7 whiskeys, including new Kentucky label, earn top honors at spirits ‘Olympics’
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Seven whiskeys earned Gold Outstanding at June’s IWSC North America judging.
- Maker’s Mark take Gold Outstanding with first new recipe since 1953, new a wheat whiskey.
- Triple Eight Distillery earned honors as IWSC included single malt in contest for 2025.
Seven brands, including one just introduced this year, won Gold Outstanding medals at the recent International Wine & Spirits Competition judging in Kentucky.
Dubbed the “Olympics of the Drink Industry,” the IWSC North American Whiskey and Read to Drink competition was conducted June 4 and 5 in Bardstown.
A Gold Outstanding ranking means that the brand scored between 98 and 100 points and generally means the selection is “an outstanding spirit with a naturally exceptional balance, complexity and power. An example that immediately sets itself apart from others in the category,” according to a news release from IWSC.
These designations are highly coveted by bourbon and whiskey makers who know that collectors will snap up top medal winners.
The judges selected these seven brands in 2025:
▪ Triple Eight Distillery, The Notch, 12-year-old American Single Malt Whiskey
▪ Maker’s Mark, Star Hill Farm American Wheat Whiskey
▪ King’s Family Distillery, 8-year-old Tennessee Standard Blended Bourbon Whiskey
▪ Bulleit Frontier Whiskey Barrel Strength Whiskey
▪ Frank August Small Batch Kentucky Straight Whiskey
▪ Praedictum 15-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
▪ Pinhook Vertical Series, 9-year-old Rye Whiskey.
Maker’s Mark released its first edition of Star Hill Farm American Wheat Whiskey in April. It’s the first new recipe from the Kentucky distiller since 1953 and is produced through regenerative farming practices.
This is the first time that the newly recognized American single malt category has been included in the North American IWSC competition; Triple Eight Distillery in Nantucket is one of the first American distilleries to focus on this style.
The competition also awarded 13 gold medals, 69 silver medals and four bronze medals in the RTD category. Full list of Gold Outstanding and Gold medal winners is online at iwsc.net.
According to the news release, top-scoring whiskeys and RTD products advance to the prestigious Trophy Judging round, where the best of the best are recognized. Winners are revealed at the IWSC Awards Celebration in November.
