DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL AWARDS

Judson & Moore Rye Whiskey
(IL)  70% rye, 20% corn, 10% malt.  94° prf

Nose: Caramel, nougat, cocoa, cola, cherry, date cake, baked raisin bran, corn, apple, grapes, dried orange peel, ginger, spearmint, nutmeg, clove, grain, nutty, dry pine wood, subtle oak, cognac, richness.
Palate: Caramel, toffee, white chocolate, powdered sugar, honey, Fig Newton, dried fruit, dried apricot, distant banana, orange, ginger, almond, nutty, toast, cereal, coffee, clove, spice, old leather, wood bark, wine barrel, well balanced, rich, silky.
Finish: Molasses, demerara sugar, honey, dried fruit, fruit cake, malty, mint, cinnamon, spicy, black pepper, tobacco, well balanced, easy drinking, very pretty.

Double Gold Medal

Bespoken The Epic Spirits Rye Whiskey
(Bespoken Spirits, KY)  Finished with special oak stave blend.  114° prf

Nose: Caramel, taffy, molasses, vanilla, cookie dough, mocha, cola undertones, cherry, mint, nutty, cinnamon, white pepper, subtle black pepper, leather, wet stone, mineral, very subtle oak.
Palate: Toffee, dark sugar, maple, honey, dried apricots, apricot rugelach, cherry, dark cherry, cranberry, dried orange peel, grilled citrus, cereal, walnuts, nutty, cinnamon, clove, hint of black pepper, oaky.
Finish: Cocoa, plum, blackberry, minty, roasted chestnuts, spice dances on the tongue, pretty spice, wine cask, wood, cognac, lingering heat, lively, excellent, delicious.

Double Gold Medal

King's Family Distillery Ryeconic
Twice Barreled Straight Rye Whiskey
(IN / TN)  Aged at least 8 years.  105° prf

Nose: Caramel, toffee, molasses, milk chocolate, cocoa, nougat, honey, honeycomb, ginger cookie, dates, ripe fruit, apple, cinnamon, grain, toast, tobacco, oak barrel, oak, complex.
Palate: Toffee, milk chocolate, sugar cane, candied fruit, fruit cake, dark raisins, ripe banana, cherry, apple, walnuts, minty, clove, cinnamon, spicy, pepper, white pepper, tree sap, oak, complex.
Finish: Vanilla, lingering honey, clove, spicy, lingering pepper, earthy, lingering sweetness, rich.

Double Gold Medal

GOLD MEDAL AWARDS

BHAKTA 2013 Straight Rye Whiskey
Finished in Calvados casks
(Balthazar Rex, IN/VT)  107.6 ° prf

Nose: Dark chocolate, cocoa, brown sugar, vanilla, dried cherries, prunes, apricot, grape skins, candied ginger, herbal, soft rye, smoke, oak, well-worn oak, charred oak, red wine.
Palate: Dark chocolate, molasses, maple, honey, prunes, plum, green plums, concord grapes, apricot, Pennsylvania Amish apricot, ginger, sweet herbal, mint, grain, walnut, almond, clove, black pepper, wood, oak, nicely balanced, tasty.
Finish: Vanilla, lingering honey, dried lemon peel, lingering toasted almond, spice, black pepper, smooth, rich, powerful Manhattan cocktail.

Gold Medal

Ammunition Straight Rye Whiskey
Finished in Pinot Noir barrels
(Ammunition Distillery, KY)  90° prf.

Nose: Toffee, maple, prunes, dark raisins, red apple, sliced apple, unripe plum, subtle ginger, Cracklin’ Oat Bran, almond, walnut, clove, cinnamon, cardamom, tannins, soil, oak, powdery, funky, elegant.
Palate: Toffee, sugar cane, honey, pecan pie, cherry, black cherry, hint of prune juice, sweet mint, herbal, sandalwood, light cardamom, cinnamon Tic Tacs, nutmeg, white pepper, black pepper, peat, smoke, oak, nicely blended, very smooth, creamy, soft.
Finish: Honey, licorice, cinnamon, sweet spice, some heat, well integrated, well balanced, smooth, clean, pretty.

