DOUBLE-GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

Balcones Cataleja Texas Single Malt Whisky
(Balcones Distilling, TX)  118° proof
Made with 100% Golden Promise malted barley.
Aged in refill casks. Finished in a variety of
decommissioned Sherry Solera puncheons.

Nose: Caramel, butterscotch candy, butter, sweet toffee, molasses, burnt sugar, brown sugar, maple, maple syrup, honey, pineapple, roasted pineapple, orange, orange zest, almond, toasted almond, roasted nuts, nutmeg, dry wood.
Palate: Chocolate, dark chocolate, brown sugar, maple, heavy honey, caramel popcorn, candied yam, raisin, orange peel, orange zest, black walnut, nutty, spices, oak, sherry, very rich, tasty, great..
Finish: Dark chocolate, chocolate syrup, dark fruit, berries, buttery, malty, mocha, coffee, nutmeg, pepper, spicy, complex, layered, big, beautiful.

Double Gold Medal

Brickway Distillery Single Malt Whisky
Sherry Cask-Aged
(NE)   90° proof
Aged one year in new American charred oak casks.
Finished in Oloroso sherry casks.

Aroma: Toffee, treacle, caramel, warm chocolate, vanilla, honey, dried orange peel, orange blossom, corn, brown bread, nutty, briny, char, oak, cedar, sherry, creamy, rich, savory.
Palate: Butterscotch, melted caramel, velvety chocolate, molasses, sweet brown sugar, apricot, vanilla, malt, nutty, spicy, peppery, earth, maple, oak, rich, creamy.
Finish: Butterscotch, nice mocha, vanilla, sugarcane, brown sugar, dark honey, banana, raisin, cinnamon bread, wheat, nutmeg, black pepper, spiced, wood, cedar, full flavored.

Double Gold Medal

Root Shoot American Single Malt Whiskey
(Root Shoot Spirits, CO)  100° proof
Bottled-in-Bond. Aged 4 years in American White oak barrels.
Barley is grown & malted on the 5th generation family farm.

Aroma: Caramel, chocolate, cocoa, brown sugar, Christmas cookies, pumpkin pie, sweet corn, pineapple, orange, green apple, dusty, smoky, woody, oak.
Palate: Caramel, chocolate, brown sugar, honey, orange blossom honey, ginger cookies, candied ginger, orange zest, lemon zest, nutmeg, cinnamon, baking spices, woody, oak, well blended flavors, savory.
Finish: Dark chocolate, cherry, dried fruit, honey, cinnamon, spicy, oak, Port, round, active palate, creamy, pleasant.

Double Gold Medal

GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

Defiant Patriot American Single Malt Whisky
92° proof
(Blue Ridge Distilling Co., NC)
Distilled from 100% two-row premium malted barley
& Blue Ridge Mountain water.
Aged in toasted American White oak barrels.

Aroma: Caramel, treacle, dark chocolate, mocha, malt, cola, strawberry, dried orange peel, dried herbs, mixed nuts, nutmeg, cinnamon, briny, peat, light smoke, toast, cedar.
Palate: Creamy toffee, dark chocolate, brown sugar, vanilla, candied fruit, dried apricot, nectar, barley, malt, black bread, light clove, spice, peppery, dry wood, oak, viscous, scotch-like.
Finish: Dark chocolate, mocha, brown sugar, honey, raisin, floral, lingering spice, peppery, cedar.

Gold Medal

Balcones “1” Texas Single Malt Whisky
(Balcones Distilling, TX)  106° proof
Made with Golden Promise barley.
Aged at least 24 months in virgin oak barrels.

Aroma: Caramel, cream, brown sugar, maple syrup, candy corn, dried fruit, orange peel, orange, lemon, floral, cinnamon toast, Christmas spices, baking spices, peat, cedar, French oak, rye, bourbon.
Palate: Caramel, toffee, chocolate, sugarcane, honey, fruity, floral, clove, spicy, pepper, warm wood, charred wood, cedar, savory, rich, creamy.
Finish: Dark chocolate, mocha, coffee, honey, pear, apple, orange zest, pepper, spicy, spiced, bread, cedar, oaky, nice, smooth, big, round, rich.

Gold Medal

Bird Creek Single Malt American Whiskey
Small Batch
(Bird Creek Distillery, OR)  92° proof
Made with rare malted barley. Aged 4 years.

