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The American Whiskey Masters 2024 results
From rye and Bourbon to single malts and Tennessee expressions, the American whiskey scene is in rude health, as our judges discovered.
The demand for American whiskey remains strong in its home market and internationally. According to figures from Distilled Spirits Council of the US, US spirits exports reached a record high in 2023, driven by American whiskey sales, which benefitted from the EU’s tariff suspension. Whiskey exports reached US$1.4 billion, and took a 63% share of total spirit exports.
Specifically, American whiskey exports to the EU have grown by more than 60% over the past two years, growing from US$439 million to US$705m. The top markets for American whiskey after the EU included Australia (US$121m), Japan (US$106m), the UK (US$86m), and Canada (US$76m). While American whiskey accounted for 63% of all spirits exports in value it made up just 34% in volume.
American whiskey was also granted a 15-month EU tariff suspension at the end of 2023, delaying any potential taxes until 31 March 2025. So for now, the nation’s whiskey distillers are in a good position, bolstered by the sector’s ongoing growth. In a competitive space, drinkers are increasingly seeking out high-quality and unique whiskeys to add their cabinets. There is so much on offer, spanning categories such as Bourbon, Tennessee and single malt. The Spirits Business once again pitted some of the category’s top offerings against each other in our annual blind tasting. Sponsored by closures producer Talis, this year’s competition was held at Stereo in London’s Covent Garden.
The judges
Panel one was formed of freelance writer Ian Wisniewski, independent spirits consultant Julia Nourney, and David T Smith, writer and co-founder of the Craft Distilling Expo, who chaired the group. Panel two was chaired by Melita Kiely, editor of The Spirits Business, and chair of The Global Spirits Masters Competitions. She was joined by Herchelle Perez Terrado, of Inside Zero; Will Meredith, director of Daisy Age Drinks; and Joe Wadsack, owner of The Drinks Coach UK.
The third panel was formed of Matt Chambers, spirits writer and founder of Whisky For Everyone blog, who chaired the group, alongside Renata Malakauskiene, whisky specialist at Grain & Glass, and Nick Larsson-Bell, buyer at Harvey Nichols.
Antony Moss, spirits judge and consultant, chaired the fourth group, which included Joyce Chou, localisation programme manager for Wine and Spirit Education Trust, and Richard Legg, founder of Distilled Knowledge.
Group five was led by chair Bryan Rodriguez-Curtis, wine brand manager at Treasury Wine Estates, and included Tatti Sukamongkol, on-trade and consumer account manager at Wanderlust Wine, and Ruchira Neotia, drinks consultant and founder, Neo Margarita. The sixth group was chaired by Nicola Carruthers, deputy editor of The Spirits Business, who was joined by Graham McAteer, spirit partnerships lead at Craft Gin Club, and Dan Greifer, bar supervisor at London’s Black Parrot.
The seventh panel was formed of Cosmo Boardman, creative director at Moore House Cocktail Co, freelance drinks writer Caroline Roddis, and Billy Abbott, ambassador at The Whisky Exchange, who chaired the group.
Vanilla, oak spice
The first category to be tested was Blended – Super-Premium, with a Gold awarded to Tincup Original. Smith praised the expression for being “Bourbon-like”, with notes of “vanilla, oak spice, fruit and liquorice”.
A trio of Sazerac expressions were awarded in the premium Bourbon flight, with Very Old Barton 90 taking home a Gold. Legg enjoyed its “dusty oak and hazelnuts on the nose, integrated corn and slightly spicy rye. A little butterscotch and sweetness on the palate.” Two Silvers concluded the flight. Judges then moved on to the super-premium segment of Bourbons, priced between £31 and £50. The first Master of the competition was found in Four Roses Small Batch Select, which impressed McAteer, with its “lovely soft almost cafe latte notes, caramel and honeyed mid palate with a super complex finish”.
