DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

Par Tee Bloody Mary
(AstraLuna Brands, MA)  5.9% ABV

Palate: Full rich tomato, sweet tomato, tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce, strong horseradish, good horseradish kick, lemon/lime, celery, celery salt, black pepper, Tabasco, peppery, spicy, natural ingredients, smooth, thick & hearty, flavorful, all of the flavors of a classic Bloody Mary, a perfect Bloody Mary, wonderful, amazing, excellent.

Double Gold Medal

VMC Paloma Tequila Cocktail
(MX)  5.5% ABV

Palate: Beautiful pink grapefruit, natural grapefruit, real grapefruit, fresh grapefruit, lime, orange hints, floral qualities, white & pink flowers, club soda, tequila, well balanced, well crafted, natural flavors, layers of flavor, clean, rich, gentle, pleasant, pretty, a classic Paloma.

Double Gold Medal

NightOwl Espresso Vodka Martini
(VT)  Vodka, coffee, vanilla.  12.5% ABV

Palate: Strong espresso, good solid coffee, Starbucks latte, coffee bean, chocolatey, toffee, nougat, roasty, perfect sweetness, really well balanced, well crafted, smooth, creamy mouthfeel, nice, satisfying, beautiful.

Double Gold Medal

Zing Zang Mango Margarita
(IL)  Silver tequila, Triple Sec, real fruit juices, pure cane sugar.  9% ABV

Palate: Mango puree, natural mango flavor, solid mango, sweet mango, buttery blended mango, hint of lime, hints of coconut, tropical, a great blend of flavors, well balanced, well made, spot on, classic margarita, rich, very enjoyable, yum, delicious.

Double Gold Medal

Play Hard Apple Prickly Pear Vodka Seltzer
(Playboy Spirits, IL)  4.5% ABV

Palate: Apple giving way to strong prickly pear, nice pear flavor, Anjou pear, green apple, mint, celery, interesting combination of flavors, bubbly, soft & clean, silky on the palate, very light & refreshing, pleasant, easy to drink.

Double Gold Medal

Watershed Old Fashioned Bottled Cocktail
(Watershed Distillery, OH)  Made with bourbon whiskey & bitters.  36.6% ABV

Palate: Strong bourbon, honey forward, vanilla, orange zest, lemon, hint of cherry, bacon, bitters, tannins, charred oak, well balanced, smooth, complex, rich, terrific flavors, excellent combination, just add ice, nice winter drink, like from a cocktail bar, very well made.

Double Gold Medal

GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

End Of Days Cargo Mule
(NC)  Vodka, lime, ginger.  9.5% ABV

Palate: Strong ginger forward, powerful ginger, lingering ginger, lemon, lime, club soda, spicy, clears your sinuses, lots of flavors, big & satisfying, a nicely made cocktail, well done.

Gold Medal

Play Hard Grapefruit Yuzu Vodka Seltzer
(Playboy Spirits, IL)  4.5% ABV

Palate: White grapefruit, very natural flavor of grapefruit, grapefruit present softened by the sweetness of yuzu, lime, 7-UP, spearmint, bubbly, super light, soft flavors, crisp, clean, refreshing, easy to drink, very pleasant, a great summer beverage.

Gold Medal

VMC Jamaica Hibiscus Tequila Cocktail
(MX)  5.5% ABV

Palate: Vibrant hibiscus, berry, cranberry, cherry notes, flowery, floral, potpourri, herbal, hint of clove, tree bark, slightly sweet with a kick, well balanced, full flavors, tastes natural, surprisingly good, a nice cocktail.

Gold Medal

NightOwl Espresso Tequila Martini
(VT)  Tequila, coffee, vanilla.  12.5% ABV

Palate: Good solid coffee, smooth coffee, nice espresso, Nespresso, cream, hint of chocolate, tequila peeks through, well balanced, super interesting, creamy, rich foam, soft, delicate, very elegant, easy to drink, a great martini.

Gold Medal

Zing Zang Classic Margarita
(IL)  Silver tequila, Triple Sec, real fruit juices, pure cane sugar.  9% ABV

Palate: Lime forward, lemon, natural citrus notes, sour, sweet, very decent option, very classic margarita taste, as good as a margarita from a bar, excellent classic flavor, great.

Gold Medal

Top Dog Cocktails Blood Orange Margarita
(PA)  12.5% ABV

Palate: Fresh blood orange, pomegranate, dried cranberry, lemon/lime, lemonade, integrated citrus flavors, sour mix, natural flavors, well crafted, well made, good quality, very enjoyable, good quality, delicious.

Gold Medal

End Of Days Hurricane
(NC)  Rum, passion fruit, lemon juice.  9.5% ABV

Palate: Beautiful passionfruit, lovely passionfruit, strong passionfruit, tropical fruit, orange peel, lime, touch of lemon, citrus, natural flavors, quality ingredients, clean sweetness, light effervescence, balanced, nicely crafted, well done.

Gold Medal

Joia Spirit Paloma Craft Cocktail
(VT)  Tequila, liqueur, grapefruit juice.  6% ABV

Palate: Fresh grapefruit, Ruby Red grapefruit, nice grapefruit, almost blood orange, citrus, natural, balanced, very bubbly, fizzy, crisp, quite refreshing, soft, pretty, elegant, perfect, delicious, stellar.

