Bourbon dominated the spotlight at the 2025 London Spirits Competition (LSC). Judges blind-tasted hundreds of entries from around the world, yet it was a handful of bottles from Kentucky, and one from Colorado, that rose to the top.
These winners showed how far bourbon has come. Heritage distilleries proved that age and experience still matter, while small producers demonstrated that innovation and craft can stand toe to toe with giants.
Bourbon may be America’s native spirit, but 2025 reminded the world it’s also a global benchmark for excellence. Let’s take a look at the Gold-medal-winning bourbons from the 2025 London Spirits Competition, and what makes them stand out.
W.L. Weller Antique 107
Awards: 99 points, Gold Medal, Whisky of the Year, Best Spirit by quality, Spirit of the Year
Tasting Notes from the London Spirits Competition: Warm and woody on the nose, the palate brings spiced dried fruits and roasted nuts, finishing smooth and peppery with an elegant, malty depth.
Find Your Bottle: $130
Few bourbons capture attention like W.L. Weller Antique 107. Produced at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, it swaps rye for wheat in the mash bill, creating a smoother, rounder style. Bottled at 107 proof (53.5% ABV) and aged around six to eight years, it balances warmth with surprising elegance.
Antique 107 shares its recipe with Pappy Van Winkle, which explains its cult status, though it stands confidently on its own. Expect rich caramel, cinnamon, and oak spice wrapped in a soft sweetness.
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At the 2025 London Spirits Competition, it scored 99 points, taking home Whisky of the Year, Best Spirit by Quality, and Spirit of the Year. Judges praised its harmony of depth and drinkability.
Allocations are scarce in the U.S. and nearly nonexistent in the U.K., but its reputation continues to grow. Among bourbon fans, Antique 107 remains the perfect mix of authenticity, intensity, and refinement. A classic that’s earned every bit of its acclaim.
W.L. Weller 12 Year
Award: 98 points, Gold Medal
Tasting Notes from the London Spirits Competition: Juicy cherry and soft oak combine with a floral nose and red fruit depth, followed by a gentle vanilla finish that feels elegant and polished throughout.
Find Your Bottle: $113
If Antique 107 is the crowd favorite, W.L. Weller 12 Year is its patient, polished sibling. Made with the same wheated mash bill at Buffalo Trace Distillery, it trades heat for grace. Bottled at 90 proof (45% ABV) after twelve years in new charred oak, it delivers the kind of calm complexity that only time can create.
The extra years bring layers of vanilla, dried fruit, and gentle oak, turning the youthful spice of Antique 107 into something deeper and more measured. Among enthusiasts, it’s often called “Baby Pappy”, a nod to its shared DNA with the Pappy Van Winkle line, though it earns respect on its own terms.
At the 2025 London Spirits Competition, Weller 12 scored 98 points, securing a Gold medal and wide acclaim. It remains one of bourbon’s most admired age-stated expressions, a whiskey that rewards patience in both the making and the finding.
Branch & Barrel Colorado Straight Wheated Bourbon
Award: 95 points, Gold Medal
Tasting Notes from the London Spirits Competition: Vanilla and soft oak lift a smooth and mellow nose, the palate is approachable and warm with subtle sweetness, finishing clean with a slight alcohol lift.
Find Your Bottle: $67
Far from Kentucky’s limestone valleys, Branch & Barrel is proving that great bourbon can thrive in the Rockies. Founded in Centennial, Colorado, this small distillery focuses on grain-to-glass production, using local corn and wheat to create its Straight Wheated Bourbon. Each batch is made from just three barrels, aged around four years in new American oak, and bottled at 92 proof (46% ABV) without chill filtration.
The altitude and dry climate speed up maturation, giving the whiskey a bold, expressive style with hints of honey, toasted grain, and mountain air freshness. Judges at the 2025 London Spirits Competition took notice, awarding it 95 points and a Gold medal.
For a craft producer competing alongside industry icons, that’s no small feat. Branch & Barrel’s win signals how regional distilleries are reshaping American whiskey, proving that craftsmanship and conviction matter as much as heritage.
1792 Single Barrel
Awards: 95 points, Gold Medal, Single Barrel Bourbon of the Year
Tasting Notes from the London Spirits Competition: Controlled grassy aromas evolve into a classic corn-driven palate with dry spice, toasted nuts, and a refreshing woodiness that carries impressive value and drinkability.
Find Your Bottle: $33
Produced in Bardstown, Kentucky, the 1792 Single Barrel shows how tradition and individuality can coexist. Each bottle comes from a single hand-selected barrel at the historic Barton 1792 Distillery, part of the Sazerac portfolio. It uses the distillery’s high-rye mash bill, giving it a lively spice balanced by rich sweetness. Bottled at 98.6 proof (49.3% ABV), it typically matures between five and eight years in new charred oak.
