10 Biggest American Whiskey Brands in 2025, According the World’s Best Bars

Is there any spirit more quintessentially American than whiskey? For the past several years, the “Bourbon Boom” has brought jobs and revenue to states like Kentucky. In February 2024, the Kentucky Distillers’ Association and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear shared that bourbon generated $9 billion in revenue for the state.

Yet bourbon isn’t the only American whiskey that has captivated drinkers worldwide. The American whiskey landscape is as diverse and promising as its people, with rye whiskeys, wheated bourbons and the American Single Malt, which stepped into its own as a category in December.

Drinks International recently released its annual brands report, which revealed a list of the 10 best-selling American whiskey brands. The publication’s editors gathered data from the best bars worldwide to determine which American whiskeys the most skilled and talented bartenders sell the most of.

The publication reported that editors created a list of 100 bars from a diverse array of locations, and several were featured in The World’s 50 Best Bars, Class Bar Awards and some even achieved Tales of the Cocktail’s Spirited Awards. Bar owners were asked to check out their spreadsheets and rank the top three best-selling products in each category.

The 10 Biggest American Whiskey Brands in 2025

10. Rittenhouse Rye

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Rittenhouse Rye’s success is liquid proof that the rye renaissance is in full swing. Rittenhouse is owned by the storied Heaven Hill whiskey brand, which is the parent company behind storied bourbons like Larceny and Elijah Craig.

This rye whiskey is distilled from a mashbill of 51% rye, 35% corn and 14% malted barley. It takes its name from Philadelphia Pennsylvania’s storied Rittenhouse Square. This Pennsylvania whiskey brand (today made in Kentucky by Heaven Hill) entered the marketplace right after the end of Prohibition. An affordable yet spicy spirit, Rittenhouse is often known as “The Bartender’s Rye” thanks to its affordable suggested retail price of $25 and versatility in cocktails.

Rittenhouse has bold aromas of cinnamon and warm spices on the palate with a kick of heat. With its bold, robust body and delicious cinnamon spice, Rittenhouse Rye is excellent in a cocktail.

9. Evan Williams

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It’s hardly surprising that two whiskeys from the portfolio of all-star American whiskey brand, Heaven Hill, made Drinks International’s Bestselling Whiskeys of 2025 list.

The bourbon takes its name from Kentucky’s first distiller, who founded the Bluegrass State’s first commercial distillery along the Ohio River. Evan Williams’ flagship bourbon with a black label is inexpensive and has a modest proof of 86 and an average price of $16, according to Wine-Searcher.

Though Evan William’s black label expression is the torch bearer for the brand, don’t sleep on the brand’s Single Barrel. Evan Williams Single Barrel has a slight bump in price at an average of $41 according to Wine-Searcher, but we’d go so far as to say it’s a killer value. Picture loads of toffee, nougat and a whisper of red fruits like raspberry on the palate, coupled with a pleasantly short finish.

8. Wild Turkey

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Wild Turkey Bourbon is helmed by father-and-son master distilling duo, Jimmy and Eddie Russell. The elder Russell, Jimmy, celebrated his 70th anniversary with Wild Turkey last year with a special bottling, so you could say the man knows a thing or two about making whiskey.

The great thing about Wild Turkey is that you can find stellar whiskeys at any price point, and Wild Turkey 101 Bourbon is proof of that.

Wild Turkey 101 is the brand’s entry-level expression and has a cult following among those in the trade. With its nose of vanilla and a cinnamon-driven palate, this potent bourbon is great for cocktails or sipping neat. Wild Turkey 101 sells for an average price of $26, according to Wine-Searcher, making it easy to understand why it’s a must-have bourbon on every bar.

On the pricier side, critics were particularly partial to Wild Turkey’s Master’s Keep Voyage, a 10-year-old bourbon with a 53% ABV that was finished in 14-year Appleton Estate Rum casks. Check out our review here. The nose is rich and full of fruit and oak. The palate is filled with pineapple, banana, caramel and ginger, making it one wild ride! Wild Turkey Master’s Keep Voyage costs a pretty penny and sells for an average price of $409 according to Wine-Searcher.

7. Jim Beam

(Photo: Jim Beam/Facebook)

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Is there a bourbon brand more steeped in history than Jim Beam? The story behind the Beam dates back to the late 1700s, when Jacob Beam used his father’s recipe to create corn whiskey. According to Jim Beam, his was noticeably sweeter than other whiskeys, and that is how Jim Beam’s bourbon came to be.

