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Is This the Best Bourbon in the World? The Whiskey Wash Says Yes

The Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 25th Anniversary Edition has been named The Whiskey Wash's Whiskey of the Year 2025, standing out among hundreds of global whiskeys for its exceptional aroma, structure, and complexity.
  • Beth Squires is the Deputy Editor of The Whiskey Wash and a graduate of the OurWhisky Foundation’s Atonia Programme. With over half a decade of industry experience, she is passionate about writing stories that highlight innovation, diversity, and sustainability across the global whisky landscape.
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This 13 Year Old Bottled-in-Bond bourbon from Old Fitzgerald has clinched awards at a wide variety of spirits competitions. Is it the best bourbon in the world?

Can a bourbon really be the best whiskey in the world? That’s the question we asked ourselves when we selected the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 25th Anniversary Edition as The Whiskey Wash’s Whiskey of the Year 2025.

After tasting hundreds of whiskeys from around the globe, one stood out. Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 25th Anniversary Edition is a world-class spirit in every category we care about: aroma, structure, flavor, complexity, and finish. And we’re not the only ones who think so.

A Historic Brand with a Modern Edge

Old Fitzgerald is a name with serious bourbon heritage. Dating back to the 1800s, the brand has been synonymous with wheated bourbon: an alternative to the more common rye-forward mashbills that adds a soft, rounded texture to the whiskey. Today, the brand is managed by Heaven Hill, one of Kentucky’s most respected distilleries.
Since acquiring the label in 1999, Heaven Hill has turned Old Fitzgerald into a premium showcase for bottled-in-bond bourbon. Released twice a year in elegant decanter-style bottles, the series celebrates American whiskey traditions while offering age-stated, high-proof releases that collectors and drinkers both chase.

The 25th Anniversary Edition marks a milestone for the brand and the distillery. It’s a one-time-only release created to commemorate Heaven Hill’s stewardship of Old Fitzgerald over the past quarter-century.

What Makes the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 25th Anniversary Edition So Special?

The whiskey was distilled in September 1999 and aged for 13 years before being transferred to stainless steel tanks in 2013 to preserve its character. It remained there for more than a decade until it was finally bottled in early 2024.

The result is a bourbon with both maturity and freshness. Bottled at 100 proof, in keeping with bottled-in-bond requirements, it delivers a layered, expressive profile that balances sweet oak, dried fruit, baking spice, and a long, wheated warmth on the finish. The flavor is rich but never overbearing. It’s the kind of whiskey that invites a second sip, and then a moment of reflection.

It’s also rare. This edition was released exclusively in Kentucky with a suggested retail price of around $230. The packaging features a deep maroon label and a special “VVS” designation (Very Very Special), used only a handful of times across the series.

The Awards Back It Up

This isn’t just our pick. The Old Fitzgerald 25th Anniversary Edition has earned significant recognition from the wider whiskey world. It was named World’s Best Bourbon at the 2025 World Whiskies Awards, where it also took home the title of Best Kentucky Bourbon. The Beverage Testing Institute awarded it 95 points and a Gold Medal. And recent Old Fitzgerald releases have consistently taken home top honors at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

In other words, the acclaim is not just anecdotal or collector-driven. This is a whiskey that has earned praise across blind tastings, formal judging panels, and seasoned critics.

Want to Know More?

We’ve published our full review of the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond 25th Anniversary Edition, complete with tasting notes, bottle photography, and a deeper dive into what makes this whiskey so exceptional. It scored the highest marks in The Whiskey Wash Awards, and it just might be the best bourbon we’ve ever tasted.

Read our full review here and see why this historic release deserves a place among the greats.

Even if you never find a bottle, reading about it might be the next best thing.

Beth Squires

Beth Squires is the Deputy Editor of The Whiskey Wash with over half a decade of industry experience. She possesses comprehensive knowledge of the global whisky landscape, spanning everything from heritage and production to complex market analysis. A graduate of the OurWhisky Foundation’s Atonia Programme, which champions women in whisky, Beth is a dedicated advocate for diversity and sustainability, focused on highlighting the innovation and storytelling that define the modern whisky industry.

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