BARDSTOWN, Ky. — Heaven Hill Brands has been named Most Awarded U.S. Distillery for the third consecutive year at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, earning approximately 88 medals across its whiskey, tequila, mezcal and broader spirits portfolio.
The company’s awards included two Platinum medals and 20 Double Gold medals. Nine products advanced to the Best of Class finals, with Kentucky bourbons accounting for five of those finalists and tequila and mezcal representing the remaining four.
Mezcal Vago Espadín Joel Barriga and Mezcal Vago Elote also are in contention for Triple Still awards. Winners will be announced at the Top Shelf 2026 Awards Gala on Nov. 8 in San Francisco.
“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,” said Kate Latts, co-president of Heaven Hill Brands. “It’s especially meaningful to see our agave spirits stand alongside our whiskeys on this stage.”
Heaven Hill’s bourbon finalists span several styles, including high-rye, wheated and age-stated single-barrel expressions.
Square 6 High Rye Bourbon advanced as a Best of Class Straight Bourbon finalist. Two releases from the Heaven Hill Grain to Glass lineup — the Traditional Barrel Series Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon and Specialty Barrel Series Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon — were named Best of Class Wheated Bourbon finalists.
Henry McKenna Single Barrel 10-Year-Old Bourbon earned a finalist spot in the Single Barrel Bourbon — Up to 10 Years category. Elijah Craig 15-Year-Old Single Barrel Bourbon, introduced in March, advanced in the Single Barrel Bourbon — 11 Years & Older category.
The results also highlighted Heaven Hill’s agave spirits portfolio. Tequila Ocho Reposado and Tequila Ocho Añejo were named finalists in their respective tequila categories, while Mezcal Vago Espadín Emigdio Jarquín and Mezcal Vago Espadín Joel Barriga advanced as Best of Class Mezcal finalists.
Mezcal Vago Elote and Tequila Ocho Plata received Platinum medals, an honor reserved for entries that earn Double Gold medals three years in a row. Together, Tequila Ocho and Mezcal Vago accounted for both of Heaven Hill’s Platinum medals and four Best of Class finalist selections.
The competition results add to a year of recognition for the company’s agave brands. Lunazul Tequila was named Spirits Brand of the Year by Shanken Market Watch Leaders and selected as a VinePair Next Wave Award finalist, with the latter award scheduled to be announced Oct. 22.
Heaven Hill’s American whiskey portfolio also received honors at the World Whiskies Awards America and Icons of Whisky, adding to the recognition for its Kentucky bourbon brands.
Founded in 2000, the San Francisco World Spirits Competition evaluates thousands of spirits through blind tastings conducted by a panel of industry experts. Entries are judged on quality without brand identification.
For Heaven Hill, the latest results extend its three-year run as the competition’s Most Awarded U.S. Distillery while showcasing the breadth of a portfolio that reaches beyond Kentucky bourbon into tequila and mezcal.
ABOUT HEAVEN HILL BRANDS
Founded in 1935, Bardstown, KY-based Heaven Hill Brands (www.heavenhill.com) is the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and -led spirits company, as well as the world’s second-largest holder of Kentucky Bourbon and the third-largest supplier of Tequila. Heaven Hill has been named a Best Managed Company from 2024-2026 by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal. Heaven Hill’s diversified portfolio of brands includes the Heaven Hill Whiskey family of brands, Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, Widow Jane, Larceny, Old Fitzgerald, and Henry McKenna Bourbons; Rittenhouse Rye Whisky; Deep Eddy Vodka; Admiral Nelson’s Rum; Black Velvet Canadian Whisky.
