Latest Buzz in the World of Mead, Volume 02, Issue 10

Step into the fascinating world of mead with the Latest Buzz! We're thrilled to introduce a brand-new segment to Bourbon and Mead called "Five in 5." In this exciting feature, we'll be chatting with top leaders from the world of bourbon and mead, asking them five quirky questions, and sharing their quick and entertaining responses with you.

Our inaugural "Five in 5'' guest is none other than Matt Loch, the talented meadmaker hailing from The Skeptic Meadery in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. Before we get to the questions, we'd like to congratulate Matt and The Skeptic Meadery on winning two bronze medals at the 2023 Orpheus Meadfest! Now, let's dive right into his intriguing answers!

Outside of your own product(s), what is in your glass when you unwind for the day?
Nothing beats a well-done Belgian triple.

If you could sit down with one person (past or present) to discuss your business, compare notes, get advice or inspiration, etc., who would it be?
Fritz Maytag

You’re at work, taking a break and you’re dancing like no one’s watching. What song is playing?
I'm a sucker for showtunes - particularly 'Little Shop of Horrors'.

Favorite flavor of ice cream or frozen treat?
A nice waffle cone of Horchata ice cream from Sips Cafe.

Star Trek, Star Wars, or neither?
Star Trek

And that concludes our inaugural edition of "Five in 5." We would like to thank Matt Loch for playing along. If you're ever in Middle Tennessee, make sure to swing by The Skeptic Meadery in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. Tell them we sent you. Be sure to look for more intriguing "interviews" with industry leaders in the world of bourbon and mead. Now, let's see what's buzzing in the world of mead.

We would like to begin by extending our heartfelt congratulations to all the medal winners of the 2023 Orpheus Meadfest, which were announced on July 22. While we would love to list every winner, it would be a lengthy post given the impressive number of entries. The Commercial Division had 87 entries across 18 medal groups, and the Homebrew Division had 96 judged entries across 20 medal groups. Instead, we will focus on the Best of Show and Heavy Medal categories.

The Best of Show category is self-explanatory, recognizing the overall best mead. On the other hand, the Heavy Medal category awards points for each medal received, and entrants are ranked based on their total points. Gold medals appear to be worth three points, silver medals two points, and bronze medals one point, though we cannot be certain of this.

Now, let's delve into the notable winners:

In the Homebrew Division, Nathan Steignam, representing the Minnesota Home Brewers Association from Edina, Minnesota, won Best of Show for his historical mead, Slocki Lis. An honorable mention for Best of Show went to Matthew Mead of Huntington Woods, Michigan's Michigan Mead Coalition for his creation, Ode to Eliot B3. Impressively, Nathan Steignam secured first place in the Heavy Medal - Brewer category with a remarkable 18 points, earning nine medals in total (including a Best of Show Gold, two Gold, three Silver, and three Bronze medals). Additionally, the Heavy Medal - Club category was dominated by the Minnesota Home Brewers Association, securing 18 points, largely thanks to Nathan Steignam's achievements.

Turning our attention to the Commercial Division, Antelope Ridge Mead, in collaboration with Co-brewer Cogstone, was awarded Best of Show Gold for their outstanding Braggot. The Heavy Medal - Brewer category resulted in a tie, with both Antelope Ridge Mead and Run Amok Mead earning 16 points and receiving gold. Antelope Ridge Mead's points were accumulated from Best of Show Gold, Gold, two Silver, and three Bronze medals, while Run Amok Mead secured two Gold, four Silver, and two Bronze medals. Hunters Moon Meadery secured the third position with 14 points, earned through three Gold, two Silver, and one Bronze medal.

Once again, we extend our congratulations to all the award winners, and we commend every participant for their fantastic contributions to the 2023 Orpheus Meadfest. Well done!

There are several festivals, tastings, and faires scheduled around the country in the coming weeks. Getting us started, Village of Lancaster, New York's Lilly Belle Meads is hosting the Renaissance Street Faire for the second year in a row on Saturday, August 5, 2023. Coinciding with International Mead Day, the event will feature mead, live music, local craft beer, axe throwing, street performers, and various vendors. The family-friendly festival aims to revitalize the Village of Lancaster and offers activities like live music, interactive games, performances, a backyard BBQ competition, and a Renaissance costume contest. Food trucks will serve a variety of treats, including turkey legs, and the event will take place on West Main St., which will be closed to vehicles, and will also extend to Cayuga Creek Park. More updates can be found on the Lilly Belle Meads website.

TASTE Leesburg is a lively event taking place in downtown Leesburg on August 12. It features food vendors, breweries, wineries, artisans, and entertainment spread across five blocks of the historic area. Attendees can savor the flavors of Leesburg through over 65 booths offering a variety of local cuisine. Local restaurants, food trucks, and vendors will have menu options for purchase, and breweries and wineries will provide beer, wine, cider, and mead samples. Saga Meadery is listed as a vendor with more vendors expected to be added. Early Bird Drink Tickets are available for $45 online, including a souvenir glass and unlimited tastings. Ticket prices will rise to $55 on the event day. Live music and an interactive DJ will add to the festivities on the Center Stage and the Sip & Savor Stage, respectively. It's an opportunity to enjoy the culinary delights and beverages of Leesburg's vibrant community.

SIP San Diego's 5th annual Sip The City Festival will be held on August 12th at Escondido City Hall. Attendees can enjoy unlimited tastings from 14 members of SIP San Diego, including wineries, meaderies, and cideries, for $79 per person. Meaderies participating include Golden Coast Mead, Lost Cause Meadery, and Raging Cider & Mead. The event will also feature live music, light bites from California Poppy, and local vendors. Proceeds from ticket sales support SIP San Diego's mission to promote locally-crafted wine, mead, and cider, fostering a collaborative community for skilled artisans. Tickets are available for purchase now.

Our final festival is one that's already passed but we still wanted to recognize. The Orcas Island Cider & Mead Festival made a triumphant return to the Village Green in Eastsound on July 15 after a three-year hiatus during the pandemic. The event, attended by over 300 cider and mead enthusiasts, aimed to support the Orcas Senior Center (OSC) and its efforts to continue and expand community and social service work. The festival showcased beverages from 13 producers across the Pacific Northwest, allowing patrons to taste and purchase their favorites. Hierophant Meadery and Seattle Mead Company were among the vendors participating. Alongside the Saturday Farmers Market, the festival featured four bands providing music and entertainment. OSC expressed gratitude to the community and volunteers for making the event a success and encourages further support and donations for its endeavors.

