HIGH BANK WINS BIG AT THE WORLD’S MOST PRESTIGIOUS SPIRITS COMPETITION…AGAIN.
COLUMBUS, OH — High Bank Distillery Co. shines at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, taking home 17 medals including 3 Double Golds and 2 Platinums.
The San Francisco World Spirits Competition is known as one of the most influential and respected spirits competition in the world, judging spirits across 100 different categories. It is the 2nd oldest and largest spirits competition, including over 6,000 entries across the world, and is considered the "industry standard" of what's what in alcoholic beverages. High Bank’s Whiskey War line won Best Blended Whiskey in America for three years in a row in 2021, 2022 and 2023, as well as Best Vodka in the World in 2025.
The SFWSC judging process consisted of 70 judges. These industry professionals blind taste hundreds of spirits per category. If a spirit receives a high score, it is awarded a gold. These winning spirits are tasted again. If a spirit is receives multiple high scores it is then awarded a double gold.
At the 2026 competition, High Bank is the most awarded American distillery….AGAIN. In addition, High Bank’s Whiskey War line is in the running for Best Blended Whiskey In America…AGAIN!
High Bank won a total of 17 awards, 3 of them being double golds. Three products received a score of 97 out of 100 - Whiskey War, Whiskey War Double Double Oaked and High Bank Vodka. In addition, High Bank received 2 platinum medals. A platinum medal is given to products that receive double gold marks three years in a row or more. Take a look at the record-breaking awards:
PLATINUM
HIGH BANK VODKA
(In stores now)
WHISKEY WAR DOUBLE DOUBLE OAKED
(Batch #06 - In stores now)
DOUBLE GOLD
HIGH BANK VODKA
(In stores now)
WHISKEY WAR
(Batch #138 - In stores now)
WHISKEY WAR DOUBLE DOUBLE OAKED
(Batch #06 - In stores now
GOLD
BARREL PROOF BOURBON
(Batch #01 - Currently sold out)
WHISKEY WAR DOUBLE DOUBLE OAKED SINGLE BARREL
(Currently sold out)
MIDNIGHT CASK BARREL PROOF
(Batch #41 - In stores now)
CIGAR CASK
(Batch #05 - Currently sold out)
WHISKEY WAR DOUBLE OAKED SINGLE BARREL
(Currently sold out)
SILVER
WHISKEY WAR BARREL SELECT
(Batch #31- Currently sold out)
HIGH BANK SMALL BATCH BOURBON
(Batch #04- Currently sold out)
CIGAR CASK SINGLE BARREL
(Currently sold out)
WHISKEY WAR DOUBLE OAKED
(Batch #16- Currently sold out)
WHISKEY WAR BARREL PROOF
(Batch #120- In stores now)
WHISKEY WAR OLD FASHIONED
(In stores now)
MIDNIGHT MANHATTAN
(In stores now)
Master Distiller Adam Hines speaks to these wins.
"Awards like these are incredibly meaningful because they're judged blind by some of the most respected palates in the spirits industry. For two of our Whiskey War products to be in the running (and competing against each other) for ‘Best Blended Whiskey In America’’ was huge news to our team. We’re honored that our craft distillery in Columbus, OH is once again on the same stage as the biggest national brands in the industry, for the 6th year in a row.”
— Master Distiller and co-founder Adam Hines
The Best of Class winners will be announced in November 2026 in San Fransisco, CA.
About High Bank Distillery Co.
High Bank Distillery Co. is a local Columbus distillery, founded in 2017. Operating an award-winning distillery that obsesses on the creation of high quality, handmade spirits with a focus on blended whiskey. Won Best Blended Whiskey in America in 2021, 2022 and 2023, as well as Best Vodka in the World in 2025, at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Drink Local. Drink High Bank. For more information, visit highbankdistillery.com