Every summer, the best whiskeys from across the U.S. and Canada go head-to-head in one of the most respected competitions in the industry. The 2025 North American Bourbon & Whiskey Competition just wrapped, and the results are in.
Three bottles rose to the top. One is a tribute to a Canadian blending legend. One is a straight rye that has been setting standards for decades. And one comes from a fast-growing Tennessee distillery rewriting American whiskey history.
Here’s a closer look at the top three whiskeys of the year.
What Is the North American Bourbon & Whiskey Competition?
The North American Bourbon & Whiskey Competition (NABWC) is an annual blind tasting event that began in 2014. It was created by Wine Country Network, Inc., the same team behind Wine Country International® Magazine and other professional beverage competitions.
Entries must be made in the U.S. or Canada. That includes bourbon, rye, Tennessee whiskey, moonshine, and blended expressions. The judging panel features spirits specialists, sommeliers, bartenders, buyers, and master distillers.
All entries are scored using a 100-point scale. Any whiskey that scores 95 or higher receives a Double Gold. From that top tier, the judges taste again to decide the overall winners. The three highest-rated whiskeys are named 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Place Best of Show.
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These are not popularity contests. Every bottle is judged blind, purely on what’s in the glass. That’s what makes the NABWC such a valuable barometer for quality and craftsmanship.
1st Place: Mister Sam Tribute Blended Whiskey
Tasting Notes: Cigar box, pipe tobacco, Madeira cake, toffee, oaky vanilla, limestone, cereal, woody, floral, spicy, raisins, prunes, mince pie, candied walnut, chocolate-covered cherries, heather honey, toasted marshmallow, praline, nougat, pecan pie.
BUY NOW: From $1,675
At the top of this year’s competition is a whiskey with one of the most personal stories in North American spirits.
Mister Sam Tribute Whiskey was created to honor Samuel Bronfman, the legendary head of Seagram’s. It’s produced by the Sazerac Company and blended by Drew Mayville, who once served as master blender for Seagram’s. Today, he’s carrying on that tradition with a blend that crosses borders.
The whiskey is crafted from a selection of high-end Canadian and American whiskeys. The exact recipe is a closely held secret. It’s bottled at cask strength and only released in small batches each year. Production takes place at the Old Montreal Distillery in Quebec, where Bronfman himself once worked.
This year’s winning release is powerful, layered, and polished. Official tasting notes highlight bold spice, dried fruit, oak, and rich toffee sweetness. It’s a whiskey built for slow sipping and deep appreciation.
Mister Sam is a tribute to the man who shaped the world of whiskey blending in the 20th century. Its win at NABWC 2025 is a fitting nod to that legacy.
It will set you back a pretty penny, though, with prices starting at $1,675 at retail, in part thanks to its limited annual release.
2nd Place: Sazerac 18 Year Old Rye
Tasting Notes: Oak, leather, ripe plum, rye grain, rich smoke, dark cherry, licorice, tobacco
BUY NOW: From $1,300
The second-place winner in this year’s competition is no stranger to awards.
Sazerac 18 Year Old Rye is part of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, one of the most sought-after series in American whiskey. It’s a bold, well-aged rye that continues to impress both collectors and judges.
This expression is distilled at Buffalo Trace in Kentucky using a high-rye mash bill. It spends a full 18 years aging in new charred oak barrels. That long rest gives the whiskey its signature character: deep, oaky, and balanced.
It’s bottled at 90 proof (45% ABV), which allows the complexity to shine without overpowering the palate. The distillery describes it as rich with baking spice, citrus, leather, and dark sugar. The finish is long and warming.
The name Sazerac comes from the famous New Orleans cocktail, believed by many to be America’s first. The rye whiskey used in that original drink is what inspired this modern expression.
Earning second place at the 2025 NABWC reinforces what many already believe. Sazerac 18 is a classic.
3rd Place: Uncle Nearest Single Barrel Whiskey – Batch 3633
Tasting Notes: Vanilla, leather, oak, white paper, marzipan
BUY NOW: From $85
The third-place winner is a whiskey rooted in legacy and propelled by momentum.
Uncle Nearest is one of the fastest-growing American whiskey brands in history. It was founded in 2017 to honor Nearest Green, the formerly enslaved distiller who taught Jack Daniel how to make whiskey. Today, the brand is led by CEO and founder Fawn Weaver, with blending overseen by Victoria Eady Butler, Green’s great-great-granddaughter.
The Single Barrel Whiskey is one of the brand’s most exclusive expressions. Each barrel is hand-selected by Butler herself. Batch 3633, the bottle that placed in this year’s competition, was bottled at barrel strength and filtered using the brand’s signature triple charcoal process.
It’s a Tennessee whiskey, meaning it follows the Lincoln County Process. After distillation, the spirit is filtered through sugar maple charcoal before aging. This mellows the whiskey without stripping away its depth.
Though no official age is listed, most barrels are well-matured. Each one is unique, but fans can expect a bold flavor profile filled with oak, spice, and rich sweetness. The high proof packs a punch, but the filtration gives it a smooth, clean finish.
A third-place finish at the NABWC adds to a growing list of accolades. Uncle Nearest isn’t just making whiskey. It’s making history.
