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Urgent: The Beverage Testing Institute (BevTest) has just released its 2025 rankings for American whiskey—and the top bourbon is a revived pre-Prohibition label that costs under $70. Cream of Kentucky Small Batch scored 96 out of 100, earning a platinum medal and the title of Best Bourbon for the year.
The blind tasting panel, which judges thousands of bottles without brand or marketing influence, praised the whiskey for its classic Kentucky character. "It's a sumptuous, finely balanced bourbon with tremendous flavor and length—one that can handle anything you throw at it," the judges concluded.
Background
The Beverage Testing Institute has been a respected benchmark in the spirits industry for years. Their annual blind tastings evaluate American whiskeys across categories, from bourbons and ryes to single malts and flavored expressions.
Cream of Kentucky revives a historic brand that dates back to before Prohibition. It is led by former Four Roses master distiller Jim Rutledge, who sources and blends select Kentucky bourbons to create a "double-rich" house style. Bottled at 100 proof, the whiskey retails for $69.99—sometimes as low as $60.
The panel described its aroma as "honeyed orchard fruit and orange blossom, layered with caramel apple, vanilla, and subtle oak." On the palate, judges noted "aromas of caramel, chocolate, rice cookie, spiced poached apricots, and apples, along with flavors of spice cake with crème anglaise, praline with dried fruits, and a hint of white ash."
This year's top-scoring bottles also include a standout American single malt: Stranahan's 10 Year Old Mountain Angel, batch no. 4, which also scored 96 points. Aged for a decade in new charred oak barrels at high altitude in Colorado, it earned the Best American Single Malt award. "The nose is inviting and layered, blending warm cream, citrus zest, and caramelized sugar with hints of mountain pine, dried fruit, and spiced oak," the judges said.
What This Means
For bourbon enthusiasts and casual drinkers alike, this ranking confirms that exceptional quality doesn't require a sky-high price tag. Cream of Kentucky Small Batch offers a classic Kentucky profile at a fraction of what many premium labels cost.
The recognition also highlights the growing diversity of American whiskey. BevTest's 2025 top bottles span classic bourbons, bold ryes, high-altitude single malts, and inventive flavored spirits. "Together, they highlight just how diverse—and competitive—the modern American whiskey landscape has become," noted a report in Forbes.
Whether you're stocking a bar cart or hunting for your next great pour, the best bourbon of 2025 is now a clear, affordable target. As the judges said, it's a whiskey that can handle anything—and at under $70, it's within reach for most.