Initially launched in 2000, The 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (aged 23 years) had over 5,000 global spirit entries in its recent April combat session. Find out how Bourbon stacked up and which brands took home top honors.
2 Important Metrics: It Matters
Judges: The judges panel is a stand out group of respected spirit industry professionals (36 in total) ranging from bartenders, bar owners, spirit media gurus, and long standing industry fixtures. At the end of the day it’s all opinion based, everyone has a different tastes. But this assembled group has significant volume and experience to get our attention and curiosity of what is stand out in their collective eyes.
Blind Tasting: This is crucial in eliminating biased. No recognition of either brand or price point. Per their website – Throughout four days of highly controlled blind tastings, our experienced judging panels taste every product to decide if it is medal-worthy. Judges do not receive any information on producer or price point, ensuring each spirit is judged fairly, equally, and without bias.
A point of minor constructive view – palate fatigue. Tasting ALL those samples in a 4 day crash test setting. But hey, tough job jduges lol, somebody has to do it.
Awards Structure
Here’s the pecking order. Technically, Platinum is top dog, but this is rare as none were spotted in the Bourbon category this year. Double Gold is essentially king and on down the line. Per Double Gold, all judges must award Gold to that particular brand label.
Bourbon: Who Took Home Double Gold?
Out of the 5,000ish total entries, Bourbon accounted for roughly 450 total medals. Out of that 450, it grabbed 81 Double Golds and ~120 Golds. That doesn’t include Rye, American Blended Whiskey or American Single Malt. For perspective, there were around 500 total Double Golds awarded across all spirits. Scotch received approaching 270 total medals with approx. 100 Double Golds.
For all category awards, Click Here. The link is the award site’s database that allows keyword search ie Scotch, Tequila, Rye. It will pull up all affiliated medal winners per keyword.
7 Subcategories of Bourbon:
- Straight Bourbon
- Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon
- Wheated Bourbon
- Small Batch Bourbon Up to 5 Years
- Small Batch Bourbon 6-10 Years
- Single Barrel Bourbon Up to 10 Years
- Single Barrel Bourbon 11 Years and Older
BOURBON DOUBLE GOLD WINNERS
The following Bourbon brands took home Double Gold honors. Of note, there are a few extra brands noted beyond 81 (ie Bourbon Cream Liqueur). It’s a lot of data folks.
Of note, it’s interesting and kind of fun to see the out of Kentucky Bourbon’s make some noise.
| Brand | Product | Region | Country | Class | Medal |
| 15 STARS | 13 Year Old Timeless Reserve Bourbon | Kentucky | United States | Straight Bourbon | GG |
| 1845 Distilling Preemption | Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey | TX | United States | Straight Bourbon | GG |
| 2XO | The Phoenix Blend | KY | United States | Small Batch Bourbon – 6 to 10 Years | GG |
| Angel’s Envy | 2022 Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Wine Barrels | KY | United States | Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon | GG |
| Art of the Spirits Whiskey | Cask Strength “Frogman” Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Colorado | USA | Small Batch Bourbon – 6 to 10 Years | GG |
| Art of the Spirits Whiskey | Cask Strength “Final Run” Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in a Ruby Port Cask | Colorado | USA | Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon | GG |
| Augusta Distillery | Buckner’s 13 Year | United States | Single Barrel Bourbon – 11 Years and Older | GG | |
