Last Month Distilled: The Biggest Beverage News, Releases and More From May 2025
An empty bar in North Rhine-Westphalia, Cologne. (Photo: Henning Kaiser/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)
Catch up on what you missed with Last Month Distilled, a series from Bottle Raiders that rounds up the biggest releases, reviews and news in the drinks industry from the previous month. This edition covers May 2025.
Notable Beverage Releases
RTD: Popular Ready-to-Drink Brand On The Rocks Launches Sparkling Canned Cocktails in 3 Flavors – Read More
Bourbon: Heaven Hill Unveils 2025 Grain to Glass Bourbon, Announces Program to Support US Farms – Read More
Bourbon: Heaven Hill Unveils Spring 2025 Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Decanter Bourbon – Read More
Scotch: The Dalmore Just Dropped a 52-Year-Old, Potentially $100,000+ Scotch Whisky — And We Got A Taste – Read More
Irish Whiskey: Proper No. Twelve Releases 13-Year Irish Whiskey, Its Oldest Age Statement to Date – Read More
Whiskey: Coors Launches Blue Run Flight Series III, a Collection of 6 ‘Micro-Batch’ Whiskeys – Read More
RTD: The Best-Selling Pre-Mixed Cocktail in the World Is Coming to the US for the First Time – Read More
Bourbon: Green River Honors 250 Years of US Army With Limited Edition Bourbon – Read More
Scotch: For the First Time in Its 200-Year History, Fettercairn Is Bringing Its Scotch Whiskies to the US – Read More
Rye Whiskey: Angel’s Envy’s Latest Rye Whiskey Is Finished in Extra Añejo Tequila Barrels – Read More
No/Low Alcohol: New Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Wine Launches With Organic Grapes – Read More
Industry News
Bars: North America’s 50 Best Bars List Revealed — Here’s a Defining Cocktail From Each of the Top 5 – Read More
Whiskey: Dave Bautista-Backed Whiskey Distillery Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy – Read More
Whiskey: The Buffalo Trace Antique Collection Lineup Is Changing for the First Time in 19 Years — What You Need to Know – Read More
Beer: New 10-Ounce Bottles Coming for Goose Island Bourbon County Stout in 2025 – Read More
Tequila: Polling Reveals Top 10 Tequila Brands Among Agave Spirits Experts – Read More
Scotch: ‘Aquaman’ Star Jason Momoa Teases Scotch Whisky Venture – Read More
Whiskey: Chris Stapleton and Buffalo Trace’s Traveller Named 1st Official Whiskey of the MLB – Read More
Whiskey: Old Elk Distillery Acquired by Ohio’s Middle West Spirits – Read More
Whiskey: Knob Creek Adds Cask Strength Bourbon, Rye Whiskeys to Single Barrel Program – Read More
Bars: World’s Best Bar Joins Forces with Fulham FC For Player-Inspired Cocktails Series – Read More
Bourbon: 35 Best Bourbons in the World, According to the San Francisco World Spirits Competition – Read More
Industry: Gaming, Not Health Concerns, May Be Responsible for Declining Alcohol Sales, Brewery CEO Says – Read More
No/Low Alcohol: NYC’s First Alcohol-Free Members Club to Open This Fall – Read More
Whiskey: Historic Scotch Whisky Group Touches Down in America With NYC Distillery Acquisition – Read More
Whiskey: ‘That’s What Makes Jack, JACK’: Jack Daniel’s Unveils New Global Campaign – Read More
Rum: The Rum Brand Led By an AI CEO Just Dropped Sculptural Bottles Designed By a Famed French Artist – Read More
Bourbon: Buffalo Trace Auctions Pappy Van Winkle, Weller Millennium, Blanton’s and More for Kentucky Flood Relief – Read More
Tequila: These Are the 19 Best Tequilas in the World, According to the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition – Read More
Tequila: Who Controls Tequila? A Legal Battle Between Regulators and Independent Watchdogs Heats Up Over Additives, First Amendment Rights and Transparency – Read More
Whiskey: Roundup: Every Whiskey That Won Double Gold at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition – Read More
Scotch: Port Charlotte Launches SYC:01, A Distillery First Showcasing The Profound Influence Of Syrah Casks – Read More
RTD: Dry Fly Releases New Cocktails Made in Collaboration with Charlie Wagner – Featuring a Rising Star in the Wine World, Bonanza Wine – Read More
Bourbon: Derek Trucks Announces Ass Pocket Whiskey Release No. 3: A Brotherly Release – Read More
Rye Whiskey: Sagamore Spirit Releases New Batch of Cask Strength Rye Whiskey – Read More
Bourbon: World Whiskey Society Unveils Limited Edition 12-Year-Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey in Black Currant Brandy Cask – Read More
Rum: Mount Gay Unveils 8th Edition of Master Blender Collection, The Cognac Cask Expression – Read More
