Each year, the New York World Spirits Competition gathers a panel of respected judges—distillers, writers, bartenders, and educators—to blind-taste entries from around the world. It’s one of the industry’s most closely watched competitions, not least because of the diversity and quality of its medal winners.
Rank your top 3 Kirkland Signature whiskeys
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Your top 3
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2Then your second…
3Then your third…
The 2025 edition saw an impressive field, with both global giants and small-batch producers vying for recognition.
From Scotch to Bourbon, Japanese whisky to American rye, the results reflect a dynamic, evolving spirits landscape.
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This list brings together all of this year’s NYWSC whisky and whiskey winners in one place—a convenient, category-spanning resource for anyone seeking out bottles that stood out in one of the toughest judging rooms in the business.
Scotch
| Whisky Name | Medal |
| Ardbeg Wee Beastie Single Malt Scotch |
Double Gold
Best Overall Scotch & Best Distillers’ Single Malt Scotch – 12 Years or Less |
| Glenmorangie A Tale of Spices Single Malt Scotch |
Double Gold
Best Distillers’ Single Malt Scotch – No Age Statement |
| Glenmorangie The Infinita 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch |
Double Gold
Best Distillers’ Single Malt Scotch – 13 to 19 Years |
| Johnnie Walker Black Ruby Blended Scotch |
Double Gold
Best Blended Scotch |
| Imperial 12 Year Old Blended Scotch | Double Gold |
| Sassenach Spirits The Spirit of Home Blended Scotch | Double Gold |
| Big Peat Islay Blended Malt Scotch | Gold |
| Ardbeg Corryvreckan Single Malt Scotch | Gold |
| Ardbeg The Ten Year Old Single Malt Scotch | Silver |
| Ardbeg Uigeadail Single Malt Scotch | Silver |
| Glenmorangie Signet Reserve Single Malt Scotch | Silver |
| Glenmorangie Signet Single Malt Scotch | Silver |
| Glenmorangie The Original 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch | Silver |
| Glenmorangie Triple Cask Reserve Single Malt Scotch | Silver |
| Scallywag Speyside Blended Scotch | Silver |
Bourbon
| Whiskey Name | Medal |
| Blanton’s Gold Edition Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon |
Double Gold
Best Single Barrel Bourbon |
| Garrison Brothers Guadalupe Bourbon |
Double Gold
Best Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon |
| Green River KENTUCKY STRAIGHT WHEATED BOURBON |
Double Gold
Best Overall Bourbon & Best Wheated Bourbon |
| Peg Leg Porker Spirits Grey Label Tennessee Straight Bourbon |
Double Gold
Best Small Batch Bourbon |
| The Garden Reserve “The Spirit Of New York Sports” Straight Bourbon |
Double Gold
Best Straight Bourbon |
| 1792 Aged 12 Years Straight Bourbon | Double Gold |
| Barrell Batch 037 Bourbon | Double Gold |
| Bourbiskey Mark Fury Straight Bourbon | Double Gold |
| Brother’s Bond Bottled In Bond Straight Bourbon | Double Gold |
| Brother’s Bond Cask Strength Straight Bourbon | Double Gold |
| Buffalo Trace Distillery Straight Bourbon | Double Gold |
| K.LUKE Whiskey Company Small Batch Barrel Strength Batch 12 Bourbon | Double Gold |
| Southern Star Bourbon | Double Gold |
| Southern Star Paragon Cask Strength Wheated Bourbon Single Barrel | Double Gold |
| W. L. Weller Full Proof Wheated Bourbon | Double Gold |
| 15 STARS Artisan Collection Kentucky Straight Bourbon | Gold |
| 15 STARS First West Extra Aged Kentucky Straight Bourbon | Gold |
| 15 STARS Three Ports Kentucky Straight Bourbon | Gold |
| 1792 Single Barrel Straight Bourbon | Gold |
| Augusta Distillery Buckners 13 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon (Barrel #25.40) | Gold |
| Bardstown Bourbon Company Double Barreled Discovery Series #13 Kentucky Straight Bourbon | Gold |
| Barrell Bourbon finished in Toasted American Oak & Cognac Casks | Gold |
| Bespoken Alchemist Series Release #001-25 Straight Bourbon | Gold |
| Burnt Church Distillery Johnny Fever Small Batch Bourbon | Gold |
| Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch Bottled in Bond Straight Bourbon | Gold |
| Garrison Brothers Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon | Gold |
