The Top Bourbons From The 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition
Bourbon on the rocks
The San Francisco World Spirits Competition is the world's most extensive judging of bourbon. Out of more than 500 entries, roughly three dozen bourbons made the final round in each category. These finalists will vie for the Best in Category in their respective divisions and World's Best Bourbon accolades. Below is a summary of the finalists vying to ascend to the pinnacle of America's bourbon universe.
The Straight Whiskey Finalists from the 2025 SFWSC
Old Grand-Dad, 16 YO Straight Bourbon, 50% ABV, 750 ml. $195
World Whiskey Society, Doc Holiday 15 YO Straight Bourbon, 68.1% ABV, 750 ml. $399
Elijah Craig, Barrel proof C924, 64.5% ABV, 750 ml. $75
Eagle Rare, 17 YOS Straight Bourbon, 50.5% ABV, 750 ml. $150
Ray's Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 45% ABV, 750 ml. $35
See 5 Must-Try Bourbons From 2025's San Francisco World Spirits Competition for an in-depth look at these five whiskeys and their tasting notes.
The Small Batch Up To 5 Years Bourbon Finalists from the 2025 SFWSC
10th Mountain Whiskey and Spirit Company Bourbon, 64.4% ABV, 750 ml. $60
Liberty & Plenty Distillery Bronze Bull Spirits Batch #5 Bourbon Finished in Madeira Barrels, 50% ABV, 750 ml. $70
Kings County Distillery Barrel-Strength Straight Bourbon, 68.8% ABV, 750 ml. $99
Cream of Kentucky Cask Strength Bourbon, 59.8% ABV, $750 ml. $90
1792 Small Batch Straight Bourbon, 46.85% ABV, 750 ml. $32
See The Top Small Batch Bourbon, According To The San Francisco World Spirits Competition, for an in-depth look at these five whiskeys and their tasting notes.
The Small Batch 6-10 Years Bourbon finalists from the 2025 SFWSC
The Beautiful and The Damned Last Lion Bourbon, 57.1% ABV, 750 ml. $79
Rare Character Batch 02 Straight Bourbon, 60.73% ABV, 750 ml. $85
Kentucky Senator John Brown Bourbon, 53.5% ABV, 750 ml. $150
ASW Distillery Fiddler Encore Bourbon – Georgia Oak, 60.2% ABV, 750 ml. $85
Long Ridge High Rye Bourbon, 58% ABV, 750 ml. $79
The Small Batch 10+ Years Bourbon Finalists from the 2025 SFWSC
O.K.I. 15-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 57.5% ABV, 750 ml. $250
Redemption Whiskey 18-Year-Old Bourbon, 51.7% ABV, 750 ML. $400
Widow Jane Lucky 13 Bourbon, 46.5% ABV, 750 ml. $110
See The World's Best Small Batch Aged Bourbons, According to the SF World Spirits Competition, for an in-depth look at these eight whiskeys and their tasting notes.
The Single Barrel Bourbon Up To 10 Years finalists from the 2025 SFWSC
Garrison Brothers Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon, 68.2% ABV, 750 ml. $169.99
Blackout Barrel Company Blackout Bourbon, 66% ABV, 750 ml. $80
Safai Bourbon 8-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 56% ABV, 750 ml. $275
Hirsch The Single Barrel Double Oak Bourbon, 59% ABV, 750 ml. $150
High Wire Distilling Co. Jimmy Red Single Barrel Bourbon, 58.17% ABV. 750 ml.. $70
See The World's Best Single Barrel Bourbon, According To The San Francisco World Spirits Competition, for an in-depth look at these seven whiskeys and their tasting notes.
The Single Barrel 11 Years and Older Bourbon finalists from the 2025 SFWSC
O.K.I. 16-Year-Old Kentucky Bourbon Single Barrel, 63.9% ABV, 750 ml. $300
Augusta Distillery Buckner's 15-Year-Old Single Barrel Bourbon, 59.4% ABV, 750 ml. $300
See The World's Best Single Barrel Bourbon, According To The San Francisco World Spirits Competition, for an in-depth look at these seven whiskeys and their tasting notes.
The Special Barrel Finished Bourbon finalists from the 2025 SFWSC
Fox & Oden Double Oaked Straight Bourbon, 49.5% ABV, 750 ml. $100
Joseph Magnus Straight Bourbon Triple Cask Finished, 50% ABV, 750 ml. $100
Whiskey Tree High Rye Bourbon, 50% ABV, 750 ml. $60
Starlight Distillery Japanese Mizunara Reserve Finished Bourbon Whiskey, 56% ABV, 750 ml. $150
Penelope Toasted Bourbon Double Oak, 50% ABV, 750 ml. $59
See The Best Cask Finished Bourbon Crowned By The San Francisco World Spirits Competition for an in-depth look at these five whiskies and their tasting notes.
The Wheated Bourbon finalists from the 2025 SFWSC
Frank August Case Study: 05, Wheated Reserve, 5 Barrel Batch Bourbon, 52.25% ABV, 750 ml. $125
Maplewood Brewery & Distillery Wheated Bourbon, 56% ABV, 750 ml. $80
Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Traditional Barrel Series Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon, 53.3% ABV, 750 ml. $100
W.L. Weller Antique 107 Straight Wheated Bourbon, 53.6% ABV, 750 ml. $59
W.L. Weller C.Y.P.B. (Craft Your Perfect Bourbon) Straight Wheated Bourbon, 47.5% ABV, 750 ml. $65
See The World's Best Wheated Bourbon, According to the SF World Spirits Competition, for an in-depth view of these whiskeys and their tasting notes.
These 35 bourbons represent the best of the best, the pinnacle of American bourbon. One of these finalists will be announced as the World's Best Bourbon at The Top Shelf 2025 Awards Gala, a highly anticipated whiskey industry event, on November 9 at Hotel Nikko in San Francisco.
If you are a serious bourbon drinker, you owe it to yourself to taste these outstanding bourbons. Your own world's best bourbon is probably among these finalists.
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