The 2025 Best of Texas Whiskey Competition, hosted by the Texas Whiskey Festival, showcased the booming craft whiskey scene in the Lone Star State. This annual event highlights Texas-produced (or Texas-influenced) whiskeys through rigorous blind judging, where experts evaluate entries purely on flavor, aroma, and quality—no labels, no brand hype, just the spirit in the glass. The competition underscores Texas’ growing reputation for innovative, high-caliber whiskeys, from classic bourbons and ryes to experimental cask finishes and flavored expressions.
While not every detail on entry numbers or judging panels is publicly detailed, the focus remains on celebrating local distilleries and encouraging consumers to explore based on taste alone. Winners span categories like bourbon, rye, malt, cask-finished, light, and flavored whiskeys, with additional fan-voted People’s Choice honors.
Here are the standout winners from the 2025 competition:
Best Bourbon in Texas
Gold: Still Austin Cask Strength Bourbon – Still Austin Whiskey Co.
Silver: Garrison Brothers Balmorhea Straight Bourbon – Garrison Brothers Distillery
Bronze: Milam and Greene Unabridged Bourbon Volume 3
Best Rye Whiskeys in Texas
Gold: Devils River 5-Year Straight Rye Whiskey – Devils River Whiskey
Silver: IronRoot Slight of Hand Rye (a blend of Texas-made and sourced rye) – IronRoot Republic Distilling
Bronze: 1693 Elevation Rye Whiskey – 1693 Spirits
Best Malt Whiskeys in Texas
Gold: Ranger Creek Texas Landmark Single Malt – Ranger Creek Brewing & Distilling
Silver: UnBendt Straight Malt Whiskey Bottled in Bond – UnBendt (likely Bendt Distilling or similar)
Bronze: Spirit of Texas Pythagoras – Spirit of Texas
Best Cask-Finished Whiskey
Gold: Giant Texas Distilling Tejas Collaboration – Cigar Blend (Sweet Vermouth Finished) – Giant Texas Distilling
Silver: Ranger Creek 306 Malt Whiskey Finished in Tequila Barrels – Ranger Creek Brewing & Distilling Bronze:
Real Spirits Distilling Phoenixx Rising Batch 4 – Real Spirits Distilling
Best Light Whiskey in Texas
Gold: Austin Craft Spirits Austin 111 – Austin Craft Spirits Silver: Texas Heartland Distilling Light Whiskey – Texas Heartland Distilling Bronze: Andalusia Whiskey Co. Lighten Up, Jake! – Andalusia Whiskey Co.
Best Flavored Whiskey in Texas
Gold: Mossy Horn Pecan – Mossy Horn Whiskey (Andalusia Whiskey Co.)
Silver: Iron Wolf Ranch Iron Hot – Iron Wolf Ranch & Distillery
Bronze: Andalusia Whiskey Co. Peach Whiskey – Andalusia Whiskey Co.
People’s Choice Awards (fan-voted favorites)
Gold: Mossy Horn Whiskey – Mossy Horn Whiskey (Andalusia Whiskey Co.)
Silver: Andalusia Whiskey Co. – Andalusia Whiskey Co.
Bronze: Milam & Greene Whiskey – Milam & Greene Whiskey
Texas whiskey continues to thrive, blending traditional techniques with bold experimentation—think mesquite smoking, local grains, and unique finishes influenced by the state’s climate and culture. Standouts like Ranger Creek’s single malt and Still Austin’s cask-strength bourbon highlight why the category is gaining national attention.
For more details, including tasting notes or where to buy, check the official Texas Whiskey Festival site at txwhiskeyfest.com or their awards page. Whether you’re a bourbon purist or a fan of flavored twists, 2025’s winners offer something for every palate. Cheers to Texas spirits—here’s to another year of excellence in the glass!