2015-04-01



Straight from the American Distilling Institute (ADI) are the winners of the 2015 Craft American Spirits Competition.  As the nation’s oldest and largest organization representing craft distillers from all over the US, ADI has had a tremendous influence on the growth of our nation’s craft distilling industry.

Hosted in San Francisco over the course of three days, the judging panels included fellow distillers, spirits writers, bar owners, and retailers.  Drink Me was represented at the event with Cornelius and Jeffrey helping manage the back end of the competition and me as a judge.  I had the immense honor of being part of a panel with Master Distiller and Master Blender Hubert Germain-Robin, Flavien Desoblin of The Brandy Library, and Paul Clarke of Imbibe Magazine.

With a total of 457 spirit entries in this year’s competition, we certainly had our work cut out for us as we tasted through round after round of moonshine to liqueurs and everything in between.  The spirits were judged in categories of both certified craft distilled spirits and certified craft blended and merchant bottled spirits.

A huge round of applause to this year’s winners and Drink Me is thrilled to have been a part of it!

Awards List

Best of Class – Certified Craft Distilled Spirits

Whiskey: Westland Distillery – Westland Peated American Single Malt Whiskey
Vodka: Dry Diggings Distillery – Diamond Springs Vodka
Vodka Most Neutral: Hendricks Family Distillery – Pür Class Vodka
Gin: 1769 Distillery – La Liberté
Rum: Kiepersol Distillery – Pierre’s Texas Rum
Moonshine: Virginia Sweetwater Distillery – Shiners Gold 101
Brandy: Jaxon Keys – Jepson Signature Reserve Brandy
Liqueur: Louisiana Spirits – Bayou Satsuma Rum Liqueur

Other: Oregon Spirit Distillers – Wild Card Absinthe

Best of Class – Certified Craft Blended Spirits

Whiskey: New Riff Distilling – O.K.I. Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Rum: New Holland Artisan Spirits – Freshwater Superior Rum
Liqueur: C88 Holdings – Rivulet Artisan Pecan Liqueur
Cocktail Bitters: Dutch’s Spirits – ProhiBitters

Excellence in Packaging

Best of Show

Gold Medal: Venus Spirits – Wayward Single Malt Whiskey
Silver Medal: Sutherland Distilling Company – Diablo’s Shadow Navy Strength Rum
Bronze Medal: Rusted Crow Spirits – Detroit Steam Vodka

Whiskey Packaging

Gold Medal: Venus Spirits – Wayward Single Malt Whiskey
Silver Medal: Ballast Point Spirits – Devil’s Share Single Malt Whiskey
Bronze Medal: High Wire Spirits – New Southern Revival Sorghum Whiskey

Vodka Packaging

Gold Medal: Rusted Crow Spirits – Detroit Steam Vodka
Silver Medal: Humboldt Craft Spirits – Blue Lake Vodka
Bronze Medal:Oola Distillery – Oola Vodka

Gin Packaging

Gold Medal: Oregon Spirit Distillers – Merrylegs Genever
Silver Medal: Vikre Distillery – Boreal Spruce Gin
Bronze Medal: Koval Distillery – Koval Dry Gin

Rum Packaging

Gold Medal: Sutherland Distilling Company – Diablo’s Shadow Navy Strength Rum
Silver Medal: Charboneau Distillery – Charboneau White Rum
Bronze Medal: Allegheny Distilling – Maggie’s Farm Queen’s Share Aged Rum

Brandy Packaging

Gold Medal: Harvest Spirits – Cornelius Applejack
Silver Medal: Mad River Distillers – Malvados Apple Brandy
Bronze Medal: Stark Spirits – Sunshine Orange Brandy

Liqueur & Other Packaging

Gold Medal: Louisiana Spirits – Bayou Satsuma Rum Liqueur
Silver Medal: Wood Hat Spirits – Black Walnut Liqueur
Bronze Medal: Napa Valley Distillery – Brandy Cordial

