New Year tasting
2025
- 1 Basil Hayden Toast , 1st place
- 2 Blanton's , 2nd place
- 3 Willet Pot Still Reserve , 3rd place
Est. 2018 · The annual tasting
Here’s to the next pour.
One group of friends, one New Year tradition, and a growing ledger of the bourbons that earned their place at the table.
The archive
Year by year
Every winner, runner-up, and third-place finish we have on record—newest toast first.
New Year tasting
2024
- 1 I.W. Harper Cabernet Cask Reserve , 1st place
- 2 Woodford Reserve Double Oaked , 2nd place
- 3 Eagle Rare 10 Year , 3rd place
New Year tasting
2023
- 1 Whiskey Thief , 1st place
- 2 Old Rip VanWinkle , 2nd place
- 3 Whistle Pig 12 Year , 3rd place
New Year tasting
2022
- 1 New Riff - Bottled in Bond , 1st place
- 2 Woodford Reserve , 2nd place
- 3 Maker's Mark 46 French Oaked , 3rd place
New Year tasting
2021
- 1 Buffalo Trace , 1st place
- 2 Horse Soldier , 2nd place
- 3 Redemption Rye , 3rd place
New Year tasting
2020
- 1 Duke , 1st place
- 1 Wild Turkey 101 , 1st place
- 2 Woodford Reserve , 2nd place
- 2 Eagle Rare 10 Year , 2nd place
- 3 Elijah Craig , 3rd place
New Year tasting
2019
- 1 Maker's Mark 46 French Oaked , 1st place
- 2 A Midwinter Night Dream , 2nd place
- 3 Belle Meade Sherry Bourbon , 3rd place
New Year tasting
2018
- 1 Eagle Rare 10 Year , 1st place
- 2 New Riff Single Barrel , 2nd place
- 3 Woodford Reserve Cherry , 3rd place
The long game
All-time leaders
Podium finishes become points, making one shared scoreboard fair across every year in the archive.
| Rank | Bourbon | Points | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Recorded appearances |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eagle Rare 10 Year | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 2 | Maker's Mark 46 French Oaked | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | Woodford Reserve | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 4 | Basil Hayden Toast | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 5 | Buffalo Trace | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Why we keep score
A little tradition with a long finish.
Around New Year’s, a group of longtime friends gathers to taste blind, compare notes, and crown a favorite. West Northshore Bourbon preserves the results—not because the arguments end, but because the next one is always worth having.