| Great Western Spirits Firefighter’s Reserve Straight Bourbon | Gold |
| Green River SINGLE BARREL KENTUCKY STRAIGHT WHEATED BOURBON | Gold |
| Lasso Motel Caribbean Rum Cask Finish Bourbon | Gold |
| Oaklore Distilling Co Four Grain Bourbon | Gold |
| Old Joe Double Oak 8 Year Small Batch Bourbon | Gold |
| Peg Leg Porker Spirits Black Label (Batch #5)Tennessee Straight Bourbo | Gold |
| The Macklowe Bourbon | Gold |
| The Old Guard Small Batch Bourbon | Gold |
| TINCUP 14 Year Old Straight Bourbon | Gold |
| Two Trees Distilling Land of the Sky Straight Bourbon | Gold |
| W. L. Weller Antique 107 Wheated Bourbon | Gold |
| W. L. Weller Special Reserve Wheated Bourbon | Gold |
| William Berkele Distillery Burnt Tavern Kentucky Straight Bourbon | Gold |
| 1792 Bottled in Bond Straight Bourbon | Silver |
| 1792 Small Batch Straight Bourbon | Silver |
| Beyond Distilling Company Bourbon | Silver |
| Blanton’s Original Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon | Silver |
| Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon | Silver |
| Bronze Bull Spirits Finished in Cognac and Moscatel Barrels Bourbon Batch #6 | Silver |
| Castle & Key Wheated Small Batch Bourbon | Silver |
| Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Single Barrel Bottled in Bond Straight Bourbon | Silver |
| Doc Porter’s Bourbon | Silver |
| Durant & Booth Kentucky Bourbon | Silver |
| Early Times Kentucky Straight Bourbon (Gold Label) | Silver |
| Flair Spirits Bourbon | Silver |
| Garrison Brothers Balmorhea Bourbon | Silver |
| Gunner Kentucky Straight Bourbon | Silver |
| Heritage Road Spirits Straight Bourbon | Silver |
| High West Straight Bourbon | Silver |
| Jefferson’s Marian McLain Blend of Straight Bourbon Whiskies | Silver |
| King’s Family Distillery 10 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon | Silver |
| King’s Family Distillery Cigar Blend Bourbon | Silver |
| Lucchesi Straight Bourbon | Silver |
| Old Joe 1818 8 Year Old Small Batch Bourbon | Silver |
| Peg Leg Porker Spirits White Label Tennessee Straight Bourbon | Silver |
| RD1 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon | Silver |
| Ridge River Barrel Proof Batch 1 Bourbon | Silver |
| Southern Star Paragon Bottled In Bond Wheated Bourbon | Silver |
| The Garden Select “The Spirit Of New York Sports” Bourbon | Silver |
| Three Floyds Distilling Bloodforge Straight Bourbon | Silver |
| TINCUP 10 Year Old Straight Bourbon | Silver |
| TINCUP Straight Bourbon | Silver |
| Torchtree 7 Year Single Barrel Bourbon | Silver |
| Two Stacks Single Grain Double Barrel | Silver |
| Union Horse Distilling Co. Reserve Straight Bourbon | Silver |
| W. L. Weller Aged 12 Years Wheated Bourbon | Silver |
| Whiskey JYPSI Tribute Double Barreled Bourbon | Silver |
| Castle & Key Small Batch Bourbon | Bronze |
| Edmond’s Honor Madagascar Vanilla Bourbon | Bronze |
| Garrison Brothers HoneyDew Bourbon | Bronze |
| Garrison Brothers Small Batch Bourbon | Bronze |
| Sable “Bottled In Brotherhood” Bourbon | Bronze |
American
| Whiskey Name | Medal |
| Traveller Whiskey |
Double Gold
Best Blended American Whiskey |
| 10th Street Peated Single Malt Port Cask Finish Whiskey |
Double Gold
Best Special Barrel-Finished Whisk(e)y |
| K.LUKE Whiskey Company Small Batch Toasted Barrel Strength Batch 5 Rye Whiskey | Double Gold Best Rye Whiskey |
| 15 STARS Three Kings Fine Aged Whiskey | Double Gold |
| Bespoken Alchemist Series Release #012 Straight Rye Whiskey Finished With Amburana Wood | Double Gold |
| Southern Star Bourbon | Double Gold |
| Southern Star Paragon Cask Strength Wheated Bourbon Single Barrel | Double Gold |
| Stranahan’s Mountain Angel 10 Year Single Malt Whiskey | Double Gold |
| 10th Street Peated Single Malt Wine Cask Finish Whiskey | Gold |
| 6666 American Blended Whiskey | Gold |
| Bainbridge Battle Point Small Batch Wheat Whiskey | Gold |
| Oaklore Distilling Co North Carolina Straight Rye Whiskey | Gold |
| Shiner Craft Spirits ‘Shine Craft Corn Whiskey | Gold |
| Shiner Craft Spirits Cinnamon ‘Shine Cinnamon Flavored Corn Whiskey | Gold |
| Southern Star American Single Malt Whiskey | Gold |
| Stranahan’s Blue Peak Single Malt Whiskey | Gold |
| Stranahan’s Original Single Malt Whiskey | Gold |
| Stranahan’s Sherry Cask Single Malt Whiskey | Gold |
