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Most Memorable Sippers of 2025

Jan 26, 2026

These were my most memorable whiskey sippers and RTD cocktails of the year. No particular order, just bottles that stuck with me.

Eagle Rare 10 Year bottle

Eagle Rare 10 Year

The benchmark. Balanced, elegant, and endlessly drinkable; still punches above its price when you can find it.

Old Forester 1920 (Prohibition Style) bottle

Old Forester 1920 (Prohibition Style)

Big, bold, and unapologetic. High proof without losing control; dessert, oak, and heat in all the right ways.

Old Forester 1910 (Old Fine Whisky) bottle

Old Forester 1910 (Old Fine Whisky)

Double-barreled elegance. Toasty oak, chocolate, and creme brulee sweetness with a silky finish that sips more like dessert than duty.

Penelope Black Walnut Old Fashioned (RTD) bottle

Penelope Black Walnut Old Fashioned (RTD)

Shockingly good for an RTD. Rich, nutty, and dangerously easy to pour another; this one redefined expectations.

Penelope Architect bottle

Penelope Architect

Custom oak done right. Layered, modern, and fun to analyze sip by sip without feeling gimmicky.

RD One finished with Brazilian Amburana Wood bottle

RD One finished with Brazilian Amburana Wood

Wild card of the year. Cinnamon, baking spice, and dessert vibes; polarizing, but unforgettable in the best way.

Jim Beam Double Oak Bourbon bottle

Jim Beam Double Oak Bourbon

Simple, affordable, and way better than it has any right to be. Proof that double oak doesn't need to be fancy.

Chattanooga Whiskey Tawny Port Finish bottle

Chattanooga Whiskey Tawny Port Finish

Fruit-forward and nuanced. Port influence adds depth without overpowering the whiskey; great slow sipper.

Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat bottle

Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series High Wheat

Soft, sweet, and refined. Wheat-forward without going flat; approachable but still interesting.