Jos. A. Magnus & Co. Joseph Magnus Bourbon Wins Gold and Best in Class at U.S. Spirits Competition

On the heels of winning Double Gold and Best Special Barrel Finished Bourbon at the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Jos. A. Magnus & Co. was awarded Gold, Best in Category, and Best in Class for its triple-cask finished Joseph Magnus Bourbon at the American Distilling Institute's 2016 Spirits Competition.

In a blind tasting, 28 judges evaluated 645 artisan spirits and selected Joseph Magnus Bourbon as Best in Class Whiskey in the Craft Blended Spirits Competition. To win Best in Class Whiskey, Magnus first had to win its individual category, Best Bourbon Aged Over 5 Years, which it won with a Gold medal.  This qualified it to go head-to-head against the winners of the other bourbon and whiskey categories in the Craft Blended Spirits Competition, and Magnus emerged as Best in Class Whiskey. The American Distilling Institute's Spirits Competition has become the premier and top-attended competition in the craft spirits industry. 

"It's an incredible honor for Joseph Magnus Bourbon to be named Best in Class Whiskey," said Master Distiller Brett Thompson. "We are grateful to our Dream Team of top bourbon experts who guided us on an incredible journey to learn from the original 100 plus year old Magnus bourbon and bring back that heritage in our triple-cask finished Joseph Magnus Bourbon."

"The creation of triple-cask finished Joseph Magnus Bourbon is one of the most enjoyable and fulfilling adventures I have taken part in," said Dave Scheurich, former Woodford Reserve Distiller and Whiskey Advocate Lifetime Achievement Award Winner. "The 100 plus year old original Magnus bourbon we tasted was an incredible product, and by cask finishing Joseph Magnus Bourbon the same way Magnus did in the 1890s, we were able to make it a near match to the original. The fact it won Best in Class Whiskey by the American Distilling Institute is a special tribute to Magnus and his amazing spirits."

After Magnus' great-grandson discovered original 100+ year-old bottles of Joseph Magnus' pre-prohibition era bourbon that had been passed down through generations of the Magnus family, Jos. A. Magnus & Co. assembled a bourbon "Dream Team" led by Nancy "the Nose" Fraley, Magnus Master Blender, Dave Scheurich, former Woodford Reserve Distiller and Whiskey Advocate Lifetime Achievement Award Winner, and Richard Wolf, former Buffalo Trace Distillery VP and General Manager.  Upon sampling the pre-prohibition Magnus, which was one of the best bourbons the Dream Team had ever tasted, they discovered that Magnus finished his bourbon in used sherry barrels, a process that delivered a uniquely smooth bourbon with notes of rich, dark fruits.  The team, led by Magnus Master Blender Nancy Fraley set out to recreate those historic Magnus qualities by finishing 9-year bourbon in used sherry and cognac casks at its DC distillery.