The World’s Best Bourbon – According to the 2024 London Spirits Competition

The results of the 2024 London Spirits Competition have been announced, and they contain some major surprises. One of Europe’s most prestigious tasting events, his annual judging brings together 40 of his distinguished palates from all sectors of the alcohol industry. Across a total of 29 different categories, what they certify as the best of the best can be a huge boost for brands, especially emerging craft suppliers.

Today we’re taking a closer look at what they named the Best Straight Bourbon of the Year: Charles Goodnight Bourbon, produced by Foley Family Wines.

If you were expecting something from Kentucky, it’s understandable.After all, the Bluegrass State do It accounts for almost 95% of total bourbon production. But hold on to your cowboy hats, folks. Because this one comes from the heart of Texas.A private distillery (or distillery) Charles Goodnight is a high rye expression, aged for six years and bottled at a flavorful 115 proof.

It’s an unapologetically aggressive pour, but with that heat comes great flavor. namely dark roast coffee, s’mores, and molasses. There’s also a complex finish to ponder, a long adventure in which the aforementioned sweet elements are resolved with oak spice.

Apparently, the London judges were fascinated by this complexity. And maybe I added a drop or two of room temperature water to the drum to accentuate everything. In my experience, this is the drum that benefits from such manipulation.

The London Spirits honor marks another major victory for brand founder Bill Foley. He named the whiskey after his great-uncle, a prominent 19th century Texas rancher. He also happens to be the owner of his NHL team, the Vegas Golden Knights, who won the Stanley Cup last June, just six years after making it into the league.

Foley owns award-winning wineries in Oregon, California and Martinborough, New Zealand. And not far from the wine region, the famous Kiwi also runs the famous Relais & Chateaux Lodge country estate, Wharehaukau. Therefore, he is used to receiving praise for his achievements. In fact, in his next project he will probably want to build a bigger trophy room.

But he’s not the only big winner here. This marks another notable moment in Texas whiskey’s meteoric rise. This subcategory, which was virtually non-existent 15 years ago, has risen through the ranks and established itself as one of the most admired producing regions in the United States. This liquid has gained fans with a flavor profile as big and bold as its state representative. So pay attention to your space. And keep an eye out for my column in the coming days about more big winners of the 2024 London Spirits Competition.