The Winners of the 2022 Sunset International Spirits Competition
Cheers to the 2022 winners of the West’s premier competition honoring the best whiskies, bourbons, gins, rums, and liqueurs.
Thomas J. Story
Our judging panel of sommeliers, distillers, and drink experts tasted hundreds of bottles to choose the best whiskies, bourbons, gins, rums, and liqueurs in the West. Take a look at this year’s crop of winners of the Sunset International Spirits Competition and raise a glass to them.
| Brand | Name | Award | Extra Honors | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Beaver Distillery |  Biba Soju—Buy It! | Gold | Best Asian Spirits | goldenbeaverdistillery.com |
| Calisco Spirits |  Spirit of California—Buy It! | Double Gold/Best of Class | Best Brandy | caliscospirits.com |
| Cachaça Bela |  OURO—Buy It! | Best of Class | Best Cachaça | cachacabela.com |
| Branson Cognac | VSOP Grand Champagne | Best of Class/Double Gold | Best Cognac | sirespirits.com |
| Jettywave Distillery | California Botanical Gin | Double Gold/Best of the Best/Best of Class | Best Gin | jettywave.com |
| Wild Roots | Orange & Bergamot Gin | Best Gin – flavored/ infused | wildrootsspirits.com | |
| Kamiki | Kamiki Sakura Wood Whisky | Best Japanese Whiskey | yoshinospirits.com | |
| Cutwater Spirits | Cutwater Mezcal Anejo | Best of Class | Best Mezcal | cutwaterspirits.com |
| Absinthia Cocktail Syrups |  Caged Heat—Buy It! | Best Non-Alcoholic Mixer | absinthia.com | |
| Axia Spirit | Axia | Best Other White Spirits | axiaspirit.com | |
| Cutwater Spirits | Cutwater Tropical Tiki Rum Mai Tai | Double Gold/Best of Class | Best RTD (Ready to Drink) | cutwaterspirits.com |
| Kula Rum | Kula Dark Rum | Double Gold/Best of Class | Best Rum | hawaiiseaspirits.com |
| Mad March Hare | Mad March Hare Irish Poitín | Double Gold/Best of Class | Best Specialty | intrepid-spirits.com |
| Don Londres Blanco | Don Londres | Best of Class | Best Tequila | donlondres.com |
| Rancho La Gloria | Jalapeño Lime Infused Tequila | Best of Class | Best Tequila – flavored/ infused | rancholagloria.com |
| Spirit Works Distillery | Vodka | Double Gold | Best Vodka | spiritworksdistillery.com |
| Waterford Whisky | Rathclogh: Edition 1.1 | Double Gold/Best of Class | Best Whiskey | waterfordwhisky.com |
| Absinthia Organic Absinthe Superieure | Absinthia Absinthe Verte—Buy It! | Double Gold/Best of Class | Best Woman Distiller, Best Liqueur | absinthia.com |
| Pendleton Whisky | 1910 | Double Gold/Best of Class | pendletonwhisky.com | |
| Cutwater Spirits | Cutwater Tequila Anejo | Best of Class | cutwaterspirits.com | |
| Familia Camarena | Tequila Reposado | Best of Class | gallo.com | |
| High Noon Hard Seltzer | High Noon Peach | Gold/Best of Class/ | gallo.com | |
| Cierto Tequila | Tequila,Reserve Collection, Extra Anejo | Best of Class | cierto.com | |
| Garrison Brothers | Garrison Brothers Single Barrel Cask Strength Barrel #10101 | Double Gold/Best of Class/ | garrisonbros.com | |
| Garrison Brothers | Garrison Brothers HoneyDew | Double Gold/Best of Class | garrisonbros.com | |
| McFarlane's Reserve | McFarlane's Reserve 13 | Double Gold/Best of Class/ | linkedin.com/company/ijw-whiskey-company | |
| Rossville Union Barrel Proof | Rossville 2022 Union Barrel Proof | Double Gold/Best of Class/ | mgpingredients.com | |
| Yellowstone Select Bourbon | Yellowstone Select | Double Gold/Best of Class | mgpingredients.com | |
| Dough Ball Whiskey | Dough Ball Whiskey | Best of Class | doughballwhiskey.com | |
| Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey | Uncle Nearest Master Blend Edition - Batch 012 | Double Gold/Best of Class | unclenearest.com | |
| Egan's Irish Whiskey | Conviction | Best of Class | eganswhiskey.com | |
| William Wolf | American Whiskey | Double Gold/Best of Class | thinklikeawolf.com |
Don’t miss our other honorees
Read the 2023 Spirits Issue
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