The American Distilling Institute’s International Spirits Competition is one of the most respected showcases for craft whiskey in the United States, and each year it assesses some of the best bourbons from across the country.
Independent distillers from across the country submitted bottles ranging from small-batch classics to experimental single barrels. Of the top awards, only 13 bourbons earned a gold medal or higher.
This two-part series breaks down the very best. Today, we’re diving into the first seven. Each one stood out not just for flavor, but for the story behind the bottle.
Let’s take a closer look.
Doc Holliday 7 Year Single Barrel Straight Bourbon
Award: Gold Medal
Tasting Notes: Spice, caramel, oak, tobacco
Find Your Next Bottle: From $94
This bold single barrel release from the World Whiskey Society pairs serious substance with dramatic style. It’s sourced from Indiana’s MGP using the distillery’s well-known high-rye mash bill (75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley) and bottled at cask strength, typically between 116 and 118 proof.
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Each barrel is aged seven years in new charred oak and released in limited runs of about 200 bottles. The result is a rich, spicy bourbon with notes of cinnamon sugar, caramelized oak, toasted coconut, and dark cherry. The proof brings heat, but the balance is there.
Bourbon & Banter praised its “complexity and depth,” especially for fans of full-bodied, rye-forward expressions. While the packaging leans hard into Wild West iconography (longhorn skull and all), it’s the whiskey itself that earned this bottle its gold medal.
HYDR Straight Bourbon (The Grove Collective)
Award: Gold Medal
Tasting Notes: Black walnut, fig syrup, almond fudge, vanilla, brown sugar, molasses, oak
Find Your Next Bottle: $99.99
HYDR Bourbon stands out not just for its flavor, but for its purpose. Produced in partnership with The Grove Collective, it’s part of a name, image, and likeness (NIL) initiative that directly supports Ole Miss student-athletes. The name—an acronym for “Hell Yeah, Damn Right”—is familiar to anyone who’s ever shouted from the stands in Oxford.
Behind the branding is a high-proof Kentucky straight bourbon, finished with heavily toasted American oak staves. The “Victory” expression, bottled at 108 proof, delivers dense, layered notes of black walnut, fig syrup, almond fudge, and brown sugar.
Though relatively new to the scene, HYDR took home a gold medal for good reason. It’s sweet, spicy, and oak-driven, but well-balanced. And while its mission is unique, its craftsmanship is what ultimately impressed the judges.
Gryphon & Grain California Bourbon
Award: Gold
Tasting Notes: Brown sugar, toast, grain, dark fruits, peanut brittle, almond, cola
Find Your Next Bottle: From $60
Napa Valley may be better known for Cabernet, but Gryphon & Grain is proving it has serious bourbon credentials, too. Produced by Copper Cane Spirits, this grain-to-glass whiskey is made entirely from estate-grown Northern California grains: red corn, hard red winter wheat, and malted barley. There’s no rye in sight.
It’s aged for about five years in a mix of new American and French oak barrels and bottled at 96 proof. The result is rich and layered. Tasting notes include peanut brittle, toasted almond, cola spice, vanilla, and a touch of old leather. The brand describes the bourbon’s profile as “powerful, but gracefully gentle, like Muhammad Ali petting a kitten.”
The wine-country influence is clear, but not overplayed. Judges praised its full texture and balanced sweetness. With no sourcing and complete control over every step, Gryphon & Grain delivers a uniquely Californian take on traditional bourbon, and it works.
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Bourbon
Award: Best of Category, Best of Class, Gold Medal
Tasting Notes: Vanilla, dried fig, tobacco, dark chocolate, baking spice
Find Your Next Bottle: From $189
Few bourbons have built a reputation as strong as Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend. Created by master blender Nancy Fraley, this cask-strength expression is a meticulous blend of well-aged straight bourbons, some more than 15 years old, finished in Armagnac barrels. Each batch is bottled unfiltered, typically between 55 and 60 percent ABV.
This year, it took home a gold medal, best of category, and Best of Class: Bourbon at the ADI Spirits Competition.
Tasting notes include dried fig, dark chocolate, spice, leather, and a subtle touch of toasted almond. The Armagnac finish adds richness without overwhelming the base whiskey.
Already a favorite among collectors, Cigar Blend is known for its intensity and balance. With this latest recognition, it has solidified its place among the finest finished bourbons on the market.
Region 5 9-Year Small Batch Bourbon
Award: Gold Medal
Tasting Notes: Caramel, vanilla, brown sugar, dried fruit, baking spice, molasses
Find Your Next Bottle: Local Only
Region 5 Whiskey was started by five friends from Northwest Indiana who spent years selecting private barrels before launching their own brand. Their flagship release, a 9-year-old small batch straight bourbon, earned a gold medal for its classic profile and strong execution.
The bourbon is sourced from Indiana and made with a high-rye mash bill of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley. Aged for nine years and bottled at 106 proof, it’s non-chill filtered and blended in small batches to preserve texture and depth.
Tasting notes include caramel, dried fruit, vanilla, and a rye-forward spice finish. Judges noted its balance and maturity, while fans appreciate its straightforward, no-nonsense character. For a young brand, this bottle hits all the right notes.
The Traditionalist Classic Bourbon
Award: Gold Medal
Tasting Notes: Brown sugar, oats and honey granola, vanilla, baking spices, caramel
Find Your Next Bottle: From $37.99
Best known for its wine, Four Daughters Vineyard & Winery in southern Minnesota is now turning heads in the bourbon world. Its first whiskey release, The Traditionalist Classic, is a grain-to-glass straight bourbon made entirely on the family’s third-generation farm.
The mash bill includes corn and a small amount of oat, giving the whiskey a smooth, rounded profile. Bottled at 90 proof, it delivers notes of brown sugar, vanilla, toasted granola, and soft baking spice.
The texture is gentle, the finish sweet and easygoing. For a debut bourbon from a winery in the Upper Midwest, it’s a quietly impressive start, with a gold medal to show for it.
Horse Neck Double Barrel Kentucky Bourbon
Award: Gold Medal
Tasting Notes: Rye spice, oak, vanilla, maple, pepper
Find Your Next Bottle: $64.99
This double barrel release from Horse Neck is a confident debut from Firsty Thursday, a Texas-based brand with roots in Kentucky whiskey tradition. Distilled and aged in Kentucky, the bourbon undergoes a proprietary second-barrel finishing process using specially toasted oak, which gives it added depth and structure.
Bottled at 101 proof, it leans into rich, spicy notes—vanilla, maple, charred oak, and warm rye spice, with a touch of pepper on the finish. It’s bold without being brash.
Despite being a first release, Horse Neck impressed judges with its polish and balance. The double oak influence is clear, but not overdone. For a new player, it’s a strong signal of what’s to come.
Stay Tuned For Part 2
Make sure to keep an eye on The Whiskey Wash, where next week I will continue to delve into the best bourbons from the ADI 2025 International Spirits Competition.
Have you tried any of this week’s winners? Let us know in the comments.