| Axe and the Oak Distillery | First Stake Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey | Colorado | USA | Small Batch Bourbon – Up to 5 Years | GG |
| Bainbridge | Whiskey 40 Saloon Bottled In Bond | WA | United States | Small Batch Bourbon – Up to 5 Years | GG |
| Bardstown Bourbon Company | Collaborative Series – Chateau de Laubade II | Kentucky | USA | Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon | GG |
| BENDT | Bourbon Cream | USA | Cream/Dairy Liqueurs | GG | |
| BLACKENED Whiskey | BLACKENED x Wes Henderson Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey | KY | United States | Straight Bourbon | GG |
| Blanton’s Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Original Single Barrel Bourbon | KY | United States | Single Barrel Bourbon – Up to 10 Years | GG |
| Blanton’s Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Straight From the Barrel Single Barrel Bourbon | KY | United States | Single Barrel Bourbon – Up to 10 Years | GG |
| Blue Note | Juke Joint | KY | United States | Straight Bourbon | GG |
| Blue Note | Crossroads | KY | United States | Straight Bourbon | GG |
| Bourbon | Ben Holladay One Barrel Bourbon | MO | United States | Single Barrel Bourbon – Up to 10 Years | GG |
| Breckenridge Distillery | Bourbon Whiskey | CO | United States | Straight Bourbon | GG |
| Breckenridge Distillery | Breckenridge High Proof 105 Bourbon Whiskey | CO | United States | Straight Bourbon | GG |
| Brother’s Bond | Cask Strength Bourbon | Indiana | USAA | Straight Bourbon | GG |
| Buffalo Trace | Bourbon Cream Liqueur | Cream/Dairy Liqueurs | GG | ||
| Chicken Cock | Chanticleer Finished in Cognac Casks | KY | United States | Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon | GG |
| Clyde May’s | Straight Bourbon Whiskey | AL | United States | Straight Bourbon | GG |
| Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. | Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Kentucky | Small Batch Bourbon – 6 to 10 Years | GG | |
| Detroit City | Butcher’s Cut Straight Bourbon | MI | United States | Straight Bourbon | GG |
| Doc Swinson’s | Exploratory Cask French Toasted | WA | United States | Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon | GG |
| Eagle Rare | 10 Year Old | Kentucky | Small Batch Bourbon – 6 to 10 Years | GG | |
| Elijah Craig | 18-Year | Kentucky | USA | Single Barrel Bourbon – 11 Years and Older | GG |
| Evan Williams | Black | KY | USA | Straight Bourbon | GG |
| Everwild Spirits | Seekers Toasted Oak | OH | United States | Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon | GG |
| Ezra Brooks Bourbon | Old Ezra 7 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey | KY | United States | Small Batch Bourbon – 6 to 10 Years | GG |
| FEW | Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon Whiskey | Illinois | USA | Straight Bourbon | GG |
| Filmland Spirits | Moonlight Mayhem! Small Batch Bourbon | Indiana, Kentucky | United States | Small Batch Bourbon – Up to 5 Years | GG |
| Four Roses | Single Barrel Bourbon | Kentucky | United States | Single Barrel Bourbon – Up to 10 Years | GG |
| Fox & Oden | Fox & Oden Double Oaked Straight Bourbon Whiskey | MI | United States | Straight Bourbon | GG |
| Frank August | Case Study: 01 | Mizunara | Japanese Oak | KY | United States | Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon | GG |
| George Dickel | Bourbon | Tennessee | USA | Small Batch Bourbon – 6 to 10 Years | GG |
| Ghostwood | Blended Bourbon Whiskey | MT | Small Batch Bourbon – Up to 5 Years | GG | |
| Heaven Hill | Bottled-in-Bond | KY | USA | Straight Bourbon | GG |
| Heaven’s Door | Decade Series Vol. 1 10yr Bourbon | TN | United States | Straight Bourbon | GG |
| Hidden Barn Whiskey | Kentucky Straight Bourbon Small Batch Series One Batch #5 | KY | United States | Small Batch Bourbon – Up to 5 Years | GG |
