The Top Shelf 2025 Awards Gala marked another incredible year of recognizing the world’s most exceptional spirits and ready-to-drink (RTD) products. As part of The Tasting Alliance, the Top Shelf Awards honor the Best of Class and Best in Show winners from the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and the 2025 San Francisco Ready to Drink Competition — spotlighting innovation, craftsmanship, and excellence across the beverage industry.

Held over an unforgettable weekend, the Top Shelf 2025 Awards brought together more than 400 guests from across the globe — including master distillers, brand leaders, industry professionals, and enthusiasts — to celebrate the best of the best. The event featured educational sessions, exclusive tastings, and networking opportunities, culminating in the dazzling Top Shelf Awards Gala, where this year’s winners were revealed.

The 2025 Top Shelf Awards highlight the pinnacle of quality and artistry in the world of spirits and RTDs. These accolades not only celebrate remarkable producers but also guide consumers toward the most outstanding products in the market today. Each honoree represents a benchmark of excellence within their category setting new standards for taste, innovation, and craftsmanship.

Here are the much-anticipated results from the 2025 Top Shelf Awards Gala:

BEST VODKA; BEST OVERALL VODKA: High Bank Distillery Co.Vodka

BEST FLAVORED VODKA: SobieskiGrapefruit Vodka

BEST GIN: Tanqueray No. TEN

BEST FLAVORED GIN: Gervasi Spirits Pink Peppercorn Gin

BEST BARREL-AGED GIN: Sorgin Yellow Gin

BEST JAPANESE GIN; BEST OVERALL GIN: Kyotango Mairingen Distillery Fresh Craft Gin (Original)

BEST SOJU: Minhwa Spirits Yong Soju

BEST SHOCHU: Shikina Distillery Shigure 7 Year Kusu Shochu

BEST BAIJIU: LU AN LIQUOR Baijiu

BEST UNAGED RUM; BEST OVERALL RUM; BEST IN SHOW UNAGED WHITE SPIRIT: Burdekin RumDistillers Edition - Coral Sea Strength

BEST AGED RUM: Planteray Rum Xaymaca Special Dry

BEST EXTRA-AGED RUM: CARTAVIOXO Rum

BEST OVER-PROOF RUM: Worthy Park Overproof Rum

BEST BLANCO/JOVEN TEQUILA; BEST OVERALL TEQUILA: Tequila Volcan de mi Tierra Blanco

BEST REPOSADO TEQUILA: Aguasol Tequila Reposado

BEST AÑEJO TEQUILA: Cierto Tequila Private Collection Añejo

BEST EXTRA AÑEJO TEQUILA: Don Fulano Tequila Imperial

BEST MEZCAL: Maria Bonita Ensamble Mezcal

BEST OTHER AGAVE SPIRIT; BEST IN SHOW AGED WHITE SPIRIT: Los Perdidos Tepeztate Reposado Agave Spirit

BEST OTHER WHITE SPIRIT: Ola Brew Co Pauka'a Ocean-Aged 'Ōkolehao - 4 Week

BEST STRAIGHT BOURBON: Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C924

BEST SMALL BATCH BOURBON - UP TO 5 YEARS: 1792Small Batch Straight Bourbon

BEST SMALL BATCH BOURBON - 6 TO 10 YEARS: ASW Distillery Fiddler Encore Bourbon - Georgia Oak

BEST SMALL BATCH BOURBON - 11 YEARS & OLDER; BEST OVERALL SMALL BATCH BOURBON: O.K.I. Bourbon15 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon

BEST SINGLE BARREL BOURBON - UP TO 10 YEARS: Safai Bourbon8 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon

BEST SINGLE BARREL - 11 YEARS & OLDER; BEST SINGLE BARREL BOURBON: O.K.I. Bourbon16 Year Old Single Barrel Kentucky Bourbon

BEST SPECIAL BARREL-FINISHED BOURBON; BEST OVERALL BOURBON: Starlight DistilleryJapanese Mizunara Reserve Finished Bourbon

BEST WHEATED BOURBON: Frank AugustCASE STUDY: 05 | WHEATED RESERVE | 5 BARREL BATCH Bourbon

BEST CRAFT DISTILLER WHISKEY: Starlight Distillery Single Barrel Bourbon

BEST TENNESSEE WHISKEY: Old Dominick Bonded Tennessee Whiskey

BEST CORN WHISKEY: Dancing Goat Distillery The Spaniard Corn Whiskey

BEST WHEAT WHISKEY: Heaven Hill Heritage Collection: 2025 Release 19 Year Old Wheat Whiskey

BEST RYE WHISKEY: Wenzel Whiskey Rectifier Rye Whiskey

BEST CANADIAN WHISKY: J.P. Wiser's Decades Series: 28 Year old Canadian Whisky

BEST OTHER SINGLE MALT WHISKEY: KI ONE SIGNATURE Single Malt Whiskey

BEST SINGLE GRAIN WHISKEY: Frey Ranch 100% Barley Whiskey (Unmalted)

BEST OTHER WHISKEY: Craftbros Collaboration Whiskey

BEST AMERICAN BLENDED WHISKEY: Longleaf Distilling Co.Cask Strength Heirloom American Whiskey

