35 Best Bourbons in the World, According to the San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Earlier this year, 55 judges convened in the Golden State for the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Widely considered the largest and most prestigious awards show of its kind, SFWSC is a meeting place for thousands of liquor brands spanning whiskey, tequila, vodka and everything in between. It’s a unique battleground where mom-and-pop distillers face off against industry giants; where rums, gins and liqueurs cross paths from the farthest reaches of the globe.

After several days of blind tastings, the cream of the crop is invariably revealed.

SFWSC judges award spirits Bronze, Silver and Gold Medals. The description of what constitutes a Gold medal is: “Exceptional spirits that are near the pinnacle of achievement; these products set the standard for their categories.” Above Gold sits Double Gold, given to spirits that are unanimously awarded a Gold Medal by every member of the panel. Beyond that lies an even smaller roster of Best in Class Finalists, one of which will be crowned Best In Show at the San Francisco Top Shelf Gala in November.

Here’s where things get a little tricky. While some spirits — notably mezcal and shochu — will be narrowed down to a single Best in Show awardee, other categories have been split into myriad subgenres. For bourbon, we’re looking at seven finalist rosters divided by age statement, cask type, batch size and mashbill.

Without further ado, let’s take a glance at the 35 bourbons that have a shot at the coveted Best in Show award arriving later this year.

Straight Bourbon

(Photos: SFWSC)

Old Grand-Dad 16 Year Old Straight Bourbon – 50% ABV

World Whiskey Society Doc Holliday 15 Year Old Straight Bourbon – 68.1% ABV

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C924 – 64.5% ABV

Eagle Rare 17-Year-Old Straight Bourbon – 50.5% ABV

Ray’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon – 45% ABV

Small Batch Bourbon – Up to 5 Years

10th Mountain Whiskey and Spirit Company Bourbon – 64.4% ABV

Liberty & Plenty Distillery Bronze Bull Spirits Batch #5 Finished in Madeira Barrels Bourbon – 50% ABV

Kings County Distillery Barrel-Strength Straight Bourbon – 68.8% ABV

Cream Of Kentucky Cask Strength Bourbon – 59.8% ABV

1792 Small Batch Straight Bourbon – 46.85% ABV

Small Batch Bourbon – 6 to 10 Years

The Beautiful and The Damned Last Lion Bourbon – 57.1% ABV

Rare Character Batch 02 Straight Bourbon – 60.73% ABV

Kentucky Senator Bourbon John Brown – 53.5% ABV

ASW Distillery Fiddler Encore Bourbon – Georgia Oak – 60.2% ABV

Long Ridge High Rye Bourbon – 58% ABV

Small Batch Bourbon – 11 Years and Older

O.K.I. Bourbon 15 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon – 57.5% ABV

Redemption Whiskey 18 Year Old Bourbon – 51.7% ABV

Widow Jane Lucky 13 Bourbon – 46.5% ABV

Single Barrel Bourbon – Up to 10 Years

Garrison Brothers Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon – 68.2% ABV

Blackout Barrel Company Blackout Bourbon – 66% ABV

Safai Bourbon 8 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon – 56% ABV

Hirsch The Single Barrel Double Oak Bourbon – 59% ABV

High Wire Distilling Co. Jimmy Red Single Barrel – 58.17% ABV

Single Barrel Bourbon – 11 Years and Older

O.K.I. Bourbon 16 Year Old Kentucky Bourbon Single Barrel – 63.9% ABV

Augusta Distillery Buckners 15 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon – 59.4% ABV

Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon

Fox & Oden Double Oaked Straight Bourbon – 49.5% ABV

Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon Triple Cask Finished – 50% ABV

Whiskey Tree High Rye Bourbon – 50% ABV

Starlight Distillery Japanese Mizunara Reserve Finished Bourbon Whiskey – 56% ABV

Penelope Toasted Bourbon Double Oak – 50% ABV

Wheated Bourbon

Frank August CASE STUDY: 05 | WHEATED RESERVE | 5 BARREL BATCH Bourbon – 52.25% ABV

Maplewood Brewery & Distillery Wheated Bourbon – 56% ABV

Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Traditional Barrel Series Kentucky Straight Wheated – 53.3% ABV

W. L. Weller Antique 107 Straight Wheated Bourbon – 53.6% ABV

W. L. Weller CYPB Straight Wheated Bourbon – 47.5% ABV