For our mead enthusiasts down south, we have some exciting expansion news. Jeremy Pate, the brewmaster of Folklore Brewery and Meadery, has opened a second location in Enterprise, Alabama. The new store, located at Westgate Shopping Center, offers locally brewed beer and aims to be a family-friendly place. The Enterprise store will soon be fully operational and plans to serve beer pretzels, beer cheese, cooked wings, and nonalcoholic products, including a malt soda. One of their specialty beers, "Cotton Tale Ale," is dedicated to Enterprise and the Wiregrass area, honoring the region's history of overcoming adversity. Folklore Brewery and Meadery's name pays homage to Alabama legends, and Jeremy Pate's journey as a brewmaster started as a hobby in 1997, eventually leading to the establishment of the first Folklore location in Dothan on his family farm. The Dothan brewery has since expanded significantly. The new Enterprise location is viewed as a testing ground, and there are plans to continue expanding and looking for potential partners in other locations.

And last but not least, for our friends in the Hoosier State, Tom and Candy Cupka, owners of Cupka's Bee Good Meadery, have been granted approval by the Auburn Board of Zoning Appeals to open a boutique tasting room on their property at 819 N. Indiana Ave in Auburn, Indiana. The tasting room will be used for private tastings. The Cupkas have bigger plans to open a larger tasting room in downtown Auburn next to Mad Anthony's Auburn Tap Room, showcasing products made with local honey and featuring an artisan's area. They are targeting an opening in February pending state approval for the downtown meadery. Cupka's Bee Good Meadery specializes in making meads from quality honey sourced from local producers. The Cupkas have been brewing since 2016.

In conclusion, the world of mead is currently experiencing an unprecedented surge in popularity and innovation, captivating enthusiasts and newcomers alike. From ancient traditions to modern twists, meaderies worldwide are pushing the boundaries of flavor, craftsmanship, and sustainability. As this delightful elixir continues to carve its niche in the beverage industry, one thing remains certain: the Latest Buzz in the World of Mead shows no signs of slowing down. So, whether you're an avid mead connoisseur or eager to embark on a new taste adventure, there has never been a better time to raise a glass and savor the enchanting journey of this timeless libation. Cheers to the rich history and promising future of mead!

Latest Buzz in the World of Mead, Volume 02, Issue 06

The world of mead is buzzing with excitement as new meaderies bring fresh life to this ancient beverage. From Maniacal Mead Co. in Ypsilanti, Michigan, offering a diverse selection of 19 meads with some aged in bourbon barrels, to Honeytree Meadery in East Nashville, sourcing honey from their apiary to create unique flavors, these establishments are re-imagining and revitalizing the world of mead. Meanwhile, we take a step back in time to explore the drinking customs of the Vikings, where mead and beer played significant roles in their social and cultural traditions. And finally, we celebrate the winners of the 2023 National Homebrew Competition, where homebrewers showcased their brewing excellence in categories such as beer, mead, and cider. Join us as we dive into the latest Buzz in the World of Mead.

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Meadery Brings New Life To Old School Beverage

Photo: Maniacal Mead website

Maniacal Mead Co., led by CEO Jeff Fraser and CFO Patrick Echlin, is a Ypsilanti-based company offering 19 meads. The production process takes six months to a year, with some aged in bourbon barrels. During their appearance on "Live In The D," Echlin and Fraser showcased three meads: traditional, cyser, and fruity aged in bourbon barrels with a hint of vanilla. The company's tasting room is located at 1497 Ecorse Road in Ypsalanti, MI. For the full article and video, click HERE.

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Sip Mead From An East Nashville Apiary

Photo: Honeytree Meadery website

Recently featured on Atlas Obscura, Honeytree Meadery opened in Nashville in 2019. Founded by Ross Welbon and Dru Sousan, the Nashville-based establishment offers a variety of meads made from honey sourced from their apiary. The meads come in various flavors, including wildflower, orange blossom, ginger, pineapple, and sage. For the full article, click HERE. 

 

On a personal note, I've been to Honeytree numerous times and it's one of those must-visit places. Plus they still owe me a "get well" bottle from my (unrelated) hospital stay.

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What Did Vikings Drink?

Vikings valued drinking as a central role in Viking society, serving social, cultural, and religious purposes. Mead, a fermented honey beverage, was highly valued and played a central role in Viking feasts and celebrations. Beer and ale were popular among Vikings, serving as unifying drinks and fostering merriment and celebration. Drinking provided insights into the vibrant Viking way of life. For the full article, click HERE.

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National Homebrew Competition 2023 Winners Announced

The American Homebrewers Association (AHA) recently announced the winners of the 2023 National Homebrew Competition (NHC) during the annual Homebrew Con conference in San Diego. The competition recognizes the best homemade beer, mead, and cider, with a total of 120 medals awarded across 40 categories. In addition to the category medals, six major awards were presented to individuals who displayed exceptional brewing excellence. The NHC is a significant event in the homebrewing community, celebrating the skill and creativity of homebrewers nationwide.

James Werner from New Berlin, WI, a member of the Beer Barons of Milwaukee, has received the prestigious Meadmaker of the Year Award. This award, sponsored by Redstone Meadery, recognizes the top mead judged from all the gold medal winners in the mead categories.

In the category of Traditional Mead with 33 entries, the first place went to Steve Fletty from Falcon Heights, MN, representing the Saint Paul Homebrewers Club. Michael Wilcox from Wichita, KS, representing the Kansas City Bier Meisters, secured second place, while Shane & Susan Kammerer from Shawnee, KS, also from the Kansas City Bier Meisters, took third place.

Moving on to the Cyser & Pyment category with 34 entries, John Pagano from Carpinteria, CA claimed the top spot, followed by Ashley Earle from Concord, CA, representing the Diablo Order of Zymiracle Enthusiasts (DOZE), in the second place.

In the Fruit Mead category with 58 entries, Shane & Susan Kammerer from Shawnee, KS emerged victorious once again, with Steve Fletty from Falcon Heights, MN, and Bill Boyer from Kennesaw, GA, representing the Saint Paul Homebrewers Club and the North Georgia Malt Monkeys respectively, securing the second and third places.

Travis Hammond from Santee, CA, representing QUAFF, won first place in the Spice Mead category with 49 entries, while Matthew Mead from Grand Rapids, MI, representing the Michigan Mead Coalition, and John Aitchison from Northridge, CA, from the Maltose Falcons, took the second and third places respectively.

Finally, in the Specialty Mead category with 46 entries, Todd Donnelly from Chardon, OH, representing the Society of Northeast Ohio Brewers, came out on top, followed by Steve Fletty from Falcon Heights, MN, representing the Saint Paul Homebrewers Club, in second place, and LaVaughn & Yakima Barker from Brookfield, WI, securing the third place.

