The results of this year’s World Whiskies Awards were recently announced, and as always, there’s no shortage of medal winners to choose from. With so many standout bourbons, knowing where to begin can be a challenge.
To help you navigate the field, I’ve rounded up the Gold Medal-winning Kentucky bourbons and matched each one to the kind of drinker who’ll enjoy it most. From flavor profiles to production quirks and a few fun facts, this guide will help you find the award-winning bourbon that suits your palate and your budget.
For the Bourbon Connoisseur Who Loves Depth and Tradition
Old Fitzgerald 13 Year Old – 25th Anniversary Edition
Gold Medal & Category Winner – World Whiskies Awards | Whiskey of the Year – The Whiskey Wash Awards
BUY NOW: $2,000
If you’re someone who savors bourbon with history, complexity, and a touch of reverence, this is your dram. Distilled in 1999 and bottled in 2024 to mark Heaven Hill’s 25th anniversary of acquiring the Old Fitzgerald brand, this Bottled-in-Bond expression is more than just a commemorative release — it’s a masterclass in long aging done right.
Despite spending 13 years in Kentucky’s heat, where many bourbons risk becoming over-oaked, this expression remains balanced, layered, and vibrant. It’s proof that great bourbon doesn’t fade with age.
Tasting Notes:
Cinnamon toast, nutmeg, allspice, rich oak, honeyed vanilla, warm baking spices, and a soft peppery finish.
As Nino Kilgore-Marchetti, founder of The Whiskey Wash, put it in his review of the bourbon: “Quite frankly, one of the most amazing whiskeys I’ve had the pleasure of trying over the years. Easily top five of all time. A legendary release worthy of being crowned Whiskey of the Year.”
Hard to argue with that.
For the Value Seeker Who Wants Classic Kentucky Flavor
Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond – 7 Year Old
Gold Medal Winner – World Whiskies Awards
BUY NOW: $31
If you love bourbon with pedigree and want something seriously good without chasing a unicorn bottle, this one’s for you. Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond is steeped in history, paying tribute to the distillery’s original 1939 release and still crafted by the same founding family.
Bottled at 100 proof and aged for 7 years, it delivers everything you’d expect from a classic Kentucky bourbon: warmth, sweetness, balance, and that subtle rye spice that keeps you coming back for more. This is a dependable, beautifully made whiskey that lives up to its bottled-in-bond promise.
Tasting Notes:
Golden amber in colour. Aromas of vanilla, honey, and rich caramel. The palate is smooth and sweet, with a touch of rye spice, mellow oak, and lingering char.
Whether you’re just getting into bourbon or looking for a solid staple to keep stocked, this is a bottle that quietly overdelivers.
For the Bourbon Purist Who Cares About Grain-to-Glass Craftsmanship
Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon
Gold Medal Winner – World Whiskies Awards | Gold Medal Winner – The Whiskey Wash Awards
BUY NOW: $98
If you’re the type who reads labels, asks about mashbills, and knows your rickhouses from your rye content, this is the bottle for you. Heaven Hill’s Grain to Glass series is bourbon stripped back to its most honest form: transparent, thoughtful, and deeply flavorful.
This release was aged for six years in rickhouse W3, using a specially selected corn varietal (Beck’s 6158) and a non-traditional wheated mashbill — 52% corn, 35% wheat, 13% malted barley. Bottled without chill filtration at 121 proof, it’s bold yet balanced, with a silky texture that lets the wheat really shine.
Tasting Notes:
Expect a rich, grain-driven experience — mellow wheat sweetness upfront, layered with oak depth and a punch of barrel strength that never overwhelms.
As The Whiskey Wash founder Nino Kilgore-Marchetti said in his review: “This takes the cake with little effort. The unique corn seed varietal does wonders to highlight the wheat characteristics — a classic offering.”
For flavor-focused drinkers who want to know exactly what’s in the glass and how it got there, this is a standout release.
For the Explorer Who Craves Something a Bit Different
Jefferson’s Ocean Aged at Sea – Voyage 28
Gold Medal Winner – World Whiskies Awards
BUY NOW: $99
This is bourbon for the curious — for the drinker who loves a story as much as a good dram. Jefferson’s Ocean Voyage 28 didn’t just sit quietly in a warehouse. It sailed the globe. From Savannah to Sydney, Shanghai to Yokohama, these barrels were rocked by the ocean, exposed to equatorial heat, humid nights, and wild shifts in pressure and temperature.
That constant motion and climate variation transform the whiskey. The result is a bourbon that’s both familiar and unexpectedly fresh. There’s a salty note, a certain richness you don’t often find in traditional ageing.
Tasting Notes (Voyage 31):
Crème brûlée, sweet tobacco, sea spray, caramel, brown sugar, cinnamon, a hint of espresso, and a long finish laced with sea salt and Cracker Jacks.
It’s balanced, a bit bold, and unmistakably shaped by its time at sea. If you’ve ever wondered what the ocean might add to your bourbon, this is your answer.
Read the full article at Gold Medal Bourbons To Match Your Palate: Which One’s For You?