The amount of bourbon produced across the United States is truly mind-blowing. From some of the biggest distilleries in the world to tiny back-room operations, the scope of bourbon in the USA is remarkable.
The picks we’ve selected below are the bottles that caught our interest the most, especially from where we’re sitting in the UK. Have you tried any of these? What are your thoughts on these Double Gold medal winners?
A quick reminder that everything below is categorized as bourbon. That means each whiskey has a mash bill of at least 51% corn and has been aged in new American oak. To be labelled as “straight” bourbon, it must also have been aged for at least two years.
1845 Distilling Co. Preemption Texas Wheated Straight Bottled In Bond Bourbon Whiskey, 50%, £53/$70 – Double Gold Medal
Aged for five years and bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV), this is a prime example of small-scale distillation in the state of Texas. Made with yellow corn, red winter wheat, and malted barley, this release is all about that classic, chocolate-forward wheated influence.
Touches of chili, pear, and crisper green fruits sing alongside rich honey and baked vanilla. A really interesting, well-put-together bottling from 1845 Distilling Co.
Southern Grace Distilleries Conviction Founder’s Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 61.3%, £54/$72 – Double Gold Medal
Created solely from locally sourced corn and barley, then aged in a former prison grain bin, this release is massive in every sense.
The nose is all about sweetness, with notes that come across as Barbados rum, marinated fruits, and rich vanilla. The palate is fruit-driven, loaded with apricots, mango, and banana, with a thick texture that feels almost syrupy.
The finish lingers but isn’t rough in any way, despite the high ABV. Dark chocolate, dark fruits, and something brighter toward the very end, almost reminiscent of elderflower, round things off. An absolutely wild bottle of bourbon that takes you in every direction.
Dancing Goat Distillery Stillman’s Sonder 10 Year Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 47%, £49/$65 – Double Gold Medal
This is a remarkable story of experimental casks that were abandoned by MGP and are now being brought together by a father-and-son team. Tom and Nick Maas have used their shared experience and enthusiasm to help create this release. Nick, the son, is the master distiller, while Tom, his father, has decades of experience across the bourbon industry.
Here, we have a vatting of MGP stocks from typical mash bills, alongside experimental casks that the pair have been collecting for more than a decade.
This release reminded me of dandelion and burdock, although root beer is probably a more fitting reference for American readers. There are notes of orange and vanilla buns, freshly fried donuts, mango, and some licorice running through it. A really interesting release from what is becoming a very interesting distillery.
Safai Honey Roasted Malt Bourbon Straight Bourbon Barrel 2, 56%, £200/$275 – Double Gold Medal
Mike Safai is better known to many people as a coffee roaster, but he has also been involved in the whiskey world for quite some time. This release focuses on honey-roasted malted barley, adding a richer profile to the final bottled product.
Looking more like rum in the glass, this bottle boasts intoxicating notes of caramelized brown sugar, poached pear, red wine, sticky plums, dark honey, hot caramel sauce, and gentle Christmas spices.
While this isn’t the cheapest bottle to win an award, it certainly captured our attention, as well as that of the judges at the San Francisco Spirits Competition.
Wenzel Distillery Sherry Cask Finished Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 59.55%, £80/$109 – Double Gold Medal
Sherry-finished whiskies are not uncommon, but when it comes to bourbon, the style is becoming increasingly popular.
With this Wenzel release, the sherry cask adds sumptuous notes of dates, raisins, nuts, and marinated fruits, along with the sticky sweetness of brown sugar and red grapes. These sit alongside the distillery’s classic lighter citrus notes of orange and lemon, as well as vanilla and coconut.
This is certainly a distillery worth keeping an eye on, and one that is not afraid to see what different casks can bring to an already lovely base product.
Seven Three Distilling Co. Whiskey Tree Wheated Bourbon Cognac Finish ‘Nancy’s Unworldly Barrel’, 55.5%, £90/$120 – Double Gold Medal
This cask was hand-picked by Nancy Fraley, the 2024 Women of Whisky Master Blender of the Year.
The ex-Cognac cask has imparted classic notes of apricot, raisin, rich oak, and plum into the distillery’s wheated bourbon profile. That profile was already very tasty, with notes of milk chocolate, candied orange, and soft honey.
All in all, the Cognac influence has helped make this bottling taste like almonds, honey, orange, chewy raisins, rich caramel, and dark chocolate. Delicious.
Final Thoughts
These bottles not only caught our eye, but clearly won over the taste buds of the San Francisco Spirits Competition 2026 judges as well. With interesting casks, unusual aging approaches, and a wide spread of price points, there is plenty here to attract different kinds of bourbon drinkers.
Let us know in the comments if you have tried, or would like to try, any of these exciting bourbons.