Seven Golds and two Silvers were also given out, including Golds for EH Taylor Small Batch, with its “airy butterscotch and berry fruit flavours”, “spicy and buttery toffee” Four Roses Single Barrel and 1792 Full Proof , described as having “popcorn, banana, caramel, orange peel and good sweet spices”.
A strong showing of Master medals led the next price tier, Bourbon – Ultra Premium (£51 and above). The first of the four to win was Doc Holliday – 7 Years.
It was enjoyed by Chambers, who said: “Lovely earthy and sweet aromas, vanilla and burnt coconut with orange oil and a hint of menthol, maple syrup sweetness to begin on the palate, then zesty orange and building spices, caramel and toffee with minty herbalness in the background”.
Nice oak, sweet vanilla
Master-winning World Whiskey Society Couture was lauded by Larsson-Bell: “The nose has a lot of dry peppery spice and a bit of dustiness, some pecan. On the palate, it has a bit of spice, but nice oak, sweet vanilla and super caramelly. The aftertaste is initially sweet, but dries up quickly, with woody spice.”
Meanwhile, World Whiskey Society 8 Year Old Armagnac Cask went home with a Master with its “wonderful dried fruit and dark chocolate aromas, lovely mouthfeel and spiced heat lingering on the palate – chocolate stronger and oak and leatherness, great complexity and richness that sits above others,” according to Perez Terrado.
Concluding the Master streak was Thomas S Moore Cabernet Sauvignon Finished Bourbon. Neotia said of the expression: “Opulent red fruits, unctous cassis syrup, beautifully aromatic flavours unfurl to bring in cinnamon and candied walnuts.”
Seven Golds were also awarded, including Thomas H Handy, lauded for its “juicy stewed and dried fruit on the palate”, and Tincup 10 Year Old, described as having a “decent dark fruit character with a little pepper”. Three expressions from World Whiskey Society were also Gold winners, including the “agave-forward” World Whiskey Society Tequila Cask. Five Silvers ended the flight.
After the flight, the judges were complimentary of how the brands made use of unusual cask finishes, and were particularly fond of the Armagnac cask-finished whiskey.
Judges then sampled higher-aged Bourbons, with expressions up to seven years old put to the test. Two Masters were discovered – Brother’s Bond Original Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey, and Holladay Soft Red Wheat Bottled-in-Bond.
Kiely described the Brother’s Bond bottling (57.55% ABV): “Fruity, silky texture, rich and round. Bold in flavour. Lots of dried fruits, currants, fudge, burnt sugar. Whispers of dark cocoa on the back palate, higher ABV is controlled exceptionally well. Shows depth of flavour beyond its years. Delicious.”
Holladay Soft Red Wheat Bottled-in-Bond was a favourite with Chou, who noted “rye bread, peppery, earthy, lemon peel, vanilla, coconut, some sweetness on the nose”.
Seven Golds added to the medal tally, alongside one Silver. Golds were given to three Luxco-owned products, Rebel 100 Aged 6 Years Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Yellowstone Special Finishes Collection Rum Cask Kentucky Straight Whiskey and Remus Highest Rye Straight Bourbon Whiskey Aged 6 Years, with the latter having notes of “rich vanilla ice cream, Maltesers, charcoal biscuits, and toffee”. A Gold was also given to Leiper’s Fork Bourbon Whiskey, with its “velvety texture; warming spice, tobacco, stone fruits, raisins, cereal notes”.
Good balance
A lone entry into the Bourbon – Aged over 8 Years round saw a Master go to 1792 Aged 12 Years. Smith said: “Very oily, with liquorice, pecan and peanuts, good balance, pleasant warmth and a long peanut-butter milkshake finish.”
A tasting of no-age-statement expressions were the last Bourbons to be tasted, with seven Golds handed out. Five of these went to Sazerac products, including Benchmark Single Barrel, said to have a “hint of black tea on the nose, smooth and light on the palate, considering its ABV”. Stablemate Benchmark Small Batch had “vanilla, toffee and oat biscuits on the aroma, with an earthy undertone”. Gold-winning Old Emmer Toasted Barrel was described as a “bold and complex whiskey, rich and indulgent”.
