2026 Best in Category Whisk(e)y

The Final Taste-Off results announced last week in June!

Best Small Batch Bourbon

Taste-Off!

Rue Bourbon

Barrel King The G Spot #118 – Wharehouse G Barrels – Single Rickhouse Blend – By Jarrod Record

Best Wheated Bourbon

Taste-Off!

Holladay Soft Red Wheat Rickhouse Proof Bourbon

Southern Star Cask Strength Paragon Wheated Bourbon

W. L. Weller Antique 107

Best Straight Bourbon

Taste-Off!

Wheel Horse Barrel Master Bourbon

Old Dominick 8 Years Old Reserve Bourbon

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C925

Best Craft Bourbon

Winner!

Kentucky Peerless Henry Kraver Old Reserve 10 Year Old Bourbon

Best Single Barrel Pick

Winner!

Bourbon Club of Arkansas - Elliott Brothers Reserve

Best Extra Age Bourbon 11+

Winner!

George T. Stagg

Best Blend of Straight Bourbon

Taste-Off!

Dark Arts Barely Legal Bourbon – Small Batch, Cask Strength

Sergeants Valor Anniversary Small Batch Bourbon

Best Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon

Taste-Off!

Dark Arts The Empyrean– Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Red Port and White Port Wine Casks

Dark Arts Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished with Toasted Mizunara Oak Staves

Barrell Bourbon Cigar Blend

Best Single Barrel Bourbon

Taste-Off! (This winner is not eligible to compete for Best Bourbon.)

Starlight Distillery Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey

Crittenden’s Cut Above Eight Year Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey

Best Blend Of Straight Whiskeys

Taste-Off!

Coors Whiskey Co. Blended American Malt Whiskey

The Tennessee Collective

Best American Whiskey

Winner!

Traveller Full Proof

Best Special Barrel Finished American Whiskey

Winner!

291 XIV Colorado Whiskey

Best Craft American Whiskey

Winner!

Talnua Distillery American White Oak Whiskey Bottled in Bond

Best American Rye

Taste-Off!

Thomas H. Handy

Smokeye Hill Barrel Proof Blended Rye Whiskey

Best Craft Rye

Winner!

Black Band Cask Strength Rye

Best Special Barrel-Finished Rye

Taste-Off!

Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Specialty Barrel Series – KY Straight Rye Whiskey

Drumkey Spirits Rye’d Cymbal – by Jason Callori of The Mash and Drum

Best Blend of Straight Rye

Taste-Off!

Widow Jane Paradigm Rye Whiskey

Pursuit United Barrel Proof Rye

Best Single Barrel Rye

Taste-Off! (This winner is not eligible to compete for Best in Show.)

Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye Whiskey

Ponfeigh Westsylvania Rye

Best American Rye 11+ Years

Winner!

Circle City 12 year Straight Rye Whiskey Batch 2

Best Tennessee Whiskey

Winner!

Leiper’s Fork Distillery Bottled-In-Bond Tennessee Whiskey Batch 22

Best Rice Whiskey

Winner!

J.T. Meleck High Proof Small Batch American Rice Whiskey

Best Wheat Whiskey

Winner!

Bernheim Barrel Proof B925

Best Light Whiskey

Winner!

Old Hickory Hermitage Reserve 15-Year-Old Barrel Proof

Best Flavored Whiskey

Winner!

Five Springs Blood Orange Infused Bourbon

Best American Single Malt

Winner!

Stranahan’s Mountain Angel 12 year

Best Single Malt Scotch

Taste-Off!

Aberlour A’bunadh Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Glenmorangie The Altus 25 Years Old

Best Blended Scotch

Winner!

Chivas Regal 18 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky

Best Irish Whiskey

Winner!

Red Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey

Best Indian Whiskey

Winner!

Indri Dru Cask Strength Single Malt Indian Whisky

Best Canadian Whiskey

Winner!

WhistlePig Estate Oak Rye Aged 15 Years

2026 Best in Category Non Whiskey

Best Blanco Tequila

Winner!

DESNUDA Blanco Organic Tequila

Best Reposado Tequila

Winner!

Tequila Ocho Reposado

Best Ãnejo Tequila

Winner!

1800 Guachimonton

Best Mezcal

Taste-Off!

Mezcal Vago Espadin Joel Barriga

Mezcal Vago Elote

Best Gin

Taste-Off!

Black Band Gin

Devil’s Grin Gin

Guided Trail Gin

Vexed Gin

Best Vodka

Winner!

Woody Creek 100% Potato Vodka

Best Flavored Vodka

Taste-Off!

Crop Organic Cucumber Vodka

The Original Pickle Shot Spicy Pickle

Best Rum

Winner!

Myers’s Signature Cask Collection T.H. Handy

Best Brandy

Winner!

The Distillarium Sky Captain Brandy 8 Years

Best Cognac

Winner!

Martell VS

Best Liqueur

Winner!

Rivulet Artisan Pecan Liqueur

See Full List of Competition Winners