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Heaven Hill Named Most Awarded U.S. Distillery for Second Consecutive Year at 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition
BARDSTOWN, Ky. (June, 2025) – For the second year in a row, Heaven Hill Brands has been named the Most Awarded U.S. Distillery at the prestigious 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, earning a staggering more than 90 medals across its portfolio—including 15 Double Gold and 15 Gold awards. The distillery also had seven products advance to the “Best of Class” finals, with winners to be announced at the Competition’s Top Shelf Convention in November. This recognition reaffirms Heaven Hill’s position as a leader in American whiskey and spirits, with exceptional performance across a wide array of categories.
Best of Class Finalists:
Seven Heaven Hill products were named Best of Class Finalists, highlighting the distillery’s range and mastery of craft across styles:
Platinum Medal Winners:
Four standout Heaven Hill products were awarded the rare Platinum Medal, an honor reserved for entries receiving Double Gold three years in a row:
The achievement marks an additional notable event in a banner year for Heaven Hill, as the company prepares to celebrate two major milestones: the highly anticipated opening of the Heaven Hill Springs Distillery in September 2025, and the company’s 90th anniversary on December 13, 2025.
“These awards are a true reflection of the craft, innovation, and legacy that define Heaven Hill Brands,” said Kate Latts, Co-President and third-generation family member. “To be recognized again as the ‘Most Awarded U.S. Distillery’ is not just an honor, it’s a validation of our commitment to making spirits that resonate with consumers and connoisseurs alike.”
The San Francisco World Spirits Competition, founded in 2000, is one of the world’s most respected and rigorous judging events. Over 6,000 spirits were blind tasted by a panel of industry experts to ensure fair, unbiased evaluation based solely on quality. For more information, visit www.thetastingalliance.com.
ABOUT HEAVEN HILL BRANDS: Founded in 1935, Bardstown, KY-based Heaven Hill Brands (www.heavenhill.com) is one of the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and led spirits producers and marketers, as well as the world’s second-largest holder of Kentucky Bourbon. Heaven Hill has been named a Best Managed Company in both 2024 and 2025 by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal. Heaven Hill’s diversified portfolio of brands includes Heaven Hill, Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, Widow Jane, Larceny, Old Fitzgerald, and Henry McKenna Bourbons; Rittenhouse Rye and FEW Whiskey; Deep Eddy Vodka; Admiral Nelson’s Rum; Black Velvet Canadian Whisky; Lunazul and Ocho Tequila; HPNOTIQ Liqueur; and Carolans Irish Cream Liqueur.
We’re proud to share that Killowen Distillery has won three major honours at the recent Icons of Drink Awards from the World Drinks Awards.
Distillery Manager of the Year
Shenda O’Hare
Brand Ambassador of the Year
Sinead Tohill
Production Team of the Year
Killowen Distillery
These awards are a genuine reflection of the hard work, craft, and passion that our team brings every day. Recognition like this doesn’t happen by chance — it’s earned through dedication, consistency, and a shared commitment to doing things the right way.
Thank you to the World Drinks Awards for this recognition. We’ll keep pushing forward.
Sláinte
The Killowen Distillery Team
Legends return to Maltstock 2025
Some of our relaxed whisky friends have been with us from the start. Many of them will try their utmost to be with us time and time again. Why? Well, simply put: The like to be relaxed in September! Here’s a couple of them for you! Haste ye down quickly to find out who we are writing about. And then haste ye to our shop to get relaxed, as you can still join them and us!
Annette, Bob, Klaas, Stan and Teun
Billy Abbott – The Whisky Exchange
Look at him! Relaxing in the caring hands of another legend flyer sponsor at the Maltstock Campfire a couple of Maltstocks ago. This simply is his natural habitat. For those of you who don’t know Billy yet… Besides being a lovely guy and being relaxed he represents The Whisky Exchange, is a writer, a spirits competition judge, whisky critic and a true whisky nerd in the best sense of the word! Billy will be hosting a masterclass on the Maltstock Friday. He will be mainly relaxing the rest of the weekend.
