American whiskey had a strong showing at the IWSC 2025. Six bottles earned some of the highest scores of the year, with judges praising their balance, complexity, and character.
These winners range from Kentucky icons to small producers working on the edges of the map. There is a new wheat whiskey from Maker’s Mark, a single malt aged on a windswept island, a bold rye that costs less than $100, and more.
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Here are the six American whiskeys that stood out at IWSC 2025, and why each deserves a spot on your radar.
Star Hill Farm WhiskyÂ
Score: 98 pointsÂ
Official Tasting Notes: Caramel, golden raisins, gingerbread, honeyed toffee, chocolate covered cherries, apple pie, toasted pecans, soft cinnamon
BUY NOW: $126
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Maker’s Mark has relied on the same bourbon recipe since the 1950s. In 2025, the distillery surprised everyone with Star Hill Farm American Wheat Whiskey, its first new mashbill in more than 70 years.
The whiskey is made entirely on the distillery’s estate in Loretto, Kentucky. It combines two mashbills: one with 70% unmalted red winter wheat and malted barley, and another with 100% malted wheat. Each is aged for 7 to 8 years before being blended and bottled at 57% ABV. It also carries an Estate Whiskey certification, reflecting its grain-to-glass approach.
The IWSC judges were impressed. They noted brown sugar, floral notes, and chocolate-covered papaya on the nose, with a palate of cooked apple, cinnamon, and black tea. Maker’s Mark lists its own highlights: caramel, golden raisins, and gingerbread, with toffee, cherries, and apple pie spice leading to a finish of toasted pecans and cinnamon.
With a 98-point score, this debut proves that tradition and innovation can work hand in hand. Star Hill Farm sets a bold new direction for one of Kentucky’s most iconic distilleries.
The Notch Nantucket Island 12 Year Old Single Malt
Score: 98 pointsÂ
Official Tasting Notes: Peach sorbet, aromatic toffee apples, wood tannins, vanilla, orchard fruits
BUY NOW: $350
American single malt has been gaining recognition, and few bottles highlight its potential better than The Notch 12 Year Old from Triple Eight Distillery. Scoring 98 points, it was the highest-rated American single malt at IWSC 2025.
Triple Eight is based on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts. The distillery began laying down single malt in 2000, making it one of the pioneers in the category. The Notch is made from 100% Maris Otter barley and double-distilled in a copper hybrid still. Maturation takes place on the island in a mix of bourbon, sherry, Cognac, and wine barrels. Nantucket’s maritime climate plays a big role, with salt air, fog, and temperature swings shaping the whiskey’s character.
Judges praised its star anise, black pepper, and peanut brittle aromas, leading to a palate of spice and nuts with a finish of pecan, leather, and cardamom. The distillery highlights lighter notes such as peach sorbet, honey, and orchard fruits when water is added.
The result is a whiskey that bridges old-world style with American craft energy. Limited in release and often hard to find, The Notch 12 Year Old is proof that great single malt can come from unexpected places.
Pinhook Vertical Series 9 Year Old Rye Whiskey
Score: 98 points
Official Tasting Notes: Candied licorice, oatmeal cookie, clove, burnt toffee, baked apricot, lychee, candied cinnamon, lavender honeyÂ
BUY NOW: $100
Pinhook has built its name on bold ideas, and the Vertical Series is its most ambitious project yet. The brand bought 450 barrels of MGP-distilled rye and is releasing them year by year, allowing drinkers to track how the whiskey develops with age.
The 9 Year Old Rye, released in 2025, became the star of the series. Bottled at 55.6% ABV, it was drawn from just 20-40 barrels that had been matured at Castle & Key’s warehouses in Kentucky. This edition won not only a 98-point Gold Outstanding medal but also the IWSC trophy for Best American Rye.
Judges described aromas of rich honey and toasted macadamia, with a palate lifted by a hint of gentian that added depth. They called it a classic and vibrant rye with sweet undertones. Pinhook’s own notes mention candied licorice, oatmeal cookie, clove, and burnt toffee on the nose, followed by apricot, cinnamon, and lavender honey on the palate.
