DOUBLE-GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

The Union Forge Vodka
(American Union Spirits, PA)
Distilled from grain.

Nose: Vanilla cream, coconut water, pastry dough, very light potato skin, rye, grain, dusty.
Palate: Cream, cane sugar, strawberry, sweet dried apricots, cane sugar, rye, herbal, creamy spice, cracked peppercorn, earth, minerals, creamy mouthfeel.
Finish: Lemon zest, anise, pepper, complex, delicate, silky, smooth, creamy.

Double Gold Medal

Two Titmice Vodka
(Sweet Potato Spirits, CA)
Distilled from sweet potatoes.

Nose: Vanilla, butter cream, mint cream, potato skin, anise, herbal, cocoa, black peppercorn, oily cedar, clean, crisp.
Palate: Vanilla, powdered sugar, mocha, cocoa, almond, herbal, twist of lemon, moss, big spice, peppery, vibrant, creamy.
Finish: Creamy, vegetal, pepper, spice, well balanced, smooth, flavorful, zesty, approachable.

Double Gold Medal

Diamond Glacier 33 Vodka
(33 Below Spirits, CA)
Distilled from corn.

Nose: Toffee, pastry dough, grain, rye, clean, crisp mountain air.
Palate: Red pear, lemon, citrus, soft floral notes, vanilla, cocoa, notes of clove, white peppercorn, crisp, zesty.
Finish: Creamy, pastry dough, coffee, peppery, spices, lingering, clean, zesty, lively, approachable.

Double Gold Medal

GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

Crostwater Vodka
(Holy Water Distillery, PA)
Distilled from grain.

Nose: Ripe melon, tropical fruit, lemony, citrus, almond, clean crisp soda, lakeside, wet stone, minerals, dusty, funky.
Palate: Toffee, cocoa, wheat grain, bread, rye, grassy, hint of pepper, spicy, woody, wet stone, oily, rich, creamy, silky, approachable.
Finish: Bread, grain, sweet grass, pepper, lingering spice, big minerals, complex, silky, smooth.

Gold Medal

White Hjerte Vodka
(Laurel Canyon Spirits, CA)
Distilled from California corn.

Nose: Melon, sweet corn, vanilla, bread, almond, almond oil, peppermint, menthol, clean, crisp, icy.
Palate: Vanilla, almond, floral, a kiss of mint, coffee, nutty notes, pepper spice, peppery, smooth, silky, creamy.
Finish: Peach, creamy, lingering spice, light pepper, balanced, very smooth, vibrant.

Gold Medal

Phil Prichard’s Tennessee Springs Vodka
(Prichard’s Distillery, TN)
Distilled from grain.

Nose: Vanilla, heavy cream, sourdough bread, almond oil, light citrus, wet gravel, wet stone.
Palate: Cream, whipped cream, confectioners’ sugar, lemon cake, lemon zest, mint, cocoa, rye, white pepper, mineral salty, mineral, dusty, smoky, creamy mouthfeel, smooth.
Finish: White pepper, lingering spice, balanced, zesty, assertive, soft, smooth.

Gold Medal

Blue Shark Vodka
(NC)
Distilled from heirloom corn.

Nose: Light guava paste, lime notes, powdered sugar, pastry dough, white bread, a pinch of coffee, minerality, light sea breeze.
Palate: Vanilla, clotted cream, toffee, guava, banana, tropical fruit, honeysuckle, jasmine, grain, white peppercorn, pepper, crisp, creamy, great.
Finish: Cocoa, powdered sugar, spice, a good mixer, nice, livley, very smooth.

Gold Medal

Gentlemen’s Reserve Vodka
(Loveton Farms Distillery, MD)
Distilled from cane.

Nose: Pear, tropical fruit, subtle citrus, sweet grass, wheat, slightly vegetal, wet stone.
Palate: Vanilla, sweet cane, white sugar, papaya, pinch of citrus, almond oil, peppery, potato skin, dusty, crisp, fresh.
Finish: Powdered sugar, honey, light smoke, flavorful, delicate, approachable.

Gold Medal

Sweet Grass Vodka
(Rock Bottom Distillers, SC)
Distilled from potato.

Nose: Lemon verbena, citrus, cream, grain, potato skin, earth, wet stone, crisp air.
Palate: Vanilla, cream, powdered sugar, orange blossom honey, floral, flowery, soft citrus, herbal, grain, pepper, olive juice, brine, wet stone, dusty, clean, layers of flavors.
Finish: Light brown sugar, rosehip, black pepper, wood note, zesty, rich, creamy.

