American Distilling Institute Announces 2013 Craft Distilling Awards

April 3, 2013 – Devil’s Share Malt Whiskey from Ballast Point Spirits was named Best of Class among whiskies in the 7th annual American Distilling Institute Judging of Artisan American Spirits. The announcement came during the ADI’s annual conference in Denver, and Devil’s Share was one of only 23 spirits to receive a gold medal from the judging panel. The judging was done on March 4th and 5th at Huber’s Starlight Orchard & Winery in Starlight, Indiana, with 127 whiskies, 36 moonshines, and assorted gins, rums, and brandies. (Editor’s note: Mark Gillespie was a member of the whiskey judging panel.)

Here are the results from the whiskey categories. Note that whiskies “sourced” from a different distillery than the bottler compete in the “Merchant Bottled Whiskey” category:

CLEAR WHISKEY
Best of Category – Silver Medal
Myer Farm Distillers – White Dog Corn Whiskey

Silver Medal
Dark Horse Distillery – Long Shot White Whiskey

Bronze Medal
Middle West Spirits – OYO Rye Whiskey
High West Distillery – Silver Whiskey – Western Oat
Indian Creek Distillery – Elias Staley
Cornelius Pass Roadhouse Distillery – White Owl Whiskey
Asheville Distilling Co. – Troy & Sons Platinum Heirloom Moonshine

AGED CORN WHISKEY
Best of Category – Silver Medal
Balcones Distilling – True Blue

BOURBON (under two years)
Best of Category – Gold Medal
Yellow Rose Distilling – Yellow Rose Outlaw Bourbon

Silver Medal
Kings County Distillery – Kings County Bourbon

Bronze Medal
Rock Town Distillery – Arkansas Young Bourbon Whiskey
Cacao Prieto – Bloody Butcher Bourbon Whiskey

STRAIGHT BOURBON
Best of Category – Gold Medal
Balcones Distilling – Fifth-Anniversary Texas Straight Bourbon

Silver Medal
Dallas Distilleries – Herman Marshall

AGED RYE WHISKEY
Best of Category – Gold Medal
Grand Traverse Distillery – Ole George Rye Whiskey

Silver Medal
Mountain Laurel Spirits – Dad’s Hat Pennsylvania Rye Whiskey

Bronze Medal
Distillery 291 – Colorado Rye Whiskey
Catoctin Creek Distilling – Roundstone Rye Cask Proof

MALT WHISKEY (under 2 years)
Best of Category – Gold Medal
Balcones Distilling – Texas Single Malt

Gold Medal
Deerhammer Distilling Company – Down Time Single Malt Whiskey

Bronze Medal
Long Island Spirits – Pine Barrens Single Malt Whisky

STRAIGHT MALT WHISKEY
Best of Category – Gold Medal
Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits – Devil’s Share Straight Malt Whiskey

Silver Medal
New Holland Artisan Spirits – Zeppelin Bend Straight Malt

WHEAT WHISKEY
Best of Category – Gold Medal
Middle West Spirits – OYO Wheat Whiskey

Bronze Medal
American Craft Whiskey Distillery – Low Gap Whiskey Single Barrel No. 1
American Craft Whiskey Distillery – Low Gap California Whiskey

WHISKEY NON-TYPICAL
Best of Category – Silver Medal
Glacier Distilling Company – Wheatfish Whiskey

Silver Medal
Rogue Spirits – Dead Guy Whiskey

SMOKED WHISKEY
Best of Category – Silver Medal
Corsair Artisan – Wildfire

Silver Medal
Corsair Artisan – Salamander

HOPPED WHISKEY
Best of Category – Silver Medal
Corsair Artisan – Demeter

Silver Medal
Corsair Artisan – Falconer’s Flight

Bronze Medal
Corsair Artisan – Centennial
Corsair Artisan – Pacifica
Corsair Artisan – Titania
Corsair Artisan – Amarillo

FLAVORED WHISKEY
Best of Category – Bronze Medal
Sons of Liberty Spirits Company – Seasonal – 2012 Winter Release

MERCHANT BOTTLED WHISKEY

STRAIGHT BOURBON
Best of Category – Silver Medal
Cacao Prieto Distillery – Widow Jane Bourbon Whiskey

Silver Medal
Tatoosh Distillery & Spirits – Tatoosh Bourbon

BOURBON (cask finished)
Best of Category – Bronze Medal
Hillrock Estate Distillery & Malthouse – Solera Aged Bourbon

Bronze Medal
Big Bottom Whiskey – Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Zinfandel Cask

STRAIGHT RYE WHISKEY
Best of Category – Silver Medal
35 Maple Street – Masterson’s 10-Year-Old Straight Rye Whiskey

MALT WHISKEY
Best of Category – Bronze Medal
Virginia Distillery – Virginia Highland Malt Whisky

Links: American Distilling Institute