Congratulations to all the winners. A full list of all category winners can be found HERE.

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As the world of mead continues to evolve and captivate enthusiasts, it's clear that this ancient beverage has found a place of prominence in modern times. With innovative meaderies pushing boundaries and crafting unique flavors, and the rich history of mead and its cultural significance, there's no doubt that the popularity of this delightful elixir will continue to grow. Whether you're a fan of traditional mead, experimental flavors, or exploring the mead-drinking customs of the Vikings, there's always something new and exciting happening in the world of mead. So raise a glass and toast to the timeless allure of this remarkable beverage. Cheers to the latest buzz in the world of mead!

Latest Buzz in the World of Mead, Volume 02, Issue 01

What's buzzin', cousin? In the first issue of the new year, we are talking the latest buzz on Superstition Meadery, Black Heath Meadery and Silver Hand Meadery at Virginia Governor's Cup®, Meadiocrity Mead, Pye Road Meadworks, Mānoa Honey and Mead, Starrlight Mead, and Obscurity Brewing. Let's dig in.

 Superstition Meadery Introduces New Mini Club

Courtesy of Superstition Meadery

The Superstition Meadery Mini Club ships three bottles of mead or cider to your door every month. Club Members receive free shipping and packaging on their club releases and any extra bottles they add to their shipment, and they also get 20% off on those additional bottles! If you're a Guild Member, even better, because you receive an additional 10% off on your Club shipments! You can read all about the Mini Club and their other clubs HERE.

Virginia Wineries Association Announces Virginia Governor's Cup® Gold Medalists

Courtesy of Virginia Governor's Cup®

The 2023 Virginia Governor's Cup® Competition is a record-breaking year with a total of 614 entries from 66 wineries across the state. Out of these entries, 142 gold medals were awarded to the wineries, which is a testament to the high quality of the wines being produced in Virginia. The competition has a reputation for being one of the most stringent in the nation, with a panel of judges led by Master of Wine Jay Youmans, who rigorously blind taste the entries. To receive a gold medal, a wine must score an average of 90 points or higher on a 100-point scale, emphasizing the high standards set by the competition.

The 41st year of the competition highlights the continued growth and excellence of the Virginia Wine industry, which has seen a significant increase over the years. The high number of entries and gold medals awarded demonstrate the dedication and hard work of the winemakers in the Commonwealth, and the competition serves as a platform for them to showcase their best products and receive recognition for their achievements.

In conclusion, the Virginia Governor's Cup® Competition is a must-attend event for both wine enthusiasts and the industry, as it provides a platform to discover the latest and greatest products from the state and recognizes the achievements of the winemakers with its strict standards and rigorous blind tastings. Black Heath Meadery and Silver Hand Meadery were among the meaderies who medaled. For a full list of gold medalists, visit: www.virginiawine.org/governors-cup/awards.

Meadiocrity Announces Valentine's Day Double Mead Release

Courtesy of Meadiocrity's website

It sounds like there's some exciting new mead releases at Meadiocrity Mead. The Dragon's Blood mead with dragon fruit and blood orange sounds like a unique and visually appealing drink, while the Ghost Pepper Guava mead with its sweet and spicy combination is sure to appeal to those who love a little heat in their beverages. For more information on Meadiocrity, click HERE.

Pye Road Meadworks Announces New Meads This Friday

Courtesy of Pye Road Meadworks

According to an email from Pye Road Meadworks, a couple of new meads drop today, Friday, February 10th. 

"Because I Like to Party is our blackberry and concord grape mead (the base mead of our "Party of Three" mead) with peanut and marshmallow!

This is NOT a PBJ sandwich mead - this mead is more like a classic adjunct stout, with rich blackberry and a subtle concord grape base. It's extremely smooth and is rounded out with a decadent combination of peanut and marshmallow!

We're also stoked to drop Rum BA Banan Straw! We've also taken our classic Banan Straw mead - strawberry aged on ripe banana, cinnamon, and plump Madagascar vanilla beans - and aged it for over TEN months in a small-format Caribbean rum barrel.

Strawberry and banana spice with rum sugar and oak... it's a super-special mead that we can't wait to share with you!"

Both of these meads will be available online on Friday at Noon ET with a limit of 2 PP for each bottle on the PyeRoad.com online store (preferred for local pickups, FL tax applies), VinoShipper (for bottles to be shipped, local tax may apply), and Oznr. They'll also have bottles available for pickup in their Tasting Room when they open Friday at 4:00 PM.

Mānoa Honey and Mead Announces New Guava Mead

Courtesy of Mānoa Honey and Mead

An email from Mānoa Honey and Mead announced

"Experience our newest ode to first loves. Made with Hawaiian māmane honey and Waialua guava, this specialty mead is aged in French Oak barrels, allowing for delicate, aromatic notes of berry, white florals and fresh wood to emerge. Reminiscent of Loveʻs initial blush, each sip is a sweet ode to falling in love for the first time."

Guava Mead is available to purchase online or at their Wahiawa Honey House.

News From Starrlight Mead

Courtesy of Starrlight Mead

Starrlight Mead has acquired the Chatham Cider Works brand! The involvement of the former owners in the transition process will ensure a smooth integration of the brand into the Starrlight Mead family. Selling through the existing inventory with current partner locations and expanding distribution will help to reach a wider audience and increase brand visibility.

It's exciting that Ben will begin making cider soon and I'm sure customers will be eager to try the new offerings. While the Chatham Cider Works cider is not currently available in the Starrlight Mead tasting room, it's good to know that it's available at Fair Game Beverage. This will provide customers with another option to try the cider and potentially lead to increased demand for it in the Starrlight Mead tasting room in the future.

The Newest Oldest Beverage

It's great to see the resurgence of interest in mead, especially as more meaderies begin to open up in Illinois. Mead has a rich history, being considered the world's oldest alcoholic beverage, and its association with Vikings and Renaissance Faires has given it a unique cultural identity.

However, it's important to note that modern mead is not limited to being a cloying sweet nectar. The craft meads offered by Obscurity Brewing in Elburn showcase the diversity and versatility of mead, with a variety of flavors and styles. This will likely challenge the common misconceptions about mead and introduce it to new generations of drinkers who may not have otherwise considered trying it.

The addition of mead to Obscurity Brewing's beer and cider repertoire is a testament to its growing popularity and the willingness of breweries and bars to embrace this ancient drink. The Under Rocks team's visit to Elburn highlights the joy of modern mead and I'm sure they had a great time discovering the different flavors and styles offered at Obscurity Brewing. The full article and Under Rocks Podcast can be found HERE.

