DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

Hillrock Estate Distillery Double Cask Rye Whiskey
(NY)  115° prf
Aged under 4 yrs in American oak casks
& finished in Owner’s Special Reserve Madeira casks.

Nose: Caramel, perfect hot chocolate, sweet molasses, dark sugar, deep cooked honey, dried fruit, raisins, blueberry, green apple, rye grain, coffee, spicy, mineral, leather, dried leaves, earth, oak, oak barrel, port barrel, rum, sherry, sweet dessert wine, complex.
Palate: Caramel, chocolate, sugar cane, dark sugars, roasted honey, raisins, dried cherry, dried fruit, cherry, black currant, apricot, stone fruit, sweet grains, rye flour, licorice, tea, pepper, glazed meat, leather, limestone, oak, woody, zesty, best in show.
Finish: Dark chocolate, vanilla, ripe toasted banana, tropical fruit, apricot, steeped black tea, basmati rice, rye, spice, pipe tobacco, oak, rich smoke, balanced, flavorful, nice heat, great length, good on the rocks, perfect.

Double Gold Medal

Middle West Spirits Straight Rye Whiskey
(OH)  96° prf
Distilled from Dark Pumpernickel Rye. Aged over 3 yrs.
in new white American oak casks.

Nose: Toffee, caramel, cocoa, vanilla bean, vanilla, brown sugar, clover honey, dried fruits fruit leather,, cherry, dark plums, ripe banana, Golden Delicious apple, grains, walnut, leather, oak, port wine, complex.
Palate: Toffee, cocoa, sugar cane, dark sugar, nougat, banana, orange peel, apple, brown bread, rich walnut, roasted nuts, herbal rosemary, dried leaves, red pepper flakes, clove, spice, pepper, black peppercorn, leather, limestone, mineral, oak, wine notes, very well balanced, complex.
Finish: Dark chocolate, cocoa, honey, spicy, raisins, sweet cherry, tropical fruit, cinnamon, spice, pepper, limestone, mineral, dried leaves, wood, excellent length, bone dry, zesty, savory, gentle, love it in a Manhattan cocktail, great.

Double Gold Medal

Stormy River Rye Whiskey
(JK Williams Distilling, IL)  Aged 4 yrs.  90° prf

Nose: Caramel, vanilla, white chocolate, maple, Orange Blossom honey, dried fruits, McIntosh apple, green apple, cherry, apricot, sweet, rye, toasty, walnut, clove, pickle, briny, pipe tobacco, old books, fresh birch wood, oak, cut wood, aromatic.
Palate: Caramel, toffee, buttery, sugarcane, maple, honey, honeycomb, dried fruit, apricot, white cherry, Graham Cracker, creamy oatmeal, toasted bread, grain, coffee, ginger, bitter melon, herbs, almonds, nutmeg, cinnamon, baking spice, good spice, white pepper, leather, oak, sherry, complex, smooth, zesty.
Finish: Honey, dried fruit, apricot, herbaceous, mint, clove, spicy, leather, toast, oaky, hint of barrel, char, well balanced, smooth, serious guy, drink neat.

Double Gold Medal

GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

Monterey Rye
Small Batch No. 27
(Fog’s End Distillery, CA)  90° prf

Nose: Toffee, buttery, nougat, jelly bean, light vanilla, honey, dried orange peel, ripe banana, plantain, corn, popcorn, Golden Crisp cereal, cereal grain, wheat, rye, oats, walnut, peanut, roasted nuts, nutmeg, grassy, fern, spruce tree, new leather.
Palate: Toffee, white chocolate, ganache, buttery, brown butter, Cracker Jack, Confectioner’s sugar, honey, ripe banana, sweet banana, strawberry, grain, rye, toasted rye bread, sweet peanut, almond, raw Brazil nut, street nuts, cinnamon, leather, peat, oak.
Finish: Nougat, orange zest, walnut, light almond, nutty, allspice, spice, lingering honey malt, great neat, nice flavorful finish, creamy, smooth, velvet.

