From tequila to whisky to gin and back again – it’s our yearly wrap-up of the very best in spirits.

Remember CD players? Sometimes they’d get stuck, repeating the same song over and over and over until the lyrics to Man! I Feel Like A Woman were burned into the folds of your brain. Sometimes it’s like that with drinks. We get stuck in a drinks rut, pouring the same old tired gin and tonic time after time, forgetting there’s a whole lot more out there. Let’s change that.

If you've been looking for something a little different to add to your liquor cabinet, now's the time to do it. With a cavalcade of new and exciting producers throwing their hat into the ring, there's never been a more interesting or diverse pool to pick from. From independent and lo-fi artisans to daring new drops from around the world, these spirits are among the year's best.

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Fire & Ice Vodka Original

Switzerland is famous for expensive watches, banking, and diplomatic neutrality. You can also throw neutral spirits onto that list because this award-winning vodka from Fire & Ice is an absolute belter. Made from Swiss Apline water and premium grains, it's soft, smooth, and so bloody good.

Silent Pool Gin

Counting King John, Agatha Christie and Alfred Tennyson as notable visitors, Silent Pool in the English countryside is a mythical, sacred place. Made from its spring water, the quality of this London Dry Gin is anything but a myth. Get ahead of the trend and jump on this unique gin before the crowd catches on.

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The Duppy Share Spiced Rum

It's only natural that spiced rum tastes like summer. Made from an aromatic blend of Caribbean rums and infused with pineapple, kola nut and island spices, this award-winning spirit comes from the land of palm trees and endless sunshine. Enjoy it over ice or mixed with lime and cola.

Cazcabel Reposado Tequila

If we could swap places with anyone, it’d be the people who make Cazcabel Reposado. Aged in American oak barrels for around 11 months, Cazcabel's jimadors have the painstaking task of sampling their tequila every day until it reaches perfection. Fortunately, they've left some for us.

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Tread Softly Pink Gin

Graduating from our moment in the sun to fully-fledged experts, Australia has become an international heavyweight in the gin world. Floral and delicate, this gin from Victoria's Tread Softly is made from a beguiling blend of local botanicals. Another notch on the belt.

Koyomi Single Distilled Shochu

Koji is found in all sorts of tasty things, soy sauce and miso to name a few. But perhaps its greatest cameo is in Shochu. Distilled from barley and koji, this Japanese spirit is best enjoyed over ice with a dash of soda, highball style. Could this be the drink of the summer?

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Burrito Fiestero Cenizo Mezcal

From the state of Durango in Mexico's northwest, this velvety mezcal is a masterstroke in smooth, easy-drinking spirits. Oh, and did we mention it was organic, vegan and sustainably made? Drinking responsibly has never tasted so good.

Nikka 12 Year Old Japanese Whisky

Proper whisky lovers know that Japan is home to some of the world's most revered distilleries. Founded in 1934 by Masataka Taketsuru, Nikka is the distillery that started it all. One to savour for years to come, this drop is among the brand's best.

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Starward Unexpeated Single Malt Australian Whisky

There isn't a peat bog within cooee of Melbourne, but that hasn't stopped local whisky producer Starward from making one the finest peated drams this side of Scotland. This smoky, fruit-forward whisky is a fair dinkum trailblazer, aged in vintage barrels from Islay.

Vestal Vodka

They say you only get out what you put in. When it comes to Vestal, all evidence points to an input of truly spectacular potatoes: Asterix, Innovator and Russett Burbank potatoes, to be exact. The result is a top-notch vodka perfect for cocktails but good enough to stand alone.