Sabbatical Distillery Strikes Gold at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition!
Northern California’s premier farm-to-bottle craft distillery earns top honors for its all-new Double Oaked Whiskey expression
NEWS! Victoria Island, Stockton // San Francisco, CA - June, 2026
Sabbatical Distillery, located on Victoria Island Farms in the heart of the Northern California Delta, proudly announces that its signature Double Oaked Whiskey has been awarded a prestigious Gold Medal at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC).
The SFWSC is considered to be the most influential spirits competition in the world with the 2026 installment seeing over 4,000 entries in a blind-tasting judging process conducted by established spirits-industry experts including bartenders, writers, retailers, importers and distributors. A Gold Medal signifies a spirit that is near the pinnacle of achievement in its category, setting the standard for all others of its type.
We built Sabbatical on the philosophy of experimentation and innovation to create uniquely superb products at our distillery. Flipping the script on the traditional double oak process was a creative leap, but over time the whiskey spoke for itself and it is an honor to be validated by the industry’s top experts, earning a Gold Medal in San Francisco for this unique style.
Sabbatical’s award-winning Double Oaked Whiskey stood out in a highly competitive field thanks to its unique approach to barrel maturation. Aged for over 7 years and bottled at a robust 98 proof, this small-batch expression reverses the industry-standard double-oak methodology:
The First Fill - The whiskey is initially matured in a once-used, ex-bourbon barrel to establish a delicate, deeply nuanced foundation.
The Custom Finish - It is then transferred to a freshly charred, brand-new American oak cask for a finishing period to enhance the spirit with layers of bold and decadent flavor.
The resulting spirit is superbly balanced—capturing sweeping aromas of sweet vanilla and toasted oak that lead into rich, lingering notes of honey, molasses, caramel, and cinnamon. Sabbatical’s Double Oaked Whiskey also earned a judges’ score of 90 points at the 2026 SFWSC.
Sabbatical's Double Oaked Whiskey is a limited small-batch release. Bottles are available for direct shipping anywhere in California via their online shop, and for in-person purchase at the Sabbatical Distillery Tasting Room as well as at a very select list of local retailers. Due to the high demand surrounding the Gold Medal winner, quantities are limited. All Best of Class Members of Sabbatical’s Spirits Club receive an allocated bottle included in their Club Box order for a limited time.
This year’s win adds to the distillery’s growing collection of awards from the largest and most prestigious spirits competition in the world. In just 5 years, Sabbatical has received an impressive array of top industry honors. Other San Francisco World Spirits Competition distinctions for its portfolio of craft spirits include:
· Single Barrel Select Bourbon: Best of Class Finalist, Double Gold Medal, 97 Point Rating (2025)
· Blended Whiskey – Table Blend No. 1: Double Gold Medal, 95 Points (2024)
· Sábado Gin by Sabbatical: Double Gold Medal (2022)
· Straight Bourbon Finished in Port Casks: Gold Medal, 93 Points (2024)
· Straight Bourbon Barrel Reserve: Gold Medal (2023)
· Blended American Whiskey Finished in Cognac : Gold Medal (2023)
· Cognac Cask Finished American Single Malt Whiskey: Silver Medal (2023)
· California Meyer Lemon Flavored Vodka: Bronze Medal (2024)
See full list of 2026 award winners, here: https://thetastingalliance.com/events/san-francisco-world-spirits-competition
Batch No. 1 Debut Release!
We flipped the script on the traditional double oak process by first aging our bourbon mashbill whiskey in a once used ex-bourbon barrel followed by an extensive finishing in a charred new American oak cask. This small batch releases features an exclusive selection of Sabbatical whiskey aged over 7 years with a novel approach to barrel maturation to create a uniquely nuanced expression that’s unlike any other.
Forget what you know and discover how a new take on Double Oak has crafted a superbly bold yet delicate whiskey that goes down easy. Enjoy your Sabbatical.
49% Alc / Vol | 98 Proof | 750ML
Aged: 7+ Years
Total bottles in batch: 588
GOLD MEDAL WINNER, 2026 SAN FRANCISCO WORLD SPIRITS COMPETITION
“Products awarded a Gold medal are exceptional. They are near the pinnacle of achievement in their particular category. They are products that set the standard for all others of their type.”
Read more about the top honors awarded to this small batch release.
Tasting Notes
Aroma: Warm vanilla, baked caramel, toasted oak, light baking spice, and subtle dried fruit.
Palate: Creamy caramel and butterscotch up front, deep toffee and dark chocolate mid-palate, with toasted oak, nutmeg, and baking spice accents.
Finish: Long, smooth, and slightly lingering with oak tannins, caramelized sugar, and a gentle spice warmth.
Experience this singular expression aged in two separate American oak barrels for yourself by claiming a handmade bottle from the debut batch!
Join our Spirits Club to get this Limited release included in your first box!
FIND SABBATICAL AT SELECT LOCAL RETAILERS!
