Seven members of the Michigan Craft Distillers Association (MCDA) brought home a collective 18 medals from the Fourth Annual Judging of Craft Spirits, held February 16, 2017 at the American Craft Spirits Association (ASCA) Annual Distillers Convention and Vendor Trade in Nashville, Tenn.
The winners were hand-selected among a record-breaking pool of more than 550 entrants – up more than 20 percent over last year – from 39 states. Michigan medals include:
GIN
- Gold: Arbor Fall Gin from Ann Arbor Distilling Company in Ann Arbor
- Silver: Long Road Gin from Long Road Distillers in Grand Rapids
- Bronze: Arbor Winter Gin from Ann Arbor Distilling Company in Ann Arbor
- Bronze: Barrel Finished Hopped Gin from Gray Skies Distillery in Grand Rapids
- Bronze: Knickerbocker Gin from New Holland Artisan Spirits in Holland
- Bronze: Knickerbocker Barrel Gin from New Holland Artisan Spirits in Holland
BRANDY
- Bronze: Long Road Cherry Brandy from Long Road Distillers in Grand Rapids
RUM
- Bronze: Freshwater Michigan Rum from New Holland Artisan Spirits in Holland
WHISKEY
- Silver: Apple Sauce from Motor City Gas in Royal Oak
- Bronze: Butcher’s Cut Bourbon from Detroit City Distillery in Detroit
- Homegrown Rye Whiskey from Detroit City Distillery in Detroit
- Royal Oaked Rye from Motor City Gas in Royal Oak
- Zeppelin Bend from New Holland Artisan Spirits in Holland
- Zeppelin Bend Reserve from New Holland Artisan Spirits in Holland
- J. Riddle Peated Bourbon from Two James Spirits in Detroit
- Catcher’s Rye Whiskey – 100% Michigan Rye from Two James Spirits in Detroit
SPECIALTY SPIRITS
- Gold: Long Road Aquavit from Long Road Distillers in Grand Rapids
- Bronze: Clockwork Orange from New Holland Artisan Spirits in Holland
The top awarded spirits were then judged a final time in consideration of a Best in Class / Best in Show distinction. Long Road Distillers also brought home “Best of Show” and “Best of Class” recognitions for its Long Road Aquavit. According to ACSA, “the judging chairs collected votes from each panel member for their favorite spirits. If the results were conclusive on the first vote, the results were then recorded. If the results were inconclusive, the judges used a ranked scoring, allowing three points for first place, two points for second place and one point for third place. The spirit that received the highest score in each category was then named Best of Class.”
The Michigan Craft Distillers Association is a member of the American Craft Spirits Association—the only registered non-profit trade association representing the U.S. craft spirits industry. ACSA’s mission is to elevate and advocate for the community of craft spirits producers, and membership in ACSA is open to anyone.
The Michigan Craft Distillers Association was formed in October, 2104 as a non-profit organization charged with marketing the individual member businesses, their products and events, but also help bring a voice for the industry when it comes to legislative issues that affect the overall beverage industry.
MCDA currently represents more than two dozen distilleries with nearly 40 unique tasting room locations around the state, as well as a handful of distillery in-planning members and nearly 30 allied members. Michigan’s craft distilling industry is growing at a rapid pace – ranking #11 in the nation in terms of overall number of distilleries.
