2020 American Craft Spirits Awards
A carefully selected group of more than 30 expert judges evaluated more than 500 entries at Cardinal Spirits in Bloomington, Indiana in October. Judging categories include Vodka & Grain Spirits, Gin, Brandy, Rum, Whiskey, Specialty Spirits and, new this year, Ready-to-Drink Cocktails.
BEST IN SHOW
Williams Pear Brandy, ChainBridge Distillery
AWARD CATEGORIES
BEST OF BRANDY
Williams Pear Brandy
ChainBridge Distillery
| GOLD MEDALIST | |
|---|---|
| ChainBridge Distillery | Williams Pear Brandy |
| Peach Street Distillers | Pear Brandy |
| SILVER MEDALIST | |
| Eight Oaks Craft Distillers | Authentic Applejack |
| Hill Country Distillers | Texas Brandy |
| Star Union Spirits | Barrel Aged Grappa |
| Star Union Spirits | Barrel Aged Immature Cabernet Sauvignon Brandy |
| Star Union Spirits | Cherry Brandy |
| Star Union Spirits | Immature Cabernet Sauvignon Brandy |
| StilL 630 | Knowledge of Evil |
| BRONZE MEDALIST | |
| Huber’s Starlight Distillery | Starlight Distillery Pear Brandy |
| Sourland Mountain Spirits | Sourland Mountain Spirits Apple Brandy |
| Star Union Spirits | Barrel Aged Cherry Brandy |
| StilL 630 | Knowledge of Good |
| Tattersall Distilling | Apple Brandy |
| Triple Eight Distillery | Randy Hudson’s Apple Brandy |
| Up North Distillery | Barrel Aged Apple Brandy |
BEST OF GIN
Wight VVitch Midwestern Gin
Three Floyds Distilling Co.
| GOLD MEDALIST – NONE | |
|---|---|
| SILVER MEDALIST | |
| 10,000 Drops Craft Distillers | American Gin – Barrel Reserve |
| 1220 Artisan Spirits | 1220 Origin |
| Apothecary Beverage Company | American Barrel Rested Gin |
| Backwards Distilling Company | Strongman |
| Pittsburgh Distilling Company | Wigle Dutch Style Gin |
| Three Floyds Distilling Co. | Wight VVitch Midwestern Gin |
| BRONZE MEDALIST | |
| 10,000 Drops Craft Distillers | 10,000 Drops American Gin |
| Apothecary Beverage Company | American Traditional Gin |
| Bently Heritage Estate Distillery | Juniper Grove American Dry Gin |
| Bently Heritage Estate Distillery | Juniper Grove Atrium Gin |
| Dogfish Head Distilling Co. | Dogfish Head Compelling Gin |
| Du Nord Craft Spirits | Fitzgerald Gin |
| Gate 11 Distillery | Gate 11 Distillery Dry Gin |
| Grand Canyon Distillery | Grand Canyon Gin |
| Hatch Distilling Co. | Gin |
| Huber’s Starlight Distillery | Starlight Distillery Simon’s 1794 Gin |
| Ironton Distillery and Crafthouse | Ponderosa Gin |
| MISCellaneous Distillery | Gregarious Gin |
| Moab Distillery | Spot On Gin |
| Old Forge Distillery | Tennessee Roots Harvest Gin |
| Quantum Spirits | Quantum Spirits Barrel Rested Gin |
| StilL 630 | Volstead’s Folly American Gin |
| Storm King Distilling Co. | Barrel Rested Gin |
| Storm King Distilling Co. | Small Batch Gin |
| Tattersall Distilling | Barreled Gin |
| Three Floyds Distilling Co. | Oude Boatface London Dry Gin |
| Watershed Distillery | Bourbon Barrel Gin from Watershed Distillery |
BEST OF READY-TO-DRINK
Salt Flats Kentucky Mule
Salt Flats Spirits
| GOLD MEDALIST – NONE | |
|---|---|
| SILVER MEDALIST | |
| Salt Flats Spirits | Salt Flats Kentucky Mule |
| BRONZE MEDALIST | |
| 1220 Artisan Spirits | Cucumber Hibiscus |
| Salt Flats Spirits | Sturgis Lemonade |
BEST OF RUM
The Funk
Proof and Wood Ventures
| GOLD MEDALIST | |
|---|---|
| Proof and Wood Ventures | The Funk |
| SILVER MEDALIST | |
| 10,000 Drops Craft Distillers | 10,000 Drops Spiced Rum |
