DENVER, CO – FEBRUARY 18: Katie Miller pours herself a glass of Stranahan’s Black Label Whisky while on tour … [+]
Nearly ever since humans began distilling whiskey, people have been arguing over which is best. It’s human nature to love a winner. This drive to find the best has led to a thriving awards industry that hands out thousands of awards every year, both on a local and global scale. This is great, but it also creates a static buzz for consumers. It can be difficult to distinguish the best whiskey from the contenders for the throne.
This conundrum led to the creation of the International Whisky Competition (IWC) 15 years ago. Unlike other events, the competition is exclusive to whisky and awards three medals in each category – gold, silver and bronze. Described as the “Olympics of whisky competitions” by Master Distiller and Whisky Hall of Fame member Jim McEwan, the IWC has one sole purpose: to showcase the best whisky in the world.
A panel of whisky experts (Masters of Bourbon, Masters of Scotch, Master Blenders, Certified Spirits Judges, Distillers and Whisky Experts) taste each entry in a double-blind manner, without knowing which category the spirit falls into. In this way, all peated Scotches, Irish Whiskies, Bourbons etc. are assessed at once. Each spirit is judged on 15 criteria and given a final score calculated out of 100 points.
Due to the growing popularity of American whiskey and bourbon, this year for the first time the competition was split into two tastings, with judging taking place in Kentucky and Scotland. The IWC is notoriously rigorous, designed to weed out the worst, and as a result only 102 whiskeys from around the world received scores of 90 points or above, 35 of which were American whiskeys.
If you’re looking for the best bourbon in the world that’s been rigorously judged and tested, look no further. Here are all the bourbon medal winners and their respective point totals. This year’s top award goes to George T. Stagg.
Best American Whiskey (All Categories)
1st place: George T. Stagg – 94.98 points
2nd Place: NOCO Distillery – Founder’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon – Mashbill Number: II – Cask Strength – 94.49 points
3rd place: WL Weller Antique 107 – 94.07 points
best bourbon whiskey
1st place: George T. Stagg – 94.98 points
2nd Place: NOCO Distillery – Founder’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon – Mashbill Number: II – Cask Strength – 94.49 points
3rd place: WL Weller Antique 107 – 94.07 points
Best Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey (Full Proof)
1st place: George T. Stagg – 94.98 points
2nd Place: NOCO Distillery – Founder’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon – Mashbill Number: II – Cask Strength – 94.49 points
3rd place: Old Hammer Straight Bourbon Cask Strength – 92.49 points
Best Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey
1st place: 1792 Small Batch – 89.93 points
2nd Place: Elijah Craig Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 89.89 points
3rd Place: Larceny Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 88.75 points
Best Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon Whisky
1st place: 1792 Bottled in Bond – 93.95 points
2nd Place: Buzzard’s Roost – Bottle-in-Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 92.04 points
3rd Place: Evan Williams Bottled in Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 89.83 points
best single barrel bourbon whiskey
1st Place: NOCO Distillery – Founder’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon – Mashbill Number: II – Cask Strength – 94.49 points
2nd place: 1792 Single Barrel – 91.77 points
3rd Place: Benchmark Single Barrel – 91.13 points
Best American Cask Finish
1st Place: RD1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Brazilian Amburana Wood Finish – 93.03 points
2nd Place: RD1 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey French Oak Finish – 91.67 points
3rd Place: Hugh Hammer Straight Bourbon Double Oak 103 Proof – 91.42 points
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