The World’s Best Small Batch Aged Bourbon, According To The SF World Spirits Competition

Eight bourbons are finalists in the Small Batch Aged Bourbon section of the 2025 SFWSC. Below are brief backgrounds and tasting notes on the finalists.

Eight bourbons are finalists in the Small Batch Aged Bourbon section. Five bourbons are in the 6-10 Years category, and three are in the 11 Years And Older category at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Below are brief backgrounds and tasting notes on the finalists. The Top Shelf 2025 Awards Gala, a highly anticipated whiskey industry event, will announce the winner on November 9 at Hotel Nikko in San Francisco.

The Best Small Batch Bourbon Aged 6 To 10 Years

The Beautiful and The Damned Last Lion Bourbon, 57.1% ABV, 750 ml. $60

This bourbon is a small-batch, limited release produced by The Beautiful and The Damned, a new artisan whiskey brand that focuses on blending storytelling with premium spirit craftsmanship. “Last Lion” is named to evoke an era of fierce independence and honor, fitting the bourbon’s bold character. Typically bottled around 100 proof, Last Lion is crafted using sourced Kentucky bourbon aged for at least six years before blending.

On the nose, it reveals rich aromas of vanilla bean, toasted coconut, fresh leather, and charred oak. The palate is silky smooth yet robust, showcasing flavors of brown sugar, dark stone fruit, cinnamon bark, and sweet tobacco. The finish is layered and long, with lingering sweet oak spice and cooked/caramelized fig.

This bourbon feels classic but vibrant — a smooth, yet robust sipper with a noteworthy backbone. The SFWSC Judging Panel described the whiskey as featuring:

“Aromas of cooked apples galore, a ton of fresh black pepper spice, caramel, allspice, and nougat. It’s sweet and easy to drink on the palate, featuring white sugar, apples, honey, caramel, allspice notes, and some slight herbal tea notes. The finish is long and very balanced.”

Rare Character Batch 02 Straight Bourbon, 60.73% ABV, 750 ml. $85
This bourbon comes from Rare Character Whiskey Co., a brand known for finding exceptional barrels from undisclosed distilleries and bottling them in limited batches. Batch 02 is a Kentucky straight bourbon bottled at barrel strength, with ABVs varying by barrel but generally in the 110–120 proof range.

On the nose, Batch 02 offers expressive aromas of roasted pecans, molasses, black cherries, and toasted vanilla. The palate is robust yet balanced, layering dark caramel, spicy rye bread, cocoa nibs, and dried fruit flavors. The finish is long and rich, with lingering pepper and butterscotch notes.

This complex and favorable bourbon has traditional and slightly unconventional edges, true to its “rare character” name. The SFWSC Judging Panel described the bourbon as featuring:

“Spicy aromas on the nose, along with cherry syrup, nuts, caramel, and vanilla. The palate features dried fruit flavors, rye toast, chocolate, caramel, and vanilla. The finish is long, with lingering leather, chocolate, and fruity notes.”

Kentucky Senator John Brown Bourbon, 53.5% ABV, 750 ml. $150

Kentucky Senator is a revived heritage brand paying tribute to famous Kentucky politicians. The John Brown release is the third bottling in the series, named for the first U.S. senator from Kentucky. Distilled in Kentucky and bottled at 107 proof, it is crafted as a limited edition small batch.

On the nose, the bourbon delivers dark toffee, crème brûlée, cherry compote, and a subtle hint of mint. The palate is full-bodied and flavorful, featuring burnt sugar, maple syrup, toasted almonds, and spiced orange zest notes. The finish is long and satisfying, with lingering oak, nutmeg, and a hint of dark chocolate.

This polished bourbon feels elegant yet robust, a fitting homage to its namesake. The SFWSC Judging Panel described the whiskey as expressing:

“Big, bold aromas of vanilla custard, cherry syrup, and caramel on the nose. The palate features maple candy, almond praline, wood spice, and chocolate. The finish is long and sweet, with lingering candied orange zest, caramel, and spice notes.”

ASW Distillery Fiddler Encore Bourbon – Georgia Oak, 60.2% ABV, 750 ml. $85
Fiddler Encore Bourbon is an innovative wheated bourbon from ASW Distillery in Atlanta, Georgia. After a traditional aging in a charred white oak barrel, it undergoes secondary aging in a second, new, charred Georgia white oak barrel from a Georgia cooperage, giving it a distinctly local character. This unique process and the bourbon’s distinctive flavor make it a must-try for any bourbon enthusiast. It is bottled at around 120 proof.

