Among the headline categories at this year’s International Spirits Challenge, bourbon delivered one of the most striking storylines. Of the 43 medals awarded to bourbons in the 2026 competition, the overwhelming majority went to expressions from just two producers: Heaven Hill and Suntory Global Spirits, the latter the parent company of Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark. It is a remarkable concentration of silverware, and a reminder of the scale and depth of these two Kentucky-rooted portfolios.
Now in its 31st year, the International Spirits Challenge is judged blind by panels of distillers, blenders and buyers, with medals awarded at four levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Double Gold. The full list of 2026 bourbon winners is set out below.
| Bourbon | Medal |
| Evan Williams Bottled-In-Bond | DOUBLE GOLD |
| Old Grand-Dad 114 Single Barrel Strength | GOLD |
| Larceny Barrel Proof C925 | GOLD |
| Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C925 | GOLD |
| Elijah Craig 18 Year | GOLD |
| Baker’s 13-Year-Old | GOLD |
| William Heavenhill 12th Edition | GOLD |
| Widow Jane Lucky 13 Bourbon | GOLD |
| Widow Jane Decadence Bourbon | GOLD |
| Widow Jane Black Opal | GOLD |
| Old Fitzgerald Fall 2025 Edition | GOLD |
| Maker’s Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon | GOLD |
| Knob Creek 21 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey | GOLD |
| Kentucky Beau | GOLD |
| Evan Williams Black | GOLD |
| Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel | GOLD |
| Elijah Craig Small Batch | GOLD |
| Widow Jane The Vaults 2025 Bourbon | SILVER |
| Widow Jane Baby Jane Bourbon | SILVER |
| Widow Jane 10-Year Bourbon | SILVER |
| Square 6 Wheated Bourbon | SILVER |
| Square 6 High-Rye Bourbon | SILVER |
| Parker’s Heritage Collection 19th Edition 11-Year Bourbon | SILVER |
| Old Grand-Dad 7-Year-Old Bottled in Bond | SILVER |
| Old Fitzgerald 7-Year-Old Bottled-In-Bond | SILVER |
| Maker’s Mark 46 French Oaked Bourbon | SILVER |
| Larceny Small Batch | SILVER |
| Knob Creek Blender’s Edition 01 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey | SILVER |
| Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Traditional Barrel Series – Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon | SILVER |
| Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Traditional Barrel Series – Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey | SILVER |
| Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Specialty Barrel Series – Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey | SILVER |
| Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Specialty Barrel Series – Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey | SILVER |
| Heaven Hill 7-Year Bottled-In-Bond | SILVER |
| FEW Straight Bourbon Whiskey | SILVER |
| FEW Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon Whiskey | SILVER |
| Evan Williams 1783 | SILVER |
| Copper & Kings Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Brandy Barrels | SILVER |
| Bulleit Bourbon Whiskey | SILVER |
| Bluff Springs Reserve | SILVER |
| Henry McKenna Single Barrel | SILVER |
| Evan Williams Single Barrel 2017 | SILVER |
| Baker’s 7-Year-Old | SILVER |
| Maker’s Mark Bourbon Cask Strength | BRONZE |
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