| Eight Oaks Craft Distillers | Barrel Aged Rum |
| Pennsylvania Pure Distilleries | BLY Rum 105 |
| Wicked Dolphin Distillery | Wicked Dolphin 6 Year Bottled in Bond |
| BRONZE MEDALIST | |
| 10,000 Drops Craft Distillers | 10,000 Drops Silver Rum |
| Allegheny Distilling | Maggie’s Farm Queen’s Share Sher-Rye |
| Allegheny Distilling | Maggie’s Farm Single Barrel |
| Allegheny Distilling | Maggie’s Farm Queen’s Share Double Oak |
| Allegheny Distilling | Maggie’s Farm Queen’s Share Rum Apple Brandy Barrel |
| Allegheny Distilling | Maggie’s Farm Rum Sherry Cask Finish |
| Broad Branch Distillery | Sungrazer |
| CopperMuse Distillery | CopperMuse Spiced Rum |
| Gate 11 Distillery | Gate 11 Distillery Rum |
| Hilton Head Distillery | Mountain Peak Espresso |
| Kingfly Spirits | Kingfly Bliss Spiced Rum |
| Lang Beverage Co. | Single Barrel |
| Long Road Distillers | Long Road Rum |
| MISCellaneous Distillery | Popi’s Finest Rum |
| Old Forge Distillery | Rum |
| Old Tennessee Distilling Co. | Cal F. Johnson Black Mountain Rum |
| Pennsylvania Pure Distilleries | BLY Rum Silver |
| Pittsburgh Distilling Company | Wigle Landlocked |
| Rollins Distillery, Inc. | Esprit de Krewe Golden Rum |
| Sourland Mountain Spirits | Sourland Mountain Spirits Gold Rum |
| Tampa Bay Rum Company | Gasparilla Reserve |
| Tattersall Distilling | Barreled Rum |
| Three Floyds Distilling Co. | Blanq Reavers Rum |
| Three of Strong Spirits | Brightwater |
| Three of Strong Spirits | Stone Pier |
| Three of Strong Spirits | Parchando 12 |
| Whistling Andy Distillery | Whistling Andy Hibiscus Coconut Rum |
BEST OF SPECIALTY SPIRITS
Wigle Saffron Amaro
Pittsburgh Distilling Company
Medalist Pictures
| GOLD MEDALIST | |
|---|---|
| 1220 Artisan Spirits | Spettro |
| Long Road Distillers | Long Road Aquavit |
| Long Road Distillers | Long Road Raspberry Liqueur |
| Pittsburgh Distilling Company | Wigle Saffron Amaro |
| San Juan Island Distillery | Lavender and Wild Rose Liqueur |
| Tattersall Distilling | Bitter Orange Liqueur |
| SILVER MEDALIST | |
| 1220 Artisan Spirits | Flora |
| American Shochu Company | Umai! Shochu |
| Andean Spirits | Chawar Blanco |
| Andean Spirits | Chawar Reposado |
| Apologue | Apologue Saffron |
| Broad Branch Distillery | Nobilium |
| Du Nord Craft Spirits | Apple Du Nord |
| Founding Spirits Distillery | Founding Spirits Arroyo’s “Never Bitter” Amaro |
| Hendricks Family Distillery | Eureka Moon |
| Ironton Distillery and Crafthouse | Sai Schochu |
| Lawrenceville Distilling Co. | 1129 Ridge Avenue Absinthe Traditionelle |
| Long Road Distillers | Long Road Absinthe |
| Long Road Distillers | Long Road Amaro Pazzo |
| Long Road Distillers | Long Road Old Aquavit |
| Luminary Distilling | Luminary Distilling Coffee Liqueur |
| Montgomery Distillery | Nite Owl Coffee Liqueur |
| Old Forge Distillery | Orange Rosemary Rock & Rye |
| Old Tennessee Distilling Co. | Butterscotch Cream Liqueur |
| Old Tennessee Distilling Co. | Crème Brulee |
| Pittsburgh Distilling Company | Wigle Landlocked Spiced and Oaked |
| Pittsburgh Distilling Company | Wigle Rhubarb Liqueur |
| Port Chilkoot Distillery | Green Siren Absinthe |
| Quantum Spirits | Quantum Spirits Amaro |
| Rollins Distillery | Esprit de Krewe Rock ‘N’ Rum |
| Sandstone Distillery | Sandstone Coffee Liqueur |
| Spirit Works Distillery | Spirit Works Distillery Aquavit |
| Storm King Distilling Co. | Agave Blanco |
