Whiskey Experts Just Declared This $50 Bottle the World’s Best Bourbon

Every drinker has their own idea of what the “best” bourbon is, but the opinions of some tend to carry more weight than others.

That’s part of why we have spirits competitions. Get a bunch of whiskey experts in a room together, have them try dozens of drams and then get their highly educated takes on which bottle reigns supreme.

When it comes to spirits competitions, those run by the Tasting Alliance — namely the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, New York Wine & Spirits Competition and the Singapore World Spirits Competition — are perhaps the most prestigious.

The Asian contest concluded last month, and its team of global experts awarded four bourbons the highest ranking of a Double Gold medal. But just one bottle out of that quartet earned the title of Best in Show — and it just happens to be the cheapest and most attainable of them all.

1792

1792 Full Proof

• $52 at Caskers

Drumroll, please…

The four bourbons that snagged Double Gold at the Singapore World Spirits Competition are as follows: Peg Leg Porker 8-Year-Old Grey Label Tennessee Straight Bourbon, W.L. Weller Full Proof Bourbon, Brother’s Bond Original Cask Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey and 1792 Full Proof Bourbon.

The Weller and the Peg Leg Porker are the hardest to track down and will hit your wallet the hardest, with both bottles currently going for upwards of $300 on the inflated secondary market.

The Brother’s Bond is much easier to stomach, as it’s readily available at its suggested retail price of $80. Then there’s the 1792, which is even easier to find and cheaper at around 50 bucks. And wouldn’t you know it? The judges say it’s the best of the bunch.

1792 Bourbon

1792 is the King of 2024

1792 Full Proof is a non-chill filtered bourbon that goes into the bottle at the exact same proof at which it entered the barrel: 125 proof, which is equivalent to 62.5% ABV. 1792 says this results in a fuller and richer tasting bourbon, and it seems pretty clear the judges agree.

But this isn’t the first time this whiskey — or the distillery — has turned heads.

1792 Full Proof was previously awarded the title of World Whisky of the Year by the venerated Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible, and earlier this year, it won Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

1792 Bourbon

In fact, it was one of five 1792 bottles to be awarded Double Gold in San Francisco — more than any other bourbon brand. Considering that 1792 — which is produced at the Barton Distillery in Bardstown, KY — currently only offers eight bottles in total, that is one hell of a batting average. (Maybe the Yankees should look into adding a bottle of 1792 at third base.)

If you want to pick up a bottle of 1792 Full Proof for yourself to see what all the fuss is about, you can readily find it online at places like Caskers for right around its SRP of 50 bucks. But you might want to get on that, odds are those bottles are going to start disappearing once word gets out about its new title.

1792

1792 Full Proof

Specs

ABV	62.5%
Age	N/A
Tasting Notes	Vanilla, caramel, smoke

• $52 at Caskers

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