Heaven Hill Brands secured the title of Most Awarded U.S. Distillery for the third year at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, where 1845 Distilling Co. also advanced a five-year-old bourbon to the Best of Class finals with a 99-point score.
The 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition has once again crowned its top performers in American whiskey and global spirits, highlighting both established legacy producers and family-owned craft operations. Heaven Hill Brands earned approximately 88 medals across its portfolio at the blind-tasting event, including two Platinum medals and 20 Double Gold recognitions. Meanwhile, in Lowry Crossing, Texas, 1845 Distilling Co. earned its third Best of Class finalist appearance in four competitions as its five-year-old bourbon secured a 99-point score.
Heaven Hill Dominates the Medal Count
The producer maintained its stronghold at the international competition by capturing top honors across multiple categories of American whiskey and agave spirits. Two standout products from the company’s catalog earned the rare Platinum Medal, an accolade reserved exclusively for entries that receive Double Gold medals for three consecutive years.
Nine specific products from the producer advanced directly to the Best of Class finals. The finalists span traditional and specialty barrel wheated bourbons, single barrel expressions, high-rye bourbon, and imported agave spirits.
- Square 6 High Rye Bourbon (Straight Bourbon Finalist)
- Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Traditional Barrel Series Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon (Wheated Bourbon Finalist)
- Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Specialty Barrel Series Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon (Wheated Bourbon Finalist)
- Henry McKenna Single Barrel 10-Year-Old Bourbon (Single Barrel Bourbon up to 10 Years Finalist)
- Elijah Craig 15-Year-Old Single Barrel Bourbon (Single Barrel Bourbon 11 Years & Older Finalist)
Company leadership pointed to the breadth of the wins as proof of sustained craftsmanship across diverse categories.
Being named Most Awarded U.S. Distillery for a third straight year is a tribute to the quality of our brands and the commitment of our distillers, blenders, and teams behind every bottle. It’s especially meaningful to see our agave spirits stand alongside our whiskeys on this stage.
Kate Latts, Co-President, Heaven Hill Brands
Texas Craft Distiller Secures a 99-Point Finalist Berth
In Collin County, Texas, family-owned 1845 Distilling Co. celebrated a milestone for its grain-to-glass production model. The distillery’s Preemption Texas Wheated Bottled in Bond Bourbon was named one of four finalists for Best Wheated Bourbon
after earning 99 points during the blind-tasting evaluations.
The 100-proof, five-year-old expression was one of three Double Gold Medal winners for the Lowry Crossing distillery in 2026. Two other expressions from the producer—Preemption Reverence Texas Straight Cask Strength Bourbon and Preemption Double Oak Bourbon—each earned scores of 96.
Founder Bob Petitt emphasized the agricultural roots behind the recognition, noting that the distillery exclusively utilizes grain grown by Texas farmers across an agricultural connection spanning eight generations.
Our connection to Texas spans eight generations. We believe deeply in Texas grains and in the spirits we make from it. To see our five year old wheated bourbon standing among four finalists, each with 99 points, is a proud moment for our Family and for the Texas farmers whose grain makes it possible.
Bob Petitt, Founder of 1845 Distilling Co.
This achievement marks the third time in four competitions that the Texas distillery has placed an expression among the elite class finalists. The company previously advanced its Preemption Texas Straight Bourbon in 2023 and its Texian No. 1 Texas Straight Whiskey in 2025.
Gala Event and Final Trophies Await in November
As the largest and most influential blind tasting event in the world, the San Francisco World Spirits Competition relies on a panel of industry experts to evaluate thousands of entries. While medal placements are established, the final trophy winners remain unannounced.
Both large-scale producers and craft distilleries are preparing for the upcoming awards presentation. The official announcement of the 2026 Best in Class winners will take place during the competition’s gala at the Top Shelf Awards Gala in San Francisco. Alongside the Best of Class announcements, select agave products from Heaven Hill’s portfolio, including Mezcal Vago Espadín Joel Barriga and Mezcal Vago Elote, remain in contention for Triple Still awards.