100 Proof · NAS (Est. 4+ Years) · Sourced & Bottled by Bardstown Bourbon Company(?) · ~$70–$75
Introduction
Frank August is a brand that arrived with a lot of style and a story that reads more like a fashion house launch than a bourbon release. The brand was co-founded by Johnathan Crocker, a former fashion executive, and it shows. The bottle is a genuinely stunning piece of design — minimalist, heavy-weight, fitted with a brass top and a back label engineered to peel away clean, leaving you with what amounts to a sleek decanter once the whiskey is gone. The philosophy is “less is more,” and the packaging absolutely delivers on that promise.
The whiskey itself is a sourced product, non aged stated, blended in small batches of 10 to 15 barrels. Under federal labeling rules, calling it a “straight bourbon” means it is at least four years old, and most informed estimates place it around four to four-and-a-half years. While the distillery source has been officially undisclosed, it has been reported that the whiskey is bottled by Bardstown Bourbon Company in Bardstown, Kentucky — home to what some consider the most sophisticated contract blending and bottling operation in the American whiskey business. That is not bad company to keep.
In September 2025, the International Wine and Spirits Competition awarded Frank August Small Batch a 98-point Gold Outstanding medal and named it the World’s Best Bourbon— a headline that raised eyebrows in some circles but generated enormous buzz. I haven’t seen this bottle where I am; my nephew picked me up one in New York while visiting his wife’s family. He brought one to the family Christmas Stealing Santa and I tried it then. But I wanted my own bottle to see what the fuss was about and write a full review, and he obliged in buying it for me and my wonderful sister in law brought it to me during the wedding festivities for my stepson.
The Specs
| Producer/Bottler | Frank August / Bardstown Bourbon Company |
| Classification | Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey |
| Proof | 100 (50% ABV) |
| Age | NAS (minimum 4 years per federal regulations; est. 4–4.5 years) |
| Batch Size | 10–15 barrels |
| Price Paid | ~$70–$75 / 750ml |
Appearance
A nice, solid amber in the glass, with some very slight reddish hues around the edges when held to the light. On the swirl, the film is thin, but the legs are something of an overachiever — slow, gravity-defying, and well-spaced. It is a pretty pour.
Nose
The nose is traditionally bourbon in its bones but leans noticeably floral — more so than you might expect at 100 proof. You get the expected caramel and vanilla on the opening, but there is a lifted, almost delicate quality underneath it, with light cherry blossom and a citrus brightness. It is inviting and approachable rather than bold or aggressive. Spend some time with it and the baking spices eventually announce themselves, but they stay in the background. This is a nose that draws you in rather than one that demands your attention.
Palate
The palate opens up nicely. Citrus and cherry come forward first, giving it a fruit-forward quality that tracks with the floral nose. Vanilla and caramel provide the familiar bourbon sweetness in the mid-palate, and baking spices round things out on the back end. The 100-proof ABV gives it enough body to feel substantive in the mouth without being hot. Mouthfeel is medium — not thin, not chewy. This is an easy-drinking whiskey that rewards attention but does not require it.
Finish
The finish is where Frank August earns some genuine respect. Nutmeg, cinnamon, and a subtle hint of clove layer nicely over a dry, clean oak note that grounds the whole thing. The problem — if you want to call it that — is that it does not linger as long as you might hope given the complexity that precedes it. The finish is medium at best, and it exits a bit quicker than the nose and palate suggest it should. It leaves you wanting more, which I suppose is either a flaw or a marketing strategy, depending on how you look at it.
Overall
Frank August Small Batch is a well-made, genuinely enjoyable bourbon. It is floral, fruit-forward, complex enough to be interesting, and smooth enough to be dangerously quaffable — the kind of bottle that disappears faster than you intend. The IWSC was not wrong to give it attention. Best Bourbon of 2025? I can think of some others that were better, but they were limited releases from major distilleries and very difficult to get. Frank August is now expanding availability to more states, but because of IWSC’s award, this bourbon is highly in demand and there are wait lists to get it in some places.
That said, the value proposition is where I have reservations. At $70–$75, you are paying a meaningful premium over comparably proofed and arguably more age-developed bourbons in the $40–$55 range. Some of that premium is purely the bottle, which, I will admit, is legitimately beautiful. If you display your bottles and want something that doubles as a decanter, that cost is not unreasonable.
Whether Bardstown Bourbon Company — one of the best in the blending and bottling business — is the source of some of that quality is an open and interesting question. The profile is consistent with what BBC does well: clean, fruit-forward, and well-integrated. The connection has been reported but not officially confirmed by Frank August. But the fact that the label notes Bardstown as its place of origin for a custom sourced and bottled bourbon, BBC is a good bet.
Would I buy it again? Probably not as a regular sipper at that price point. But as a bottle to have on the bar for company — one that generates conversation both in the glass and on the shelf — it earns its place. I am thankful to my nephew for picking this bottle up for me.