The Worldwide Wine & Spirit Competitors (IWSC) introduced its prime bourbon for 2025: Frank August Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon. Scoring 98 out of 100 factors, this bottle retails for round $70 and outperformed many costlier (and extensively recognized) bourbons.

Frank August won’t be a family identify but, but it surely has undoubtedly earned recognition in sure whiskey circles. Based in 2022 by former vogue government Johnathan Crocker and companions, it’s a non-distilling producer (NDP) that sources and blends whiskey from Kentucky distilleries. Its profitable entrant is a 100-proof Kentucky bourbon, blended in batches of 10 to fifteen barrels sourced from an undisclosed distillery (or distilleries). In consequence, we don’t know the precise mash invoice, and it’s a non-age-stated mix. (Although, because of federal labeling necessities, we all know it’s a minimum of 4 years previous.) 

The bourbon was initially tasted in June at IWSC’s North American competitors in Bardstown, Kentucky. Judges who sampled and rated the spirit included Millie Milliken (spirits and cocktail author), Dr. Invoice Lumsden (head of distilling and whisky creation at Glenmorangie and Ardbeg), Reece Sims (founding father of Taste Camp), and Ryan Mills (whiskey influencer and educator). Frank August Small Batch was in the end awarded a formidable 98 factors and a Gold Excellent medal.

Judges famous a “pleasant mixture of apple tart, custard, and intriguing dried apricots” on the nostril, adopted by a palate that provides “a refined medley of buckwheat honey, dried apricots, vanilla, and heat spice.”

In August, members of IWSC’s Spirits Judging Committee convened in London to retaste all Gold Excellent winners. They then chosen the highest entries to obtain class trophies. Frank August Small Batch wasn’t the one bourbon to attain 98 factors, however after the ultimate analysis, it was chosen above others as this yr’s Bourbon Trophy winner. 

Together with the 98-point small batch bourbon, 4 different Frank August whiskeys scored a minimum of 95 factors in competitors: Frank August Cask Energy Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey; Frank August Case Examine: 05 Wheated Reserve; Frank August Small Batch Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey; and Frank August Case Examine: 03 Winter Cowl Rye.

The general American Whiskey Trophy was awarded to Pinkhook’s Vertical Collection 9 12 months Previous Rye, one other 98-point spirit. This whiskey was initially distilled from a 95% rye mash invoice at Indiana’s MGP distillery. Barrels have been then aged at Fortress & Key Distillery in Kentucky earlier than mixing.