At the 2025 Bartender Spirits Awards, American whiskey took every top honor.
All four Double Gold medals in the ‘whisky’ category went to U.S. producers, each one producing a spirit that stood out not just for its flavor, but for its balance, versatility, and value. These are whiskeys chosen by the people who know them best: working bartenders and bar managers across the country.
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The competition is built around what matters on the back bar. Spirits are blind-tasted and judged on mixability, structure, finish, packaging, and price, making the results a practical guide for anyone who mixes drinks, whether in a bar or at home.
From bold Tennessee blends to a full-strength Texas rye, these four bottles represent the cutting edge of American whiskey craft. Here’s what makes each one worth a spot in your rotation.
Uncle Nearest Master Blend Edition – Batch 032
Medal: Whisky of the Year, Tennessee Whiskey of the Year, Spirit of the Year U.SA., Double Gold, 98 points
Tasting Notes: “Toasted spice and tobacco on the nose deliver a rich, rounded palate with cinnamon and cocoa depth, finishing smooth and elegant despite its bold proof.” — BSA Judges
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The highest-rated whiskey of 2025’s Bartender Spirits Awards was a limited Tennessee release from Uncle Nearest: the Master Blend Edition, Batch 032. As well as achieving a Double Gold medal with 98 points, it was also named Whisky of the Year.
This was the first time a Master Blend release had been made available beyond the distillery in Shelbyville, Tennessee. Just 8,888 bottles were produced to mark the brand’s eighth anniversary. The whiskey is blended by four-time Master Blender of the Year Victoria Eady Butler, who hand-selects the best barrel from each batch and saves them for this expression.
The blend is made through careful barrel selection, charcoal mellowing through the Lincoln County Process, and full cask strength. Bottles typically range between 55% and 60% ABV.
Uncle Nearest is named after Nathan “Nearest” Green, the formerly enslaved distiller who taught Jack Daniel. Founded in 2017 by Fawn Weaver, the company has grown into one of the most awarded American whiskey brands in the world, built on legacy and precision.
Still Austin Cask Strength Rye Whiskey
Medal: Rye Whiskey of the Year, Double Gold, 97 points
Tasting Notes: “Lush cherry, baking spice, and almond on the nose move into a bold and structured palate with well-balanced heat and a long, complex finish full of depth.” — BSA Judges
BUY NOW: $43
This Texas rye was named Rye Whiskey of the Year at the 2025 Bartender Spirits Awards, scoring 97 points. It’s made entirely from Texas-grown rye and bottled at full cask strength by Still Austin Whiskey Co., a grain-to-glass distillery based in Austin.
Still Austin is known for doing everything in-house. The rye mash is milled, fermented, and distilled onsite using a 42-foot column still nicknamed “Nancy.” The rye whiskey was then matured in American oak barrels before the best barrels were selected by Master Blender Nancy Fraley for use in this expression.
Still Austin also uses a slow-water reduction technique, adding water gradually during maturation to draw out softer, richer flavours from the oak.
The result is a robust, high-proof rye whiskey that retains structure and balance, two qualities bartenders prize in cocktails. It’s unfiltered and expressive, with no additives or shortcuts.
Everything about Still Austin is local, sustainable, and precise.
Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Aged Whiskey
Medal: Double Gold, 97 points
Tasting Notes: “Bold oak and dark fruit aromas guide a velvety palate with maple, spice, and tobacco undertones, finishing rich and expressive with excellent balance and presence.” — BSA Judges
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This is the whiskey that launched the Uncle Nearest brand. Released in 2017, 1856 Premium Aged Whiskey pays tribute to the year Nearest Green perfected his charcoal filtering process, now recognised as the foundation of Tennessee whiskey.
Reportedly aged between eight and 14 years, this expression is a blend of mature barrels sourced from multiple distilleries across Tennessee. It follows the Lincoln County Process, where new make spirit is filtered through sugar maple charcoal before aging in new charred oak.
Bottled at 100 proof, it’s structured and full-flavored, designed to hold its own in cocktails while offering depth for sipping.
The brand itself is built on legacy and education. Founded by Fawn Weaver and blended by Nearest Green’s great-great-granddaughter, Victoria Eady Butler, Uncle Nearest is now one of the most awarded American whiskey producers, and 1856 remains its flagship.
Old Dominick Bonded Tennessee Whiskey
Medal: Double Gold, 96 points
Tasting Notes: “Spice and toasted oak on the nose give way to a well-structured palate of caramel, vanilla, and dried fruit, finishing bold and balanced with depth and color that stand out.” — BSA Judges
BUY NOW: $60
This Bottled-in-Bond release from Old Dominick Distillery scored 96 points at the 2025 Bartender Spirits Awards, securing a Double Gold medal.
Made from 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley, it’s a classic Tennessee whiskey mash bill. The spirit is charcoal mellowed with sugar maple before ageing in new, heavy-char oak barrels. Bottled at 100 proof and aged for at least four years, it meets all the Bottled-in-Bond Act standards, a mark of transparency and quality.
Old Dominick was revived in 2017 by the great-great-grandsons of Domenico Canale, who began selling whiskey under the Old Dominick name in 1866. Upon its release in 2022, the brand’s Straight Tennessee Whiskey became the first distilled, matured, and bottled whiskey in Memphis since Prohibition.
This whiskey blends historical roots with modern craft, and brings serious credibility to Memphis as a whiskey city once again.
The Bartender-Approved Shortlist
Each of these Double Gold-winning whiskeys offers more than just awards appeal. They’re crafted with purpose, rooted in place, and built for the back bar, or your own bar cart.
Whether you prefer bold rye, deep-aged Tennessee whiskey, or cask strength complexity, these bottles deliver quality, character, and versatility. They’re bartender-approved and ready for mixing.
Do let us know in the comments below if you mix up any of these whiskeys at your next party!