Gold Medal

Broken Top Straight Rye Whiskey
(Cascade Spirits, OR)  Aged 2 yrs.  87.5° prf.

Nose: Caramel, toffee, brown sugar, cream, vanilla, honey, crisp apple, green apple, green apple skin, citrus, banana peel, herbal, rye, rye bread, wheat, grain, walnut, nutmeg, spicy, autumn, leaves, earth, grassy, mossy, wood, oak, smoky, sherry.
Palate: Caramel, sugar cane, brown sugar, vanilla, butter, cream, honey, caramelized apple, raisin, dried figs, fruit rollup, orange, bergamot, pear, ripe green apple, citrus, apricot, banana, banana bread, oats, cereal, nutty, rye, coffee, grounds, clove, cinnamon, baking spice, spicy, black pepper, tannin, oak, pine, woody, nicely balanced, very approachable.
Finish: Rye, wheat, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, pepper, black pepper, wood, balanced, fiery, smooth, silky, easy to drink, easy sipper, very pleasant.

Gold Medal

Shady Knoll Rye Whiskey
(Shady Knoll Orchards & Distillery, NY)  84° prf
Double distilled from local rye in a pot still.
Aged 3 yrs. in new oak barrels & used Port barrels.

Nose: Caramel, brown sugar, maple syrup, nougat, vanilla, cherry, orange, toasted bread, grain, rye grain, herbal, mint, nutmeg, allspice, winter spices, leather, light wood, new wood, new oak, pine, pine lumber, pinecone, rustic.
Palate: Caramel, toffee, dark chocolate, Mexican hot chocolate, nougat, slightly buttery sugar cane, vanilla, honey notes, dried fruit, baked apple, cherry, orange zest, rye, grain, black pepper, spicy, leather, cigar box, tree bark, oak, pine wood, soft.
Finish: Toffee, cocoa, maple, nougat, vanilla, clove, spicy, strong pepper notes, pipe tobacco, toasty, woody, lingers, drink neat, nice for a cocktail, really nice.

Gold Medal

Crostwater Rye Whiskey
(Holy Water Distillery, PA)  80° prf

Nose: Strong toffee, butterscotch, dark chocolate, Baker’s Chocolate, powdered cocoa, nougat, honey, ripe banana, dark plum, tropical fruits, wildflower, rye grain, sesame, peanut butter, walnuts, cashew, sweet nuts, nutty, slate, earth, oak.
Palate: Deep dark chocolate Hershey’s chocolate, , cocoa, toffee, butterscotch, caramel, buttery, creamy, sugar cane, vanilla, flour, pound cake brown bread, dark cherry, banana, papaya, pineapple, mint, walnuts, coffee, cinnamon, spice, white pepper, leather, slightly burnt, woodsy, oak.
Finish: Vanilla, creamy, lovely buttery, Graham Cracker, toasted almonds, clove, soft spice, black pepper, smoky, lingering earth, woody, good with a steak, mouth filing, smooth, velvety, nice, satisfying, an easy going rye.

Gold Medal

King’s Family Distillery
Ryeconic Straight Rye Whiskey
(Distilled in IN, bottled in TN)  109.4° prf
Aged 4 yrs,, then rebarreled into a grooved barrel
for an additional 1 yr. 5 ms.

Nose: Caramel, Baker’s Chocolate, milk chocolate, brown sugar, creamy, vanilla, dates, apricot, plums, cherry, stone fruit, herbs, walnuts, toasted almond, rye, grain, oatmeal, agave, cactus, mint, cinnamon, spice, black pepper, limestone, mineral, oak.
Palate: Honey, prunes, dried plums, plums, cherry, ripe berries, apricot, lots of fruit, Juicy Juice, cola, pumpernickel raisin, rye, herbs, mint, spearmint, clove, spice, pepper, black pepper, limestone, dried oak, creamy, nicely balanced, incredibly complex.
Finish: Milk chocolate, cocoa, vanilla, honey, lingering maple, light tea, clove, spicy, toast, oak, fresh, full flavor, well rounded, full on spice cocktail, zesty.