Gold Medal

Top Dog Cocktails Greyhound
(PA)  Vodka, grapefruit, rosemary, elderflower.  12.5% ABV

Palate: Grapefruit, pink lemonade, citrus, subtle cherry, hint of rosemary, vodka, very easy going, a nice cocktail, refreshing, excellent.

Gold Medal

Kō Hana Lilikoi Daiquiri
(HI)  Agricole rum & natural passion fruit flavors.  22% ABV

Palate: Passionfruit, pink lemonade, lime, mint, banana funk, pot still rum, nice rum, layered flavors, big bold flavors, pour over ice, enjoy poolside or at the beach, well done.

Gold Medal

End Of Days Gin & Tonic
(NC)  9.5% ABV

Palate: Juniper forward, soft botanicals, celery, good citrus, vermouth notes, unique tonic, oak note, barrel aged, rich, robust, extra dry, classic cocktail, authentic gin & tonic, a perfect RTD, enjoyable overall, delicious.

Gold Medal

Zing Zang Blazing Bloody Mary
(IL)   9% ABV

Palate: Spicy tomato, tomato juice, lemon peel, citrus, celery, heavy horseradish, black pepper, pure Tabasco, deep spice, great spice, super spicy, lots of pepper, great peppery flavor, great for spice lovers, hot, fire, good balance, rich, very pretty, well made.

Gold Medal

Kō Hana Pineapple Daiquiri
(HI)  Agricole Rum & natural pineapple flavors.  22% ABV

Palate: Nice pineapple, subtle pineapple, daiquiri lime, natural flavors, sour mix, pot still rum, full of flavors, layered, bold, rich, well made, classic daiquiri.

Gold Medal

Joia Spirit Margarita Craft Cocktail
(VT)  Tequila, Triple Sec, lime juice.  6% ABV

Palate: Lime, 7-UP, spearmint, sour mix, handles citrus well, balanced sweetness, nicely balanced, solid classic, a well-made margarita, refreshing, a nice summer drink.

Gold Medal

Zing Zang Bloody Mary
(IL)  9% ABV

Palate: Deep cooked tomatoes, roasted tomato, solid tomato, tomato juice, lime/lemon, celery, Worcestershire sauce, smoky BBQ sauce, smoke, black pepper, spicy, Tabasco sauce, classic Bloody Mary, quaffable.

Gold Medal

SILVER MEDAL WINNERS

Spirited Hive Cranberry, Lime & Honey Vodka Cocktail
(PA)  7% ABV

Palate: Lime, orange, honey, honey lime rickey, mint note, slightly tart, (will appeal to women), tastes like Christmas, ingredients work well together, add ice, interesting, nice, clean, crisp, refreshing.

Silver Medal

Par Tee Pink Flamingo
(AstraLuna Brands, MA)  Vodka & pink lemonade.  5.9% ABV

Palate: Natural pink lemonade, lemony, lime, citrus, strawberry, refreshing punch, vodka, slightly sweet, slight fizz, well balanced, super light, easy drinking, nicely done.

Silver Medal

VAQIT Clementine Pineapple Real Vodka Soda
(CO)  4% ABV

Palate: Fruity dominated by pineapple, Tang with pineapple, subtle clementine, coconut, piña colada flavor, tropical paradise, light, refreshing.

Silver Medal

Spirited Hive Ginger, Lime & Honey Tequila Cocktail
(PA)  7% ABV

Palate: Nice ginger flavor, strong ginger, a slice of raw ginger, ginger/honey predominant, ginger and honey work well together, lingering honey, lime, subtle tequila, quality ingredients, natural flavors, nice balance of flavors, well integrated, crisp, refreshing, delicious.

Silver Medal

VMC Margarita Tequila Cocktail
(MX)  5.5% ABV

Palate: Lemony, natural pink lemonade, lime, citrus, strawberry, refreshing punch, vodka, slightly sweet, well balanced, super light, easy drinking, nicely done.

Silver Medal

Spirited Hive Lemon Gin Cocktail
(PA)  Gin infused with lemon, juniper, honey & natural flavors.  7% ABV

Palate: Strong lemon, citrus, earthy honey, balanced honey & sweetness, natural flavor, quality ingredients, ingredients work well together, soft, easy drinking, refreshing.

Silver Medal

VAQIT White Peach Ginger Real Vodka Soda
(CO)  4% ABV

Palate: Sweet white peach, full peach, tropical flavors, coconut, vanilla, subtle ginger, powdery, neatly balanced, bubbly, refreshing, easy drinking, enjoyable.

Silver Medal

Spirited Hive Pineapple, Lime & Honey Tequila Cocktail
(PA)  6% ABV

Palate: Pineapple juice, pineapple forward, honey flavor, hint of lime, oak note, powdery, a refreshing summer beverage, bright, sparkly, fun, easy to drink.

Silver Medal

VAQIT Strawberry Guava Real Vodka Soda
(PA)  4% ABV

Palate: Strawberry flavor rounded off by guava, raspberry, lemon, leafy, nice balance, heavy seltzer, hearty flavor, very interesting, easy drinking.

Silver Medal