Kenny Mcdonald – Dram Mór
In the sun, with a relaxed beer he is probably at his best. Some of us are looking forward to simply relax at Maltstock, others are already vigorously planning which masterclasses to try and visit, which Drinks with sessions to go to… Kenny is definitely of the latter kind. Dram Mór was established in 2019 by husband and wife team Kenny and Viktorija Macdonald and is now predominantly an independent bottler, bottling great quality spirits, at usually relaxed prices. You can find Kenny this year at our Drinks with sessions and co-hosting the infamous Maltstock Campfire.
DISCOVER SOME OF OUR FAVOURITE HIGHLAND SINGLE MALTS
The Highland region is the largest whisky-producing area in Scotland, home to more than 30 distilleries. Spanning a vast and varied landscape, the Highlands offer a broad spectrum of single malt Scotch whiskies. Because of the region’s size and geographical diversity, Highland malts don’t follow a single style—they range from light and floral to rich and smoky, with each distillery bringing its own distinct character.
Welcome to the very first episode of the show to feature Glengoyne. I know, it’s only taken me ten years or so to get to one! It features a selection of both distillery and Independent releases. The Good Dram Show with Chris Goodrum Episode 599 – This Episode Of The Show Needs Batfont..! Filmed in The Study Nottingham.
Glengoyne White Oak 48%
Glengoyne 12 year old 43%
Glengoyne 15 year old 43%
Hunter Laing Hepburn’s Choice Glengoyne 2007 (7 year old) 46%
hunterlaing.com/range/hepburns-choice
Dewar Rattray ‘Single Cask’ Glengoyne 1998 (12 year old) 46%
Douglas McGibbon Provenance Glengoyne 1999 (13 year old) 46%
HAMILTON, Bermuda, DEWAR’S® Blended Scotch Whisky proudly announces the second release in its Collector’s Series: DEWAR’S Double Double 38-Year-Old Whisky. This strictly limited-edition whisky pays tribute to the stunning Northern Highlands, offering a rare, blended malt whisky that exemplifies DEWAR’S craftsmanship and sets a new standard for luxury whisky.
This latest innovation follows DEWAR’S global rebrand, introduced through the recent launch of the brand’s “Here’s to the Story” platform, a tribute to its nearly 180-year legacy of pioneering spirit and commitment to inspiring life’s most enriching discoveries.
Crafted by six-time Master Blender of the Year Stephanie Macleod, DEWAR’S Double Double 38-Year-Old showcases DEWAR’S unique four-stage aging process, while paying homage to the Northern Highlands of Scotland. This innovative method begins with a carefully selected blend of single malt whiskies from the Islay and Highland regions, each aged for at least 38 years. After blending, the whiskies are aged an additional month in their original casks.
What sets this whisky apart is the inclusion and blending of a reserved portion of 2023’s release – DEWAR’S Double Double 37-Year-Old – which was held back and given an extra year to mature. This pioneering technique of blending successive releases annually is a brand-led innovation, showcasing how DEWAR’S continues to raise the bar in luxury whisky. The final blend is then transferred into Pedro Ximenez sherry casks, previously used to age the prestigious ROYAL BRACKLA® Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, for several additional months of maturation. This final finishing process deepens the whisky’s complexity, resulting in an exquisitely aromatic and nuanced finish.
Stephanie Macleod, Master Blender for DEWAR’S, commented: “Creating Double Double 38-Year-Old allowed us to explore the full potential of our unique four-stage aging process, blending tradition with a forward-thinking approach to Scotch whisky. This blend is meticulously crafted using some of Scotland’s finest Highland and Islay malts, each aged for at least 38 years, and then finished in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks, adding layers of richness and complexity.”
Joining the first release in the Collector’s Series introduced last fall, this luxurious whisky opens with notes of aromatic white flowers and citrus, followed by creamy vanilla, toasted cereals, a hint of succulent frangipane, and a subtle whisp of smoke. The Pedro Ximenez sherry casks impart additional flavors of dried figs and plums, with a taste reminiscent of dark chocolate shavings on indulgent hot cocoa.
Brian Cox, Vice President of DEWAR’S North America, added, “With our Dewar’s 38-Year-Old Blended Malt, we are exploring one of the many futures of blended Scotch—a category that is premiumizing and evolving with the times. Our unique four-stage aging process elevates the whisky’s complexity by expanding the depth but also breadth of flavor notes that are traditionally found in Scotch whisky. This release makes Dewar’s a standout innovator in the luxury whisky segment and it reflects the same dedication to craftsmanship and whisky exploration as our recently launched ‘Here’s to the Story’ brand platform, which celebrates the richness of our traditions while inviting whisky lovers to savor and enjoy new moments of discovery.”
