cask. Wow and this is special.
4th
REDBREAST 27 Year Old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Batch No. 4
98 POINTS
REDBREAST 27 Year Old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Batch No. 4 53.6% (Ireland) $599.
When this whiskey is showing well there is almost no whiskey or distillate in the world that is better.
5th
Cazcanes No. 10 Blanco Tequila
97 POINTS
Cazcanes No. 10 Blanco Tequila 54% (Mexico) $110.
One of the finest expressions of pure agave flavor in the marketplace today.
6th
Rest & Be Thankful 1998 23 Year Aged Longpond Single Cask #10245 Rum
97 POINTS
Rest & Be Thankful 1998 23 Year Aged Longpond Single Cask #10245 Rum 57.6% (Jamaica) $369.
For those that love high ester Rums there are few options in the world better than this.
7th
Del Maguey San Pablo Ameyaltepec Single Village Blanco Mezcal
97 POINTS
Del Maguey San Pablo Ameyaltepec Single Village Blanco Mezcal 47% (Mexico) $124.
Year upon year a top Mezcal in the market.
8th
Hooghoudt 23 Year Old Cask Strength Barrel-Aged Genever
97 POINTS
Hooghoudt 23 Year Old Cask Strength Barrel-Aged Genever 59.8% (Netherlands) $229.
A largely overlooked category but this is some of the best aged spirit out there.
9th
REDBREAST 21 Year Old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
97 POINTS
REDBREAST 21 Year Old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey 46% (Ireland) $230.
One of the world's finest and most consistent whiskies and sometimes better than the 27 year version at half the price.
10th
Jean-Marc XO Vodka
97 POINTS
Jean-Marc XO Vodka 40% (France) $59.
One of the world's finest Vodkas that maintains the flavor of the base fermentable.
11th
Larceny Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Batch No. B523
97 POINTS
Larceny Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Batch No. B523 62.2% (USA) $59.
A stunning Bourbon in its own right, but easily the best value in wheated Bourbon on the market.
12th
Bhakta Spirits 1964 Single Vintage Armagnac
97 POINTS
Bhakta Spirits 1964 Single Vintage Armagnac 50.1% (France) $579.
Needs a bit of air and time to express the youthful fruit underneath but something really special.
13th
Midleton Very Rare Barry Crockett Legacy Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
97 POINTS
Midleton Very Rare Barry Crockett Legacy Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey 46% (Ireland) $288.
A worthy whiskey to display Barry Crockett's name.
14th
Wilderness Trail Bottled-In-Bond Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
97 POINTS
Wilderness Trail Bottled-In-Bond Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey 50% (USA) $54.
Beautiful rye from a younger distillery.
15th
Alquimia Reserva De Oro XIV Cask Strength Extra Añejo Tequila
97 POINTS
Alquimia Reserva De Oro XIV Cask Strength Extra Añejo Tequila 50% (Mexico) $249.
A Tequila to convert drinkers of well aged Brandies and Whiskies.
16th
elit Vodka
97 POINTS
elit Vodka 40% (Latvia) $40.
For over a decade the most consistent and clean Vodka on the market.
17th
Doc Swinson’s 5 Year Old Exploratory Cask Bossa Nova Cask-Finished Straight Bourbon Whiskey
96 POINTS
Doc Swinson’s 5 Year Old Exploratory Cask Bossa Nova Cask-Finished Straight Bourbon Whiskey 56.4% (USA) $80.
Not every experiment works but these exotic woods make this a treat one has to try to understand.
18th
Bhakta Spirits 1928 Blended Straight Rye Whiskey, Calvados, and Armagnac
96 POINTS
Bhakta Spirits 1928 Blended Straight Rye Whiskey, Calvados, and Armagnac 50% (USA) $69.
Adore this blend for anyone that likes fine spirits and the price is tough to beat.
19th
Black Tot 2022 Master Blender’s Reserve Limited Edition Rum
96 POINTS
Black Tot 2022 Master Blender’s Reserve Limited Edition Rum 54.5% (Caribbean Region) $200.
Complex and delicious without being too assertive.
20th
Mezcal Vago Mezcal Ensamble En Barro
96 POINTS
Mezcal Vago Mezcal Ensamble En Barro 50.2% (Mexico) $69.
Complex while still maintaining a value and approachability for the Mezcal category.
21st
Kavalan Solist Brandy Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky
96 POINTS
Kavalan Solist Brandy Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 57.1% (Taiwan) $214.
Barrel forward flavor that makes one question the supremacy of Scotland for Single Malts.
22nd
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Straight Bourbon Whiskey Batch No. B523
96 POINTS
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Straight Bourbon Whiskey Batch No. B523 62.1% (USA) $69.
Unique flavors from batch to btach with remarkable consistency of quality.
23rd
Kuleana Rum Works Hokulei Aged Rum Batch No. 07
96 POINTS
Kuleana Rum Works Hokulei Aged Rum Batch No. 07 46% (USA) $80.
Beautiful and uniquely Hawaiian terroir in this rum.
24th
Wikinger Noorgaard Gin
96 POINTS
Wikinger Noorgaard Gin 43.9% (Germany)
Spicy, minty, and savory layered on top on top of classic Gin flavors; this one is a treat.
25th
Shin 10 Year Old Mizunara Oak-Finished Japanese Malt Whisky
96 POINTS
Shin 10 Year Old Mizunara Oak-Finished Japanese Malt Whisky 48% (Japan) $130.
A relative bargain in Japanese Whiskey with ample Mizunara flavor.
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