The Whisky Magazine Awards have returned to the USA to reveal the country's regional winners in the 2023 competition.

An in-person ceremony took place at the Brown Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky on 9 February to unveil the American regional winners in the Icons of Whisky, which commend people and places, and the World Whiskies Awards, which award products.

The evening also saw two new inductees welcomed into the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame: Steve Nally of Bardstown Bourbon Company and Lance Winters of St George Spirits.

This year the most coveted Icons of Whisky award, Distiller of the Year, went to Heaven Hill Distillery, while the ever-more competitive Craft Producer of the Year category was won by Chattanooga Whiskey. The event also announced The Representative Small Batch Bourbon as the World’s Best Bourbon for the World Whiskies Awards 2023. The full US regional results for both competitions can be found below.

The Kentucky ceremony follows regional events for the Icons of Whisky Ireland and Whisky Magazine Awards Scotland, and the announcement of the Rest of World regional winners earlier this month.

Phoebe Calver, editor of American Whiskey Magazine, said: “This year’s award winners are a perfect demonstration of the versatility on show in the modern-day whisky industry. To see the way producers continue to adapt is truly inspiring and I can’t wait to see what this year’s cohort of winners will go on to do.”

Anita Ujszaszi, awards director, said: "It’s been an incredible year for the World Whiskies Awards, with America showcasing a fantastic arrange of entries. Our judges certainly had their work cut out for them this year. A big thank you to all our judges who joined us either online at our tastings or for the December tasting in Washington DC. A special thanks to Maggie Kimberl and Steve Beal for heading up our tasting panels and supporting not only our judges but also our entrants.”




Icons of Whisky America 2023: Winners and Highly Commended

Distiller Winner
Heaven Hill Distillery

Highly Commended
Barton 1792 Distillery

Craft Producer Winner
Chattanooga Whiskey

Highly Commended
A Smith Bowman

Sustainable Distillery Winner
Heaven Hill Distillery

Brand Innovator Winner
Broken Barrel

Highly Commended
Barrell Vantage

Visitor Attraction Winner
The Sazerac House

Highly Commended
Buffalo Trace Distillery

Master Distiller/Blender Winner
Caleb Kilburn, Kentucky Peerless

Highly Commended
Conor O’Driscoll, Heaven Hill Brands
Jonathan Likarish, Ironroot Republic

Distillery Manager Winner
Tyler Pederson, Westland Distillery

American Whiskey Brand Ambassador Winner
Lynn House, Heaven Hill Brands

Highly Commended
Freddie Johnson, Buffalo Trace Distillery

World Whisky Brand Ambassador Winner
Koray Kaan Ozdemir, Paul John Indian Single Malt Whisky

Visitor Attraction Manager Winner
Matt Higgins, Buffalo Trace Distillery

Highly Commended
Susan Nogues, Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey

Campaign Innovator Winner
O’Shaughnessy Distilling Company

Highly Commended
1792 Bourbon

Bar Winner
Bourbons Bistro

Independent Bottler Winner
Lost Lantern Spirits

Single Outlet Retailer Winner
McCallum and Sons Whisky Co.

World Whiskies Awards 2023: World’s Best and Best American Winners

World’s Best Bourbon Best Non-Kentucky Bourbon
The Representative – Small Batch Bourbon

Best Kentucky Bourbon
W.L. Weller – C.Y.P.B

World’s Best finished Bourbon Best Non-Kentucky finished Bourbon
Ironroot Republic – Apotheosis

Best Kentucky finished Bourbon
Broken Barrel Whiskey – Cask Strength Bourbon

World’s Best Single Barrel Bourbon Best Non-Kentucky Single Barrel Bourbon
Tumblin’ Dice – Single Barrel

Best Kentucky Single Barrel Bourbon
1792 – Single Barrel

World’s Best Small Batch Bourbon Best Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon
Elijah Craig – Barrel Proof C922

Best Non-Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon
Filibuster Bourbon – Bottled in Bond

World’s Best Tennessee Whiskey Best Tennessee Whiskey
Jack Daniel’s – Bonded

Best American Whiskey
Storm King Distilling Co. – Side Gig Whiskey

Best American Blended
Breckenridge Distillery – High Proof Bourbon Whiskey

Best American Blended Limited Release
Breckenridge Distillery – Collectors Art Series

Best American Blended Malt
Breckenridge Distillery – Two Clans Blended Whiskey

Best American Corn
Ironroot Republic – Hubris

Best American Flavoured
Sons of Liberty Spirits Co. – Coffee Flavored Whiskey

Best American Grain
Bainbridge – Yama Mizunara Cask

Best American New Make & Young Spirit
291 Colorado Whiskey – Rye Whiskey White Dog

Best American Pot Still
Talnua Distillery – Virgin White Oak Cask

Best American Rye
Sazerac – 18 Years Old

Best American Single Cask Single Malt
Hogback Distillery – The Wallace Collection

Best American Single Cask Single Rye
Smooth Ambler – Old Scout Rye Single Barrel

Best American Single Malt
Westland Whiskey – Solum Edition 1

Best American Small Batch Single Malt
The Notch Nantucket Island – 15 Years Old

Best American Wheat
Lone Elm – 4 Years Old Single Barrel