Distillery Reserve Mars Single Malt Japanese Blend was awarded a Double Gold Medal – with an exceptional score of 98 points – at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
As the fifth release in our Distillery Reserve series, Mars brought together two Japanese single malts and two aged Kentucky bourbons, in a first-of-its-kind collaboration with Mars Whisky of Japan. Rather than simply finishing one whiskey in another’s barrel, the four spirits shared the same barrel and the same journey – aging together for an additional year in Kentucky.
The result is a whiskey that celebrates the character of each component while creating something entirely new.The Double Gold award is a fitting recognition for a whiskey born from curiosity, collaboration, and a belief that great whiskey can come from unexpected places.
Estate Distilled Bottled-in-Bond Earns Gold
Our Estate Distilled Bottled-in-Bond was also awarded a Gold Medal at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
As the first recipe ever distilled at Bardstown Bourbon Company, this six-year-old wheated bourbon was crafted by Bourbon Hall of Fame Master Distiller Steve Nally, and remains a defining expression of our approach to whiskey making.
Produced in accordance with the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, it reflects the precision, patience, and consistency that have guided American whiskey makers for generations. Distilled during a single season, by a single distiller, at a single distillery, it showcases locally sourced grains, six years of maturation, and an unwavering commitment to quality.
For us, it remains the benchmark for what a wheated bourbon should be.
Two Awards. One Philosophy.
While these whiskeys are very different, they share a common thread. One is rooted in one of America’s most enduring whiskey traditions. The other explores what can happen when whiskey cultures from opposite sides of the world come together.
Together, they reflect the philosophy that defines Bardstown Bourbon Company: a respect for the traditions that shape great whiskey, and a curiosity for where those same traditions can lead.
Bardstown Bourbon Company. There’s Nowhere We Won’t Go.