Whiskey – Certified Craft Distilled Spirits


Clear Whiskey – Bourbon Mash

Silver Medal – Best of Category

Wiggly Bridge Distillery – White Whiskey

Silver Medal

Ballast Point Spirits – Devil’s Share Moonshine

Bronze Medal

Heritage Distilling Co. – My Batch Bourbon

New Riff Distilling – New Make Bourbon Mash Whiskey

Clear Whiskey – Malt

Bronze Medal – Best of Category

Spirit Hound Distillers – White Dog

Clear Whiskey – Rye

Silver Medal – Best of Category

Heritage Distilling Co. – Commander’s Rye

Silver Medal

New Riff Distilling – New Make Rye Mash Whiskey

Clear Whiskey – Wheat

Silver Medal – Best of Category

Six & Twenty Distillery – Virgin Wheat Whiskey

Clear Whiskey – Alt

Silver – Best of Category

Spirits of Gettysburg Distillery – Discount Unicorn White Whiskey

Clear Corn Whiskey

Gold Medal – Best of Category

Ironroot Republic Distilling – Carpenter’s Bluff Moonshine Corn Whiskey

Silver Medal

Artisan Grain Distillery – Original Moonshine Corn Whiskey

Ozark Distillery – Corn Whiskey Moonshine

Bronze Medal

Black Heron Spirits – Moonshine

Dark Corner Distillery – Moonshine Corn Whiskey

Whiskey Acres Distilling – Corn Whiskey

Aged Corn Whiskey

Bronze Medal – Best of Category

Grand River Spirits – Baby Whiskey

Bourbon (Aged less than 1 Year)

Gold Medal – Best of Category

Heritage Distilling Co. – Cask Club Bourbon

Bronze Medal

Grand River Spirits – Grand River Bourbon

Heritage Distilling Co. – Tacoma New West Bourbon

Kings County Distillery – Kings County Bourbon

Lazy Guy Distillery – Side Track Bourbon

Bourbon (Aged 1-2 Years)

Gold Medal – Best of Category

Heritage Distilling Co. – Elk Rider Bourbon Whiskey

Silver Medal

Five & 20 Spirits – Small Barrel Small Batch Bourbon

Bronze Medal

Louisiana Lightning – Bourbon Dufour

Bourbon (Aged 3-5 Years)

Silver Medal – Best of Category

Woodinville Whiskey Co. – Woodinville Bourbon Whiskey

Bronze

Ballast Point Spirits – Devil’s Share Bourbon Whiskey

Garrison Brothers Distillery – Single Barrel Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Bourbon (Aged more than 5 Years)

Silver Medal – Best of Category

Wyoming Whiskey – Wyoming Whiskey Single Barrel Bourbon

Bronze

Wyoming Whiskey – Wyoming Whiskey Small Batch Bourbon

Rye Whiskey (Aged less than 1 Year)

Silver Medal – Best of Category

Florida Farm Distillers – Palm Ridge Rye

Bronze Medal

Mad River Distillers – Rye Whiskey

Njoy Spirits – Wild Buck Whiskey

Rye Whiskey (Aged 1-2 Years)

Silver Medal – Best of Category

Five & 20 Spirits – Small Barrel Small Batch Rye Whiskey

Silver Medal

3 Howls Distillery – 3 Howls Rye Whiskey

Bronze Medal

Dark Horse Distillery – Reunion Rye Whiskey Barrel Strength

Rye Whiskey (Aged 3-5 Years)

Silver Medal – Best of Category

Grand Traverse Distillery – Ole George 100% Straight Rye Whiskey

Bronze Medal

Dallas Distilleries – Herman Marshall Texas Rye Whiskey

Malt Whiskey (Aged less than 1 Year)

Silver Medal – Best of Category

Corsair Artisan Distillery – Buck Yeah

Bronze Medal

Venus Spirits – Wayward Single Malt Whiskey

Malt Whiskey (Aged 1-2 Years)

Silver Medal – Best of Category

Crown Valley Distillery – Missouri Malt

Bronze Medal

Sons of Liberty Spirits Co. – Battle Cry

Sons of Liberty Spirits Co. – Uprising

Malt Whiskey (Aged 2 Years)

Double Gold Medal – Best of Category

Westland Distillery – Sherry Wood American Single Malt Whiskey

Gold Medal

Santa Fe Spirits – Colkegan Single Malt Whiskey

Westland Distillery – American Single Malt Whiskey

Malt Whiskey (Aged 3-5 Years)

Double Gold Medal – Best of Category

Ballast Point Spirits – Devil’s Share Single Malt Whiskey

Silver Medal

New Holland Artisan Spirits – Zeppelin Bend Straight Malt Whiskey

Malt Whiskey (Aged more than 5 Years)

Double Gold Medal – Best of Category

Triple Eight Distillery – The Notch Single Malt Whiskey 10 Years

Gold Medal

Triple Eight Distillery – The Notch Single Malt Whiskey 12 Years

Wheat Whiskey (Aged less than 1 Year)