Aroma: Caramel, toasted sugar, brown sugar, dried fruit, burnt orange, real lemon, ripe red apple skins, green apple, banana skins, touch of cinnamon, malty, vanilla, fresh oak, cedar.
Palate: Caramel, vanilla, honey nut, banana pudding, banana bread, pineapple, orange peel, orange zest, lemon zest, red apple skin, wheat pasta, light pepper, warm spice, charred wood, woody, oaky, sherry, wonderfully balanced, savory.
Finish: Cocoa, mocha, honey, candied fruit, orange, lemon, smoked banana, black bread, baking spices, woody, complex, like a Speyside scotch, creamy, savory, flavorful.

Gold Medal

Defiant Patriot American Single Malt Whisky
123° proof
(Blue Ridge Distilling Co., NC)
Distilled from 100% two-row premium malted barley
& Blue Ridge Mountain water.
Aged in toasted American White oak barrels.

Aroma: Toffee, dark chocolate, chocolate, saltwater taffy, honey, dried fruit, orange peel, banana, soft malt, mint, pepper, briny, earthy notes, must, woody, old cedar, oak.
Palate: Toffee, dark chocolate, caramel, salted caramel, salted butter, maple syrup, raisins, orange zest, espresso, spice, black pepper, peppery, brine, maritime, smoky, oak, creamy, rich flavors.
Finish: Toffee, molasses, vanilla, raisin, prune, orange zest, citrus, warm spice, coffee, malty, oak, woody, rich.

Gold Medal

Glen Fargo American Single Malt Whiskey
Double Barrel
(Proof Artisan Distillers ND)  92° proof
Distilled from locally grown malted barley.
Aged 4 years, 9 months in new American white oak casks.
Finished in used bourbon barrels.

Aroma: Caramel, chocolate, mocha, brown sugar, vanilla, creamy, saltwater taffy, baked apple, raisin, carnation, gingerbread, brown bread, grain, toast, nutty, nutmeg, baking spices, tree bark, oaky.
Palate: Caramel, dark chocolate, vanilla, honey, raisin, apple, orange, coffee, malty, hay, spices, iodine, cedar, oak, woody, bold flavors, smooth, creamy.
Finish: Apricot, orange, citrus, light clove, spicy, warm spices, nutty, oak, complex, big, layers of flavor, nice, satisfying.

Gold Medal

Bellemara Single Malt Whisky
(Bellemara Distillery, NJ)  87° proof
Distilled from 100% malted barley. Aged in new charred
American White oak barrels.

Aroma: Caramel, toffee, sweet buttered toast, honey, dried fruit, orange zest, floral, wheat, rye, malty, cinnamon, spicy, earthy, smoky, new charred wood, soft oak, clean, fresh.
Palate: Caramel, treacle, dark chocolate, sugarcane, orange zest, toasted grain, strong rye, malty, spicy, peat, smoky, oak, hard cider, sherry, big.
Finish: Chocolate notes, Red Hots candy, ginger, clove, black pepper, peppery, lingering spice, spicy wood, oak, classic explosion, creamy, enjoyable.

Gold Medal

Stranahan's Blue Peak Colorado Single Malt Whiskey
(CO)  86° proof
Distilled from 100% malted barley. Aged in new American
oak barrels, Solera finished.

Aroma: Caramel, chocolate, milk chocolate, mocha, prune, cherry, apricot, apple, orange, orange peel, grain, wheat, bread, toast, hops, sweet cider vinegar, oaky, port, wine, soft.
Palate: Caramel, toffee, cream, brown sugar, honey, orange blossom honey, tart apple, orange, hint of citrus, floral, malt, coffee, cinnamon, spicy, oak, creamy, tangy.
Finish: Nice toffee, caramel, raisin, cinnamon, nutmeg, spice, black pepper, oak, rich honey mouthfeel, soft, creamy.

Gold Medal

Hillrock Estate Single Malt Whiskey
Owner’s Special Reserve Triple Finish
(Hillrock Estate Distillery, NY)  109.9° proof
Floor-malts their own grown barley. Finished in Oloroso,
Pedro Ximenez & Tawny Port casks. Aged 6.24 years.

Aroma: Caramel, dark caramel, burnt sugar, roasted marshmallow, slight vanilla, Earl Grey tea, peppery, briny, musty, earthy, peaty, smoky, wood fire, woody, cedar.
Palate: Caramel, honey, candied fruit, Earl Grey tea, clove, earth, briny, peaty, deep peat, smoky, woody, oak, cedar.
Finish: Caramel, honey, banana, orange, mint, black bread, salty, peaty, smoky, woody, oak, cedar, powerful, zesty, satisfying.

