Mezcal is the most terroir-expressive spirits category in the world. Crystal and Roger have reviewed expressions from Del Maguey's gateway Espadín to rare Oaxacan small-batch productions. This is the definitive ranked list. 🥇 #1 — Corte Vetusto Mezcal | The Most Complex Agave Spirit Crystal and Roger Have Reviewed Small-batch Oaxacan mezcal reviewed with importer David Shepherd. Crystal and Roger called this the most complex agave spirit in their review catalog — regardless

Gin is the most botanically diverse spirits category — and Crystal and Roger have reviewed expressions ranging from classic London Dry to barrel-aged Oklahoma craft. Here's the definitive ranked list. 🥇 #1 — Woodworks Barrel Aged Gin | The Oklahoma City Gin That Converts Whiskey Drinkers Oklahoma City's grain-to-glass distillery makes a gin that challenges everything bourbon drinkers think they know about the category. Aged in oak barrels, it bridges gin and whiskey in a way

Cognac intimidates most spirits drinkers. The categories seem arcane, the prices seem high, and the marketing leans stuffy. Crystal and Roger have reviewed the full cognac spectrum and identified exactly which bottles make the best entry points — and why. Why Cognac Is Worth Starting Cognac is double-distilled grape brandy aged in French oak — at its best, one of the most aromatic and complex spirits in the world. Grande Champagne terroir creates eaux-de-vie that age for deca

The $50 range is where tequila gets genuinely interesting. Crystal and Roger have reviewed the full spectrum — here are the best additive-free and near-additive-free tequilas under $50, ranked by value and quality. 🥇 #1 — LALO Tequila Blanco (~$45) | The Standard Bearer Additive-free certified, NOM 1466, Highland Jalisco, 100% Blue Weber agave. The bottle that launched The Liquor Connoisseur® podcast. Clean, honest agave character that teaches you what tequila is actually su

You don't need to spend $50 to drink great bourbon. Crystal and Roger have reviewed dozens of expressions at every price point — here are the best bourbons under $30, ranked honestly by value and quality. 🥇 #1 — Wild Turkey 101 (~$28) | The Undisputed Champion 101 proof, high-rye Kentucky straight bourbon, distilled by Eddie and Jimmy Russell — the longest-tenured father-son distilling team in bourbon history. More flavor, more complexity, more bourbon character than anythin

Vodka has an image problem — most people treat it as a neutral commodity. Crystal and Roger have reviewed vodka as seriously as any other category, finding genuine differences in base ingredient, production method, and character. Here's the ranked list. 🥇 #1 — Loft & Bear Artisanal Vodka | The Black-Owned LA Distillery That Beats Grey Goose Purpose-driven, Black-owned, and genuinely better than the premium mainstream competition. Crystal and Roger said it directly: in a blin

Cognac and Armagnac are two of the most underappreciated spirit categories in America — and Crystal and Roger have reviewed more of them than almost any independent spirits podcast. This is the definitive ranked list. 🥇 #1 — Pierre Ferrand 10 Generations | 300 Years of French Brandy Mastery in a Glass Ten generations of the Ferrand family producing Grande Champagne cognac — the finest terroir in the category. Crystal and Roger called this the bottle that stops conversations.

Crystal and Roger have reviewed rum from Barbados, Nicaragua, the Caribbean, New Jersey, and beyond. This is the definitive ranked list of every rum reviewed on The Liquor Connoisseur® — from everyday bottles to rare finds. 🥇 #1 — Ten to One Caribbean White Rum | The Rum That Permanently Changes How You Think About White Rum A multi-island Caribbean blend from Marc Farrell's Black-owned brand. This is not a mixer — it's a sipping rum. Complex, layered, and legitimately one o

Irish whiskey is the world's fastest-growing spirits category — and Crystal and Roger have reviewed expressions from across the style spectrum. Here's the ranked list. 🥇 #1 — Redbreast 12 Year | The Robin's Redemption Single pot still Irish whiskey at its finest. Redbreast 12 carries the most complex, rewarding flavor profile in the approachable Irish whiskey category. Orchard fruit, spice, and a rich, oily texture from the pot still. Crystal and Roger call it the bottle tha

Rye whiskey is America's most underappreciated category. Crystal and Roger have reviewed it more thoroughly than almost any other podcast — from cask strength Monongahela-style expressions to rum-finished ryes. This is the definitive ranked list. 🥇 #1 — Michter's Single Barrel Straight Rye | World's Most Admired Whiskey, Two Years Running Named World's Most Admired Whiskey by Drinks International two consecutive years. Crystal and Roger tasted and confirmed the title is earn

Crystal and Roger have reviewed Scotch across regions, styles, and price points. This is the definitive ranked list of every Scotch reviewed on The Liquor Connoisseur® — from gateway blends to premium single malts. 🥇 #1 — Jura Seven Wood Single Malt | Seven Casks, One Statement Seven different cask types — American white oak, Limousin oak, and five others — create a layered complexity that earns Jura Seven Wood the top spot. Crystal and Roger called this the most interesting

The best spirits don't require an occasion or a second mortgage. Crystal and Roger have reviewed hundreds of bottles and identified the ones that deliver far more than their price suggests. Every entry on this list has been tasted on-camera with full notes. These are the bottles we reach for every week. 🥇 #1 — Presidente Brandy (~$12) | The Most Underrated Bottle in Any Liquor Store Mexican brandy for $12 that has no business being this enjoyable. Our most-watched review for

The Liquor Connoisseur has reviewed more Black-owned spirits brands than almost any other podcast in the category. This list ranks every brand we've covered — by quality, story, and why they deserve a permanent place on your shelf. Every bottle reviewed on-camera by Crystal and Roger with full tasting notes. No paid placements. 🥇 #1 — Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch Whiskey The brand that gave Nathan 'Nearest' Green his name back. The fastest-growing American whiskey brand in

Crystal and Roger have reviewed tequila more than any other category — from entry-level blancos to ultra-premium aged expressions. This ranked list covers the bottles that actually delivered. Every expression reviewed on-camera with full tasting notes. Additive-free status noted where confirmed. 🥇 #1 — LALO Tequila Blanco | The Additive-Free Standard The bottle that launched the podcast. Additive-free, NOM 1466, Highlands Jalisco. Clean, honest agave flavor that proves you d

The Liquor Connoisseur has reviewed bourbon from Kentucky, Texas, New York, and Oklahoma — across every price point, mashbill style, and proof level. This is our definitive ranked list of the best bourbons we've reviewed, updated as we add new episodes. Every bottle on this list has been tasted blind or on-camera by Crystal and Roger with full tasting notes published. No paid placements. No hype. Just the bottles that earned it. 🥇 #1 — Frank August Small Batch Bourbon | 2025