All Of The Platinum Medal-Winning American Whiskeys From The 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

All Of The Platinum Medal-Winning American Whiskeys From The 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Here are the Platinum medal-winning American whiskeys, along with details on the producers, tasting notes, and where to buy them.

Detroit City Distillery Homegrown Rye 

Detroit City Distillery’s Homegrown Rye, which won a Platinum medal, offers tasting notes of buttery caramel, coffee, and spice. Priced at $54.99, this high-rye expression has a mash bill of 97% rye and 3% specialty roasted barley malts, sourced exclusively from Washtenaw County, Michigan, making it a true 100% Michigan product. Founded by eight childhood friends inspired by Detroit's entrepreneurial spirit during prohibition, the distillery creates small batch, artisanal gin, whiskey, and vodka with ingredients from local farms. Distilled in a small pot still and aged for at least two years, this rye whiskey honors the legacy of the farmers who make their spirits possible. Buy it now!

High Bank Distillery Midnight Cask Barrel Proof Whiskey

High Bank Distillery’s Midnight Cask Barrel Proof Whiskey, a Platinum medal winner, features tasting notes of buttered plum, raisin, white pepper, and vanilla. Priced at $57.99, this unique whiskey is a blend of cask strength whiskeys and Australian Tawny Port Wine, aged for over five years and bottled at a barrel strength of 51% ABV. High Bank Distillery, named after the strategic placement of Ohio’s state capital on the high bank of the Scioto River to avoid flood risk, emphasizes an uncompromised approach in selecting ingredients for their food, cocktails, and spirits. Buy it now!

High Bank Distillery Whiskey War Barrel Proof Whiskey

High Bank Distillery’s Whiskey War Barrel Proof Whiskey, a Platinum medal winner, is priced at $71.99 and delivers tasting notes of gingersnap cookie, allspice, vanilla, and caramel. This high-rye whiskey is aged for at least four years. The name ‘Whiskey War’ pays homage to the early days of prohibition, referencing a saloon opened by Henry Corbin in 1875 in an area opposed to distilled spirits. After two explosive attacks on his saloon and a dramatic confrontation with protesters, Corbin's defiance is said to have sparked the Whiskey War and the rise of the Anti-Saloon League. High Bank describes their whiskey as a blend of unique batches that battle each other, ensuring a victorious experience for your taste buds. Buy it now!

High Bank Distillery Whiskey War Double Oaked

Whiskey War Double Oaked, another Platinum medal winner from High Bank Distillery, is priced at $69.99 and offers tasting notes of leather, vanilla pipe tobacco, and allspice. This expression enhances the standard Whiskey War with an additional 6-12 months of maturation in a charred oak barrel, delivering a richer and more complex flavor profile. Buy it now!

Jack Daniel’s 10 Year Old Tennessee Whiskey 

Jack Daniel’s 10 Year Old, a Platinum medal recipient priced at $149.98, stands as a notable addition to the list. Released in 2021 and presented annually in batches, this expression undergoes a 10-year maturation process, during which it's rotated between ricks in Jack Daniel’s barrelhouse, exposing it to diverse temperature fluctuations for an extended aging period, resulting in a deep and rich flavor profile highlighted by notes of butterscotch, soft fruit, sweet tobacco, and spice. Additionally, in 2023, Jack Daniel’s introduced a 12 Year Old variant, indicating a potential ongoing venture into age-statement Tennessee whiskey. Buy it now!

Pacific Coast Spirits American Single Malt 

Pacific Coast Spirits, situated on the Pacific Ocean shores in San Diego, California, is known for its artisanal approach to crafting whiskey, gin, and agave spirits using locally sourced ingredients. Their Platinum medal-winning Pacific Coast Spirits American Single Malt, unfortunately unavailable for purchase at present, presents tasting notes of bright malt, stone fruits, and chocolate. Comprising a mash bill of 100% malted barley including Golden Promise pale malt, Munich malt, Crystal 60, and 2% chocolate malt, this whiskey is aged for a minimum of six years in charred American oak barrels, imparting sweet oak influences and a malt-forward flavor. Bottled at a robust cask strength of 57% ABV, this sought-after batch may be found through Pacific Coast Spirits’s Bottle Club once it's back in stock. Learn more!

Rittenhouse Bottled-In-Bond Straight Rye Whiskey

Rittenhouse Bottled-In-Bond Straight Rye Whiskey, awarded Platinum, offers a plethora of tasting notes including dried fruits, toffee, sweet peppers, cocoa, citrus, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, maple, and spice, all for $21.99. Produced at the esteemed Heaven Hill Distillery, this rye whiskey pays homage to Philadelphia’s iconic Rittenhouse Square and is crafted in a classic “Pennsylvania style”. Historically, Pennsylvania boasted a thriving rye whiskey industry in the early 19th century, capitalizing on the state's abundant rye crop amidst declining rum consumption and trade embargos. Following Bottled-In-Bond regulations, this rye whiskey is aged for a minimum of four years and bottled at 100 proof, accentuating its bold rye spice character. Buy it now!

Triple Eight Distillery 15 Year Old The Notch Nantucket Island Single Malt

The Triple Eight Distillery 15 Year Old The Notch Nantucket Island Single Malt, awarded Platinum, boasts tasting notes of stewed and dried fruits, dark chocolate, vanilla, honey, coconut, and spice, available for purchase at $499.99. Situated on Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, Triple Eight Distillery has been crafting The Notch single malt since 2000, marking one of the earliest endeavors in American single malt whiskey production. Distilled from Maris Otter heirloom malted barley, this 15-year-old expression reflects the island's distinct character, shaped by its varied climate and sea air exposure. The barrels experience fluctuations between cool and moist and hot and humid weather, enhancing oak interaction. The Notch also pays tribute to Islay, Scotland, with Co-founder Dean Long drawing inspiration from Bowmore Distillery’s batch distillation process after consulting with their former production manager. Buy it now!

Bainbridge Battle Point Barrel Proof Wheat Whiskey

Bainbridge Distillery, founded by Keith Barnes in 2009 on Bainbridge Island, produces organic spirits including gin, whiskey, and vodka, emphasizing quality in every batch. Their Platinum medal-winning Bainbridge Battle Point Barrel Proof Wheat Whiskey, named after a small community on the island's western side, is distilled from a 100% wheat mash bill and aged for over six years in virgin American white oak barrels. While the standard expression is bottled at 43% ABV, the medal-winning variant is Barrel Proof, boasting 141.3 proof. Though the Barrel Proof expression may be elusive, the non-Barrel Proof version offers notes of caramel, orange peel, sherry, baking spice, and salty sea air, available for purchase at $61.99. Buy it now!