This Is the World's Best Bourbon, According to the World Whiskies Awards
As with many things in life, taste in whiskey is at least a little subjective. But pit the best drams head to head, and there will invariably be some standouts. In February 2025, the World Whiskies Awards announced one bourbon that stood above the rest.
Old Fitzgerald 2024 VVS was named the World's Best Bourbon at the 2025 World Whiskies Awards. This 13-year bottled-in-bond bourbon also earned the title of Best Kentucky Bourbon. Old Elk's 9-Year-Old Straight Bourbon took home the award for Best Non-Kentucky Bourbon.
It's a big win for Kentucky's Heaven Hill Distillery, one of the nation's oldest and largest bourbon producers, which makes Old Fitzgerald. Heaven Hill acquired the historic brand in 1999 and today releases the prized decanter bottlings twice per year. Contemporary Old Fitzgerald releases generally carry age statements between eight and 19 years. It's wheated bourbon, distilled from a mash of 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley.
However, the 13-year-old 2024 VVS release has an even more impressive pedigree. To mark special occasions, Heaven Hill releases 'Very Very Special' (aka VVS) Old Fitzgerald editions with a distinct red label. The 2024 VVS was only the third such release, with previous versions hitting (limited) shelves in 2018 and 2020.
This award-winning bourbon, while bottled in 2024, was actually distilled in 1999—when Heaven Hill purchased the Bernheim Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky. (Heaven Hill's distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky was destroyed by fire in 1996.) According to Heaven Hill, master distiller Parker Beam and his team determined in March 2013 that the whiskey had reached its peak maturation and 'should be reserved for a momentous occasion.' Beam instructed his team to empty the barrels and store the bourbon in steel tanks.
Related: Rye Whiskey vs. Bourbon: What's the Difference?
Beam passed away in 2017. In 2024, Heaven Hill chose to release the whiskey after more than a decade in storage. The Very Very Special release celebrated both the 25th anniversary of the Bernheim acquisition and Beam's enduring legacy with the company.
A quarter century after it was distilled, that bourbon hit shelves in highly limited supply at Heaven Hill's visitors center and select retailers in Kentucky only. Like all modern Old Fitzgerald releases, it's 100-proof and carries a bottled-in-bond designation.ABV: 50% ABV
Maturation: 13 years in new American oak
History: Old Fitzgerald 2024 VVS was distilled in 1999 and aged until March 2013. Heaven Hill determined the stock of barrels had reached the ideal maturation point and decided to 'tank' the whiskey for use as a special release down the road. The whiskey was bottled and released to the public in the first half of 2024.
Availability: While all Old Fitzgerald decanter bottlings are limited, the Very Very Special series is even more scarce. The 2024 version was sold only in Kentucky, at Heaven Hill's Bardstown Visitors Center, and at select retailers in the Bluegrass State. Stocks sold out within days of the initial release.
MSRP: $299.99And after numerous rounds of judging from dozens of experienced palates, the World Whiskies Awards determined it was the year's best. The placements for the World Whiskies Awards were determined last fall through two rounds of judging held in Bardstown, Kentucky and Washington, D.C. A diverse panel of judges was selected from across the whiskey industry, including distillers, blenders, journalists, and distributors. As is customary for the competition, the evaluations were conducted entirely blind, with samples poured in standardized glasses behind closed doors and brought out on numbered trays.
Even when assessed blindly, it's not entirely surprising that this particular Old Fitzgerald stood out from the crowd. Among reviewers and enthusiasts, it was one of last year's most talked-about and well-received new bourbons. It's a bourbon the public had to wait decades to taste — and for Heaven Hill, an award winner 25 years in the making.Best Finished Bourbon: Wenzel Whiskey Straight Bourbon Finished In Sherry Casks
Best Small Batch Bourbon: Boulder Spirits 2024 Cask Strength Bourbon
Best Single Barrel Bourbon: Blanton's Straight From The Barrel
Best Tennessee Whiskey: Jack Daniel's Tennessee 12 Years Old Batch #2
World's Best American Style Whiskey: Jack Daniel's Triple MashThe complete list of winners in American whiskey categories showcases a variety of brands, ranging from established giants to craft operations and non-distilling producers. All U.S. winners were announced at a February ceremony held at The Brown Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky. Since bourbon and Tennessee whiskey can only be produced in the United States, the determinations for these 'World's Best' awards were made after two rounds of domestic judging. Many top-rated whiskies from the American competition, including rye, malt, and wheat whiskies, advanced to compete against international spirits for other World's Best titles, which were evaluated in the UK in early February. The 'World's Best' titles will be announced later this March.
