The Boozemakers Top 20: Highest-Rated Spirits

Spirit Rankings

TOP 20

The highest rated spirits, ranked and updated as new reviews are published

Padron 1926 Serie No. 9 Maduro

Bold claim? Perhaps. But when a cigar achieves near-universal adoration across every corner of the enthusiast world, at some point you stop hedging and simply acknowledge greatness.

0Score

Exceptional

$20Read Full Review

George T. Stagg (BTAC 2025)

Buffalo Trace Distillery (Sazerac Company)

Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

The annual BTAC release that bourbon collectors would trade their firstborn for. At 142 proof in 2025, this is bourbon pushed to its absolute limits.

0Score

Exceptional

$150

Padron 1964 Anniversary Exclusivo Maduro

Padron Cigars

Medium-Full Body

There are cigars you smoke, and cigars that change the way you think about smoking. The Padron 1964 Anniversary is emphatically the latter—a Nicaraguan puro so perfectly balanced it borders on unfair.

0Score

Exceptional

$16

The Rest of the Best

Padron 60th Anniversary Perfecto Natural

Padron Cigars|Medium-Full Body

Cigar Aficionado's #1 Cigar of 2025. At $75 per stick, it forces the ultimate question: is any single cigar worth that much? After smoking ours, we have a very clear answer.

$75

My Father Le Bijou 1922 Torpedo Box Pressed

My Father Cigars (Garcia Family)|Full Body

Full-bodied, relentlessly complex, and built with the craftsmanship of a family that has been rolling cigars since before most of us were born. Le Bijou 1922 is the Garcia family at their most uncompromising.

$11

My Father Flor de las Antillas Toro

My Father Cigars (Garcia Family)|Medium Body

Cigar Aficionado's 2012 Cigar of the Year at under $10 a stick. Flor de las Antillas is the gateway cigar that never gets old, the everyman's smoke that punches absurdly above its weight.

Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado

Oliva Cigar Company|Medium-Full Body

Named after patriarch Melanio Oliva, this figurado represents four generations of tobacco expertise distilled into a single, flawless cigar. The construction alone deserves a standing ovation.

$14

Tears of Llorona Extra Añejo

Destilería Cascahuin (NOM 1123)|Extra Añejo Tequila (Valley)

Five years in three types of oak. Limited to 9,000 bottles per batch. Tears of Llorona is the ultra-premium tequila that actually justifies its price tag.

$280

Oliva Serie V Toro

Oliva Cigar Co.|Full

If you are spending $14 on a cigar, the Oliva Serie V Toro is close to the right answer. Full-bodied Nicaraguan power, built to smoke not admired.

$14.00

Alec Bradley Prensado Torpedo

Alec Bradley Cigar Co.|Full

In 2011, Cigar Aficionado named the Alec Bradley Prensado its Cigar of the Year. It was not a mistake. Reviewed — and still earning the recognition.

$15.00

Davidoff Winston Churchill Robusto

Davidoff of Geneva|Medium

Winston Churchill smoked eight to ten cigars a day for most of his adult life. The Davidoff line bearing his name is built for people who understand why. Reviewed.

$32.00

Aganorsa Leaf Supreme Leaf Toro

Aganorsa Leaf|Medium-Full Body

Released twice a year and selling out almost instantly, the Supreme Leaf is Aganorsa's showcase blend—and the FOMO is completely justified. This is Nicaraguan terroir at its absolute finest.

$14

Tatuaje Black Label Petite Lancero

Tatuaje (Pete Johnson) / Rolled by My Father Cigars|Medium to Full Body

Pete Johnson's former private reserve blend in a slim lancero format that concentrates flavor like nothing else. This is the cigar that converts lancero skeptics into lancero evangelists.

$8.50

Arturo Fuente Opus X Perfecxion No. 2

Arturo Fuente (Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia.)|Medium-Full to Full Body

They said it couldn't be done—a full-bodied, sun-grown wrapper cigar from the Dominican Republic. Carlos Fuente Jr. didn't listen, and the result changed cigar history forever.

$22

Lagavulin 16 Year Old

Lagavulin Distillery|Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

I run a blind Islay flight twice a year — Lagavulin 16 finishes in the top two every single time. Here's what 16 years of patience does to peat that competitors can't replicate, and why this is the bottle I open when someone says they 'don't drink Scotch.'

