Breckenridge Rum Cask Finish Wins Double Gold at SF 2026

What does it take to earn a perfect 97-point Double Gold? Breckenridge Distillery's Rum Cask Finish just claimed the SF World Spirits Competition's top honor.
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Breckenridge Rum Cask Finish Wins Double Gold at SF 2026

Breckenridge Distillery has earned a Double Gold medal for its Rum Cask Finish at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The Colorado-based craft distillery, a subsidiary of Tilray Brands, also secured a gold medal for its Honey Whiskey at the event.

Breckenridge Rum Cask Finish scored 97 points to receive Double Gold, the competition’s highest distinction. The award is given only when every member of the judging panel unanimously scores a spirit gold or better.

“Earning top honors at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition reflects the standard we hold ourselves to every day,” said Bryan Nolt, founder and CEO of Breckenridge Distillery.

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“From the precision of our blending to the creativity behind finishes like Rum Cask, each release pushes the boundaries of American whiskey.”

The San Francisco World Spirits Competition is widely regarded as one of the largest and most prestigious spirits competitions in the world.

He added: “Having both Rum Cask Finish and Honey Whiskey recognized speaks to our unwavering commitment to quality, innovation, and craftsmanship.”

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The Rum Cask Finish is made by finishing Breckenridge Bourbon in the distillery’s own aged Colorado rum casks. It is bottled at 45% ABV (90 proof) and carries a suggested retail price of $59.99 (£44).

According to the official notes from the brand, the expression offers candied apple and cinnamon, followed by dark chocolate and cacao, with a lingering allspice finish.

The Honey Whiskey is infused with rainforest honey sourced from Nigeria’s Goldswarm hives. It is bottled at 36% ABV (72 proof) and priced at $38 (£28).

The brand’s official tasting notes describe an aroma of warm molasses and golden honey, with toasted oak and vanilla. The palate leads with honey sweetness, balanced by oak and spice, before a cinnamon finish.

Founded in 2008, Breckenridge Distillery is known as the “World’s Highest Distillery.” Its spirits have now won seven Double Golds at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. In 2024, Breckenridge Port Cask Finish was named World’s Best Finished Bourbon at the World Whiskies Awards.

Both expressions are available nationally at select retailers across the US.

Beth Squires

Beth Squires is the Deputy Editor of The Whiskey Wash with over half a decade of industry experience. She possesses comprehensive knowledge of the global whisky landscape, spanning everything from heritage and production to complex market analysis. A graduate of the OurWhisky Foundation’s Atonia Programme, which champions women in whisky, Beth is a dedicated advocate for diversity and sustainability, focused on highlighting the innovation and storytelling that define the modern whisky industry.

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