At around $90, it is also one of the most accessible winners. For Pinhook, the award proves that sourced whiskey can stand shoulder to shoulder with heritage brands, especially when blended and matured with care.
15 Stars Three Kings Whiskey
Score: 95 pointsÂ
Official Tasting Notes: Baking spice, peach pie, cherry, plum, apricot, pepper, persimmon pudding, candied fruit, pear, honey, vanilla, nutmeg, oakÂ
BUY NOW: $169
Blending is often seen as an afterthought in American whiskey. 15 STARS is proving otherwise. The brand, named after Kentucky’s entry as the 15th state, has built its reputation on thoughtful blends of mature whiskeys.
Three Kings Whiskey is one of its most ambitious releases. It combines straight bourbon, rye, and wheat whiskeys aged between 11 and 15 years. Bottled at 53.5% ABV, it brings together three distinct styles in one layered expression.
IWSC judges were captivated, awarding it 98 points. They highlighted aromas of Manuka honey, nectarine, eucalyptus, and lavender, followed by a palate of mango, nougat, and spiced wood. The finish lingered with salted toffee. 15 STARS describes it differently but just as richly, noting baking spice, ripe fruit, persimmon pudding, vanilla, and seasoned oak.
This whiskey feels expansive and complex without being overwhelming. It also underscores the role of blending as an art form, not a shortcut. For a young company like 15 STARS, such recognition cements its place as one of the most exciting names in American whiskey today.
Thomas H. Handy Straight Rye Whiskey
Score: 95 points
Official Tasting Notes: Toffee, fig, cake, candied fruit, mint, cinnamon, clover, allspice, coconut, nutmegÂ
BUY NOW: $155
The Buffalo Trace Antique Collection is one of the most anticipated annual releases in American whiskey. Among its stars is Thomas H. Handy Straight Rye, a bold, barrel-proof expression that takes its name from the 19th-century New Orleans bartender credited with popularizing the Sazerac cocktail.
The 2024 edition, which was likely the version judged at IWSC 2025, was bottled at 64.75% ABV. It uses Buffalo Trace’s high-rye mashbill and is aged around six to seven years before bottling uncut and unfiltered.
The IWSC judges awarded Handy 95 points. They noted a wave of citrus balanced by butterscotch and cereal on the nose, followed by flavors of buttered beer, pepper, toasted rye, golden syrup, and caramel. The finish reminded them of toffee popcorn. Buffalo Trace describes its official profile as toffee, candied fruit, fig cake, mint, cinnamon, and clove, with a finish of allspice, coconut, and nutmeg.
Handy’s inclusion among this year’s top performers shows that classic rye made the traditional way can still compete with the newest experiments. It remains a benchmark for big, unfiltered American rye whiskey.
King’s Family Distillery Ryeconic
Score: 95 points
Tasting Notes: Rye spice, pepper, burnt sugar, vanilla, spearmint, coconutÂ
BUY NOW:Â $71
Tucked in the Smoky Mountains near Pigeon Forge, King’s Family Distillery is a small operation founded in 2018 by Justin and Cara King. In only a few years, the distillery has built a reputation for rich, full-bodied whiskey. Ryeconic is its flagship rye, and IWSC judges awarded it 95 points in 2025.
The whiskey follows the classic 95% rye and 5% malted barley mashbill, but the Kings add their own twist. After years in new charred oak, the spirit is re-barreled into a fresh charred cask. This double-barrel approach deepens color and boosts flavors of caramel, spice, and vanilla. The batch entered into competition was around eight years old and bottled at 52.5% ABV.
Judges praised the aromas of burnt sugar, vanilla ice cream, and toasty spice. On the palate, they found black licorice, charred oak, and spiced mixed berries, all lingering into a sweet-spicy finish. Retailers also describe notes of marshmallow, citrus, and coconut, giving the whiskey a layered profile that is both bold and approachable.
Ryeconic’s performance shows that small Tennessee producers can hold their own against America’s biggest names. It is a bottle worth seeking out.
