The IWC (International Whisky Competition) just released its 2023 winners ranging from all corners and categories around the whisk(e)y globe. One Bourbon Country based distillery in particular wracked up the winners hardware from Region USA. Hint: “Oh give me a home, where the ___ roam”. You guessed it, Buffalo Trace Distillery (Frankfort, KY) swept a number of categories and scored 2 of the 3 highest rated American Whiskies in the whole shebang. More about the American Whiskey winners shortly, for now, we look at the competition itself and what makes it worth looking at.

About IWC – What Makes It Relevant?

• ONLY 3 WINNERS per each category: Gold, Silver, Bronze. We like that a lot. Creates less winners thus putting more value on the selected winners.
• Double blind style. No judge awareness for BRAND nor PROOF (unless cask strength)
• Impressive collection of judges. Important to always look into who is behind the judges box. To see all IWC judges, CLICK HERE.
• CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT: Judging takes place in one setting under one roof. No food or drink (besides water). 8 min per sample.

All Regional Categories

• Scotland
• USA
• Canada
• Ireland
• Japan
• World (all other)

USA: American Whiskey Winners

Picking up where we left off earlier. Yeah, so there was no shortage on Sazerac made products in the winners circle. George T. Stagg receiving the highest American Whiskey score (94.4) and its younger sibling Stagg, formerly called Stagg Jr., at 93.4. These were the only American Whiskies with ratings placed in the overall Global Top 10.

Of the first five categories listed below, Sazerac grabbed 12 out of 15 medals, snatching Gold in each category.

Per IWC’s COO, Sebastien Gavillet, there were ballpark 200 American Whiskey labels entered in the competition, for context.

We know, some of you are over it. Meaning chasing or even hearing about labels that have become near impossible to find. With that in mind, it feels notable and even somewhat validating that these marks came from a judging panelist assembly with solid rules in place. Experienced pallets going at it blindly. Say what you want about the buyer’s landscape, but in a blind competition, these whiskies stood out for a reason.

Other Takeaways: Stranahan’s getting the third highest American Whiskey score with their Sherry Cask finish. New face Good Trouble Bourbon grabbing Silver for Best Small Batch Whiskey. Paul Sutton Bourbon grabbing Silver for Best Single Barrel and a 91.3 score. Uncle Nearest scoring 1st, 2nd 3rd (tie) for Rye.

Best American Whiskey (All Categories)
1st Place: George T. Stagg – 94.4 Pts
2nd Place: Stagg – Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 93.4 Pts
3rd Place: Stranahan’s Sherry Cask – 93.33 Pts

Best Bourbon Whiskey
1st Place: George T. Stagg – 94.4 Pts
2nd Place: Stagg – Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 93.4 Pts
3rd Place: William Larue Weller – 93.28 Pts

Best Bourbon Whiskey 10 Year and Over
1st Place: Eagle Rare 10 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 90.5 Pts
2nd Place: Eagle Rare 17 Year Old – Fall 2022 – 90.3 Pts
3rd Place: Sazerac 18 Year Old – Fall 2022 – 90.2 Pts

Best Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey (Full Proof)
1st Place: George T. Stagg – 94.4 Pts
2nd Place: Stagg – Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 93.4 Pts
3rd Place: William Larue Weller – 93.28 Pts

Best Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey
1st Place: 1792 Small Batch – 90 Pts
2nd Place: Good Trouble Bourbon – Small Batch – 89.13 Pts
3rd Place: Jefferson’s Very Small Batch – 89.1 Pts

Best American Blended Whiskey
1st Place: Five Trail Cask Finish – 91.6 Pts
2nd Place: Five Trail Barrel Proof – 89.5 Pts
3rd Place: Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #10 – 88.8 Pts

Best Barrel Finish / Special Cask Whiskey
1st Place: Stranahan’s Sherry Cask – 93.33 Pts
2nd Place: Olde Stogie – Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished in Armagnac & Tawny Port Casks – 92.8 Pts
3rd Place: Olde Raleigh Whiskey Society Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished in a Honey Barrel – 92.75 Pts

Best Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey
1st Place: Maker’s Mark Private Select Mustang’s #5 – 91.6 Pts
2nd Place: Paul Sutton Bourbon – 91.3 Pts
3rd Place: Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel – 87.8 Pts

