The craft whiskey movement continues to flourish, with small producers across the U.S. pushing boundaries and reviving traditional methods with a modern twist. At the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the Craft Distiller Whiskey category showcased some of the most innovative and compelling spirits being made today—each from a small-scale producer deeply committed to quality and character.

Talnua Distillery, based in Arvada, Colorado, is the first distillery in the United States dedicated to making single pot still whiskey, a style traditionally associated with Ireland. Blending old-world technique with new-world terroir, Talnua is defining a category of its own. Olde Saint’s Keep 2025 is an American Single Pot Still Whiskey made from a mash bill of malted and unmalted barley, triple-distilled and matured to showcase complexity, creaminess, and bold flavor.

Starlight Distillery is located on the Huber family farm in southern Indiana, where generations of agricultural expertise meet world-class distillation. Known for their robust single-barrel releases, Starlight has earned a loyal following among craft bourbon enthusiasts. This Single Barrel Bourbon is carefully selected for its complexity and character, highlighting the distillery’s aging program and thoughtful grain-to-glass process.

Based in the heart of Texas, 1845 Distilling Co. embraces bold flavors and local character in its small-batch whiskeys. The brand leans into Texas heritage with frontier flair and an unfiltered style. Texian No. 1 is a straight whiskey with a big personality - fiery, rustic, and unapologetically Texan.

Grant Battle of Whisky blends historical homage with experimental distilling. This Tennessee-based project crafts expressive whiskeys with bold sensory profiles. Fort Henry & Donelson is a small-batch whiskey that showcases a lighter, fruit-forward style.

Sabbatical Distillery is located on Victoria Island Farms in the Northern California Bay Delta, just 60 miles east of San Francisco. Sabbatical blends craft innovation with generations of heritage quality to create a range of small-batch spirits on their California island farm.

Their Single Barrel Select Straight Bourbon offers a bold expression that's hand-selected and bottled at barrel strength to showcase the rich character of their bourbon, straight from the barrel. Available direct from the distillery and at select retail locations in California.

The distillery took home a Double Gold Medal for their Blended American Whiskey at last year’s SFWSC.

These independent distilleries are not only preserving heritage, they’re reinventing it. Whether you're drawn to the structured spice of a single barrel bourbon or the creamy depth of an American single pot still, these award-winning bottles deserve a spot on your shelf.