Five Must-Try Bourbons From 2025's SF World Spirits Competition

Forbes

08-05-2025

Old Grand Dad 16-Year-Old Straight Bourbon was one of the top five bourbons at the 2025 SFWSC
Five bourbons were crowned America's Best Bourbons at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. All five bourbons are finalists for the top prize of America's Best Bourbon. Below are brief backgrounds and tasting notes on the five finalists in the Straight Bourbon category.
The 16-Year-Old Grand Dad is one of the legendary high-rye bourbons, beautifully balancing the complexity of extended aging with sweetness and vibrant rye spice. The whiskey is a special release from Jim Beam's Clermont distillery honoring the legacy of Basil Hayden Sr. It's inspired by the Distillery's original whiskey, first bottled in 1882. This exceptional, ultra-aged, high-rye bourbon, based on a mash bill of 63% corn, 27% rye, and 10% malted barley, was bottled at 100 proof.
On the nose, it features leather, pipe tobacco, dark cherries, seasoned oak, and a hint of cocoa. The palate is chewy and spicy, with molasses, clove, toffee, stone fruit, and spiced/candied orange zest flavors driven by the spicy rye content. The finish is long, sweet, and flavorful, with charred/seasoned oak, vanilla, and black pepper impressions.
This bourbon is Heaven Hill's September 2024 release in its acclaimed Barrel Proof series. Bottled at cask strength, an incredible 133.6 proof, and aged for 12 years. C924 is a powerhouse of flavor, ideal for enthusiasts who appreciate robust, intensely oaky bourbon.
Its nose features a layered complexity of molasses, burnt sugar, cinnamon, roasted pecans, and a faint hint of cold campfire smoke. It's robust and intense on the palate, offering rich flavors of dark caramel, black cherries, espresso, charred oak, and spiced honey. The finish is long, dry, and smoky, with lingering notes of dark chocolate and licorice/anise.
The SFWSC Judging Panel described the bourbon as expressing:
"Intense aromas of dark sugar and spices enveloped in a persistent smoky note. It's rich and robust, with caramel, cherry syrup, coffee, and rye spice notes on the palate. The finish is long and balanced, with lingering fruit and seasoned wood notes."
The SFWSC Judging Panel described the bourbon as expressing:
"Aromas of dust, earth, orchard fruit, and leather. The palate features fruit, Bananas Foster, cookies and cream, wood spice, and hints of cocoa. The finish is sweet, balanced, and long with lingering brown sugar and rye spice notes."
The five top straight bourbons from the 2025 SFWSC
Eagle Rare is one of the crown jewels of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. Distilled from Buffalo Trace's low-rye Mash Bill #1 and bottled at 101 proof, it showcases extraordinary balance, complexity, and depth after 17 years of aging. This masterful, polished bourbon exemplifies the refinement possible with extended aging under optimal conditions.
On the nose, it offers a mosaic of old leather, antique wood, dark cherry compote, caramelized pecans, delicate floral undertones, and a hint of wax. The palate is smooth and complex, expressing layers of vanilla custard, rich toffee, baked apple pie, and subtle toasted almond notes, all wrapped in seasoned oak. The finish is long and dry, revealing lingering nutmeg, leather, and spiced chocolate flavors.
The SFWSC Judging Panel described the bourbon as exhibiting:
"Pronounced fruity and caramel notes on the nose. It's smooth and spicy on the palate, featuring creamy vanilla, orchard fruit, oak spices, and caramel flavors. The finish is long and fruity with lingering spicy notes."
This luxurious bourbon is built for slow savoring and a deep appreciation of mature whiskey character. The expression is a rare barrel sourced by the World Whiskey Society and bottled under the legendary gunfighter's name. It was distilled in Kentucky, aged 15 years, and bottled at a massive 136.2 proof. The source of the whiskey is not disclosed.
The nose delivers dense waves of brown sugar, baked apples, polished wood, and dried figs, all touched by a faint cigar box aroma. The bourbon is richly layered on the palate, showing toffee, nutmeg, honeycomb, and aged leather notes, rounded by vanilla bean and maple syrup. The finish is exceptionally long, with lingering sweet oak spice, crème brûlée, and a final earthy note of tobacco.
The SFWSC Judging Panel described the bourbon as showcasing:
"Aromas of toasted bread followed by flavors of vanilla and snickerdoodle, and a long nutmeg-laced finish."
This whiskey is a small-batch bottling from Ray's Whiskey Company. The expression is slated for release later this year. This whiskey is an easy-drinking bourbon, well-suited for casual sipping or mixing into cocktails. It makes a perfect aperitif. At a proposed retail list price of $35, it will be a great value among the top bourbons from the SFWSC.
On the nose, it is youthful, slightly spirity, but balanced, showing sweet corn, vanilla, fresh oak, and apple aromas. The palate is light and approachable, featuring honey, light caramel, white pepper, and green apple flavors. The finish is medium-short, with lingering seasoned oak and vanilla sweetness.
The SFWSC Judging Panel described the bourbon as exhibiting:
"Aromas of vanilla, sweet oak, coconut, and honey. The palate features cooked cereal with brown sugar and oak. The finish is sweet and medium-length, chewy and waxy."
The San Francisco World Spirits Competition is one of the world's most respected and influential spirits competitions. Founded in 2000, it gathers a panel of seasoned industry experts—including master distillers, spirits journalists, and bar professionals—to conduct blind tastings across various spirit categories. Awards from the SFWSC are highly coveted, often serving as a benchmark of quality and craftsmanship in the global spirits industry. Its rigorous judging process and international prestige make it a valuable platform for emerging and established brands.
The 2025 SFWSC Straight Bourbon finalists capture the full spectrum of modern bourbon, from bold, well-aged heavyweights to refined, elegant pours, highlighting the impact of diverse mash bills and aging styles. With price points ranging from $35 to $399, and often found for less, these whiskeys prove that excellence isn't reserved for high-end bottles. Together, they showcase contemporary bourbon's remarkable breadth and creativity. If you're looking to broaden your bourbon horizons, these five standouts are essential sips.