| Storm King Distilling Co. | Agave Especial |
| Tattersall Distilling | Aquavit |
| Tattersall Distilling | Fernet |
| The Family Jones | Automatic Jones Rock & Rye |
| Watershed Distillery | Barrel Aged Nocino from Watershed Distillery |
| BRONZE MEDALIST | |
| American Shochu Company | Roy’s Demon Barley Shochu |
| Lonerider Spirits | Choklat |
| Bently Heritage Estate Distillery | Bently Heritage Mistelle |
| Bluebird Distilling | Agave Blanco Salvaje |
| Du Nord Craft Spirits | Cafe Frieda Coffee Liqueur |
| Ironton Distillery and Crafthouse | Rye Aquavit |
| J. Carver Distillery | Aquavit |
| Long Road Distillers | Long Road Nocino |
| Long Road Distillers | Long Road Apple Brandy |
| Old Forge Distillery | Grapefruit Thyme Rock & Rye |
| Pennsylvania Pure Distilleries | BLY Ancho Chili Liqueur |
| Pittsburgh Distilling Company | Wigle Absent Minded |
| Pittsburgh Distilling Company | Wigle Eau de Pickle |
| Pittsburgh Distilling Company | Wigle Lemon |
| Quantum Spirits | Quantum Spirits Grapefruit Gin Liqueur |
| Sandstone Distillery | W.T.F. Gin |
| State Line Distillery | Coffee Liqueur |
| Sugarlands Distilling Co. | Pina Colada Moonshine |
| Tarnished Truth Distilling Company | Old Cavalier Bourbon Cream |
| Tenth Ward Distilling Company | Absinthe Nouvelle |
| Three Floyds Distilling Co. | Busthedd Aquavit |
| Up North Distillery | Barrel Finished Honey Spirits |
| Westslope Distillery | Golden Sting Honey Spirits Finished in Oak Barrels |
BEST OF VODKA & GRAIN SPIRITS
Boot Hill Distillery Vodka
Boot Hill Distillery
BRONZE MEDALIST
| GOLD MEDALIST | |
|---|---|
| Boot Hill Distillery | Boot Hill Distillery Vodka |
| SILVER MEDALIST | |
| Crawford Distillery | Crawford Distillery Vodka |
| Dread River Distilling Company | Dread River Vodka |
| Fruge Spirits | JT Meleck Handcrafted Rice Vodka |
| Gate 11 Distillery | Gate 11 Vodka |
| Infuse Spirits Group | Infuse Spirits Cinnamon Apple |
| Infuse Spirits Group | Infuse Spirits Grapefruit Vodka |
| Old Dominick Distillery | Honeybell Vodka |
| Westslope Distillery | Lost Trail Rye Vodka |
| 28 Mile Vodka Co. | 28 Mile Vodka |
| Big Machine Distillery | Big Machine Platinum Filtered Vodka |
| Caledonia Spirits | Barr Hill Vodka |
| ChainBridge Distillery | Florida Basil |
| Doire Distilling | Spud Slight |
| Founding Spirits Distillery | Founding Spirits Vodka |
| Grand Canyon Distillery | Prickly Pear Vodka |
| J. Carver Distillery | J. Carver Vodka |
| Lonely Oak Distillery | North Forty Vanilla Vodka |
| Moab Distillery | Class 5 Vodka |
| Old Trestle Distillery | Sierra Vodka |
| Pennsylvania Pure Distilleries | Boyd & Blair Potato Vodka |
| Rollins Distillery | Esprit de Krewe Cane Vodka |
| Salt Flats Spirits | Vodka 622 |
| SILO Distillery | SILO Cacao Vodka |
| Tattersall Distilling | Small Batch Organic Vodka |
| Three Rivers Distilling Co. | Hint of Jala’, Jalapeno Flavored Vodka |
| Wood’s High Mountain Distillery | San Luis Valley Vodka |
BEST OF WHISKEY
The Notch Nantucket Island Single Malt Whisky 12 Years
Triple Eight Distillery
Medalist Pictures
| GOLD MEDALIST | |
|---|---|
| Blaum Bros. Distilling Co. | Blaum Bros. Straight Rye Whiskey |
| Breuckelen Distilling | 77 Whiskey Local Rye and Corn |
| Cerberus Craft Distillery | Spirit of IPA |
| Driftless Glen Distillery | DG 51 Rye Whiskey |
| Kings County Distillery | Bottled-in-Bond Straight Bourbon |
