Olivia White

Bourbon might be known as America's native spirit, but before it was the booming industry we know today, rye was the preferred whiskey on U.S. soil. While the spirit may have fallen out of favor post-Prohibition, rye whiskey is back in full force, with volumes swelling in the past decade and a half. But having such a vast sea of options to choose from now can make nailing down the perfect bottle to give an overwhelming task.

Following years of price surges, the value of elusive Scotch whiskies sold at auction plummeted in 2024 according to Scotland-based financial advisory firm Noble & Co., indicating that the rare whisky bubble may have “finally burst.”

DoorDash curated the list based on its own criteria and methodology: it analyzed single-location and small- to medium-sized restaurants and brands with the highest customer ratings and over 1,000 reviews. From there, analysts examined the establishments in each cuisine type and manually selected a local favorite.

photos by: Jeff Brown developed by: Garret Richard The Story Behind The Mary Pickford (a.k.a. Mary's Daiquiri)

If gin has historically been misunderstood and overlooked in the U.S., the tides are turning , with cocktails like the Martini and the Negroni reentering the zeitgeist and igniting new excitement around the spirit for consumers and distillers alike. Traditionally defined by its juniper-forward profile, this “ginaissance” has inspired producers all over the globe to incorporate new botanicals in their recipes, resulting in unique flavors worthy of a try.

In recent years, the alcohol industry has received its fair share of scrutiny as spirited debates continue regarding the safest level of consumption. Most recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) stunned the public with its declaration that “no level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health.” However, according to a report published Wednesday from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) , moderate drinking actually comes with some health benefits, including a lower risk of all-cause mortality.

illustration: Danielle Grinberg Published: December 20, 2024 As the U.S.'s best-selling spirit, vodka is a beloved staple for a reason.