I guess that's it for now so until next time, STAY MEADY!

Latest Buzz in the World of Mead, Volume 01, Issue 07

Greetings my fellow meaders. It's been a minute since the last Buzz but we are back with another issue just in time for Mead Day, which is this Saturday, August 6th. In this issue we have the latest buzz on kickstarting your homebrew hobby, history of the drinking horn, 1634 Meadery, Silver Hand Meadery at the Virginia's Governor's Cup, and National Mead Day plans for Four Brothers Mead, Rohan Meadery, Lost Cause Meadery, Starrlight Mead, Honeygirl Meadery and my plans to visit Honeytree Meadery.

10 Easy Drinks That Will Kickstart Your Homebrew Hobby

Informative article from the Tasting Table mentioning making traditional meads, melomels, and cysers.

The Fascinating History Of The Drinking Horn, The Thirst-Quenching Vessel Of Viking Legend

When we think of drinking horns, most people picture images of axe wielding Vikings celebrating after a battle or your buddies relaxing after a hard day of LARPing in the local park. But in reality, the drinking horn was around for 1000 years before the Vikings.  Check out this article for a look at the history of the drinking horn.

Residents invited to summon their inner Viking on National Mead Day

A flight of meads with different varieties to taste (1634 Meadery photo)

Like most meaderies, Ipswich, Massachusetts' 1634 Meadery will be celebrating National Mead Day this Saturday. 1634 will offer indoor and outdoor tasting flights, a science area with microscopes set up to view bees, wasps, flowers, and more... mead slushies, a chalk art area for kids, free varietal honey tasting, and free samples of Viking Victory Ice Cream made by Down River Ice Cream (21+) “and other surprise fun!”

Silver Hand Meadery Takes Home Multiple Medals at the Virginia Governor’s Cup

Williamsburg, Virginia's Silver Hand Meadery took home five gold medals and six silvers for its various flavors of mead at the 2022 Virginia Governor’s Cup, one of the most stringent competitions in the U.S..

National Mead Day - Saturday, August 6th

As I said in the introduction, this Saturday is National Mead Day and meaderies all over are planning celebrations in honor.  Here is a listing of some of these planned celebrations.

• Four Brothers Mead invites you to "come celebrate National Mead Day with us at the Meadery! We will have live music all day with Chad Stafford from 12-3pm and Femme Fatales from 5-8pm and The Cheese Shack providing delicious food all day! We'll have our Mead Slushies to cool you off along with our newest cocktail, Strawberry Lemonade (our Strawberry Mead with strawberry lemonade topped off with club soda). We'll also have our non-alcoholic Strawberry Mead for the kiddos! This a free event so come out and enjoy the day with us!" Four Brothers Mead is located at 124 East Main St., Festus, Missouri.
• Rohan Meadery invites everyone to "celebrate National Mead Day with us! This Saturday, Aug. 6th is National Mead Day & we'll have 10% off glasses & bottles of Mead all day long!Mead curious? Come talk to us & have a no risk flight- did you know on our tasting flights you can mix ciders, beers, wines &, of course, MEADS?! Rohan Meadery is located at 6002 FM-2981, La Grange, TX.
• Lost Cause Meadery "turned into a triple release day. On top of all the other festivities we have planned, we’ll have three new meads for you. Cloud Fluff will make a return, and we’re releasing two new bottles: Neon Trip (Sauvignon Blanc pyment with passionfruit, sunquats, loquats, and kumquats) and Wee Honey (Traditional mead w/ Avocado blossom honey, aged 17 months in a Peated Scotch barrel). Lost Cause has two locations at Bay Park (5328 Banks St. Ste B, San Diego, CA) and Miramar (8665 Miralani Dr. Ste 100, San Diego, CA).
• Starrlight Mead announcing that the "first Saturday of August is National Mead Day celebrated by the American Mead Makers Association and meaderies across the country! And we’re celebrating too! For the occasion, we’ve got some fun things in store for you! Mead making demo at 3 pm. Join Ben to see how to make a small batch of mead at home. (And consider signing up for our Beginning Mead Making Class!) Tours of the meadery at 2 and 4 pm. See how it’s done on a bigger scale. A new Session Mead on tap to taste! And sample some local NC meads from other mead makers! We’re sharing the love with our NC neighbors and featuring some of their yummy meads too! Join us for the fun! Starrlight Mead is located at 130 Lorax Lane, Pittsboro, NC.
• Honeygirl Meadery says "MEAD DAY is this weekend! (August 6th) We are so excited! We're doing on site screen printing of our exclusive, locally designed Honeygirl Mead Day t- shirt! Our newest small batch traditional mead will be here! Our new barrel aged mead is going fast! We will be rolling out discounts all day! And last but not least, a brand new session mead that you don't want to miss!" Honeygirl is located at 105 Hood St, Durham, NC.
• Finally, I plan on being at Honeytree Meadery here in Nashville to celebrate. I haven't heard exactly what Ross, Dru and the gang have planned but I'm sure it'll be fun. So stop by, say hi, maybe go live and most importantly, enjoy some amazing mead. Honeytree is located at 918 Woodland Street in fabulous East Nashville.  Hope to see you there!

This is by no means a complete list of meaderies that have announced plans for Saturday so make sure to check with your local meaderies for more information.

Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2022 American Whisk(e)y Results

As promised in the post announcing the Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2022 Chairman's Trophy winners, here are the results for all the American Whisk(e)y entrants.

A Note on the Awards & Scores

Entries to Ultimate Spirits Challenge are judged at our evaluation center in Hawthorne, New York.

In addition to the score, products are distinguished with the following Accolades, as a guide to consumers:

• 95-100 Extraordinary, Ultimate Recommendation
• 90-94 Excellent, Highly Recommended
• 85-89 Very Good, Strong Recommendation
• 80-84 Good, Recommended
  

All products are judged in category flights of like-with-like.

Chairman's Trophy (CT), Finalist (F)

Determined by a formula that includes the aggregate scoring of the judging panels, the scoring curve based upon the number of entries, and the overall categorical scoring average, the Chairman's Trophy is bestowed on the highest scoring entry per category. Finalist status, the products deemed to be in the running for the Chairman’s Trophy, are decided upon by the Judging Chairman based on their favorable results.

Great Value (GV)

Great Value indicates products with a favorable relationship between their price and final score.

Tried & True Award (T&T)

Tried & True Award: products that were entered into USC for the two previous, consecutive years as well as the present year and have scored 90 or higher each time, are recognized for consistency of product quality with this award.