| Kings County Distillery | Peated Rye |
| Pittsburgh Distilling Company | Wigle Port Rye |
| Pittsburgh Distilling Company | Wigle Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey |
| Sagamore Spirit | Barrel Select |
| The Bard Distillery | Cinder & Smoke |
| Triple Eight Distillery | The Notch Nantucket Island Single Malt Whisky 12 Years |
| Virginia Distillery Company | Port Cask Finished Virginia-Highland Whisky |
| Warfield Distillery | Warfield Organic American Whiskey |
| SILVER MEDALIST | |
| Balcones Distilling | Brujeria |
| Bear Creek Distillery | Bear Creek Distillery Straight Bourbon |
| Blaum Bros. Distilling Co. | Blaum Bros. Straight Bourbon Whiskey |
| Blaum Bros. Distilling Co. | Blaum Bros. Straight Rye Whiskey |
| Breuckelen Distilling | 77 Whiskey Bonded Rye |
| Copperworks Distilling Co. | Copperworks American Single Malt Whiskey |
| Deerhammer | American Single Malt – Cask Strength |
| Huber’s Starlight Distillery | Starlight Distillery Carl T. Bourbon |
| J. Carver Distillery | J. Carver Cask Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey |
| Kings County Distillery | Straight Bourbon |
| Leiper’s Fork Distillery | Colonel Hunter’s Select Tennessee Bourbon |
| Manatawny Still Works | Peated |
| Maplewood Brewery & Distillery | Fat Pug |
| Maplewood Brewery & Distillery | Fest |
| Maplewood Brewery & Distillery | Oaty Otter |
| Montgomery Distillery | Gwin Du Collaboration Whiskey |
| Old Dominick Distillery | Huling Station Bourbon Whiskey |
| Pittsburgh Distilling Company | Wigle Bourbon Finished in Madeira Barrels |
| Sagamore Spirit | Double Oak |
| Tattersall Distilling | Straight Rye Whiskey |
| Triple Eight Distillery | The Notch Nantucket Island Single Malt Whisky 15 Years |
| Whiskey Acres Distilling Co. | Whiskey Acres Straight Rye |
| Wiggly Bridge Distillery | Wiggly Bridge Distillery Bottled In Bond Bourbon Whisky |
| Yellow Rose Distilling | Yellow Rose Rye Whiskey |
| BRONZE MEDALIST | |
| 18th Street Distillery | 18th Street Distillery American Single Malt Whiskey |
| Balcones Distilling | Hechiceros |
| Balcones Distilling | Texas Rye Cask Strength |
| Big Machine Distillery | Clayton James |
| Big Machine Distillery | Single Barrel Straight Clayton James |
| Blaum Bros. Distilling Co. | Blaum Bros. Straight Bourbon Whiskey |
| Boot Hill Distillery | Boot Hill Distillery Bourbon Whiskey |
| Boot Hill Distillery | Boot Hill Distillery Straight Bourbon Whiskey |
| Branch Point Distillery | Single Pot Still Oregon Whiskey |
| Breuckelen Distilling | 77 Whiskey 100% Corn |
| Broad Branch Distillery | Rye Fidelity |
| Catoctin Creek Distillery | Rabble Rouser Bottled in Bond |
| Catoctin Creek Distillery | Roundstone Rye 92 Proof “Distiller’s Edition” |
| Cerberus Craft Distillery | Eye of Midnight |
| Cleveland Whiskey | Smokin |
| Dogfish Head Distilling Co. | Dogfish Head Alternate Takes Volume 1: Whiskey Finished in Rum Casks |
| Dogfish Head Distilling Co. | Dogfish Head Alternate Takes Volume 2: Whiskey Finished in Palo Santo Ale Barrels |
| Doire Distilling | Prototype |
| Driftless Glen Distillery | DG Bourbon Whiskey |
| Driftless Glen Distillery | DG Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey – Cask Strength |
| Glacier Distilling Company | Trapline Rock + Rye |
| Grand Canyon Distillery | Star Shine American Single Malt Whisky |
| Gulf Coast Distillers | Giant Texas – 95 proof |
| Headframe Spirits | Kelley Single Malt Whiskey |
