5 Totally Drinkable High-Proof Liquors That Will Make You Look Cool

Imbibers who make high demands of their bourbon and vodka can’t help but have noticed the proliferation of boutique spirit brands lately. These are the liquids that differentiate themselves with modifiers like “small batch,” “artisanal,” and the pleasing (if perplexing) descriptor of “hand-crafted.” Just 10 years ago, only about 70 independent distillers were making small-batch liquor; the American Distilling Institute estimates that number now stands at about 900—and that’s not including the old-line European family distillers that have established a foothold on American soil in recent years.