Gold Medal

Treaty Oak Schenley Reserve Straight Rye Whiskey
(Treaty Oak Distilling, TX)  100° prf
Sourced from the last batch of rye whiskey from
the defunct Schenley Distillery in Canada. Aged 10 yrs.

Nose: Caramel, butterscotch, dark chocolate, vanilla, nougat, waffle, honey, sweet banana, apricot, ginger, hibiscus, floral, mint, herbal, sweet nuttiness, nuts, grain, dried leaves, pepper, spice, toasty, oaky.
Palate: Caramel, dark chocolate, cocoa, vanilla, creamy, buttery, nougat, honey, honeysuckle, lilac, strawberry, apricot, lychee, green apple, apple skins, corn, sweet grains, malt, nutty, herbs, tea leaves, wet grass, cinnamon, spicy, white pepper, black pepper, balanced, toasted, oak.
Finish: Prune, orange, ginger, sweet balsamic, floral, herbs, chicory, clove, spice, pepper, pink peppercorn, toasty, woody, complex, zesty, easy to drink, elegant.

Gold Medal

Woodsmen Bull Rye Whiskey
(Woodsmen Distillery, MO)  80° prf
Aged in uniquely charred barrels made at the distillery’s
own cooperage.

Nose: Toffee, caramel, vanilla, light brown sugar, maple syrup, clover honey, cherry, green apple, lemon, mint, ginger, anise, grains, almond, coffee, clove, spice, black pepper, sawdust, cedar, oak, white oak.
Palate: Caramel, butterscotch, vanilla, sweet molasses, honey, clover honey, Maraschino cherries, dried cherry, dried fruit, apricot, apple, herbs, anise, walnuts, nutty, clove, cinnamon, baking spices, white peppercorn, toasted, woody notes, oak, well balanced, approachable.
Finish: Orange peel, papaya, lingering honeycomb, cocoa, walnut, almond, nutmeg, spicy, light oak, nice, clean, soft, very smooth, pleasant, elegant.

Gold Medal

Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey
(Jack Daniel’s Distillery, TN)  90° prf
Distilled from 70% rye. Sugar maple charcoal filtered.
Aged in new American oak barrels.

Nose: Caramel, chocolate covered cherry, honey, dark raisin, dried fruit, roasted apple, ripe banana, pear, sour apple, light lemon, jasmine, very floral, rye grain, wheat, dried leather.
Palate: Toffee, nougat, sugar cane, maple, vanilla, honey, black forest cake, cherry Now or Later taffy, strawberry, ripe banana, apricot, dried apple, green apple, ginger, rye grain, cinnamon, spice, pepper, black pepper, light sea salt, sweet nuttiness, oak, sherry, zesty, classic.
Finish: Vanilla, honey, honeysuckle, orange, green apple, slightly spicy, pepper, mineral, limestone, lingering cherry cordial, Jack Daniel’s, complex, unique, creamy, silky, nice, lovely.

Gold Medal

SILVER MEDAL WINNERS

King’s Family Distillery Straight Rye Whiskey
(Distilled in IN, bottled in TN)  90° prf

Nose: Toffee, caramel, buttery, nougat, maple, dried fruit, apricot, muted plum, floral, bergamot tea, herbs, grain notes, toasted mixed nuts, lemon oil, oiled leather, fresh linseed oil, leather, toasty, oak, cedar, woody.
Palate: Caramel, chocolate, cocoa, maple, Juicy Juice, apple, green apple, orange, grapes, buttered brown bread, sorghum, herbs, mint, ginger, roasted nuts, cinnamon, clove, oregano, spice, sea salt, briny, cedar, oak, well balanced, wine, sherry, cognac notes, nice, smooth.
Finish: Caramel, dried fruit, dates, green apple candy, grain, rye, thyme, spicy, white peppercorn, black pepper, mineral, oaky, nice, soft, creamy, elegant, happy to drink over ice, checks all the boxes, amazing.

