The Best New Spirits of 2019 (So Far)

New spirits are hitting the market all the time, but some shine brighter than the rest.

From a couple of luxurious, flavored gins to a new vodka from a whiskey producer, these are the best spirits we’ve tasted so far in 2019. Grab ahold of these bottles to get ahead of the curve.

Copper & Kings Luxury Gins ($35)

Last month, Copper & Kings released not one, but two luxury gins to add to its collection of fine spirits. The first is The History of Lovers, which is a rose bouquet-forward pink gin, and the second is The Ninth, a juicy, orange gin that’s finished in Destillaré Orange Curaçao barrels. Both expressions are copper pot-distilled, contain all-natural colors and flavors, and work perfectly in spritzy cocktails like Gin & Tonics and Smashes.

Copper & Kings Luxury Gins

Coopers’ Craft Barrel Reserve 100 Proof ($30)

We love Coopers’ Craft Original expression for its light body because it’s perfect for mixing a stiff cocktail. So we were excited to hear about the release of its Barrel Reserve 100 Proof, which is aged in American White Oak barrels that have been both charred and chiseled to allow the whiskey to interact more deeply with the wood. Expect aromas of cinnamon and citrus with a palate that bursts with caramel and pear.

Coopers’ Craft Barrel Reserve 100 Proof

Stillhouse Classic Vodka ($22)

Stillhouse Spirits Co. made waves with its whiskies, which come in awesome flavors like Mint Chip and Coconut, and are packed in unbreakable stainless steel cans. Now, Stillhouse has launched its Classic Vodka (available for purchase April 2019), a spirit that’s distilled from 100 percent estate-grown corn and limestone water. The vodka is then filtered though sugar maple charcoal for a smooth finish that works well in all types of vodka cocktails.

Stillhouse Classic Vodka

Balcones Distilling Texas Pot Still Bourbon ($30)

Following the celebration of its 10th anniversary last year, Balcones Distilling just added a new whiskey to its core lineup. Texas Pot Still Bourbon is made from a mash bill of roasted blue corn, Texas wheat and rye, and malted barley, and aged in new charred oak barrels for two years before bottling. It has a beautiful nose of Honeycrisp apples, kettle corn, and graham cracker, with flavors of honey and candied pecan on the palate. The finish is soft and dry, with a lingering spice that makes you want to take another sip.

Balcones Distilling Texas Pot Still Bourbon

Glen Moray Cabernet Sauvignon Cask Finish ($30)

This easy-drinking scotch is the latest whisky from Glen Moray, and we can’t get enough of its smooth, sweet flavor. After years of aging in ex-bourbon barrels, the single malt is placed in wine casks for its final months of maturation, where it takes on black currant and cherry notes from the red wine. Glen Moray Cabernet Sauvignon Cask Finish has aromas of sweet apple jelly and honey with flavors of vanilla, pepper, and dark chocolate, making it almost too easy to sip.

Glen Moray Cabernet Sauvignon Cask Finish