Once again, it’s been a memorable year for the spirits category, with amazing entrants across a broad range of bottlings. Within the limits of what was tasted within the past year, these are the spirits that we couldn’t stop thinking about, the ones you should seek out for your home bar or gift list.

The categories reviewed in 2016 spanned from rich Calvados to crisp aquavit, from añejo Tequila to white rum, plus a sea of whiskies and luscious liqueurs from around the world. This list, which is not ranked or presented any particular order, has an average score of 93.7. There’s no shortage of good cheer to choose from on this list.

Here’s to another year of enjoying the best in class or, should I say, the best in your glass. Santé!

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