2026 IWSC Best Bourbons: Gold Outstanding and Gold Medal Winners

The best bourbons at the 2026 IWSC

The International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC) has released the results of its 2026 North American judging, which was held June 4-5 in Bardstown, Kentucky. Let’s take a look at the best bourbons in the competition, the 2026 IWSC Gold Outstanding and Gold Medal winners. Gold Outstanding is reserved for spirits scoring between 98 and 100 points, while Gold medals are awarded to spirits scoring between 95 and 97 points.

Only two bourbons received Gold Outstanding status in the 2026 IWSC North American judging, while 23 additional bourbons received Gold medals. Of the medal-winning bourbons in the published results, 2 won Gold Outstanding, 23 won Gold, 104 won Silver and 43 won Bronze.

2026 IWSC Gold Outstanding Bourbon Winners

• Bardstown Bourbon Company
  • Lochs of Jura Barrel 10 YO Bourbon Whiskey — 99 points
• Willett Distillery
  • Old Bardstown Bottled in Bond 4 YO Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey — 98 points

2026 IWSC Gold Medal Bourbon Winners

97 Points

• Frey Ranch Distillery
  • Inaugural Batch 1 10 YO Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Heaven Hill Brands
  • Kentucky Beau Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Seven Three Distilling
  • Whiskey Tree Wheated Bourbon Whiskey

96 Points

• 15 STARS
  • Kentucke County Straight 6 YO Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

95 Points

• Belle Meade Bourbon
  • Reserve 11 YO Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey
• Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits
  • Redemption Bonded Single Barrel 6 YO Bourbon Whiskey
  • Redemption Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Four Roses Bourbon
  • Small Batch Select 6 YO Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Frank August
  • Case Study 06 Legacy Reserve 8 YO Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Heaven Hill Brands
  • Larceny Barrel Proof C925 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Widow Jane The Vaults 2025 15 YO Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• James B. Beam Distilling Co.
  • Lineage 15 YO Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Old Grand-Dad 114 Single Barrel 7 YO Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• King’s Family Distillery
  • 10 YO Bourbon Whiskey
• Maker’s Mark
  • Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• O.H. Ingram River Aged Whiskey
  • Flagship Batch 5 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Single Barrel Captain’s Choice Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Rabbit Hole Distillery
  • Dareringer in Pedro Ximenez Sherry Casks Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • Raceking Five Grain Double Chocolate Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Sazerac Company
  • Early Times Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Bottled in Bond
  • Old Charter Oak Finest Oak Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • W. L. Weller Antique 107 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
  • W. L. Weller Full Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Other American Whiskey Gold Outstanding Winner

In addition to the two bourbons, one other American whiskey achieved Gold Outstanding status at the 2026 IWSC North American judging: Coors Whiskey Company Blended American Malt Whiskey 8 Years, which received 98 points.

Will you be searching for any of these best bourbons of the 2026 IWSC? Would you like to compare this list to the top bourbons in the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition?

Note: The complete 2026 IWSC results can be searched through their online IWSC results database. The IWSC home page is: iwsc.net

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