10th Annual Judging of Craft Spirits

A carefully selected group of expert judges evaluated hundreds of spirits at Ironton Distillery & Crafthouse in Denver, Colorado in January.

Entries were submitted in seven main categories: brandy, distilled specialty spirits, gin, ready to drink (RTD), rum, vodka and grain spirits, and whiskey. In addition to Best in Show, Best of Class, and Innovation distinctions, the judging panel awarded 55 gold, 107 silver, and 92 bronze medals.

The Best of Class distinctions, the highest honor in each of the seven judging categories, were awarded to a mix of both established, award-winning distilleries and younger newcomers.

Gold Medal Image

Silver Medal Image

Bronze Medal Image

Awards By Category

Download Results List (PDF)

BEST IN SHOW

Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon, Garrison Brothers Distillery

Whiskey----Garrison-Brothers-Cowboy-Bourbon

AWARD CATEGORIES

BEST OF BRANDY

Chi Rho Peach Brandy
Salvation Spirits Distillery

GOLD MEDALIST
Chi Rho	Peach Brandy
StilL 630	Knowledge of Good Apple Brandy
SILVER MEDALIST
10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirit Co.	10th Mountain Brandy
Clear Creek Distillery	Pear Brandy
J. Carver Distillery	Island View 8 Year Brandy
Star Union Spirits	Brandy
Starlight Distillery	Single Barrel Estate Bottle-In-Bond Apple Brandy
StilL 630	Knowledge of Evil Apple Brandy
BRONZE MEDALIST
Cash Butte Distillery	Washington Apple Brandy
Clear Creek Distillery	Slivovitz Blue Plum Brandy
Eight Oaks Farm Distillery	Barrel-Aged Applejack
Glacier Distilling Co.	Slivovitz Plum Brandy

BEST OF GIN

Gin - with notes of Lavender and Hibiscus
Fraser Valley Distilling

GOLD MEDALIST
Fraser Valley Distilling	Gin with Notes of Lavender and Hibiscus
SILVER MEDALIST
Anthracite Spirits Co.	Mountain Dry Gin
Blue Rook Cane Spirits	Cane Gin
Brush Creek Distillery	New American Gin
The Family Jones	Juniper Jones Earl Grey Gin
Furnace Street Distillery	Premium Gin
Hatfield & Sons Distillery	American Gin
Hinterhaus Distilling	South Grove Gin
Ironton Distillery & Crafthouse	Ponderosa Gin
Jackson Hole Still Works	Absaroka Double Cask Gin 49
Knowlton House Distillery	TenHead Woodland Dry Gin
Longleaf Distilling Co.	Southland American Gin, Navy Strength
Old Forge Distillery	Harvest Gin
Salvation Spirits Distillery	Fritztown Gin
Salvation Spirits Distillery	Fritztown Blackberry Gin
Spirit Hound Distillers	Colorado Gin
Starlight Distillery	Simon’s 1794 Bottled-In-Bond Barrel Finished American Dry Gin
StilL 630	Volstead’s Folly American Gin
Venus Spirits	Spring Release Gin
BRONZE MEDALIST
As Above, So Below Distillery	Sigil
Forgotten 50 Distilling	Gin
Jackson Hole Still Works	Great Grey Gin
Longleaf Distilling Co.	Southland American Gin
Noire Expedition	Noire Blanc
Routt Distillery	Summer Gin
Routt Distillery	Winter Gin
Salvation Spirits Distillery	Chi Rho Premium Barrel-Aged Gin
Star Union Spirits	London Dry Gin
StilL 630	Confluence American Gin
StilL 630	American Navy Strength Gin
Talking Cedar	Kayak Gin
Triple Eight Distillery	Gale Force Gin
Vapor Distillery	Boulder Spirits Ginskey Gin
Webb’s Grainworks	Grove Gin

BEST OF READY-TO-DRINK

Teller Tea
Safe House Distilling Co.

GOLD MEDALIST
Safe House Distilling Co.	Teller Classic Hard Tea
SILVER MEDALIST
The Family Jones	Automatic Jones Earl Grey Negroni
BRONZE MEDALIST
Backwards Distilling	Freak Show
Bid Beverage Co.	XXI Martinis Espresso
Boot Hill Distillery	Vodka Basil Lemonade
Safe House Distilling Co.	Teller Blueberry Lavender Vodka Lemonade
Safe House Distilling Co.	Teller Vodka Mule
Tarnished Truth Distilling Co.	Coastal Cocktails Gin Blackberry Bramble

