DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

Teller Grapefruit Hibiscus Vodka Lemonade
(Safe House Distilling Co., NM)  9.69% ABV

Palate: Realistic grapefruit flavor, pronounced grapefruit, grapefruit forward, white grapefruit splendor, nicely infused hibiscus, subtle hibiscus throughout, lemon, citrus, herbal note, balanced flavors, tastes natural, just sweet enough, very well made, complexity is very attractive, interesting cocktail, excellent and unusual flavor combination, great combination of flavors, refreshing, a porch sipper, grapefruit lovers – this one is for you, excellent.

Double Gold Medal

Pilot House Distilling Astoria Mary
(Pilot House Distilling, OR)  10% ABV

Palate: Tomato, onion, pepper, chili, spicy, super spice, tobacco, vodka, nice fresh flavors, tons of flavor, great finish, good balance, perfectly balanced, smooth, really nice, fun for a Sunday afternoon, nice spicy Bloody Mary, a great Bloody Mary.

Double Gold Medal

Big Machine Spiked Cooler Tropical Vodka Juice Cocktail
( Big Machine Distillery, New Orleans, LA)  5.9% ABV

Palate: Mango, guava, peach, pineapple, coconut, cherry, ripe grapes, grapefruit, juicy, tropical, Sprite, zesty, layered flavors, well balanced, tasty, flavorful, nicely crafted cocktail, easy to drink, super easy, nice, refreshing, vibrant, just relax and imagine Hawaii, vacation in a glass, fun summer drink.

Double Gold Medal

Bushwacker Coconut Rum Cream
(FL)  17% ABV

Palate: Very coconutty, coconut cream pie, beautiful coconut crème, creamy coconut, coconut milk, heavy cream, subtle rum, tastes natural, nicely balanced, a well balanced piña colada, well blended with cream, great texture, rich & creamy, great for dessert, relaxing and enjoyable, elegant, delicious.

Double Gold Medal

Teller Blueberry Lavender Vodka Lemonade
(Safe House Distilling Co., NM)  9.69% ABV

Palate: Tart blueberry, lemon, nice lavender, floral notes, herbs, mint, interesting combination, expertly blended, well balanced, well made, enjoyable, two thumbs up, great.

Double Gold Medal

CÎROC Pineapple Passion Vodka Spritz
(CA)  7% ABV

Palate: Great pineapple flavor, a hit of passion fruit, tangerine, honey, mint, retro flavor, not too sweet, full round mouthfeel, natural taste, well balanced mix, nicely balanced fruit flavors, tasty, crisp, nice sparkle, refreshing, fun at a pool party.

Double Gold Medal

Wigle Rye Old Fashioned
(Pittsburgh Distilling Co., PA)  32% ABV

Palate: Great bourbon flavor, vanilla, honey, lemon, hint of orange, bourbon finish, love the woodiness, great representation, good version of the classic cocktail, a beautiful Old Fashioned, nice, a great home sipper, winter fireplace drink, great after work drink.

Double Gold Medal

Barrelsmith Boulevardier
(NY)  30% ABV

Palate: Nice chocolate notes, coffee/chocolate, molasses, vanilla, elder flower, bitter herbs, vermouth, smoke, cigar box, woody notes, well balanced, pleasant combination, very soft, approachable, nice as a digestif, unique, a really good boulevardier, enjoyable.

Double Gold Medal

Moonlight Barista Nitro Espresso Martini
(Corebev, NY)  15.5% ABV

Palate: Fresh coffee, great coffee flavor, natural flavors, spices, smooth, classic afterwork cocktail for at-home happy hour, enjoyable, delicious.

Double Gold Medal

Heritage Distilling Co. Blood Orange Vodkarita
(WA)  6.9% ABV

Palate: Delicious blood orange, nice blood orange, blood orange Pellegrino, great orange flavor, orange oil, lemon, citrus, Sprite, a hit of vodka, natural flavor, very well balanced, pleasant finish, really fresh, delicious, yum, if you like oranges you’ll love this.

Double Gold Medal

Zing Zang Blazing Bloody Mary
(IL)  9% ABV

Palate: Tomato, black pepper, red pepper, jalapeño, celery powder, great spices, great for spice lovers, spiciness & caliente just right, hot and spicy, very spicy bloody, peppery hot finish, love the heat, balanced, Blood Mary for sure, very precise and on point, nice full flavor, what a bloody should be.

Double Gold Medal

Woodson Heis Manhattan
(Kettner Distillery, CA)  :35% ABV

Palate: A great blend of whiskey & sweet vermouth & a cherry, bitters, spicy, smoke, nice & dry, the right balance, nice structure, tastes real, can really taste the smokiness of the whiskey, reasonable representation of the cocktail, a realistic rendition of a Manhattan, a fireside sipper.

Double Gold Medal

Piñaq Colada
(Holland)  17% ABV

Palate: Pineapple, rich coconut, coconut deliciousness, piña colada, creamy, vanilla, floral & perfume notes, natural flavors, well balanced, beautiful balance of sweetness & cream, interesting take on a classic cocktail, great flavor, drink whenever, pleasing, dreamy.