Silver Medal

Standard Proof Straight Rye Whiskey
(Standard Proof Whiskey Co., TN)   80° prf
Double distilled from local rye in a pot still.
Aged 3 yrs. in new oak barrels & used Port barrels.

Nose: Cherry, dried fruit, honeycomb, brown sugar, dark sugar, rye flour, wheat, toast, herbal, mint, new cut grass, ginger, chive, tobacco, leather, earth, fertile soil, new oak, wood, old barrel, charred barrel.
Palate: Ripe black cherries, raisins, stone fruit, green apple, lime skin, ginger, honey, molasses, herbal, rye, walnut, nutty, malt, coffee notes, nutmeg, clove, black pepper, peppery, spicy, earthy, limestone, mineral, oak, sherry, classic rye.
Finish: Raisin, malt, slight anise, grass, floral, pink peppercorn, spicy, mineral, earthy, vibrant wood, lingering oak, soft, a good mixer.

Silver Medal

Axe and the Oak
Colorado Mountain Incline Rye Whiskey
(Axe and the Oak Distillery, CO)  97° prf
Aged less than 2 yrs. in American white oak barrels.

Nose: Caramel, praline, cane sugar, powdered sugar, honey, vanilla, butter, buttered toast, green apple, citrus, rye, rye flour, grainy, malted barley, peaty, leather, whetstone, slate, bamboo, oak, rum-like, lively, pleasant.
Palate: Praline, cocoa, sugar cane, nougat, Skittles, marzipan, fresh cake, honey, dates, dried fruit, stone fruit, currants, berries, green apple, lime oil, ginger, mint, rye, grain, toast, buttery toast, walnuts, clove, spice, black peppercorn, pepper, wood, oak, mouth filling, smooth, mellow.
Finish: Toffee, creamy, buttery, vanilla, molasses, honey, dark raisin, rye, grain, nutty, Amsterdam Brown café, hints of genever, spicy, limestone, subtle oak, balanced, nice, zesty, great for cocktails, delicious.

Silver Medal

Tommy Bahama Rye Whisky and Rum
(Coral Cay Distilling, WA)  93° prf
Aged min 4 yrs. in American oak. Blended with 22% Caribbean
& So. American rums aged 8 yrs. in ex-bourbon barrels.

Nose: Dark chocolate, buttery, corn, cane sugar, molasses, maple, honey, dried fruit, ripe banana, apricot, orange peel, green apple, herbaceous, black tea, Brazil nuts, grain, hay, oak.
Palate: Chocolate, sugar cane, honey, dried mango, ripe banana, apricot, peach, dried strawberry, cherry bomb, plum, orange, apple, mint, herbs, walnut, cinnamon, hint of spice, pepper, pink peppercorn, oaky, Speyside scotch, creamy, zesty.
Finish: Dark chocolate, vanilla, marzipan, honey, dried fruit, apricot, melon, green apple, orange, black tea, nutty, spicy, white pepper, lingering pepper, amaro, fresh, nice, smooth, easy to drink.

Silver Medal

Rye Knot Rye Whiskey
(Saint Lawrence Spirits, NY)  92° prf
Distilled from 100% NY State rye.