BEST OF RUM

5YR Expedition Rum
StilL 630 Distillery

GOLD MEDALIST
StilL 630	5 Year Expedition Rum
SILVER MEDALIST
Blue Rook Cane Spirits	Espirito Cachaça Dourado
Oxbow Rum Distillery	Small Batch White Rum
StilL 630	Expedition Rum
Triple Eight Distillery	Hurricane Rum
BRONZE MEDALIST
Black Frost Distilling	Overproof Rum
Black Frost Distilling	Rum
Blue Rook Cane Spirits	Cachaça
Blue Rook Cane Spirits	Espirito Cavaleiro Cachaça
Montanya Distillers	Oro
Outlaw Distillery	Spiced Rum
Oxbow Rum Distillery	Rhum Louisiane Single Barrel Aged Agricole

BEST OF DISTILLED SPECIALTY SPIRITS

Absinthe Verte
As Above, So Below Distillery

GOLD MEDALIST
As Above, So Below Distillery	Absinthe Verte
Rockwell Vermouth Co.	Extra Dry Lot 4
SILVER MEDALIST
Catoctin Creek Distilling Co.	Hot Honey Rye
The Family Jones	Orange Liqueur
Fraser Valley Distilling	Agave Oro
Furnace Street Distillery	Carla’s Envious Spirit
Hinterhaus Distilling	Warming Hut
Hinterhaus Distilling	Anorak
Leather & Oak Spirits	Anna’s Handmade Limoncello
Longleaf Distilling Co.	Alba Thistle Liqueur
Longleaf Distilling Co.	Evergreen Alpine Liqueur
Rockwell Vermouth Co.	Native Amber Lot 1
Star Union Spirits	Alembic Absinthe
Sugarlands Distilling Co.	Eggo Brunch in a Jar Waffles & Syrup Cream Liqueur
Venus Spirits	Aquavit
BRONZE MEDALIST
Ironton Distillery & Crafthouse	Coffee Liqueur
Ironton Distillery & Crafthouse	Sai Shochu
Red River Brewing Co.	Cabresto Cañón Agave Spirit
Red River Brewing Co.	Rio Grande Sotol
Spirit Hound Distillers	Cafe Colorado
Storm King Distilling Co.	Agave Especial
Venus Spirits	El Ladrón Yolo
Webb’s Grainworks	Taniguchi

BEST OF VODKA

10th Mountain Potato Vodka
10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirit Co.

GOLD MEDALIST
10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirit Co.	Potato Vodka
B.H. James Distillers	James Lake Summer Berries
Knowlton House Distillery	TenHead Classic Vodka
Red River Brewing Co.	Silver King Vodka
Safe House Distilling Co.	Teller Blueberry Lavender Vodka
Safe House Distilling Co.	Teller Genuine Vodka
Salt Flats Spirits	Mach 1 Chile Vodka
SILVER MEDALIST
B.H. James Distillers	James Lake Citrus Solstice
B.H. James Distillers	James Lake Vodka Small Batch Crafted
Blue Rook Cane Spirits	Cane Vodka
Forgotten 50 Distilling	Vodka
Hatfield & Sons Distillery	Vodka
Longleaf Distilling Co.	Longleaf Vodka
Routt Distillery	Vodka
Salt Flats Spirits	622 Vodka
Spirit Hound Distillers	Colorado Vodka
Sugarlands Distilling Co.	High Rock Vodka
Wood’s High Mountain Distillery	San Luis Valley Colorado Potato Vodka
BRONZE MEDALIST
As Above, So Below Distillery	Ritual Small Batch Vodka
B.H. James Distillers	James Lake Crisp Cucumber
B.H. James Distillers	James Lake Tangerine Dream
Boot Hill Distillery	Vodka
Cash Butte Distillery	Vodka
Furnace Street Distillery	Vodka
Hinterhaus Distilling	North Grove Vodka
Safe House Distilling Co.	Teller Apple Pie Vodka
Salvation Spirits Distillery	Premium Vodka
Sauvage Distillery	Upstate Vodka

BEST OF WHISKEY

Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon
Garrison Brothers Distillery

