Coming into the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, my mind raced with many wonderful personal and professional things. Jaclyn is pregnant, and the Bourbon & Beyond announcement neared. In constant excitement about our upcoming baby boy and the eagerness to see bourbon on stage with … Continue readingBest Bourbon? Or Bourbon Pride? The story of ’18 San Fran Spirits Comp
Has bourbon lost its way? The past couple years I’ve been asking this question a lot, as fewer American whiskeys carried complexity or were one note wonders. For every William Larue Weller or Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch, there were 10 pricy limited editions … Continue readingShocking Whiskey Upsets at ’17 San Fran World Spirits Comp
It was beautiful. The spice, rich caramel, long-and-fruity finish: The Best Bourbon was everything you want in bourbon, and it deserved Best Whisky at this year’s San Francisco World Spirits Competition. When I learned its identity after the competition’s completion, I was even more in … Continue readingBest Bourbon: The Unbelievable ‘Best Whisky’ Upset in ’16 San Francisco World Spirits Competition
At this year’s San Francisco World Spirits Competition, I tasted bourbons that absolutely wowed me. This competition restored my faith in the new bourbons hitting the market, and it reminded me of an old friend that is pretty damn good. As soon as I learned … Continue readingBest Bourbon: The Shocking Winner at San Francisco World Spirits 2015
On the plane to San Francisco, I pondered the past year in bourbon and the trends that could impact my beloved category. We’ve seen age statements drop like flies and distilleries discontinue or slow down private barrel selection programs (that’s where a retailer, bar or … Continue readingBest Bourbon, Best Craft Whiskey: ’14 San Francisco World Spirits Competition
All lined up, shimmering in charred oak glory with uniquely rich noses, packing those patented smells of caramel and vanilla, nine bourbons awaited my lips. As with the other 275 of the 1,400 spirits I judged at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the whiskeys’ … Continue readingThe Inside Story to ‘Best Bourbon’ at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition