Oxford, Ohio(March 18) – The 2022 U.S. Open Whiskey & Spirits has moved the final day to register to March 22nd. After 2 years of COVID, we forgot that yesterday was St. Patrick’s Day when we scheduled this year’s U.S. Open. Also, the final day for your entries to arrive in Oxford, Ohio has been moved to March 28th. The medal winners and Grand National Champion will be announced on April 18th. The U.S. Open is open to only licensed distilleries.
The U.S. Open Whiskey Championship works with the Niagara College Teaching Distillery, and the judges are Niagara College’s Instructors and distillers from the surrounding area. This competition is blind, and the judges do not know what Whiskeys/Spirits they are tasting. The preliminary rounds will be held at the U.S. Open Event Center in Oxford, while the final round of judging will be held in Buffalo, New York.
Call for Entries
Each distillery may enter a maximum of 10 spirits. The entry fee will be $75 per whiskey/spirit. To be considered one of the Top Ten Distilleries, a distillery must submit a minimum of 4 Whiskeys/Spirits. To enter, click here for registration.
Over 25 categories will be judged this year, and winners will receive a medal in the shape of a Whiskey Barrel Lid for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. Plus, the Top 10 Distilleries overall will be featured in on USWhiskeyReport.com. Along with the medals awarded, the judges award a Grand National Champion’s plaque based on a point system for Whiskeys/Spirits entered in the competition.
The 2021 U. S. Open Whiskey & Spirits Championships
Moylan’s Distilling in Petaluma, California was named the U.S. Open Whiskey’s Grand National Champion after winning two gold medals, a silver and two bronze medals. Their Moylan’s Cask Strength Bourbon was a favorite among the judges. While, Great Lakes Distillery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin was named the 2021 U.S. Open Spirits’ Grand National Champion by winning an amazing four gold medals.
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 judging was delayed a little due to COVID. Canadian entries were judged by distillers and instructors from Niagara College in Welland, Ontario. The American entries were judged by distillers and Whiskey and Spirits experts in Oxford, Ohio(the home of the U.S. Open) and Buffalo, New York.
Here are the Top Distilleries and the medal winners.
Top 5 Whiskey Distilleries
1. Moylan’s Distilling – California
2. Cincinnati Distilling – Ohio
3. Weldon Mills Distillery – North Carolina
4. Devils River Distillery – Texas
5. Hill Top Distillery – Virginia
Top 5 Spirits Distilleries
1. Great Lakes Distillery – Wisconsin
2. Collective Arts – Ontario
3. Weldon Mills Distillery – North Carolina
4. Silver Fox Distillery – Ontario
5. Dry County Brands – Georgia
Bourbon
Gold – Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Aged Whiskey – Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey – Tennessee
Silver – Hill Top Straight Bourbon – Hill Top Distillery – Virginia
Bronze – Town Branch Bourbon – Town Branch Distillery – Kentucky
Bourbon (1-3 years)
Gold – Weldon Mills – Soldier’s Cut Bourbon Whiskey – North Carolina
Silver – Devils River Distiller’s Select – Devils River Distillery – Texas
Bronze – Longhair Jim – Acre Distilling – Texas
Small batch Bourbon(4-11 years)
Gold – Moylan’s Cask Strength Bourbon – Moylan’s Distilling – California
Silver – Rubicon Creek – Dayton Barrel Works Artisan Distillery – Ohio
Bronze – Uncle Nearest 1884 Premium – Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey – Tennessee
Single Barrel Whiskey
Gold – Blizzard Peak Single Barrel – Spirits of the Rockies – Colorado
Silver – Spirit of the Oak Shareholders Barrel Select – Dark Door Spirits – Florida
Bronze – Devils River Single Barrel – Devils River Distillery – Texas
Single Malt Whiskey
Gold – Fat Pug American Malt Whiskey – Maplewood Brewery & Distillery – Illinois
Silver – Alley 6 Single Malt Whiskey – Alley 6 Craft Distillery – California
Bronze – Moylan’s American Single Malt Whisky – Moylan’s Distilling – California
Rye Whiskey
Gold – Moylan’s Resistance Rye – Moylan’s Distilling – California
Silver – Cincinnati Rye Whiskey – Cincinnati Distilling – Ohio
Bronze – Spirit of Harvest – Dark Door Spirits – Florida
Bronze – Miami Valley Rye – Dayton Barrel Works Artisan Distillery – Ohio
Blended Whiskey
Gold – James Scott Blended Whiskey – Knox Joseph Distillery- Ohio
Silver – Wonderland Blend of Straight Whiskies – Wonderland Distilling – Michigan
