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Posted on 03/08/2026 10:33:37 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Distilled from a mashbill of 99% corn and 1% malted barley, the whiskey spent more than 17 years in used cooperage before a brief secondary maturation in an ex-bourbon barrel.
-The 2026 World Whiskies Awards named Onyx & Amber’s Copper Buffalo American Light Whiskey Double Oaked as Best American-Style Whiskey.
-Distilled by MGP in Indiana and finished in Colorado, the 18-year-old light whiskey was recasked in a used bourbon barrel for secondary maturation.
-The American Style Whiskey category includes expressions that fall outside tightly established designations, such as bourbon, rye, and single malt
World Whiskies Awards has selected its Best American Style Whiskey for 2026. The winner is Onyx & Amber’s Copper Buffalo American Light Whiskey Double Oaked, an 18-year-old light whiskey originally distilled in Indiana and recasked in Colorado for secondary maturation.
Like many competitions, the World Whiskies Awards judges a variety of spirits, including tightly defined classes such as bourbon, rye, and single malt. “American Style Whiskey” includes whiskeys that don’t fit neatly into those more common and established classifications. For example, non-single-malt whiskeys aged in used cooperage — which in America cannot qualify as bourbon or rye — are often judged in this or similar categories.
Onyx & Amber’s Copper Buffalo is one such bottle. The light whiskey was produced by Seagram’s in Indiana, which is now owned by MGP and has recently rebranded to Ross & Squibb. It was distilled from a mashbill of 99% corn and 1% malted barley, then matured in previously used barrels. Colorado-based Onyx & Amber eventually acquired the whiskey and, after 17 years and 9 months of initial maturation, placed it in a used bourbon barrel for an additional four months. (Hence the whiskey was “Double Oaked.”) It was then bottled at a robust 71.75% ABV (143.5 proof).
That secondary barrel previously held bourbon for 16 years, resulting in what Onyx & Amber calls a “rich on rich double oaking.” According to the brand, the whiskey spent its final two years of aging in Colorado. Onyx & Amber released approximately 375 bottles of the expression, with a suggested retail price of $75.
This $55 Whiskey Is America’s Best Rye, According to the 2026 World Whiskies Awards World Whiskies Awards tasting notes highlight a “friendly nose with caramel, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, toasted oak, cocoa, and strong butterscotch.” The palate is big on “stone fruit and red hots, crème brûlée, toasted nuts, toffee, dark smoky chocolate, fruit and spice,” before a warm finish.
Fast Facts: Onyx & Amber Copper Buffalo American Light Whiskey Double Oaked
ABV: 71.75%
Origin and maturation: This MGP-distilled light whiskey — with a mashbill of 99% corn and 1% malted barley — was initially aged in used cooperage. After 17 years and nine months, Colorado-based Onyx & Amber transferred the whiskey to another used barrel that had previously held bourbon for 16 years. The final product was bottled at 143.5 proof.
Price: $75
Light whiskey, originally developed in the 1960s and 1970s, has seen a resurgence over the past decade. That popularity is fueled in part by non-distilling producers like Onyx & Amber, which view the spirit as a way to offer highly aged American whiskey at accessible price points. Light whiskey also has a uniquely adaptable flavor profile, which many producers leverage through secondary barrel maturation. Today, most American light whiskey is sourced from MGP, though a number of smaller and craft distilleries have begun producing their own versions in-house.
The World Whiskies Awards 2026 American winners were announced on February 12th at Louisville’s Brown Hotel. Spirits were judged in two rounds in Kentucky and Washington, D.C., before final selections were made.
Other Gold Medal recipients in the American Style Whiskey category
Texian No 01, 1845 Distilling Company
Town Branch Overproof 4 Barrel, Town Branch Distillery
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Try to find “Elmer T. Lee” bourbon...
1st of all, you probably can’t find it,
2nd of all, if you find it, you probably can’t afford it.
MGP is the usa’s largest distillery. “Craft” distilleries buy their raw alcohol in tanker or rr car loads and age it in barrels per the law to finish it. Best to read the label if you want an authentic product.
No place has a better selection of whiskey than the Navy Exchange near my home. Sadly, I can no longer drink it (doctor’s orders).
Most of the “boutique “ whiskeys are just bad moonshine in fancy bottles. Just swill.
I would be living a miserable and boring life
if I did everything my various doctors tell me to do.
Remember what Willie Nelson said about old doctors and old drunks. 😉
I heard something sorta like that about 1967 corvettes when I was in high school. Something to do with mpg.
As a means of delivering alcohol, proof mattered more to me than price as long as the price didn’t cause any concern about going blind.
I’ll give it a try…
Usually stick to Irish whiskey, but this sounds interesting…
I love good whiskey, but above about 110 - 115 proof, they just taste like alcohol to me.
>The World Whiskies Awards 2026 American winners were announced on February 12th at Louisville’s Brown Hotel
If you’re in Louisville the Brown Hotel is worth checking out. It has a gorgeous old school lobby. Have a Hot Brown sandwich. Open face sliced turkey sandwich with bacon, tomato and Mornay sauce.
https://www.brownhotel.com/dining/hot-brown
I’ll be making sliders thus with Kings Hawaiian rolls for a Derby party in May.
I’ll stick to my bourbon barrel Russian Imperial Stout.
I recently discovered Tallemore D.E.W.. Very interesting.
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Well, it WAS $75 ...
I’d be dead if I followed all doctors orders.
They’re dangerous when they get out of their lane.
Nutrition , in particular.
$75 a bottle...no thanks... Highest price I’d pay for whiskey is $17...
I live about 20 minutes from where Jim Beam is made. Haven’t tried all the KY bourbons (there’s a LOOOOT) but my favorites (so far) are all in the $25 and under range: Four Roses Yellow Label (cheapest in their line, usually around $17-$19) Jim Beam Black Label Aged 7 Yrs, Wild Turkey 101, Old Grand-dad Bonded 100 Proof. if you wanna pay more, more power to ya, but don’t turn your nose up at the cheap stuff, there’s some good ones out there.
I’d poll passed out drunks.
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