BEST JAPANESE WHISKY: Hinomaru Whisky Signature 1823

BEST AMERICAN SINGLE MALT WHISKEY: Stranahan's Snowflake

BEST FLAVORED WHISKEY: King's Creek Black Label Cider

BEST SPECIAL BARREL-FINISHED WHISKEY: 1933 Macleod's PX Highland Single Malt Sherry Cask Finish Scotch Whisky

BEST AUSTRALIAN SINGLE MALT WHISKY: Callington Mill Distillery Pedro Ximenez Single Malt Whisky

BEST BLENDED IRISH WHISKEY: Jameson Triple Triple Irish Whiskey Chestnut Edition

BEST SINGLE MALT IRISH WHISKEY: Teeling Single Malt Irish Whiskey

BEST PURE POT STILL IRISH WHISKEY; BEST OVERALL IRISH WHISKEY: Spot Whiskey Yellow Spot

BEST BLENDED SCOTCH - 16 YEARS & OLDER; BEST OVERALL BLENDED SCOTCH: Isle of Skye 25 Year Old Blended Scotch

BEST BLENDED SCOTCH - NO AGE STATEMENT: D'YAVOL VORTEX Blended Scotch

BEST SINGLE MALT SCOTCH - UP TO 12 YEARS: Highland Park 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch

BEST SINGLE MALT SCOTCH - 13 TO 19 YEARS: Royal Brackla PALO CORTADO 18 Years Old Highland Single Malt Scotch

BEST SINGLE MALT SCOTCH - 20 YEARS & OLDER; BEST SINGLE MALT SCOTCH; BEST OVERALL SCOTCH; BEST IN SHOW WHISK(E)Y: Rosebank31 Year Old Lowland Single Malt Scotch

BEST SINGLE MALT SCOTCH - NO AGE STATEMENT: Loch Lomond Remarkable Alchemy Single Malt Scotch

BEST BLENDED MALT SCOTCH: Compass Box Crimson Casks Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

BEST COGNAC: Haut de Vigne Cognac VS

BEST COGNAC VSOP: Park Cognac VSOP Reflet Cuivré

BEST COGNAC XO; BEST OVERALL COGNAC; BEST IN SHOW BRANDY: Park Cognac XO Cigar Blend

BEST SPANISH GRAPE BRANDY: Torres15 Year Old Brandy

BEST PERUVIAN PISCO: Intipalka Pisco Italia

BEST FRUIT LIQUEUR: Giffard Banane du Brésil

BEST HERBAL/BOTANICAL LIQUEUR; BEST IN SHOW LIQUEUR: M. P. Roux Elisir

BEST COFFEE LIQUEUR: Evil Bean Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur

BEST CREAM/DAIRY LIQUEUR: Member's Mark Cinnamon Churro Cream Liqueur

BEST APERITIF: Tree House Distillery Perrine Key Lime Aperitivo

BEST NON-ALCOHOLIC SPIRIT: Lyre’s Italian Orange

BEST NON-ALOCHOLIC COCKTAIL; BEST IN SHOW READY-TO-DRINK: St. Agrestis Phony White Negroni

BEST HARD SELTZER: Hummy Asian Pear Soju Seltzer

BEST VODKA SODA: Crafthouse Cocktails Moonlighter Vodka Spritz

BEST VODKA-BASED: Crafthouse Cocktails Moscow Mule

BEST TEQUILA/AGAVE BASED: Austin Cocktails Bergamot Orange Margarita

BEST WHISK(E)Y BASED: Snazzy Whiskey Half & Half Cocktail

BEST WINE BASED: Craftwell Cocktails Cranberry Mule

BEST RUM BASED: Crafthouse Cocktails Mai Tai

BEST CLASSIC COCKTAIL: Oakside Cocktail Company Rye Old Fashioned

BEST MIXER: Nina's Cocktails Natural Michelada Mix

BEST SPECIALTY COCKTAIL PRODUCT: CR Citrus Smoked Cara Caras

Best New Vodka: Summum Vodka

Best New Gin: West End OG Edition Gin

Best New Mezcal: Chinga Quedito Sierra Negra Mezcal

Best New Rum: Liberty & Plenty Overproof Rum

Best New Bourbon: Lasso Motel DARTS Cigarette Blend Bourbon

Best New Rye Whiskey: Never Say Die Rye Whiskey

Best New Japanese Whisky: Sakurao Single Malt Japanese Whisky TOGOUCHI MISTY STILLMAN'S SELECTION

Best New Scotch: D'YAVOL VORTEX Blended Scotch

Best New Non-Alcoholic: Dada Chapel Spritz Spectacular

Best New Ready-To-Drink: Avenue 8 Blood Orange Yuzu Paloma

The 2025 Top Shelf Awards Gala was more than a celebration — it was a testament to the creativity and dedication that fuel the global beverage industry. As the winners take their place among the best in the world, they continue to inspire innovation and elevate the standards of excellence in spirits and ready-to-drink craftsmanship.

With each pour, each blend, and each moment shared, The Tasting Alliance remains proud to honor the people and brands shaping the future of fine drinking experiences. Here’s to another year of exceptional spirits, unforgettable gatherings, and the pursuit of perfection.