...and the
AWARD GOES TO...
We are pleased to publish the results of American Craft Distillers Association’s inaugural Judging Competition alongside a few words from this year’s Judging Commitee Co-Chairs, Dave Pickerell and Ted Huber. Congratulations to all the winners, and we eagerly look forward to what 2015’s competition will have to offer. — Artisan Spirit Magazine
BEST IN SHOW TED HUBER:
BALCONES CASK STRENGTH TRUE BLUE CORN WHISKEY BEST CLASS
The winners
should
feel
very
proud
to
receive
an
award
from
the
IN
WHISKEY
the quality lineup of judges and the overall integrity of the competition. The ACDA team that protocols were established, maintained,
and
followed
dozens. This year, there were a
SAN JUAN ISLAND DISTILLERY
off and running! The dates are
Apple Brandy
being established, judges are being secured, and some minor
GIN
CAPTIVE SPIRITS Bourbon Barreled Big Gin
adjustments are being made with the advisory board to ensure another successful competition.
want to miss.
MOONSHINE
BRANDY
Next year’s event is already
proud to be a part of and will not
In the beginning, there were only
a
couple
of
straight
whiskies entered; now, there are substantial number of entrants that compared favorably with anything the more established
competition.
that all artisan distillers will be
in craft spirits competitions.
BALCONES Cask Strength True Blue Corn Whiskey DARK CORNER DISTILLERY Moonshine
through from all aspects of the
This is sure to be a competition
impressed with the improvement year after year of the entrants
ACDA competition because of
works very diligently to ensure
DAVE PICKERELL: I have been
RUM
LOUISIANA SPIRITS DISTILLERY
For the full list of ACDA winners visit
Spiced Bayou Rum
and larger companies have to offer. Every judge was impressed with the quality of the spirits presented. I find that the entries give indication of the direction that the spirits market in the U.S. is headed, since the epicenter of innovation is found at the craft level. The explosion of entries in the gin and malt whiskey categories
was
of
particular
interest to me.
www.americancraftdistillers.org/craft-spirits-judging-results.html
10 WWW.ARTISANSPIRITMAG.COM