The bourbon offers a unique nose of caramelized bananas, toasted pecans, honeysuckle, and vanilla bean. The palate is rich but balanced, showcasing honeyed cornbread, marshmallow, baking spices, and light oak tannins. The Georgia oak influence brings a slightly sweeter and softer profile than traditional American oak. The finish is smooth and floral, making it a distinctive Southern bourbon that blends Georgia terroir with traditional craftsmanship.

The SFWSC Judging Panel described the bourbon as featuring:

“Cooked sweet corn on the nose with floral, seasoned oak, and caramel notes. The palate features a candied sweetness, corn bread, cooked bananas, nuts, caramel, and vanilla flavors. The finish is long and sweet with lingering cooked corn and seasoned oak notes.”

Long Ridge High Rye Bourbon, 58% ABV, 750 ml. $79
This bourbon is a smaller, emerging brand focused on robust, high-rye recipes. A ‘high-rye’ recipe typically contains more than 15% rye in the mash bill, contributing to a spicier and more complex flavor profile. Long Ridge’s recipe consists of 60-65% corn, 30-35% rye, and a touch of malted barley. It’s typically bottled between 95 and 100 proof.

The nose features spicy cinnamon, clove, roasted peanuts, and dry leather notes. It’s aromatic and flavorful, exhibiting sweet vanilla, cracked pepper, caramel apple, and freshly toasted rye bread flavors. The finish is crisp and moderately long, with a spicy rye snap and a final note of charred oak.

Long Ridge’s bourbon feels youthful but energetic — a rye-forward bourbon for those who like their whiskey with some spice. The SFWSC Judging Panel described the bourbon as: “Flavorful and aromatic with a big, bold, and spicy aroma and flavor profile.”

The Best Small Batch Bourbon Aged 11 Years and Older
O.K.I. 15-Year-Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon, 57.5% ABV, 750 ml. $250
This is a legendary sourced bourbon originally bottled by New Riff Distilling under the “O.K.I.” label, standing for “Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana.” The 15-year-old release comes from meticulously selected barrels of MGP-sourced bourbon, distilled in Indiana and aged in Kentucky warehouses. Bottled around 100 proof, this bourbon exudes classic old bourbon character, a testament to the traditional craftsmanship that goes into every bottle.

On the nose, it offers robust aromas of dark oak, old leather-bound books, burnt caramel, and dried tobacco leaf. The palate is lush and layered, with nuanced flavors of molasses, walnut brittle, dark cherry preserves, and spice-laden oak. The finish is incredibly long, with lingering bittersweet chocolate, toasted vanilla, and aged wood notes.

“Aromas of pancake syrup and spiced leather on the nose. It’s bold and flavorful on the palate, with old leather, dried tobacco, cocoa, and molasses notes. The finish is long, with lingering notes of leather and spice.”

Widow Jane Lucky 13 Bourbon, 46.5% ABV, 750 ml. $110
Lucky 13 is aged 13 years and bottled by Widow Jane Distillery in Brooklyn, New York, using sourced Kentucky and Tennessee whiskey stocks. Bottled at 93 proof, Lucky 13 undergoes proofing with Widow Jane’s famous limestone water from Rosendale Mines, giving it a distinctive mineral complexity.

It’s rich and aromatic on the nose, featuring butterscotch, ripe plum, toasted oak, and cinnamon sugar notes. The palate is smooth and flavorful, layering vanilla cream, caramel apples, dried cherries, nutmeg, and soft tobacco notes. The finish is warm and medium-long, highlighted by sweet spices and gentle minerality.

Lucky 13 strikes a beautiful balance between rich flavor and easy approachability — a fortunate find for any bourbon lover. The SFWSC Judging Panel described the bourbon as featuring:

“Butterscotch aromas and seasoned oak wood notes complemented with orchard fruits, creamy vanilla, caramel, and nutmeg spice. The finish is long, sweet, and layered with lingering caramel apple, cherry syrup, and vanilla notes.

The eight Small Batch Aged Bourbons from the 2025 SFWSC feature an eclectic collection of craft producers from all over the US. They represent a broad array of styles and proofs reflecting a variety of terroirs and maturation environments. They underscore the wide range of aroma and flavorful profiles that characterize contemporary craft bourbons and showcase how barrel selection and blending can allow specialty bottlers to produce exceptional bourbon. These eight expressions are among the world’s best small-batch aged bourbons. All are worth trying.