| Hidden Barn Whiskey | Kentucky Straight Bourbon Small Batch Series One Finished in Madeira Casks | KY | United States | Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon | GG |
| Hillrock Estate Distillery | Solera Aged Bourbon Tawny Port Finished | NY | United States | Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon | GG |
| J. Rieger & Co. | Straight Bourbon Whiskey Bottled In Bond | MO | United States | Straight Bourbon | GG |
| Joseph Magnus | Murray Hill Club Bourbon Blend | MI | United States | Small Batch Bourbon – 6 to 10 Years | GG |
| Kavalan | Kavalan Solist ex-Bourbon Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky | Taiwan | Other Single Malt Whisk(e)y | GG | |
| Kentucky Owl | The Wiseman Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Kentucky | USA | Straight Bourbon | GG |
| Kings County Distillery | Single Barrel Straight Bourbon Whiskey #2022 | New York | USA | Single Barrel Bourbon – Up to 10 Years | GG |
| Kings County Distillery | Bottled-in-Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey | New York | USA | Small Batch Bourbon – 6 to 10 Years | GG |
| Laws Whiskey House | Bottled in Bond Four Grain Bourbon | CO | United States | Small Batch Bourbon – 6 to 10 Years | GG |
| Maker’s Mark | Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon | KY | United States | Straight Bourbon | GG |
| McFarlane’s Reserve | Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon | KY | United States | Straight Bourbon | GG |
| Mystic Farm & Distillery | Mystic Broken Oak | NC | United States | Small Batch Bourbon – Up to 5 Years | GG |
| Nashtucky | Single Barrel Bourbon | KY | United States | Single Barrel Bourbon – Up to 10 Years | GG |
| Neeley Family Distillery | The Old Jett Brothers Sauternes Finished Bourbon | KY | United States | Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon | GG |
| New Riff | Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Bottled in Bond Without Chill Filtration | KY | United States | Small Batch Bourbon – Up to 5 Years | GG |
| Old Forester | King Ranch Edition | KY | United States | Straight Bourbon | GG |
| Old Louisville Whiskey Co | Old Louisville Whiskey | KY | United States | Straight Bourbon | GG |
| Peg Leg Porker Spirits | Straight Tennessee Bourbon Whiskey | TN | United States | Small Batch Bourbon – 6 to 10 Years | GG |
| Penelope | Private Select Batch 22-302 | Indiana | USA | Small Batch Bourbon – Up to 5 Years | GG |
| Pinhook | Vertical Series Bourbon 7 Year | KY | United States | Straight Bourbon | GG |
| PUNCHER’S CHANCE | The Undisputed Bourbon | Kentucky | United States | Single Barrel Bourbon – Up to 10 Years | GG |
| Pursuit United | Straight Bourbon | KY | United States | Straight Bourbon | GG |
| Rabbit Hole Distillery | Dareringer Kentucky Straight Bourbon Finished in PX Sherry Cask | KY | United States | Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon | GG |
| Red Line Whiskey Company | 6 Year Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey | IN | United States | Single Barrel Bourbon – Up to 10 Years | GG |
| ROCKER Spirits | Bourbon Whiskey | CO | United States | Small Batch Bourbon – Up to 5 Years | GG |
| Russell’s Reserve | 13 YO | Lawrenceburg | Single Barrel Bourbon – 11 Years and Older | GG | |
| Southern Star | Paragon Cask Strength Single Barrel Wheated Straight Bourbon Whiskey | North Carolina | Wheated Bourbon | GG | |
| Still & Oak | Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon | WI | United States | Small Batch Bourbon – Up to 5 Years | GG |
| Still Austin Whiskey Co | Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey | TX | United States | Small Batch Bourbon – Up to 5 Years | GG |
| Sweet Grass | Sweet Grass Bourbon | KY | United States | Straight Bourbon | GG |
