The results of the World Whiskies Awards America 2026 are here. The competition crowned bourbon winners across bonded classics, finished releases, single barrels, and small batch standouts. Some are widely available, whilst others are fiercely allocated. But all represent the best bourbon to come out of the United States, according to competition judges.
From a bottled-in-bond revivalist in Northern Kentucky to a Wyoming small batch shaped by mountain climate, this year’s winners reflect both tradition and experimentation. So, here are the world’s best bourbons from the World Whiskies Awards 2026, and everything you need to know about them.
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World’s Best Bourbon
Best Kentucky Bourbon: New Riff Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Tasting Notes: Butterscotch, fresh oak, vanilla, rye spice, clove, cinnamon, mint, dark berry, red-black fruits, white pepper
Find Your Next Bottle: $35
New Riff built its identity around the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897. Its flagship bourbon follows that standard strictly. It is distilled in Newport, Kentucky, aged at least four years, bottled at 100 proof, and released without chill filtration.
The mash bill leans high rye at 65% corn, 30% rye, and 5% malted barley. Fermentation takes place on site before distillation through a column still and doubler.
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The spirit was then matured in 53-gallon new American oak, toasted and charred. This bourbon is a core release, widely available in the US at around $35 and increasingly distributed in the UK through specialist retailers.
Founder Ken Lewis and Master Distiller Brian Sprance positioned New Riff as a modern Kentucky distillery rooted in regulatory discipline rather than heritage nostalgia. In today’s market, the Bottled-in-Bond designation still carries weight, and New Riff made that a core part of this bourbon’s identity.
Best Non-Kentucky Bourbon: 15 Stars Artisan Collection
Tasting Notes: Maple, caramel, orange citrus, plum, apple, tobacco, fresh oak, hay, vanilla, old leather, prune, raisin, dark chocolate, roasted nuts
Find Your Next Bottle: $168
Not every award-winning bourbon comes from a single distillery. The 15 Stars Artisan Collection is a blend of well-aged Kentucky and Indiana straight bourbons, bottled in Bardstown, Kentucky. The brand was founded by father and son Rick and Ricky Johnson, who focus on blending mature sourced stocks rather than distilling in-house.
The Artisan Collection combines 15 and 12 year old bourbons and is bottled at 109 proof. It is a limited release of 1,290 bottles, which places it firmly in allocation territory.
The emphasis is on age, oak integration, and blending precision for this bourbon. Distribution is US-focused, with occasional specialist imports appearing in the UK.
In a market that often celebrates distillery provenance, 15 Stars highlights the quiet craft of American whiskey blending.
World’s Best Finished Bourbon
Best Kentucky Finished Bourbon: Maker’s Mark 46
Tasting Notes: French oak, caramel, baking spice, vanilla, velvety finish
Find Your Next Bottle: $38
Maker’s Mark 46 was one of the first bourbons to popularize finishing inside the barrel rather than in a secondary cask. After the standard wheated Maker’s Mark matures, ten seared French oak staves are inserted into the barrel, and the whiskey is returned to a limestone cellar for further aging.
The mash bill remains the brand’s wheated recipe, thought to be 70% corn, 16% soft red winter wheat, and 14% malted barley.
Maker’s Mark 46 is a permanent expression and widely available across the US and UK. The finishing approach was developed under Bill Samuels Jr. and marked a turning point for premium bourbon innovation.
Rather than chase age statements, Maker’s Mark 46 builds complexity through controlled oak influence.
Best Non-Kentucky Finished Bourbon: Redemption Cognac Cask Finish
Tasting Notes: Hibiscus, stone fruit, baking spices, clove, poached pear, buttered pecan, praline
Find Your Next Bottle: $66
Redemption Cognac Cask Finish begins with the brand’s high rye bourbon mash bill of 60% corn, 36% rye, and 4% malted barley. The base bourbon is aged in new charred American oak before finishing in Cognac casks sourced from Ferrand.
This release is bottled at 99 proof and produced in limited quantities as part of Redemption’s Specialty Series.
Availability is stronger in the US, where it launched nationally, while UK access tends to be through specialty importers rather than ongoing distribution.
