CHICAGO, Ill. — The American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) announced the medalists of the 2021 Heartland Whiskey Competition, which was open to craft whiskeys from all 50 states that incorporate corn in their mash bill. In this third, biannual blind judging event, whiskeys from 17 “Heartland” states also competed for Best of Show and Best in State, and all entries competed in their select whiskey sub-categories.
Best of Show was captured by Weldon Mills Distillery from Weldon, North Carolina, for its Rockfish Whiskey, which also earned the top score in the Corn Whiskey category. Weldon Mills Distillery will be presented with its award by the Corn Growers Association of North Carolina later this month.
2021 Heartland Whiskey Competition Category Medalists:
- Blended/High Bank Whiskey War Double Oaked/High Bank Distillery Co.
- Bourbon/Casey Jones Kentucky Straight Bourbon(tie)/Casey Jones Distillery/Single Barrel Straight Bourbon/Black Button Distilling
- Corn Whiskey/Rockfish Whiskey/Weldon Mills Distillery
- Four Grain/Four Grain Bourbon/Detroit City Distillery
- Rye/White Rye/Lake House Distilling Co.
- Straight/Third Wind Straight Bourbon/Third Wind Distilling
The Best in State trophies were limited to the 17 Heartland states and awarded to those whiskeys with the highest single-product score in its respective state, regardless of category.
2021 Best in State Medalists are:
- Colorado/Ella Jones Colorado Straight Bourbon/The Family Jones
- Illinois/JK Williams Gold Zephyr Bourbon/JK Williams Distilling
- Indiana/Straight Rye Whiskey/Cardinal Spirits
- Iowa/Iowa Straight Bourbon/Cedar Ridge Distillery
- Kansas/Wabash Reserve Bourbon Whiskey/Boot Hill Distillery
- Kentucky/Casey Jones Kentucky Straight Bourbon/Casey Jones Distillery
- Michigan/Bourbon Finished In Mezcal Barrels/Iron Fish Distillery
- Minnesota/Brickyard Straight Bourbon/J. Carver Distillery
- Missouri/Monon Bell Bourbon Cask Strength/Still 630
- Nebraska/Nebraska Straight Bourbon/Loup River Distilling
- New York/Single Barrel Straight Bourbon/Black Button Distilling
- North Carolina/Rockfish Whiskey/Weldon Mills Distillery
- North Dakota/Crooked Furrow/Proof Artisan Distillers
- Ohio/High Bank Whiskey War Double Oaked/High Bank Distillery Co.
- Tennessee/1784 White Tennessee Whiskey/Lost State Distilling
- Texas/Garrison Brothers Cowboy/Garrison Brothers Distillery
- Wisconsin/Small Batch Straight Bourbon Whiskey/Driftless Glen Distillery
A full list of medalists can be found at the ACSA website: https://americancraftspirits.org/programs/special-events/
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