Top 100 Spirits (T100)

Top Spirits of this Challenge's year

Subtype	Product Name	Price	Score	Awards
Blended	Lost Lantern American Vatted Malt Edition No. 1 American Blended Whiskey	$120	92
Blended	Ransom Rye Barley Wheat 5 Years Old American Blended Whiskey	$53	90
Blended	Warrior American Blended Whiskey	$50	90
Blended	Coors Whiskey Co. Five Trail American Blended Whiskey	$60	89
Blended	Barrell Armida Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey	$80	89
Blended	Bendt No. 5 American Blended Whiskey	$25	86
Bottled-in-Bond	Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Spring 2022 Edition 17 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$230	97	CT | T100
Bottled-in-Bond	Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. Bottled in Bond Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$60	96	F | T&T | T100
Bottled-in-Bond	1792 Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$36	95	F | T&T
Bottled-in-Bond	Southern Star Paragon Bottled in Bond Wheated Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$60	95	F
Bottled-in-Bond	Jack Daniel's Bonded Tennessee Whiskey	$30	95	F
Bottled-in-Bond	Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. Bottled in Bond Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$40	93	F
Bottled-in-Bond	Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$40	93	F | GV | T&T
Bottled-in-Bond	Early Times Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$25	92	GV | T&T
Bottled-in-Bond	Laws Whiskey House Bonded Four Grain 8 Years Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$80	92
Bottled-in-Bond	Benchmark Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$20	92	GV
Bottled-in-Bond	Henry McKenna Single Barrel Bottled-in-Bond 10 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$50	92	T&T
Bottled-in-Bond	Field & Sound Maritime Bottled-in-Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$50	91
Bottled-in-Bond	Rock Town Arkansas 4 Years Old American Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon Whiskey	$50	91	T&T
Bottled-in-Bond	FEW Bottled-in-Bond Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$45	91
Bottled-in-Bond	Evan Williams 4 Years Old Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$18	90	GV
Bourbon	Eagle Rare 17 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$100	98	CT | T&T | T100
Bourbon	Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$70	97	F | T100
Bourbon	Rue Bourbon Cask Strength 16 Years Old Bourbon Whiskey	$299	97	F | T100
Bourbon	Bare Knuckle High Rye Bourbon Cask Strength 6 Years Old American Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$73	96	F | T100
Bourbon	Four Roses Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$45	96	F | GV | T&T | T100
Bourbon	Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage 2014 Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$30	96	F | GV | T100
Bourbon	Brush Creek Honig Cabernet Cask Finished Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$150	95	F
Bourbon	Eagle Rare 10 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$30	95	F | GV | T&T
Bourbon	1792 Full Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$45	95	F | GV | T&T
Bourbon	Barrell Bourbon Batch 031 6 Years Old Cask Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$90	95	F
Bourbon	Calumet Farm 8 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$45	95	F | GV
Bourbon	Castle & Key Small Batch - Batch 2 - 4 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$55	95	F
Bourbon	Clyde May's Special Reserve 6 Years Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$61	95	F
Bourbon	Tommyrotter Napa Valley Heritance Cask Straight Bourbon	$49	95	F
Bourbon	Weller C.Y.P.B. Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$50	95	F
Bourbon	Widow Jane 10 Years Old Straight Bourbon	$75	95	F
Bourbon	Bespoken Spirits Batch ABCD Bourbon Whiskey	$35	94	GV
Bourbon	Old Dexter Finished with 200 Year Oak, Cherry Wood & Maple Wood 5 Years Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$65	94
Bourbon	Russell's Reserve 10 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$41	94	GV
Bourbon	Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$50	94
Bourbon	Larceny Barrel Proof A122 Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$50	94
Bourbon	Moylan's Sanctioned Finished in Sherry Barrels Blended Bourbon	$65	94
Bourbon	Wyoming Whiskey Small Batch 5 Years Old Bourbon Whiskey	$45	94
Bourbon	William Larue Weller Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$100	94	T&T
Bourbon	A. Smith Bowman Cask Strength Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$100	94
Bourbon	Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$25	94	GV | T&T
Bourbon	Smooth Ambler Contradiction Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$40	94	GV
Bourbon	Belfour Small Batch Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$80	94
Bourbon	Digits 5 Years Old Bourbon Whiskey	$69	94
Bourbon	Horse Soldier Signature Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey	$60	94
Bourbon	Coopers' Craft Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$22	94	GV
Bourbon	Wheel Horse Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$32	94	GV
Bourbon	Doc Swinson's Blender's Cut American Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$60	94
Bourbon	1792 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$30	93	GV | T&T
Bourbon	Evan Williams Black Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$15	93	GV
Bourbon	Nelson Brothers Classic Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$37	93	GV
Bourbon	Ransom Bourbon	$38	93	GV
Bourbon	Ridge Reserve Black Label Straight Bourbon	$39	93	GV
Bourbon	Moylan's Cask Strength Bourbon	$65	93
Bourbon	Brush Creek Straight Bourbon	$65	93
Bourbon	Remus Repeal Reserve Series V Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$90	93
Bourbon	Broken Barrel Whiskey Co. Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$45	93
Bourbon	Brush Creek Chimney Rock Cabernet Cask Finished Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$200	93
Bourbon	J Henry & Sons La Flamme Reserve 5 Years Old American Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$100	93
Bourbon	Moylan's Over-Regulated Finished in Port Barrels Blended Bourbon	$65	93
Bourbon	Thomas S. Moore Cabernet Sauvignon Cask Finished Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$70	93
Bourbon	Thomas S. Moore Port Cask Finished Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$70	93
Bourbon	Founders Circle 1875 Single Barrel Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$50	93
