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Miami Herald
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Colorado whiskey named ‘America's greatest' at international spirits competition
A Colorado whiskey was crowned America's best at an international spirits competition, beating out hundreds of other liquors for the title. Talnua Distillery in Arvada was awarded the top whiskey accolade from the American Distilling Institute's 2025 International Spirits Competition, which announced its winners on Wednesday. Its Bourbon Cask & Stave Series Whiskey was awarded the highest marks in the category, earning the title of America's Greatest Whiskey 2025. Competition director Eric Zandona said 290 whiskeys were entered into this year's contest, though that number includes recipes from across the world. In all, 700 spirits were entered into the competition, which started in 2007. Judges evaluate flights of spirits based on their overall quality and taste, assigning each one a score from 0 to 100. Spirits that score 90 points or more earn a gold medal, and judges can award a double gold if they believe the liquor is exemplary in its style (i.e. bourbon, single malt, rye, etc.). Those that earn both gold and double gold medals get considered for the "best in class" honor. Only one gets crowned the greatest among its category (i.e. vodka, gin, whiskey, agave, etc.). Taluna's spirit rose above all other whiskeys, across all the different styles, that were made stateside. The distillery is unique in that it uses a pot still method, similar to many Irish whiskeys. That method requires the use of a copper pot still and a distinct mash bill, which is half malted barley and half unmalted barley. The unmalted barley plays prominently in the flavor profile of Talnua's various whiskeys, as well as its house-made gins. The Bourbon Cask & Stave Series Whiskey, specifically, is aged in former bourbon barrels for three years along with charred oak staves, giving it bright floral, new mown hay, and vanilla bean notes, according to the distillery's website. Patrick Miller, Talnua's founder and master distiller, said by email that introducing the staves creates complexity in the flavor beyond what a single cask can offer. "As a Colorado distillery rooted in tradition and driven by curiosity, it means a lot to be recognized among such respected peers. Honors like this don't come around often, especially for smaller teams like ours, and we're grateful," Miller added in his statement. Talnua also earned a gold medal for its American White Oak Cask Bottled in Bond whiskey, and a silver for its Old Saint's Keep whiskey released in 2025. But it wasn't the only local distiller to bring home awards. Stranahan's in Denver earned five medals total, including two double-gold, two gold and one silver; Pullman Distillery in Frisco brought home two bronze medals; Littleton's Rocker Spirits collected two silvers; and Salida Distillery garnered one silver and one bronze. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Forbes
15-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The Top Rum From The 2025 ADI International Spirits Competition
Refreshing, rum-based Tiki Drink Cocktails with Pineapple Cherry Orange Garnishes Each year, the American Distilling Institute hosts the ADI International Spirits Competition. This prestigious event recognizes excellence in craft spirits and is open to U.S. and international distilleries. Below is a brief background and tasting notes on the "Best of Class" and "Best of Category" American rum winners from the recently completed 2025 competition. Evolve Distilling is a craft distillery located in Claremont, California. Their Caribbean Dark Rum, made from molasses and cane sugar, is aged in a single maple syrup/bourbon barrel, which imparts unique flavors to the spirit. The rum features pronounced molasses and tropical fruit notes on the nose, complemented by maple syrup aromas. It's sweet, rich, and flavorful on the palate, exhibiting molasses, tropical fruits, and maple syrup flavors. The finish is long and sweet, with lingering tropical fruit and hard maple candy notes. Founded in 2013, Kuleana Rum Works, in Kohala, Hawaii, produces rums from estate-grown Hawaiian heirloom sugarcane, using handmade copper pot stills. The base material is a blend of fresh sugarcane juice and molasses. Huihui combines their Hawaiian Rum Agricole and exceptional Agricole Rhum from Martinique, creating a unique and flavorful spirit. Kuleana has been a perennial winner at international spirit competitions. The nose features a classic Agricole profile of green banana, green olives, green papaya, guava bread pudding, starfruit, and apple. The rum is silky and flavorful, exhibiting tropical fruit flavors and a subtle grassiness. The finish is long, sweet, and fruity, with lingering green peppercorn, pimento, and dill notes. Established in 2015, Lula Restaurant Distillery is a micro-distillery and restaurant in New Orleans. Their Lula Rum is crafted from locally sourced Louisiana raw cane sugar and molasses, fermented with purpose-bred yeast, and carefully distilled in a combination of copper pot and column stills to capture a fresh, fruity character. The rum features ripe banana, mango, and pineapple flavors, with a touch of candied chewing gum sweetness. It's fresh and fruity on the palate, with a smooth, creamy texture. The finish is long, sweet, and crisp with lingering tropical fruit notes—a perfect base for a classic Cuban Daiquiri. Dark and Stormy Rum Cocktail with Lime and Ginger Beer Swamp Fox Distilling, established in 2019, is South Carolina's only all-rum distillery. Their Pure Corruption Rum is made from Louisiana raw sugar and blackstrap molasses. It is distilled in a custom, handmade Alembic copper pot still and fermented with a proprietary Caribbean rum yeast. The rum is rich and bold, exhibiting pronounced molasses and caramel aromas. It's smooth and flavorful on the palate with a classic, Caribbean-style profile of tropical fruits, wood