The World's Best Single Barrel Bourbon, According To The SF World Spirits Competition

Forbes

10-05-2025

The Finalists in the Single Barrel Bourbon Category from the 2025 SFWSC
Seven whiskeys are finalists in the Single-Barrel Bourbon section of the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Five expressions are in the Up To 10 Years category, and two are in the 11 Years and Older category. Below are brief backgrounds and tasting notes on the finalists. The Top Shelf 2025 Awards Gala, a highly anticipated whiskey industry event, will announce the winner on November 9 at Hotel Nikko in San Francisco.
This bourbon is a premium offering from Garrison Brothers Distillery in Hye, Texas — one of the pioneers of authentic Texas bourbon. Each barrel is hand-selected for full-strength bottling, typically between 120–140 proof. The extreme Texas heat and marked diurnal and seasonal temperature variations accelerate maturation, producing an intensely flavorful bourbon even at relatively younger ages.
The whiskey is powerful on the nose, with bold aromas of dark brown sugar, mesquite smoke, saddle leather, and vanilla bean. The palate is robust and textured, featuring rich waves of toffee, black cherry, burnt orange peel, and seasoned oak. The finish is long, powerful, and lingering with charred caramel, spice, and smoky warmth.
This powerhouse bourbon is massive, intense, and packed with Texas terroir. The SFWSC Judging panel described the whiskey as expressing 'explosive aromas of brown sugar/molasses, caramel, leather, and vanilla on the nose. The bourbon is oily and viscous, with a noticeable palate weight showcasing orange zest, cherry syrup, caramel, vanilla, and seasoned oak. The finish is long, fiery, and powerful.'
Blackout Bourbon is a boutique bottling project focused on finding rare, full-proof single barrels, typically sourced from Kentucky or Indiana distilleries. Each barrel is selected for its boldness and complexity, usually bottled unfiltered and cask strength.
On the nose, Blackout Bourbon offers deep aromas of toasted marshmallow, dark chocolate, molasses, and smoky oak. The palate is thick and mouth-coating, bringing flavors of caramelized sugar, roasted peanuts, espresso, and a burst of peppery spice. The finish is bold and lengthy, trailing off with bittersweet cocoa and warm spice.
Blackout Bourbon lives up to its name — a whiskey of raw, unfiltered strength that pulls no punches. The SFWSC Judging Panel described the whiskey as 'powerful and intense on the nose and palate, featuring a candied sweetness, bittersweet chocolate, coffee, roasted nuts, and a persistent smoky note. The finish is long and flavorful, with lingering dark chocolate and spicy notes.'
Safai is a private label bourbon from Safai Coffee Company in Louisville, Kentucky. Their 8-year-old bourbon is sourced from top Kentucky stocks and bottled as a single barrel selection, typically around 110–115 proof.
It features vanilla bean, subtle leather, honeyed oak, and sweet corn pudding on the nose. The palate is smooth and flavorful, featuring butterscotch, caramel apple, roasted almonds, and cinnamon spice notes. The finish is medium-long and sweet, with lingering baking spice and a touch of aged oak.
Safai's bourbon is a polished, approachable single barrel, ideal for those who appreciate classic Kentucky flavor. The SFWSC described the whiskey as featuring 'classic Kentucky bourbon aromas express a balanced combination of caramel, vanilla, orchard fruit, and seasoned oak that is smooth and creamy on the palate with a long, sweet finish.'
This Hirsch limited-release single-barrel bourbon emphasizes an extra aging step in a second new charred oak barrel to deepen the flavor profile. Typically bottled at cask strength, varying between 120–125 proof, this expression begins with traditional bourbon maturation before re-barreling for additional richness.
The nose is complex and aromatic, brimming with notes of dark caramel, toasted coconut, baking spices, and heavy oak. It is rich and mouth-filling on the palate, offering spiced toffee, dark chocolate, cinnamon bark, and a surge of charred vanilla. The finish is bold, lengthy, and structured, with lingering smoky oak and hints of leather.