Redemption is owned by Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits and built its reputation on rye-forward mash bills. This expression shows how French oak finishing can add structure and fruit without overpowering the bourbon core.
World’s Best Single Barrel Bourbon
Best Non-Kentucky Single Barrel Bourbon: Presidential Dram 2 Term Bourbon
Tasting Notes: Pecan, cherry, tobacco, dark fruit
Find Your Next Bottle: $131
Presidential Dram 2 Term Bourbon is produced by Proof and Wood Ventures, an independent bottler based in Washington, DC. The whiskey itself is sourced, with a mash bill of 99% corn, 1% rye.
This bourbon is bottled at barrel proof and non-chill filtered. Proof varies by barrel, and the WWA entry was submitted at full strength. Each bottle comes from a single barrel, so variation is part of the appeal.
Distribution is limited and highly batch-specific. Releases are often focused on select US markets. UK availability is rare and usually confined to specialist importers.
Presidential Dram reflects a modern American whiskey model. It combines sourced stock, bold proof, and sharp branding into a limited single barrel format that resonates with collectors.
Best Kentucky Single Barrel Bourbon: Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel
Tasting Notes: Clove, vanilla, old leather, fruit, honey, spice
Find Your Next Bottle: $199
Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel is produced at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky. It was introduced in 1986 and is widely credited as one of the first modern single barrel bourbons. The brand honors former Master Distiller Elmer T. Lee, creator of Blanton’s, the first commercially marketed single barrel bourbon.
The whiskey uses Buffalo Trace’s Mash Bill #2, a higher rye recipe, though exact grain percentages are not publicly disclosed. It is bottled at 90 proof and drawn from individual barrels selected for balance and consistency.
Availability is limited. It is heavily allocated across the US and often sells above MSRP on the secondary market. UK releases appear through specialist retailers in small quantities.
Owned by Sazerac, Buffalo Trace has built Elmer T. Lee into both a heritage label and a modern collector favorite alongside other famous brands such as George T. Stagg and William Larue Weller.
World’s Best Small Batch Bourbon
Best Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon: E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch
Tasting Notes: Caramel corn, butterscotch, licorice, spices, pepper, tobacco
Find Your Next Bottle: $80
Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch is another Buffalo Trace release built around the Bottled in Bond Act. It is produced at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky and bottled at 100 proof under bonded standards.
The mash bill is Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #1, a low rye recipe, though exact percentages are not disclosed publicly. Barrels are aged in historic warehouses that trace back to Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr., one of the figures behind the Bottled in Bond Act.
Availability is allocation-driven in the US and inconsistent at retail pricing. UK distribution exists through specialist importers, but supply is limited.
This is not a single barrel. It is a careful selection of barrels blended to maintain a consistent bonded profile. In a crowded bourbon landscape, the structure of Bottled-in-Bond still provides clarity and trust.
Best Non-Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon: Wyoming Whiskey Buffalo Bill Cody
Tasting Notes: Leather, black forest cake, toffee, honeyed almonds, lemon cake, caramel nougat, milk chocolate, almond brittle, honey, cherry and lemon puree, candied ginger, molasses, tobacco
Find Your Next Bottle: $79.99
Wyoming Whiskey Buffalo Bill Cody is distilled and aged in Kirby, Wyoming, at Wyoming Whiskey Distillery. The brand is rooted in place. Grain is grown locally, water comes from the Madison Formation aquifer, and the whiskey matures in Wyoming’s high altitude climate.
The bourbon is aged six years and bottled at 97 proof. It is a small batch release blended from 26 barrels.
The name honors William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody, the frontier showman and founder of the town of Cody, Wyoming. The release ties the whiskey to state history and regional identity.
Distribution has been limited. Early batches focused on Wyoming, with selective US expansion.
A Snapshot of Modern Bourbon
This year’s winners reflect the full spectrum of modern bourbon.
There are legacy names with deep roots at Buffalo Trace and Maker’s Mark. There are younger, precision-driven distilleries like New Riff. There are blending houses and independent bottlers such as 15 Stars and Proof and Wood. There is even a Wyoming small batch shaped by altitude and climate rather than Kentucky humidity.
Taken together, the 2026 results show how broad bourbon has become. Tradition still matters, but so does innovation. And today, both can win on the world stage.
