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12 Ohio distilleries win 39 medals in San Francisco World Spirits Competition

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CLEVELAND, Ohio –Twelve Ohio distilleries brought home 39 medals from the esteemed 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, a program of The Tasting Alliance. Ten of those medals were the coveted double gold honors.

Founded in 2000, the San Francisco event is considered the oldest and largest spirits competition. Entrants include well-known international distillers as well as small-batch producers. Northeast Ohio producers – all small-batch — to enter and win include:

  • Cleveland Whiskey, Cleveland, Boom Boom Bourbon Reserve, gold
  • Gervasi Spirits, Canton, BLU, silver
  • Gervasi Spirits, Canton, Pink Peppercorn Gin, silver
  • Gervasi Spirits, Canton, Maple Cask Bourbon, silver
  • Gervasi Spirits, Canton, Wine Barrel Bourbon, silver
  • Towpath Distillery, Akron, Red Wine Barrel finished Bourbon, gold

Bourbon was the hottest category in Ohio, bringing home 14 medals. Whiskey and rye scored eight, with gin (6) vodka (4), limoncello (4) and brandy (2) ranking as well. One recently released, ready-to-drink cocktail — Midnight Manhattan — brought home a medal for High Bank Distillery in Columbus.

Whiskey War won a silver medal for High Bank Distillery in the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.High Bank Distillery

The biggest Ohio winner was High Bank Distillery Co., Columbus, with ten medals. Six of those were double gold medals. They also received two gold medals, a silver medal and bronze. Double gold winners were

  • High Bank Vodka,
  • Midnight Cask Barrel Proof
  • Whiskey War Barrel Proof
  • Whiskey War Double Oaked
  • Whiskey War Double Double Oaked
  • Whiskey War Cigar Cask

Many of these spirits are repeat winners, says Adam Hines, co-founder and master distiller at High Bank. Hines is known for his whiskey blends.

“We use three separate mash bills [recipes], aged in separate barrels, then blended together in our proprietary ratio,” he says. The barrel select line is also aged in used pinot noir barrels, cabernet sauvignon barrels and others.

Perhaps the most interesting winner this year is the new Whiskey War Cigar Cask product. The whiskey is first aged in charred oak barrels, then transferred to a Brazilian amburana barrel for further aging. Amburana is becoming better known in the luxury spirits industry.

Hines says the Brazilian wood gives the whiskey flavors of tobacco, spice and some fruitiness like banana.

Availability of the new Cigar Cask Whiskey will be announced on the distillery’s social media; release is planned for late June.

Greg Lehman, founder and CEO of Watershed Distillery in Columbus, is proud of the double gold brought home by the company’s uncut, unfiltered Bourbon.

“We take bourbon straight out of the barrel and put it in the bottle,” he says. “It’s not cut with water, not filtered. It’s the boldest flavor we make.”

Water dilutes the flavors and the alcohol. Meanwhile, filtering removes flavor compounds and charred oak sediment.

This untouched bourbon measures 125 proof and may have some sediment in the bottle.

“It’s a very unique product,” says Lehman. Made in small batches, a few of last year’s bottles may still be found at retail as well as at the distillery. This is the spirit’s second year. It was again produced in limited quantities. It retails for $69.99.

Watershed also received medals for its apple brandy, straight bourbon whiskey and Four Peel strawberry gin.

More information about winners is available here. To find retailers selling these spirits, search here.

Send dining, drinking and culture story ideas to Paris Wolfe at pwolfe@cleveland.com. Review her previous stories here. Follow Paris Wolfe on Instagram @pariswolfe.

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