Known as the “Oscars of Booze,” six Virginia-based distilleries won awards at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, one of the most prestigious spirits competitions in the world.
This year’s awards were held April 1-20 at One Market Restaurant in San Francisco, featuring 3,800 entries from around the world. Fifty-six judges from around the globe gathered to taste the entries and bestow accolades for Best White Spirit, Best Whiskey, Best Brandy and Best Liqueur. There are also Best in Category awards that span 79 different classes of spirits.
Each entry was subjected to rounds of blind tastings and individual evaluation on both the taste and design by the judges. Virginia’s own A. Smith Bowman Distillery, Copper Fox Distillery, Devils Backbone Distilling Co., Filibuster Distillery, Ragged Branch Distillery and Virginia Distillery Co. won for their spirits.
Below are the awards won by Virginia spirits for double gold, gold, silver and bronze, including the category it won in. Spirits awarded Double Gold received Gold medal ratings from every member on the judging panel. Click here to view the full results.
Double Gold
- Filibuster Single Estate Bourbon: Single Barrel Bourbon Up to 10 Years
- Filibuster Rye: Rye Whisky
- John J. Bowman Single Barrel Virginia Straight Bourbon: Single Barrel Bourbon Up to 10 Years
- Virginia Distillery Co. Courage & Conviction Bourbon Cask: Other Single Malt Whiskey
- Virginia Distillery Co. Courage & Conviction Cuvee Cask: Other Single Malt Whiskey
Gold
- Copper Fox Sassy Rye Single Malt: Other Single Malt Whiskey
- Devils Backbone Distilling Co. Virginia Pine Gin: Gin
- Devils Backbone Lemonade Smash Vodka: Pre-Mixed Cocktails
- George Bowman Rum: Dark/Gold Rum
- Ragged Branch Napotnik Reserve Straight Rye Whiskey Barrel Proof: Rye Whiskey
Silver
- Bowman Brothers Small Batch Deep Run Vodka: Vodka
- Bowman Brothers Small Batch Virginia Straight Bourbon: Small Batch Bourbon 6 to 10 Years
- Devils Backbone Distilling Co. Orange Smash Vodka: Pre-Mixed Cocktails
- Devils Backbone Distilling Co. Grapefruit Smash Vodka: Pre-Mixed Cocktails
- Devils Backbone Distilling Co. Vodka Mule: Pre-Mixed Cocktails
- Filibuster Dual Cask Gin: Barrel-Aged Gin
- Filibuster Bourbon: Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon
- Isaac Bowman Port Finished Virginia Straight Bourbon: Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon
- Ragged Branch Wheated Straight Bourbon: Craft Distiller Whiskey
- Ragged Branch Signature Straight Bourbon: Craft Distiller Whiskey
- Ragged Branch Double Oaked Wheated Straight Bourbon: Single Barrel Bourbon
- Ragged Branch Bottled in Bond Douable Oaked Signature Bourbon: Single Barrel Bourbon
- Ragged Branch Wine Barrel Finished Bourbon: Special Barrel-Finished Bourbon
Bronze
- Bowman Brothers Sunset Hills Small Batch Gin: Gin
- Filibuster Gin Rose: Flavored Gin
- Filibuster Boondoggler: American Blended Whiskey
- Ragged Branch Bottled in Bond Virginia Straight Rye Whiskey: Rye Whiskey
Author: Arielle Patterson
