Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. Voted North America’s Leading Distillery Tour and Leading Whiskey Distillery Tour at 2026 World Travel Awards

Kentucky Distillery Wins Both Categories Over a Field that Included Jim Beam, Jack Daniel’s, Angel’s Envy, and Rabbit Hole.

Jamaica, Franklin County, KY., and Louisville, KY. (Oct. 12, 2026) – Kentucky’s Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. was voted North America’s Leading Distillery Tour 2026 and North America’s Leading Whisk(e)y Distillery Tour 2026 at the World Travel Awards Caribbean & The Americas Gala Ceremony, held Oct. 11 in Jamaica. Whiskey Thief won both categories in a field that included some of the most recognized names in American whiskey.

The results of the World Travel Awards follow a year-long search for the world’s leading travel, tourism and hospitality brands. Votes were cast by travel industry professionals and the general public, with the nominee receiving the most votes in a category named the winner.

The gala brought together pioneers, influencers and leading figures from across the hemisphere’s travel and tourism industry. Whiskey Thief Head of Experiences Amy Fox and CEO and Founder Walter Zausch (pictured) accepted both awards on behalf of the brand.

“These two wins belong to our team,” said Zausch. “More than 80 people make every guest’s visit memorable, and we are on pace for more than 150,000 visitors in 2026 to experience Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. We were the first in Kentucky to put every guest at the barrel, and we’ve been democratizing the barrel pick ever since. Being voted the best in a field of nominated distilleries that built American whiskey tourism tells us people don’t just want to watch how bourbon is made. They want to be part of it.” 

Whiskey Thief production capacity is about 1,000 barrels a year on its 127-acre farm in Franklin County, Ky. In 2025, it welcomed more than 110,000 visitors, and bottles filled by guests in its signature thieving experience grew 23% year over year.

Graham Cooke, President & Founder, World Travel Awards, said: “Congratulations to Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. for winning North America’s Leading Distillery Tour 2026 and North America’s Leading Whisk(e)y Distillery Tour 2026. This is a remarkable achievement, reflecting how the brand continues to set the benchmark. The commitment of the entire team at Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. serves as an inspiration to us all.”

Whiskey Thief is also a nominee for World’s Leading Distillery Tour 2026 and World’s Leading Whisk(e)y Distillery Tour 2026, alongside distilleries including Suntory Yamazaki, Jameson, and The Macallan. Public voting is open at worldtravelawards.com/vote through October 30, 2026.

For more on the awards, visit North America’s Leading Distillery Tour 2026 and North America’s Leading Whisk(e)y Distillery Tour 2026 at worldtravelawards.com.

Tour times are limited; reservations are recommended at whiskeythief.com.

About Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. – Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. is the first and only Kentucky distillery where every visitor can taste bourbon straight-from-the-barrel from five barrels, and thieve their own bottle by hand, uncut and unfiltered. Distilling since 2012 on their 127-acre working farm in Franklin County, Ky., Whiskey Thief Distilling Co. celebrates single-barrel bourbons and rye whiskeys distillated from grain grown on-site. At the farm in Franklin County, and tasting room in Louisville, guests fill their own bottle straight from the barrel, at barrel strength. Learn more at whiskeythief.com.

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Media Contact: Debra Locker Group / [email protected] / 859.536.0282