BARDSTOWN, Ky. (July 25, 2025) – In another show of leadership and commitment to quality, Heaven Hill Brands has been honored as Distillery of the Year at the 2025 New Orleans Spirits Competition, a prestigious recognition announced yesterday by judges at Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans. The award celebrates Heaven Hill’s continued excellence across a broad range of spirits and underscores its leadership and craftsmanship in American whiskey and beyond. Heaven Hill also earned several top distinctions across major categories, highlighting the breadth and quality of its portfolio.
Best of Category Wins: Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon – Heaven Hill Bottled-In-Bond
Bourbon, Non-Age Stated – Evan Williams 1783
Whiskey, Bourbon 5-10 years – Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Traditional Barrel Series – Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon
Corn Whiskey – Mellow Corn Bottled-In-Bond
Finished Bourbon – Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel
Añejo Tequila – Tequila Ocho Anejo
This latest accolade comes during a momentous year for Heaven Hill as the company recently celebrated being named the Best U.S. Distillery from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, prepares to unveil its new Heaven Hill Springs Distillery in September and celebrates its 90th anniversary on December 13, 2025.
“This recognition from the New Orleans Spirits Competition is a testament to the dedication of our entire team,” said Kate Latts, Co-President of Heaven Hill Brands and third-generation family member. “Being named Distillery of the Year and securing these Best of Category wins reflect the passion and precision that go into every bottle we produce.”
The New Orleans Spirits Competition, founded in 2022, is an international spirits judging bringing wider recognition to fine beverages and spirits from top-flight producers across the globe. Presented by the esteemed Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, each spirit is tasted blind by a panel of industry experts, without identification, to ensure integrity and secrecy. The judging panels include pre-eminent industry professionals, including award-winning bartenders and distillers, decorated beverage writers, and industry luminaries. For more information, visit: www.nolaspiritscomp.com.
ABOUT HEAVEN HILL BRANDS: Founded in 1935, Bardstown, KY-based Heaven Hill Brands (www.heavenhill.com) is one of the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and led spirits producers and marketers, as well as the world’s second-largest holder of Kentucky Bourbon. Heaven Hill has been named a Best Managed Company in both 2024 and 2025 by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal. Heaven Hill’s diversified portfolio of brands includes Heaven Hill, Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, Widow Jane, Larceny, Old Fitzgerald, and Henry McKenna Bourbons; Rittenhouse Rye and FEW Whiskey; Deep Eddy Vodka; Admiral Nelson’s Rum; Black Velvet Canadian Whisky; Lunazul and Ocho Tequila; HPNOTIQ Liqueur; and Carolans Irish Cream Liqueur
