DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

King's Family Distillery Straight Rye Whiskey
Aged 6 years
(IN & TN)   121.7° prf

Nose: Caramel, butterscotch, toffee, molasses, brown sugar, dark sugar, sugar cane, vanilla, maple syrup, dried fruit, green apple, rye, nutty, warm spice, leather.
Palate: Caramel, butterscotch, toffee, vanilla, honey, cherry, ripe banana, ginger, cinnamon, peppery, spicy hot, leather, grain, wood, oak, burnt wood, creamy.
Finish: Opens to caramel, black pepper, peppery, rye spice, spicy, heat lingers perfectly, balanced, layered, approachable, rich, very smooth, velvety.

Double Gold Medal

The Wiseman Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
(Kentucky Owl, KY/LA)  100.8° prf

Nose: Dark chocolate, vanilla, dark stone fruit, pineapple, banana, corn, pumpkin, ginger, dill, green capers, herbs, poppy seeds, rye bread, crusty bread, nutty, burnt almonds, black pepper, spicy, oak.
Palate: Butterscotch, treacle, vanilla, raisins, pineapple, tropical fruits, orange peel, mint, honeysuckle, corn flakes, rye, sweet grain, toasted grain, toasted white bread, hay, mellow spice, black pepper, oak, sherry.
Finish: Vanilla, cream, honey, almond, spearmint, pepper, white pepper, spicy, oaky, strong tropicals, sherry, well balanced, excellent length, very good, high quality.

Double Gold Medal

Bespoken Spirits Rye Whiskey
(Treasure Island Distillery, IN & CA)  100° prf
Aged min. 3 months in charred new American oak barrel
with charred American oak staves.

Nose: Caramel, toffee, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, cocoa, Kit Kat bar, sugar cane, vanilla, Juicy Fruit, sweet rye, hint of pepper, leather, burnt matches, burnt wood, saw dust, cedar, oaky, Madeira cask.
Palate: Caramel, dark chocolate, chocolaty, cocoa, dark sugar, vanilla, baked apples, warm nuts, warm spices, pepper, wood, oak, port wine, crisp, full flavor.
Finish: Caramel, toffee, dark sugar, toasted walnuts, toasty, nutmeg, clove, woodsy, complex texture, rich, layered, outstanding.

Double Gold Medal

Ryeconic Double Aged Rye Whiskey
(King’s Family Distillery, IN & TN)   108.2° prf
Twice barreled. Aged 4 years.

Nose: Toffee, sweet cream, butter, buttered toast, warm chocolate, demerara, brown sugar, maple syrup, Graham cracker, dried fruit, orange peel, green apple, fennel seeds, rye, cinnamon, nutmeg, crisp.
Palate: Caramel, buttery, orange peel, dried orange, citrus, ginger, bread, dough, toasty, walnut, black tea, mint, clove, cinnamon, pepper, black pepper, spicy, leather, earth, woody, oak, high proof, round, rich.
Finish: Honey, orange peel, minty, warm spicy honey nuts, mixed roasted nuts, bold, smooth, rich, flavorful, best for cocktails.

Double Gold Medal

GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

Iron Fish Distillery Rye Whiskey
Finished in Caribbean rum casks
(MI)  94° prf

Nose: Caramel, nougat, honey, ripe banana, tropical fruit, cherry, Dole fruit cup, dried apple, dried green apple, bergamot, jasmine, grain.
Palate: Toffee, sweet caramel, cocoa, molasses, cookie dough, honey, dried fruit, dates, cherry, Jolly Rancher, sour apple, grape notes, orange peel oil, roasted walnut, nutmeg, toast, burnt toast, earth, leather, oak, cognac, rich.
Finish: Vanilla, cake batter, banana, cherry cola, cocoa powder, licorice, pepper, spicy, spice lingers, dusty, nice, soft, pleasant, rich, tasty, beautiful.

Gold Medal

Barrel King Straight Rye Whiskey
Batch B
(Old Road Craft Spirits, IN & MO)  Aged over 5 yrs.   110.8° prf.

Nose: Caramel, chocolate, brown sugar, sugar cane, dried cherries, dried figs, apricot, peach, ripe apple, orange peel, grain, rye, black pepper, toasty.
Palate: Caramel, dark chocolate burnt sugar, buttery, vanilla, spicy honey, dried apricot, cherry, plum, ripe banana, licorice, macadamia nut, almonds, nuts, grain, rye, toast, coffee, pepper, leather, oak, creamy mouthfeel, rich, creamy.
Finish: Light cocoa, cola nut, cherry, apricot, apple, grain, black pepper, peppery, spicy, heat, effervescent, bold, rich, drink neat.

Gold Medal

Blue Wing Rye Whiskey
(C.H. Wittenberg Distilling Co., MO)  90° prf
Aged 2+ years in MO White oak charred barrels.

Nose: Toffee, caramel, hint of maple, nougat, vanilla, honey, cherry compote, ripe banana, aged apple, apricot, cinnamon, tobacco, oak.
Palate: Toffee, caramel, vanilla, cocoa, honey, cooked Delicious apple, apricot, banana bread, banana cookies, sweet rye, walnut, clove, cinnamon, Red Hots, spice, great balance of sweet & spice, new wood, oak, buttery mouthfeel.
Finish: Vanilla, creamy, apricot, baked banana, baked goods, grain, spicy, nice heat, good length, great finish.

