The World’s Best Bourbon From The NY International Spirits Competition

The New York International Spirits Competition (NYISC) has announced the top-ranked bourbons from its 2024 judging. A total of 12 whiskeys won Double Gold medals across several categories of bourbon, six straight bourbons, five small batch bourbons, and one single barrel bourbon.

Established in 2010, the NYISC stands out among spirit competitions because its judging panel comprises active trade buyers from the hospitality and retail industry, such as retail store buyers, sommeliers, hoteliers, distributors, and importers.

These judges bring a market-oriented perspective to the evaluation process, ensuring that awarded spirits meet the industry’s and value-conscious consumers’ practical and quality expectations.

In addition to quality, judges consider each spirit’s price point and retail placement. This approach ensures that medalists excel in taste and craftsmanship, offer good value, and have market appeal. All spirits are evaluated through blind tastings.

The top straight bourbon whiskeys are Wild Turkey, Longbranch; Augusta Distillery Buckner’s 10 YO; Angel’s Envy, Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Wine Barrels; Brother’s Bond Bourbon, Bottled in Bond Straight Whiskey; 1845 Distilling Co, Preemption Reverence Texas Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey; and Savage & Cooke, Bloody Butcher Bourbon.

At a recommended retail price of under $40, Wild Turkey Longbranch is easily one of the top values in bourbon today from one of America’s historic producers. Augusta Distillery, on the other hand, is an up-and-coming craft distiller that has quickly established itself as one of the leading members of America’s craft whiskey community. Buckner’s bourbon has been a perennial medalist at spirit competitions across the entire range of 10 YO, 13 YO, and 15 YO expressions.

Angel’s Envy is another up-and-coming craft producer with a well-established record for quality. It has also established a solid record for innovation in crafting whiskeys, especially in its range of cask-finished whiskeys, and for advancing the concept that in whiskey, terroir revolves not around the source of the raw materials, as in wine, but rather is a function of where the whiskey is matured.

Brother’s Bond bourbon is crafted by actors Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley, best known for their roles as brothers in the hit TV series The Vampire Diaries. The bourbon is distilled at Midwest Grain Producers (MGP) in Indiana and blended from specific barrel selections. It’s an exceptionally smooth whiskey, proof positive that barrel selection and blending are still a touchstone of fine whiskey making.

1845 Distilling Co: Preemption Reverence Texas Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey is crafted using a high proportion of Texas red winter wheat in the mash bill, softening the flavor profile and adding sweetness. It develops rich, complex flavors with notes of caramel, vanilla, and a hint of spice, embodying Texas bourbon’s distinctive, robust character.

Savage & Cooke is a California-based distillery founded by acclaimed winemaker Dave Phinney. Bloody Butcher Bourbon is crafted using a unique variety of red heirloom corn known as “Bloody Butcher,” which imparts the whiskey a rich, earthy character. The bourbon has a robust and complex profile with notes of caramel, vanilla, and a hint of spice.

The Double Gold medalists in the small batch bourbon category are Rabbit Hole Distillery, Bourbon High Rye; Wilderness Trail, Mizunara; Garrison Brothers, Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon; Garrison Brothers Lady Bird; and 2XO, The Kiawah Blend.

Rabbit Hole Distillery, founded by Kaveh Zamanian, is a modern craft distillery located in Louisville, Kentucky. Rabbit Hole Bourbon High Rye is known for its distinctive high-rye mash bill, typically consisting of 70% corn, 25% malted rye, and 5% malted barley. The high percentage of rye gives the bourbon a rich, spicy character balanced with notes of caramel, vanilla, and toasted oak.

Wilderness Trail Distillery is a renowned craft distillery based in Danville, Kentucky. Its Wilderness Trail Mizunara is a special bourbon release that is aged in rare Japanese Mizunara oak barrels. Mizunara casks are known for imparting distinctive and complex flavors of sandalwood, coconut, and exotic spices, complementing the traditional bourbon flavors of caramel, vanilla, and oak.

Garrison Brothers Distillery, located in Hye, Texas, is one of Texas’s preeminent craft distillers and a perennial medalist in spirit competitions. Garrison Brothers Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon is a limited edition, high-proof, selected barrel bourbon. The whiskey is bottled straight from the barrel without dilution, producing robust and intense flavor notes of rich caramel, dark chocolate, toasted oak, and a hint of spice.

Garrison Brothers Lady Bird, on the other hand, is a bourbon infused with wildflower honey and finished in French oak barrels. The result is a harmonious blend of traditional bourbon notes like caramel and vanilla, complemented by floral and honeyed undertones, while the French oak adds subtle spice and depth.

2XO (Two Times Oak) is a brand crafted by renowned whiskey blender Dixon Dedman. Known for creating unique and complex flavor profiles, 2XO releases small-batch, limited-edition blends highlighting the art of blending high-quality bourbons.

The Kiawah Blend is one of 2XO’s special releases, named after Kiawah Island in South Carolina. The bourbon is characterized by notes of dark chocolate, caramel, and toasted oak, with a subtle spice and a smooth, lingering finish.

The sole single barrel Double Gold medalist is Forbidden Bourbon, Single Barrel.

Forbidden Bourbon is a premium whiskey brand that produces high-quality, small-batch bourbons.

Its Forbidden Bourbon Single Barrel is crafted from a carefully selected barrel that features deep, rich flavors of caramel, vanilla, and oak, with hints of spice and dried fruit. The bourbon offers a complex and robust flavor profile with a smooth and lingering finish.

The 2024 NYISC judging identified an outstanding selection of top-ranked bourbons. See the NYISC website for a complete listing of all of the medalists. Some, like Wild Turkey, are established, well-known brands, while others, like Augusta or Garrison Brothers, are up-and-coming distillers that are rapidly gaining a reputation for outstanding quality and innovation. All are worth trying!