PROSPECT, Kentucky – In a blind tasting, renowned whiskey critic Fred Minnick named Pappy Van Winkle 15-year-old his best American Whiskey of 2020.
A captain on the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and former lead American whiskey critic for Whisky Advocate, Minnick, a Wall Street Journal-bestselling author, tasted more than 600 whiskeys throughout the Pandemic. Throughout the year, Minnick tasted before live audiences amongst the various platforms. Minnick’s American Whiskey of the Year was taped live for YouTube and will later appear on Amazon Prime.
In a blind tasting, Minnick selected Pappy Van Winkle 15 year over categorical winners Sazerac 18-year-old rye whiskey (Best Rye), Barrell Bourbon Batch 26 (Best Blend of Straights), Journeyman’s Corsets, Buggy & Whips (Best Wheat Whiskey), Four Gate Batch 6 (Best Barrel Finish), MB Roland Corn Whiskey (Best Corn Whiskey), Slipknot’s No. 9 (Best Celebrity Whiskey), and St. George Spirits American Single Malt (Best American Single Malt).
However, Minnick notes a big winner was the sixth place finisher in the bourbon taste off: Spirits of French Lick’s Lee Sinclair Bottled in Bond.
“The truth is, 95% of the best American whiskey comes out of Kentucky and Tennessee,” Minnick says. “And if a small craft distiller in French Lick, Indiana, can out taste the likes of Knob Creek 15 year old, that shows the future of bourbon is bright.”
The winner Pappy Van Winkle 15 year certainly does not need another award, but Minnick notes it’s highly allocated for a reason. “When I tasted this blind, I was wowed,” he said. “The whiskey doesn’t lie, and that 15 year old bourbon is truly great and deserves this accolade.”
Best American Whiskey
Pappy Van Winkle 15 year old (Frankfort, Kentucky)
Bourbon Rankings
1. Pappy Van Winkle 15 year old, 2020
2. William LaRue Weller, Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, 2020 (Frankfort, Kentucky)
3. Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch, 2020 (Lawrenceburg, Kentucky)
4. Bardstown Bourbon Company Discovery Series #2 (Bardstown, Kentucky)
5. Booker’s 2020-2 (Clermont, Kentucky)
6. Spirits of French Lick Lee Sinclair (French Lick, Indiana)
Best Barrel Finish
Four Gate Batch 6
Best Blend of Straights
Barrell Bourbon Batch 26 (Louisville, Kentucky)
Best Celebrity Whiskey
Slipknot No. 9 Reserve Iowa Whiskey (Swisher, Iowa)
Best Rye Whiskey
Sazerac 18 year old, Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, 2020 (Frankfort, Kentucky)
Best Corn Whiskey
MB Roland (Pembroke, Kentucky)
Best Wheat Whiskey
Journeyman Corsets, Whips & Whiskey, Batch 10 (Three Oaks, Michigan)
Best American Single Malt
St. George Spirits American Single Malt Lot 20 (Alameda, California)
To learn more about Fred Minnick, visit FredMinnick.com.
For fun facts about Whiskey, Click Here


ASTORIA, Oregon — Since they were established, Buoy Beer and
BUSHMILLS, Northern Ireland – Bushmills® Irish Whiskey, from the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery, proudly introduces Bushmills 28 Year Old Single Malt Cognac Cask Whiskey, a rare innovation for connoisseurs across the United States. The limited-time offering and debut release in Bushmills’ new annual series, “The Rare Casks,” Bushmills 28 Year Old Single Malt Cognac Cask is meticulously blended to achieve one of the most exquisite Irish single malts of all time.
As long-standing leaders in Irish whiskey, with the most awarded Irish single malt portfolio, Bushmills’ reputation for both its quality and aged stock is unparalleled. A product of over 400 years of proud whiskey-making expertise and commitment to tradition, Bushmills 28 Year Old Single Malt Cognac Cask is expertly crafted by Helen Mulholland, one of the most qualified and experienced Master Blenders in history. She has kept a watchful eye over this exceptional single malt since its distillation in 1992.
LOUISVILLE, Kentucky – In 1870, George Garvin Brown changed the spirits industry forever when he sealed and sold his whisky – Old Forester – exclusively in a glass bottle. Each bottle was adorned with his signature, a personal guarantee of the brand’s quality and consistency. Today, 150 years later, Old Forester announces the upcoming release of Old Forester 150th Anniversary Bourbon to commemorate his act of ingenuity, honor his legacy and celebrate the history of the First Bottled Bourbon.
“This special bourbon has been in the works for some time now, and while it is exciting for our family and colleagues, I hope the larger Old Forester family – the bourbon lovers and fans – will appreciate it just as much,” said Campbell Brown, Old Forester President and Fifth-Generation Brown Family Member. “My great-great grandfather had quite the vision for his whisky. He was bringing something to the market that had previously not existed and today, we instill his legacy of ingenuity in everything we do – especially in the halls at Old Forester Distilling Co., in the same building George ran the business in the early days of the company.”
CHICAGO, Sept. 3, 2020 — Beverage Testing Institute, conductors of the oft-imitated first international spirits competition in the United States, has completed its evaluation of 2020’s Best Whiskey Awards. Twenty-one all-trade blind tasting panels assessed the spirited contenders for quality in the BTI Lab using its proprietary methodology and custom software.
MUSKEGON, Michigan – Muskegon-based craft distillery
“Michiganders know what they’re going to get when they wake up every morning – a beautiful place to live, surrounded by the greatness of our lakes, the specter of our seasons and an adventure so close they can taste it,” said Mark Gongalski, CEO of Wonderland Distilling Company. “Wonderland Blend of Straight Whiskeys is distilled for the adventurous soul, an ode to this place that formed us. We crafted our whiskey as a reflection of our connection to Michigan’s great outdoors.”
NASHVILLE, Tennessee — The Tennessee Distillers Guild elected Alex Castle, master distiller and senior vice president at Old Dominick Distillery, as its new president. In her role, Castle will lead the charge in continuing to move the Guild and its initiatives forward.
Austin, Texas –
A Fresh New Look
Nashville, Tennessee – Old Smoky Distillery, the most visited distillery in the world and #1 moonshine brand in the U.S., is introducing its newest line of products – refreshing, delicious and convenient canned cocktails you can enjoy at home, on the beach or lake, or hanging out with friends.
“We are thrilled to release these new moonshine canned cocktails in Tennessee. As the #1 moonshine brand in the country, we continue to create high quality, great tasting, craft spirits,” said Robert Hall, CEO, 
FRANKFORT, Kentucky — Buffalo Trace Distillery announced its six millionth barrel campaign has raised over $1 million for various charities, exceeding its goal of $500,000.
The fundraising effort has benefitted a number of causes such as education services, ecological foundations, leukemia and lymphoma, arts foundations, veterans, animal rights and more.