The Best Bourbons According To The TAG Global Spirits Awards 2023

The Best Bourbons According To The TAG Global Spirits Awards 2023

The TAG Global Spirits Awards, launched in 2022, represents a significant milestone in the spirits industry, founded by three prominent figures: renowned mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim, esteemed U.S. industry veteran David Grapshi, and Julio Bermejo, the American Ambassador of Mexico’s National Chamber for the Tequila Industry. With a mission to honor both established and emerging spirits brands worldwide, the awards aim to establish new industry benchmarks. The expert judges, leveraging their extensive experience in the spirits industry, meticulously evaluate entries, making the awards a pivotal event for brands' success. Announced annually, the awards recognize the best in show spirits, celebrated for their exceptional quality and distinctive characteristics. In the 2023 edition, among the hundreds of bourbons entered, only 10 were bestowed with the coveted label of 'Best In Show', distinguishing themselves as unparalleled expressions of quality and excellence.

Widow Jane Lucky Thirteen Bourbon

Introducing an exceptional entry in the American Blended Straight Bourbon category honored by the TAG Global Spirits Awards, offering a symphony of tasting notes including vanilla bean, Earl Grey tea, caramel, sweet tobacco, pecan pie, whole grain toast, grapefruit peel, and nutmeg. Buy it now!

Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery Nelson Brother’s Classic Bourbon

Introducing the inaugural release from Nelson Brothers, Andy and Charlie, celebrated at the TAG Global Spirits Awards in the American Blended Straight Bourbon category. This exceptional bourbon offers a delightful array of tasting notes, including banana bread, cocoa, cherry, dried pineapple, black peppercorn, spearmint, lemon, sweet tobacco, spice cake, milk chocolate, vanilla, and baked apple, all available for purchase at $29.99. Crafted through blending high-rye straight bourbon aged in charred American oak, this whiskey is equally delightful neat or in cocktails. Inspired by their family's heritage, particularly their great-great-great grandfather's distillery in Tennessee, Andy and Charlie embarked on reviving Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery in 2006, carrying on their family's legacy. Since its revival, the distillery has flourished, producing a range of exceptional products including bourbon, whiskey, rye whiskey, and liqueurs. Buy it now!

Brother’s Bond Original Cask Strength Bourbon

Presenting the distinguished Original Cask Strength Bourbon from Brother’s Bond, honored in the American Straight Bourbon – Original Cask Strength category at the TAG Global Spirits Awards. This exceptional bourbon boasts tasting notes of ripe banana, caramel, vanilla, walnuts, dried fruits, warmed rye bread, honey, leather, and subtle smoke, available for purchase at $68.95. Crafted from a four-grain, high-rye mash bill comprising corn, rye, wheat, and barley, this bourbon is aged for a minimum of four years, garnering accolades such as Double Gold at the New York World Spirits Competition 2023. Founded by American actors Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley, renowned for their roles as the Salvatore Brothers in the TV series “The Vampire Diaries,” Brother’s Bond began as a passion project born from their shared love for fine bourbon. Inspired by their characters' affinity for bourbon and their own experiences unwinding with quality spirits, Somerhalder and Wesley crafted their brand as a testament to their friendship and bond, exemplified in every sip of Brother’s Bond Bourbon. Buy it now!

Redwood Empire Pipe Dream Cask Strength

Introducing the distinguished Redwood Empire Whiskey, celebrated in the American Bourbon Cask Strength category at the TAG Global Spirits Awards. This remarkable whiskey offers tasting notes of toffee, cherry, soft leather, cherry cola, honey, butterscotch, and pecans, available for purchase at $66.99. Bottled at cask strength following a minimum four-year maturation period in Northern California, Redwood Empire proudly shares its mash bills, with this expression crafted from 74% corn, 20% raw rye, 4.5% malted barley, and 1.5% wheat. Established in Sonoma County, California, in 2016, Redwood Empire Whiskey draws inspiration from the rugged landscapes and vast forests of Northern California, with each whiskey named after a famous tree. Among these, Pipe Dream stands tall as the 14th tallest tree globally, soaring 367 feet in Humboldt State Park. Buy it now!

Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series Bottled-in-Bond

Presenting a distinguished entry in the American Bourbon Bottle-in-Bond category, honored by the TAG Global Spirits Awards, this exceptional bourbon offers tasting notes of baked peach, cocoa, lemon, stone fruit, and toffee. Aged for a minimum of six years in Bardstown, Kentucky, this Bottled-in-Bond bourbon meets the stringent criteria of being matured for over four years and bottled at 100 proof, legally earning the coveted designation. Hailing from the Bardstown Bourbon Company, a modern enterprise nestled in the heart of Kentucky, this bourbon embodies both innovation and tradition in American whiskey-making. Renowned for its experimental mash bills and state-of-the-art distillery, the Bardstown Bourbon Company also offers an immersive experience located on Whiskey Row in Louisville, inviting enthusiasts to delve deeper into the world of bourbon. Buy it now!

Henry McKenna Bottled-in-Bond Single Barrel Bourbon

While some might argue that shining a light on this bottle contradicts our quest for hidden gems, McKenna has quietly remained under the radar for far too long. Offering a bottled-in-bond single barrel is commendable on its own, but Heaven Hill has gone above and beyond by maintaining a 10-year age statement at an incredibly affordable price point. Sharing the same mash bill as Elijah Craig and Evan Williams, McKenna boasts quality that surpasses its recognition. With its value and potential, it's only a matter of time before this hidden treasure gains the attention it deserves, so it's wise to stock up while you can. Buy it now!

Old Hillside Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Introducing Old Hillside Kentucky Straight Bourbon, celebrated in the American Bourbon Single Barrel category at the TAG Global Spirits Awards. This exceptional bourbon offers tasting notes of smokiness, char, woodsiness, caramel, vanilla, citrus, and fig, presenting itself as an "easy sipper" with a finish akin to a "Kentucky hug". Lauded with multiple awards, this bourbon is hailed as the ideal choice for both aficionados and beginners alike. Founded by childhood friends Jesse Carpenter and Brian Burton, hailing from Durham, North Carolina, Old Hillside Bourbon Company pays homage to their alma mater, Durham’s Hillside High School. Distilled in Sparta, Kentucky, the brand aims to honor history, particularly the legacy of legendary Black jockeys and Hillside High School, through their products. Buy it now!

Puncher’s Chance The Undisputed

Introducing Puncher’s Chance Bourbon, celebrated in the American Bourbon Single Barrel category at the TAG Global Spirits Awards. This remarkable bourbon presents tasting notes of warming vanilla, oak, and nuttiness. Named in homage to boxing, Puncher’s Chance embodies the belief that anyone can deliver a knockout punch, regardless of the odds, especially when executed with perfect balance. The Undisputed, part of the Single Barrel Selection, comprises meticulously chosen bourbon expressions, bottled at 108 proof to deliver a powerful yet harmoniously balanced experience. Produced by Wolf Spirit Distillery, Puncher’s Chance Bourbon was launched in September 2020 amidst the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. Buy it now!

Garrison Brothers Guadalupe Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished In A Port Cask

Guadalupe Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey, a distinctive creation finished in port casks and bottled at 107 proof, invites connoisseurs to indulge in a dessert-like bourbon experience. The palate unfolds with delightful notes of berry fruit, ripe plums, and strawberry butter atop flaky morning biscuits, creating a rich and inviting profile. Chocolate and cinnamon accents further enhance the tasting journey, making Guadalupe an ideal after-dinner libation for those with refined palates. Best enjoyed alongside decadent sweets, this bourbon offers a harmonious blend of flavors that elevates the post-dinner ritual to a sophisticated and memorable experience. Buy it now!

Elijah Craig Bourbon Small Batch

The Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon stands out as a remarkable value, offering an exceptional experience for bourbon enthusiasts. The inviting bouquet opens with delightful aromas of honey, sweet corn, vanilla, and brown sugar, setting the stage for what unfolds on the equally luscious palate. This bourbon strikes a perfect balance, combining boldness with smoothness, as flavors of honey, vanilla, and molasses take center stage, complemented by a subtle dry oakiness. Whether savored neat or with a touch of water, Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon delivers a memorable and satisfying drinking experience. Buy it now!