Accolades

Almost one year after releasing its first consumer bourbon, Jackson Purchase Distillery is celebrating a full slate of wins in the prestigious ASCOT Awards.

The American Spirits Council of Tasters (ASCOT) Awards is an international competition created by award-winning spirits author and judge, Fred Minnick. A panel of industry experts evaluates the spirits themselves through blind tastings, while also awarding separate prizes in marketing and design. Judges awarded each entry one of four distinction levels, with Double Platinum being the highest and Platinum the second highest. Jackson Purchase Bourbon is honored to receive top marks in five categories.

Jackson Purchase Bourbon Batch No. 1 received Double Platinum distinctions in two categories: Straight Bourbon and Product Story & Description for Label. The bourbon earned Platinum distinctions in three other categories: Craft Bourbon, Small Batch Bourbon (Up to 5 years), and Creative/Unusual Bourbon Label Design.

Since 2021, Jackson Purchase Distillery has produced well over 100,000 barrels of bourbon for the contract market under the direction of two Kentucky distilling legends. Master Distiller Craig Beam is a 7th generation distiller and a 2025 Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame inductee. Terry Ballard, former Head Distiller for Willett, is the Head Distiller.

In September of 2025, JPD released one of Beam and Ballard’s creations directly to the public for the first time. Beam and Ballard created Jackson Purchase Bourbon Batch No.1 – Full Proof with a mash bill of 70% corn, 20% rye, and 10% malted barley. The bourbon aged for 4 years in new white oak barrels with a #4 char, entering at 120 proof with the final bottling at 117.8 proof. Reviewers have noted hints of cinnamon spice and even bananas alongside vanilla, caramel and oak.

If you want to try the award winning bourbon yourself, you can order a bottle of Jackson Purchase Select Batch (new name for the new bottling of this flagship bourbon) here or at a Kentucky retailer.