Liqueurs occupy an intriguing space in the world of spirits. Often overshadowed by whisky, gin and rum, they draw on a tradition that stretches back just as far, rooted in early distillation and medicinal practices from the medieval era. Almost every ingredient imaginable has found its way into a liqueur at some point, from fruits and spices to more unusual botanicals.
Originally, liqueurs were a way of softening strong spirits with roots, herbs and flowers, alongside a measure of sugar, creating drinks that were as much about function as flavour. That long history is still visible today in the category’s classics, from Grand Marnier, first produced in 1870, to Luxardo Maraschino, dating back to 1821, and Chartreuse, whose origins lie in the early 16th century.
More recently, liqueurs have enjoyed something of a revival. Their vivid colours and distinctive flavours have helped push them back into the spotlight thanks to social media, but their appeal goes well beyond looks alone. Liqueurs remain a cornerstone of cocktails such as the Kir Royale and the Cosmopolitan, while the Aperol Spritz has firmly established itself as a summer star. Elsewhere, cream liqueurs continue to shine as indulgent after-dinner drinks, and whisky liqueurs remain a cold weather staple, equally at home in hip flasks or hot toddies.
This versatility is reflected in the IWSC 2025 results. With 12 of the competition’s Gold Outstanding medals awarded to liqueurs, the category shows itself to be in confident health.
Citrus-based liqueurs had something of a bumper year at the IWSC 2025, occupying five of the spots on this list. One of these, Yuzucello, was described by IWSC judges as ‘a perfect balance of sweetness and acidity, with a clean, lingering finish that dances on the tongue’.
Floral liqueurs also made a strong showing, taking three Gold Outstanding medals and highlighting the category’s ability to deliver refreshment and surprising depth. Among the standouts was Heritage di Manuela Cavallo’s Athanasia Il Liquore from Italy, which scored an impressive 98 points. Judges noted ‘vibrant green apple and white blossom on the nose, followed by a palate of fennel seed spice and a gentle peppery kick’.
Coffee liqueurs meanwhile, leaned into intensity and depth rather than sweetness. Denmark’s Nyborg Destilleri Kaffelikør Økologisk impressed with ‘intense, aromatic, multilayered undertones of medium to dark roast coffee’, followed by a smoky sweetness on the palate.
All were judged blind by an expert panel, featuring wine and spirits consultant Antony Moss MW, spirits writer Colin Hampden-White and owner and director of Wine and Such, Stephanie DiCamillo-May.
The world of liqueurs is a fascinating one to explore, given the variety and diversity on offer, and there is no better way to start than with this list of 12 of the best from the IWSC 2025.
HOW DO WE JUDGE THESE SPIRITS?
We run a tightly structured, rigorous spirits tasting process. That means that each spirit sample is pre-poured into numbered glasses and assessed blindly by the judges. Most importantly, our IWSC spirit judges are experts in their field, who work across all sectors of the drinks industry. For evidence, see our full list of judges.
HOW DO WE SCORE THESE SPIRITS?
Only the best spirits sampled receive a Gold or Silver award. For example, to win Gold, spirits have to score between 95 and 100 points. Meanwhile, Silver spirits range from 90 to 94 points. Click here to read more on our scoring system.
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12 award-winning liqueurs from the IWSC 2025