Bronze Medal – Best of Category

11 Wells Spirits – Prototype Wheat Whiskey

Wheat Whiskey (Aged 1-2 Years)

Bronze Medal – Best of Category

Five Points Distilling – Lone Elm Texas Wheat Whiskey

Alt Whiskey

Silver Medal – Best of Category

Still 630 – S.S. Sorghum Whiskey

Bronze Medal

Corsair Artisan Distillery – Oatrage

Detroit City Distillery – Bloodline Whiskey

High Wire Distilling Co. – New Southern Revival Sorghum Whiskey

Smoked Whiskey

Gold Medal – Best of Category

Westland Distillery – Peated American Single Malt Whiskey

Flavored Whiskey

Silver Medal – Best of Category

Trailhead Spirits – Highwood Chocolate Flavored Whiskey

Whiskey – Certified Craft Blended Spirits

Bourbon (Aged 1-2 Years)

Silver Medal – Best of Category

Defiance Spirits – Defiance Whiskey

Bourbon (Aged more than 5 Years)

Gold Medal – Best of Category

New Riff Distilling – O.K.I. Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Gold Medal

Henry Farms Prairie Spirits – J. Henry & Sons Bourbon Whiskey

Rye Whiskey (Aged less than 1 Year)

Bronze Medal – Best of Category

Kindred Distilled Spirits – Highspire Pure Rye Whiskey

Rye Whiskey (Aged more than 5 Years)