Best American Single Malt Whiskey
1st Place: Stranahan’s Sherry Cask – 93.33 Pts
2nd Place: Stranahan’s Mountain Angel 10 year – 92.9 Pts
3rd Place: Brother Justus American Single Malt Cold-Peated Whiskey – 90.88 Pts

Best American Corn Whiskey
1st Place: Rockfish Whiskey

Best Rye Whiskey
1st Place: Uncle Nearest Single Barrel Rye Whiskey – Barrel #002 – 87.63 Pts
2nd Place: Uncle Nearest Uncut & Unfiltered Straight Rye Whiskey – Batch 001 – 87.18 Pts
3rd Place: Uncle Nearest Straight Rye Whiskey – 86.55 Pts
3rd Place: Defiant 100% Rye Whisky – 86.55 Pts

Best Micro Distillery Whiskey
(Under 150,000 bottles/based on highest scoring whiskey)1st Place: Olde Raleigh Distillery
2nd Place: Giant Texas Distillers
3rd Place: Paul Sutton Bourbon

US STATES

Best Colorado Whiskey
1st Place: Stranahan’s Sherry Cask – 93.33 Pts
2nd Place: Stranahan’s Mountain Angel 10 year – 92.9 Pts
3rd Place: Five Trail Cask Finish – 91.6 Pts

Best Florida Whiskey
1st Place: Horse Soldier Straight Bourbon Whisky – 88.68 Pts
2nd Place: Horse Soldier Reserve Barrel Strength – 88.65 Pts
3rd Place: Horse Soldier Signature Small Batch – 87.65 Pts

Best Kentucky Whiskey
1st Place: George T. Stagg – 94.4 Pts
2nd Place: Stagg – Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 93.4 Pts
3rd Place: William Larue Weller – 93.28 Pts

Best Minnesota Whiskey
1st Place: Brother Justus American Single Malt Cold-Peated Whiskey – 90.9 Pts
2nd Place: Keeper’s Heart – Irish + American 110 Proof – 88.5 Pts
3rd Place: Brother Justus Brigid’s First Batch (American Single Malt Whiskey) – 87.5 Pts

Best Missouri Whiskey
1st Place: West Bottoms – Kansas City Whiskey – 86.9 Pts
2nd Place: Missouri Ridge – Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey – 85.95 Pts
3rd Place: Missouri Ridge – American Single Malt Whiskey

Best Nevada Whiskey
1st Place: Frey Ranch 100% Wheat Bourbon Whiskey – 88.8 Pts
2nd Place: Frey Ranch Four Grain Straight Bourbon – 87.75 Pts
3rd Place: Frey Ranch Farm Strength Uncut Bourbon – 87.43 Pts

Best North Carolina Whiskey
1st Place: Olde Stogie – Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished in Armagnac & Tawny Port Casks – 92.8 Pts
2nd Place: Olde Raleigh Whiskey Society Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished in a Honey Barrel – 92.75 Pts
3rd Place: Olde Raleigh Whiskey Society Blended Bourbon – 87.83 Pts

Best Oregon Whiskey
1st Place: Hood River Distillery -McCarthy’s Single Malt Whiskey – 85 Pts

Best Tennessee Whiskey
1st Place: Uncle Nearest Single Barrel Whiskey – Barrel #028 – 92.7 Pts
2nd Place: Uncle Nearest Master Blend Edition Batch 017 – 91.1 Pts
3rd Place: Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Aged Whiskey – 89.8 Pts

Best Texas Whiskey
1st Place: Giant Texas Cask Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 91.3 Pts
2nd Place: Giant Texas Cask Strength Wheated Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 90 Pts
3rd Place: Giant Texas 100 Proof Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 88.7 Pts

TOP 15 Whiskies of 2023

1.    Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice 1989 Mortlach 31-Year-Old – 54.2% ABV – 97.1 Pts (Speyside, Scotland)

2.    Kavalan Solist Port Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky – 96.95 Pts (Taiwan)

3.    Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice Caol Ila 1997 23-Year-Old – 59.9% ABV – 95.9 Pts (Islay, Scotland)