| The Bullock Distillery | Straight Bourbon Whiskey Batch #2 | WV | United States | Small Batch Bourbon – Up to 5 Years | GG |
| The Clover Whiskey | Straight Bourbon | Single Barrel Bourbon – Up to 10 Years | GG | ||
| Traverse City Whiskey Co. | Barrel Proof Bourbon | USA | Small Batch Bourbon – 6 to 10 Years | GG | |
| W. L. Weller | 12 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Kentucky | Wheated Bourbon | GG | |
| Whiskey Thief Distilling Company | Single Barrel 12 Riders on the Storm | KY | United States | Single Barrel Bourbon – Up to 10 Years | GG |
| WhistlePig | PiggyBack Bourbon | Vermont | USA | Small Batch Bourbon – 6 to 10 Years | GG |
| Widow Jane | 10-Year Bourbon | New York | USA | Small Batch Bourbon – 6 to 10 Years | GG |
| Wilderness Trail | Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon | KY | Small Batch Bourbon – Up to 5 Years | GG | |
| William Heavenhill | 9th Edition Bourbon | Kentucky | USA | Straight Bourbon | GG |
| Woodford Reserve | Bourbon | KY | United States | Small Batch Bourbon – Up to 5 Years | GG |
| Woodford Reserve | Double Oaked | KY | United States | Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon | GG |
| World Whiskey Society | Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Cask | USA | Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon | GG | |
| Wyoming Whiskey | Single Barrel Bourbon | Wyoming | USA | Single Barrel Bourbon – Up to 10 Years | GG |
BOURBON GOLD WINNERS
There were ~120 Gold winners at the Bourbon podium.
| Brand | Product | Region | Country | Class | Medal |
| 15 STARS | First West Platinum Bourbon | Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee | United States | Straight Bourbon | G |
| 1845 Distilling Preemption | Texas Four Grain Straight Bourbon Whiskey | TX | United States | Straight Bourbon | G |
| 2XO | The Innkeeper’s Blend | KY | United States | Small Batch Bourbon – 6 to 10 Years | G |
| A. Smith Bowman | Cask Strength | Virginia | Straight Bourbon | G | |
| Angel’s Envy | Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Wine Barrels | KY | United States | Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon | G |
| Annandale Distillery | Man O’ Swords 2015 Vintage Ex-Bourbon Cask | Lowland | Distillers’ Single Malt Scotch – Up to 12 Years | G | |
| ANNX Spirits Co. | Moon Age | MO | United States | Straight Bourbon | G |
| Arizona Craft Beverage | X Bourbon | AZ | United States | Single Barrel Bourbon – Up to 10 Years | G |
| ASW Distillery | Fiddler Unison Bourbon Whiskey | IN | United States | Small Batch Bourbon – Up to 5 Years | G |
| Augusta Distillery | Buckner’s 15 Year | United States | Single Barrel Bourbon – 11 Years and Older | G | |
| Backbone Bourbon | Big Bash | IN | United States | American Blended Whiskey | G |
| Backbone Bourbon | Uncut | IN | United States | Straight Bourbon | G |
| Backbone Bourbon | Decade Down | IN | United States | Straight Bourbon | G |
| Baker’s Bourbon | Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Single Barrel | KY | United States | Single Barrel Bourbon – Up to 10 Years | G |
| Bardstown Bourbon Company | Origin Series – Rye Whiskey | Kentucky | USA | Rye Whisk(e)y | G |
| Bardstown Bourbon Company | Origin Series – Kentucky Straight Bourbon | Kentucky | USA | Small Batch Bourbon – 6 to 10 Years | G |
| Barrell | Bourbon Batch 034 | Kentucky | United States | Small Batch Bourbon – 6 to 10 Years | G |
| Barrell Bourbon | Private Release Bourbon GXA1 | Kentucky | United States | Small Batch Bourbon – Up to 5 Years | G |
| Barrell Whiskey | Bourbon Batch 035 | Kentucky | United States | Small Batch Bourbon – Up to 5 Years | G |
| Benchmark | Bonded | Kentucky | Straight Bourbon | G | |
| Benchmark | Top Floor | Kentucky | Straight Bourbon | G | |
