5 Must-Try Bourbons From 2025’s San Francisco World Spirits Competition

5 Must-Try Bourbons From 2025’s San Francisco World Spirits Competition

The San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC), founded in 2000, is a premier global spirits competition renowned for its rigorous blind tastings conducted by a distinguished panel of master distillers, spirits journalists, and bar professionals. Held annually, it evaluates a wide range of spirits, with its 2025 edition spotlighting exceptional straight bourbons among other categories. The SFWSC’s prestigious awards are a benchmark of quality, celebrating craftsmanship and innovation, and its recognition significantly influences both emerging and established brands in the competitive spirits industry.

Old Grand Dad 16-Year-Old Straight Bourbon

Old Grand Dad 16-Year-Old Straight Bourbon, a high-rye bourbon from Jim Beam's Clermont distillery, is a special release honoring Basil Hayden Sr. Bottled at 100 proof with a mash bill of 63% corn, 27% rye, and 10% malted barley, it balances extended aging with vibrant rye spice. The nose offers leather, pipe tobacco, dark cherries, seasoned oak, and cocoa, while the palate delivers molasses, clove, toffee, stone fruit, and spiced orange zest. Its long, sweet finish features charred oak, vanilla, and black pepper, making it a complex and flavorful standout.

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C924

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C924, a September 2024 release from Heaven Hill, is a 12-year-old cask-strength bourbon bottled at 133.6 proof. This robust bourbon boasts a nose of molasses, burnt sugar, cinnamon, roasted pecans, and faint campfire smoke. The palate is intense, with dark caramel, black cherries, espresso, charred oak, and spiced honey, finishing long, dry, and smoky with dark chocolate and licorice notes. The SFWSC panel praised its rich, balanced profile, highlighting caramel, cherry syrup, coffee, and rye spice.

Eagle Rare 17-Year-Old Straight Bourbon

Eagle Rare 17-Year-Old Straight Bourbon, part of Buffalo Trace’s Antique Collection, is distilled from their low-rye Mash Bill No. 1 and bottled at 101 proof after 17 years of aging. It showcases refined complexity with a nose of old leather, antique wood, dark cherry compote, caramelized pecans, and floral undertones. The palate offers vanilla custard, toffee, baked apple pie, and toasted almonds wrapped in seasoned oak, with a long, dry finish of nutmeg, leather, and spiced chocolate, earning praise for its smooth, fruity, and spicy balance.

World Whiskey Society Doc Holliday 15-Year-Old Straight Bourbon

World Whiskey Society’s Doc Holliday 15-Year-Old Straight Bourbon, bottled at 136.2 proof, is a rare, 15-year-aged Kentucky bourbon sourced and named after the legendary gunfighter. Its nose features brown sugar, baked apples, polished wood, dried figs, and a cigar box aroma. The palate is richly layered with toffee, nutmeg, honeycomb, aged leather, vanilla bean, and maple syrup, culminating in an exceptionally long finish with sweet oak spice, crème brûlée, and tobacco notes, ideal for slow savoring.

Ray's Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Ray’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon, a small-batch offering from Ray’s Whiskey Company, is a 45% ABV bourbon slated for release later in 2025. Priced at $35, this easy-drinking whiskey is perfect for sipping or cocktails, with a youthful nose of sweet corn, vanilla, fresh oak, and apple. The light, approachable palate includes honey, light caramel, white pepper, and green apple, with a medium-short finish of seasoned oak and vanilla sweetness, described by the SFWSC panel as chewy and waxy with vanilla and honey notes.