From vanilla, caramel and toasted oak to warming spice and soft orchard fruit, bourbon’s easy-drinking charm makes it one of the most welcoming styles in the world of whiskey. Rich, sweet and occasionally bold in character, it’s a category that rewards both casual sipping and closer attention.
Bourbon’s story begins with early American farmers who found a smart use for surplus grain, turning corn into something far more interesting. As distillers moved south throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, particularly into Kentucky and Tennessee, bourbon gradually found its identity. The rules still recognised today followed: a mash bill of at least 51% corn, ageing in new charred oak and bottling at a minimum of 40% ABV.
Kentucky may be bourbon’s spiritual home but great examples can now be found across the United States. The latest IWSC results reflect just how broad the category has become, with judges rewarding everything from classic, well-aged expressions to bolder, more contemporary styles.
Standout bottles this year include the richly layered W. L. Weller 12 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, alongside characterful releases such as Hudson Bright Lights, Big Bourbon and Bulleit Frontier Whiskey’s cask-strength expression, praised as much for its balance as its intensity. Together, they show that Kentucky continues to make a strong case for itself, claiming several of the highest-scoring bourbons in this year’s competition.
The Bluegrass State was not the only region to take home gold. Nevada-based Minden Mill 4 Year Old Straight Bourbon scored 95 points for its aromas of ‘Seville orange, cardamom and banana’, while Indiana’s Redemption 18 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey impressed IWSC judges with its ‘aromatic allure of polished mahogany’.
Read on to discover the top-performing bottles from the IWSC 2025 – a selection that shows just how good bourbon is right now.
HOW DO WE JUDGE THESE SPIRITS?
We run a tightly structured, rigorous spirits tasting process. That means that each spirit sample is pre-poured into numbered glasses and assessed blindly by the judges. Most importantly, our IWSC spirit judges are experts in their field, who work across all sectors of the drinks industry. For evidence, see our full list of judges.
HOW DO WE SCORE THESE SPIRITS?
Only the best spirits sampled receive a Gold or Silver award. For example, to win Gold, spirits have to score between 95 and 100 points. Meanwhile, Silver wines range from 90 to 94 points. Click here to read more on our scoring system.
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12 top bourbons from the IWSC 2025
12 top bourbons from the IWSC 2025
