Bourbon Club of Arkansas Wins Best Single Barrel Pick at 2026 ASCOT Awards

Last Updated on June 20, 2026 by Justin Jones

Bourbon Club of Arkansas wins Best Single Barrel Pick at the 2026 ASCOT Awards with Elliott Brothers Reserve, adding another major national honor to an already impressive year for Arkansas bourbon.

The official 2026 ASCOT Awards Best in Category results list Bourbon Club of Arkansas – Elliott Brothers Reserve as the winner for Best Single Barrel Pick, placing the Arkansas club’s selection at the top of one of the most competitive and closely watched categories in American whiskey.

For Bourbon Club of Arkansas, this is not just another award. It is another national confirmation that Arkansas bourbon groups are selecting, developing, and supporting whiskey releases that can stand beside some of the strongest names in the country.

Quick Facts: Bourbon Club of Arkansas ASCOT Win

Bourbon Club of Arkansas Wins Best Single Barrel Pick with Elliott Brothers Reserve

The latest recognition comes after Elliott Brothers Reserve had already earned a Double Platinum Medal at the 2026 ASCOT Awards.

That means this release did not simply perform well in medal judging. It went further, rising to the top of the Best Single Barrel Pick category in the ASCOT Best in Category results.

For a private selection, that matters.

Single barrel picks are different from standard shelf releases. They represent a specific barrel, a specific palate, and a specific group of people making a decision about what deserves to carry their name. When that pick wins nationally, it reflects not only the quality of the whiskey, but also the judgment behind the selection.

In this case, that selection belongs to Bourbon Club of Arkansas.

Elliott Brothers Reserve Adds Another ASCOT Awards Achievement

Elliott Brothers Reserve has quickly become one of the standout Arkansas-connected bourbon stories of 2026.

The Bourbon Club of Arkansas-associated release previously earned a Double Platinum Medal at the 2026 ASCOT Awards. The 10-year bourbon was entered in the High Proof Straight Bourbon category at 65% ABV, with ASCOT tasting notes highlighting deep oak, caramel, hazelnut, butterscotch, sweet caramel, corn notes, and a long finish featuring barrel spice.

Now, with the additional Best Single Barrel Pick win, Elliott Brothers Reserve becomes one of the most decorated BCA-associated whiskey releases of the year.

That kind of recognition is rare. It gives Arkansas bourbon fans another reason to pay attention to what local clubs, stores, and whiskey groups are selecting.

A Major Moment for Arkansas Bourbon

The Bourbon Club of Arkansas has already had a strong 2026 ASCOT Awards showing.

BCA-associated releases earned five medals at the 2026 competition, including:

• Elliott Brothers Reserve — Double Platinum
• Russell’s Reserve “Baby Billy’s Reserve” — Double Platinum
• Elijah Craig “The Light Side” — Platinum
• Elijah Craig “The Darkside” — Gold
• Barrel King “HELLO DARKNESS #BCA1” — Gold

That medal count was already impressive. Adding a Best Single Barrel Pick win makes the story even stronger.

This is not just one bottle earning attention. It is a broader signal that Arkansas whiskey culture is gaining national credibility.

Why Best Single Barrel Pick Matters

A Best Single Barrel Pick award carries a different kind of weight than a standard medal.

A medal says the whiskey performed well. A category win says it stood out among other strong entries and rose above the field.

For Bourbon Club of Arkansas, the award validates the careful work that goes into selecting barrels, evaluating profiles, and choosing whiskey that represents both the club and the Arkansas bourbon community.

Private barrel selections are often built around trust. Members trust the people picking the barrel. Stores trust the club’s palate. Distilleries and producers trust that the group can recognize quality. Awards like this help show why that trust matters.

The Elliott Brothers Reserve win gives BCA members another reason to be proud of the club’s growing reputation.

Arkansas Whiskey Is Earning National Attention

For years, Arkansas bourbon fans have followed national whiskey news from the sidelines. Now, Arkansas-connected releases are increasingly becoming part of the national conversation.

The Bourbon Club of Arkansas winning Best Single Barrel Pick is another example of that shift.

This award gives Arkansas whiskey fans something local to celebrate. It also gives collectors, enthusiasts, and bourbon drinkers outside the state another reason to pay attention to Arkansas barrel picks.

The rise of local barrel programs, whiskey clubs, store picks, and collaborative releases has helped create a stronger whiskey culture across the state. BCA’s ASCOT Awards success shows that the work happening in Arkansas is not just meaningful locally. It is competitive nationally.

Another Achievement for Bourbon Club of Arkansas

The 2026 ASCOT Awards have already been a landmark moment for Bourbon Club of Arkansas.

Five medals. Two Double Platinum winners. A Platinum medal. Two Gold medals. And now, Elliott Brothers Reserve has been named Best Single Barrel Pick.

That is a remarkable run for any whiskey organization.

For BCA members, the award reflects more than what is inside the bottle. It reflects the tastings, barrel selections, events, collaborations, and relationships that have helped build one of Arkansas’ most visible bourbon communities.

For ArkansasLiquor.com readers, it is another reminder that some of the most exciting whiskey stories in the state are happening through local clubs and private selections.

Final Thoughts

Bourbon Club of Arkansas wins Best Single Barrel Pick at the 2026 ASCOT Awards with Elliott Brothers Reserve, adding another major achievement to an already outstanding year.

The win builds on BCA’s five-medal ASCOT showing and gives Arkansas bourbon fans another national honor to celebrate.

Arkansas whiskey is not just participating anymore.

It is winning.

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