06/09/2026
What does a week on the IWSC judging panel actually look like? 🥃👀
Molly recently headed to Kentucky to join fellow judges from around the world for the 2026 International Wine & Spirit Competition. Together, they tasted hundreds of spirits, debated the details, and helped determine which bottles would earn Gold and Double Gold honors.
The judging didn't stop there. We even welcomed several judges to one of our stores to revisit a selection of medal-winning spirits in a real-world retail setting. Spoiler alert: the winners lived up to the hype. 🏅
Of course, no trip to Kentucky would be complete without spending time with some of the people and places shaping American whiskey today.
From thieving barrels at Angel's Envy with Master Distiller Owen Martin, to sharing stories and historic pours with Freddie Noe at Jim Beam, to exploring sustainability initiatives with Rob Samuels and Leslie Ross at Maker's Mark, the week was packed with unforgettable experiences.
The trip wrapped up at Heaven Hill, where the team got a behind-the-scenes look at their impressive new distillery, fermentation process, and a few special pours along the way.
Not a bad week for a whiskey lover. 🥃✨
A huge thank you to the distilleries who welcomed us and to the judges who shared their time, expertise, and passion throughout the week: Dawn Davies, Tristan Stephenson, Georgie Bell, Owen Martin, Reece Sims, Brad Japhe, Jack Beguedou, and, of course, our own Molly Horn. 🙏