| J. Carver Distillery | J. Carver Cask Strength Runestone Straight Rye Whiskey |
| J. Carver Distillery | J. Carver Wrath of Khanh Whiskey |
| Kings County Distillery | Bottled-in-Bond Empire Rye |
| Kings County Distillery | Peated Bourbon |
| Kings County Distillery | Single Malt |
| La Crosse Distilling Company | La Crosse Distilling Company High Rye Light Whiskey |
| Leiper’s Fork Distillery | Old Natchez Trace Tennessee White Whiskey |
| Manatawny Still Works | Pennsylvania Whiskey |
| Maplewood Brewery & Distillery | Sour Mash Pils |
| Mingo Creek Craft Distillers | Liberty Pole Spirits Rye Whiskey |
| Myer Farm Distillers | John Myer Four Grain Whiskey |
| Myer Farm Distillers | John Myer Wheat Whiskey |
| Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery | Nelson’s Green Brier Tennessee Whiskey |
| Old Forge Distillery | Unaged Corn |
| Peach Street Distillers | Colorado Straight Bourbon |
| Pennington Distilling Company | Davidson Reserve Tennessee Straight Sour Mash Tennessee Whiskey |
| Pittsburgh Distilling Company | Wigle Bottled In Bond Rye Whiskey |
| Pittsburgh Distilling Company | Wigle Cinnamon Whiskey |
| Pittsburgh Distilling Company | Wigle Pennsylvania Straight Wheat Whiskey |
| Pittsburgh Distilling Company | Wigle Roasty Straight Malt Whiskey |
| Pittsburgh Distilling Company | Wigle Single Barrel Straight Wheat Whiskey |
| Pittsburgh Distilling Company | Wigle Straight Bourbon Whiskey |
| Pittsburgh Distilling Company | Wigle Wapsie Valley Straight Bourbon Whiskey |
| Pittsburgh Distilling Company | Wigle Oaxaca Rye |
| Port Chilkoot Distillery | Wrack Line Rye |
| Proof and Wood Ventures | Deadwood Rye |
| Rogue Spirits | Rolling Thunder Stouted Whiskey |
| Sagamore Spirit | Cognac Finish |
| Sagamore Spirit | Signature Straight Rye |
| Sanctified Spirits | Bourbon & Spire |
| Sanctified Spirits | Rahr Soaked Hopped Oak |
| Santa Fe Spirits | Colkegan Single Cask |
| Seven Three Distilling Co. | Bywater Bourbon |
| SILO Distillery | SILO Single Malt Whiskey |
| StilL 630 | ‘99 Reunion Whiskey |
| StilL 630 | Gloria Bourbon Whiskey |
| StilL 630 | Headless Horseman Whiskey |
| StilL 630 | Moon Walker Whiskey |
| Storm King Distilling Co. | Side Gig Whiskey |
| Tenth Ward Distilling Company | Stouted Rye |
| Three Floyds Distilling Co | Barrel Aged Divine Rite Whiskey |
| Virginia Distillery Company | Courage & Conviction Flagship |
| West Fork Whiskey Co. | Old Hamer Cask Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey |
| West Fork Whiskey Co. | Old Hamer Straight Bourbon Whiskey |
| Whiskey Acres Distilling Co. | Whiskey Acres Blue Popcorn Bourbon |
| Whiskey Del Bac | Whiskey Del Bac Classic |
| Whiskey Del Bac | Whiskey Del Bac Distillers Cut 19-3 |
| Whiskey Del Bac | Whiskey Del Bac Dorado |
| Whistling Andy Distillery | Whistling Andy Harvest Select Whiskey |
| Wood’s High Mountain Distillery | Sawatch |
| Yellow Rose Distilling | Premium American Whiskey |
INNOVATION AWARDS
| Innovation – Brandy – NONE | |
|---|---|
| Innovation – Gin | |
| Highside Distilling | Highside Distilling Gin |
| Innovation – Ready-to-Drink | |
| 1220 Artisan Spirits | Cucumber Hibiscus |
| Innovation – Rum – NONE | |
| Innovation – SS | |
| Tattersall Distilling | Bitter Orange Liqueur |
| Innovation – Vodka | |
| Caledonia Spirits | Barr Hill Vodka |
| Innovation – Whiskey | |
| Kings County Distillery | Peated Rye |