4.    Kavalan Triple Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky – 95.5 Pts (Taiwan)

5.    George T. Stagg – 95.3 Pts (Kentucky, USA)

6.    Kavalan Distillery Reserve Madeira Cask Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky – 94.9 Pts (Taiwan)

7.    Kavalan Distillery Reserve Peated Malt Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky – 94.8 Pts (Taiwan)

8.   Glenmorangie The Accord – 12 Year Old – 94.6 Pts (Highland, Scotland)

9.   Stagg – Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 94.4 Pts (Kentucky, USA)

10.  Ardbeg BizzareBQ – 94.2 Pts (Islay, Scotland)

11.   Kavalan Classic Single Malt Whisky – 94 Pts (Taiwan)

12.   Dewar’s Double Double – 37 Years Old – 93.8 Pts (Scotland)

13.   Stauning KAOS – Triple Malt Whisky – 93.75 Pts (Denmark)

13.   Kavalan Solist ex-Bourbon Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky – 93.75 Pts (Taiwan)

15.   Ardbeg Corryvreckan – 93.65 Pts (Islay, Scotland)

Scotland wreaking havoc (meh, lol) and Taiwan’s lone horse Kavalan Distillery really doing the work. Kavalan grabbing overall Distillery Of The Year award.

2023 Whiskies Scoring Over 90 Points

1.) Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice 1989 Mortlach 31-Year-Old – 54.2% ABV – 97.1 Pts
2.) Kavalan Solist Port Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky – 96.95 Pts
3.) Gordon & MacPhail Connoisseurs Choice Caol Ila 1997 23-Year-Old – 59.9% ABV – 95.9 Pts
4.) Kavalan Triple Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky – 95.5 Pts
5.) George T. Stagg – 95.3 Pts
6.) Kavalan Distillery Reserve Madeira Cask Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky – 94.9 Pts
7.) Kavalan Distillery Reserve Peated Malt Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky – 94.8 Pts
8.) Glenmorangie The Accord – 12 Year Old – 94.6 Pts
9.) Stagg – Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 94.4 Pts
10.) Ardbeg BizzareBQ – 94.2 Pts
11.) Kavalan Classic Single Malt Whisky – 94 Pts
12.) Dewar’s Double Double – 37 Years Old – 93.8 Pts
13.) Stauning KAOS – Triple Malt Whisky – 93.75 Pts
13.) Kavalan Solist ex-Bourbon Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky – 93.75 Pts
15.) Ardbeg Corryvreckan – 93.7 Pts
16.) Timah Double Peated Blended Whiskey – 93.4 Pts
17.) Kavalan Podium Single Malt Whisky – 93.38 Pts
18.) Whisky entered for evaluation purpose only – 93.35 Pts
19.) Stranahan’s Sherry Cask – 93.33 Pts
20.) Whisky entered for evaluation purpose only – 93.28 Pts
20.) William Larue Weller – 93.28 Pts
22.) Royal Brackla OLOROSO – 12 Year Old – 93.2 Pts
23.) Stranahan’s Mountain Angel 10 year – 92.9 Pts
24.) Dewar’s Double Double – 21 Years Old – 92.85 Pts
25.) Olde Stogie – Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished in Armagnac & Tawny Port Casks – 92.8 Pts
26.) Maker’s Mark 101 – 92.77 Pts
27.) Olde Raleigh Whiskey Society Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished in a Honey Barrel – 92.75 Pts
28.) Uncle Nearest Single Barrel Whiskey – Barrel #028 -92.68 Pts
29.) Dewar’s Double Double  – 32 Years Old – 92.63 Pts
30.) The Glenlivet 21 Year Old Single Malt Scotch; The Sample Room Collection – 92.58 Pts
31.) Dewar’s Portuguese Smooth – 8 Years Old – 92.53 Pts
31.) Benromach 15 – 92.53 Pts
33.) Glenmorangie The Tribute – 92.45 Pts
33.) Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban – 92.45 Pts
35.) Aberlour Casg Annamh – 92.4 Pts
