Three Twin Cities distilleries win medals at American Craft Spirits Competition
One of the top honors at the 11th Annual American Craft Spirits Competition has been bestowed on a Minnesota distillery.
Du Nord Social Spirits' flagship Foundation Vodka was awarded a Gold Medal and the association's Best in Class designation for vodka. Its Pronounced Apple Liquor also earned a Gold Medal in the Distilled Specialty Spirits category.
"Foundation Vodka represents everything we stand for—quality, craftsmanship, and community," says Du Nord CEO Chris Montana. "Distilled six times, it's one of the purest vodkas you can find, and to have it recognized as Best in Class is an incredible honor."
However, Du Nord, which recently opened a restaurant and cocktail room on Lake Street in Minneapolis, wasn't the only Minnesota distillery that took home medals for distilling prowess. Brother Justus Whiskey Co. grabbed three medals, including a gold for its American Single Malt Silver Whiskey. Among its other accolades was a silver for the distinctive Cold-Peated American Single Malt, which uses the distillery's in-house-developed cold peating process.
St. Paul-based King Coil Spirits also earned two medals, a silver for its Trentaerbe Herbal Liqueur and a bronze for its gin.
Each of the entrants was evaluated by a panel of expert judges who scored the drinks on their appearance, aroma, complexity, body, texture, and other attributes that contribute to making a drink a shining example of its form.
Here's a look at the bottles born in Minnesota that came back from the Arizona ceremony with a medal.
Gold Medals
Brother Justus Whiskey Co.: American Single Malt Silver Whiskey
Du Nord Social Spirits: Foundation Vodka
Du Nord Social Spirits: Pronounced Apple Liqueur
Silver Medals
Brother Justus Whiskey Co.: Cold-Peated American Single Malt Whiskey
Du Nord Social Spirits: Cafe Frieda Coffee Liqueur
King Coil Spirits: Trentaerbe Herbal Liqueur
Bronze Medals
Brother Justus Whiskey Co: American Single Malt Whiskey
Du Nord Social Spirits: Prominence Gin
Du Nord Social Spirits: Prominence Barreled Gin
Du Nord Social Spirits: Mixed Blood Whiskey
King Coil Spirits: Dry Gin
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