The World’s Best Bourbon – According to the 2023 Bartender Spirits Awards

These days, liquor store shelves are filled with options. Especially when it comes to bourbon. According to the Distilled Spirits Council, U.S. whiskey sales have increased about 133% over the past 20 years. The biggest driver of its success is the super-premium segment, or bottles that retail for $40 or more. With so many choices and significant cash outlays, consumers are increasingly seeking professional advice. And perhaps no one in this industry is more trusted than bartenders. The original alcoholic beverage influencer.

It’s no wonder, then, that the Bartender Spirits Awards emerges as one of the most important competitions to watch every year. Originally launched in 2019, the competition is comprised of a panel of judges from over 20 prominent beverage manufacturers from around the world.

According to its website, “The purpose of the Distilled Spirits Competition is to provide independent and honest reviews of brands targeting the U.S. bar industry.” Nevertheless, take-home products are very important for homebound consumers. Because these judges aren’t simply evaluating products based on how well they stick in cocktails. They consider the merits of every liquid based on overall taste and perceived value, including balance and versatility.

More than 1,400 entries were evaluated for the 2023 competition, with the highest number of entries coming to the Whiskey, Vodka, Gin and RTD categories. For all this, the jury rated one whiskey higher than the others. It’s Heaven Hill Bottled in Bond. This 7-year-old bourbon is distilled from a high corn mash bill and will satisfy your sweet tooth with broad brushstrokes of butterscotch, vanilla, and honey. Keep in mind that bourbon only needs to be made using at least 51% corn as part of the grain recipe. This he uses 78% malted barley 12% and 10% rye.

The namesake distillery behind the whiskey is a Kentucky icon. Heaven Hill has been producing world-famous spirits in the Bluegrass State since 1935. This special release harkens back to the early days when the most trusted e-liquids on the shelves had to say Boted in Bond on the label. This designation was established by an act of Congress in 1897 and requires federal oversight to ensure that such whiskey is aged for a minimum of four years, all the while kept at one distillery and bottled at a strict 100 proof. We have set it up.

But they say the real proof is in the pudding. The apt analogy here is that Heaven Hill’s award-winning products are a perfect dessert serving. Discerning palates will also detect a hint of tobacco leaf in the aftertaste, further enhancing the complexity of a drinkable bourbon that punches well above its weight class at an average retail price of just $45 per bottle.

For home bartenders, it’s easy to see why this bartender has such strong appeal to professional bartenders. It pairs very well with classic Old Fashioned cooking. It’s easy to line up on shelves. It’s a uniquely sweet form of relief in an era when fine bourbons are so hard-earned.

The Bartender Spirits Awards will return to Chicago later this spring, and new winners will be announced on June 20th. Of course, we’ll keep you updated on that. But in the meantime, you can see his complete list of 2023 winners across all categories here.