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This Is the World's Best Bourbon, According to the World Whiskies Awards
As with many things in life, taste in whiskey is at least a little subjective. But pit the best drams head to head, and there will invariably be some standouts. In February 2025, the World Whiskies Awards announced one bourbon that stood above the rest. Old Fitzgerald 2024 VVS was named the World's Best Bourbon at the 2025 World Whiskies Awards. This 13-year bottled-in-bond bourbon also earned the title of Best Kentucky Bourbon. Old Elk's 9-Year-Old Straight Bourbon took home the award for Best Non-Kentucky Bourbon. It's a big win for Kentucky's Heaven Hill Distillery, one of the nation's oldest and largest bourbon producers, which makes Old Fitzgerald. Heaven Hill acquired the historic brand in 1999 and today releases the prized decanter bottlings twice per year. Contemporary Old Fitzgerald releases generally carry age statements between eight and 19 years. It's wheated bourbon, distilled from a mash of 68% corn, 20% wheat, and 12% malted barley. However, the 13-year-old 2024 VVS release has an even more impressive pedigree. To mark special occasions, Heaven Hill releases 'Very Very Special' (aka VVS) Old Fitzgerald editions with a distinct red label. The 2024 VVS was only the third such release, with previous versions hitting (limited) shelves in 2018 and 2020. This award-winning bourbon, while bottled in 2024, was actually distilled in 1999—when Heaven Hill purchased the Bernheim Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky. (Heaven Hill's distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky was destroyed by fire in 1996.) According to Heaven Hill, master distiller Parker Beam and his team determined in March 2013 that the whiskey had reached its peak maturation and 'should be reserved for a momentous occasion.' Beam instructed his team to empty the barrels and store the bourbon in steel tanks. Related: Rye Whiskey vs. Bourbon: What's the Difference? Beam passed away in 2017. In 2024, Heaven Hill chose to release the whiskey after more than a decade in storage. The Very Very Special release celebrated both the 25th anniversary of the Bernheim acquisition and Beam's enduring legacy with the company. A quarter century after it was distilled, that bourbon hit shelves in highly limited supply at Heaven Hill's visitors center and select retailers in Kentucky only. Like all modern Old Fitzgerald releases, it's 100-proof and carries a bottled-in-bond 50% ABV Maturation: 13 years in new American oak History: Old Fitzgerald 2024 VVS was distilled in 1999 and aged until March 2013. Heaven Hill determined the stock of barrels had reached the ideal maturation point and decided to 'tank' the whiskey for use as a special release down the road. The whiskey was bottled and released to the public in the first half of 2024. Availability: While all Old Fitzgerald decanter bottlings are limited, the Very Very Special series is even more scarce. The 2024 version was sold only in Kentucky, at Heaven Hill's Bardstown Visitors Center, and at select retailers in the Bluegrass State. Stocks sold out within days of the initial release. MSRP: $299.99And after numerous rounds of judging from dozens of experienced palates, the World Whiskies Awards determined it was the year's best. The placements for the World Whiskies Awards were determined last fall through two rounds of judging held in Bardstown, Kentucky and Washington, D.C. A diverse panel of judges was selected from across the whiskey industry, including distillers, blenders, journalists, and distributors. As is customary for the competition, the evaluations were conducted entirely blind, with samples poured in standardized glasses behind closed doors and brought out on numbered trays. Even when assessed blindly, it's not entirely surprising that this particular Old Fitzgerald stood out from the crowd. Among reviewers and enthusiasts, it was one of last year's most talked-about and well-received new bourbons. It's a bourbon the public had to wait decades to taste — and for Heaven Hill, an award winner 25 years in the Finished Bourbon: Wenzel Whiskey Straight Bourbon Finished In Sherry Casks Best Small Batch Bourbon: Boulder Spirits 2024 Cask Strength Bourbon Best Single Barrel Bourbon: Blanton's Straight From The Barrel Best Tennessee Whiskey: Jack Daniel's Tennessee 12 Years Old Batch #2 World's Best American Style Whiskey: Jack Daniel's Triple MashThe complete list of winners in American whiskey categories showcases a variety of brands, ranging from established giants to craft operations and non-distilling producers. All U.S. winners were announced at a February ceremony held at The Brown Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky. Since bourbon and Tennessee whiskey can only be produced in the United States, the determinations for these 'World's Best' awards were made after two rounds of domestic judging. Many top-rated whiskies from the American competition, including rye, malt, and wheat whiskies, advanced to compete against international spirits for other World's Best titles, which were evaluated in the UK in early February. The 'World's Best' titles will be announced later this March. Read the original article on Food & Wine
