Inaugural “Top Farmer-Distiller Award” recognizes best farm-to-bottle product
CHICAGO (August 29, 2023) – The American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) today announced the top medalists in the 2023 Heartland Whiskey Competition, which 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 fourth, biennial blind-judging event, whiskeys from 20 “Heartland” states competed for Best of Show, Best of State, Top Farmer-Distiller, along with entries from all 50 states that competed in traditional whiskey categories (e.g., rye, bourbon, etc.).
The competition, generously sponsored by state corn marketing associations, took place in early August, in St. Louis, Missouri. ACSA facilitated the judging process and its recent board president Chris Montana—owner of Du Nord Social Spirits in Minnesota—served as Judging Director. Judges selected from the Missouri and Illinois spirits industry by ACSA were chosen for their knowledge of craft whiskey.
Best of Show was captured by Casey Jones Distillery from Hopkinsville, Kentucky, for its Casey Jones Single Barrel Original 4 Grain Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon, which also earned the top score in the Four Grain Whiskey category.
Top Farmer-Distiller, a new category for the 2023 competition, was captured by Tobacco Barn Distillery of Hollywood, Maryland, for its Single Barrel Bourbon. Tobacco Barn is owned by Scott Sanders, Sean Coogan and Dan Dawson, the latter of whom operates the farm—family-owned for more than 100 years—where all of the corn for their winning bourbon is grown. Many corn farmers own and operate craft distilleries and have won top honors in previous Heartland Whiskey Competitions.
“Corn farmers, through their state corn associations, have supported the U.S. craft distilling industry through this important competition,” stated Margie A.S. Lehrman, C.E.O. of ACSA. “We greatly appreciate their continued support and the fact they supply our members with the best corn product in the world.”
The 2023 competition saw significant growth in the number of participating states and entries which greatly increased competition for medals. Only 12 whiskeys were awarded a gold medal, while 74 received silver, and 47 bronze. “It is important to recognize craft distillers, an industry that relies on the corn we grow, have sustained their businesses through trying times and continue to improve an already excellent product,” states Brent Hoerr, Missouri Corn Merchandising Council chairman. “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.”
Click here to see a full list of all medalists.
2023 Heartland Whiskey Competition National Awards
Best of Show
Casey Jones Single Barrel Original 4 Grain Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Casey Jones Distillery
Top Farmer-Distiller
Single Barrel Bourbon
Tobacco Barn Distillery
2023 Heartland Whiskey Competition Category Awards
Blended Whiskey
Burton James Whiskey Batch 2: Rookie Season: Batter Up
B.H. James Distillers
Bottled in Bond
Bottled In Bond Rubenesque
Wood Hat Spirits
Bourbon
Five Stories Single Barrel Bourbon
Northern Row Brewery & Distillery
Corn Whiskey
Handlebar Handcrafted White Corn Whiskey
Old Scotland Road Distillery
Flavored Whiskey
Fayette County Fire Red Hot Cinnamon Whiskey
Witness Distillery
Four Grain
Casey Jones Single Barrel Original 4 Grain Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Casey Jones Distillery
Light Whiskey
Star Union Spirits American Corn Series Cabernet Sauvignon
Star Union Spirits
Read to Drink (RTD)
Boot Hill Distillery Whiskey Cola
Boot Hill Distillery
Rye Whiskey
Whiskey Acres Straight Rye Whiskey
Whiskey Acres Distilling Co.
Straight
Middle West Spirits Straight Wheat Whiskey
Middle West Spirits
2023 Heartland Whiskey Competition Best of State Awards
California
Single Barrel Blue Corn Bourbon
Shelter Distilling
Colorado
291 Colorado Bourbon Whiskey Small Batch
Distillery 291
Illinois
Whiskey Acres Straight Rye Whiskey
Whiskey Acres Distilling Co.
Indiana
Hugh Hamer Straight Bourbon Rum Finish Cask Strength
West Fork Whiskey Co.
Iowa
Steeple Ridge Single Barrel Bourbon
Lonely Oak Distillery
Kansas
Boot Hill Distillery Whiskey Cola
Boot Hill Distillery
Kentucky
Casey Jones Single Barrel Original 4 Grain Wheated Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Casey Jones Distillery
Maryland
Single Barrel Bourbon
Tobacco Barn Distillery
Michigan
Featherbone Bourbon Whiskey
Journeyman Distillery
Minnesota
Single Barrel Bourbon
10,000 Drops Craft Distillers
Missouri
Queens Reserve
Wood Hat Spirits
Nebraska
Nebraska Straight Bourbon
Loup River Distilling
New York
Handlebar Handcrafted White Corn Whiskey
Old Scotland Road Distillery
North Carolina
Cook’s Mill Whiskey Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Queen Spirits
Ohio
Five Stories Single Barrel Bourbon
Northern Row Brewery & Distillery
Pennsylvania
Veterans Cut Bottle in Bond
Eight Oaks Farm Distillery
Tennessee
Single Barrel Rye Whiskey Batch 002
Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey
Texas
Preemption Texas Straight Single Barrel #101 Bourbon
1845 Distilling Co.
Washington
Private Reserve Bourbon
Quartz Mountain Distillers
Wisconsin
Driftless Glen Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Driftless Glen Distillery
Scoring and Medal Criteria
The scoring of whiskeys, with judges hand-selected from the Missouri and Illinois 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 whiskey with the top score 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 non-profit 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).