The bourbon’s profile is classic yet distinctive: layers of caramel, fig, and baking spice, finished with toasted oak and a touch of heat. Judges at the 2025 London Spirits Competition awarded it 95 points and named it Single Barrel Bourbon of the Year.
1792 Single Barrel’s success reflects what makes Barton’s bourbons so beloved: reliability, honest craftsmanship, and flavor that never overreaches. It’s proof that consistency, when done right, can still turn heads on the world stage.
Eagle Rare 17 Year Old
Award: 95 points, Gold Medal
Tasting Notes from the London Spirits Competition: Sweet spice leads a warming nose of clove and cinnamon, the palate is textured with raisins and dried orange, finishing smooth with candied ginger and subtle sweetness.
Find Your Bottle: $1,375
Few bourbons embody patience like Eagle Rare 17 Year Old. Produced at Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, it forms part of the prestigious Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. Each annual release is aged for at least 17 years in new charred oak and bottled at 101 proof (50.5% ABV).
Extended aging at this level of maturity is a delicate balance. Too long, and the wood can overwhelm. Too short, and the whiskey lacks depth. Eagle Rare 17 achieves harmony through meticulous warehouse management and blending precision. The result is a layered whiskey with notes of antique oak, dried cherry, vanilla, and polished leather.
Collectors already view it as one of bourbon’s crown jewels, and this award reinforced that reputation. It is proof of what time, skill, and patience can achieve.
E.H. Taylor Small Batch
Award: 95 points, Gold Medal
Tasting Notes from the London Spirits Competition: Warm leather and soft toffee aromas lead to a smooth palate with a gentle sweetness and good strength, offering great value and a clean, enjoyable finish.
Find Your Bottle: $65
The E.H. Taylor Small Batch pays tribute to Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr., one of bourbon’s founding figures and the driving force behind the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897. Produced at Buffalo Trace Distillery, it follows those same bonded principles: distilled in one season, aged at least four years, and bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV).
Taylor’s legacy is built on precision and pride, and this bourbon captures both. Made with Buffalo Trace’s low-rye mash bill, it’s typically aged around six to seven years, striking a balance between sweetness and spice. Expect familiar notes of caramel corn, oak, and black pepper with a finish that feels historic yet fresh.
The recognition at the LSC cements E.H. Taylor Small Batch as a bridge between bourbon’s storied past and its confident present. It is a whiskey that honors tradition while proving its timeless appeal.
Maker’s Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Award: 95 points, Gold Medal
Tasting Notes from the London Spirits Competition: Red apple and sweet corn on the nose, the palate is smooth with charred wood, stone fruit and peanut, finishing warm and lightly oaked.
Find Your Bottle: $23
Few bourbons are as instantly recognizable as Maker’s Mark. Produced in Loretto, Kentucky, this family-founded distillery has stayed remarkably consistent since the 1950s. Its trademark red wax seal and soft, wheated recipe define a bourbon that’s approachable yet distinctive. Bottled at 90 proof (45% ABV), it’s aged to taste, usually around six years, until the whisky makers agree it’s ready.
Maker’s Mark stands out for its attention to detail. Every barrel is hand-rotated during aging to ensure even maturation, and every bottle is still dipped by hand. The result is a balanced bourbon with gentle vanilla, toffee, and baking spice notes that appeal to both new drinkers and seasoned fans.
At the 2025 London Spirits Competition, Maker’s Mark earned 95 points and a Gold medal. This enduring classic remains one of bourbon’s most reliable benchmarks for quality.
Maker’s Mark 46 French Oak Bourbon
Award: 95 points, Gold Medal
Tasting Notes from the London Spirits Competition: Light spice and sweet coconut lift the nose, the palate is smooth with tropical fruit, vanilla and biscuity wood, and it finishes dry with excellent balance.
Find Your Bottle: $38
When Maker’s Mark 46 was introduced, it marked a bold step forward for a brand known for consistency. The whisky starts as standard Maker’s Mark before being finished with seared French oak staves inserted into the barrel. It then rests for nine weeks in a cool limestone cellar, a process designed to deepen flavor without overpowering the bourbon’s soft wheated character.
Bottled at 94 proof (47% ABV), Maker’s 46 offers extra layers of spice, caramel, and toasted oak while keeping the round sweetness that defines the brand. It’s a modern twist on a Kentucky classic.
At the 2025 London Spirits Competition, it scored 95 points and claimed a Gold medal. The recognition confirmed what fans have long known: innovation doesn’t have to mean abandoning tradition. Sometimes, it just means perfecting it.
