The World’s Best Bourbon, According To The IWSC

What makes a whiskey truly world-class? According to the International Wine & Spirits Competition, it takes more than bold flavor or deep age. It requires balance, complexity, and a sense of character that lingers long after the last sip. In 2025, two American whiskeys rose above the rest to claim top honors at one of the world’s most prestigious spirits competitions.

The IWSC, based in London, is among the most respected global competitions for evaluating excellence in spirits. Each year, its expert panels blind-taste thousands of entries from around the world, awarding top-scoring expressions with Gold, Gold Outstanding, and the coveted Spirit Trophies—designated for the best in each category.

For American whiskey, two trophies are awarded annually: the American Whiskey Trophy and the Bourbon Trophy. The 2025 winners, Pinhook Vertical Series 9-Year Rye and Frank August Small Batch Bourbon, are profiled below, offering a deeper look at their production, including my personal tasting notes, the IWSC’s commentary, and what sets them apart in a crowded field of contenders.

Pinhook Vertical Series 9-Year Rye Whiskey, 55.6% ABV, 750 ml.

The Pinhook rye whiskey was originally sourced from MGP, now Ross & Squibb Distillery, in Indiana, from a mash bill of 95% rye and 5% malted barley. Pinhook originally acquired a batch of roughly 450 barrels and has been aging them at Castle & Key Distillery in Kentucky.

The barrels have been released in sequential order over the last decade. The 9-year rye was bottled as part of Pinhook’s Vertical Series, where each annual bottling ages one year longer. This rye whiskey is crafted from a limited batch of only 20 barrels, the most limited in the series so far, and bottled at cask strength.

In 2025, it earned a IWSC North America Gold Outstanding award with a stellar 98-point score—lauded for its bold complexity and excellent value.

The rye whiskey features aromas of licorice, oatmeal cookie, clove, and burnt toffee. honey, toasted macadamia, marzipan, and subtle herbal notes of dill, mint, rosemary, and sage.

It’s spicy and robust on the palate, showcasing spice-forward flavors of clove, ginger, allspice, and cinnamon, along with herbal notes of mint and dill, followed by black cherry, toasted rye bread, honey, espresso, pipe tobacco, seasoned oak, and leather.

The finish is long, slightly sweet and spicy, with lingering notes of milk chocolate, espresso, dill, black pepper, and cinnamon, and hints of cold smoke and char.

The IWSC Judging Panel described the rye whiskey as featuring aromas of “rich honey and toasted macadamia, the palate is enriched by a subtle note of gentian that adds complexity. A classic and vibrant rye profile, the tipple enjoys harmonious flavors and sweet undertones.”

Frank August Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 50% ABV, 750 ml.

The Bourbon Spirit Trophy was awarded to Frank August Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. It scored 98 points. The bourbon is produced in Kentucky as a small–batch expression blending around 10–15 barrels per batch. The specific distillery source and mash bill are undisclosed. Frank August has been a perennial medalist in international spirit competitions.

The bourbon features pronounced aromas of caramel and vanilla on the nose, followed by candied pineapple, cherry syrup, dried strawberry, licorice, cinnamon, clove, and seasoned oak.

It’s robust and creamy on the palate, with a candied sweetness, showcasing pronounced flavors of caramel and vanilla, followed by cinnamon, cherry syrup, dried apple, mint, licorice, marshmallow/cotton candy, and wood spices.

The finish is long and sweet, with lingering vanilla, seasoned oak, and wood spices.

The IWSC Judging Panel described the bourbon as featuring aromas of “apple tart, custard, and intriguing dried apricots. On the palate, a refined medley of buckwheat honey, dried apricots, vanilla, and warm spice unfolds, while the finish offers a satisfying hint of leather.”

The 2025 IWSC winners are more than just medalists—they are symbols of the outstanding quality of American whiskey. From Pinhook’s carefully matured Vertical Series Rye Whiskey to the layered richness of Frank August Small Batch Bourbon, these expressions prove that excellence comes from both meticulous curation and bold creativity. The winners reflect a whiskey landscape that embraces both tradition and reinvention. As the global appreciation for American whiskey continues to rise, these two expressions serve as benchmarks for quality, character, and distinction.

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