| Black Button Distilling | Cask Strength Straight Bourbon | Western NY/Finger Lakes | USA | Small Batch Bourbon – Up to 5 Years | G |
| Brush Creek Distillery | Straight Bourbon Whiskeys | WY | United States | Straight Bourbon | G |
| Buffalo Trace | Straight Bourbon | Kentucky | Straight Bourbon | G | |
| Bulleit Frontier Whiskey | Barrel Strength Whiskey | Kentucky | United States | Straight Bourbon | G |
| Calumet Farm Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey | 10-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey | KY | United States | Small Batch Bourbon – 6 to 10 Years | G |
| Cask & Coast | Cabernet Cask Finish Premium Reserve 4-Grain California Bourbon | CA | United States | Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon | G |
| Castle & Key | Small Batch Traditional Bourbon Whiskey 2023 Batch 2 | KY | United States | Small Batch Bourbon – Up to 5 Years | G |
| Castle & Key | Small Batch Traditional Bourbon Whiskey 2023 Batch 1 | KY | United States | Small Batch Bourbon – Up to 5 Years | G |
| Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. | Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Kentucky | Straight Bourbon | G | |
| Cotswolds | Bourbon Cask | England | UK | Other Single Malt Whisk(e)y | G |
| Cyrus Noble | Cyrus Noble Bourbon | CA | United States | Small Batch Bourbon – Up to 5 Years | G |
| Daviess County Bourbon | Daviess County French Oak Cask Finish | KY | United States | Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon | G |
| Detrick | Detrick Single Barrel Bourbon | OH | United States | Straight Bourbon | G |
| Detroit City | Four Grain Straight Bourbon | MI | United States | Straight Bourbon | G |
| Distillery 291 | 291 Colorado Bourbon Whiskey Finished with Aspen Wood Staves, Small Batch | CO | United States | Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon | G |
| Doc Holiday | Straight Bourbon | USA | Straight Bourbon | G | |
| Doc Swinson’s | Exploratory Cask Bossa Nova | WA | United States | Small Batch Bourbon – Up to 5 Years | G |
| Doc Swinson’s | Exploratory Cask – The Forgotten One | WA | United States | Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon | G |
| Dragon’s Milk | Origin Toasted Barrel 2023C | MI | United States | Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon | G |
| Dubliner | Bourbon Cask Aged Irish Whiskey | Dublin Liberties | United States | Blended Irish Whiskey | G |
| Elijah Craig | Barrel Proof B523 | Kentucky | USA | Small Batch Bourbon – 11 Years and Older | G |
| Elijah Craig | Small Batch Bourbon | KY | USA | Small Batch Bourbon – 6 to 10 Years | G |
| Espy House | Washington Reserve 1 Bourbon | PA | United States | Single Barrel Bourbon – Up to 10 Years | G |
| Evan Williams | Bottled-in-Bond | KY | USA | Straight Bourbon | G |
| First Call | Double Oak Kentucky Straight Bourbon | KY | United States | Straight Bourbon | G |
| Four Roses | Small Batch Select Bourbon | Kentucky | United States | Small Batch Bourbon – 6 to 10 Years | G |
| Four Roses | Straight Bourbon | Kentucky | United States | Straight Bourbon | G |
| Fox & Oden | Straight Bourbon Whiskey | MI | United States | Small Batch Bourbon – 6 to 10 Years | G |
| Frank August | Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey | KY | United States | Small Batch Bourbon – Up to 5 Years | G |
| Freeland Spirits | Bourbon | OR | United States | Small Batch Bourbon – Up to 5 Years | G |
| Gryphon & Grain | Bourbon | California | USA | Small Batch Bourbon – Up to 5 Years | G |
| Happenstance | Founder’s Edition Straight Bourbon Whiskey | TN | United States | Straight Bourbon | G |
| Henry McKenna | Single Barrel 10-Year | KY | USA | Single Barrel Bourbon – Up to 10 Years | G |
| Hidden Barn Whiskey | Kentucky Straight Bourbon Small Batch Series Two Batch #1 | KY | United States | Straight Bourbon | G |
