In an interview with Beverage Master, head alchemist Alan Bishop of Spirits of French Lick, a craft distillery located in West Baden Springs, Indiana, said, “Aquavit (taken from the Latin aqua vitae, which means “water of life”) can trace its roots under various names back to the Aquavitae Treatises of the 1400s to 1600s. It has deep connections to Sparagyic medicine,” he explains, “so three of my major interests were piqued: alchemy, history and complex botanical distillations.”

For the second chapter in the 2023 edition of our annual Best New American Whiskeys—see yesterday’s focus on ryes—we shine a light on American single malts (ASMs). It’s hard to imagine a category in all spirits more energized at the moment. Finally “recognized” (although not yet officially certified) by the TTB last year, unofficial ASMs have been defining some of the most interesting whiskeys bubbling from America for a couple decades now. While places like Texas and the Pacific Northwest lead the category, ASMs from across this great nation of ours are releasing innovative, terroir-rich expressions boasting a wide spectrum of flavors. Here are seven favorites for 2023.  

This year’s Top 100 Whiskeys represents the new aged American whiskeys that are dominating the market.

Gone are the days of Straight Bourbon owning the shelves. Now, Blends of Straights and barrel finishes garner consumer love. And this list is loaded with these two categories. But I do worry that this welcomed trend is bringing in newcomers who simply do not know whiskey; thus, there are far too many Blends of Straights, Stave & Barrel Finish products that not only don’t make this list, but are not selling and hurting the health of the American whiskey category. For every Barrell and Milam & Greene, blenders with skill, there are 20 brands releasing blends that started with bad whiskey and hoped a stave would hide the flaws. 

Tattersall Distilling of Minneapolis and River Falls, Wisconsin, announced the launch of its Bottled-in-Bond, Five Year Straight Rye Whiskey. Aged in virgin American Oak barrels, this release is one of the longest-aged ryes in the Midwest that has been made entirely grain-to-glass.

“Crafting this type of spirit is a labor of love that not many distilleries undertake these days,” says Jon Kreidler, founder and chief officer of Tattersall Distilling. “At Tattersall, we’re committed to uncompromised spirits and this bottle is a true testament to that philosophy. We selected the ultimate varietal of rye to grow, complemented it with the perfect yeast strain and chose the ideal toast and char on the barrels. There was incredible thought built into this whiskey – and a lot of patience in waiting to share it.” 

Tattersall Distilling announced the launch of its newest ready-to-drink bottled cocktail, Brandy Old Fashioned, launching later this month. Paying tribute to the newly declared state cocktail of Wisconsin, Tattersall’s Brandy Old Fashioned swaps out its rye whiskey for brandy and can be poured sweet or sour for the perfect Wisconsin staple. Tattersall was founded in Minneapolis, but the company opened a destination distillery in River Falls, Wisconsin, in 2021.

In case you’ve missed the headlines, absinthe is back, from New York to Las Vegas to London. You may have even acquired a bottle of the anise-flavored liqueur—and discovered that it’s a little different from most other spirits, bottled at extra-high proof and designed to be diluted rather than sipped straight.

Seeking a fun bottle to pour or gift this Halloween? This shortlist of bottles leans into the spooky side of spirits. That means plenty of creepy imagery in its branding—so, so many skulls—and an emphasis on fall-centric tasting notes, like maple syrup and baking spices. Some are brand-new bottlings, while others are familiar favorites dressed in seasonal labels (we love a good Halloween costume).

Ready-to-drink cocktails have seen a surge in popularity due to their portability and convenience. While I still love mixing up my own cocktails in a to-go thermos, with so many new great options on the market, it’s hard to pass up the chance to buy a pre-made craft cocktail to take to picnics, parties or anywhere else you might want to sip them with friends.

Sure, NY and LA top any list of the best foodie cities across the country, but there are plenty of other spots that may not automatically spring to mind — smaller cities like Birmingham, Alabama, or metropolises that are undergoing major rejuvenations, like Detroit. Here are a list of the most exciting foodie cities in the U.S., so pack your stretchy pants and make a beeline to these culinary powerhouses.

These local distilleries put their fingerprints on custom cocktails for special events. Crucial to every well-executed toast (besides avocado) is a glass of goodness to raise in salutations. Bartenders and master distillers at cocktail corners that double as event spaces around the Twin Cities share how they craft a signature sip.