We are pleased to announce the 2021 World Whiskies Awards winners from the US
It has been yet another stellar year for the American whiskey industry, despite all the trials it has faced, across the full spectrum from craft to conglomerate. Now we get to enjoy the top of this year's class in the World Whiskies Awards.
We are thrilled to announce the winner results, including the Best winners from the US, covering the vast spectrum of categories being explored by distillers across the country.
Best American Blended
Breckenridge PX Sherry Cask Finish | 90 PROOF 45% ABV
Best American Blended Malt
Virginia-Highland Whisky Port Cask finished | 92 PROOF 46% ABV
Honey, red apple, malt, and light spice throughout, with a trailing oak finish.Orchard fruits, maltiness, apple, honey, fig, sweetness, and a light nuttiness that leads to a medium fruity sweet finish.
Best Kentucky Bourbon
WL Weller CYPB | 95 PROOF 47.5% ABV
A complex floral and fruity maple syrup on the nose followed by a floral, fruity, syrupy, bold rye punch on the palete. This is then balanced by a long, brown sugar finish.
Best Non-Kentucky Bourbon
Hirsch The Horizon | 92 PROOF 46% ABV
Rich dark honey from the off. Then on the palete there is licorice, sage, marshmallow, butter toffee and brown sugar. A little bit of grassiness too with just a hint of cinnamon and clove. Nutty, marzipan, licorice, clean and balanced.
Best American Corn
Ironroot Republic Hubris | 117.8 PROOF 58.9% ABV
nose is sweet and full of corn syrup. This continues on the palete , viscous and mouth coating with nice balance and complexity. A solid finish with honey on toast with a smidge of marmalade.
Best American Flavoured
Bird Dog Peanut Butter Flavored Whiskey | 80 PROOF 40% ABV
Roasted peanuts, caramel, vanilla and an incredible butteriness. Think crackerjacks, peanuts, butter, caramel, vanilla and a light biscuit base.
Best American Grain
Bainbridge Yama Japanese Mizunara Cask Single Grain | 90 PROOF 45% ABV
Beautiful floral, honey and walnut nose . Moves to a complex palete with honeysuckle, pear, and warm fruit. The long finish is perfectly balanced.
Best American New Make & Young Spirit
291 Colorado Whiskey Fresh Colorado Whiskey | 90 PROOF 45% ABV
A nose full of oranges, white pepper, a touch of heat and some cinnamon. The palete has a very good balance that follows the nose . It's full in the mid-palete with a short finish .
Best American Rye
Redemption Plantation Rum Cask Finish | 94 PROOF ABV: 47%
Some delightful cherry to kick off, then wood, toast and vanilla. It's got a pleasant warming nose followed by vanilla and spicy wood oak. The finish is long and complex, balanced and quite enjoyable.
Best Kentucky Single Barrel Bourbon
Rebel Bourbon Single Barrel 10 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey | 100 PROOF 50% ABV
Nose of tropical fruit, oak, vanilla, burnt sugar and spice cake. palete is ripe tropical fruit, chewy, soft, and caramel candy. Long finish , complex and well balanced.
Best Non-Kentucky Single Barrel Bourbon
Tumblin' Dice Bourbon Single Barrel – Barrel Proof | 112 PROOF 56% ABV
Huge nose of dark brown sugar, oak, and fruitcake. palete is chewy, viscous and has a candied fruit sweetness. Nice spice notes, balanced, complex and long finish .
Best American Single Cask Single Malt
Westland Distillery Single Cask #5410 | 114 PROOF 57% ABV
Light floral and toast aromas on the nose with some honey sweetness. Dark cherry and plum, hints of oak and dark chocolate appear on the palete . It finish es a little on the dry side with some oaky notes.
Best American Single Malt
Westland Distillery Garryana Edition 5 | 100 PROOF 50% ABV
Earthy, with notes of peat, malt, honeysuckle, and pear. Ripe fruit and spices on the finish . Extremely well done and balanced.
Best American Wheat
291 Colorado Whiskey E Colorado Whiskey Batch #7 | 121 PROOF 60.5% ABV
The nose shows heat, vanilla, caramel, and white fruit notes. The palete is youthful, grainy, viscous and sweet, leading into a gentle finish
It has been yet another stellar year for the American whiskey industry, despite all the trials it has faced, across the full spectrum from craft to conglomerate. Now we get to enjoy the top of this year's class in the World Whiskies Awards.
