Best Bourbons in the World
You want bourbon with the smooth taste and full-flavored body you’ve come to expect from the aging process. A few of these bourbons stand tall above the rest. These award-winning whiskeys were recognized by the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) as being the best bourbons in the world after a complicated and lengthy judging process as well as other competitions and they are definitely worth taking a look at if you are searching for a new favorite.
Jim Beam Black
Jim Beam Black has won several awards throughout the years and continues to deliver great taste. These awards include: IWSC Bourbon Trophy for 2016; Gold at the 2013 Los Angeles International Spirits Competition; IWSC Gold Outstanding for 2013; and Finalist, Extraordinary, Ultimate Recommendation at the Ultimate Sports Challenge.
According to the Jim Beam website, the Jim Beam Black label is set apart from other bourbons during the aging process. The 86-proof whiskey is aged longer in the white oak barrels than the typical bourbon (including the original Jim Beam). When you breathe in the aroma of Jim Beam Black, you will notice hints of caramel, oak, cinnamon, and vanilla. Take a sip and relish in the combination of oak, fruit, char, and sweet.
Blanton’s Gold Edition Bourbon Whiskey
Blanton’s Gold Edition Bourbon won the IWSC Bourbon Trophy in 2014 and 2015. The dark amber spirit boasts its complexity, smoothness, and clean finish. Currently, the Gold Edition is available only in international markets and Duty Free organizations domestically (usually found at airports).
This bourbon brings forth the aroma of honey, dried fruits, vanilla, chocolate, and heavy rye. When you first taste Blanton’s Gold Edition, be prepared to experience apricot, butter, pepper, light honey, and oak with a toffee, apple, pecan , and caramel finish.
Eagle Rare Single Barrel Bourbon 10 Year Old Whiskey
Eagle Rare Single Barrel Bourbon is aged for at least 10 years. This exquisite whiskey won the IWSC Bourbon Trophy in 2013. Paul Pacult, from The Spirit Journal, is quoted on the company’s website as saying, “Easily one of the most tactile yet assertive and expressive bourbons I’ve tasted in the last two years.”
The aroma includes hints of toffee, orange peel, herbs, honey, leather, and oak. As for the taste, you will enjoy the bold and lingering oaky flavors of candied almonds and cocoa, according to the site.
1792 Small Batch Bourbon
1792 Small Batch Bourbon is another Kentucky-born bourbon that continues to win fans. Its list of accolades is impressive: 2016 Gold Medal from San Francisco World Spirits Competition; 2016 Silver Medal from Denver International Spirits Competition; 2014 Gold Medal IWSC in Los Angeles; 2014 Silver Medal from New York World Wine and Spirits Competition; 2014 Silver Medal IWSC; and 2013 Gold Medal IWSC. The list of awards is expansive going back to the year 2000 on the website.
The bourbon is aged for at least eight years in charred oak barrels and combines spice with caramel and vanilla for a smooth, yet bold taste. Reviewers mention the bourbon’s long-lasting finish of milk chocolate, cinnamon, and pepper with a hint of cherry.
Wild Turkey 101 Kentucky Straight Bourbon
No list of the World’s Best Bourbons would be complete without Wild Turkey 101. It boasts a high rye content and is aged in white oak barrels with the deepest char, according to the company’s website. Wild Turkey 101 has won numerous awards for its flavorful bourbon, including: 2016 Double Gold San Francisco World Spirits Competition; 2014 Double Gold San Francisco World Spirits Competition; 2013 Silver Medal Beverage Tasting Institute, and 2012 Silver Medal IWSC. The company’s website lists more accolades going back to 2010.
Whether you are looking to experience the rich taste of vanilla, caramel, toffee, and light smoke found in Wild Turkey 101, or the sweeter taste of one of the other award-winning bourbons, you are bound to find a new favorite you can’t live without.