The ASCOT Awards, based by spirits critic Fred Minnick, are one of the prestigious and rigorous competitions in American whiskey. Judged by means of a number of rounds of blind tasting by panels of trade consultants, the awards highlight spirits primarily based on complexity, steadiness, and depth.
Among the many most hotly contested heats is the “Finest in Present: Straight Bourbon” class. From there, the winner is called ‘Finest Bourbon’.
In 2025, that high honor went to Outdated Soul Tintype #1. It not solely gained its class however stood tall amongst different warmth champions to say the crown because the 2025 Finest Bourbon. So, at present I’ll speak you thru every bourbon within the ‘Straight Bourbon’ class, and clarify why the judges gave Outdated Soul the highest honor.
How the ASCOT Awards Work
The ASCOT (American Spirits Council of Tasters) Awards are constructed on a clear and merit-driven construction. Spirits first undergo blind judging, scored on look, aroma, style, and end. The highest-scoring entries earn medals, with Double Platinum reserved for these receiving unanimous excessive marks from each decide.
These top-tier winners then compete in “Finest in Present” taste-offs inside their class, resembling Straight Bourbon, Wheated Bourbon, Completed Bourbon, and others. The winner of every warmth advances to a last spherical: a blind, cross-category showdown judged by panelists to find out the ‘Finest Bourbon’.
The 2025 Finalists: Finest in Present – Straight Bourbon
The Straight Bourbon bracket in 2025 introduced collectively 5 distinctive bottles that showcased the vary and vitality of the class, from wheated smoothness to high-rye firepower.
WINNER: Finest Bourbon – Outdated Soul Bourbon Tintype #1
Tasting notes from the ASCOT judges: “Huge daring flavors of wooden and cherry adopted by hints of vanilla and delicate oak, wrapped in a wealthy and compelling mouthfeel. Dry and delectable!”
BUY NOW: $125
Produced by Cathead Distillery in Jackson, Mississippi, Outdated Soul Tintype #1 is a high-rye bourbon distilled at MGP in Indiana. It makes use of a mash invoice of 75% corn, 21% rye, and 4% malted barley, aged for seven years in Mississippi’s scorching, humid local weather and bottled uncut and unfiltered at a daring 120.6 proof (60.3% ABV).
On the nostril, it gives butterscotch, vanilla, and darkish fruit. The palate brings layers of caramel, darkish chocolate, and black pepper, ending lengthy and spicy.
Its complexity and depth impressed the ASCOT judges, incomes it each Finest Straight Bourbon and the last word accolade: 2025 Bourbon of the 12 months. A significant win for southern craft distilling and a benchmark for a way well-sourced bourbon can turn out to be one thing actually particular in the best arms.
Fred Minnick himself acknowledged the shock win. In a YouTube video speaking by means of every Finest in Present class, he says: “The judges could have picked a shocker right here. I don’t assume anybody would have picked this out of the lot.”
That stated, the judges have been clearly impressed with the beautiful steadiness introduced on this high-ABV expression.
Bardstown Bourbon Firm Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon
Tasting notes from the ASCOT judges: “A beautiful whiskey with plenty of depth that begins dry and spicy, warming to fruit, oak notes, and brown sugar. Daring and engaging bourbon.”
BUY NOW: $55
From considered one of Kentucky’s most forward-thinking distilleries, this Bottled‑in‑Bond wheated bourbon is a part of Bardstown’s Origin Sequence, its first totally property‑distilled launch. It’s crafted from a mash invoice that includes 53% corn, 39% wheat, and eight% malted barley, making it one of many highest-wheat bourbons available on the market.
Aged for six years and bottled at 106 proof (53% ABV), the wheat lends it a easy, wealthy character highlighted by ripe apricot, lemon zest, creamy pastry, and a flippantly spiced end.
Outdated Dominick Cask Energy Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Tasting notes from the ASCOT judges: “Yummy. Chocolate, cherries, and wealthy toffee. Balanced and complicated. An amazing bourbon.”
BUY NOW: $60
From Memphis, Tennessee, Outdated Dominick Distillery entered the finals with a cask power launch constructed on an unusually high-rye mash invoice: 52% corn, 44% rye, 4% malted barley. Aged for 5 years and bottled at roughly 123 proof, this bourbon delivers a daring, spicy expertise.
Anticipate waves of cinnamon, natural rye spice, and wealthy caramel. Its highly effective however balanced character earned it a Double Platinum and secured its place among the many high 5 straight bourbons of the 12 months.
Angel’s Envy Cask Energy Bottled-in-Bond
Tasting notes from the ASCOT judges: “Full taste proper out of the gate. Caramel, vanilla, mild butterscotch, and cinnamon. Mid-palate concludes with a pleasant end and nice spice. Tasty.”
BUY NOW: $59.99 (375ml)
Identified for its port-finished bourbon, Angel’s Envy stunned many with this unfinished, bonded expression, a uncommon perception into the distillery’s core whiskey. Aged just below six years and bottled at precisely 100 proof, the discharge blended barrels to achieve bond-proof with out dilution, qualifying it as each Bottled-in-Bond and successfully “cask power.”
Calmly caramelised sugars, banana pudding, and vanilla wafers result in a candy, mellow palate. It’s a clear and deliberate whiskey that confirmed how finesse can outshine flash, incomes its place within the last 5.
Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C924
Tasting notes from the ASCOT judges: “Distinctive, particularly at such a excessive proof. Nice caramel shade. Lengthy end for the one barrel lovers on the market.”
BUY NOW: $70
The ultimate launch of 2024 in Heaven Hill’s celebrated barrel-proof sequence, Batch C924 was aged 11 years and bottled at 129 proof (64.5% ABV). Utilizing the distillery’s normal mash invoice, 78% corn, 12% malted barley, 10% rye, it delivered a strong profile of toasted oak, caramel, darkish chocolate, and baking spice.
Identified for balancing energy with polish, C924 impressed with its construction and depth. Whereas it didn’t take the highest prize, it reaffirmed Elijah Craig’s popularity as top-of-the-line worth barrel-proof bourbons available on the market.
Outdated Soul’s Triumph: A Landmark Win
When the judging started, Outdated Soul Tintype #1 confronted stiff competitors from some very well-known names within the trade, together with Angel’s Envy and Bardstown Bourbon Firm.
This win marks a watershed second: a bourbon sourced from MGP, aged outdoors Kentucky, and bottled by an impartial Mississippi distillery, incomes the very best accolade at considered one of America’s high spirits competitions. It validates not solely the standard of the whiskey but additionally the significance of sourcing, maturation setting, and cautious choice.
Closing Ideas
The 2025 ASCOT Awards’ Straight Bourbon finals showcased simply how wealthy and different this class has turn out to be. From wheated gentleness to rye-driven powerhouses, and from Kentucky giants to southern craft upstarts, the competitors was a celebration of American whiskey’s evolving excellence.
Outdated Soul Tintype #1’s win is each a triumph for Cathead Distillery and a reminder that nice bourbon will not be confined by geography. In a 12 months stuffed with daring expressions and worthy contenders, its victory feels not simply deserved, however historic.