To enhance the experience, DEWAR’S has partnered with renowned Two Star Michelin Chef Gabriel Kreuther, leveraging his expertise to create custom chocolates that perfectly complement the whisky’s complex and distinctive flavor profile. These bespoke chocolates are crafted to reflect the whisky’s exceptional flavor and even include a small portion of the 38-year-old whisky, delivering a truly indulgent experience. Offered as a complimentary gift via QR code when purchasing DEWAR’S Double Double 38 Year Old from Dewars.com.
For those looking to explore the whisky in a unique way, DEWAR’S North American Brand Ambassador Gabriel Cardarella will guide enthusiasts through a multi-sensory tasting experience via a QR code on the bottle’s packaging, highlighting the unique process and regional influences of this exceptional blend.
Additionally, a 19-piece set of these artisan chocolates infused with DEWAR’S Double Double 38 Year Old will be available for purchase at kreutherchocolate.com for a limited time, in addition to his existing premium collection. Kreuther’s custom chocolates continue his partnership with DEWAR’S Scotch Whisky for its Collector’s Series, following his curation of a dinner inspired by the collection’s 37 Year Old liquid last year.
Priced at $2,199, DEWAR’S Double Double 38-Year-Old is a legendary tribute to Scotland’s finest whisky regions, crafted with a dedication to quality that ensures every sip is a nod to the brand’s pioneering spirit. It is available at 48.8% ABV in 375ml bottles at spirits retailers.
For more information on DEWAR’S whisky products, please visit www.dewars.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
About DEWAR’S
Founded in 1846 by John Dewar, DEWAR’S® has grown from a small wine and spirits merchant shop in Scotland, to one of the largest Scotch whisky brands in the world. Best known for its iconic DEWAR’S WHITE LABEL, it has expanded its family to create a portfolio of premium and super premium whiskies including DEWAR’S 12-Year-Old, DEWAR’S 15-Year-Old, DEWAR’S 18-Year-Old, DEWAR’S Double Double Series. DEWAR’S Caribbean Smooth and the exclusive DEWAR’S 25. These whiskies are crafted using the DEWAR’S oak marrying ageing process, which involves returning the hand-crafted blend to vintage oak casks for further maturation. The result is a smoother taste with a long, lingering finish; a taste that wins medals and applause, making DEWAR’S the world’s most awarded blended Scotch. The DEWAR’S brand is part of the portfolio of Bacardi Limited, headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited.
About Bacardi Limited
Bacardi Limited, the world’s largest privately held international spirits company, produces, markets, and distributes spirits and wines. The Bacardi Limited portfolio comprises more than 200 brands and labels, including BACARDÍ® rum, PATRÓN® tequila, GREY GOOSE® vodka, DEWAR’S® Blended Scotch whisky, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin, MARTINI® vermouth and sparkling wines, CAZADORES® 100% blue agave tequila, and other leading and emerging brands including WILLIAM LAWSON’S® Scotch whisky, D’USSÉ® Cognac, ANGEL’S ENVY® American straight whiskey, and ST-GERMAIN® elderflower liqueur. Founded more than 162 years ago in Santiago de Cuba, family-owned Bacardi Limited currently employs approximately 9,000, operates production facilities in 11 countries and territories, and sells its brands in more than 160 markets. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. Visit http://www.bacardilimited.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram or Twitter.
THIS ARTICLE APPEARS WELL AFTER THE ORIGINAL PUBLICATION DATE AND IS PUBLISHED HERE AS A MATTER OF INTEREST.
This June, we’ve got great offers on blended whiskes, from classics like Johnnie Walker’s premium Blue Label bottling at £15 off to £4.20 off the exceptional and accessibly priced Nikka from the Barrel, one of Japan’s best-loved blends.
Elsewhere, you can take a tour of the Scottish coastline with the Caisteal Chamuis 12 Year Old Blended Malt at £9, created with whiskies from a number of undisclosed Island distilleries – or save an eyebrow-raising £80 on something truly special with the The Whisky Exchange 37 Year Old Blended Malt.
