Bourbon holds a particular weight at the American Distilling Institute’s International Spirits Competition. As America’s native spirit, it draws some of the largest and most competitive fields each year, and the 2026 results reflect that.
First launched in 2007, the ADI ISC evaluates every entry through blind tasting. Judges work without knowing the producer, the brand, or even the price point, which means a craft distiller’s first release sits on equal footing with bottles from century-old houses. There are no quotas and no guaranteed winners; in any given category, the panel may award several medals or none at all.
Each bourbon in the table carries one of four medal designations. Bronze marks a good example of the style, Silver a very good one, and Gold an exceptional pour. Double Gold is the rarest of the four, requiring unanimous scores of 90 or higher from every judge on the panel. A small number of bourbons go further still, earning Best of Category as the top-ranked bourbon overall, or a Best of Class trophy from a grand panel selecting the finest American whiskey of the year.
Quick whisky question
Single malt is everywhere, but what does it mean? We want to know what the word “single” means to you. Three quick questions, under a minute.
So, here are all of the award-winning bourbons from the ADI International Spirits Competition 2026.
| Bourbon | Awards |
| Still 630 Distillery Due Process Bourbon | America’s Best Cask Strength Whiskey, Best of Category, Double Gold Medal |
| Joseph Magnus Bourbon | America’s Best Barrel Finished Whiskey, Best of Category, Double Gold Medal |
| Polly’s Still House Double Barrel Bourbon | Shortlist for America’s Best Barrel Finished Whiskey, Double Gold Medal |
| GlenPharmer Distillery American Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Double Gold Medal |
| Dragon’s Milk Origin Small Batch Bourbon | Double Gold Medal |
| Redwood Empire Pipe Dream Triple Toasted Bourbon Whiskey | Best New American Spirit 2026 Presented by Total Wine & More, Shortlist for America’s Best Barrel Finished Whiskey, Gold Medal |
| Widow Jane 10- Year Bourbon | Best of Category, Gold Medal |
| Wood Hat Spirits Bourbon Rubenesque Single Barrel Cask Strength | Shortlist for America’s Best Single Barrel Whiskey, Gold Medal |
| Northern Liberties Bottled in Bond Bourbon | Shortlist for America’s Best Bottled in Bond Whiskey, Gold Medal |
| Holladay Soft Red Wheat Rickhouse Proof Bourbon | Shortlist for America’s Best Cask Strength Whiskey, Gold Medal |
| Wigle Reserve Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey | Shortlist for America’s Best Cask Strength Whiskey, Gold Medal |
| 1879 Distilling Company Premium Bourbon Whiskey | Gold Medal |
| Angel’s Envy Triple Oak Bourbon | Gold Medal |
| Boss Molly Bourbon Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished with Amarone Staves | Gold Medal |
| Bull Run Distillery St Hubertus Bourbon | Gold Medal |
| Fathertime Bourbon Fourth & Long: Empty Nester Strength | Gold Medal |
| Garrison Brothers Sonora Bourbon | Gold Medal |
| Elijah Craig Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Small Batch | Gold Medal |
| Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Traditional Barrel Series – Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Gold Medal |
| Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Traditional Barrel Series – Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey | Gold Medal |
| Minglewood Distillery Double Oaked Bourbon Whiskey | Gold Medal |
| Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon | Gold Medal |
| The Difference® Business Bourbon™ Double Down Bourbon | Gold Medal |
| The Difference® Business Bourbon™ Second Toast Bourbon | Gold Medal |
| Trippy Goat Distillery Old Joe Double Oak Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Gold Medal |
| Union Horse Distilling Co Bottled in Bond Reserve Straight Bourbon | Gold Medal |
| WhistlePig PiggyBack 100 Proof Bourbon | Gold Medal |
| Spy Trail Distillery Black Tea Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Best of Category, Silver Medal |
| Coal Pick Distillery Single Barrel Barrel Proof Bourbon | Shortlist for America’s Best Single Barrel Whiskey, Silver Medal |
| 10,000 Drops Craft Distillers Single Barrel Bourbon | Shortlist for America’s Best Single Barrel Whiskey, Silver Medal |
| Four Roses Single Barrel Bourbon | Shortlist for America’s Best Single Barrel Whiskey, Silver Medal |
| 1879 Distilling Company Premium 21% Rye Bourbon Whiskey | Silver Medal |
| Bespoken Spirits Alchemist Series Release #001-25 Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Silver Medal |
| Blacksmith Artisanal Spirits SnowDay Barrel Proof Bourbon | Silver Medal |
| Bull Run Distillery Old Poindexter Bourbon | Silver Medal |
| Copperfield Distilling Blue Truck Bourbon | Silver Medal |
| Fathertime Bourbon Fourth & Long | Silver Medal |
| Fathertime Bourbon Second Child Syndrome: Empty Nester Strength | Silver Medal |
| Fathertime Bourbon The Middle Child Mystery: Empty Nester Strength | Silver Medal |
| Garrison Brothers Bottled in Bond Bourbon | Silver Medal |
| Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon | Silver Medal |
| Gulf Stream Distillery The Heritage Collection- Single Cask Bourbon | Silver Medal |
| Elijah Craig Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Barrel Proof C925 | Silver Medal |
