The results of the World Whiskies Awards America 2026 have just been announced, recognising standout American whiskeys across bourbon, rye, Tennessee whiskey, single malt and more. We have compiled every Gold medal winner into the table below and organised it in a way that makes the structure clear and easy to follow.
If you have spent time with the official PDF, you will have noticed that the layout can be difficult to interpret. Some categories are divided by state, others by age bracket, and in several sections, the top overall winner and the additional category winners appear under the same heading without much explanation of the hierarchy. Many of the winners also fall within specific style brackets but are not explicitly labelled in the same way as others.
To avoid confusion, we have identified the top expression in each section as the “Category Champion” and separated it clearly from the other Category Winners.
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.
The World Whiskies Awards Global competition will take place in March, where these winners will compete for world titles alongside other whiskies from regional heats.
| Whiskey | Medal | Award |
| New Riff – Bottled in Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Gold | Category Champion – World’s Best Bourbon (Kentucky) |
| 15 Stars – Artisan Collection | Gold | Category Champion – World’s Best Bourbon (Non-Kentucky) |
| Maker’s Mark 46 | Gold | Category Champion – World’s Best Finished Bourbon (Kentucky) |
| Redemption – Cognac Cask Finish | Gold | Category Champion – World’s Best Finished Bourbon (Non-Kentucky) |
| Presidential Dram – 2 Term Bourbon | Gold | Category Champion – World’s Best Single Barrel Bourbon (Non-Kentucky) |
| Elmer T Lee – Single Barrel | Gold | Category Champion – World’s Best Single Barrel Bourbon (Kentucky) |
| EH Taylor – Small Batch | Gold | Category Champion – World’s Best Small Batch Bourbon (Kentucky) |
| Wyoming Whiskey – Buffalo Bill Cody | Gold | Category Champion – World’s Best Small Batch Bourbon (Non-Kentucky) |
| Onyx & Amber – American Light Whiskey Double Oaked | Gold | Category Champion – World’s Best American Style Whiskey (13 To 20 Years) |
| Town Branch Distillery – Overproof 4 Barrel | Gold | Category Winner – World’s Best American Style Whiskey (No Age Statement) |
| 1845 Distilling Company – Texian No. 01 | Gold | Category Winner – World’s Best American Style Whiskey (12 Years & Under) |
| Jack Daniel’s – 14 Years Old Tennessee Whiskey Batch 1 | Gold | Category Champion – World’s Best Tennessee Whiskey (13 To 20 Years) |
| Jack Daniel’s – Bonded Tennessee Whiskey | Gold | Category Winner – World’s Best Tennessee Whiskey (No Age Statement) |
| Proof and Wood Curated – Seasons 2024 Extraordinary Blended Whiskey | Gold | Category Champion – Best American Blended (No Age Statement) |
| Old Elk – Cigar Punch Cut | Gold | Category Champion – Best American Blended Limited Release (12 Years & Under) |
| Knob Creek – Bourbon x Rye Kentucky Blended Straight Whiskey | Gold | Category Winner – Best American Blended Limited Release (No Age Statement) |
| Lost Lantern – Shadow & Light | Gold | Category Champion – Best American Blended Malt (12 Years & Under) |
| Breckenridge Distillery – Two Drams Blended Whiskey | Gold | Category Winner – Best American Blended Malt (No Age Statement) |
| Ironroot Republic – Hubris | Gold | Category Champion – Best American Corn (No Age Statement) |
| Balcones – Baby Blue Straight Corn Whiskey | Gold | Category Winner – Best American Corn (12 Years & Under) |
| Cocoa Bomb – Chocolate | Gold | Category Champion – Best American Flavoured Whiskey (No Age Statement) |
| Early Times – American Blended | Gold | Category Champion – Best American Grain Whiskey (No Age Statement) |
| Bainbridge – Yama Mizunara Cask | Gold | Category Winner – Best American Grain Whiskey (12 Years & Under) |
| Talnua Distillery – Olde Saint’s Keep | Gold | Category Champion – Best American Pot Still (12 Years & Under) |
| Elijah Craig – Toasted Rye | Gold | Category Champion – Best American Rye Whiskey (No Age Statement) |
| Minden Mill – Rye | Gold | Category Winner – Best American Rye Whiskey (12 Years & Under) |
| Sazerac – 18 Years Old | Gold | Category Winner – Best American Rye Whiskey (13 To 20 Years) |
| Hinterhaus Distilling – American Single Malt “Singularity” | Gold | Category Champion – Best American Single Cask Single Malt (12 Years & Under) |
| Cedar Ridge Distillery – The QuintEssential (Peated Malt in Amontillado Sherry) | Gold | Category Winner – Best American Single Cask Single Malt (No Age Statement) |
| Tumblin’ Dice Rye – Single Barrel 11 Years Old | Gold | Category Champion – Best American Single Cask Single Rye (12 Years & Under) |
| Virginia Distilling Company – Blue Ridge Toasted Barrel Finish | Gold | Category Champion – Best American Single Malt (No Age Statement) |
| Boulder Spirits – American Single Malt Whiskey “New American” | Gold | Category Winner – Best American Single Malt (12 Years & Under) |
| The Notch Nantucket – 15 Years Old | Gold | Category Champion – Best American Small Batch Single Malt (13 To 20 Years) |
| Balcones – Mirador Eclipse | Gold | Category Winner – Best American Small Batch Single Malt (No Age Statement) |
| Irene Tan Spirits – Cigar Malt | Gold | Category Winner – Best American Small Batch Single Malt (12 Years & Under) |
| Star Hill Farm – Wheat Whisky | Gold | Category Champion – Best American Wheat (No Age Statement) |
| Thresh & Winnow – 12 Years Old 100% Wheat | Gold | Category Winner – Best American Wheat (12 Years & Under) |
| Heaven Hill – Heritage Collection 19 Years Old Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey | Gold | Category Winner – Best American Wheat (13 To 20 Years) |
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