Six Silvers marked the end of the flight.
Nourney said of the flight: “As a European judge you have to put your American hat on (cowboy hat?) to understand the intensity of the wood, but once you do that there is a great variety to enjoy and explore.”
Move to Tennessee
The panels progressed to Tennessee whiskey, with super-premium bottles judged first. Here, two Silvers were given to Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey. Moving up to ultra-premium Tennessee whiskeys (£51 and above), a Master medallist – Leiper’s Fork Tennessee Whiskey – was the highlight of the round. Kiely said: “Spice, vanilla, caramelised apples on the nose. The palate brings some crème brûlée, cinnamon, sweet baking spices. Dry mid-palate, lingers towards the finish. A complex palate, well-made at 50% ABV. Great complexity and worth the price point.”
Uncle Nearest added to its medal scoreboard with two Golds for its Master Blend Edition – Batch 032 and Single Barrel Whiskey – Batch 905. The former was praised for its “fresh vanilla on the nose. Velvety texture, warming spice, lots of sticky fudge and burnt caramel”.
An emerging category was tested next, American single malts, with ultra-premium bottlings being sampled. The highlight of the flight was Master-winning Stranahan’s Sherry Cask from Proximo Spirits.
Smith said: “Rich nose, coffee and dried fruit, dates and grapes, touch of Amontillado Sherry, great complexity on the palate (maybe a little bit hot), lots of chocolate and coffee.”
Three other expressions from Proximo Spirits joined the Gold ranks: Stranahan’s Blue Peak, Stranahan’s Original and Stranahan’s Mountain Angel. Blue Peak offered a “perfumed nose of dried red cherries, vanilla and milk chocolate”, and Stranahan’s Original had an “interesting nose of orange peel, biscuit and sweet caramel”.
The no-age-statement single malt saw a Gold go to The First Millionaire Sacremento Single Malt Whisky, praised for its “chocolate-like character on the nose, some malty characters and toasted oak”.
Array of rye
Another category adding excitement among whiskey drinkers and bartenders was rye, with our panels testing an array of expressions across price segments. The premium rye flight (under £30) gave a Gold upon Sazerac Rye, enjoyed for its “light peppery note and lots of sweetness”.
The higher-priced super-premium portion was sampled next with Tincup Tin Rye walking away with a Gold medal. The judges enjoyed its notes of mint, with flavours of “toasted fennel, sunflower seeds and sweet caramel” detected. One Silver was also won.
The following flight, Rye – Ultra Premium – saw two brands secure Gold medals. Frey Family Reserve – Brixeur offered “classic rye notes with a touch of vanilla, oily, slightly chewey with some stone fruit and nectarine, bit of plum, dry finish”, while Ry3 Whiskey Toasted Barrel Finish had “creamy vanilla, bit of citrus and toffee” and would make a “cracking Sazerac”.
Brother’s Bond added another medal to its tally, with a Gold in the Rye – Aged up to 7 Years flight. Brother’s Bond American Blended Rye Whiskey offered an aroma of “light green pepper, gentle spice and oak”.
A single entrant in the Rye – No Age Statement round took home a Gold: Bondstone Double Oak Rye. Greifer enjoyed its “strong peppery notes, light grassy tones, and sweet vanilla”.
After rye, the judges found a Gold winner in the next flight, Other Grains. The First Millionaire American Barley Whiskey was “herbal and vegetal” with “salty-sweet peanut brittle notes on the finish”.
Meanwhile, the Other Unaged Whiskey round resulted in a Gold for Traveller Whiskey, lauded for its notes of “buttercream, cacao, clotted cream”. The competition ended with two entries in the Flavoured Whiskey round, with Ole Smoky Salty Caramel Whiskey going on to win a Gold. The expression offered “tonnes of caramel and vanilla fudge on the nose”.