Bourbon	Coopers' Craft Barrel Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$32	93	GV | T&T
Bourbon	Benchmark Full Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$23	93	GV
Bourbon	Four Roses Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$35	93	GV
Bourbon	Larceny Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$25	93	GV
Bourbon	Stillhouse Black Bourbon	$25	93	GV
Bourbon	15 Stars Private Stock Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$139	93
Bourbon	Elijah Craig Barrel Proof A122 12 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$60	93
Bourbon	Jefferson's Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$55	93
Bourbon	Weller Antique 107 Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$50	93
Bourbon	Weller 12 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$37	93	GV
Bourbon	Blanton's Gold Edition Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$120	92	T&T
Bourbon	Castle & Key Small Batch - Batch 1 - 4 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$55	92
Bourbon	Mendocino Spirits 3 Years Old Straight Bourbon	$65	92
Bourbon	Redemption Cognac Cask Finish Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$70	92
Bourbon	Weller Full Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$50	92
Bourbon	Dexter Finished with Five Woods Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$45	92
Bourbon	O.H. Ingram River Aged Straight Bourbon	$70	92
Bourbon	Evan Williams 1783 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$20	92	GV | T&T
Bourbon	Wild Turkey Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$21	92	GV
Bourbon	Angel's Envy Cask Strength Finished in Port Wine Barrels Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$230	92
Bourbon	Garrison Brothers Guadalupe Port Cask Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$130	92
Bourbon	Square 6 Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$90	92
Bourbon	15 Stars Timeless Reserve 14 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$279	92
Bourbon	I.W. Harper 15 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$70	92
Bourbon	Stagg Jr. Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$50	92	T&T
Bourbon	Angel's Envy Finished in Port Wine Barrels Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$50	92
Bourbon	Horse Soldier Reserve Barrel Strength Bourbon Whiskey	$80	92
Bourbon	Trail's End Finished in Oregon Oak Casks 10 Years Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$60	92
Bourbon	Wheat Penny 1958 Full Proof Finished With Black Cherry and Toasted Oak Wood Bourbon Whiskey	$55	92
Bourbon	1792 12 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$50	92	T&T
Bourbon	Four Roses Small Batch Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$56	92
Bourbon	Low Gap Made with Local Grain Distilled in 2017 & 2018 3 Years Old Straight Bourbon	$65	92
Bourbon	Benchmark Top Floor Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$15	91	GV
Bourbon	Bainbridge Whiskey Forty Saloon Bourbon	$90	91
Bourbon	Big Stick Bourbon	$75	91
Bourbon	Jefferson's Ocean Aged At Sea - Voyage 24 Straight Bourbon	$80	91
Bourbon	Legent Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$40	91
Bourbon	Stellum The Equinox Blend #1 Bourbon	$99	91
Bourbon	Widow Jane Lucky Thirteen Bourbon Whiskey	$100	91
Bourbon	FEW Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$40	91	T&T
Bourbon	Benchmark Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$17	91	GV
Bourbon	Doc Swinson's Alter Ego Triple Cask Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$75	91
Bourbon	Maker's Mark Wood Finishing Series 2021 Limited Release: FAE-02 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$60	91
Bourbon	Stellum Comet Rising Bourbon	$99	91
Bourbon	1792 Sweet Wheat Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$36	91
Bourbon	Barrell Bourbon Batch 032 5 Years Old Cask Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$90	91
Bourbon	Bespoken Spirits Batch FTM Bourbon Whiskey	$49	91
Bourbon	Smooth Ambler Old Scout Barrel No. 27893 7 Years Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$50	91
Bourbon	Benchmark Old No. 8 Brand Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$12	91	GV
Bourbon	Jim Beam Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$18	91	GV
Bourbon	Heaven Hill Aged in Chinquapin Barrels 13 Years Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$179	91
Bourbon	Horse Soldier Premium 2 Years Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$45	91
Bourbon	Jefferson's Very Small Batch Straight Bourbon	$35	91
Bourbon	Wild Turkey Longbranch Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$41	91
Bourbon	Isaac Bowman Port Barrel Finished Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$40	91
Bourbon	Rock Town Peachwood Smoked 4.5 Years Old American Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$100	91
Bourbon	Jim Beam Devil's Cut Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$23	90	GV
Bourbon	Fistful of Bourbon Straight Bourbon	$25	90	GV | T&T
Bourbon	Four Roses Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$25	90	GV | T&T
Bourbon	Jim Beam Double Oak Twice Barreled Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$23	90	GV | T&T
Bourbon	Weller Special Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$24	90	GV
Bourbon	Bluestone Manor 5 Years Old Straight Bourbon	$48	90
Bourbon	Bowman Brothers Small Batch Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$30	90
Bourbon	Old Charter Oak French Oak Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$70	90
Bourbon	Smooth Ambler Old Scout Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$35	90
Bourbon	Blanton's Straight From the Barrel Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$150	90	T&T
Bourbon	Bearded Lady American Bourbon	$46	90
Bourbon	Bespoken Spirits Bourbon	$35	90
Bourbon	Five Brothers Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$60	90
Bourbon	Garrison Brothers Small Batch 3 Years Old Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$90	90
Bourbon	Bespoken Spirits 2 Years Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$57	90
Bourbon	Bespoken Spirits Pinstripe Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$57	89
Bourbon	Brain Brew Experimental Finished With Three Woods Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$50	89
Bourbon	Elijah Craig Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$30	89
Bourbon	Laws Whiskey House Four Grain Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$55	89
Bourbon	Garrison Brothers Balmorhea Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$180	89
