The 50 Best Spirits of 2023

Check out the best spirits from previous years here! Dozens of categories considered, thousands of bottles tasted, and almost 12 months in the making, the publishing of VinePair’s 50 best spirits list marks a major milestone in our calendar and one of our favorite annual traditions. Consider it not a bonafide buying guide — those can be found here — and instead a highlights reel of the best spirits that graced our palates this year. The article The 50 Best Spirits of 2023 appeared first on VinePair .

by VinePair Staff · source ↗

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The 20 Best Cognacs to Drink in 2025

For the second year in a row, Cognac is experiencing a significant downturn in sales, perhaps as much as some 13 percent overall. Insiders chalk this up to China — Cognac’s biggest market by value — levying duties of up to 34.9 percent on European brandy, something widely viewed as retaliatory for the EU’s decision to impose huge import tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles. Similar tariff problems abound in the U.S. — Cognac’s biggest market by volume — and consumers seem to be switching to lower-priced bottles. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. The article The 20 Best Cognacs to Drink in 2025 appeared first on VinePair .

The 20 Best Cognacs to Drink in 2024

Following a massive sales spike during the pandemic, Cognac has experienced a fairly significant downturn in the past few years, amid an overall decline in spirits sales as well as fierce competition from other categories. When comparing Cognac with other styles of spirits, though, the world’s most prestigious brandy has a lot to offer — often at very competitive prices. Consider that this is a spirit made from a raw material (grapes) that exhibits much more character and personality than, say, barley or corn. That character is then bolstered by oak aging, whether the minimum two years for V.S. The article The 20 Best Cognacs to Drink in 2024 appeared first on VinePair .

The 25 Best Cognacs for 2023

If you’re looking for proof of the “premiumization” trend in alcohol, Cognac offers a fine example. Between 2016 and 2021, dollar sales in the U.S. grew a staggering 64.4 percent, according to data from the Distilled Spirits Council, with the “super premium” price range leading the charge. All things told, sales topped out at close to $3.5 billion in 2021, the most recent year for which the organization has published data. It’s hardly surprising that many would be willing to fork out a little extra per bottle or upgrade to more expensive offerings. The article The 25 Best Cognacs for 2023 appeared first on VinePair .

The 50 Best Spirits of 2023

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The 20 Best Cognacs to Drink in 2025

The 20 Best Cognacs to Drink in 2024

The 25 Best Cognacs for 2023