American and Canadian whiskies once again demonstrated the diversity of styles within the category at the 2026 competition organized by the Beverage Testing Institute, where four labels received gold medals and scores exceeding 90 points.
The highest rating went to Bernheim Barrel Proof Batch A226, which scored 96 points, followed by Bernheim 7 Year Small Batch with 95. Tennessee Whiskey Trail 2025 Tennessee Collective and Pendleton 20 Year Directors’ Reserve rounded out the list of winners, each achieving 94 points.
Although the four labels stem from different production methods and origins, the results highlight the possibilities offered by wheat, blends, and varying aging periods in whisky production.
Bernheim leads the award-winning whiskies at BevTest
The top two spots went to expressions from Bernheim, a brand produced by Heaven Hill in Louisville, Kentucky. Both share a recipe based on winter wheat, corn, and malted barley, though their alcohol content and batch-specific treatments result in distinct profiles.
Bernheim Barrel Proof Batch A226 is crafted from barrels aged for seven to nine years in Heaven Hill’s warehouses. This expression is bottled without chill filtration, a feature that helps preserve greater intensity in its flavor profile.
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Meanwhile, Bernheim 7 Year Small Batch offers a different interpretation of the same grain base, with a character that reflects how the production process and alcohol level can shape the final result.
Tennessee and Canada round out the list
Tennessee Whiskey Trail 2025 Tennessee Collective earned 94 points through a collaboration that brings together expressions rooted in local tradition, while Pendleton 20 Year Directors’ Reserve stood out among Canadian blends with an expression boasting two decades of aging.
The 2026 BevTest results thus showcase the breadth of the whisky category, demonstrating how varied recipes and processes can yield labels with unique characteristics.
