World Whiskies Awards USA 2025: The World’s Best Bourbons & American Whiskeys

The results are in! The World Whiskies Awards USA 2025 has named its top bourbons and American whiskeys, highlighting the best in class across a variety of categories. 

Whether you’re a die-hard bourbon fan or an adventurous whiskey drinker looking to explore something new, this year’s winners showcase the sheer quality and diversity of American whiskey right now.

From powerhouse Kentucky distilleries to craft producers pushing the boundaries, here’s who came out on top in 2025.

The results of the World Whiskies Awards USA 2025

World’s Best American Style Whiskey

Jack Daniel’s Triple Mash (50%)
A bold and complex whiskey combining bonded rye, Tennessee whiskey, and malt. Big on spice, oak, and caramel, this one’s got serious character.

World’s Best Tennessee Whiskey

Jack Daniel’s Tennessee 12 Years Old Batch #2 (53.5%)
Rich, full-bodied, and brimming with vanilla and baking spices, this well-aged Tennessee whiskey proves once again why Jack Daniel’s dominates the category.

World’s Best Finished Bourbon

Wenzel Sherry (55.5%)
A standout bourbon finished in sherry casks, adding layers of dried fruit, spice, and nutty complexity.

World’s Best Small Batch Bourbon

Boulder Spirits 2024 Cask Strength Bourbon (64.2%)
A high-proof, high-impact bourbon that’s all about deep oak, rich toffee, and bold spice.

World’s Best Single Barrel Bourbon

Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel (64.5%)
A cult favourite, known for its intense depth of flavour and beautifully rich, oily mouthfeel. 

World’s Best Bourbon

Old Fitzgerald 2024 VVS (50%)
Smooth yet incredibly complex, this Kentucky bourbon is a perfect balance of caramel, oak, and spice.

2025 Icons of Whisky America

Here’s a select few winners from the Icons of Whisky America

Distiller of the Year:

Bardstown Bourbon Company.

Master Distiller/Master Blender of the Year:

Conor O’Driscoll, Heaven Hill.

Distillery Manager of the Year:

Riley Henderson, FEW Spirits.

Brand Innovator of the Year:

Bardstown Bourbon Company.

Production Team:

The Team, Westland Distillery.

Sustainable Distillery of the Year:

Westland Distillery.

The Last Drop: our final thoughts

If the 2025 World Whiskies Awards USA have proven anything, it’s that American whiskey is thriving. 

There’s more innovation, quality, and variety than ever before. From the undisputed legends of Kentucky to fresh new ideas redefining the category, these winners showcase the best the industry has to offer.

Cheers to the best American whiskeys of 2025!

The full list of category winners is below.

Category Winners

American Style Whiskey

12 Years & Under: Storm King Side Gig (45%)
13 to 20 Years: Jacob’s Pardon Small Batch #3 (71.4%)
No Age Statement: Jack Daniel’s Triple Mash (50%)

Tennessee Whiskey

Age Statement: Jack Daniel’s Tennessee 12 Years Old Batch #2 (53.5%)
No Age Statement: Uncle Nearest Master Blend Edition Batch #32 (59%)

Wheat Whiskey

12 Years & Under: Mary Dowling Whiskey Company Winter Wheat (45.5%)
No Age Statement: Bainbridge Two Islands Hokkaido Cask Barrel Proof (63.7%)

Rye Whiskey

12 Years & Under: Highline Triple Rye (48.5%)
13 to 20 Years: Sazerac 18 Years Old (45%)
No Age Statement: Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Kentucky Straight Rye (61.6%)

Blended Whiskey

No Age Statement: Keeper’s Heart Irish + Bourbon Cask Strength (59%)

Single Cask Single Rye

No Age Statement: 291 Colorado Whiskey Barrel Proof Single Barrel (67.4%)
12 Years & Under: Middle West Spirits Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey (63.1%)

Single Malt Whiskey

12 Years & Under: Balcones Texas 1 Single Malt (53%)
No Age Statement: Westland Garryana Edition 9 (50%)

Small Batch Single Malt Whiskey

12 Years & Under: Stryker Ex Haak Madeira Cask Finished Single Malt (57.7%)
13 to 20 Years: The Notch Nantucket 15 Years Old (48%)
No Age Statement: Boulder Spirits Leave No Trace (53.5%)

Single Cask Single Malt Whiskey

12 Years & Under: Hogback Wallace Collection Peated Single Malt Barrel #39 (62.4%)
No Age Statement: Boulder Spirits Distinguished Cask 1760 (60%)

Other Categories

American Blended (12 Years & Under): 15 Stars Three Kings (53.5%)
American Corn (12 Years & Under): Ironroot Republic Ironroot Hubris Corn (58.9%)
American Flavoured Whisky: Cocoa Bomb Chocolate (37.5%)
American Grain (12 Years & Under): Bainbridge Yama Mizunara Cask Single Grain (45%)
American New Make & Young Spirit: Chattanooga Whiskey Silver (50%)
American Pot Still (12 Years & Under): Talnua Virgin White Oak Cask (50%)

Kentucky Bourbon

Kentucky Bourbon: Old Fitzgerald 2024 VVS (50%)
Kentucky Single Barrel Bourbon: Blanton’s Straight From The Barrel (64.5%)
Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon: 1792 Small Batch (46.8%)
Kentucky Finished Bourbon: Wenzel Sherry (55.5%)

Non-Kentucky Bourbon

Non-Kentucky Bourbon: Old Elk High Malt Straight Bourbon (46%)
Non-Kentucky Single Barrel Bourbon: Tumblin’ Dice Single Barrel Bourbon (56.9%)
Non-Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon: Boulder Spirits 2024 Cask Strength Bourbon (64.2%)
Non-Kentucky Finished Bourbon: Highline Double Oaked Bourbon (55%)

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