GOLD MEDALIST
1845 Distilling Co.	Preemption Reverence Texas Straight Wheated Small Batch Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey
B.H. James Distillers	Kentucky Grit Kentucky Corn Whiskey
B.H. James Distillers	Burton James Uniquely American Whiskey Clean-Up Hitter
B.H. James Distillers	Burton James Uniquely American Whiskey Rookie Season: Fireman
Backwards Distilling Co.	Straight Bourbon Whiskey Bottled in Bond
Cedar Ridge Distillery	Cedar Ridge Double Barrel Bourbon
Chapline Distillery	Meticulum Texas Bourbon Whiskey
Chattanooga Whiskey	Chattanooga Whiskey Straight Bourbon Whiskey 91
Eight Oaks Farm Distillery	Pinot Noir Finished Bourbon
E.J. Curley & Co.	Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Small Batch
The Family Jones	Ella Jones Colorado Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Four Daughters Vineyard & Winery	The Traditionalist Straight Bourbon Whiskey Classic
Garrison Brothers Distillery	Cowboy Bourbon
Glacier Distilling Co.	Single Malt
Ironton Distillery & Crafthouse	Colorado Straight Rye Malt Whiskey
J. Carver Distillery	Trifecta American Single Malt Whiskey
Judson & Moore Distillery	Single Malt Whiskey
Lawrenceburg Bourbon Co.	One Cask Rye High Wheat Rye Whiskey
Leather & Oak Spirits	Bourbon Whiskey
Longleaf Distilling Co.	Heirloom American Whiskey
Milam & Greene Whiskey	Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Port Wine Casks
Old Glory Distilling Co.	Tennessee Bourbon Whiskey Bottled-in-Bond
Old Glory Distilling Co.	Tennessee Whiskey Bottled-in-Bond
Old Log Cabin Distillery	Bourbon Whiskey 10 Year
Shelter Distilling	American Single Malt Whiskey
Spirit Hound Distillers	Colorado Whisky
Spirit Hound Distillers	Colorado Honey
Starlight Distillery	Blackberry Whiskey
Starlight Distillery	Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey
Starlight Distillery	Carl T. Huber’s Toasted Series Double Oaked Bourbon Whiskey
Talnua Distillery	Virgin White Oak Cask
Triple Eight Distillery	The Notch Nantucket Island Single Malt Whisky Aged 8 Years
Vapor Distillery	Boulder Spirits Straight Bourbon Whiskey Cask Strength
Vapor Distillery	Boulder Spirits American Single Malt Whiskey Peated Malt
West Fork Whiskey Co.	Old Hamer Straight Bourbon Whiskey Cask Strength
West Fork Whiskey Co.	Hugh Hamer Straight Bourbon Whiskey Rum Finish
Whiskey Del Bac	Ode to Islay
Whiskey Del Bac	Normandie
Whiskey Del Bac	Classic American Single Malt Whiskey
Whiskey Del Bac	Dorado American Single Malt Whiskey
Wood Hat Spirits	Queen’s Reserve
SILVER MEDALIST
1845 Distilling Co.	Preemption Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey
1845 Distilling Co.	Preemption Texas Wheated Straight Bourbon Whiskey
B.H. James Distillers	Kentucky Grit Kentucky Unaged Corn Whiskey
Backwards Distilling Co.	11 Graves Whiskey
Bear Creek Distillery	Rye Whiskey Single Barrel
Brush Creek Distillery	Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in XO Cognac Cask
Brush Creek Distillery	Straight Bourbon Whiskeys
Chapline Distillery	Critical Batch Texas Bourbon Whiskey Single Barrel
Chattermark Distillers	Straight Corn Whiskey Cask Strength
Dented Brick Distillery	Barrel Finished Straight Rye Whiskey
E.J. Curley & Co.	Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Single Barrel
The Family Jones	Atticus Jones Colorado Straight Rye Whiskey
Four Daughters Vineyard & Winery	The Traditionalist Straight Bourbon Whiskey High Rye
Garrison Brothers Distillery	Laguna Madre Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Garrison Brothers Distillery	Lady Bird Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Hinterhaus Distilling	American Single Malt: Discovery
Iron Fish Distillery	Mad Angler Bottled in Bond
Ironton Distillery & Crafthouse	American Straight Malt Whiskey
J. Carver Distillery	Etiquette American Single Malt
Jeptha Creed Distillery	Four Grain Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Jeptha Creed Distillery	Bottled-In-Bond Rye Heavy Bourbon
Jeptha Creed Distillery	Red, White & Blue Straight Bourbon—Batch 2
Judson & Moore Distillery	Bourbon Whiskey
Judson & Moore Distillery	Applewood Smoked Malt Bourbon Whiskey
Lawrenceburg Bourbon Co.	One Cask Bourbon
Leiper’s Fork Distillery	Tennessee Whiskey Bottled in Bond
Leiper’s Fork Distillery	Bourbon Whiskey Bottled in Bond
Liberty Pole Spirits	Straight Peated Rye Whiskey
Milam & Greene Whiskey	Very Small Batch Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Milam & Greene Whiskey	The Castle Hill Series Bourbon Whiskey