Bourbon: Hard Truth Distilling Co. & Mellencamp Whiskey Co. Release American Odd Sweet Mash Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Read More
Scotch: The Glen Grant Unveils ‘The Glasshouse Collection’ – Read More
Whiskey: New Riff Unveils Dual Release of Decade Old Whiskeys – Read More
Bourbon: Woodford Reserve releases new Distillery Series: Tawny Port Finish – Read More
Bourbon: Rebel Bourbon and Childress Vineyards introduce Rebel 100 Childress Vineyards Cabernet Franc Barrel Finish – Read More
Tequila: From Brazil To The U.S.: Giulia Tequila Launches With Bold Flavor Rooted In Tradition – Read More
Bourbon: Brother’s Bond Bourbon and 1 Hotels Unveil First Regenerative Grain Micro-Batch Bourbon Release – Read More
Whiskey: World Whiskey Society Unveils 20-Year-Old American Light Whisky Cigar Blend Gothic Edition – Read More
Insights & Opinions
Rye Whiskey: How Still Austin Made Its Best Rye Whiskey Yet, Thanks to One Clever Technique – Read More
Whiskey: 10 Best Whiskeys We Tasted in April 2025 — Ranked – Read More
Korea: What Is Sool? Exploring the World of Korean Alcohol, Soju and Beyond – Read More
No/Low Alcohol: Non-Alcoholic Culture Deserves More Than Attention; It Needs Intention – Read More
Vodka: Tired of Tequila? Agave Vodka May Be the Next Blockbuster Trend on the Horizon – Read More
Tequila: 5 Tequila Trends Redefining the Market in 2025 – Read More
Tequila: ‘King of Country’ George Strait Just Dropped One of the Best Tequilas of the Year – Read More
Interview: ‘Scream’ Star Matthew Lillard Chats Horror-Themed Tequila and D&D-Inspired Whiskey – Read More
Mezcal: How a Canadian Bartender Built a Zero-Proof Mezcal Brand Out of a Garage in Oaxaca – Read More
Tequila: 5 Essential Tequilas for the Perfect Paloma Cocktail – Read More
Whiskey: Sour Mash vs. Sweet Mash: Understanding the Distinction – Read More
No/Low Alcohol: Opinion: Non-Alc Needs More Honest Reviews and Less #sponcon – Read More
American Single Malt Whiskey: Stranahan’s 10th Annual Cask Thief Event Offered Rare Sips of Magical Whiskeys – Read More
No/Low Alcohol: How Katy Perry’s Nonalcoholic Cocktail Brand Conquered a ‘Sober Curious’ Market – Read More
Tequila: Are Red Wine-Aged Tequilas Worth the Hype? Ranking the Options from Worst to Best – Read More
Our May 2025 Reviews
Everything we reviewed this month, sorted within categories from best to worst based on Raided Score (listed in parentheses). Ties are broken by house score.
Bourbon
- Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Batch B525 (94)
- Michter’s 10 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon 2025 (93)
- Still Austin Tanager Cigar Blend Bourbon 2024 (92)
- Jefferson’s Reserve Cask Strength Bourbon (91)
- BHAKTA 2011 (89)
- Whiskey Row Triple Wood (88)
- 2XO Whiskey The Vinyl Blend (87)
- Blood Oath Pact No. 11 (86)
Rye Whiskey
- Pinhook Vertical Series 9 Year Rye 2025 Release (91)
- Bardstown Bourbon Company Single Barrel Finish Rye (90)
- Old Forester 117 Series: Bottled in Bond Rye (89)
- Sagamore Spirit Double Oak Rye (89)
- Savage & Cooke Lip Service Rye Whiskey (86)
American Single Malt
- Virginia Distillery Company The Brewer’s Coalition: Foothills Brewing Sexual Chocolate Stout Cask Finish (91)
- Lost Lantern 2025 Single Cask #2: Andalusia Whiskey Co. Peated Texas Single Malt Finished in a Tequila Cask (88)
Wheat Whiskey
Scotch Whisky
Other Whiskey
- Blue Run Flight Series III Filly & Fiddle (91)
- The Cardrona Single Malt Whisky Just Hatched (91)
- The Cardrona Single Malt Whisky Growing Wings (90)
Flavored Whiskey
Tequila
- Alto Canto Reposado (91)
- Campo Azul 1940 Still Strength Blanco (90)
- Cachasol Tequila Blanco Epic Strength (89)
- Codigo 1530 George Strait ‘Cowboys & Dreamers’ Special Edition Añejo (89)
- Espero Blanco (86)
Mezcal
Gin
Vodka
RTDs
No/Low Alcohol
- Cali Sober Berry Fizz 5mg THC (92)
- No More Amber Dream Small Batch Zero-Proof Cocktail (90)
- Cali Sober Ranch Water 5mg THC (89)
- Tenneyson Black Ginger (88)
Miscellaneous
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Founded by Dan Abrams, The Daily Pour is the ultimate drinking guide for the modern consumer, covering spirits, non-alcoholic and hemp beverages. With its unique combination of cross-category coverage and signature rating system that aggregates reviews from trusted critics across the internet, The Daily Pour sets the standard as the leading authority in helping consumers discover, compare and enjoy the best of today's evolving drinks landscape.
