DOUBLE-GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

Atlanta Vodka
(Atlanta Distillery, GA)
Distilled from apples.

Nose: Butterscotch candy, Oreo filling, cream, pastry dough, bread, honey, apple, cider, fermenting fruit, potato peel, vegetal, herbal, delicate.
Palate: Butterscotch candy, toffee, buttery, chocolate, cocoa nibs, vanilla, cane sugar, mixed fruits, citrus, citrus oils, anise, ripe grass, pink peppercorn, wet stone, slate, creamy mouthfeel, round, crisp, vibrant, would make a great martini, lovely.
Finish: Cocoa, covered strawberries, wheat, grain, mint, peppery, balanced, super smooth, intense, lively, flavorful, tasty, easy drinking.

Double Gold Medal

Yacht Life Vodka
(Sun Coast Loaded Cannon Distilled Spirits, FL)
Distilled from wheat.

Nose: Vanilla, pronounced cream, caramel, pastry dough, grain, wet grain, banana, Meyer lemon, fresh juniper, vegetal, herbal, mossy, minerals, earthy, funky, wood barrel.
Palate: Melon, apple, lemony, lemon zest, banana, cereal grains, Cheerios, popcorn, roasted cashews, potato skin, anise, grassy, moss, herbal, almond oil, black pepper, mineral, stone, Calvados flavor, whiskey-like, well balanced, smooth, clean, crisp, rich, tasty.
Finish: Apple, lemon lingers, citrus, tropical fruit, herbal, grassy, subtle spice, peppery, black pepper, smooth, clean, crisp, vibrant for a martini, stays rich, flavorful, tasty.

Double Gold Medal

The Calistoga Depot 1868 Vodka
(The Calistoga Depot Distillery 1868, CA)
Distilled from grain.

Nose: Vanilla, cocoa, sweet corn, grain, pastry dough, bread, agave notes, cactus, light lemon, coffee, coffee grinds, earthy, mineral, wet stone, slight funk.
Palate: Vanilla, cocoa, cocoa nibs, powdered sugar, sweet pastry, bread, lemon/lime, citrus, mint, peppery, earthy, mineral, creamy mouthfeel, silky.
Finish: Lemony, citrus lingers, a bit of mint, lingering pastry dough, pink peppercorn, pepper, balanced, complex flavors, flavorful, tasty, smooth, clean, rich, fun.

Double Gold Medal

Mutiny Island Vodka
(Sion Farm Distillery, St. Croix, USVI)
Distilled from breadfruit.

Nose: Cookie dough, pastry dough, bread, grain, vanilla, faint anise, almond, white peppercorn, subtle black pepper, clean.
Palate: Vanilla, toffee, cocoa, Confectioners’ sugar, baking cookies, dough, pastry dough, pizza dough, bread, potato, French fries, carrot, vegetal, almond oil, white pepper, multiple hot peppers, mineral, balanced, rich, creamy, vibrant, tasty.
Finish: Powdered sugar, rye, pepper, white pepper, mineral, viscous, clean, soft, very approachable, lively.

Double Gold Medal

GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

OVO Vodka
(FL)
Distilled from corn.

Nose: Bread, almond, nutty, anise, citrus notes, peppery, musty, light mineral, clean, crisp.
Palate: Vanilla, Confectioners’ sugar, lemon cream, lemon verbena, mint, ouzo, potato skins, light carrot, cocoa, coffee, white peppercorn, mossy, wet stone, wood barrel, nicely blended flavors, clean, delicate, round, creamy, vibrant.
Finish: Grain, subtle mint, lingering black pepper, dusty, bottled spring water, clean, smooth, mellow, creamy, zesty, intriguing, great.

Gold Medal

Knee-High Vodka
80 Proof
(Knee-High Distilling, IA)
Distilled from corn.

Nose: Melon, subtle mint, Confectioners’ sugar, pastry, bread crust, coconut husk, faint licorice, cigar box.
Palate: Vanilla, Confectioners’ sugar, powdered sugar, fermented fruit, rye, marbled rye, bread, grain, mossy, grassy, complex, balanced, layers of flavor, smooth, creamy, rich, silky.
Finish: Melon, mint, powdered sugar, almond oil, white peppercorn, bright to soft progression, creamy, tasty, a vodka for the fall, would make a fun cocktail.

Gold Medal

YoCo Vodka
(KY/TN)
Distilled from corn.

Nose: Sweet corn, breakfast cereal, grain, sweet anise up front, grassy note, tobacco, mineral, wet stone, fresh linen, clean.
Palate: Creamy sweet corn, light vanilla, rich grain, bread, potato, lemon zest, citrus, floral petals, herbal, almond oil, slightly spicy, ultrasmooth throughout, clean, delicate, creamy, tasty, classic.
Finish: Pastry dough, powdered sugar, rye notes, slightly peppery, earth, stone, clean, soft, tasty, easy drinking.

Gold Medal

High Rock Vodka
(Sugarlands Distilling Co., TN)
Distilled from corn.

