In the heart of Kentucky’s bourbon country, the Bardstown Bourbon Company—known for its innovative distilling techniques—partnered with Moonshine University to host the second annual World’s Top Whiskey Taster competition in 2021. Unlike typical spirits contests focused on mixology or cocktail creativity, this event put pure sensory skills to the test, challenging participants to identify whiskeys blindly by producer, age, mash bill, proof, and other nuanced traits.
Held on December 11, 2021, at the Bardstown Bourbon Company distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky—the self-proclaimed “Bourbon Capital of the World”—the finale brought together five regional champions for an intense showdown. The event was open to the public (with ticket proceeds benefiting the USBG National Charity Foundation) and live-streamed on the company’s social channels.
The Road to the Finals
The competition kicked off with an open casting call, inviting whiskey enthusiasts to submit videos showcasing their passion and palate prowess. Regional qualifiers were held at prominent bourbon bars across the U.S., narrowing the field to five finalists:
Ben Ward (Manhattan, New York, NY)
Michael James Outcalt (Denver/Aurora, CO)
Michelle Hagen (Cincinnati, OH)
George LaBoda (Los Angeles, CA)
Jake Lewellen (Louisville, KY)
These contenders faced a gauntlet of challenges designed to mimic the skills taught in Moonshine University’s Executive Bourbon Steward program.
The Finale Challenges and Judges
The finals featured multiple rounds of blind tasting and sensory evaluation, judged by an esteemed panel of bourbon experts:
Peggy Noe Stevens: First female Master Taster, entrepreneur, and author
Fred Minnick: TV host, editor, curator, and author
Colin Blake: Creator and Managing Director of the Stave & Thief Society
Steve Nally: Master Distiller at Bardstown Bourbon Company and Bourbon Hall of Fame member
Matt Porter: The defending 2020 champion (known for his ADHD Whiskey influencer presence)
The challenges tested everything from precise identification to creative blending, emphasizing raw tasting ability over flair.
The Winner: Michael Outcalt
After fierce competition across the rounds, Michael (Mike) Outcalt from Colorado emerged victorious. Outcalt, representing the Denver region, outshone his rivals with exceptional sensory precision.
In his own words: “It is an incredible feeling that I simply can’t describe. I didn’t know whether to run, scream, cry or dance. It was truly a magical moment.”
Outcalt claimed the title of 2021 World’s Top Whiskey Taster, along with:
A $20,000 cash prize
A full scholarship to Moonshine University’s Executive Bourbon Steward program
The opportunity to create and blend his own custom whiskey product with Master Distiller Steve Nally
A sponsored block party in his hometown featuring Bardstown Bourbon Company’s mobile tasting experience
Legacy of the Event
The 2021 competition highlighted the growing appreciation for bourbon expertise beyond bartending, celebrating enthusiasts who can dissect a pour with professional-level accuracy. While the event marked the second (and, to date, final) iteration following the virtual-heavy 2020 edition won by Matt Porter, it remains a standout in the whiskey world for prioritizing the palate above all.
For whiskey lovers, it was a reminder that the true art of bourbon lies in the nose, the taste, and the stories behind each sip.
About Bardstown Bourbon Company:
Located in the heart of Bourbon Country on 100 acres of active farmland, Bardstown Bourbon Company is one of the country’s most modern and technically advanced whiskey distilleries. Celebrating the art of making high-quality and authentic whiskey, the innovative distillery produces custom rye, whiskey, and bourbon for prominent brands including Jefferson’s, High West, Belle Meade, Hirsch, and many others through its one-of-a-kind Collaborative Distilling Program. Bardstown Bourbon Company honors tradition and drives innovation with its exceptional destination experience for visitors, offering the only full-service restaurant located within a distillery on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, The Kitchen and Bar at Bardstown Bourbon Company. The company was founded in 2014 by Peter Loftin. For more information, please visit bardstownbourbon.com or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
About Moonshine University:
Founded by David Dafoe in 2012, Moonshine University is the nation’s premier educational distillery and the exclusive educational member of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association. Located in the heart of bourbon country, Moonshine University offers comprehensive, hands-on spirits education courses and services to entrepreneurs and professionals from around the world. As of 2019, graduates of this course have gone on to successfully launch 165 distilleries worldwide and counting. Moonshine University also houses the Stave & Thief Society, a comprehensive, hands-on bourbon certification program established to promote Kentucky’s distinguished bourbon culture. For more information, please visit moonshineuniversity.com and staveandthief.com.
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