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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.

There were high-quality expressions to delight American whiskey fans in all segments, from single malts to Tennessee
There were high-quality expressions to delight American whiskey fans in all segments, from single malts to Tennessee

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.

World Whisky Masters judges
The judges

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”.

american whiskeyNice 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”.

american whiskey in manhattan cocktailGood 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”.

american whiskeyBrother’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 7YRDoc 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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