For the 2nd straight year, Barleycorn faced off its Spring and Fall Competition Top Spirits to determine the Best Of 2023.
This blind-tasting combat was judged by Barleycorn Society members, including Clay Risen, Wayne Curtis, Zach Johnston, Susan Reigler, and John McCarthy. It proved to be a raucous smackdown.
![](https://barleycornawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/clay-risen2-uai-258x258.jpg)
![](https://barleycornawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/wayne2-uai-258x258.jpg)
![](https://barleycornawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Zach-Johnston-uai-258x258.jpg)
![](https://barleycornawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/susan-reigler-uai-258x258.jpg)
![](https://barleycornawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/John-M-uai-258x258.jpg)
Broken ties, runaway winners, and surprising new up-and-comers emerged to take top honors, and it was such a pleasure discovering so many amazing spirits from producers from around the world this year along the way.
But the votes are tallied and it’s a pleasure to present our JOHN BARLEYCORN BEST SPIRITS OF 2023.
![](https://barleycornawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/best-of-year-2023-logos-web-uai-258x18.jpg)
Best Bourbon
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B523
Heaven Hill Distillery
![](https://barleycornawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Elijah-Craig-Barrel-Proof-B523-uai-258x258.jpg)
Best Single Barrel Bourbon/ Tennessee Whiskey
Rock Town Column Still Collection Single Barrel Straight Bourbon
Rock Town Distillery
![](https://barleycornawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Rock-Town-Column-Still-Collection-Single-Barrel-Straight-Bourbon-uai-258x258.jpg)
Best Rye Whiskey
Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. Small Batch Rye Whiskey
Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co.
![](https://barleycornawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Kentucky-Peerless-Distilling-Co-uai-258x258.jpg)
Best Single Barrel Rye
A.M. Scott Distillery Barrel Proof Rye
A.M. Scott Distillery
![](https://barleycornawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/A-uai-258x258.jpg)
Best Irish Whiskey
Redbreast 12 Year Old Cask Strength Series
Redbreast
![](https://barleycornawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Redbreast-uai-258x258.jpg)
Best American Whiskey
15 STARS Sherry Cask Finish
15 STARS Bourbon
![](https://barleycornawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/15-STARS-Sherry-Cask-Finish-1-uai-258x258.jpg)
Best Rum
Ernest by Papa’s Pilar Rum
Hemingway Rum Co.
![](https://barleycornawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/paps-pilar-square-uai-258x258.jpg)
Best Luxury Whiskey
The Devil’s Keep 2023 Edition
The Craft Irish Whiskey Co.
![](https://barleycornawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/The-Craft-Irish-Whiskey-Co-uai-258x258.jpg)
Best American Single Malt
The QuintEssential First Fill Sherry Single Cask
Cedar Ridge Distillery
![](https://barleycornawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Cedar-Ridge-The-QuintEssential-First-Fill-Sherry-Single-Cask-uai-258x258.jpg)
Best Vodka
LumiereVodka
Dutch Craft Distillery
![](https://barleycornawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Dutch-Craft-Distillery-uai-258x258.jpg)
Best Gin
Highclere Castle Gin
Highclere Castle Spirits
![](https://barleycornawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Highclere-Castle-Spirits-uai-258x258.jpg)
Best American Brandy
Starlight Distillery Bottled-In-Bond Single Barrel Estate Apple Brandy
Starlight Distillery
![](https://barleycornawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Starlight-Distillery-uai-258x258.jpg)
Best Cognac
Courvossier XO
Courvossier
![](https://barleycornawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Courvossier-uai-258x258.jpg)
Best Flavored Vodka
Distillery of Modern Art Peach Flavored Vodka
Distillery of Modern Art
![](https://barleycornawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Distillery-of-Modern-Art-uai-258x258.jpg)
Best Tennessee Whiskey
Jack Daniel’s 12-Year-Old Tennessee Whiskey
Jack Daniel’s Distillery
![](https://barleycornawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Jack-Daniels-12-Year-Old-Tennessee-Whiskey-uai-258x258.jpg)
Best Wheat Whiskey
Bernheim Original Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey Barrel Proof B923
Heaven Hill Distillery
![](https://barleycornawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Bernheim-Original-Kentucky-Straight-Wheat-Whiskey-Barrel-Proof-B923-1-uai-258x258.jpg)
Best Corn Whiskey
Abasolo Mexican Corn Whiskey
Casa Lumbre
![](https://barleycornawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Casa-Lumbre-uai-258x258.jpg)
Best American Craft Spirit
M&O Spirits Black Bourbon Whiskey
M&O Spirits
![](https://barleycornawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/MO-Spirits-uai-258x258.jpg)
Best Scotch Whisky
Chivas XV Scotch Whisky
Strathisla Distillery
![](https://barleycornawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Strathisla-Distillery-uai-258x258.jpg)
Best World Whiskey
Rampur Indian Single Malt Asava
Radico Khaitan
![](https://barleycornawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Radico-Khaitan-uai-258x258.jpg)
Best Canadian Whisky
Black Velvet Reserve
Black Velvet
![](https://barleycornawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Black-Velvet-Reserve-uai-258x258.jpg)
Best Flavored Whiskey
King’s Family Distillery Chocolate Whiskey
King’s Family Distillery
![](https://barleycornawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Kings-Family-Distillery-Chocolate-Whiskey-uai-258x258.jpg)
Best Tequila
Quintaliza Reposado Tequila
Quintaliza Tequila
![](https://barleycornawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Quintaliza-Tequila-uai-258x258.jpg)
Best Mezcal
Ojo de Tigre Joven Mezcal
Casa Lumbre
![](https://barleycornawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Casa-Lumbre-Ojo-Joven-uai-258x258.jpg)
Best Flavored Tequila
Madam Paleta Tequila (Tamarind)
JOBU Beverages, LLC
![](https://barleycornawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/JOBU-Beverages-LLC-uai-258x258.jpg)
Best Soju
Bībā Soju
Golden Beaver Distillery
![](https://barleycornawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Golden-Beaver-Distillery-uai-258x258.jpg)
Best Liqueur
Victus Amaro
Rock 12 Distillery
![](https://barleycornawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Rock-12-Distillery-uai-258x258.jpg)
Best NA Spirit
MIXOLOSHE Premium Non-Alcoholic Gin Alternative
MIXOLOSHE
![](https://barleycornawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/MIXOLOSHE-uai-258x258.jpg)
Best Ready To Drink Cocktail
The Glenlivet Twist & Mix Old Fashioned
The Glenlivet Distillery
![](https://barleycornawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/The-Glenlivet-Distillery-uai-258x258.jpg)
Best Ready To Drink Hard Seltzer
Deep Eddy Vodka + Peach Tea
Heaven Hill Brands
![](https://barleycornawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Deep-Eddy-Vodka-Peach-Tea-uai-258x258.jpg)
Best Non Alcoholic Cocktail Mixer
Jordan’s Skinny Mixes Natural Spicy Margarita
Jordan's Skinny Mixes
![](https://barleycornawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Jordans-Skinny-Mixes-uai-258x258.jpg)
Best Specialty Product
Whipshots Vodka Infused Mocha Whip Cream
Starco Brands
![](https://barleycornawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Whipshots-uai-258x258.jpg)