(Oxford, Ohio) The 2020 U. S. Open Whiskey & Spirits Championship is proud to announce the medal winners and Grand National Champions.
Patriarch Distillers/Soldier Valley Spirits from La Vista, Nebraska was named the U.S. Open Whiskey’s Grand National Champion after winning two gold medals and two silver medals. Their Omaha Beach Bourbon Whiskey was a favorite among the judges. While, Acre Distilling of Fort Worth, Texas was named the 2020 U.S. Open Spirits’ Grand National Champion by winning a gold medal for their Two Minnies Gin and another gold for their barrel aged vodka.
Judging in the U.S. Open Whiskey and Spirits Championships is blind; the judges know only the categories, but they do not know what they are tasting. The original plans were to judge all entries in Buffalo, New York, since half of the judges were Canadian distillers or instructors at Niagara College Teaching Distillery. Unfortunately, COVID19 happened. Thus, the judging was delayed and occurred in Welland, Ontario and Oxford, Ohio(the home of the U.S. Open).
Top 5 Whiskey Medal Winners
1. Patriarch Distillers – Nebraska
2. Moylan’s Distilling Co. – California
3. Sycamore Distilling – Ohio
4. Cut Spike Distillery – Nebraska
5. Lexington Distilling Co – Kentucky
Top 5 Spirits Distilleries
1. Acre Distilling – Texas
2. Lockhouse Distillery – New York
3. Silver Fox Distillery – Ontario
4. Liquid Riot Bottling Company – Maine
5. Brickway Brewery & Distillery – Nebraska
2020 U.S. Open Whiskey Medal Winners & Spirits Championships Medal Winners
Straight Bourbon
Gold – Sycamore Ohio Straight Bourbon – Sycamore Distilling – Ohio
Gold – Junction 35 Straight Bourbon – Junction 35 Spirits – Tennessee
Silver – E.M. Walton’s Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Walton’s Distillery – North Carolina
Bronze – Yellowstone Select – Limestone Branch Distillery – Kentucky
Small Batch Bourbon 1-3 Years
Gold – Omaha Beach Bourbon Whiskey – Patriarch Distillers/Soldier Valley Spirits – Nebraska
Silver – Thornapple Artisan Spirits Bourbon – Thornapple Artisan Spirits – Michigan
Bronze – Bourbon Whiskey – Central Coast Distillery – California
Small Batch Bourbon 4-10 Years
Gold – Moylan’s Cask Strength Bourbon – Moylan’s Distilling – California
Silver – Golden Sheaf – Patriarch Distillers/Soldier Valley Spirits – Nebraska
Bronze – Town Branch Bourbon – – Lexington Brewing & Distilling – Kentucky
Single Barrel American Whiskey
Gold – – Cut Spike Cask Strength Whiskey – Cut Spike Distillery – Nebraska
Silver – Blizzard Peak Single Barrel – Spirits of the Rockies – Colorado
Bronze – Lonerider Single Barrel Sherry Cask Finish Bourbon Whiskey – Lonerider Spirits – North Carolina
Single Malt Whiskey
Gold – Alley 6 Singlel Malt – Alley 6 Craft Distillery – California
Silver – Town Branch Malt – Lexington Brewing & Distilling – Kentucky
Bronze – Cut Spike Small Batch Whiskey – Cut Spike Distillery – Nebraska
Bronze – Moylan’s American Single Malt Whisky – Moylan’s Distilling – California
Rye Whiskey
Gold – L.A. Basin Rye Whiskey – Los Angeles Distillery – California
Silver – Private Stock Small Batch Rye Whiskey – Patriarch Distillers/Soldier Valley Spirits – Nebraska
Bronze – Alley 6 rye whiskey – Alley 6 Craft Distillery – California
American Blended Whiskey
Gold – James Scott Blended Whiskey – Knox Joseph Distillery – Ohio
Silver – Port Cask Finished Virginia-Highland Whisky – Virginia Distillery – Virginia
Bronze – Barley Creek Whiskey – Barley Creek Distilling – Pennsylvania
American Craft Whiskey
Gold – Moylan’s Distilling – Moylan’s Port Finished American Whisky – California
