
The Best American Whiskeys—According To The New Orleans Spirits Comp
American whiskey is experiencing a thrilling renaissance—an era defined by innovation, experimentation, and a revival of classic styles. Distillers across the country are embracing bolder grain bills, alternative cask finishes, and regional identities to craft whiskeys that rival the complexity and character of the world's finest spirits. This year's top-scoring whiskeys showcased the category's remarkable diversity—from fruit-laced corn whiskeys and cask-strength Tennessee whiskey to American single malts.
Nowhere is this creative momentum more evident than at the 2025 New Orleans Spirits Competition (NOSC). Held in conjunction with the renowned Tales of the Cocktail festival, the NOSC brought together a distinguished panel of judges and a global slate of entries, reaffirming its status as a premier stage for the best in contemporary distilling.
Crafted in Waco, Texas, Balcones Lineage is a bridge between traditional Scotch-style single malt production techniques and the bold influence of Texas terroir. The whiskey is made from a blend of Scottish Golden Promise and Texas-grown barley and is aged in a combination of virgin and refill oak barrels under the intense Texas climate. This whiskey was picked as Best in Class Whiskey at the 2025 NOSC.
The whiskey features aromas of sweet, cooked malt/cereal, apple, toasted oak, apricot, and a faint mineral note. It's rich and malty on the palate, showcasing flavors of dried dark fruit, nutmeg, roasted pecan, malted milk, and baking spices with a balance between sweetness and oak dryness. The finish is long and drying with gentle tannins, cocoa, cooked grain, and stewed orchard fruit.
Starlight Distillery, located on the Huber family farm in southern Indiana, blends six generations of agricultural heritage with small-batch whiskey production. Their blackberry-flavored whiskey is part of a broader range of fruit-infused spirits, crafted using fresh local produce and aged bourbon or corn whiskey as a base.
The whiskey features aromas of fresh blackberry jam, accompanied by notes of vanilla, honey, and hints of baking spices. It's rich and flavorful on the palate, with flavors of ripe blackberry compote, sweet corn whiskey, and subtle notes of clove and cinnamon. The natural fruit character is vibrant without being overly sweet. The finish is medium length, with a lingering blackberry tartness, seasoned oak, and a whisper of caramel.
Uncle Nearest is a tribute to Nathan 'Nearest' Green, the formerly enslaved man who taught Jack Daniel the art of whiskey-making. The brand has quickly become one of the most awarded in American whiskey, particularly renowned for its single-barrel releases, each offering a unique character. Batch 3633 is drawn from a hand-selected cask, bottled at cask strength.
The whiskey is bold and complex, featuring aromas of brown sugar, ripe banana, saddle leather, and toasted marshmallow. It's full-bodied and spicy on the palate, showcasing flavors of caramel, molasses, dark chocolate, cinnamon, and toasted oak. A touch of stone fruit emerges mid-palate. The finish is long, sweet, and powerful with lingering notes of wood spices, dried tobacco leaf, char, smoke, and a peppery close.
Glass of American whiskey on the rocks sitting on an old wooden barrel. getty Heaven Hill Distillery, Mellow Corn Bottled-in-Bond Corn Whiskey, 50% ABV, 750 ml. $21
Mellow Corn is a cult classic among whiskey aficionados. Produced under the Bottled-in-Bond Act, this 100-proof, straight corn whiskey must be at least 80% corn and aged in used oak barrels. It's an old-school American whiskey, inexpensive yet flavorful and robust.
The whiskey features aromas of sweet corn, vanilla custard, apple, and a hint of sourdough. It's creamy yet robust on the palate, showcasing flavors of buttered popcorn, toffee, fresh oak, banana, and lemon zest with an underlying, cooked, grain-forward richness. The finish is medium and slightly spicy with lingering notes of cornmeal, caramel, and charred wood. Stranahan's Diamond Peak, Barrel-Finished American Single Malt, 45% ABV, 750 ml. $80
Stranahan's, based in Denver, Colorado, was one of the first distilleries to pioneer the American single malt movement. This Diamond Peak expression is a limited-release bottling, crafted from 100% malted barley and finished in Caribbean rum casks. The exact finish varies from year to year by batch, adding an extra layer of intrigue.
The whiskey boasts aromas of toasted malt, dried fig, cocoa, and vanilla, complemented by subtle notes of molasses and tropical fruit. It's bold and silky on the palate, showcasing flavors of dark chocolate, cherry cordial, espresso, tropical fruits, spice box, a hint of smoke, and toasted oak. The finish is long and fruity, with lingering notes of pepper, seasoned oak, tropical fruits, and cocoa.
The 2025 NOSC highlighted the extraordinary breadth and quality of American whiskey today. Heritage brands continue to honor tradition while pushing the envelope, and craft distillers are fearlessly reimagining what whiskey can be—one barrel at a time.
Whether through the lush depth of a rum cask finish, the raw power of single barrel Tennessee whiskey, or the layered elegance of an American single malt, these winning expressions reflect a category that is evolving with confidence and creativity. The future of American whiskey is not only bright—it's bold, boundary-breaking, and brimming with flavor. More From Forbes
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