Augusta Distillery wins top honors at 2026 North American Bourbon and Whiskey Competition

Augusta Distillery’s Small Batch Bourbon earned Platinum and Best of Show at the 12th annual North American Bourbon and Whiskey Competition, which announced results July 22 in Broomfield, Colorado. The competition drew 18% more entries than last year and will showcase top winners at a trade tasting in New Orleans on July 24.

Why it matters: - The North American Bourbon and Whiskey Competition is a cross-border judging platform for bourbon, whiskey and moonshine, with entries evaluated on a 100-point scale. - The 2026 results spotlight how top American whiskey labels continue to compete alongside Canadian, Mexican and South American-made whiskeys in the same professional contest. - Augusta Distillery’s top finish gives retailers, buyers and bartenders a clear signal on standout bottlings from the 2026 field.

What happened: - Wine Country Network announced the results of the 12th Annual North American Bourbon and Whiskey Competition on July 22, 2026, in Broomfield, Colorado. - Augusta Distillery’s Small Batch Bourbon 6 Years won Platinum and placed 1st in Best of Show. - Blanton’s “Straight from the Barrel” Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey took 2nd place in Best of Show. - Ampersand Aureus Colorado Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Vino De Naranjo Casks took 3rd place in Best of Show. - The competition said it received 18% more entries than last year. - Guest judge Nino Marchetti, founder of WhiskyWash.com, joined the judging team.

The details: - The North American Bourbon and Whiskey Competition uses rigorous double-blind judging. - Judges score entries on a 100-point scale using the Neat™ Spirits Evaluation glass. - The competition brings together certified spirits professionals, sommeliers and buyers. - Sixteen products earned double gold awards after scoring 95 points or higher. - Wine Country Network publishes Wine Country International Magazine and The World Book of Whisky. - Augusta Distillery’s Small Batch Bourbon 6 Years scored 97 points. - A full list of winners is available at WhiskeyComp.com.

Between the lines: - The growing entry count suggests rising interest in the competition and a broader field of spirits vying for recognition. - The Best of Show lineup includes widely allocated bottles, which can make the contest useful for trade professionals looking for quality comparisons across hard-to-find releases. - Marchetti’s praise underscores the event’s credibility, but that feedback is a judge’s opinion rather than an independent review.

What's next: - Wine Country Network will host a special trade and media tasting of the top winners on Friday, July 24, 2026, in New Orleans. - The event runs from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Antoine’s Restaurant, 713 St Louis St. - The tasting will feature 24 of the highest-scoring American whiskies from the 2026 competition. - The lineup includes Augusta Distillery’s Best of Show winner and double gold pours such as Weller’s William Larue Weller, Sazerac 18 Year Rye, Eagle Rare 17 Year Single Barrel and Thomas Handy Rye. - Wine Country Network is offering media passes, the full tasting list and photos in advance, and judge or winner interviews. - High-resolution photos are available by contacting Christopher J Davies at cdavies@winecountrynetwork.com.

The bottom line: - Augusta Distillery emerged as the standout winner in a competition that is expanding, highly judged and closely watched by the spirits trade.