“Small batch” may be one of bourbon’s most widely used terms, yet it remains one of its least regulated. Unlike Bottled-in-Bond or straight bourbon, small batch has no legal definition. In practice, it refers to a limited selection of barrels blended together to achieve balance and consistency.
That balance is exactly what the World Whiskies Awards America 2026 recognised in this year’s winners. The competition named one Kentucky and one Non-Kentucky expression as the World’s Best Small Batch Bourbon. The two bottles reflect different production environments and philosophies, but both rely on careful barrel selection rather than single barrel individuality.
Here is how they compare.
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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
E.H. Taylor Jr. Small Batch is produced at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky and bottled at 100 proof under the Bottled-in-Bond Act. Named after Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr., one of the architects of modern bourbon regulation and an instrumental figure in passing the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, the whiskey is known for its tradition and heritage.
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READ THE STORYThe whiskey uses Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #1, a low-rye recipe, and barrels are aged in warehouses that trace their lineage back to Taylor’s era. Unlike a single barrel release, this bourbon is a careful selection of barrels blended to maintain a consistent bonded profile.
Allocation drives availability in the US, with limited but steady UK imports through specialist retailers. The win reinforces the enduring authority of bonded Kentucky small batch bourbon.
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 offers a very different small batch story. Distilled and aged in Kirby, Wyoming, the bourbon reflects regional identity at every stage. Grain is sourced locally, water comes from the Madison Formation aquifer, and maturation takes place in Wyoming’s high-altitude climate.
Aged six years and bottled at 97 proof, the release is blended from 26 barrels. The name honours William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody, tying the whiskey to state history as much as production.
Distribution has been limited, with early releases focused on Wyoming before selective expansion. This win highlights how climate and geography beyond Kentucky continue to shape serious contenders in the small batch category.
Structure and Place
These two winners show the flexibility of the small batch format. E.H. Taylor Jr. represents structured Kentucky tradition and regulatory lineage. Wyoming Whiskey reflects regional identity and maturation shaped by altitude rather than humidity.
Small batch bourbon sits between single barrel individuality and large-scale blending. It allows producers to refine flavour through careful selection while maintaining consistency.
For a full breakdown of every bourbon winner this year, read our complete results article here. To explore all America 2026 winners across every category, visit our master results table.
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