Each whiskey is different in its own way. However, to really stand apart from the rest, each one has to be special. To separate the wheat from the chaff, requires a competition and that is what IWSC brings to judge how good a whiskey is. And here we have three winners. We feature here 3 best whiskeys in 2026 including Willett Old Bardstown Bottled in Bond 4 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Bardstown Bourbon Company Lochs of Jura Barrel 10 Year Old American Whiskey and Teeling Distillery Exclusive 20 Year Old Mongolian Oak Cask Single Malt Irish Whiskey. Each has been recognised in its respective category - Bourbon Trophy, American Whiskey Trophy and Worldwide Whiskey Trophy. These IWSC 2026 trophy winners have plenty of variety, proving that great whiskey is not defined by age or country of origin alone.
Willett Distillery's Old Bardstown Bottled in Bond 4 Year Old claimed the Bourbon Trophy at IWSC 2026 with 98 points and a Gold Outstanding medal. Made with a mash bill of 72% corn, 13% rye and 15% malted barley, this Kentucky straight bourbon is aged for at least four years and bottled at 50% ABV. The judges noted bright, grain-forward aromas, followed by marmalade, brioche, delicate floral notes and oak, with a refined, lingering finish.
Old Bardstown Bottled in Bond 4 Year Old Bourbon Price: Approximately US$25.
ABV: 50%.
Scoring an impressive 99 points, Bardstown Bourbon Company's Lochs of Jura Barrel 10 Year Old won the American Whiskey Trophy. The blend combines 11-year-old Indiana bourbon, 10-year-old Indiana rye and 12-year-old Kentucky bourbon, before undergoing a 32-month finish in casks that previously held single malt Scotch whisky from the Isle of Jura. Cinnamon, spiced vanilla, orange peel and caramel lead the tasting profile, followed by orange, nutmeg, chocolate and warm wood spices.
Bardstown Lochs of Jura Barrel 10 Year Old American Whiskey Price: Approximately US$139.99.
ABV: 52%.
Teeling's 20-year-old single malt took home the Irish Whiskey Trophy, earning 98 points and Gold Outstanding recognition. This limited distillery-exclusive release is finished in Mongolian oak casks and has just 276 bottles available. The judges picked out tropical fruit notes of mango and pineapple, followed by citrus, gentle nuttiness and a crisp, fresh finish with hints of sweetness.
Teeling 20 Year Old Mongolian Oak Cask Irish Whiskey Price: €200.
ABV: 45.9%.
An award-winning whiskey bottle can be a good starting point for discovering something new. What the IWSC results remind us about is that there are always more whiskeys to explore beyond the established brands. Whether you are building a collection or simply looking for your next interesting pour, these three Trophy winners make a compelling case for keeping an open mind about whiskeys.