| The American Barrel Strength Whiskey | Gold |
| Three Floyds Distilling Bubblegumhead Whiskey | Gold |
| TINCUP Straight Rye Whiskey | Gold |
| Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Aged Whiskey | Gold |
| Union Horse Distilling Co. Reunion Straight Rye Whiskey | Gold |
| Bainbridge Battle Point French Oak Straight Wheat Whiskey | Silver |
| Bespoken “The Epic – Saga II” Straight Rye Whiskey | Silver |
| Beyond Distilling Company Rye Whiskey | Silver |
| Castle & Key Restoration Rye Whiskey | Silver |
| Doc Porter’s Rye Whiskey | Silver |
| Doc Porter’s Single Malt Whiskey | Silver |
| Early Times Blended Whiskey | Silver |
| High West Campfire Whiskey | Silver |
| High West Double Rye Whiskey | Silver |
| High West Rendezvous Rye Whiskey | Silver |
| King’s Family Distillery Ryeconic Twice Barreled Rye Whiskey | Silver |
| Knob Creek 10 Year Old Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey | Silver |
| Knob Creek Bourbon x Rye Kentucky Blended Straight Whiskey | Silver |
| Larado 8 Year Old Small Batch Rye Whiskey | Silver |
| Larado Proper Reserve Rye Whiskey | Silver |
| Oak & Grist Distilling Company 5 Year Single Barrel American Single Malt Whiskey | Silver |
| Old Hickory 15 Year Old Hermitage Reserve Barrel Proof Whiskey | Silver |
| Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey | Silver |
| Southern Star Paragon Bottled In Bond Wheated Bourbon | Silver |
| Stranahan’s Diamond Peak Caribbean Rum Cask Single Malt Whiskey | Silver |
| The First Millionaire Sacramento Single Malt Whisky | Silver |
| Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey | Silver |
| TINCUP Aged 6 Year Old Mountain Whiskey | Silver |
| Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch Whiskey | Silver |
| Uncle Nearest Master Blend Edition – Batch 032 | Silver |
| Uncle Nearest Nearest Green Tennessee Whiskey | Silver |
| Uncle Nearest Single Barrel Whiskey – Batch 3633 | Silver |
| Bainbridge Two Islands Sakura Cask Wheat Whiskey | Bronze |
| LANCASTER PORTER CASK RARE Single Malt Whiskey | Bronze |
Blended Scotch
| Whisky Name | Medal |
| Johnnie Walker Black Ruby Blended Scotch |
Double Gold
Best Blended Scotch |
| Sassenach Spirits The Spirit of Home Blended Scotch | Double Gold |
| Imperial 12 Year Old Blended Scotch | Double Gold |
| Big Peat Islay Blended Malt Scotch | Gold |
| Scallywag Speyside Blended Scotch | Silver |
Rest Of World
| Whisky Name | Medal |
| Accord Stone Purpose & Provenance Irish Whiskey |
Double Gold
Best Blended Irish Whiskey |
| Caribou Crossing Single Barrel Canadian Whisky |
Double Gold
Best Canadian Whisky |
| Midleton Very Rare Barry Crockett Legacy Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey |
Double Gold
Best Pure Pot Still & Best Overall Irish Whiskey |
| Teeling Blackpitts Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey |
Double Gold
Best Single Malt Irish Whiskey |
| Indri Agneya Single Malt Indian Whisky | Double Gold |
| Don Michael Single Barrel Black Whiskey | Gold |
| Mister Sam Tribute Canadian Whisky | Gold |
| Rich & Rare Reserve Canadian Whisky | Gold |
| The Ben Buckler Australian Single Malt Whisky | Gold |
| Don Michael SAC Black Whiskey | Silver |
| GODAWAN SINGLE MALT FRUIT & SPICE ARTISAN WHISKY | Silver |
| GODAWAN SINGLE MALT RICH & ROUNDED ARTISAN WHISKY | Silver |
| Peg Leg Porker Spirits Pitmaster Reserve #2 Double Oaked Canadian Rye Whiskey | Silver |
| Redbreast 21 Year Old Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey | Silver |
| Seagram’s VO Canadian Whisky | Silver |
| Soubeyran Ex Tequila Cask Single Malt Whisky | Silver |
| Soubeyran French Oak Single Malt Whisky | Silver |
| Soubeyran Signature Single Malt Whisky | Silver |
| Teeling Single Grain Irish Whiskey | Silver |
| Teeling Single Malt Irish Whiskey | Silver |
| Teeling Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey | Silver |
| Teeling Small Batch Irish Whiskey | Silver |
| Two Stacks Single Grain Double Barrel | Silver |
| Burwood Distillery Smooth Talker Bur-bon Style Whisky | Bronze |
| Legacy Canadian Whisky | Bronze |
| Michael Collins Irish Whiskey | Bronze |
| Paddy Irish Whiskey | Bronze |
| Soubeyran Ex Cognac Cask Single Malt Whisky | Bronze |
| Two Stacks The First Cut | Bronze |