Nose: Lemon, citrus, grain, pastry, subtle anise, distant nuts, wet stones, a hint of magnesium, mineral, lake water, pond, soft, rich.
Palate: Dark cherry, cocoa, vanilla, dough, bread, rye, anise, white peppercorn, pepper bite, intense minerals, red slate, magnesium, creamy mouthfeel, soft flavors, clean, mellow.
Finish: Birthday cake, black pepper, spices, sweetness, long mineral finish, persistent heat, zesty, nice, rich, tasty.

Gold Medal

Blue Shark Vodka
(NC)
Distilled from grain.

Nose: Dough, pastry flakes, light corn, subtle citrus, herbaceous, mossy, black pepper, mineral, fresh water, clean, neutral.
Palate: Vanilla, lime skin, dried lime skin, anise, grassy, nuts, white pepper, black pepper, mineral stones, mineral, well balanced, bright, very subtle, soft, creamy.
Finish: Vanilla, cream, cocoa note, Confectioners’ sugar, dried lime skin, lemon lingers, lightly grassy, hibiscus, peppery, limestone, mineral, fresh, soft, vibrant, zesty, elegant, great.

Gold Medal

Cylinder Ultra-Premium Vodka
(The Corebev Group, CT)
Distilled from corn. Gluten free.

Nose: Vanilla, cocoa, wheat, grain, herbal, juniper, potato, wet potato, coffee, clay, mineral, stone, wet stone, clean laundry.
Palate: Vanilla, lemon peel, lemon zest, green plantain, mint, grain, coffee, peppery, spicy, mineral, creamy mouthfeel, mellow start, bold, intense, clean, crisp.
Finish: Corn, citrus, coffee notes, gentle spice, toasty, mineral, limestone, some sweetness, clean, bright, bold, intense, rich.

Gold Medal

SILVER MEDAL WINNERS

Vanishing Vodka
(Weiss Distilling, MI)
Distilled from grain.

Nose: Crème brûlée, wild flowers, rye, grain, faint anise, grassy, forest greens, mineral oil, minerals, rainstorm, crisp.
Palate: Vanilla cream, dough, cherry, berries, lemon, anise, vegetal, mint, herbal, rye, seeds, nuts, coffee, minerals, white peppercorn, white pepper, light mineral, rich, creamy.
Finish: Fruit cornucopia, fruit punch, lingering lemon, grassy, spice, white peppercorn, white pepper, powdery, evens out, clean, soft, rich, elegant.

Silver Medal

Herbesco Smooth Vodka
(MA)
Distilled from grain.

Nose: Melon rind, light papaya, green peppers, potato skin, vegetal, dough, puff pastry, fauna, earth, dusty, minerals, clean.
Palate: Melon, cantaloupe, crenshaw melon, lemon, lemon zest, citrus, berry, cotton candy, potato, corn, peppery, earthiness, mineral, creamy mouthfeel, complex, assertive, tasty.
Finish: Melon, lingering lemon, citrus, spice rack, oregano, peppery, mushroomy, earth, touch of smoke, heat, complex, nice, smooth, clean, crisp, zesty, tasty.

Silver Medal

Knee-High Vodka
100 Proof
(Knee-High Distilling, IA)
Distilled from corn.

Nose: Toffee, honeydew, pastry dough, bread, potato skin, rye, flowery, light anise, white pepper, laundry hanging outside, garden after rainfall, clean, crisp, lively.
Palate: Vanilla, whipped cream, pastry dough, herbal bread, rye, grain, almond, nutty, light lemon note, pepper, spicy, mineral, dusty, slate, clean, high proof.
Finish: Fruity, some citrus, Amarula-like, nutty, peppery, lingering black pepper, minerals, creamy, smooth, high proof, assertive, balanced heat, bite on finish, great for cocktails.

Silver Medal

Chakra Vodka
(Carefree Spirits Distillery, AZ)
Distilled from grain.

Nose: Vanilla, dough, bread, grain, root vegetable, coffee, mineral, stone, clean.
Palate: Vanilla, sweet cane, sweet grain, bread, strong cocoa note, carrot, olives, white peppercorn, minerals, dusty, balanced, soft, creamy, mixable, easy to drink.
Finish: Vanilla ice cream, vanilla, whipped cream, cane sugar, touch of citrus, coffee notes, white pepper, peppery, saline, minerals, stone, wet stone, smooth.

Silver Medal

Wild Leap Vodka
(GA)
Distilled from yellow corn.

Nose: Grain, powdered sugar, woody, clean sheets, crisp, mild, delicate.
Palate: Vanilla, dough, Confectioners’ sugar, lemon cream, applesauce, anise, peach pit, white pepper, light peppercorn, pine, cedar notes, subtle with a bang, soft, super smooth, creamy, savory.
Finish: Cocoa, lingering powdered sugar, citrus echoes, grassy, white peppercorn, peppery, mineral, wet stone, fresh, nice, creamy, good for a chocolate martini.

Silver Medal