Best In Show is Best for Bourbon

heaven-hill-image2At this year’s San Francisco World Spirits Competition, a bourbon took Best in Show in the whiskey category for only the 2nd time in the history of the competition. Heaven Hill Distillery’s Henry McKenna Single Barrel, 10 years old, bottled-in-bond, 100 proof, walked away with the being the best single barrel bourbon, the best bourbon, as well as to top distinction as the best of all whiskeys entered into this year’s competition.

One would think that a bourbon topping the other whiskey categories in the most prestigious event of its kind would be popular news within the community of bourbon aficionados.  Social Media discussion has been filled with lots of opinion about this choice.  Like any fan group, bourbon fans aren’t any different and most online discussions are often filled with bravado and snobbery that can be off-putting to newcomers.  There seems to be a negative opinion among some about this representation as the top choice.

Here is the challenge with learning that this whiskey, a single barrel bourbon that has been widely available at a moderate price, won the top prize in a blind tasting competition. First and foremost, single barrel bourbons can taste very different from barrel to barrel, therefore it will be difficult for those of us at home to know if we buy a bottle whether or not it will taste the same as the winning selection.  Second, this has not been a bourbon that is widely viewed as a hard to get must have in your collection bourbon.  Had a Pappy Van Winkle been on top, it would still be overpriced and unable to procure easily.

The reality is this. Henry McKenna won Best in Show Whiskey at a global competition and the bourbon world will be better for it.  This is good for the Heaven Hill Distillery.  Henry McKenna will become harder to get for some time, but still be available to the consumer. This is an overall good thing for the recognition of what’s happening in bourbon.  We should be excited for this and not thumb our nose at it.

Here is the full list of winners at this year’s event in related categories.  Add these to your list of must try’s and drink up.

Best Whiskey
Best Bourbon
Best Single Barrel Bourbon – Up to 10 Years
Henry McKenna Bottled-in-Bond Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Best Straight Bourbon
Ezra Brooks 7 Year Barrel Proof Bourbon

Best Small Batch Bourbon – Up to 5 Years
Redemption Wheated Straight Bourbon

Best Small Batch Bourbon
Best Small Batch Bourbon – 6 to 10 Years
Traverse City Whiskey Co. Barrel Proof Bourbon

Best Small Batch Bourbon – 11 Years and Older
Barrell Bourbon Batch 018 11 Year Old Cask Strength

Best Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon
Belle Meade Honey Cask Bourbon

Best Craft Distiller Whiskey
Rogue Rolling Thunder Stouted Whiskey

Best Wheat Whiskey
Bainbridge Battle Point Organic Wheat Whiskey

Best Rye Whiskey
Sagamore Spirit Reserve Port Finish Rye Whiskey

Cheers, Y’all!