Double Gold Medal

GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

Beach Whiskey Strawberry Lemonade
(ID)  5% ABV

Palate: Great strawberry, great lemonade, lemon, wood barrel, natural taste, accurate flavors, balanced whiskey & strawberry, nicely blended cocktail, works very well, a new dimension of drink, pleasant, a perfect summer drink.

Gold Medal

The Cocktail Chemist Mojito
(WI)  10% ABV

Palate: Strong lime, lemon, citrus notes, mint forward, you get the mint, mint oil, spearmint, smoke, pleasant flavors, a very good version of a classic mojito, a very decent mojito, good that they got it in a can, excellent.

Gold Medal

Barrelsmith Manhattan
(NY)  35% ABV

Palate: Vanilla forward, bourbon, rye, whiskey, sweet vermouth, citrus, bitters, woody, ready to serve & drink, realistic, great job, a good Manhattan, rich, delicious.

Gold Medal

Kō Hana Lilikoi Daiquiri
(Manulele Distillers, HI)  22% ABV

Palate: Lilikoi, tart lime, citrus, lychee, passion fruit, honey, rum, mint, bitters, sour, crisp, refreshing, natural flavors, nicely presented, very enjoyable, delicious.

Gold Medal

Big Machine Double Spiked Coconut Breeze
Vodka Juice Cocktail
(Big Machine Distillery, New Orleans, LA)  12.5% ABV

Palate: Coconut forward, refreshing coconut, coconut water, Coco Lopez, fortified coconut, coconut cream ice pops, honey, breadfruit, nuts, mint, tropical, creamy, lays down nicely, very pleasant, tasty, fun.

Gold Medal

Spirited Hive Bourbon Rosemary
7% ABV

Palate: Honey, caramel, melon, lemon, lime, 7-UP, floral, herbal, spicy, tart, clean, fresh, great over ice, makes for a nice summery drink, an interesting cocktail, easy drinking.

Gold Medal

The Cocktail Chemist Something Good
(WI)  10% ABV

Palate: Sweet lemon, lemon oil, citrus, honey, maple, vanilla, botanical notes, nice balance, nicely crafted, full body, rich, a nice rendition of a lemon drop martini.

Gold Medal

Heritage Distilling Co. Gin Jam Fizzzz
(WA)  6.9% ABV

Palate: Pleasant berry, lemon, lime, mint, herbal, nice juniper berry, floral, tropical, nice & balanced, refreshing, comes together to make a tasty cocktail, great for botanical gin drinkers, delightful, delicious.

Gold Medal

CÎROC Watermelon Kiwi Vodka Spritz
(CA)  7% ABV

Palate: Real watermelon, nice watermelon, kiwi whisper, berries, soda, woody note, funk, all flavors present, nicely blended, summery, refreshing, a very pleasant cocktail, delicious.

Gold Medal

Teller Watermelon Walk-Off
(Safe House Distilling Co., NM)  9.69% ABV

Palate: Great watermelon, ripe watermelon, watermelon Jolly Rancher, lemonade, natural fruit flavors, sweet/tart, clean, refreshing, pleasant, best of watermelon RTDs.

Gold Medal

Beach Whiskey Watermelon Peach
(ID)  5% ABV

Palate: Watermelon, peach, nice tropical flavors, vanilla, interesting combo, nicely crafted cocktail, good for after dinner, fantastic blended finish, refreshing.

Gold Medal

Chido Miami Vice Tequila Sparkling
(PA)  5% ABV

Palate: Real agave, tequila, grape soda, tangy, natural, super balanced, pleasant, refreshing, quite tasty, perfect for a hot day in the sun, sit under the palm tree and sip away, a great summer drink.

Gold Medal

Zing Zang Bloody Mary
(IL)  9% ABV

Palate: Very tomato-y, celery salt, Worcestershire sauce, spicy, great blend of spices, peppery, Tabasco, pickles, slightly briny, slight tart, easy-peasy, pleasant to drink, tasty, Bloody Mary indeed, a great Bloody.

Gold Medal

Heritage Distilling Co. Peachy Bourbon
(WA)  6.9% ABV

Palate: Natural peach, peachy goodness, sweet peach prevails, peach forward, bourbon, well balanced, nice blend of whiskey & peach, nice flavor and finish, bright, soft, easy drinking.

Gold Medal

Barrelsmith Negroni
(NY)  30% ABV

Palate: Butterscotch, caramel, praline, honey, vanilla, lemon, dry coffee, herbs, bitters, needs more gin and vermouth, smoky, dry, smooth, nice, pleasant, well rounded, a good negroni, a nice version of the classic cocktail, enjoyable.

Gold Medal

Kō Hana Pineapple Daiquiri
(Manulele Distillers, HI)  22% ABV

Palate: Generous pineapple, tart pineapple, good pineapple flavor, rum forward, nice rum flavor, lemon finish, citrus, smoke, very bright & fresh, easy to drink, a great daiquiri, excellent.

Gold Medal