Thursday, March 28, 2024

Three Vancouver Island distilleries win big at Canadian Artisan competition

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The results are in!

Three Vancouver Island distilleries have been awarded some prestigious titles at the fifth annual Artisan Distillers Canada awards (ADC), a national organization focused on celebrating and highlighting artisan distilleries and spirits across Canada.

Every year, The ADC awards based on the following categories:

  • Canadian Artisan Spirit of the Year: This is awarded to the top scoring spirit in the competition, regardless of category
  • Best in Class: The top scoring spirit in each category is awarded Best in Class
  • Distinction: This is awarded to spirits which have performed at the same or better than least year’s competition, indicating a consistent or improved quality 
  • Excellence in Terroir: spirits which demonstrate terroir (products expressive of place) at the highest levels
  • Merit in Terroir: spirits that demonstrate a clear sense of place in their expression

Now, three Vancouver Island distilleries have taken home prestigious awards for their creations at the event, a big win early in 2022!

First, Moon Distillery took home the gold at the Artisan Distillers Canada awards for their Shaft Liqueur, a liqueur featuring blended Moon Espresso Vodka, fresh pulled espresso, sugar, almonds, cocoa nibs and Mexican Vanilla.

According to the distillery, it is a treat best enjoyed over ice with cream. 

Moon Distillery also took home a bronze in the Single Malt Whisky category for the Antifogmatic Bliss Single Malt Whisky and a Bronze in the Contemporary Vodka category for the White Moon Vodka.

“It was great to see our Spirits celebrated at the Artisan Distillers Canada Awards,” said Clay Potter, Co-Owner, Brewmaster and Master Distiller of Moon Distillery.

“The Moon Shaft Liqueur is definitely a fan favourite. It’s been great to see our Whisky program gain momentum too! We currently have 21 barrels from 0 – 5 years old.”

Moon Distillery wasn’t the only one to win big, however, Central Saanich’s DEVINE Distillery also earned top honours in the competition, having scored highest overall marks out of hundreds of entries across 20 spirit categories.

This year, their Ancient Grains Young Whisky took home the title of ‘Canadian Artisan Spirit of the Year’ at the 2022 competition.

The whisky is distilled from BC barley, spelt, emmer, khorasan and einkorn and aged in new American oak quarter-casks.

Ancient Grains was also awarded a Gold Medal with distinction (5th year in a row), best in class (winning 4 out of 5 years) and Excellence in Terroir in the Young Whisky category. 

Finally, Sooke’s Sheringham Distillery took home Gold in the Gin-Aged category for their Kazuki Gin and Gold in the Gin-Classic category for their London Dry Gin. 

They also were awarded Silver in the Liqueur Category for their Lemon Gin Liqueur, Silver with Distinction for their Rhubarb Gin Liqueur, and Silver in the Whisky-Single Grain category for their Red Fife Whisky. 

Congratulations!

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