The ASCOT Awards, founded by spirits critic Fred Minnick, are one of the most prestigious and rigorous competitions in American whiskey. Judged through multiple rounds of blind tasting by panels of industry experts, the awards spotlight spirits based on complexity, balance, and depth.Among the most hotly contested heats is the “Best in Show: Straight Bourbon” category. From there, the winner is named ‘Best Bourbon’. In 2025, that top honor went to Old Soul Tintype #1. It not only won its category but stood tall among other heat champions to claim the crown as the 2025 Best Bourbon. So, today I will talk you through each bourbon in the ‘Straight Bourbon’ category, and explain why the judges gave Old Soul the top honor.
How the ASCOT Awards Work
The ASCOT (American Spirits Council of Tasters) Awards are built on a transparent and merit-driven structure. Spirits first go through blind judging, scored on appearance, aroma, taste, and finish. The top-scoring entries earn medals, with Double Platinum reserved for those receiving unanimous high marks from every judge.These top-tier winners then compete in “Best in Show” taste-offs within their category, such as Straight Bourbon, Wheated Bourbon, Finished Bourbon, and others. The winner of each heat advances to a final round: a blind, cross-category showdown judged by panelists to determine the ‘Best Bourbon’.
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The 2025 Finalists: Best in Show – Straight Bourbon
The Straight Bourbon bracket in 2025 brought together five distinctive bottles that showcased the range and vitality of the category, from wheated smoothness to high-rye firepower.
WINNER: Best Bourbon – Old Soul Bourbon Tintype #1
Tasting notes from the ASCOT judges: “Big bold flavors of wood and cherry followed by hints of vanilla and soft oak, wrapped in a rich and compelling mouthfeel. Dry and delectable!”
BUY NOW: $125
Produced by Cathead Distillery in Jackson, Mississippi, Old Soul Tintype #1 is a high-rye bourbon distilled at MGP in Indiana. It uses a mash bill of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley, aged for seven years in Mississippi’s hot, humid climate and bottled uncut and unfiltered at a bold 120.6 proof (60.3% ABV).On the nose, it offers butterscotch, vanilla, and dark fruit. The palate brings layers of caramel, dark chocolate, and black pepper, finishing long and spicy. Its complexity and intensity impressed the ASCOT judges, earning it both Best Straight Bourbon and the ultimate accolade: 2025 Bourbon of the Year. A major win for southern craft distilling and a benchmark for how well-sourced bourbon can become something truly special in the right hands.Fred Minnick himself acknowledged the surprise win. In a YouTube video talking through each Best in Show category, he says: “The judges may have picked a shocker here. I don’t think anyone would have picked this out of the lot.” That said, the judges were clearly impressed with the stunning balance presented in this high-ABV expression.
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Bardstown Bourbon Company Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon
Tasting notes from the ASCOT judges: “A wonderful whiskey with lots of depth that starts dry and spicy, warming to fruit, oak notes, and brown sugar. Bold and tasty bourbon.”
BUY NOW: $55
From one of Kentucky’s most forward-thinking distilleries, this Bottled‑in‑Bond wheated bourbon is part of Bardstown’s Origin Series, its first fully estate‑distilled release. It’s crafted from a mash bill featuring 53% corn, 39% wheat, and 8% malted barley, making it one of the highest-wheat bourbons on the market.Aged for six years and bottled at 106 proof (53% ABV), the wheat lends it a smooth, rich character highlighted by ripe apricot, lemon zest, creamy pastry, and a lightly spiced finish.
Old Dominick Cask Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Tasting notes from the ASCOT judges: “Yummy. Chocolate, cherries, and rich toffee. Balanced and complex. A great bourbon.”
BUY NOW: $60
From Memphis, Tennessee, Old Dominick Distillery entered the finals with a cask strength release built on an unusually high-rye mash bill: 52% corn, 44% rye, 4% malted barley. Aged for five years and bottled at roughly 123 proof, this bourbon delivers a bold, spicy experience.Expect waves of cinnamon, herbal rye spice, and rich caramel. Its powerful but balanced character earned it a Double Platinum and secured its place among the top five straight bourbons of the year.
Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Bottled-in-Bond
Tasting notes from the ASCOT judges: “Full flavor right out of the gate. Caramel, vanilla, light butterscotch, and cinnamon. Mid-palate concludes with a nice finish and great spice. Tasty.”
BUY NOW: $59.99 (375ml)
Known for its port-finished bourbon, Angel’s Envy surprised many with this unfinished, bonded expression, a rare insight into the distillery’s core whiskey. Aged just under six years and bottled at exactly 100 proof, the release blended barrels to reach bond-proof without dilution, qualifying it as both Bottled-in-Bond and effectively “cask strength.”Lightly caramelised sugars, banana pudding, and vanilla wafers lead to a sweet, mellow palate. It’s a clean and deliberate whiskey that showed how finesse can outshine flash, earning its place in the final five.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C924
Tasting notes from the ASCOT judges: “Exceptional, especially at such a high proof. Great caramel color. Long finish for the single barrel lovers out there.”
BUY NOW: $70
The final release of 2024 in Heaven Hill’s celebrated barrel-proof series, Batch C924 was aged 11 years and bottled at 129 proof (64.5% ABV). Using the distillery’s standard mash bill, 78% corn, 12% malted barley, 10% rye, it delivered a robust profile of toasted oak, caramel, dark chocolate, and baking spice.Known for balancing power with polish, C924 impressed with its structure and depth. While it didn’t take the top prize, it reaffirmed Elijah Craig’s reputation as one of the best value barrel-proof bourbons on the market.
Old Soul’s Triumph: A Landmark Win
When the judging began, Old Soul Tintype #1 faced stiff competition from some very well-known names in the industry, including Angel’s Envy and Bardstown Bourbon Company. This win marks a watershed moment: a bourbon sourced from MGP, aged outside Kentucky, and bottled by an independent Mississippi distillery, earning the highest accolade at one of America’s top spirits competitions. It validates not only the quality of the whiskey but also the importance of sourcing, maturation environment, and careful selection.
The 2025 ASCOT Awards’ Straight Bourbon finals showcased just how rich and varied this category has become. From wheated gentleness to rye-driven powerhouses, and from Kentucky giants to southern craft upstarts, the competition was a celebration of American whiskey’s evolving excellence.Old Soul Tintype #1’s win is both a triumph for Cathead Distillery and a reminder that great bourbon is not confined by geography. In a year filled with bold expressions and worthy contenders, its victory feels not just deserved, but historic.