Double Gold Medal – Best of Category

Bardstown Barrel Selections – Redemption Rye Barrel Proof 10 Year Old

Gold Medal

Bardstown Barrel Selections – Redemption Rye Barrel Proof 7 Year Old

Alt Whiskey

Bronze Medal – Best of Category

Bull Run Distilling Co. – Temperance Trader American Whiskey

Vodka – Certified Craft Distilled Spirits


New-made Potato Vodka

Gold Medal – Best of Category

Hendricks Family Distillery – Pür Class Vodka

Silver Medal

Skip Rock Distillers – Skip Rock Vodka

New-made Barley Vodka

Bronze Medal – Best of Category

Humboldt Craft Spirits – Blue Lake Vodka

New-made Corn Vodka from

Silver Medal – Best of Category

Frey Rance Estate Distillery – Frey Rance Vodka

New-made Wheat Vodka

Silver Medal – Best of Category

Desert Distilling – Desert Distilling Original Vodka

Silver Medal

Heritage Distilling Co. – HDC Wheat Vodka

New-made Alt Grain Vodka

Silver Medal – Best of Category

Charleston Distilling Co. – King Charles Vodka

Silver Medal

Wilderness Trace Distillery – Blüe Heron

Bronze Medal

Detroit City Distillery – Gilded Age Vodka

New-made Grape Vodka

Gold Medal – Best of Category

Dry Diggings Distillery – Diamond Springs Vodka

Gold Medal

Kiepersol Distillery – Dirk’s Texas Vodka

Silver Medal

Grapeworks Distilling – Vitis Vodka Gewurztraminer

Bronze Medal

Grapeworks Distilling – Vitis Vodka Distiller’s Blend

Heritage Distilling Co. – My Batch Vodka

New-made Vodka Alt

Gold Medal – Best of Category

Candella Micro-Distillery – Y-Town Vodka

Silver Medal

Sherwoods Winery & Distillery – 3 Bees Vodka

Rectified Corn Vodka

Silver Medal – Best of Category

Rusted Crow Spirits – Detroit Stream Vodka

Bronze Medal

Coastal Spirits Distillery – Vodka Farallon

Huber’s Starlight Distillery – Starlight Distillery Vodka

Rectified Cane Vodka

Bronze Medal – Best of Category

St. Augustine Distillery Co. – Florida Cane Vodka

Flavored Vodka

Gold Medal – Best of Category

Heritage Distilling Co. – Char Barrel Vodka

Silver Medal

Cowlitz River Distillery – Smokey Valley Vodka

Heritage Distilling Co. – Strawberry Vodka

The Montana Distillery – Flathead Ginger

Bronze Medal

Blaum Bros. Distilling Co. – HellFyre

Harvest Spirits – Core Black Raspberry Vodka

Heritage Distilling Co. – Cherry Lime Vodka

Heritage Distilling Co. – Ginger Vodka

Heritage Distilling Co. – Grapefruit Vodka

Heritage Distilling Co. – Raspberry Vodka

Rogue Spirits – Voodoo Maple Bacon Vodka

Still Pond Distillery – Still Pond Vintners Vodka

Vodka – Merchant Bottled

Wheat Vodka

Silver Medal – Best of Category

Wildwood Spirits Co. – Stark Patten

Silver Medal

O’Shevlin Importing Co. – Bonn Óir Vodka

Alt Vodka

Bronze Medal – Best of Category

Two World Spirits – Red Terra Vodka

Gin – Certified Craft Distilled Spirits

Classic Distilled Gin

Gold Medal – Best of Category

1769 Distillery – La Liberty

Silver Medal

Triple Eight Distillery – Gale Force Gin

Bronze Medal

Eau Clair Distillery – Parlour Gin

Koval Distillery – Koval Dry Gin

Trailhead Spirits – Healy’s Gin

Classic Rectified Gin

Bronze Medal – Best of Category

Oregon Spirit Distillers – Scribbles Gin

Contemporary Distilled Gin

Bronze Medal – Best of Category

Blaum Bros. Distilling Co. – Blaum Bros. Gin

Bronze Medal

Charleston Distilling Co. – Jasper’s Gin

Do Good Distillery – Do Good Distillery Gin

Contemporary Rectified Gin

Silver Medal – Best of Category

Santa Fe Spirits – Wheeler’s Gin

Silver Medal

Huber’s Starlight Distillery – Eighteen Forty-Three Gin

Mother Earth Spirits – Mother Earth Gin

Bronze Medal

Chicago Distilling Co. – Finn’s Gin

New Holland Artisan Spirits – Knickerbocker Gin

Rolling River Spirits – Rolling River Spirits Gin

Rusted Crow Spirits – Ginstache Gin

Barrel-Aged Distilled Gin

Silver Medal – Best of Category

Myer Farm Distillers – Cayuga Gold Barrel Gin

Silver Medal

Heritage Distilling Co. – Char Barreled Soft Gin

Bronze Medal

Charleston Distilling Co. – Jasper’s Bourbon Barrel Gin

Trailhead Spirits – Healy’s Reserve Gin

Barrel-Aged Rectified Gin

Silver Medal – Best of Category

Copperworks Distilling Co. – Copperworks New Barrel Gin

Bronze Medal

New Holland Artisan Spirits – Barrel Knickerbocker Gin

Old Tom Gin

Silver Medal – Best of Category

Valentine Distilling Co. – Liberator Old Tom Gin

Genever

Gold Medal – Best of Category

Corsair Artisan Distillery – Genever

Gold Medal

Oregon Spirit Distillers – Merrylegs Genever

Silver Medal

Copper Fiddle Distillery – Fiddle Gin

Rum – Certified Craft Distilled Spirits

Aged Rum

Gold Medal – Best of Class

Kiepersol Distillery – Pierre’s Rum

Silver Medal

Ballast Point Spirits – Three Sheets Barrel Aged Rum

Duncan’s Idea Mill – Dunc’s Mill Backwoods Reserve Rum

