All the Winners of Sunset’s 2019 International Spirit Awards
We gathered a panel of expert judges to sample hundreds of spirits and find the best whiskey, gin, vodka, soju, and more in the West
Thomas J. Story
This year introduced the very first Sunset Spirit Awards, a weekend-long event where our panel of expert judges gathered in Sonoma County to sample hundreds of spirits comprising our inaugural competition slate. Together, they canvassed the Western liquor landscape, sipped through swathes of spirits, and arrived at a consensus group of winners. Here’s the complete list of winners and runners-up—now get to sipping.
Winners
Best of Show
Crater Lake Spirits Black Butte Whiskey
Best Vodka
Brandies
Best American Grape Brandy
O’Neill Vintners and Distillers BrandyLab
Best Eau-de-Vie
New Deal Distillery New Deal Pear Brandy
Best Cachaca – Aged
Best Mixer – Bloody Mary
Smokin Mary Smoked Bloody Mary Mix
Best Bacanora – Comiteco
Best Rum – White
Gin
Best Dry, London Dry
Great Women Spirits Ada Lovelace Gin
Best Gin – Flavored, Infused – Distilled
Lee Spirits Company Strawberry Ginger Gin
Best Gin – Distilled
Mythology Distillery Needle Pig Gin
Whiskeys
Best American Craft Whiskey – Luxury
Crater Lake Spirits Black Butte Whiskey
Best American Straight Rye Whiskey, Premium
Redwood EmpireWhiskey Emerald Giant Rye Whiskey
Best Small Batch American Aged Rye Whiskey – Premium
Barber Lee Spirits Single Malt Rye
Best Small Batch Bourbon 10 Years and Younger – Ultra Premium
Denny bar Company The Devil’s Tell Whiskey
Best Small Batch Bourbon 11 Years and Older – Premium
Eastside Distilling Burnside Buckham Reserve
Best Whiskeys Special Barrel Finished Bourbon – Ultra Premium
Savage & Cooke The Burning Chair
Best Straight Bourbon – Luxury
Garrison Brothers Texas Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Best Tennessee Whiskey – Ultra Premium
Uncle Nearest 1856 Premium Whiskey
Liqueurs and Others
Best Absinthe
Barber Lee Spirits Absinthe Blanche
Best Herbal Botanical
Spiritopia Ginger Liqueur
Best Fruit Liqueur
Skip Rock Distillers Raspberry Liqueur
Best Chocolate Liqueur
Denny Bar Company Zen De La Creme – Chocolate Liqueur
Best Coffee Liqueur
Laurel Canyon Spirits Black Hjerte
Best Soju / Shochu
American Soju Cucumber
Runners-Up
Double Gold
Southern Star Double Shot Coffee Bourbon Cream Liqueur
Breckenridge Distillery Breckenridge Gin
California Distilled Spirits Darjeeling Gin
Highclere Castle Gin
Blinking Owl Distillery Gin
Cutler’s Gin
High Noon Hard Seltzer Can
Spiritopia Peppermint Liqueur
Four Roses Small Batch
Oak & Eden Bourbon & Vine
Oak & Eden Bourbon & Spire
Gold
503 Distilling The Blood Orange Bloodhound
Contigo
Redwood Empire Whiskey Lost Monarch Blend of Straight Whiskeys
Mythology Distillery Hell Bear
Virginia-Highland Whiskey Port Cask Finished
Doc Swinson’s Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Rum Casks
Oak & Eden Rye & Spire
Savage & Cooke Lip Service
Mezcal El Tinieblo El Tinieblo Joven
Smokin Mary Green with Envy
E&J Distillers XO
Cocktail Squad Blackberry Bourbon Smash
Eastside Distilling Portland Mule Marionberry
Longtucky Spirits Caribbean Queen
314 Huellas Bacanora
Alquimia Organic Alquimia Extra Anejo
Parce Ron Reserva Especial 8
Parce Ron Reserva Especial 12
Pur Spirits Williams Pear Liqueur
Chapter One Navy Strength Gin
Half Moon Bay Distillery Harvard Avenue Gin
Urban Press Spirits Affinity Gin
Trail Distilling Trillium Gin
Longtucky Spirits Alpine Dry Gin
Shelter Distilling O’Pinyon Gin
High Noon Hard Seltzer Can
Cocalero Cocalero Clasico
Encino Lady Mi Corazon
Bear Flight
Willow Creek Distillery Malt & Oats
Blue Marble Cocktails Moscow Mule
Buzzbox Mojito Cuban Mojito
Straightaway paper Plane
Straightaway Lintik
Camarena Reposado
Batiste Rhum Batiste Rhum Ecoiste Silver
Camarena Silver/Plato
Egan’s Irish Whiskey Vintage Grain
Thumb Butte – Bloody Basin Bourbon Rodeo Rye
Four Roses Small Batch Select
American Soju Watermelon
Breckenridge Distillery Breckenridge Bourbon Whiskey Single Barrel
Redwood Empire Whiskey Pipe Dream Bourbon Whiskey
Arizona Craft Beverage Arizona Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Top Note Tonic Classic Tonic
South Fork Vodka
Bently Heritage Source One Single Estate Vodka, Wheat & Oat blend
JT Meleck Vodka