Gold Medal

Nashville Barrel Co.
Single Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey
(TN)  9 years old.   105.08° prf

Nose: Toffee, cocoa, butter, nougat, sugar cane juice, vanilla, delicate honey, baked cherries & apples, cherry, blackberry, ripe berries, banana, nutty, wisp of rye, nutmeg, sherry.
Palate: Dark chocolate, berry, strawberry, Red Delicious apple, dried green apple, lavender, ginger, marzipan, nutty, ginger spice, pepper, black tea, leather, burnt wood, oak, delicate, creamy mouthfeel.
Finish: Chocolate, touch of cocoa, dried fruit, dried green apple, concentrated, classic.

Gold Medal

Barrel King Straight Rye Whiskey
Batch A
(Old Road Craft Spirits, IN & MO)  Aged over 5 years.  109.6° prf.

Nose: Toffee, nougat, honey, cooked ripe cherries, apricot, orange peel, nutmeg, spice, buttered rye toast, leather, tobacco, oak.
Palate: Vanilla, honey, banana bread, ripe banana, figs, dried cherry, green apple, orange peel, lemon, citrus, lavender, licorice, rye bread, clove, sweet spice, leather, deep woods, oak, sherry, rich.
Finish: Caramel, creamy, baked orange, sharp herbal note, vegetal, hazelnut, spice carries through, spicy, oak, complex, zesty, bold, nice, fulfilling.

Gold Medal

Bradshaw Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
(KY)  103.8° prf
Aged a minimum 2 years in new charred oak.

Nose: Caramel, toffee, sugar cane, warm maple syrup, honey-butter, buttery, candied apples, apples, lemon, citrus, ginger, spicy, new oak, cedar.
Palate: Light caramel, butterscotch pudding, chocolate, cocoa, vanilla, honey, baked apple, banana, green apple, lemon, orange peel, light wafer, cinnamon toast, clove, pepper, oaky, buttery.
Finish: Apple bomb, cherry, rye, spicy, toasty, earthy, balanced, good balance, round. soft, rich.

Gold Medal

TINCUP Straight Rye Whiskey
(IN & CO)  Aged 3 years.  90° prf
Aged in uniquely charred barrels made at the distillery’s
own cooperage.

Nose: Vanilla, sugar cane, honey, dried apricot, candied ginger, ripe banana, cut grass, nutmeg, black pepper, wet wood, cherry wood.
Palate: Chocolate, dark dry cocoa, caramel, butterscotch, vanilla, nougat, sweet cream, brown sugar, honey, ripe banana, macerated pears, apple, Granny Smith apple, sweet rye, ginger, clove, spicy, oak.
Finish: Green apple, ripe apple lingers, buttery, peppered corn, a hint of pepper, nice spice, bone dry, balanced, smooth, flavorful, refined.

Gold Medal

Three Chord Amplify Rye Whiskey
(Steel Bending Spirits, KY, IN & MI)  95° prf

Nose: Light caramel, honey, dried fruit, cherry, banana, Granny Smith apple, green apple, sweet nuttiness, cinnamon, cloves, spice, new wood, oak.
Palate: Caramel, butterscotch, burnt sugar, vanilla, apricot, green apple, mint, sweet almond, raw almond, walnuts, clove, cinnamon, pepper, wood, pine wood, oaky, nicely balanced, creamy, rich.
Finish: Vanilla, buttery, honey, green apple, nutty, toasty, spicy, balanced, round, rich, flavorful, classic style, great.

Gold Medal

SILVER MEDAL WINNERS

Great Jones Straight Rye Whiskey
(NY)  100% New York State rye.  90° prf

Nose: Caramel, butterscotch, buttery, toffee, cocoa, brown sugar, strawberry, blueberry, Fuji apple, citrus, lavender, flower note, leather, polished wood, balsam wood, zesty.
Palate: Caramel, brown sugar, vanilla, nougat, honey notes, orange peel, mint, walnut, lightly nutty, coffee grinds, nutmeg, spices, suede, leather, oak, cedar, woody, very dry, creamy mouthfeel, rich.
Finish: Echoes of caramel, honey, peppery, spicy, toasty, leather note, oak, balanced, round, clean, soft.

Silver Medal

Leatherneck Rye Whiskey
(1350 Distilling, CO)  Aged 3 years.  90° prf

Nose: Sweet caramel, burnt sugar, molasses, vanilla, butter cream, nougat, ripe banana, cherry, blueberry, orange peel, ginger, sweet spice, walnut, burnt new wood.
Palate: Cocoa, vanilla, plum, strawberry, honey, honeysuckle, honey-nut, soft grains, ginger, mint, hint of spice, black tea, leather, smoky, lightly charred barrel, oak, creamy.
Finish: Honey, Juicy Fruit gum, orange peel, sweet bread, toast, dry leaves, strong pepper, balanced, nice, soft, gentle.

Silver Medal