The World’s Best Bourbon—According To The 2023 International Spirits Challenge

The International Spirits Challenge is one of the longest running competitions in the liquor industry. Since 2007, the organization has been handing out medals across all major categories of adult beverage, with the top liquids receiving what it dubs “Key Tasting Awards.” At the end of last year, the prestigious panel of judges doled out this distinction in the bourbon space to W.L. Weller 12 Year.

It could hardly come as a surprise to anyone even remotely interested in American Whiskey. After all, this is an enduringly popular expression from Buffalo Trace, commonly regarded as “the world’s most award-winning distillery.” And this particular pour is the elder statesman from an esteemed lineup of wheated bourbons known for sharing the same mashbill as Pappy Van Winkle (in fact, the whiskey is actually named after the legendary 19th century distiller—William Larue Weller—who first brought Pappy, himself, into the world of whiskey-making).

It’s a mashbill that Weller helped innovate. Most bourbons back then, and still to this day, rely on rye as the secondary ingredient behind corn. But Weller favored wheat as his number-two flavoring component. It resulted in a softer, sweeter sip. In the case of the award-winning 12-year-old, it carries all sorts of stone fruit aromas to the pour; peaches, nectarines, apricots. Extended time in new charred oak alchemizes the aforementioned distilled grains into some sort of candied nut magic. Toasted pecans and molasses-covered walnuts are the easiest comparisons when contemplating each sip.

Bottled at 90-proof, behind its trademark black label, the brilliant bronze-hued juice is supposed to retail at $70 on shelves. But it’s considered a “deal” if you can find it for under $300.

None of this is news to the bourbon connoisseur, of course. The timeliness of it right now is more owed to the fact that Weller’s parent brand, Buffalo Trace, has just opened up the door to its very first location outside of the United States. As of May 6th, Buffalo Trace Distillery London is offering some of its most preciously allocated pours across the pond in the Covent Garden neighborhood of the UK capital.

Naturally, they won’t be able to distill any bourbon on-site. That protected category of American whiskey must be made exclusively in the United States. According to a press release, however, you will be able to enjoy exceedingly rare drams from the storied whiskey maker, including Weller 12, right there in the backyard of that other famed style of whisky—sans ‘e’.

As for the folks at the International Spirits Challenge, many of which are based in London, they might be queued up right alongside the masses to snag a taste of those cherished tipples as the new location goes live. But if you want to know how they officially rate any of the juices they encounter therein, you’ll have to wait a little while. The competition doesn’t reveal its 2024 Key Tasting Awards until September 10th.