The 2024 International Whisky Competition has concluded after holding events in both Isle of Raasay, Scotland and Louisville, Kentucky, and its expert judges have handed down awards after double-blind tasting whiskeys (and whiskies) from around the globe.
There were some surprises, including the overall “Whisky of the Year” winner, but other results went as expected. Perhaps least shocking was the bottle that took home the award for both Best Bourbon and Best American Whiskey, as it’s the same one that took home both medals last year.
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss
For the second consecutive year, George T. Stagg bourbon is the king of American whiskeys. One of the five bottles included in the annual mega-hyped Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, the cask-strength bourbon has long been considered one of the greatest and most sought-after whiskeys this side of the Atlantic.
I’ve sampled the most recent Stagg and considered it my favorite of the BTAC, alongside William Larue Weller bourbon, so I’m glad to see that my palate isn’t so far removed from the experts at the IWC who use 15 different criteria to produce the tasting notes for every dram they throw back.
The current version of George T. Stagg clocks in at a hefty 67.5% ABV and an age statement of over 15 years. I found it to deliver an intense hit of caramel corn while being an unfathomably easy sipper for a 135-proof whiskey.
George T. Stagg Bourbon
Specs
ABV | 67.5% |
Age | 15 years, 4 months |
Tasting Notes | Toffee, dark chocolate, vanilla |
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$1,300 (29% off)