Gold Medal

West Branch Vodka
(West Branch Distilling, PA)
Distilled from corn & rye.

Nose: Toffee, nougat, powdered sugar, dried apricot, floral, cocoa, nutty, grassy, mossy, peppery.
Palate: Vanilla, cream, sweet dried apricots, lemon zest, citrus, mint, herbal, coffee, peppery, dusty, minerals, creamy mouthfeel, silky.
Finish: Vanilla cream, like a great coffee creamer, white pepper, jalapeño, spicy, nice, smooth, creamy, silky.

Gold Medal

Silver King Vodka
(Red River Brewing Co. & Distillery, NM)
Distilled from grain.

Nose: Cotton candy, dried ginger, lemony, citrus, cashew, pepper, mineral.
Palate: Vanilla, sugary, sweet bread, pastry dough, lemon, citrus, pinch of ginger, grain, peppercorn, spicy, creamy mouthfeel, crisp.
Finish: Overpowering spice, pepper, well balanced, vibrant, smooth, delicious.

Gold Medal

Towpath Vodka
(Piscazzi Family Spirits, OH)
Distilled from corn.

Nose: Anise, citrus, almond oil, potato skin, sea breeze.
Palate: Chocolate, cocoa powder, confectioners’ sugar, whipped cream, notes of dough, bread, nutty, grassy, white pepper, oily, smooth.
Finish: Lime, lemon rind, peppery, wet stone, smooth, unique, rich, vibrant, great for a martini.

Gold Medal

SILVER MEDAL WINNERS

Minuteman Vodka
(1350 Distilling, CO)
Distilled from sugar beets.

Nose: Whipped cream, pastry dough, deep cocoa, grain, rye, anise, melon, wet grass, mossy, wet stone.
Palate: Powdered sugar, herbal, mint, grassy, mossy, vegetal, coffee, cigar box, earth, dusty notes, oily, minerals, crisp.
Finish: Potato, mint, herbs, grassy, coffee, black pepper, smooth, crisp, fresh, vibrant.

Silver Medal

Plush Vodka
(FL)
Distilled from corn.

Nose: Cream, powdered sugar, lime, citrus, mint.
Palate: Vanilla, cream, powdered sugar, sweet syrup, cereal grains, rye, potato, hay, peppery, nicely balanced, creamy, approachable.
Finish: Whipped cream, straw, lingering pepper, dusty, clean, soft, easy to drink, intense, great.

Silver Medal

M&O Spirits Vodka
(OH)
Pot distilled from potatoes.

Nose: Lemon zest, fresh grass, grain, nutty, white peppercorn, pepper, slightly dusty, earth, minerality.
Palate: Pastry dough, lemon, citrus, almond oil, pepper, white pepper, spicy, mineral, wet stone.
Finish: Pepper, well balanced, complex, intense, smooth, creamy.

Silver Medal

YoCo Vodka
(Old Glory Distillery, TN)
Distilled from corn in Kentucky.

Nose: Apricot, banana, tropical fruit, Juicy Fruit gum, white bread grain, peppery, mineral, windy fields, fresh wood.
Palate: Cocoa, powdered sugar, lemon zest, floral, white bread, dried herb, spicy, very peppery, sweet fire, crisp, creamy.
Finish: Pastry dough, powdered sugar, spice, lingering pepper, sweet, soft, nice, easy drinking.

Silver Medal

Roofraiser Vodka
(Dented Brick Distillery, UT)
Distilled from red winter wheat & pumpernickel rye.

Nose: Custard cream, buttery, cotton candy, sweet cane sugar, papaya, almond, slightly briny.
Palate: Lemon, blueberry, almond marzipan, mint, grain, pepper, briny,wet stone, tart, zesty, clean, crisp, creamy.
Finish: Cocoa, nutty, spicy, black pepper, very peppery, mineral, nice.

Silver Medal

BRONZE MEDAL WINNER

Berthoud Blue Vodka
(KJ Wood Distillers, CO)
Distilled from blue corn.

Nose: Grape, floral, grassy, grain, cashew, potato, dried herbs, white peppercorn, red chili, earth, mineral.
Palate: Moss, herbal, dried herbs, peppery, black pepper, hot, fire, strong rum, very assertive, rich.
Finish: Juniper, peppery, fire, too much heat, assertive, powerful.

Bronze Medal