{"id":190244,"date":"2025-07-16T03:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-16T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sunset.com\/?p=190244"},"modified":"2025-07-19T15:38:24","modified_gmt":"2025-07-19T22:38:24","slug":"2025-spirits-issue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sunset.com\/food-wine\/wine-pairings\/2025-spirits-issue","title":{"rendered":"The Best Cocktails and Spirits in the West Right Now\u2014Read Our 2025 Spirits Issue"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You rarely forget the first cocktail of the vacation<\/a>. Whether it\u2019s the little rum shooter on a tray they give you at check-in or the spritz by the pool, memories of the long flight fading as the sun starts to develop your tan. We\u2019re lucky that the world of drinks and spirits is such as it is today. Hundreds of impressive distilleries and brands are creating spirits that are the foundation for delicious cocktails that are true to place, thanks to talented bartenders combining great technique<\/a> and local ingredients in the glass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s what this issue is all about: a celebration of drinks that transport us even more into the here and now when we\u2019re on vacation near or far from home. From Mexico, to Mendocino<\/a>, to Hawaii, and beyond, you\u2019ll find drinks to suit every taste and every moment on your travels. And, as we do every year, we honor the winners of the annual Sunset International Spirits Competition<\/a>. These are the brands that make all this possible. Let us toast the winners, the spirits fans, and the travelers who know that every transcendent trip truly begins with the first sip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read the 2025 Spirits Issue<\/h2>\n\n\n