The World's Best Straight Bourbon, According To The 2025 SF World Spirits Competition

Forbes

07-05-2025

The finalists in the Straight Bourbon category from the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition Photo, courtesy The Tasting Alliance
The San Francisco World Spirits Competition has announced the results of its 2025 bourbon judging. The Competition is the world's largest and most prestigious judging of American whiskey, and its accolades are considered among the most authoritative. Below are brief backgrounds and tasting notes on the five finalists in the Straight Bourbon category. The Top Shelf 2025 Awards Gala , a highly anticipated event in the whiskey industry, will announce the winner on November 9 at Hotel Nikko in San Francisco.
The 16-Year-Old Grand Dad 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, and seasoned oak aromas, with 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 is one of the legendary high-rye bourbons, beautifully balancing the complexity of extended aging with sweetness and vibrant rye spice.
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.'
This expression comes from 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 104 proof. The source of the whiskey is not disclosed.
The nose delivers dense waves of brown sugar, baked apple, 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.
This luxurious bourbon is built for slow savoring and a deep appreciation of mature whiskey character. 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.' Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C924, 64.5% ABV, 750 ml. $75
This bourbon is Heaven Hill's September 2024 release in its acclaimed Barrel Proof series. Bottled at cask strength, a massive 133.6 proof and aged for 12 years, C924 is one of the boldest expressions in the series.
Its nose features a layered complexity of molasses, burnt sugar, cinnamon stick, 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, drying, and smoky, with lingering notes of dark chocolate and licorice/anise.
C924 is a powerhouse of flavor, ideal for enthusiasts who appreciate robust, intensely oaky bourbon. 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.
Bourbon Aging in Kentucky RIck House getty Eagle Rare 17-Year-Old Straight Bourbon, 50.5% ABV, 750 ml. $150
Eagle Rare is one of the crown jewels of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. Distilled from Buffalo Trace's low-rye Mashbill #1 and bottled at 101 proof, it showcases extraordinary balance, complexity, and depth after 17 years of aging.
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.
This masterful, polished bourbon exemplifies the refinement possible with extended aging under optimal conditions. 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.' Ray's Kentucky Straight Bourbon 45% ABV, 750 ml. $35
This whiskey is a small-batch release from Boundary Oak Distillery in Radcliff, Kentucky, bottled at 90 proof. At a retail list price of $35, it is also one of the great values 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.
This is an easy-drinking bourbon, well-suited for casual sipping or mixing into cocktails. It makes a perfect aperitif. 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 2025 SFWSC Straight Bourbon finalists present a broad array of styles from aged, robust expressions to lighter, more elegant styles. Pricewise, their list prices range from $399 to as little as $35, although the higher-priced expressions are probably available at lower prices. They illustrate the enormous diversity found in contemporary bourbons. These five expressions are among the world's best bourbons and are worth trying.