Jim Beam’s White Label is the brand’s flagship expression, and that’s likely the whiskey that’s driving the brand’s sales. Priced at a modest average of $18, according to Wine-Searcher, this whiskey can be bought pretty much everywhere.

Jim Beam’s portfolio is incredibly diverse, from reliable old standbys like the brand’s affordable white label to higher-end expressions. If critically acclaimed whiskeys resonate with you, Jim Beam’s Distiller’s Masterpiece received quite the hype. Though it costs north of $200, Drinkhacker adored its surprisingly light texture. This whiskey has plenty of character, and Drinkhacker cited aromas of orange marmalade, toasted oak, and a fun finish loaded with popcorn.

6. Jack Daniel’s

(Photo: AP Photo/Toby Talbot, File)

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Tennessee whiskey brand Jack Daniel’s is known for its signature charcoal mellowing process. The brand filters its distillate through sugar maple charcoal, which the brand believes renders the final whiskey perfect for smooth and easy sipping.

Jack Daniel’s has had more than its fair share of fans throughout the ages, and Frank Sinatra was essentially an honorary brand ambassador. Ol’ Blue Eyes was such a fan of Jack that he referred to it as “the nectar of the gods.” Old No. 7 is the quintessential expression from Jack Daniel’s, with an affordable average price of $27, according to Wine-Searcher. Old No. 7 is one of the most popular whiskeys in the world, but Jack Daniel’s has in recent years expanded its portfolio to become so more diverse than just that. Jack Daniel’s releases innovative and experimental whiskeys within the premium tier as well.

Last year, critics were particularly partial to Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Special Release 2024 Coy Hill Barrelhouse 8, which has earned an extremely impressive Raided Score® of 94. This whiskey has a suggested retail price of $79.99 (although it’s basically impossible to find at this point, at least at a halfway reasonable price) and possesses plenty of character from being aged in the Coy Hill Barrelhouse, which sits at the highest elevation of Jack Daniel’s property in Lynchburg, Tennessee. Because of this, the whiskey is exposed to extreme temperature fluctuations, yielding a powerful, dessert-driven pour.

Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Special Release 2024 Coy Hill Barrelhouse 8 ranked within the top 10 on our Top 100 Whiskeys of 2024 list.

5. Buffalo Trace

(Photo: Buffalo Trace Distillery)

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Few brands have the following that Buffalo Trace does. This bourbon brand steeped in history has a reputation for being one of the oldest continually operating distilleries in the United States. Buffalo Trace Distillery is known for many prestigious releases including Blanton’s, Weller and even the iconic Van Winkle lineup.

With such a history, Buffalo Trace has rebranded itself many times and during the dark ages of Prohibition was operating under the name George T. Stagg Distillery. The clever and creative team is no stranger to producing distinctive releases that pay homage to this brand’s lengthy history like its Prohibition Collection, and these offerings typically fetch high prices on the secondary market.

Few whiskeys from the Buffalo Trace Distillery generate more hype than The Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, which releases every year. Critics fell hard for the 2024 release of George T. Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon, with its richly peppered nose, palate loaded with barrel char and brown sugar, coupled with a hefty, proofy finish that leans towards the savory side of the spectrum. It came in at No. 2 on our list, 100 Best Whiskeys of 2024, According to the Internet’s Most Trusted Spirits Critics.

Though this whiskey has a modest suggested retail price of $149.99, expect to spend upwards of $1,000 on the secondary market, according to Wine-Searcher.

If you’re not in the market to shell out that much cash, Buffalo Trace’s flagship bourbon has a much more affordable suggested retail price of $30 and is pretty widely available. Buffalo Trace Bourbon has an ABV of 45% and a vanilla-driven nose, with cinnamon and caramel on the palate. With a gentle finish that is reminiscent of vanilla fudge, it’s easy to see why Buffalo Trace is so well received by bartenders around the world.

4. Woodford Reserve

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Woodford Reserve’s historic distillery sits in Versailles, Kentucky. This bourbon brand is currently helmed by Elizabeth McCall, who assumed the mantle of master distiller in February 2023. With a range of experimental whiskeys like the brand’s Sonoma Triple Finish or its Malt Whiskey, the team is no stranger to thinking outside the box.