The judges then decided The American Whiskey Taste Master 2024, retasting all of the Master medallists to discover the best expression of the contest. The title was awarded to Doc Holliday – 7 Years, which was celebrated for its well-integrated ABV, its creamy-sweet nose and flavours of “mint, eucalyptus and green pepper”.
While ultra-premium Bourbons led the pack there was an array of high-quality expressions to delight whiskey fans in all segments, from single malts to Tennessee.
Doc Holliday – 7 Years – Taste Master
The American Whiskey Taste Master is always a hotly contested battle among some of the category’s best bottles, and this year it was awarded to Doc Holliday – 7 Years from World Whiskey Society. Named after the dentist-turned-gunfighter John Henry ‘Doc’ Holliday, the Bourbon carries flavours of baked vanilla, cinnamon-hot candies, baked pie crust drizzled in butter and sweet cake batter.
With an ABV of 57.9%, the seven-year-old started its life at Ivy Mountain Distillery in Georgia until it closed and the barrels were purchased and shipped to Texas. Two years later, the barrels were rediscovered and shipped back to Georgia, where they were bottled at cask strength. The whiskey’s bottle label has been designed to replicate a Western-style bank note, featuring a portrait of the legend behind the brand’s name.
Blended Super Premium | ||
Company | Product | Medal |
Proximo Spirits | Tincup Original | Gold |
Bourbon – Premium | ||
Company | Product | Medal |
Sazerac Company | Very Old Barton 90 | Gold |
Sazerac Company | WL Weller Special Reserve | Silver |
Sazerac Company | Buffalo Trace | Silver |
Bourbon Super Premium | ||
Company | Product | Medal |
Four Roses Distillery | Four Roses Small Batch Select | Master |
Four Roses Distillery | Four Roses Small Batch | Gold |
Sazerac Company | EH Taylor Small Batch | Gold |
Sazerac Company | 1792 Single Barrel | Gold |
Sazerac Company | WL Weller Antique 107 | Gold |
Four Roses Distillery | Four Roses Single Barrel | Gold |
Sazerac Company | 1792 Full Proof | Gold |
Sazerac Company | 1792 Small Batch | Gold |
Sazerac Company | 1792 Sweet Wheat | Silver |
Sazerac Company | WL Weller Full Proof | Silver |
Bourbon – Ultra-Premium | ||
Company | Product | Medal |
World Whiskey Society | Doc Holliday – 7 Years | Master & Taste Master |
World Whiskey Society | World Whiskey Society Couture | Master |
World Whiskey Society | World Whiskey Society 8 Year Old Armagnac Cask | Master |
Sazerac Company | Thomas S Moore Cabernet Sauvignon Finished Bourbon | Master |
Sazerac Company | EH Taylor Single Barrel | Gold |
Sazerac Company | Thomas H Handy | Gold |
Proximo Spirits | Tincup 10 Years Old | Gold |
Proximo Spirits | Tincup Fourteener | Gold |
World Whiskey Society | World Whiskey Society Tequila Cask | Gold |
World Whiskey Society | World Whiskey Society Sherry Cask | Gold |
World Whiskey Society | World Whiskey Society 8 Years Old Sherry Cask | Gold |
World Whiskey Society | World Whiskey Society Port Cask | Silver |
World Whiskey Society | Doc Holliday – 6 Years | Silver |
World Whiskey Society | World Whiskey Society Cognac Cask | Silver |
World Whiskey Society | World Whiskey Society Peated Cask | Silver |
World Whiskey Society | World Whiskey Society Rum Cask | Silver |
Bourbon -Aged up to 7 Years | ||
Company | Product | Medal |
Brother’s Bond Bourbon | Brother’s Bond Original Cask Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Master |
McCormick Distilling | Holladay Soft Red Wheat Bottled-in-Bond | Master |
McCormick Distilling | Holladay Soft Red Wheat Rickhouse Proof | Gold |
Brother’s Bond Bourbon | Brother’s Bond Bottled-In-Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Gold |