36.) Ardbeg An Oa – 92.3 Pts
37.) Aberlour A’Bundah – 92.28 Pts
38.) Aberfeldy 21 – Red Wine Cask St. Emillion – 92.15 Pts
39.) Aberlour 18 – 92.13 Pts
40.) Aberfeldy Madeira Cask – 21 Year Old – 92.08 Pts
41.) Aberlour 12 – 92 Pts
42.) Imperial 12 Year Old Blended Scotch – 91.95 Pts
43.) Ardbeg Wee Beastie – 5 Year Old – 91.93 Pts
44.) Glenmorangie Nectar d’Or – 12 Year Old – 91.88 Pts
44.) Kavalan Concertmaster Sherry Cask Finish Single Malt Whisky – 91.88 Pts
46.) Dewar’s French Smooth – 8 Years Old – 91.83 Pts
47.) 1792 Full Proof- 91.73 Pts
48.) Five Trail Cask Finish – 91.6 Pts
48.) Maker’s Mark Private Select Mustang’s #5 – 91.6 Pts
50.) Hatozaki Small Batch – 91.50 Pts
51.) Ardbeg 8 Year Old for Discussion – 91.43 Pts
52.) Amrut – Indian Single Malt Cask Strength – 91.33 Pts
52.) Giant Texas Cask Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 91.33 Pts
52.) Paul Sutton Bourbon – 91.33 Pts
55.) Dewar’s White Label – 91.3 Pts
56.) Kavalan Distillery Select No.1 Single Malt Whisky – 91.25 Pts
57.) Glenmorangie The Cadboll Estate Batch #3 – 91.2 Pts
58.) Dewar’s Double Double – 36 Years Old – 91.18 Pts
59.) Ardbeg Uigeadail – 91.1 Pts
60.) King Car Conductor Single Malt Whisky – 91.08 Pts
61.) Ardbeg Heavy Vapours Committee Release – 91.05 Pts
61.) Uncle Nearest Master Blend Edition Batch 017 – 91.05 Pts
63.) Dewar’s 19 Years Old – The Champions Edition – 123 U.S Open – 91 Pts
64.) Dewar’s Double Double 30 – 30 Years Old – 90.93 Pts
65.) Brother Justus American Single Malt Cold-Peated Whiskey – 90.88 Pts
66.) The Glenlivet 25 Year Old Single Malt Scotch; The Sample Room Collection – 90.85 Pts
66.) Glenmorangie Lasanta – 90.85 Pts
68.) Ardbeg Heavy Vapours General Release -90.8 Pts
69.) Aberlour A’bunadh Alba – 90.78 Pts
69.) The Glenlivet 14 Year Old Single Malt Scotch – 90.78 Pts
71.) Godawan Single Malt Rich and Rounded Artisan Whisky – 90.75 Pts
72 ) Royal Brackla  OLOROSO – PALO CORTADO & PERDO XIMENEZ – 21 Year Old – 90.7 Pts
72.) Dewar’s Ilegal Smooth – 8 Years Old – 90.7 Pts
74.) Dewar’s Japanese Smooth – 8 Years Old – 90.48 Pts
74.) Whisky entered for evaluation purpose only – 90.48 Pts
76.) W.L. Weller C.Y.P.B. – Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 90.45 Pts
76.) Eagle Rare 10 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 90.45 Pts
78.) The Glenlivet 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch – 90.43 Pts
79.) The Taoscán by The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. – 90.4 Pts
80.) Ardbeg Smoketrails Batch #1 – 90.25 Pts
80.) Eagle Rare 17 Year Old – Fall 2022 – 90.25 Pts
82.) Dewar’s Caribbean Smooth – 8 Years Old – 90.23 Pts
83.) Dewar’s 15 Years Old – 90.2 Pts
84.) Sazerac 18 Year Old – Fall 2022 – 90.18 Pts
85.) Aberlour 16 – 90.15 Pts
85.) Tenjaku Blended Whisky – 90.15 Pts
87.) W.L. Weller Antique – Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 90.13 Pts
88.) Stranahan’s Diamond Peak – 90.08 Pts
89.) Dewar’s Double Double 26 – 26 Years Old – 90.05 Pts
90.) Glenmorangie Elementa – 90.03 Pts
90.) 1792 Small Batch – 90.03 Pts
92.) Bushmills Black Bush – 90 Pts
92.) Ardbeg 25 Year Old – 90 Pts
92.) Aberfeldy Madeira Cask – 16 Year Old – 90 Pts

2023 IWC FULL RESULTS LISTING: CLICK HERE

For the latest in Bourbon, visit www.thebourbonreview.com

The post TOP RATED BOURBONS Per 2023’s “International Whisky Competition”. One Distillery Swept It. first appeared on The Bourbon Review.