We are thrilled to announce the winner results, including the Best winners from the US, covering the vast spectrum of categories being explored by distillers across the country.
Best American Blended
Breckenridge PX Sherry Cask Finish | 90 PROOF 45% ABV
Best American Blended Malt
Virginia-Highland Whisky Port Cask finished | 92 PROOF 46% ABV
Honey, red apple, malt, and light spice throughout, with a trailing oak finish.Orchard fruits, maltiness, apple, honey, fig, sweetness, and a light nuttiness that leads to a medium fruity sweet finish.
Best Kentucky Bourbon
WL Weller CYPB | 95 PROOF 47.5% ABV
A complex floral and fruity maple syrup on the nose followed by a floral, fruity, syrupy, bold rye punch on the palete. This is then balanced by a long, brown sugar finish.
Best Non-Kentucky Bourbon
Hirsch The Horizon | 92 PROOF 46% ABV
Rich dark honey from the off. Then on the palete there is licorice, sage, marshmallow, butter toffee and brown sugar. A little bit of grassiness too with just a hint of cinnamon and clove. Nutty, marzipan, licorice, clean and balanced.
Best American Corn
Ironroot Republic Hubris | 117.8 PROOF 58.9% ABV
nose is sweet and full of corn syrup. This continues on the palete , viscous and mouth coating with nice balance and complexity. A solid finish with honey on toast with a smidge of marmalade.
Best American Flavoured
Bird Dog Peanut Butter Flavored Whiskey | 80 PROOF 40% ABV
Roasted peanuts, caramel, vanilla and an incredible butteriness. Think crackerjacks, peanuts, butter, caramel, vanilla and a light biscuit base.
Best American Grain
Bainbridge Yama Japanese Mizunara Cask Single Grain | 90 PROOF 45% ABV
Beautiful floral, honey and walnut nose . Moves to a complex palete with honeysuckle, pear, and warm fruit. The long finish is perfectly balanced.
Best American New Make & Young Spirit
291 Colorado Whiskey Fresh Colorado Whiskey | 90 PROOF 45% ABV
A nose full of oranges, white pepper, a touch of heat and some cinnamon. The palete has a very good balance that follows the nose . It's full in the mid-palete with a short finish .
Best American Rye
Redemption Plantation Rum Cask Finish | 94 PROOF ABV: 47%
Some delightful cherry to kick off, then wood, toast and vanilla. It's got a pleasant warming nose followed by vanilla and spicy wood oak. The finish is long and complex, balanced and quite enjoyable.
Best Kentucky Single Barrel Bourbon
Rebel Bourbon Single Barrel 10 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey | 100 PROOF 50% ABV
Nose of tropical fruit, oak, vanilla, burnt sugar and spice cake. palete is ripe tropical fruit, chewy, soft, and caramel candy. Long finish , complex and well balanced.
Best Non-Kentucky Single Barrel Bourbon
Tumblin' Dice Bourbon Single Barrel – Barrel Proof | 112 PROOF 56% ABV
Huge nose of dark brown sugar, oak, and fruitcake. palete is chewy, viscous and has a candied fruit sweetness. Nice spice notes, balanced, complex and long finish .
Best American Single Cask Single Malt
Westland Distillery Single Cask #5410 | 114 PROOF 57% ABV
Light floral and toast aromas on the nose with some honey sweetness. Dark cherry and plum, hints of oak and dark chocolate appear on the palete . It finish es a little on the dry side with some oaky notes.
Best American Single Malt
Westland Distillery Garryana Edition 5 | 100 PROOF 50% ABV
Earthy, with notes of peat, malt, honeysuckle, and pear. Ripe fruit and spices on the finish . Extremely well done and balanced.
Best American Wheat
291 Colorado Whiskey E Colorado Whiskey Batch #7 | 121 PROOF 60.5% ABV
The nose shows heat, vanilla, caramel, and white fruit notes. The palete is youthful, grainy, viscous and sweet, leading into a gentle finish