Bourbon	Bespoken Spirits Velvet Batch 2 Years Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$57	88
Bourbon	I.W. Harper Cabernet Cask Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$50	88
Bourbon	Widow Jane Decadence A Blend of Straight Bourbon Whiskeys	$100	88
Bourbon	Rare Character Single Barrel Series Hi-Time Wine Cellars Straight Bourbon	$70	88
Bourbon	Bespoken Spirits Batch Type F Bourbon Whiskey	$35	87
Bourbon	Brain Brew Experimental Finished with Japanese Mizunara Oak Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$65	87
Bourbon	Brother's Bond Straight Bourbon	$44	87
Bourbon	Jim Beam Black Extra Aged Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$23	87
Bourbon	Southern Star Paragon Wheated Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$50	87
Bourbon	Swilled Dog Barrel Strength 4 Years Old Straight Bourbon	$50	87
Bourbon	Thomas S. Moore Chardonnay Cask Finished Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$70	87
Bourbon	R6 Distillery Straight Bourbon	$46	87
Bourbon	Redemption Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$30	87
Bourbon	Nelson Brothers Reserve Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$60	86
Bourbon	Creator's Cut Kentucky Straight Bourbon with Natural Flavors Kentucky Straight Bourbon	$25	80
Bourbon/Single Barrel	Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$40	96	CT | GV | T&T | T100
Bourbon/Single Barrel	The Clover Single Barrel Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$50	95	F | T100
Bourbon/Single Barrel	Blanton's Original Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$65	94	F | T&T
Bourbon/Single Barrel	Brother's Bond Original Cask Strength Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$80	94	F
Bourbon/Single Barrel	Jim Beam Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$40	93	F | GV
Bourbon/Single Barrel	Weller Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$50	93	F
Bourbon/Single Barrel	John J. Bowman Single Barrel Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$50	93	F | T&T
Bourbon/Single Barrel	Bower Hill Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$35	93	F | GV
Bourbon/Single Barrel	Benchmark Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$25	92	GV
Bourbon/Single Barrel	Redemption High Rye Single Barrel Select Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$50	90
Bourbon/Single Barrel	Southern Star Paragon Cask Strength Single Barrel Wheated Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$70	90
Bourbon/Single Barrel	1792 Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$40	89
Bourbon/Single Barrel	Rough Rider The Old Lion 8 Years Old Single Barrel Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$150	88
Bourbon/Single Barrel	Garrison Brothers 3 Years Old Single Barrel Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey	$110	83
Rye	Smooth Ambler Founders' Cask Strength Series Straight Rye Whiskey	$55	98	CT | T100
Rye	Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey	$100	97	F | T&T | T100
Rye	Angel's Envy Finished in Caribbean Rum Casks Rye Whiskey	$90	95	F | T100
Rye	George Dickel + Leopold Bros Collaboration Blend Straight Rye Whiskey	$110	95	F
Rye	Sagamore Spirit Rum Cask Finish Rye Whiskey	$80	95	F
Rye	Smooth Ambler Old Scout Port Cask Finish Straight Rye Whiskey	$60	95	F
Rye	Roulette 4 Years Old Straight Rye Whiskey	$30	94	F | GV
Rye	Low Gap Rye Malt 5 Years Old Rye Malt Whiskey	$80	94	F
Rye	Sagamore Spirit Cask Strength American Rye Whiskey	$60	94	F
Rye	Heaven Hill Aged in Chinquapin Barrels 8 Years Old Kentucky Rye Whiskey	$149	94	F
Rye	Smooth Ambler Contradiction Straight Rye Whiskey	$40	93	GV
Rye	Elijah Craig Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey	$30	93	GV | T&T
Rye	The Senator Single Barrel - Barrel Proof 6 Years Old Straight Rye Whiskey	$80	93
Rye	Sazerac Straight 6 Years Old Rye Whiskey	$28	93	GV
Rye	Redemption Rum Cask Finish Straight Rye Whiskey	$50	93
Rye	Broken Barrel Whiskey Co. Heresy Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey	$35	93	GV
Rye	Knob Creek Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey	$37	93	GV
Rye	Brush Creek Straight Rye Whiskey	$55	93
Rye	Clyde May's Straight Rye Whiskey	$45	93
Rye	Barrell Seagrass Rye Whiskey	$80	93
Rye	Wheel Horse Straight Rye Whiskey	$32	92	GV
Rye	Cascade Moon 13 Years Old Rye Whiskey	$299	92
Rye	Chicken Cock Island Rooster Rum Barrel Straight Rye Whiskey	$200	92
Rye	Mammoth Northern Rye 15 Years Old Rye Whiskey	$90	92
Rye	Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey	$50	92
Rye	Belfour Rye Whiskey	$75	92
Rye	Laws Whiskey House San Luis Valley Straight Rye Whiskey	$55	92
Rye	FEW Straight Rye Whiskey	$40	91	T&T
Rye	Doc Swinson's Alter Ego Solera Method Straight Rye Whiskey	$55	91
Rye	Castle & Key Restoration 3 Years Old Kentucky Rye Whiskey	$45	91
Rye	Angel's Envy Finished in Ice Cider Casks Rye Whiskey	$250	91
Rye	Landrace Empire 3 Years Old Straight Rye Whiskey	$46	91
Rye	Widow Jane American Oak Aged American Rye Whiskey	$50	91
Rye	Widow Jane Oak & Apple Wood Aged American Rye Whiskey	$50	91
Rye	Hudson Whiskey Back Room Deal New York Straight Rye Whiskey	$55	91	T&T
Rye	Southern Star Double Rye Blend of Straight Rye Whiskeys	$35	91
Rye	Moylan's Resistance Rye Finished in Port Barrels Blended American Rye Whiskey	$50	90
Rye	Sagamore Spirit American Rye Whiskey	$40	90
Rye	O.H. Ingram River Aged Straight Rye Whiskey	$70	90
Rye	Sagamore Spirit Double Oak Straight Rye Whiskey	$60	88
Rye	North River Apollonia Edition 5 Years Old American Rye Whiskey	$58	88
Rye	Riverboat Batch #5 Rye Whiskey	$20	87
Rye	Smooth Ambler Old Scout Single Barrel No. 32053 4 Years Old Straight Rye Whiskey	$50	87
Rye	Pollinator Bonfire Rye Whiskey	$65	83
Tennessee	Jack Daniel's 10 Years Old Tennessee Whiskey	$70	96	CT | T100
Tennessee	Uncle Nearest Master Blend Edition Batch 009 11 Years Old Tennessee Whiskey	$149	95	F | T100
Tennessee	Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Tennessee Rye Whiskey	$55	95	F
Tennessee	George Dickel Distilling Season Spring 2007 13 Years Old Bottled-in-Bond Tennessee Whiskey	$45	95	F
Tennessee	Uncle Nearest 1856 4 Years Old Tennessee Whiskey	$59	93	F | T&T
Tennessee	George Dickel 8 Years Old Bourbon Whiskey	$33	92
Tennessee	Jack Daniel's Triple Mash Bottled-in-bond Blended Straight Whiskey	$30	92	GV
Tennessee	Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Barrel Proof Tennessee Whiskey	$70	92
Tennessee	Grandgousier Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey	$68	91
Tennessee	Nelson's Green Brier Tennessee Whiskey	$35	91