Silver – Mother Earth Whiskey – Mother Earth Spirits – North Carolina
Bronze – Sycamore American Whiskey – Sycamore Distilling – Ohio
Corn Whiskey
Gold – Patriarch Whiskey – Patriarch Distillers – Nebraska
Canadian Whisky
Gold – Galloping Goose – James Bay Distillers
Blended Irish Whiskey
Gold – Ha’Penny Four Cask Irish Whiskey – Lexington Brewing & Distilling – Kentucky/Ireland
Non-Aged Whiskey
Gold – White Whiskey – Kupu Spirits – Hawaii
Beer(Hops) Distilled Whiskey
Gold – Hop Along Cassidy – Acre Distilling – Texas
Silver – Spirit of IPA – Dark Door Spirits – Florida
Bronze – Eye of Midnight – Dark Door Spirits – Florida
Whiskey Distilled in Stout Barrels
Gold – Sycamore Imperial Stout Cask – Sycamore Distilling – Ohio
Silver – Certified Evil Barrel Finish – Cut Spike Distillery – Nebraska
Bronze – Deadwood Stout Cask Finish Bourbon Whiskey – Lonerider Spirits – North Carolina
Flavored Whiskey
Gold – 8-Ball Premium Chocolate Whiskey – 8-Ball Whiskey
Silver – Junction 35 Cinnamon Whiskey – Junction 35 Spirits
Bronze – Blizzard Peak Chile – Spirits of the Rockies – Colorado
Non-Tradional Barrel Aging
Gold – Smok’n Bourbon Whiskey Finished With Smoked Hickory Wood – Cleveland Whiskey – Ohio
Silver – Cleveland Black Reserve Bourbon Whiskey – Cleveland Whiskey – Ohio
Bronze – Cut Spike Maple Barrel Finish – Cut Spike Distillery – Nebraska
U.S. Open Spirits Championship
Brandy, Liqueurs and Anything goes
Gold – Cantaloupe Brandy – Spirits of the Rockies- Colorado
Silver – Voltage Peppermint Schnapps – Sycamore Distilling – Ohio
Bronze – Fernet Michaud – Liquid Riot Bottling Company – Maine
Bronze – Rivulet Artisan Pecan Liqueur – C88 Holdings – Kentucky
Can Cocktails
Gold – Blueberry Lemonade Vodka – Dry County Spirits – Georgia
Silver – Whiskey Mule – Lonerider Spirits – North Carolina
Bronze – Mango Peach Lemonade Vodka – Dry County Spirits – Georgia
Moonshine(Corn, Aged, Flavored)
Gold – Sugar Shack – Silver Fox Distillery – Ontario
Silver – Junior Walton’s Premium Select – Walton’s Distillery – North Carolina
Bronze – 4 Peppercorns – Silver Fox Distillery – Ontario
Gin
Gold – Two Minnies Gin – Acre Distilling – Texas
Silver – Kupu Gin – Kupu Spirits – Hawaii
Bronze – Knox Joseph Distillery – Wyatt Jack Golden Gin – Ohio
Gin Flavored / Infused
Gold – Lochside Summer Gin – James Bay Distillers – Washington
Silver – Spirit of Prohibition – Dark Door Spirits – Florida
Barrel Aged Gin
Gold – Green Label Barrel Aged Gin – Lockhouse Distillery – New York
Silver – Rehorst Barrel Reserve Gin – Great Lakes Distillery – Wisconsin
Bronze – Thornapple Artisan Spirits Barrel Finished Gin – Thornapple Artisan Spirits – Michigan
Bronze – Barrel Rested Gin – Corgi Spirits – New Jersey
Vodka
Gold – Vodka – Wild Leap Brew Co. – Georgia
Silver – Vodka – Spring Mill Distillery – Ontario
Bronze – Rye Vodka – Black Bear Distillery – Colorado
Vodka Flavored / Infused
Gold – Teller Blueberry Lavender Infused Vodka – Safe House Distilling – New Mexico
Silver – Blueberry Vodka – Barley Creek Distilling – Pennsylvania
Bronze – Teller Green Chile Infused Vodka – Safe House Distilling – New Mexico
Barrel Aged Vodka
Gold – Golden Halo Vodka – Acre Distilling – Texas
Rum Spiced
Gold – Spiced Rum – Three Crosses Distillery – Virginia
Silver – Spiced Rum – Barley Creek Distillery – Pennsylvania
Dark/Barrel Aged Rum
Gold – Libertas Colonial Rum – Brickway Distillery – Nebraska
Silver – Dow’s Demise Dark Rum – Liquid Riot Bottling Company – Maine
Bronze – School Spirits Small Batch Rum – Niagara College – Ontario
Bronze – Bronze – Hell’s Half Acre Rum – Acre Distilling – Texas