Nearest Green Distillery	Uncle Nearest Rye Uncut/Unfiltered Straight Whiskey
Old Forge Distillery	Rocky Top Corn Whiskey
Old Glory Distilling Co.	Bourbon Whiskey Small Batch
Outlaw Distillery	White Whiskey
Outlaw Distillery	Premium Honey Bourbon
Proof and Wood Ventures	Tumblin’ Dice Straight Rye Whiskey
Safe House Distilling Co.	Prophet Share Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Shelter Distilling	Cask Strength Blue Corn Bourbon
Starlight Distillery	Old Rickhouse Huber’s Indiana Straight Rye Whiskey
Starlight Distillery	Carl T. Huber’s Mizunara Reserve Bourbon Whiskey
Starlight Distillery	Carl T. Huber’s Bottled-In-Bond Indiana Straight Bourbon Whiskey
StilL 630	Bottled in Bond S. S. Sorghum Straight Whiskey
StilL 630	RallyPoint Straight Rye Whiskey
StilL 630	Double Barrel RallyPoint Straight Rye Whiskey
StilL 630	Missouri Straight Bourbon Whiskey Cask Strength
Storm King Distilling Co.	Colorado Straight Rye Whiskey
Sugarlands Distilling Co.	Roaming Man Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey
Talnua Distillery	Continuum Cask
Talnua Distillery	Bourbon Cask & Stave Series
Tarnished Truth Distilling Co.	Discretion Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey Single Barrel Selection
Vapor Distillery	Boulder Spirits American Single Malt Whiskey, New American
Warriors & Whiskey	Brass & Anchor Straight Bourbon Whiskey
West Fork Whiskey Co.	Hugh Hamer Straight Bourbon Whiskey Double Oaked
Wood Hat Spirits	Montgomery County Bourbon Whiskey
BRONZE MEDALIST
10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirit Co.	American Single Malt Whiskey
10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirit Co.	Bourbon
1845 Distilling Co.	Preemption Reverence Texas Straight Four Grain Small Batch Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey
1845 Distilling Co.	Preemption Texas Four Grain Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Bear Creek Distillery	Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Bear Creek Distillery	Wheated Bourbon Whiskey
Branch and Barrel Distilling	Flagship Bourbon
Chattanooga Whiskey	Chattanooga Whiskey Straight Bourbon 111
Eight Oaks Farm Distillery	Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Eight Oaks Farm Distillery	Penna Rye Whiskey
Fraser Valley Distilling	Double Barrel Colorado Bourbon Whiskey
Garrison Brothers Distillery	HoneyDew Bourbon
Hinterhaus Distilling	Calaveras Cask Finish Bourbon
Hinterhaus Distilling	Calaveras Cask Strength Single Barrel Reserve Bourbon
Iron Fish Distillery	Mad Angler Rye Whiskey
J. Carver Distillery	J. Carver 7 year Straight Bourbon Whiskey
J. Carver Distillery	J. Carver Runestone 7 Straight Rye Whiskey
Judson & Moore Distillery	Red Corn Bourbon Whiskey
Judson & Moore Distillery	Rye Whiskey
Lawrenceburg Bourbon Co.	Very Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon
Milam & Greene Whiskey	Milam & Greene Single Barrel Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Milam & Greene Whiskey	Milam & Greene Triple Cask Blend of Straight Bourbon Whiskeys
Nearest Green Distillery	Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch Whiskey
Nearest Green Distillery	Uncle Nearest Straight Rye Whiskey
Nearest Green Distillery	Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Whiskey
Nearest Green Distillery	Uncle Nearest Master Blend Edition Batch 032
Nearest Green Distillery	Uncle Nearest Single Barrel Premium Whiskey Batch 101
Old Glory Distilling Co.	Tennessee Whiskey Small Batch
Old Log Cabin Distillery	Bourbon Whiskey
Outlaw Distillery	Bourbon Whiskey
Ranger Creek Brewing & Distilling	.36 Cask Strength Texas Bourbon
Ranger Creek Brewing & Distilling	305 Single Malt Whiskey
Salt Flats Spirits	Bonneville Bourbon Whiskey
Shelter Distilling	Small Batch Blue Corn Bourbon
Shelter Distilling	Single Barrel Blue Corn Bourbon
Star Union Spirits	Light Whiskey Distilled from Rye & Malted Barley, Rested in Rum Barrel
Starlight Distillery	Carl T. Huber’s Indiana Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Vapor Distillery	Boulder Spirits American Single Malt Whiskey, The 10 Essentials
Vapor Distillery	Boulder Spirits American Single Malt Whiskey, Aged 7 Years
Whiskey Del Bac	Frontera American Single Malt
Whiskey Del Bac	Sentinel Straight Rye Whiskey
Wood Hat Spirits	Blue Corn Whiskey

INNOVATION AWARD

Warming Hut
Hinterhaus Distilling

Innovation
Warming Hut	Hinterhaus Distilling