Gold Medal

Brother Justus American Single Malt Whiskey
(Brother Justus Whiskey Co., MN)  86° proof
Distilled from 100% Minnesota malted barley.
Aged less than one year in white oak barrels.

Aroma: Caramel, milk chocolate, brown sugar, vanilla, strong ripe banana, cherry, cantaloupe, lemon, citrus, anise, mixed flowers, cereal, multi-grain, spicy, talcum powder, peaty, sharp woodiness, new wood, birch, oak, rich.
Palate: Vanilla, honey, dark raisin, apricot, fruit cup, verbena, citrus, rye, malt, nutty, jalapeño, smoky, oak, pine, creamy mouthfeel, nice balance of flavors.
Finish: Dried cherry, dried apricot, honey, lime, grassy, peaty, smoky, oak, bourbon-like, soft, zesty, great, delicious.

Gold Medal

Balcones Lineage Texas Single Malt Whisky
(Balcones Distilling, TX)  94° proof
Made with a mix of Golden Promise and Texas malted barley.
Aged at least 36 months in a mix of virgin & used oak barrels.

Aroma: Caramel, chocolate, rum raisin, dried fruit, fruit cup, pineapple, cantaloupe, tangerine, orange zest, apple, pear, floral, almond, roasted nuts, clove, maritime, light smoke, oak, soft, fresh.
Palate: Dark chocolate, mocha, milk shake, honey, dried fruit, dried pineapple, ambrosial, banana, strawberry, orange, ginger, grain, almond, cinnamon, spice, oak, sherry, round, rich, creamy.
Finish: Chocolate, mocha, fruit forward, apricot, faint orange, fruit candy, Red Hots candy, rye, nutmeg, spice, smooth, full flavored, satisfying.

Gold Medal

Wiggly Bridge New England Single Malt Whiskey
(Wiggly Bridge Distillery, ME)   92° proof
Distilled from 100% Maine grown malted barley.

Aroma: Caramel, toffee, brittle, chocolate, mocha, fermented fruit, strawberry, orange, slightly floral, cereal, malty, nutty, warm spice, olive oil, brine, seawater, maritime, new wood.
Palate: Caramel, honey, dried fruit, raisin, dried apricot, light banana, orange peel, ginger, grassy, olive oil, nutty, woodsy, new wood, old oak, creamy.
Finish: Dark chocolate, mocha, treacle, buttered bread, cereal, floral, clove, spices, well balanced, round, big, hearty, nice, soft, creamy, ultra-smooth.

Gold Medal

SILVER MEDAL WINNERS

Defiant American Single Malt Whisky
82° proof
(Blue Ridge Distilling Co., NC)
Distilled from 100% two-row premium malted barley
& Blue Ridge Mountain water.
Aged in toasted American White oak barrels.

Aroma: Dark chocolate, mocha, molasses, brown sugar, honey, raisins, orange zest, cereal, barley, malty, nutty, roasted street nuts, clove, iodine, balsam, new wood, cedar, oak.
Palate: Vanilla, honey, orange, orange peel, citrus, wheat, rye, malty, almond, nut, clove, earthy, briny, woody, oaky, creamy, gentle.
Finish: Vanilla, apple juice, orange peel, ginger, corn, almond, clove, pepper, spices, zesty, bourbon, sherry, creamy, soft & easy.

Silver Medal

Still Waldos' Single Malt Whiskey
with Hops
(Griffo Distillery, CA)   84° proof
Made from 100% barley mash from Lagunitas Brew Co.'s
Waldos Beer mash bill, accented with hops.

Aroma: Honey, raisin, banana, lychee, lemon zest, orange, candied orange, rose, floral, flowery, botanical, perfume, faint mocha, almond, anise, vegetal, eucalyptus, green peppercorn, cigar box.
Palate: Toffee, brown sugar, raisin, dried fruit, Fruity Pebbles, Granny Smith apple, orange, tangerine, lemon, lemon zest, citrus, ginger, eucalyptus, elderflower, lavender, flowers, jasmine, perfume, spice, oak, smooth.
Finish: Caramel, fruit candy, pineapple, lemon, citrus, floral, very herbal, spices, good intro whiskey, round.

Silver Medal