Two American single malt whiskeys won Platinum medals; two took Gold medals at the 2023 Las Vegas Global Spirit Awards (LVGSA). One American blended whiskey and one flavored whiskey also took Gold medals.
High Peaks Distillers, Cloudsplitter Straight Single Malt Whiskey, 46% ABV, 750 ml, 97/100 points, won a Platinum medal and was also picked as the Best American Single Malt Whiskey. High Peaks Distilling is located in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. It describes itself as a âbrewerâs distillery.â Like many of todayâs craft distillers, the company’s founder, John Carr, began his career as a brewer.
The LVGSA Judging Panel described the Cloudsplitter Straight Single Malt Whiskey as featuring:
Floral and earthy notes with a touch of peat smoke on the nose accompanied by honey, caramel, and dried fruit aromas. On the palate, it is sweet and smooth and just slightly herbal, with notes of anise/licorice, caramel, vanilla, dried fruit notes of orchard fruit, cherry and melon, spice notes of cinnamon and nutmeg, and hints of leather, and a bit of wet stone minerality. The finish is long and sweet, with lingering notes of dried fruit, wood spices, and a hint of cold smoke.
Also winning a Platinum medal was The Macklowe Whiskey, Private Collection, 46%, 700 ml, 96/100 points.
OakPacker, American Single Malt Whiskey, 46% ABV, 750 ml, 94/100 points, and Brother Justus Whiskey Company, American Single Malt Whiskey, 43% ABV, 750 ml, 94/100 points, won Gold medals. OatPacker utilizes air-harvested water for making its whiskey. The companyâs proprietary technology allows it to draw water directly from the atmosphere for mashing.
Lightburn Spirits, Rimfire Mountain Whiskey, 42% ABV, 750 ml, 94/100 points. Rimfire was also picked as the Best American Blended Whiskey. According to the company, the whiskey is a blend of âaged premium bourbon and light American whiskey.â
Light whiskey refers to whiskey aged in used or uncharred oak casks and distilled between 160 and 190 proof (80% to 95% ABV). Bourbon, by contrast, has to be distilled at proofs less than 160/80% ABV. The term âlightâ refers to flavor intensity, not the alcoholic content of the whiskey. Spirits distilled at high proofs will have fewer flavor elements. They are more vodka-like and hence are termed as âlight.â
Ole Smokey Distillery, Tennessee Made Peanut Butter Mountain Whiskey, 30% ABV, 750 ml, 91/100 points, won a Gold medal in the Flavored Whiskey category and was picked as the Best Flavored Whiskey. Ole Smokey Distillery produces a range of flavored whiskeys and moonshines, ranging from Hot and Spicy Pickles to Pumpkin Pie to Cookie Dough.
Flavored whiskeys are the fastest-growing category of the American whiskey market. According to IWSR Drinks Market Analysis, flavored whiskeys accounted for 23% of the US whiskey market in 2022, up from 17% in 2017, representing a CAGR of 11%. A handful of Canadian brands, particularly Crown Royal, dominate the flavored whisky market in the US. Flavored whiskeys represented 49% of all Canadian whiskies sold in the US in 2022, up from 33% in 2017. American flavored whiskey brands account for 15% of the American whiskey market in 2022, up from 12% in 2017.
The LVGSA was founded in 2016 and is now in its seventh year. As the largest spirits competition in Las Vegas, it has consistently exerted a broad national influence. Not only is Las Vegas a significant beverage market, but the cityâs burgeoning restaurant and mixology community has increasingly gained a reputation for innovation, placing it on the cutting edge of national trends. Moreover, craft brands that win Platinum and Gold medals in the competition are almost always offered distribution in Nevada. For an aspiring craft distiller, placement in the high-profile Las Vegas market is often critical to obtaining national distribution.
The 2023 Las Vegas Global Spirit Awards showcased several outstanding whiskeys. From American single malts to peanut-flavored whiskeys, there is something among the medalists for every palate style.
Cheers