spices, caramel, brown sugar, and molasses. The finish is long and sweet with lingering dried fruit and spice notes. Founded in 2012, South Hollow Spirits is the first legal distillery on Cape Cod since Prohibition. Their Twenty Boat Reserve Rum is handcrafted from American organic sugar cane and molasses, distilled in a 250-gallon copper pot still from Vendome, steeped in locally sourced spices, and aged in Chardonnay-soaked barrels. The rum is rich and aromatic on the nose, featuring spice notes of cardamom, vanilla bean, cinnamon, rose hip, anise, and allspice with lemon and orange zest. It's bold and full-bodied on the palate, exhibiting assorted spices, seasoned oak, and candied citrus zest. The finish is long and smooth, with lingering spice and subtle fruit notes. StilL 630 is an award-winning craft distillery located in downtown St. Louis. Their Expedition Rum is a pot-distilled, Jamaican-style American rum with big molasses aromas and flavors. On the nose, the rum features powerful, sweet molasses aromas with oak hints and subtle tropical fruit notes. It exhibits a pronounced, rich molasses flavor with a clean finish highlighted by vanilla and seasoned oak notes. The finish is long, sweet, and smooth, with lingering notes of vanilla and oak. The American Distilling Institute (ADI) is a leading trade organization for craft and independent distillers in the United States. Founded in 2003, ADI supports the growth and success of small-scale distillers through education, advocacy, networking, and promotion of best practices in the industry. ADI's annual spirits competition often highlights up-and-coming brands, many of which have yet to establish national distribution. These craft distillers are not just producing rum; they are pushing the boundaries of traditional rum's aroma and taste, creating some of the most innovative and flavorful rums in America today. For the rum enthusiast, the ADI Competition offers a sneak peek at the exciting future of American rum.
Forbes
15-05-2025
- General
- Forbes
The Top Gin From The 2025 ADI International Spirits Competition
Gin Tonic with rosemary and cucumber American gin is among the most popular categories at the American Distilling Institute's International Spirits Competition. This prestigious event recognizes excellence in craft spirits and is open to U.S. and international distilleries. Below is a brief background and tasting notes on the "Best of Class" and "Best of Category." American Gins from the recently completed 2025 competition. Devil's Grin Texas Gin, a small-batch spirit that incorporates 14 botanicals sourced from Texas and around the world, is produced by Silver Star Spirits. Notably, it utilizes Texas mesquite beans, adding a unique local flavor that intrigues any gin enthusiast. The gin uses a step maceration process, where botanicals are added sequentially over several days to extract optimal flavors. The nose features prominent citrus notes, earthy, and spicy aromas. The palate expresses citrus and spice, with the mesquite bean imparting a subtle sweetness and complexity. The finish is smooth with a lingering hint of herbal and spice notes. Griffo Distillery, in Petaluma, California, produces Scott Street Gin, named after the street where the distillery resides. The gin is a modern take on the London Dry style, incorporating locally sourced Sonoma Meyer lemons, wild juniper, and organic botanicals. The nose is very aromatic, featuring floral, juniper, and citrus notes. The palate is fresh and flavorful, exhibiting Meyer lemon, coriander, and spice aromas. The finish is long with lingering citrus notes. Some of the key botanical ingredients for gin distillation. Produced by South Hollow Spirits, the first legal distillery on Cape Cod since Prohibition, Dry Line Barrel Reserve Gin is distilled from 100% sugar cane and infused with various botanicals, including local, organic angelica root. The gin is aged for a year in American and Hungarian oak wine barrels, imparting a depth and complexity that any gin enthusiast can appreciate. The nose features oak aromas with hints of juniper and spice. It's smooth and mellow on the palate, featuring juniper, citrus, and warm oak flavors. The finish is long, with lingering juniper, seasoned oak, and spice notes. Hush & Whisper Distilling Co., based in Bryan, Texas, prides itself on producing grain-to-glass spirits using locally sourced ingredients. Their Original Gin is crafted with a blend of botanicals, including juniper, coriander, cardamom, licorice root, and orange peel, resulting in a complex and aromatic profile. The gin is fruity and citrusy, with herbal and juniper aromas. The palate exhibits a candied sweetness with hints of tropical fruit and spice. The finish is long, with lingering juniper and citrus notes. Gervasi Vineyard, Pink Peppercorn Gin, 55% ABV, 750 ml. Gervasi Vineyard in Canton, Ohio, produces Pink Peppercorn Gin. It combines the floral expressions of pink and Szechuan peppercorns with coriander and lavender. This unique blend has earned it accolades; it's been a perennial winner at international spirit competitions, including Best of Class and a Double Gold Medal in the Flavored Gin category at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The gin is floral and spicy on the nose, featuring prominent peppercorn and lavender aromas. It's aromatic and complex on the palate, featuring nicely balanced sweet, floral, spicy notes. The finish is smooth and nuanced, with lingering, spicy, peppery warmth. The American Distilling Institute (ADI) is a leading trade organization for craft and independent distillers in the United States. Founded in 2003, ADI supports the growth and success of small-scale distillers through education, advocacy, networking, and promotion of best practices in the industry. ADI's annual spirits competition often highlights up-and-coming brands, many of which have yet to establish national distribution. For the gin connoisseur, the competition offers an excellent insight into what will likely be tomorrow's gin stars.