From a critical standpoint, Woodford’s Master’s Collection Very Fine Rare Bourbon received plenty of acclaim, and you can read the reviews here. This bourbon is drawn from a blend of barrels up to 17 years of age. The 45.2-proof whiskey is arguably one of the best bottles of Woodford around, with a potent mouthfeel loaded with plums, brown sugar and plenty of structure. Expect to pay a pretty penny for this bourbon, as it has a suggested retail price of $130 but tends to go for quite a bit more on the secondary market.

If you’re new to Woodford, consider trying the brand’s flagship bourbon, Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. With an ABV of 45.2% and a mashbill composed of 72% corn, 18% rye and 10% malted barley, this bourbon has an average price of $38, according to Wine-Searcher. For about $20 more, you can upgrade to the brand’s Double Oaked Bourbon, which is quite popular among fans of oak-forward pours.

3. Maker’s Mark

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Maker’s Mark is known for its signature red wax-topped bottles and sweet, smooth wheated bourbon. Despite the requests of enthusiasts, Maker’s Mark has always refused to release extended-age whiskeys because it believes its bourbon is perfect as is — aged “to taste – not time.”

Well, Maker’s caved to the pining of age-loving fans in 2023, when the whiskey brand unveiled Cellar Aged, a cask-strength blend of 11- and 12-year-old bourbons. The release was the oldest whiskey to drop in the history of the distillery. Maker’s Mark shared that it aged the barrels in a limestone cellar to keep the aging environment consistently cool. The reason? To avoid too much of those pesky tannins.

Critics all around fell hard for that release and even harder for the 2024 release of the brand’s Cellar Aged Bourbon, which had 13-year-old whiskey added to the final blend. 2024’s Cellar Aged was even better than 2023’s, and Maker’s Mark has made an exciting foray into distinctive extra-aged whiskey.

Without a doubt, Maker’s Cellar Aged expressions can be a bit hard to find. If you’re looking for a more accessible whiskey, Maker’s Mark’s flagship Bourbon is a great choice. This wheated bourbon has an average price of $31, according to Wine-Searcher.

2. Bulleit

(Photo: Bulleit Bourbon/Instagram)

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Bulleit was founded in 1987, and the Diageo-owned brand claims it is one of the “fastest-growing whiskeys in America.” The brand thanks the bartenders who pour its juice from those distinctive clear bottles as the reason for its meteoric rise.

Bulleit’s flagship 45%-ABV bourbon sells for an average price of $31, according to Wine-Searcher.

Bourbon isn’t the only whiskey Bulleit makes; the brand hosts a diverse portfolio featuring ryes, a barrel strength offering and even an American Single Malt. If there was an expression of Bulleit that would be our desert island pour, we’d take the brand’s 95 Frontier Rye Whiskey 12 Year Old (2024) in a heartbeat.

Critics adored this rye whiskey, which has a suggested retail price of $55 making it a total steal with its herby, tropically-driven profile. If you want to learn more about this rye whiskey, you can read reviews here.

1. Michter’s

(Photo: Drinks International)

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Michter’s is having a moment. Well, maybe it’s more than a moment, considering this whiskey brand has been crowned the world’s most admired whiskey by Drinks International in both 2023 and 2024.

For several decades, Michter’s was a bit of an insider’s brand with a cult following, but it’s recently arrived as a true powerhouse. The brand’s core US*1 series features a bourbon, rye, sour mash and American whiskey in its portfolio.

Yet, perhaps the créme de la créme of Michter’s whiskeys is the brand’s Celebration Sour Mash 2022. Just 328 bottles exist in the world and each one hosts a suggested retail price of $6,000. Zach Johnston of Uproxx found himself crushing hard on this extraordinary whiskey, writing “I absolutely believe there should be a flavor note called ‘love'” after tasting it. Though the price is formidable, Johnston claims it is 100% worth every penny, making this bottle of Michter’s a modern unicorn.

A bottle of Michter’s Celebration Sour Mash 2022 is extremely difficult to come by — and not everyone can afford that $6,000 price tag. We recommend trying the brand’s US*1 Bourbon instead if you’re looking for an intro to Michter’s. This 45.7%-ABV bourbon is smooth, sweet and easy to enjoy neat or in a cocktail.

Wine-Searcher reports an average price of $49. The quality-to-price ratio is second to none, and it’s easy to see why Michter’s is continuing its meteoric rise.