We talk a lot about the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. And for good reason. Since its inception in 2000, the annual competition has grown in prestige and notoriety to become one of the most important industry events of the year. The producers and brands that collect “Best In Show” awards there often see a surge in sales as a result.

Although the competition took place in April, we can only now exclusively report on an important winner of the 2024 competition: Heaven Hill from Bardstown, Kentucky, is the most awarded US whiskey producer of the year. The legendary producer of bourbon and rye took home a total of 29 medals for 13 of its most famous brands. This makes it not only the most acclaimed whiskey producer, but also the most successful American distillery, period, among all Categories of the mind.

It’s not even close when you also factor in the additional 35 medals Heaven Hill has collected for some of its subsidiaries. Keep in mind that in 2022 the company acquired Samson & Surrey – a portfolio that includes both FEW and Widow Jane. These two popular whisky brands have collected a remarkable tally of 12 medals between them at the SFWSC this year.

Evan Williams and Elijah Craig were the two most awarded brands from Heaven Hill Distillery itself, taking home 7 and 6 medals respectively. The top award, double gold, went to Bottled-In-Bond as well as two separate Barrel Proof expressions.

All in all, it was another record year for the family-owned company. In addition to the success in San Francisco, Heaven Hill introduced three new varieties as part of its Grain To Glass range and Elijah Craig recently released a Toasted Rye. Each of the new releases received critical acclaim.

The steady, expert hand of master distiller Conor O’Driscoll has much to do with the consistent praise, along with an unwavering commitment to quality maturation. This has been a hallmark of the brand since it was founded by the Shapira family in 1935. And this practice is applied today to an inventory that includes more than 2 million barrels.

But what we admire most about Heaven Hill in 2024 is the fact that it delivers such an outstanding product in such a wide price range. Namely, the aforementioned bottle of Double Gold-winning Evan Williams Bottled-In-Bond? … It retails for about $18. Earlier this March, the distillery released the latest entry in its vaunted Heritage Collection. It’s a masterful 18-year-old bourbon based on the same high-corn mash that gives Evan Williams its caramel-laden sweetness. Still, at a suggested retail price of $300 per bottle, this bourbon is a smash hit.

And that’s not even mentioning the Old Fitzgerald label, a brand that boasts semi-annual releases that can often fetch four-figures on the secondary market. A fall 2023 offering of the liquid – with an age statement of 8 years – was one of a select few bourbons to take home the all-important Double Gold certification in San Francisco this year. It currently sells for just over $400 a bottle. Fingers crossed it stays relatively close to that after this recent news.

If you want to stay ahead of the inflated prices, stick around as we are always striving to bring you the latest, exclusive information from the wondrous world of spirits.