At the 2024 American Distilling Institute (ADI) International Spirits Competition (ISC) judging, the winners showcased the diverse range of American whiskeys. Two American whiskeys, an American single malt and a Tennessee whiskey, took Best of Class honors, while three others, a rye whiskey, a flavored whiskey, and a cask finished whiskey, took Best of Category honors.
The annual competition, a springtime event that draws some of America’s top spirit judges, is a prestigious platform that spotlights leading craft distillers and their spirits among American and international producers. This year, the competition once again proved its significance, with numerous up-and-coming distillers earning Double Gold and Gold medals.
The ISC designates the top spirits in each category as Best of Class, while the top spirits in each sub-category are designated Best of Category. The Best of Class winners are chosen from the Best of Category winners.
The Best of Class American Single Malt is Altered State Distillery, Cask Series Single Malt Whiskey, No-Age-Statement, 46% ABV, 750 ml.
Altered State Distillery’s Cask Series Single Malt Whiskey is a premium whiskey offering from a craft distillery in Erie, Pennsylvania. It is part of their Cask Series. The whiskeys in the series are finished in a selection of different barrels to develop their unique flavor profiles. This expression was finished in casks that previously held Oloroso Sherry from Spain.
The exact aging process and cask selection for the Cask Series Single Malt Whiskey may vary, but it is typically aged for a number of years to develop depth and complexity. The flavor profile may include notes of caramel, toffee, oak, and spice, with a smooth and lingering finish.
The ADI Judging Panel described the whiskey as:
Slightly savory on the nose with aromas of furniture wax, hints of leather, and well-seasoned oak. On the palate, it’s smooth and creamy with hints of tropical and stone fruits. The finish is long, sweet, and fruity.
The Best of Class Bottled & Blended is Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery, Nelson Brothers Straight Rye Whiskey, No-Age-Statement, 46.25%, 750 ml.
Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery, based in Nashville, Tennessee, has a rich history and represents a revival of a family distilling legacy dating back to the 19th century.
This rye whiskey is crafted using a high-rye mash bill. The whiskey is known for its bold, robust and spicy flavors, including notes of pepper, cinnamon, and oak, with a smooth and lingering finish. It embodies the classic American rye whiskey style.
The ADI Judging Panel described the rye whiskey as featuring:
Savory aromas along with caramel, wood spice, and seasoned oak on the nose. On the palate its sweet with fruit notes of orchard fruit and stone fruit, with hints of tropical fruit and milk chocolate. The finish is long and sweet with notes of fruit and hints of milk chocolate and a mild but lingering pepperiness.
The Best of Category Distilled Rye Whiskey is Shady Knoll Orchards & Distillery, Rye Whiskey, No-Age-Statement, 59% ABV, 750 ml.
Shady Knoll Orchards & Distillery’s Rye Whiskey is a unique expression crafted by a small-batch distillery located in Massachusetts. Known for its artisanal approach, Shady Knoll produces spirits that reflect the character of their local terroir.
This rye whiskey is made from a four-grain mash bill. The percentage of rye grain in the mash bill is not disclosed. Rye grain imparts spicy and robust flavors to whiskey.
Shady Knoll Orchards & Distillery’s Rye Whiskey is characterized by its bold and distinct flavor profile featuring prominent notes of, caramel, wood spices, and oak.
The ADI Judging Panel described the rye whiskey as showing:
A bit of caramel and fruitiness on the nose. On the palate it’s very smooth with pronounced stone and tropical fruit notes along with cinnamon and a bit of clove. The finish is long and smooth with a lingering fruitiness.
The Best of Category Tennessee Whiskey is Nearest Green Distillery, Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch Whiskey, No-Age-Statement, 46.5% ABV, 750 ml.
Nearest Green Distillery is a Tennessee-based company that honors the legacy of Nathan “Nearest” Green, an African American master distiller who played a significant role in the development of Tennessee whiskey and who is closely associated with Jack Daniel. The distillery bottles Uncle Nearest 1884 Small Batch Whiskey, named in honor of Nearest Green and the year he is believed to have started working with Jack Daniel. The company has been a persistent winner in international spirit competitions.
The whiskey is characterized by its smooth and mellow taste, with notes of caramel, vanilla, and oak.
The ADI Judging panel described the whiskey as featuring:
A distinct note of brown sugar and caramel on the nose, along with some fruitiness. On the palate, the whisky has a candied sweetness with a pronounced note of cinnamon spice, pepper, and a distinctive fruitiness. The finish is smooth, long, and sweet with a persistent fruitiness.
The Best in Category Distilled Whiskey is Quartz Mountain Distillers, Imperial Stout Finished Whiskey, 2 YO, 48.5% ABV, 750 ml.
Quartz Mountain Distillers’ Imperial Stout Finished Whiskey is a unique and innovative expression crafted by a distillery based in Vancouver, Washington. Known for their experimental approach to whiskey making, Quartz Mountain Distillers combines traditional techniques with creative finishing methods to create distinctive spirits.
What sets this whiskey expression apart is its finishing process. It is aged for a period of time in barrels that previously held imperial stout beer.
The imperial stout beer barrels impart rich and complex flavors to the whiskey, adding notes of roasted malt, chocolate, and coffee to the spirit. The result is a whiskey with a unique flavor profile that combines the rich, malty characteristics of stout beer with the smoothness and complexity of whiskey.
The ADI Judging Panel described the whiskey as exhibiting:
Savory and caramel aromas on the nose. On the palate, the whiskey features notes of tropical fruits, milk chocolate, and hints of coffee with a mild but lingering pepperiness. The finish is sweetish with persistent tropical fruit and milk chocolate notes.
The Best in Category Flavored Whiskey is MurLarkey Distilled Spirits, Three Tea Whiskey, No-Age-Statement, 40% ABV, 375 ml/750 ml.
MurLarkey Distilled Spirits is a craft distillery based in Virginia. Their Three Tea Whiskey is infused with a blend of three teas: green tea, black tea, and oolong tea. The teas are selected to impart their distinct flavors and aromas to the spirit. The infusion takes place immediately after distillation, allowing the flavors to meld together and create a harmonious blend.
The result is a whiskey with a complex flavor profile that includes notes of tea, honey, and spices, balanced by the smoothness of the underlying whiskey.
The ADI Judging Panel described the Three Tea Whiskey as featuring:
Pronounced herbal, fruity, and vegetative notes on the nose. The palate is smooth, with slight tropical fruit notes and mildly peppery. The finish is long, sweet, fruity, and mildly peppery.
The 2024 ADI winners highlighted an impressive class of up-and-coming distillers. Some of the winners are historic producers, some are well-known craft distillers, while others are still relatively new with limited national distribution.
All of them produce outstanding whiskeys and are very reasonably priced, however, and are well worth seeking out. Once again, ADI has done a superb job of identifying the craft distillery industry’s up-and-coming bourbon producers.
See the ADI’s website for a complete listing of all the medalists in the American Distilling Institute’s International Spirits Competition.
Cheers