Bronze – Matthew McD’s Straight Whiskey – Acre Distilling – Texas
Craft Whiskey
Gold – Hill Top Whiskey – Hill Top Distillery – Virginia
Silver – Moylan’s Sherry Barrel Finished Whisky – Moylan’s Distilling – California
Bronze – Moylan’s Port Barrel Finished Whisky – Moylan’s Distilling – California
International Whisk(e)y
Gold – Galloping Goose Finished in Amontillado Barrels – James Bay Distillers – Washington
Silver – Ha’Penny Irish Whiskey – Town Branch Distillery – Kentucky(Ireland)
Bronze – White Rye – Silver Fox Distillery – Ontario
Beer Distilled Whiskey
Gold – Jack’s Abby Smoke & Dagger American Whiskey – Berkshire Mountain Distillers – Massachusetts
Silver – Grand Canyon Fire Line – Grand Canyon Distillery – Arizona
Bronze – Hop Along Cassidy – Acre Distilling – Texas
Whiskey Aged in Beer Barrels
Gold – Straight Bourbon Whiskey Deadwood Cask Finish – Lonerider Spirits – North Carolina
Silver – Stout Cask Finished Bourbon – Cincinnati Distilling – Ohio
Bronze – Beer Barrel Bourbon – New Holland Brewing – Michigan
Cinnamon Whiskey
Gold – Fire Brigade Cinnamon Whiskey – Cincinnati Distilling – Ohio
Silver – Cinnamon Girl – Acre Distilling – Texas
Bronze – Cinnamon Fire Thunder Snow – Grand Canyon Distillery – Arizona
Flavored Whiskey
Gold – Devils River Coffee Bourbon – Devils River Distillery – Texas
Silver – Southern Roots – Weldon Mills Distillery – North Carolina
Bronze – No Award
Whiskey in Non-Traditional Barrel Aging
Gold – Wheat Penny – Cleveland Whiskey – Ohio
Silver – Underground Rye Whiskey – Cleveland Whiskey – Ohio
Bronze – BARGO 459 – BarJack LLC DBA BARGO 459 – Kentucky
Whiskey Anything Goes
Gold – Three Crosses American Whiskey Barrel Proof – Three Crosses Distilling – Virginia
Silver – Rockfish Whiskey – Weldon Mills Distillery – North Carolina
Bronze – Honey Whiskey – Cincinnati Distilling – Ohio
Traditional Moonshine
Gold – Corn – Flatrock Distilling – Ohio
Silver – Fox Shine Siesta – Silver Fox Distillery – Ontario
Bronze – Skyshine – Skyroc Distillery – Massachusetts
Flavored Moonshine
Gold – Blackberry Gooch Hooch – Hill Top Distillery – Virginia
Silver – 4 Peppercorn – Silver Fox Distillery – Ontario
Bronze – Lemon Top Moonshine – Hill Top Distillery – Virginia
Gin
Gold – Gin – Great Lakes Distillery – Wisconsin
Gold – Gin – Collective Arts Distilling – Ontario
Silver – Thornapple Artisan Spirits – Michigan
Bronze – Small Batch Gin – Gervasi Spirits – Ohio
Gin Other(Flavor and Barrel)
Gold – Rhubarb & Hibiscus – Collective Arts Distilling – Ontario
Silver – Wyatt Jack Glacial Gin – Knox Joseph Distillery – Ohio
Bronze – Meander Wooded Gin – Acre Distilling – Texas
VODKA
Gold – Rehorst Vodka – Great Lakes Distilling – Wisconsin
Silver – House Vodka – Weldon Mills Distillery – North Carolina
Bronze – Vodka – Northern Row Brewery & Distillery – Ohio
Bronze – Sterling – Silver Fox Distillery – Ontario
VODKA Specialty(Flavor & Barrel Aged)
Gold – Rehorst Citrus Honey Vodka – Great Lakes Distillery – Wisconsin
Silver – WMD Cinnamon Flavored Vodka – Weldon Mills Distillery – North Carolina
Bronze – Orange Blossom Vodka – Grand Canyon Distillery – Arizona
Rum
Gold – Hell’s Half Acre Rum – Acre Distilling – Texas
Silver – Libertas Colonial Rum – Brickway Distillery – Nebraska
Bronze – Grand Canyon Rum – Grand Canyon Distillery – Arizona
Bronze – Five Stories Barrel Aged Rum – Northern Row Brewery & Distillery – Ohio
Specialty Spirits
Gold – Weldon Orchards – Weldon Mills Distilling – North Carolina
Silver – Dracula’s Flower – Silver Fox Distillery – Ontario
Bronze – Ambrosia – Niagara College – Ontario
Bronze – Third Stage Absinthe Verte – Third Stage Absinthe – Tennessee
Can Cocktails
Gold – Pink Gin & Soda Raspberry & Bitter Orange – Collective Arts Distilling – Ontario
Gold – Strawberry Mango RTD Cocktail – Wild Leap Brew – Georgia
Silver – Pink Gin & Soda Rhubarb and Hibiscus – Collective Arts Distilling – Ontario
Bronze – Dry County Strawberry Lemonade – Dry County Brands – Georgia
Liqueurs
Gold – Good Land Cranberry Liqueur – Great Lakes Distillery – Wisconsin
Silver – Blizzard Peak Frost – Spirits of the Rockies – Colorado
Bronze – BLU – Gervasi Spirits – Ohio
Bottle Mix Drinks
Gold – Dry County Manhattan – Dry County Brands – Georgia
Silver – Espresso Martini – Boston Harbor Distillery – Massachusetts
Bronze – Dry County Old Fashioned – Dry County Brands – Georgia
Agave and Similar Spirits
Gold – Okolehao – Hawaiian Ola Brewing – Hawaii
Silver – Dos Gringos Agave Spirits – Red Horse Distillery – Ohio
Bronze – No Award