Bourbon Club of Arkansas • National Recognition
Five Bourbon Club of Arkansas Releases Win Medals at the 2026 ASCOT Awards
Five BCA-associated whiskey releases earned national recognition through blind tasting—including two Double Platinum medals, one Platinum medal and two Gold medals.
Published: May 31, 2026 • Updated: August 4, 2026
BCA-associated releases earned five medals at the 2026 ASCOT Awards.
5
Total Medals
2
Double Platinum
1
Platinum
2
Gold
A Milestone for Arkansas Whiskey
Our Barrel Picks and Collaborations Earned National Honors
At Bourbon Club of Arkansas, we believe exceptional whiskey begins with patient tasting, honest evaluation and a commitment to choosing barrels for quality—not hype. The 2026 ASCOT Awards gave five releases connected to our club the opportunity to stand on their own in a national blind-tasting competition.
The results included top honors for Elliott Brothers Reserve #2 and Russell’s Reserve “Baby Billy’s Reserve,” plus medals for our Elijah Craig sister barrels and the Barrel King “HELLO DARKNESS #BCA1” collaboration.
The Five Award-Winning BCA Releases
Each entry below includes the age, proof and retail price submitted to ASCOT, along with a concise summary of the judges’ published tasting notes.
Double Platinum Winner
Elliott Brothers Reserve #2
Category: High Proof Straight Bourbon
Age: 10 years • ABV: 65% • Proof: 130
ASCOT entry price: $150
Judges found a complex nose built around deep oak, caramel, hazelnut and subtle butterscotch. The palate delivered rich caramel, corn and oak before a long finish marked by barrel spice.
Double Platinum Winner
Russell’s Reserve “Baby Billy’s Reserve”
Category: High Proof Straight Bourbon
Age: 8 years • ABV: 55% • Proof: 110
ASCOT entry price: $85.99
ASCOT’s judges praised this Russell’s Reserve single barrel for its balance, flavor and carefully judged proof, concluding that it delivered across the full tasting experience.
Platinum Winner
Elijah Craig “The Light Side”
Category: High Proof Straight Bourbon
Age: 10 years • ABV: 64.3% • Proof: 128.6
ASCOT entry price: $84.98
The tasting profile opened with sweet cream, vanilla and spice. A sweet entry moved into oak and custard before finishing with warming brown sugar and oatmeal notes.
Gold Winner
Elijah Craig “The Darkside”
Category: High Proof Straight Bourbon
Age: 10 years • ABV: 64.8% • Proof: 129.6
ASCOT entry price: $84.99
Judges highlighted the barrel’s character and well-integrated heat, with warm baking spice moving alongside vanilla bean and pecan.
Gold Winner
Barrel King “HELLO DARKNESS #BCA1”
Category: Blend of Straight Bourbon
ABV: 59.5% • Proof: 119
ASCOT entry price: $149
This BCA collaboration with Barrel King brought together mature bourbon stocks, including whiskey sourced from MGP and Green River. ASCOT’s published notes emphasized fruit, toffee, coffee, macarons and oak, followed by a long, oak-driven finish.
Attribution note: The medal was officially awarded to Barrel King as the producer and entrant. Gary Penna and Justin Mills led BCA’s blending work, evaluating and refining the whiskey that became the final award-winning release.
What Are the ASCOT Awards?
The ASCOT Awards are a national spirits competition founded by whiskey author, critic and tasting expert Fred Minnick. Entries are evaluated through blind tasting so judges can focus on the liquid rather than the producer, label, packaging or price.
Gold, Platinum and Double Platinum medals recognize high-scoring spirits. Earning five medals in one competition year gave our club’s barrel-selection and blending work meaningful national validation.
From Arkansas to the National Stage
Arkansas Whiskey Enthusiasts Are Helping Shape Great Releases
Arkansas may not be one of America’s traditional whiskey-production centers, but the state has built an active community of collectors, retailers, barrel-pick groups, educators and enthusiasts. BCA has worked to strengthen that community through private selections, tastings, collaborations and shared whiskey education.
Mash & Vine Market is now open in downtown Little Rock and serves as the physical home and pickup point for BCA releases, merchandise and club products. It gives our community a permanent place to discover thoughtfully selected spirits and connect around the culture we have built together.
Why These Awards Matter
Great Whiskey Is Found Through the Work
Blind-tasting results do not replace personal preference. They do, however, reinforce the value of careful sample evaluation, a disciplined selection process and a willingness to let the whiskey—not the label—make the final argument.
2026 ASCOT Awards Medal Summary
A quick reference to all five BCA-associated medal winners.
| Whiskey Release | Medal | Proof |
|---|---|---|
| Elliott Brothers Reserve #2 | Double Platinum | 130 |
| Russell’s Reserve “Baby Billy’s Reserve” | Double Platinum | 110 |
| Elijah Craig “The Light Side” | Platinum | 128.6 |
| Elijah Craig “The Darkside” | Gold | 129.6 |
| Barrel King “HELLO DARKNESS #BCA1” | Gold | 119 |
Proof, pricing and availability reflect the competition entries or original releases and may not represent current inventory or resale pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Five BCA-associated releases earned medals: two Double Platinum medals, one Platinum medal and two Gold medals.
Elliott Brothers Reserve #2 and Russell’s Reserve “Baby Billy’s Reserve” earned Double Platinum medals at the 2026 ASCOT Awards.
The ASCOT Awards are a national spirits competition founded by Fred Minnick. Judges evaluate entries through blind tasting and award Gold, Platinum and Double Platinum medals to qualifying spirits.
HELLO DARKNESS #BCA1 was a collaboration with Barrel King. Gary Penna and Justin Mills led the Bourbon Club of Arkansas blending work, while Barrel King was the official producer and ASCOT entrant.
Mash & Vine Market in downtown Little Rock is the official home and pickup point for BCA releases, merchandise and club products, subject to availability and membership requirements.
Visit the BCA membership page to review current membership options, barrel-pick access and member benefits.
Be Part of What Comes Next
Join Arkansas’s Bourbon Community
Membership connects you with BCA barrel picks, release information, events and member experiences built around thoughtful whiskey exploration.
For adults of legal drinking age. Please enjoy responsibly. Product availability, pricing and membership access may change.