Gold Medal

Roaming Man Tennessee Straight Rye Whiskey
Cask Strength
(Sugarlands Distilling Co.,TN)  51% Rye, 4% malted barley,
45% Tennessee white corn. Aged 4-5 years.  109.2 ° prf

Nose: Rich toffee, cocoa, molasses, sugarcane, classic rye, walnut, clove, cinnamon, cinnamon stick, rosemary, tobacco, pleather, oak, wooden house, pinot wine barrel, deep sherry.
Palate: Vanilla, buttery, cocoa, brown sugar, honey, candied ginger, hint of mint, cashew, roasted filberts, clove, cinnamon, spicy, pepper, smoke, palo santo, oak, port wine, bold.
Finish: Dark rum cane sugar, minty, cashew, clove, spicy, toasty, oak, clay, balanced, original, round, layered flavors, bold, tasty, great finish.

Gold Medal

Mersey Craft Spirits Captains Cut First Voyage
Cask Strength Rye Whiskey
(FA Poole & Co. Distillers, AL)  Locally sourced rye.
Aged at least 5 years.  114.9 ° prf.

Nose: Caramel, toffee, brown sugar, maple, honeycomb, prune, plum, deep melon, corn, toast, clove, soft spice, saline, soil, wood, oak, funk.
Palate: Toffee, vanilla, honey, raisins, cherry, plum, apricot, mint, clove, nutmeg, pepper, mixed spices, integrated winter spices, wood, apple wood, oak, grainy mouthfeel, rich.
Finish: Caramel, toffee, dark chocolate, cocoa, lingering vanilla, mint, menthol, subtle pepper, spice, rich, robust.

Gold Medal

Jackson McCrea Rye Whiskey
(TN)  Aged 5 years. Rested in French oak and Syrah barrels.  90° prf

Nose: Toffee, brown sugar, apricot, ripe banana, orange peel, floral, roasted almonds, grains, mint, grassy, cinnamon, leather, cigar box, cedar, oak barrel, dark wood, rancio.
Palate: Vanilla, brown sugar, apricot, candied green apple, orange peel, citrus, ginger, jasmine, mint, grassy, rye toast, nutty, cinnamon, fresh clove, nutmeg, white pepper, spicy, leather, subtle smoke, oak, earthy, woody, antique oak.
Finish: Toffee, nougat, honey, dried fruit, orange peel, hint of ginger, lingering spice, tannic, touch of smoke, new oak barrel, great for an Old Fashioned, flavorful.

Gold Medal

King's Family Straight Rye Whiskey
(King's Family Distillery, IN/TN)  Aged 7 years.  90° prf

Nose: Caramel, toffee, brown sugar, honeyed cereal, toasted coconut, dried fruit, orange peel, herbs, grain, light rye, toasted almond, spiced nuts, nutmeg, subtle leather, musty, oak.
Palate: Cherry, red apple, dried apple, green apple, strawberry, ripe banana, apricot, honey, ginger, sweet rye, cereal, grain, cinnamon, hint of mint, orange spice, old worn leather, wood, oak, sherry, silky, classic.
Finish: Toffee, cocoa, dried cocoa, honey, dried orange, orange, lime, mint, baking spices, oak, buttery, nice port finish.

Gold Medal

Uncle Nearest Straight Rye Whiskey
(Nearest Green Distillery, TN)  100% Canadian rye mash bill.  100° prf

Nose: Caramel, toffee, vanilla, honey, orchard fruit, sour apple, honey Graham cracker, ginger, leaves, nutmeg, clove, spicy, pepper, cedar, earth.
Palate: Chocolate, vanilla, buttery, honey, peach, pear, floral, eucalyptus, rye, bread, grain, spice, pepper, smoke, amaro.
Finish: White chocolate, surprisingly fruity, floral, spicy, peppery, woody, nice, Manhattan cocktail, classic style.