Hirsch Double Oak delivers a double hit of wood influence while maintaining balance and depth. The SFWSC Judging Panel described the whiskey as expressing 'aromas of plums, seasoned oak, mineral water, and lemon zest. It's spicy on the palate, featuring caramel, vanilla, and a pronounced cinnamon red hots flavor. The finish is long with lingering vanilla and cinnamon notes.'
This bourbon is an incredibly unique expression made entirely from Jimmy Red corn, a rare heirloom variety revived by High Wire in Charleston, South Carolina. The Jimmy Red corn, known for its rich and sweet flavor profile, is the sole ingredient in this bourbon, bottled as a single barrel bourbon and typically landing around 110 proof, showcasing the true character of this rare corn.
The nose is unusually rich and earthy, with notes of sweet cornbread, maple syrup, vanilla custard, and roasted nuts. It is velvety and flavorful on the palate, displaying waves of honeycomb, pecan pie, toasted grain, and herbal spice. The finish is smooth, warming, and carries hints of caramelized sugars and seasoned oak.
Jimmy Red is a singular bourbon experience — earthy, sweet, and deeply tied to its agricultural roots. The SFWSC Judging Panel described the whiskey as exhibiting 'aromas of black cherries, oak, and cinnamon oatmeal. The palate features cherry syrup with crème de cassis, black pepper, oak, and vanilla. The finish is medium length with pronounced and lingering black cherry notes.'
The finalists in the Single Barrel Bourbon Category from the 2025 SFWSC
This is a scarce single-barrel offering from the revived O.K.I. label, once famous for its beautifully aged MGP stock inventory. This 16-year-old Kentucky bourbon is sourced from high-end Kentucky warehouses and is typically bottled between 110–115 proof.
The nose is aromatic, featuring powerful aromas of aged oak, burnt caramel, dried cherries, and pipe tobacco. The palate is deep, rich, contemplative, layered with blackstrap molasses, old leather, roasted hazelnuts, and bittersweet dark chocolate flavors. The finish is incredibly long and nuanced, with lingering aged oak, spice, and espresso notes.
This O.K.I. 16 Year Single Barrel is a showstopper — a celebration of well-aged bourbon at its peak maturity. The SFWSC described the whiskey as featuring 'aromas of fruit and honey intertwined with caramel and vanilla notes. The bourbon is rich and robust on the palate with notes of molasses, roasted hazelnuts, vanilla, caramel, and dried cherries. The finish is long and slightly sweet, with lingering spice and oak notes.'
This bourbon is a standout ultra-aged single-barrel release from Augusta Distillery in Kentucky. Augusta's bourbons have been perennial medalists in spirit competitions. Named after Revolutionary War hero Simon Buckner, this bourbon is bottled at barrel strength, often exceeding 120 proof, from meticulously selected barrels.
The nose is vibrant, offering a bouquet of dark maple syrup, worn leather, rich vanilla bean, and old oak. The palate is lush and luxurious, bursting with deep flavors of toffee, fig jam, spiced plum, dark roasted coffee, and layers of charred wood. The finish is extraordinarily long, evolving from sweet to smoky to slightly dry, with lingering cocoa powder and aged wood notes.
Buckner's 15-Year Single Barrel is a profound, complex whiskey — a classic example of bourbon reaching a noble old age with grace and strength.
The SFWSC Judging Panel described the bourbon as expressing 'powerful aromas of maple candy, dried cherry, dried orchard, and stone fruit. The palate is robust with a pronounced mouth weight and satiny texture, featuring caramel, prune, coffee, fig jam, and charred wood. The finish is long, with lingering dried fruit, chocolate, and seasoned oak notes.'
The 2025 SFWSC showcased seven outstanding single-barrel bourbons from all over the US. They represent a broad array of styles and proofs reflecting a variety of terroirs and maturation environments. They underscore the wide range of aroma and flavorful profiles that characterize single-barrel bourbons and showcase how barrel selection and blending allow specialty bottlers to release exceptional expressions. These seven expressions are among the world's best single-barrel bourbons. All are worth trying.