The World’s Best Bourbon—According To The 2023 International Wine And Spirits

What a banner year it’s been for Bardstown Bourbon Company. Back in March, the celebrated Kentucky spirits maker received top score at the International Wine and Spirits Competition for its 6-year-old Origin Series release: 98 out of 100 points. And now that very same prestigious organization has just awarded BBC the title of “Worldwide Whiskey Producer of the Year” at its annual awards ceremony in London.

Not a bad collection of hardware for a distillery that’s only been on the scene since 2014. Indeed, in winning top honors this week BBC bested Barton distillery, its Bardstown neighbor which has been producing whiskey there since 1879. But despite the dogged traditionalism of bourbon, newness managed to actually be a feature rather than a flaw.