These Are the Best Whiskies of the Year According to USA Spirits Ratings 2025

Friday, 15 August 2025 at 14:05USA Spirits Ratings 2025

There are countless whisky competitions all around the world. The most recent one is the USA Spirits Ratings 2025. Plenty of gold was doled out during this contest. These are the best whiskies of 2025 from the competition.

During the USA Spirits Competition 2025, various spirits from many categories were scrutinized by an expert jury. One of the categories is the divine drink, where numerous producers have submitted their whisky.

The results are now out. So who took home gold, silver, or bronze? And what are the world's best whiskies according to this competition?

How does the medal allocation work at the USA Spirits Rating 2025?

The participating whiskies are judged by a professional jury. They award points to the whisky based on three criteria:

The whisky, meaning its aroma, color, flavor, and consistency.
Value, meaning the price of the whisky in relation to its quality.
The packaging of the whisky.

The scores from the various jury members are eventually added up to form the USA Spirits Ratings score, and, depending on the score, a bronze, silver, gold, or double gold medal.

Which whisky took double gold at the USA Spirits Rating 2025?

The cream of the crop of this competition's whiskies were rewarded with a score ranging from 96 to 100 points. These scores are only granted to a select few whiskies. You can find them listed below.

Points	Country	Brand	Whisky Name
97	Scotland	Bruichladdich	Port Charlotte 10
97	Scotland	Bruichladdich	Bruichladdich Eighteen
96	United States	Rd1 Spirits	Rd1 Limited Release Kentucky Straight Whiskey
96	United States	Prime Aged Spirits	Rare Saint Trinity

Which whiskies all bagged gold at the whisky contest?

Many golden medals were awarded during the competition. A whopping 68 whiskies took home the coveted medals. Below, we list a selection from each country:

Scotland and Ireland

Points	Country	Brand	Whisky Name
95	Scotland	Kilchoman Distillery	Sanaig
94	Scotland	Kilchoman Distillery	Machir Bay
93	Ireland	Cork + Knife Communications LLC	Jameson Triple Triple Irish Whiskey
92	Ireland	Member's Mark by Sam's Club	Irish Whiskey Est 1774
92	Scotland	Bruichladdich	The Classic Laddie
91	Ireland	Cork + Knife Communications LLC	Jameson Orange Irish Whiskey
91	Scotland	Kilchoman Distillery	Batch Strength
90	Scotland	Dyavol Spirits B.V.	D'yavol Inception
90	Ireland	Two Stacks	The First Cut
92	Ireland	Member's Mark by Sam's Club	Irish Whiskey Est 1774

The gold winners from the United States and Canada

Points	Country	Brand	Whisky Name
94	United States	Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey	Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch Whiskey
94	United States	Three Floyds Distilling	Warspite
94	United States	William Berkele Distillery	Burnt Tavern Bourbon
94	United States	Cedar Ridge Distillery	The QuintEssential Special Release - Number Five
93	United States	Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey	Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Aged Whiskey
93	United States	Three Floyds Distilling	Bubblegumhead
93	United States	Proximo Spirits Inc	Stranahan's Sherry Cask
93	United States	Four Roses Bourbon	Four Roses Single Barrel
93	Canada	Burwood Distillery	The Scientist - Single Malt Whisky
92	Canada	Burwood Distillery	The Bee Whisperer - Alberta Prairie Whisky

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What are the best whiskies from Japan?

Points	Country	Brand	Whisky Name
93	Japan	Hayashi Okinawa Japanese Whisky	Hayashi Koyo Okinawa Japanese Whisky
91	Japan	Kiuchi Brewing And Distilling Inc.	Hinomaru Whisky Signature 1823
91	Japan	Sakhrani Distillery Ltd	Kuri Edition
90	Japan	Kiuchi Brewing And Distilling Inc.	Hinomaru Whisky Kome
90	Japan	Sakhrani Distillery Ltd	Mizunara Edition