| High West Distillery | Bourbon | UT | United States | Straight Bourbon | G |
| Hotel Tango Distillery | Reserve Bourbon | IN & OH | United States | Straight Bourbon | G |
| Howler Head | Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey with Natural Banana Flavor | KY | United States | Flavored Whisk(e)y | G |
| Iron Fish Distilery | Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Maple Syrup Barrels | MI | United States | Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon | G |
| Ironroot Republic Distilling | Saints Alley – Herald | TX | United States | Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon | G |
| Jettywave Distillery | Jetty Barrel Bourbon | California | Small Batch Bourbon – Up to 5 Years | G | |
| John Parrott | Small Batch Bourbon | KY | United States | Small Batch Bourbon – 6 to 10 Years | G |
| Joseph Magnus | Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon Whiskey | MI | United States | Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon | G |
| Keeper’s Heart | Irish + Bourbon | MN | United States | Other Whisk(e)y | G |
| King’s Family Distillery | Tennessee Standard | TN | United States | Straight Bourbon | G |
| Kings County Distillery | Single Barrel Straight Bourbon Whiskey #1666 | New York | USA | Single Barrel Bourbon – Up to 10 Years | G |
| LABEL 5 | Bourbon Barrel | Scotland | France | Blended Scotch – No Age Statement | G |
| Laissez Versez | Small Batch Blended Craft Reserve | LA | United States | Small Batch Bourbon – Up to 5 Years | G |
| Laissez Versez | Cask Louisiana Straight Bourbon Whiskey | LA | United States | Small Batch Bourbon – Up to 5 Years | G |
| Mad River | Straight Bourbon Whiskey | VT | United States | Straight Bourbon | G |
| Maker’s Mark | 101 | KY | United States | Straight Bourbon | G |
| New England Barrel Co | Small Batch Select – Bourbon (2022-01) | NH | United States | Small Batch Bourbon – Up to 5 Years | G |
| New England Barrel Co. | Single Barrel Select Bourbon (OC Bottle Shop) | NH | United States | Single Barrel Bourbon – Up to 10 Years | G |
| New England Barrel Company | The Cut | NH | United States | Small Batch Bourbon – Up to 5 Years | G |
| New Riff | Kentucky Wild Gin Bourbon Barreled | KY | United States | Barrel-Aged Gin | G |
| Noble Oak | Double Oak Bourbon | Ohio | Small Batch Bourbon – Up to 5 Years | G | |
| Oak & Eden Finished Whiskey | Anthro Series – Forrie J. Smith | TX | United States | Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon | G |
| Off Hours | Straight Bourbon | Indiana | Straight Bourbon | G | |
| Old Forester | 1910 Old Fine Whisky | KY | United States | Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon | G |
| Old Forester | 1920 Prohibition Style | KY | United States | Straight Bourbon | G |
| Old Hickory | Straight Bourbon Whiskey | IN | United States | Straight Bourbon | G |
| Old Hillside | Straight Bourbon | Kentucky | Single Barrel Bourbon – Up to 10 Years | G | |
| Penelope | Barrel Strength Batch 14 | Indiana | USA | Small Batch Bourbon – Up to 5 Years | G |
| Penelope | Toasted Bourbon | Indiana | USA | Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon | G |
| Penelope | Rosé Cask Finish Batch 5 | Indiana | USA | Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon | G |
| Proof and Wood | Tumlin’ Dice Straight Bourbon, Single Barrel, Barrel Proof | IN | United States | Single Barrel Bourbon – Up to 10 Years | G |
| Rabbit Hole Distillery | RaceKing | KY | United States | Small Batch Bourbon – 6 to 10 Years | G |
| RD1 Spirits | Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey | KY | United States | Small Batch Bourbon – Up to 5 Years | G |
For more industry news and insight, please visit us at www.gobourbon.com