Nose: Caramel, prune, blackberry, green apple, green pepper, rye grain, rye flour, toast, dry oatmeal, almond extract, herbs, nutmeg, spice, dried leather, earth, woody, new wood, oak, sweet oak, pine, cut pine.
Palate: Toffee, cherry vanilla, sugar cane, dark sugar, honey, raisins, prune juice, green apple, citrus, mixed herbs, dried herbs, mint, black tea, black walnut, , rye, grain, clove, spice, baking spices, pink peppercorn, tannins, mineral, earth, leather, cigar box, woody, nice toasted oak, cedar, sherry, fresh, zesty.
Finish: Bitter chocolate, vanilla, lingering maple syrup, dried lime slices, hint of bok choy, herbal, nice allspice, clove, spice, peppery, black pepper, mineral, zesty, nice balance.

Silver Medal

Defiant 100% Malted Rye Whisky
(Blue Ridge Distilling Co., NC)  92° prf
Distilled from 100% rye. Aged in American toasted
white oak barrels.

Nose: Caramel, toffee, clotted cream, chocolate, honey, raisin, cherry, dried red apple, stone fruit, sweet pepper, floral, spicy, bread, earth, smoke, char, burnt wood, woody, oak, cedar.
Palate: Caramel, spiced chocolate, brown sugar, honey, raisin, cherry, cherry cola, floral, elderflower, rye, grain, herbs, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking spice, spicy, black pepper, dried leaves, cedar, oak, smooth, creamy, big, rich.
Finish: Rye bread, rye, apple, floral, clove, black pepper, peppery, spicy, oak, rich, smooth.

Silver Medal

High Peaks Landrace
Straight Empire Rye Whiskey
(High Peaks Distilling, NY)  84° prf
Distilled from 100% local landrace rye.
Aged for 2 or more yrs. in new charred oak barrels.

Nose: Honey, lemon, unripe melon, grain, toasted grain, bread, warm nuts, earth, char, smoke, spiced wood, wood barrel, oak, cedar.
Palate: Caramel, vanilla, raisin, dried apple, sweet plantains, orange, citrus, anise, malt, rye, rye bread, cinnamon, spice, peppery, peat, char, wood, oak, cedar, smooth.
Finish: Sweet caramel, lemony, roasted almonds, nutty, char, wood, oak, soft, flavorful.

Silver Medal

Doc Swinson’s Alter Ego
Straight Rye Whiskey
(Distilled in IN, finished & bottled in WA)  95° prf
A blend of rye whiskies aged for up to 6 yrs.
Finished in Caribbean rum casks using the Solera method.

Nose: Toffee, caramel, cocoa, vanilla, nougat, maple, honey, dried fruit, apricot, floral, subtle mint, clove, leather, earthy, popsicle stick, light pine, oak.
Palate: Vanilla, buttery, nougat, maple, Golden Grahams cereal, candied apricot, dried apricot, apricot, peach, banana, cherry, red grapes, orange zest, hint of mint, rye, grains, toasted bread, almond, walnut, clove, cinnamon, black pepper, peaty, char, sweet oak, light creaminess, nicely blended, smooth.
Finish: Vanilla, dried fruit, sugared nuts, nutmeg, clove, peppery, port cask, sherry cask, well balanced, good length, nice lingering finish, smooth, round, zesty, flavorful, no complaints.

Silver Medal

Moon’s Best Straight Rye Whiskey
(Dented Brick Distillery, UT)  90° prf
Distilled from 100% locally grown rye.

Nose: Caramel, vanilla, honey, dried fruit, faint banana, cherry, citrus, lemongrass, mint, ginger, rye grain, rye toast, almond, clove, nutmeg, baking spice, black pepper, muted leather, very old oak, oak wood.
Palate: Caramel, dark chocolate, cocoa, milk chocolate, cream, nougat, malt syrup, strawberry, green apple, orange zest, lime skin, citrus, herbal, mint, nutty, cinnamon, pink peppercorn, pepper, limestone, oak, sherry, zesty.
Finish: Cocoa, honey, ripe banana, hint of mint, dried grass, black tea, licorice, sweet almond, walnut, rye, baking spice, pepper, mineral, balanced, soft, smooth.

Silver Medal