A Baltimore-made whiskey has earned one of the highest honors in the spirits industry, taking home Best in Show Whisk(e)y at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Baltimore Spirits Company’s Epoch Maryland Straight Rye Whiskey 6 Year Old Cask Strength received the competition’s top whiskey honor, along with Best of Class Rye Whisk(e)y. The whiskey also earned 99 points and a Double Gold medal.
The awards were announced during the 2026 Top Shelf Awards, held November 7 and 8 at Hotel Nikko San Francisco. The two-day event featured master classes, networking opportunities, tastings, and a black-tie awards gala recognizing winners across five competitions organized by The Tasting Alliance.
According to The Tasting Alliance, the awards are determined through blind tastings conducted by panels of industry professionals, including buyers, bartenders, distillers, importers, and writers. Judges evaluate spirits without seeing their labels or knowing how other judges scored them.
The Best in Show Whisk(e)y honor recognizes the top whiskey across multiple styles, including bourbon, rye, single malt, blended whiskey, and other categories. Best of Class recognizes the highest-performing entry within its respective category.
Founded in 2015, Baltimore Spirits Company has helped revive Maryland’s historic rye whiskey tradition, according to Food & Wine. The state was once a major producer of rye whiskey, a style that has experienced renewed interest among American distillers.
The award-winning six-year-old cask-strength expression has a suggested retail price of approximately $90. The recognition places the Baltimore distillery at the top of the whiskey honors presented at this year’s international competition.
