At the 2025 New York World Spirits Competition, one blended American whiskey stood out above the rest. Traveller Whiskey claimed the Best Blended American Whiskey title, beating strong competition including 15 STARS Three Kings Fine Aged Whiskey. The judges’ tasting notes reflect a well-balanced, expressive whiskey — and the win signals an interesting moment in the evolution of American blends.

The 15 STARS brand describes Three Kings as a blend of premium bourbon, rye, and wheat whiskeys aged 11 and 15 years — a complex mélange intended to bring forward the best qualities of each style. Even as a finalist, Three Kings illustrates the ambition of modern American blended whiskeys: combining depth, age, and character in a way that aims to compete with premium straight and craft expressions.

Traveller is a collaboration between Buffalo Trace Distillery and singer-songwriter Chris Stapleton. It’s the result of over 50 blend trials before Blend No. 40 was selected. The brand describes its flavor profile as including vanilla, aged fruit, buttery shortbread, caramel, and oak — with just a touch of sweetness, followed by spice, toasted nut, and oak flavors.

The judges’ tasting highlights a more elevated, nuanced side of Traveler — especially in the citrus and tropical fruit interplay, and the “long, graceful finish” of caramel and spiced fruit. It suggests that in this particular bottling, the blending and barrel selection pushed for forward complexity without slipping into heavy spice or oak dominance.

Traveller’s victory points to a shifting perception of what a blended American whiskey can be. Historically, blends have sometimes been viewed as lighter or more utilitarian when compared to straight bourbons and ryes. But this result signals that blends are being taken seriously — not just as entry points, but as sophisticated, competitive expressions in their own right.

The fact that Traveller’s judges’ notes highlight fruit, spice, sweetness, and a lasting finish indicates that blending is becoming a vehicle for balance and nuance, rather than compromise. The role of blending — selecting components, managing cask influence, controlling integration — is getting more spotlight.

Another takeaway is that collaborations and creative branding (like the Stapleton partnership) can help make blended whiskey compelling in a crowded market. But the heart of the win still lies in the liquid: Traveller’s success shows that a blend can be elegant, expressive, and award-worthy when designed with purpose and layered structure.

As American whiskey continues its renaissance — with new distilleries, experimental mash bills, and revived traditions — the blended category may emerge as a space of innovation and creativity. The 2025 NYWSC result for Traveller suggests that the future of blended American whiskey is brighter than ever.