World’s Best Bourbon Named at International Whisky Competition

The annual International Whisky Competition just wrapped up, with the 2024 event taking place on both the Isle of Raasay in Scotland and Louisville, KY in the United States. Every year, judges double-blind taste test whiskeys from around the world, with no categories or ABV provided, to determine the finest expressions released in the previous year.

And for the second year in a row, George T. Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey was named the top bourbon whiskey in the esteemed competition, as well as the best American whiskey.

Every fall, Buffalo Trace releases the distillery's hallowed Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (or BTAC, to whiskey aficionados), which features the George T. Stagg, Sazerac Rye, William Larue Weller, Thomas H. Handy, and Eagle Rare. It should come as little surprise that the George T. Stagg came out on top, as it's typically the most sought-after bottle in the collection among connoisseurs.

Adding to the hype is that the George T. Stagg was omitted from the 2021 release, which made it that much more in demand when it returned in 2022.

The prize-winning 2023 George T. Stagg, which clocks in at 135 proof, was distilled in the spring of 2008 and spent over 15 years aged in in heavily-charred virgin American oak barrels. The expression is described as "having scents of cinnamon and cherry cola and a well-balanced mix of leather, chocolate, and vanilla on the palate, complete with a robust, earthy finish."

The barrel proof spirit tends to fluctuate with each release due to the aging and cask process, which means that the 2024 winner is subtly distinct from the previous year's release. But clearly, the slight differences have made no impact on the expression's exceptional quality.

However, getting your hands on a bottle is another story. Though the manufacturer's suggested retail price is a modest $125, the cheapest bottle Forbes was able to track down online was $850, for now. And that's actually somewhat of a bargain, as previous releases have sold for well into the four figures. 

But for those who don't have upwards of a grand to spend on a bottle and still want to enjoy a world-class expression, the American Distilling Institute's International Spirits Competition recently named its top bourbon, which is the comparatively more affordable Larceny Barrel Proof, A124 from Heaven Hill Distillery, boasting an average price tag of $65.

For more winners, see the full 2024 results of the 2024 International Whisky Competition.