Spirit Hound Distillers – Mountain Bum Rum

Wiggly Bridge Distillery – Small Barrel Amber Rum

Bronze Medal

South Hollow Spirits – Twenty Boat Amber Rum

3 Howls Distillery – 3 Howls Rum

Mad River Distillers – Maple Rum

Clear Rum

Silver Medal – Best of Category

The California Spirits Co. – Avalon Silver Rum

Silver Medal

Allegheny Distilling – Maggie’s Farm White Rum

Cannon Beach Distillery – Dorymen’s Rum

Wiggly Bridge Distillery – Wiggly Bridge Distillery Rum

Bronze Medal

Cape Spirits – Wicked Dolphin Florida Crystal Rum

Coppercraft Distillery – Coppercraft Rum

Do Good Distillery – Do Good Distillery Rum

Overproof Rum

Gold Medal – Best of Category

Coppery Run Distillery – Overproof White Rum

Bronze Medal

Allegheny Distilling – Maggie’s Farm Queen’s Share Aged Rum

Flavored Rum

Silver Medal – Best of Category

Duncan’s Idea Mill – Dunc’s Mill Maple Rum

Spiced Rum

Silver Medal – Best of Category

Allegheny Distilling – Maggie’s Farm Spiced Rum

Silver Medal

Black Coral Rum – Black Coral Spiced Rum

Celebration Distillation – Old New Orleans Cajun Spice Rum

Bronze Medal

South Hollow Spirits – Twenty Boat Spiced Rum

Rum – Certified Craft Blended Spirits

Overproof Rum

Silver Medal – Best of Category

New Holland Artisan Spirits – Freshwater Superior Rum

Moonshine – Certified Craft Distilled Spirits

Corn Moonshine

Gold Medal – Best of Category

Virginia Sweetwater Distillery – Shiners Gold 101

Silver Medal

Southern Grace Distilleries – Sun Dog 130

Bronze Medal

Old Forge Distillery – Unaged Corn Moonshine

Bourbon Mash Moonshine

Silver Medal – Best of Category

Kings County Distillery – Moonshine

Alt Moonshine

Silver Medal – Best of Category

Dominion Distillery – Washington Apple 151 Moonshine

Bronze Medal

Appalachian Gap Distillery – Snowfall Vermont Whiskey

Liqueur – Certified Craft Distilled Spirits

Citrus Liqueur

Gold Medal – Best of Category

Louisiana Spirits – Bayou Satsuma Rum Liqueur

Bronze Medal

New Holland Artisan Spirits – Clockwork Orange Liqueur

Coffee Liqueur

Silver Medal – Best of Category

Appalachian Gap Distillery – Kaffevän

Herbal Liqueur

Silver Medal – Best of Category

broVo Spirits – Boomerang

Bronze Medal

Sidetrack Distillery – Shisu

Liqueur – Certified Craft Blended Spirits

Cream Liqueur

Double Gold Medal – Best of Category

La Dorita – Dulce de Leche Liqueur

Fruit Liqueur

Gold Medal – Best of Category

Virgin Island Distilleries – Satin & Lace Loganberry Liqueur

Bronze Medal

Virgin Island Distilleries – Satin & Lace Raspberry Liqueur

Herbal Liqueur

Bronze Medal – Best of Category

Spirit Hound Distillers – Colorado Sambuca

Nut Liqueur

Double Gold Medal – Best of Category

C88 Holdings – Rivulet Artisan Pecan Liqueur

Brandy – Certified Craft Distilled Spirits

Aged Brandy

Double Gold Medal – Best of Category

Jaxon Keys Winery & Distillery – Jepson Signature Reserve

Gold Medal

Jaxon Keys Winery & Distillery – Jepson Old Stock

Bronze Medal

Huber’s Starlight Distillery – Starlight Distillery Brandy

Apple Brandy

Gold Medal – Best of Category

Huber’s Starlight Distillery – Starlight Distillery Apple Brandy

Bronze Medal

BelleWood Distilling – Reserve Apple Brandy

Applejack

Gold Medal – Best of Category

Huber’s Starlight Distillery – Starlight Distillery Applejack

Silver Medal

Harvest Spirits – Cornelius Applejack

Bronze Medal

Golden Moon Distillery – Golden Moon Applejack

Eau da Vie – Other Fruit

Gold Medal – Best of Category

Sidetrack Distillery – Raspberry Brandy

Bronze Medal

Huber’s Starlight Distillery – Starlight Distillery Grappa

Flavored Brandy

Bronze Medal

Missouri State University – Raspberry Flavored Neutral Brandy

Distilled Spirit Specialty – Certified Craft Distilled Spirits

Absinthe

Double Gold Medal – Best of Category

Oregon Spirit Distillers – Wild Card Absinthe

Agave Spirits

Gold Medal – Best of Category

Venus Spirits – El Ladrón Blanco Blue Agave Spirit

Bronze Medal

Cannon Beach Distillery – Il Keyote

Aquavit

Silver Medal – Best of Category

Vikre Distillery – Øvrevann Aquavit

Bier Schnapps

Silver Medal – Best of Category

Feisty Spirits – Hop Schnapps

Bronze Medal

Five & 20 Spirits – Afterburner Bierschnapps

Alt Spirit

Silver Medal – Best of Category

StillJoy Spirits – Movados

Silver Medal

Still Joy Spirits – Movados Ginger

Fortified Wine

Vermouth

Bronze Medal – Best of Category

broVo Spirits – Pretty Vermouth

Cocktail Bitters – Certified Craft Blended Spirits

Double Gold Medal – Best of Category

Dutch’s Spirits – ProhiBitters

Gold Medal

Dashfire Bitters – Brandy Old Fashioned Bitters

Bronze Medal

Dutch’s Spirits – Boomtown Bitters

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