Bourbon
A $25 Kentucky Bourbon Takes the World Stage, Plus the Fall Releases Worth Knowing
Willett's Kentucky-only Old Bardstown Bottled-in-Bond beat bottles costing many times more at the 2026 International Wine & Spirit Competition. Here is the story, and the other bottles landing on shelves this fall.
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At a glance Key takeaways
- Old Bardstown Bottled-in-Bond, a four-year-old Willett bourbon that typically sells for about $25, won the 2026 IWSC Bourbon Trophy.
- It scored 98 out of 100 points and is made from Willett's original mash bill of 72% corn, 15% malted barley and 13% rye.
- It is officially distributed only in Kentucky.
Bourbon's biggest headlines usually belong to bottles that are rare, old and priced like jewelry. This fall, one of the year's top honors went the other way. Old Bardstown Bottled-in-Bond, a four-year-old bourbon from Willett Distillery in Bardstown that typically sells for about $25, has been named winner of the 2026 Bourbon Trophy at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC).
The whiskey earned 98 out of 100 points and a Gold Outstanding medal in the competition's North American straight bourbon category, then went on to claim the trophy, which IWSC will present at its annual awards ceremony in London later this fall. Food & Wine, which first reported the win, noted that the bottle beat whiskeys costing many times more.
What is Old Bardstown Bottled-in-Bond?
Willett is one of Kentucky's best-known family distilleries. It was founded in 1936 by Thompson Willett in Bardstown, the town that calls itself the bourbon capital of the world. Collectors know the name mostly for its Willett Family Estate releases, some of which trade for large sums on the secondary market. Old Bardstown sits in a far more approachable corner of the portfolio.
According to Forbes, the company stopped distilling in the 1970s and spent years bottling whiskey made by others. It resumed distilling in Bardstown in 2012 and in 2016 introduced a new Old Bardstown Bottled-in-Bond made from its own spirit. The recipe is the family's original mash bill: 72% corn, 15% malted barley and 13% rye. That is an unusually high share of malted barley for a Kentucky bourbon.
- Corn 72%
- Malted barley 15%
- Rye 13%
Source: Forbes
"Bottled-in-bond" is a legal standard that dates to the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897. To carry the label, a whiskey must be made by one distiller at one distillery in a single distilling season. It must also age at least four years in a federally bonded warehouse and be bottled at exactly 100 proof. Old Bardstown checks every box.
What the judges tasted
IWSC's panel praised the bourbon's bright, grain-forward nose and a dry, balanced palate. They singled out notes of marmalade and brioche, a light floral edge and a long finish. Put simply, this is a classic, food-friendly Kentucky bourbon: lively enough to sip neat, sturdy enough for an Old Fashioned.
- 1897
The Bottled-in-Bond Act sets the legal standard.
- 1936
Thompson Willett founds Willett in Bardstown.
- 1970s
The company stops distilling and bottles whiskey made by others.
- 2012
Willett resumes distilling in Bardstown.
- 2016
A new Old Bardstown Bottled-in-Bond made from its own spirit is introduced.
- 2026
It wins the IWSC Bourbon Trophy with 98 points.
Sources: Food & Wine, Forbes
The catch: it is (officially) a Kentucky exclusive
There is one wrinkle for fans outside the state. Both Food & Wine and Forbes report that Old Bardstown Bottled-in-Bond is officially distributed only in Kentucky. Other whiskeys carry the Old Bardstown name in more markets. If you are visiting Bardstown, Louisville or Lexington this season, it is one more reason to leave room in the suitcase. Expect shelves to thin out after a win like this.
Other bottles arriving this fall
The trophy is not the only bourbon news. The Lexington Herald-Leader's fall roundup highlights several new and returning releases:
- Old Forester Tribute Series. Brown-Forman's oldest brand launched a premium line whose first release is a 12-year-old bourbon at 115 proof. It comes in a collectible bottle inspired by the brand's mid-century holiday decanters, with a suggested price of $299.99 in limited quantities nationwide.
- Knob Creek 21 Year Old. The oldest expression in James B. Beam Distilling Co. history returns for a limited time at 100 proof, with a suggested price of $249.99 for a 750 mL bottle. It was first released in 2025.
- Moon Moonshine. Made by Barrel House Distilling Co. in Lexington, this lower-proof (70 proof) unaged corn whiskey is now sold in Kentucky and nationally after launching in Florida. A 1-liter bottle has a suggested price of $35.
Typical or suggested retail prices as reported; bottle sizes vary.
Sources: Food & Wine, Lexington Herald-Leader
Together they show the range of Kentucky spirits right now: a $25 bottled-in-bond winning on quality, ultra-aged bottles for collectors and craft distillers reaching new drinkers.
How to enjoy (and gift) Kentucky bourbon this season
Whether you track down Old Bardstown or pour a favorite from your own shelf, the right glassware makes a tasting feel special. A Glencairn flight tray made from reclaimed Kentucky barrel staves lets you line up four pours side by side. That is perfect for comparing a bottled-in-bond against an older release. For everyday sipping, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail map glass doubles as a souvenir of the distilleries.
Bourbon lovers who like a story with their whiskey will enjoy Prohibition in Bardstown: Bourbon, Bootlegging & Saloons, a history of the same town that produced this year's trophy winner. For a host gift, the Bourbon Trail decanter set or a barrel-stave bottle opener are easy to wrap. And please enjoy bourbon responsibly.
Test yourself Quick quiz
At what proof must a bottled-in-bond whiskey be bottled?
Show answer
100 proof. Bottled-in-bond whiskey must be bottled at exactly 100 proof.
What is unusual about Old Bardstown's mash bill?
Show answer
A high share of malted barley. At 15%, its malted barley share is unusually high for a Kentucky bourbon.
Where is Old Bardstown Bottled-in-Bond officially distributed?
Show answer
Only in Kentucky. Food & Wine and Forbes report it is officially distributed only in Kentucky.
Questions & answers
What does bottled-in-bond mean?
Under the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, the whiskey must be made by one distiller at one distillery in a single distilling season, aged at least four years in a federally bonded warehouse and bottled at exactly 100 proof.
What is the Old Bardstown Bottled-in-Bond mash bill?
Willett's original family mash bill: 72% corn, 15% malted barley and 13% rye.
Sources
- This $25 bottle is the world's best bourbon, according to the 2026 International Wine and Spirit Competition, Food & Wine, October 4, 2026
- A $25 Kentucky bourbon was just named the world's best at the IWSC, Forbes, October 20, 2026
- New bourbon releases: Old Forester, Knob Creek, Pursuit and Moon Moonshine, Lexington Herald-Leader, October 20, 2026
Written by the Best of Kentucky Store team from the sources above. Product prices and availability come from A Taste of Kentucky, which handles every order.