$90

Fortaleza Blanco

Tequila Los Abuelos (NOM 1493)|Blanco Tequila (Valley, Tahona-Crushed)

Fifth-generation craftsmanship meets volcanic tahona stone. Fortaleza Blanco is the tequila the cognoscenti stack their shelves with—and for damn good reason.

$45

Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 15 Year

Buffalo Trace Distillery (Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery)|Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

The most famous bourbon in the world. But after cutting through decades of hype, does the liquid justify the legend? We poured one to find out.

$150

My Father No. 1 Toro

My Father Cigars|Full

José Pepin Garcia built a reputation as one of the great blenders of his generation. His son Jaime built a company. The My Father No. 1 Toro carries both legacies.

$16.00

Rocky Patel Decade Toro

Rocky Patel Premium Cigars|Full

Rocky Patel went from Hollywood talent agent to one of the most recognized names in premium cigars. The Decade Toro is where that story peaks.

$24.00

Plasencia Alma Fuerte Nestor IV

Plasencia Cigars (5th generation, Nestor Plasencia Jr.)|Medium-Full to Full Body

The family that grows more tobacco than anyone in Central America finally launched their own brand—and the Alma Fuerte proves they can make cigars every bit as well as they grow tobacco.

TOP 20

Padron 1926 Serie No. 9 Maduro

George T. Stagg (BTAC 2025)

Padron 1964 Anniversary Exclusivo Maduro

Padron 60th Anniversary Perfecto Natural

My Father Le Bijou 1922 Torpedo Box Pressed

My Father Flor de las Antillas Toro

Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado

Tears of Llorona Extra Añejo

Oliva Serie V Toro

Alec Bradley Prensado Torpedo

Davidoff Winston Churchill Robusto

Aganorsa Leaf Supreme Leaf Toro

Tatuaje Black Label Petite Lancero

Arturo Fuente Opus X Perfecxion No. 2

Lagavulin 16 Year Old

Fortaleza Blanco

Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 15 Year

My Father No. 1 Toro

Rocky Patel Decade Toro

Plasencia Alma Fuerte Nestor IV

All Reviews

Ashton VSG (Virgin Sun Grown) Torpedo

Liga Privada No. 9 Robusto

Fuenteseca Cosecha Blanco

El Tesoro Reposado

Ashton Classic Esquire

Joya de Nicaragua Antano 1970 Gran Consul

Alec Bradley Black Market Robusto

Perdomo Reserve Champagne Anniversary Toro

Illusione Epernay Le Petit

Montecristo No. 2 (Cuban)

Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story

The GlenAllachie 15 Year Old

Ardbeg 10 Year Old

Tapatio Blanco 110 Proof

Wild Common Still Strength Blanco

G4 Blanco 108 Proof

Perdomo 10th Anniversary Champagne

Oliva Serie O Double Toro

Padron 1000 Series Natural Robusto

AJ Fernandez New World Puro Especial Robusto

Foundation Charter Oak Habano Toro

Talisker 10 Year Old

Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old

Redbreast 12 Year Old

Nikka Whisky From The Barrel

Cascahuin Tahona Blanco

Terralta Blanco 110 Proof

Tequila Ocho Plata

Wild Turkey Rare Breed Bourbon

Smokeye Hill Barrel Proof Blue Corn Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Montecristo White Series Toro

Padron 2000 Natural

Rocky Patel Vintage 1999 Connecticut Robusto

Oliva Connecticut Reserve Robusto

Arturo Fuente Gran Reserva Churchill

Rocky Patel Sun Grown Robusto

CAO Brazilia Amazon Toro

H. Upmann Half Corona

Perdomo Lot 23 Maduro Toro

Drew Estate Undercrown Shade Gran Toro

The Balvenie 14 Year Old Caribbean Cask

Laphroaig 10 Year Old

Siete Leguas Blanco

Old Forester 1920 Prohibition Style

Stagg Bourbon (Formerly Stagg Jr.)

Macanudo Cafe Corona

Romeo y Julieta 1875 Toro

Perdomo Champagne Natural Robusto

Cohiba Robusto (Cuban)

The GlenDronach 12 Year Old Original

WhistlePig 10 Year Straight Rye Whiskey

Highland Park 12 Year Old Viking Honour

Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch

Romeo y Julieta 1875 Churchill

Green Spot Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey

The Macallan 12 Year Old Sherry Oak

Don Julio 1942

Booker's Bourbon