Gold Medal

Hudson Whiskey NY Do The Rye Thing
Straight Rye Whiskey
(Tuthilltown Spirits Distillery, NY)  Aged min. 3 years.  82° prf

Nose: Nougat, dried fruit, cake, pastry dough, almond, rye flour, rye, toast, herbs, pepper, leather, wet wood, woody, rich.
Palate: Demerara, raisins, dried banana, green apple, lemon, citrus, ginger, cereal, biscuit, wheat, rye grain, rye, allspice, spicy, black pepper, moss, seaweed, earthy, oak, well balanced, creamy.
Finish: Rye bread, lemon, citrus, mint, cinnamon, clove, peppery, leather, nice, savory.

Gold Medal

SILVER MEDAL AWARDS

Dented Brick Distillery Premium Straight Rye Whiskey
(UT)  100% Rye. Aged minimum 2 years.  90° prf

Nose: Honey, Graham cracker, dried pear, faint strawberry, green apple, floral notes, herbal, mint, spearmint, juniper, rye, grain, cinnamon, tannin, leather, oak, old wood, great nose.
Palate: Cocoa, vanilla, sugarcane, ripe banana, herbs, walnuts, pine nuts, sage, nutmeg, spicy, black pepper, tobacco, smoke, wood, cedar, oak, well balanced, creamy mouthfeel.
Finish: Lingering intense cocoa, lingering Mexican hot chocolate, buttery, honey, cereal notes, lemongrass, eucalyptus, spicy, cigar box, nice, smooth.

Silver Medal

Uncle Nearest Uncut/Unfiltered Straight Rye Whiskey
(Nearest Green Distillery, TN)  100% rye. Aged in used Uncle Nearest barrels.
121° prf

Nose: Caramel, butterscotch, dark chocolate, praline, butter, crème brûlée, vanilla, brown sugar, candied fruit, oats, sweet grains, nutmeg, tree bark, oak, funk.
Palate: Dark chocolate, buttery, vanilla, raisin, cooked apples, hard cider, herbal, minty, almond, salty peanuts, rye, rye toast, oak, rich.
Finish: Cherry, Graham cracker, clove, spice, white pepper, peppery, burnt wood, complex, balanced.

Silver Medal

High Peaks Landrace Empire Straight Rye Whiskey
(Lake George, NY)  Aged min. 4 yrs., 8 months.  84° prf

Nose: Toffee, rye flour, rye, cinnamon, allspice, spice, buttery, oak.
Palate: Toffee, brown sugar, dark cherry, apricot, citrus peel, elderflower, mint, oats, rye toast, nutty, cinnamon, leather, buttery, oak, birch wood, zesty.
Finish: Pear, blossom, cinnamon, clove, spices, layered, well balanced, soft, mellow, easy drinking, great finish.

Silver Medal

Brother's Bond American Blended Rye Whiskey
(Brother's Bond Distilling Co., IN/OH)  Four-grain with 77% Rye.
Aged min. 4 yrs.  95° prf

Nose: Dark chocolate, cocoa, nougat, vanilla, cereal milk, honey, fermented fruit, lemon, lightly toasted bread, rye flour, oak barrel, oak, light sherry.
Palate: Caramel, salted caramel, vanilla, honey, honeycomb, deep cooked dry fruit, dried dark fruit, prunes, dried apricot, cherry, mint, orange spice, clove, spice, pepper, nuts, earthy, oak barrel, smooth.
Finish: Toffee, cocoa, nougat, mint, high rye, black pepper, smooth, no bite, powerful Manhattan, rich.

Silver Medal

Uncle Nearest Single Barrel Rye Whiskey
(Nearest Green Distillery, TN)  Aged min. 4 yrs. in new American oak.
122° prf

Nose: Caramel, butterscotch, dark chocolate, praline, butter, crème brûlée, vanilla, brown sugar, candied fruit, oats, sweet grains, nutmeg, tree bark, oak, funk.
Palate: Dark chocolate, buttery, vanilla, raisin, cooked apples, hard cider, herbal, minty, almond, salty peanuts, rye, rye toast, oak, rich.
Finish: Cherry, Graham cracker, clove, spice, white pepper, peppery, burnt wood, complex, balanced.

Silver Medal