Forbes
14-05-2025
- General
- Forbes
America's Best Bourbon, According To The American Distilling Institute
Two Glass of bourbon on the rocks. Each year, the American Distilling Institute hosts the ADI International Spirits Competition. This prestigious event recognizes excellence in craft spirits and is open to both U.S. and international distilleries. Below is a brief background and tasting notes on the "Best of Class" and "Best of Category." Bourbon winners from the recently completed 2025 competition. The Cigar Blend Bourbon was the Best of Class Bourbon. The Cigar Blend is typically drawn from a 'Coupe Mere' consisting of 9-year-old MGP 36% rye bourbon, 16-year-old Kentucky rye bourbon, and 20-year-old MGP 36% rye bourbon. The blend is finished in Armagnac, Cognac, and Sherry casks for 4-12 months. On the nose, the bourbon is powerfully aromatic and robust. The Sherry cask influence is immediately noticeable with blueberry jam, fresh blackberry, fig, prune, and date aromas. There is a pronounced perfumed note of flavored pipe tobacco and floral potpourri, along with hints of rose petals, followed by creamy vanilla, caramel, and light, seasoned oak wood notes. The bourbon is creamy on the palate with an oily, viscous texture and a pronounced mouth weight, featuring flavors of blackberry jam, vanilla-laced laced-crème brûlée, caramel, candied orange zest, and milk chocolate notes. There are prominent wood spice notes of cinnamon, with a hint of clove and chili pepper. The finish is long and sweet, with lingering notes of dried fruit, fig jam, wood spices, and dried tobacco leaf herbal hints. The Murray Hill Club Bourbon, initially established in the 19th century, was revived in the 21st century to honor the legacy of its namesake. One of the company's original products, the bourbon blends 18-year-old and 11-year-old bourbon, with 9-year-old light whiskey. All three whiskeys were distilled at MGP. A 'light whiskey' refers to a spirit distilled at a higher proof than traditional whiskeys, typically between 80% and 95% ABV, and is aged in either used oak or uncharred new oak barrels. The higher distillation proof and aging process produce a lighter taste and color than bourbon. The bourbon is rich, fruity, and savory on the nose, exhibiting flavored pipe tobacco, raisins, caramel, toasted bread, black pepper, and honey notes. It's smooth, sweet, and syrupy on the palate, with the distinctive mouth weight that Joseph A. Magnus bourbon is known for. It features black pepper, stewed fruits, tobacco, caramel, vanilla, seasoned oak, and coffee flavors. The finish is long and sweet, though less intense than the Cigar blend expression, with lingering notes of caramel, milk chocolate, roux, and black pepper. Starlight Distillery is known for its farm-to-bottle approach, utilizing grains from their 700-acre farm in Borden, Indiana. The Carl T. Huber's Mizunara Reserve is a limited-release bourbon aged for 7 years in new charred American white oak barrels and finished in rare Mizunara oak casks from Hokkaido, Japan. The bourbon is a blend drawn from different mash bills: a 3-grain, 60% corn, 20% rye, and 20% malted barley, and a 4-grain, 51% corn, 20% rye, 20% malted barley, and 9% wheat. The nose is sweet, featuring vanilla, baking spices, caramel, and incense. The palate exhibits sandalwood and coconut, imparted by the Mizunara oak, caramel, vanilla, dried fruits, seasoned oak, and assorted wood spices. The finish is long, semi-sweet, and elegant, with lingering fruit and coconut notes. The American Distilling Institute (ADI) is a leading trade organization for craft and independent distillers in the United States. Founded in 2003, ADI supports the growth and success of small-scale distillers through education, advocacy, networking, and promotion of best practices in the industry. ADI's annual spirits competition often highlights up-and-coming brands, many of which have yet to establish national distribution. For the bourbon connoisseur, the competition offers an excellent insight into what will likely be tomorrow's American whiskey stars. See the ADI International Spirits competition website for a complete listing of this year's winners
