Full Breakdown
2026 “Best-of” Announcements Across Television, Spirits, and Technology Highlight Industry Trends
6/23/2026, 9:04:10 PM
Overview of 2026 Best-of Announcements
In 2026 three major sectors released curated “best-of” selections: the A.V. Club and The Guardian published year-to-date television round-ups; the San Francisco World Spirits Competition announced five Double-Gold bourbon finalists; and InfoComm disclosed its Best-of-Show product winners in Las Vegas. Each announcement reflects current production volumes, judging criteria, and market expectations within its field.
Industry Context and Data
The A.V. Club notes that Emmy-eligible programs fell to 555 in 2026 from 600 the previous year, indicating a contraction in television output. The San Francisco competition, operating since 2000, judges entries blind of labels, prices, or packaging, and all five bourbon finalists earned Double Gold. InfoComm’s 2026 exhibition featured hundreds of product submissions across AV, digital signage, and sound-video categories, underscoring continued investment in live-event technology.
Television: A.V. Club and Guardian Picks
The A.V. Club highlighted 18 series, including Riz Ahmed’s dark comedy Bait, Lee Sung-Jin’s anthology Beef (season 2), AMC’s neo-noir Dark Winds (season 4), and the mock-documentary The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins. It also praised the final season of The Comeback and the concluding arc of Hacks. The Guardian’s selections emphasized Russell T Davies’s Tip Toe, the miscarriage-focused drama Babies, and the hospital series The Pitt, each noted for blending satire, social commentary, and genre subversion.
Spirits: San Francisco World Spirits Competition Finalists
Five straight bourbons reached the Best-of-Class shortlist:
- Brother’s Bond Cask Strength – 65 % corn, 22 % rye, 13 % wheat/barley, 115.8 proof, Double Gold.
- The Maven Kentucky – a blended six-bourbon release, not yet commercially available, Double Gold.
- Square 6 High-Rye – 52 % corn, 35 % rye, 13 % malted barley, 95 proof, produced on a small copper pot still at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, Double Gold.
- Willett Pot Still Reserve – 65 % corn, 20 % wheat, 15 % malted barley, 94 proof, family-run distillery in Bardstown, Double Gold.
- Pinhook 10-Year Vertical Series – 75 % corn, 20.5 % rye, 4.5 % malted barley, 115.9 proof, cask-strength, Double Gold.
All five will be judged again at the Top Shelf Awards Gala in San Francisco this November.
Technology: InfoComm Best-of-Show Winners
InfoComm announced its Mix category Best-of-Show winners, listed alphabetically: Allen & Heath SQ+, Blackmagic Design Fairlight Live, BoxCast Mixing Station Anywhere, Clear-Com Avalon, dbTechnologies VIO L1608, DiGiCo Quantum112, Eastern Acoustic Works NT116S Subwoofer, L-Acoustics Source Intelligence, Shure DCA901 Planar Array Microphone, and Zaxcom DCiRX Direct Conversion interface receiver.
Official Statements & Responses
- “The A.V. Club picks our favorites from what’s been on our screens and in our streams this year.” – A.V. Club editorial note.
- “TV production numbers are down (555 programs submitted for Emmy consideration in 2026, versus 600 in 2025) and the entertainment industry continues to contract.” – A.V. Club analysis.
- “The San Francisco World Spirits Competition has been running since 2000, and over the past quarter century it has become one of the largest and most closely watched blind tastings in the spirits world.” – Competition overview.
- “The competition judges every entry without labels, prices, or packaging in view, so a whiskey rises or falls on flavor.” – Competition methodology.
- “Congratulations to the InfoComm 2026 Best of Show winners and all the product teams that worked on them.” – InfoComm press release.
Criticism & Opposition
The A.V. Club’s observation of declining television submissions signals industry concern over reduced content pipelines. Additionally, the bourbon finalist The Maven lacks publicly disclosed mash-bill, age statement, or proof, prompting criticism of transparency from industry observers.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- The Maven’s production details remain undisclosed, creating a data gap for judges and consumers.
- The ultimate bourbon winner will not be known until the November Top Shelf Awards Gala, leaving the competition outcome unresolved.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Nothing provokes online bedlam quite like the prospect of a non-white James Bond, but in Riz Ahmed’s dark comedy Bait, it’s his protagonist’s sanity that gets shaken and stirred by the prospect.” — Leila Latif
- “Tip Toe made for squirming, uncomfortable viewing, but a reminder to all of us how dangerous hatred and not a whit of understanding of other people can be.” — Liz, research administrator, London
- “Photograph: Jessica Kourkounis/Apple TV It’s one of those rare shows that manages to be stylish, intelligent, funny and genuinely engaging all at the same time.” — Raymond, works in vehicle logistics, Cumbria, UK
- “Notes of fig cake and dark muscovado sugar lead this sweet, dessert-like pour.” — SFWSC 2026 (Brother’s Bond)
- “Congratulations to the InfoComm 2026 Best of Show winners and all the product teams that worked on them.” — InfoComm press release
What’s Next
The Top Shelf Awards Gala in November will announce the Best-of-Class bourbon. Television networks will roll out new seasons of the highlighted series, while InfoComm’s next exhibition is slated for 2027, where future product innovations will be evaluated.
