American Craft Spirits Association Announces 2025 Heartland Whiskey Competition Awards

WASHINGTON, D.C. (August 26, 2025) – The American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA), with support from state corn marketing associations, today announced the top awards and medalists in the 2025 Heartland Whiskey Competition. The competition was open to craft whiskeys from all 50 states that incorporate corn in their mash bill (the mix of grains used to make whiskey).

In this fifth, biennial blind-judging event, whiskeys from “Heartland” states competed for Best of Show, Best of State, and three Farmer-Distiller awards, in addition to traditional whiskey categories (e.g., Rye, Bourbon, etc.).

The competition was generously sponsored by state corn marketing associations with judging taking place in mid-July. ACSA facilitated the judging process and its former Board President Chris Montana, owner of Du Nord Social Spirits in Minnesota, served as Judging Director–a role he has held for all five Heartland competitions. Judges were selected from the spirits industry by ACSA based on their expertise in craft whiskey.

Best of Show was awarded to 1845 Distilling Co. of Lowry Crossing, Texas, for its Texian No 01 Texas Straight Whiskey, which also earned the top score in the Straight Whiskey category.

The 2025 Heartland Whiskey Competition category recipients are as follows:

Bourbon
Hugh Hamer Rum Finished
West Fork Whiskey Co.

Blended Whiskey
Burton James Uniquely American Whiskey — Five Tool Player         
B.H. James Distillers

Bottled in Bond (tie)
Single Barrel Bourbon #29     
10,000 Drops Craft Distillers

Bottled in Bond (tie)
West Fork Whiskey Wheated Bottled in Bond
West Fork Whiskey Co.

Corn Whiskey
Rockfish Whiskey
Weldon Mills Distillery

Flavored
Caramel Apple Weldon Orchards
Weldon Mills Distillery

Four Grain
Preemption Texas Straight Four Grain Bourbon Whiskey    
1845 Distilling Co.

Light Whiskey
75-25 Reserve
Star Union Spirits

Read to Drink (RTD)
Maryland Bourbon Cream
Tobacco Barn Distillery

Rye Whiskey
Loup River Straight Rye Whiskey
Loup River Distilling

Straight
Texian No 01 Texas Straight Whiskey
1845 Distilling Co.

“Several factors contribute to what is today a more challenging period for craft distillers which are often small, family-run businesses. Our member-distillers are grateful for the support of the state corn associations through five cycles of this important competition,” stated Margie A.S. Lehrman, CEO of ACSA. “We greatly appreciate their continued support and the fact they supply our members with the best corn product in the world.”

The 2025 competition saw significant growth in the number of participating states and expansion of the farmer-distiller awards, which increased overall participation by farmer-distillers. Only 20 whiskeys were awarded a gold medal, while 91 received silver, and 23 bronze.

“It is important to recognize that craft distillers have sustained their businesses through trying times and continue to improve an already excellent product,” said ICMC board member Paul Hodgen, a farmer from Roachdale, Indiana. “Corn growers throughout the Heartland, through their participating state corn associations, support these entrepreneurs, many of whom are working farmers and all of whom are our customers.”

The Farmer-Distiller Awards were announced August 19. Starlight Distillery in Borden, Indiana, claimed the prestigious Top Farmer-Distiller award, determined by the highest average score across three judged spirits from a single qualifying distillery.

The Farmer-Distiller: Best Bourbon resulted in a numerical tie when Queens Reserve, a product of Wood Hat Spirits in Florence, Missouri, scored identically to Bloody Butcher Bourbon, which is produced by Pathfinder Farm Distillery in Boonsboro, Maryland. Both will receive trophies.

Farmer-Distiller: Beyond Bourbon goes to Tobacco Barn Distillery in Hollywood, Maryland, for its Maryland Bourbon Cream. To qualify as a farmer-distiller, participants must both own a distillery and operate a working farm. The 22 recipients of the Heartland Whiskey Competition Best in State trophies will be announced by their respective state corn associations and listed on the ACSA website and Heartland Whiskey Competition website along with all medalists from the competition.

Scoring and Medal Criteria

The scoring of whiskeys, with judges hand-selected from the North American spirits community, was based on a 100-point system with 10 main categories of consideration: Appearance (10 points), Aroma Intensity (10 points), Aroma Complexity (10 points), Palate Concentration (10 points), Palate Complexity (10 points), Body (10 points), Alcohol (10 points), Texture (10 points), Finish (10 points), and Pour for a Peer (10 points).

Whiskeys were then assigned a medal based on the average score determined by the following benchmarks: 70-79 = Bronze; 80-89 = Silver; 90-100 = Gold. Best-in-State was awarded to the whiskey with the top score among all judged whiskeys from that state. 

Best Farmer-Distiller was awarded to the top average score across three spirits among all judged whiskeys submitted by Famer-Distillers. The top scoring whiskeys were judged a final time in consideration of Best-in-Show distinction.

About ACSA

The American Craft Spirits Association is the only national registered nonprofit trade association representing the U.S. craft spirits industry. Its mission is to elevate and advocate for the community of craft spirits producers, and membership in ACSA is open to anyone. ACSA is governed by a Board of Directors elected by the eligible voting members of the Association. Voting members must be independent, licensed distillers (DSPs) annually removing fewer than 750,000 proof gallons from bond (the amount on which a Federal Excise Tax is paid).