Four Roses Distillery | Four Roses Bourbon | Gold |
Lux Row Distillers (Luxco) | Rebel 100 Aged 6 Years Kentucky Straight Bourbon | Gold |
Limestone Branch Distillery (Luxco) | Yellowstone Special Finishes Collection Rum Cask Kentucky Straight Whiskey | Gold |
Ross & Squibb Distillery (Luxco) | Remus Highest Rye Straight Bourbon Whiskey Aged 6 Years | Gold |
Leiper’s Fork Distillery | Leiper’s Fork Bourbon Whiskey | Gold |
Brother’s Bond Bourbon | Brother’s Bond Regenerative Grain Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Silver |
Bourbon – Aged over 8 Years | ||
Company | Product | Medal |
Sazerac Company | 1792 Aged 12 Years | Master |
Bourbon – No Age Statement | ||
Company | Product | Medal |
Sazerac Company | Benchmark Top Floor | Gold |
Sazerac Company | Benchmark Small Batch | Gold |
Sazerac Company | Benchmark Full Proof | Gold |
Sazerac Company | Benchmark Single Barrel | Gold |
Sazerac Company | 1792 Bottled in Bond | Gold |
IJW | Old Emmer Toasted Barrel | Gold |
IJW | Bondstone Toasted Barrel | Gold |
Sazerac Company | Benchmark Bonded | Silver |
Sazerac Company | Early Times Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Silver |
Sazerac Company | Early Times Bottled in Bond | Silver |
Sazerac Company | Benchmark | Silver |
Sazerac Company | 1792 Single Barrel | Silver |
Tennessee – Super Premium | ||
Company | Product | Medal |
Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey | Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Aged Whiskey | Silver |
Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey | Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch Whiskey | Silver |
Tennessee – Ultra Premium | ||
Company | Product | Medal |
Leiper’s Fork Distillery | Leiper’s Fork Tennessee Whiskey | Master |
Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey | Uncle Nearest Master Blend Edition – Batch 032 | Gold |
Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey | Uncle Nearest Single Barrel Whiskey – Batch 905 | Gold |
Single Malt – Ultra Premium | ||
Company | Product | Medal |
Proximo Spirits | Stranahan’s Sherry Cask | Master |
Proximo Spirits | Stranahan’s Blue Peak | Gold |
Proximo Spirits | Stranahan’s Original | Gold |
Proximo Spirits | Stranahan’s Mountain Angel | Gold |
Single Malt – No Age Statement | ||
Company | Product | Medal |
Boisset Collection | The First Millionaire Sacramento Single Malt Whisky | Gold |
Rye – Premium | ||
Company | Product | Medal |
Sazerac Company | Sazerac Rye | Gold |
Rye – Super Premium | ||
Company | Product | Medal |
Proximo Spirits | Tincup Tin Rye | Gold |
Ellison Brewing Company | Ellison Straight Rye Whiskey | Silver |
Rye – Ultra Premium | ||
Company | Product | Medal |
JA Frey & Co Distillery | Frey Family Reserve – Brixeur | Gold |
Phenomenal Spirits | Ry3 Whiskey Toasted Barrel Finish | Gold |
Rye – Aged up to 7 Years | ||
Company | Product | Medal |
Brother’s Bond Bourbon | Brother’s Bond American Blended Rye Whiskey | Gold |
Ross & Squibb Distillery (Luxco) | Rossville Union Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey Aged 6 Years | Silver |
Rye – No Age Statement | ||
Company | Product | Medal |
IJW | Bondstone Double Oak Rye | Gold |
Other Grains | ||
Company | Product | Medal |
Boisset Collection | The First Millionaire American Barley Whiskey | Gold |
Other Unaged Whiskey | ||
Company | Product | Medal |
Sazerac Company | Traveller Whiskey | Gold |
Sazerac Company | Early Times American Blended Whiskey | Silver |
Flavoured Whiskey | ||
Company | Product | Medal |
Ole Smoky Moonshine | Ole Smoky Salty Caramel Whiskey | Gold |
Ole Smoky Moonshine | Ole Smoky Mango Habanero Whiskey | Silver |
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