The Best American Whiskey, According To The 2020 International Spirits Challenge

Only one bottle can be awarded Best American Whiskey at the International Spirits Challenge, and after months of deliberation, the annual spirits competition has finally announced the winner for 2020. In what was a particularly competitive year, Pikesville Rye has been named the Best American Whiskey, and was awarded the “trophy” in the massive category.

American Whiskey is only getting stronger, as can be seen from the awards handed out at this year’s competition. In total, stars & stripes Whiskeys took home four double golds, 48 golds, 27 silvers and no bronze medals. But in the end, it was the Pikesville that stood on top.

First produced in Maryland in the 1890s, Pikesville Rye, along with the rest of the once-booming Maryland Rye industry, was shuttered by Prohibition. The brand reemerged after Prohibition and became the last standing Maryland Rye, as the rest of the industry’s production had ceased. Now produced in Kentucky from extra-aged barrels stored in prime warehouse locations, Heaven Hill Distillery keeps this historic Maryland mark alive. And obviously they do so for good reason.

This was an incredible year for the competition overall, and Scotch Whiskies were the most impressive, picking up a total of 26 Double Gold winners. And in the end it was also a bottle of Scotch bringing home the award for Best Spirit in the World in 2020.