5 Of The World’s Best Bourbons—According To The San Francisco World Spirits Competition

The San Francisco World Spirits Competition is one of the most prestigious in the world. This year it received more than 5000 entries overall and bourbon is one of its more popular categories. While the competition has not yet released the Best in Class bourbons for 2024, it has released the double gold medal bourbon winners. To earn a double gold medal, each bourbon, like any spirit entered in the competition, must be ranked gold by every judge on the blind-tasting panel. As you can imagine, any bourbon that achieves this milestone is truly exceptional. Though I haven’t had the chance to taste every double gold medal-winning bourbon from this year’s competition yet, here are five I have tried that are fantastic.

BHAKTA Spirits: 2013 Armagnac Cask Finish Bourbon

BHAKTA is one of the most intriguing spirit brands around. Founded by Raj Peter Bhakta who previously founded WhistlePig whiskey, the brand utilizes a historic collection of Armagnac dating back to the mid-1800s to power its spirits adding depth, flavor and a literal taste of history. This bourbon is aged in ancient Armagnac casks that give the bourbon smooth notes of nut spice and fruit and an intense immersive character that’s hard to describe but easy to enjoy.

Rabbit Hole Distillery: Dareringer Finished in PX Sherry Casks Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

This was one of two Rabbit Hole bourbons winning double gold from the competition this year — the other being Cavehill Kentucky Straight Bourbon. Both are excellent choices but the Dareringer won me over with its sherry aroma and smooth and sweet finish. As with many of my favorite spirits, it has minimum alcohol bite but not at the expense of character.

Brother’s Bond: Bottled-In-Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Brother’s Bond also won double gold for its cask-strength bourbon, which is also worth seeking out. I prefer this smoother, less boozy variant. With lots of balance and low alcohol burn, this bourbon is made from a mash bill of 65% corn, 22% rye, with wheat and barley making up the rest. The result is everything you want a bourbon to be.

Keeper’s Heart, Irish + Bourbon Cask Strength

This bourbon succeeds in its goal of marrying the sweetness of bourbon with the earthier spices of an Irish pot still and the notes of Irish grain whiskey. The result is a bourbon that seems designed to answer the prayers of bourbon and Irish whiskey lovers and lives up to its promised mix of sweetness and earthiness.

Heaven’s Door: Revival Tennessee Straight Bourbon

How many celebrity spirits must one man try before he finds one that is actually good? The answer isn’t blowin’ in the wind my friend, it’s this bourbon from Bob Dylan. Not only is Dylan the muse of the modern era, he’s also got a sense of what makes a great whiskey. Non-chill filtered and aged on new American Oak barrels for six years, this bourbon has notes of honey maple caramel and nutmeg. Booze forward it mellows and gets sweet on the finish.