| Elijah Craig Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Toasted Barrel | Silver Medal |
| Evan WilliamsKentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Bottled-In-Bond | Silver Medal |
| Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Specialty Barrel Series – Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Silver Medal |
| Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Specialty Barrel Series – Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey | Silver Medal |
| Larceny Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Barrel Proof C925 | Silver Medal |
| Old Fitzgerald 7 Year Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon | Silver Medal |
| Widow Jane Black Opal | Silver Medal |
| Widow Jane Baby Jane Bourbon | Silver Medal |
| Widow Jane Decadence Bourbon | Silver Medal |
| Widow Jane The Vaults 2025 Bourbon | Silver Medal |
| Hoot + Howl Spirits Amaro Cask Bourbon | Silver Medal |
| Jackson Purchase Distillery Bourbon | Silver Medal |
| Ledgerock Distillery Retzer Farm Bourbon | Silver Medal |
| Litchfield Distillery Double Barreled Bourbon 6 Year | Silver Medal |
| Louisiana Lightning Bourbon Dufour | Silver Medal |
| Belle Meade Spirits Classic Bourbon | Silver Medal |
| Belle Meade Spirits Reserve Bourbon | Silver Medal |
| Redwood Empire Pipe Dream Bourbon Whiskey | Silver Medal |
| Quartz Mountain Distillers Bottled in Bond Bourbon Fall 2020 | Silver Medal |
| Seven Three Distilling Co. Whiskey Tree Bourbon | Silver Medal |
| Shortbarrel Four Grain Bourbon | Silver Medal |
| The Whiskey Project Moose Bourbon Whiskey | Silver Medal |
| The Whiskey Project Rosie Bourbon Whiskey | Silver Medal |
| Four Roses Small Batch Select Bourbon | Silver Medal |
| Springbrook Hollow Farm Distillery Adirondack High Rye Straight Bourbon | Silver Medal |
| Springbrook Hollow Farm Distillery Barrel Strength Adirondack High Rye Straight Bourbon | Silver Medal |
| Spy Trail Distillery Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Silver Medal |
| St. Augustine Distillery Florida Straight Bourbon | Silver Medal |
| The Sportsmen’s Whiskey 8 Years Barrel Proof Bourbon | Silver Medal |
| Three Floyds Distilling Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Silver Medal |
| Trillium Distilling Company Wake Robin Bourbon | Silver Medal |
| Trinity River Distillery Lucchesi Bourbon | Silver Medal |
| Pronghorn Edmond’s Honor Madagascar Vanilla Bourbon | Silver Medal |
| Vincero Spirits The Bond: Eternal Bourbon | Silver Medal |
| Vincero Spirits Thornbush Blackberry Bourbon | Silver Medal |
| Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. Single Barrel Bourbon #0131 | Silver Medal |
| Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. Single Barrel Bourbon #0214 | Silver Medal |
| Wigle Pennsylvania Wapsie Bourbon | Silver Medal |
| Wigle Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey | Silver Medal |
| William Berkele Distillery Burnt Tavern Bourbon | Silver Medal |
| Wood Hat Spirits Queens Reserve Cask Strength Finished Bourbon | Silver Medal |
| Angel’s Envy Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Wine Barrels | Bronze Medal |
| Kentucky Flannel (Powered By Bespoken) Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Bronze Medal |
| Copper Forge Distilling Covidium Bourbon | Bronze Medal |
| County Seat Spirits Hidden Copper Bourbon | Bronze Medal |
| Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend Bourbon | Bronze Medal |
| Gulf Stream Distillery The Heritage Collection- Port Cask Finished Bourbon | Bronze Medal |
| Evan Williams Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 1783 | Bronze Medal |
| Heaven Hill Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Bottled-In-Bond | Bronze Medal |
| Larceny Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Small Batch | Bronze Medal |
| Widow Jane Lucky 13 Bourbon | Bronze Medal |
| Holladay Soft Red Wheat Bottled in Bond Bourbon | Bronze Medal |
| Hoot + Howl Spirits Armagnac Cask Bourbon | Bronze Medal |
| Las Vegas Distillery Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Bronze Medal |
| Ledgerock Distillery Farm Boy Bourbon | Bronze Medal |
| ROW 94 Bourbon | Bronze Medal |
| ROW 94 Broken Branches Bourbon | Bronze Medal |
| ROW 94 Full Proof Bourbon | Bronze Medal |
| Forty Nine Mile Single Barrel Bourbon | Bronze Medal |
| Forty Nine Mile Straight Bourbon | Bronze Medal |
| Seven Three Distilling Co. Whiskey Tree High Rye Bourbon | Bronze Medal |
| Seven Three Distilling Co. Whiskey Tree Wheated Bourbon | Bronze Medal |
| Four Roses Straight Bourbon | Bronze Medal |
| Spy Trail Distillery Honey Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Bronze Medal |
| America’s 250th Birthday Bourbon -1804 | Bronze Medal |
| StoutHeart Distillery All American Blended Bourbon Whiskey | Bronze Medal |
| The Difference® Business Bourbon™ Bottle-Is-Bond Bourbon | Bronze Medal |
| Trippy Goat Distillery Old Joe Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in PX Sherry Casks | Bronze Medal |
| Two Trees Distilling Company Land of the Sky Straight Bourbon | Bronze Medal |
| Vincero Spirits The Bond Bourbon | Bronze Medal |
| Wigle City of Champions Bourbon | Bronze Medal |
| Wigle Reserve Pennsylvania Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Bronze Medal |
| Wood Hat Spirits Allocated Corn Series Bloody Purple Bourbon | Bronze Medal |
| Wood Hat Spirits WHO-8 Bourbon | Bronze Medal |
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