Tennessee	Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch 4 Years Old Tennessee Whiskey	$49	91
Tennessee	Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Select Tennessee Whiskey	$55	90
Wheat	Bainbridge Battle Point Two Islands Islay Cask Straight Organic Wheat Whiskey	$90	96	CT | T100
Wheat	Bernheim Original 7 Years Old Small Batch Kentucky Straight Wheat Whiskey	$30	95	F | GV | T&T | T100
Wheat	Bainbridge Battle Point Two Islands Barbados Cask Straight Organic Wheat Whiskey	$90	93	F
Wheat	Dexter Finished with Japanese Mizunara Oak American Straight Wheat Whiskey	$50	92
Wheat	Bainbridge Battle Point Full Barrel Proof Washington Organic Wheat Whiskey	$110	91
Wheat	Bainbridge Battle Point Organic Washington Wheat Whiskey	$59	91
Wheat	Broken Barrel Whiskey Co. The Wreckoner 3 Years Old American Wheat Whiskey	$65	91
Wheat	Laws Whisky House Bonded Centennial American Wheat Whiskey	$80	89
Wheat	Brain Brew Experimental Finished With Cherry Wood & 200 Year Oak Straight Wheat Whiskey	$50	87
Wheat	Unbendt Unblended Bottled in Bond Straight Wheat Whiskey	$60	87
Wheat	Bainbridge Two Islands Hokkaido Mizunara Cask Straight Orgnaic Wheat Whiskey	$100	87
Bottled-in-Bond	Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. Bottled in Bond Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey	$70	93	F
Bottled-in-Bond	KO Distilling Distiller's Reserve Bottled-in-Bond Straight Rye Whiskey	$75	92
Bottled-in-Bond	Rittenhouse 4 Years Old Bottled-in-Bond Straight Rye Whiskey	$28	92	GV
Bottled-in-Bond	Laws Whiskey House Bonded San Luis Valley 7 Years Old Straight Rye Whiskey	$80	90
Other	Barrell Whiskey Private Release DJA1 Blend 1 Finished in a St. Agrestis Brooklyn Amaro Cask American Whiskey	$110	95	CT | T100
Other	Barrell Whiskey Private Release DJX1 Blend 2 Finished in a Ruby Port Barrel American Whiskey	$110	93	F
Other	Benjamin Chapman 4 Years Old Corn Whiskey	$36	93	F | GV
Other	Balcones Big Baby Bottled-in-Bond Matured in Tequila Casks Straight Corn Whiskey	$60	92
Other	Barrell Whiskey Private Release DSX2 Blend 2 Finished in a Pedro Ximenez Sherry Barrel American Whiskey	$110	91
Other	Moylan's Sherry Barrel Finish American Whiskey	$90	91
Other	Bainbridge Yama Mizunara Japanese Oak Cask American Single Grain Barley Whiskey	$525	91
Other	Glyph Spice Spirit Whiskey with Natural Flavors	$25	90	GV
Other	Bespoken Spirits American Light Whiskey	$33	90
Other	FEW American Straight Whiskey	$40	90	T&T
Other	Hudson Whiskey Four Part Harmony New York Four Grain Bourbon	$70	90
Other	Glyph 85H Spirit Whiskey with Natural Flavors	$25	89	GV
Other	Early Times Kentucky Whisky	$12	88	GV
Single Malt	Courage & Conviction Cuvee Single Cask, Cask No. 1266, American Single Malt Whiskey	$150	98	CT | T100
Single Malt	Stranahan's Sherry Cask Colorado Single Malt Whiskey	$89	96	F | T100
Single Malt	Balcones Mirador Texas Single Malt Whiskey	$80	95	F | T100
Single Malt	McCarthy's 6 Years Old Oregon Single Malt Whiskey	$100	94	F
Single Malt	Westland Colere Edition 2 American Single Malt Whiskey	$150	94	F
Single Malt	Stranahan's Original Colorado Single Malt Whiskey	$60	94	F
Single Malt	Courage & Conviction Sherry Cask American Single Malt Whiskey	$85	93
Single Malt	Cloudsplitter 4 Years Old American Single Malt Whiskey	$60	93
Single Malt	Balcones Lineage Texas Single Malt Whiskey	$40	93	GV
Single Malt	Courage & Conviction Sherry Single Cask, Cask No. 1762, American Single Malt Whiskey	$150	93
Single Malt	Dexter Old World Style Small Batch American Single Malt Whiskey	$50	93
Single Malt	Courage & Conviction Cask Strength Single Cask, Cask No. 507, American Single Malt Whiskey	$150	93
Single Malt	Courage & Conviction American Single Malt Whiskey	$75	92	T&T
Single Malt	Courage & Conviction Cuvee Cask American Single Malt Whiskey	$85	92
Single Malt	Copperworks American Single Malt Whiskey	$60	91
Single Malt	Copperworks Washington Peated American Single Malt Whiskey	$76	91
Single Malt	Courage & Conviction Bourbon Cask American Single Malt Whiskey	$85	91
Single Malt	Colkegan Cask Strength Single Barrel American Single Malt Whiskey	$80	90
Single Malt	ASM American Single Malt Whiskey	$62	90
Single Malt	Brain Brew Experimental Two Continent Small Batch American Single Malt Whiskey	$50	87
Single Malt	Laws Whiskey House Henry Road 5 Years Old Bonded Straight Malt Whiskey	$80	87
Single Malt	Stranahan's Blue Peak Colorado Single Malt Whiskey	$45	87
Single Malt	Brain Brew Experimental Four Wood Single Malt Whiskey	$50	86
Single Malt	Rock Town Finished in Cognac Casks 4 Years Old American Single Malt Whiskey	$50	86
Single Malt	Moylan's American Single Malt Whiskey	$65	85
World/Flavored	Old Smoky Peanut Butter Whiskey	$25	92
World/Flavored	Midnight Moon Moonshine Peach Flavored Whiskey	$20	91
World/Flavored	Whiskeysmith Blood Orange Flavored Whiskey	$24	88
World/Flavored	Whiskeysmith Salted Caramel Flavored Whiskey	$24	87
World/Flavored	Carmela Caramel Flavored Whiskey	$25	87
World/Flavored	FEW Immortal Rye Whiskey	$40	87
World/Flavored	Dough Ball Cookie Dough Whiskey	$30	87
World/Flavored	Evan Williams Apple	$15	87
World/Flavored	Magic Rabbit Chocolate and Peanut Butter Whiskey	$25	87
World/Flavored	Bird Dog Honey Flavored Whiskey	$20	86
World/Flavored	Block Head Popcorn Peanut Caramel Whiskey	$30	86
World/Flavored	Evan Williams Honey	$15	86
World/Flavored	Whiskeysmith Peach Flavored Whiskey	$24	86
World/Flavored	Southern Comfort Original	$16	85
World/Flavored	Evan Williams Peach	$15	84
World/Flavored	FEW Cold Cut Bourbon	$40	84
World/Flavored	Garrison Brothers Honey Dew Straight Bourbon Whiskey Infused with Honey	$90	84
World/Flavored	Midnight Moon Moonshine Watermelon Flavored Whiskey	$20	84
World/Flavored	Old Smoky Salty Caramel Whiskey	$25	82
World/Flavored	Vale Fox MF Bonfire Smoky Rye Whiskey	$48	81

Ratings and Reviews to the Highest Standards

Ultimate Spirits Challenge™ provides the most expert and authoritative evaluation of spirits for producers, marketers, importers, distributors and retailers available. Careful, meticulous evaluation of each product. Powerful marketing support and collateral that helps build your brands and further promote your products.

Judging Methodology

• Small judging flights to avoid palate fatigue. All products are tasted blind and matched like-with-like for judging.
• Ratings using the consumer-friendly 100-point scale.
• Permanent evaluation center allows the judges to fully concentrate on each product’s profile without having to rush.
• Multi-round judging to ensure impartiality and to remove any possibility of bias.

Until next time, happy reading.