There are a whole lot of whiskey competitions out there vying for our attention, but it’s always interesting when a brand or distillery that is not one of the usual suspects wins a top prize. Such was the case last week at the 2026 World Whiskies Awards America, when independent Kentucky distillery New Riff, which we’ve covered here many times before, took home the prize for World’s Best Bourbon—no small feat, considering the competition.

The ceremony for the World Whiskies Awards, which started back in 2007, was held last Thursday in Louisville at the Brown Hotel, hosted by honorary president Peggy Noe Stevens and chair of judges Maggie Kimberl. In addition to New Riff, some other names of note took home the gold. The Best Non-Kentucky Bourbon went to non-distiller producer 15 Stars for its Artisan Collection. In the Finished Bourbon category, Maker’s Mark 46 (Kentucky) and Redemption Cognac Cask Finish (Non-Kentucky) won. Of course, Buffalo Trace made a few appearances as well: Elmer T. Lee was awarded Best Kentucky Single Barrel Bourbon, and E.H. Taylor Small Batch got the nod for Best Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon (a legally undefined category, it should be noted).

Some other winners of note included Wyoming Whiskey’s Buffalo Bill Cody bourbon for Best Non-Kentucky Small Batch Bourbon; Jack Daniel’s 14 Year Old Tennessee Whiskey Batch 1 for Best Tennessee Whiskey; Knob Creek Bourbon x Rye Kentucky Blended Straight Whiskey for Best American Blended Limited Release (no age statement); and, in another Buffalo Trace placement, Sazerac Rye 18 Years Old for Best American Rye Whiskey (13 to 20 years).

In the Icons of Whisky section, Kentucky’s Heaven Hill Distillery was named Distiller of the Year for the third year in a row, and also took the Sustainable Distillery of the Year honor along with a few other categories, while Tennessee distillery Chattanooga Whiskey was named Craft Producer of the Year. Jack Daniel’s Chris Fletcher was named Master Distiller/Master Blender of the Year, which might not come as a surprise given what’s been coming out of that distillery in recent years. And Angel’s Envy’s Owen Martin was named Craft Distiller or Blender of the Year, seemingly an odd honor given that Angel’s Envy is owned by Bacardi and hardly thought of as a craft distillery (Angel’s Envy also won Production Team of the Year).

All the winning whiskeys were determined by blind tasting, according to the World Whiskies Awards, although brands do have to pay a fee to enter their bottles. This is just one of many whiskey competitions that will take place over the year, so we’ll update you with any news about winners of note as they happen over the coming months.